Driver’s Education
Chapter 3
Basic Vehicle Control
11/2/12
Have you ever taken a good look at
your parent’s vehicle controls?
What types of controls have you
noticed in their car?
Instrument Panel
Speedometer – This tells you that speed that you
are traveling in both miles per hour and kilometers
per hour
 Tachometer – This indicates the engine
revolutions per minute. Engine damage can occur
if needle enters the red
 Odometer – indicates the total number of miles
that a vehicle has been driven.
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– Trip Odometer – will indicate the number of miles for
a certain period of time and can be set back to zero
Instrument Panel
Fuel Gauge – Shows the amount of fuel in the
tank, if tank gets below ¼ full you run the risk of
running out
 Temperature Gauge/Light – warns you when the
coolant in the engine is too hot
 Oil Pressure Gauge/Light – warns you when the
oil is not circulating at the proper pressure
 Alternator Warning Light/Gauge – warns that
the battery is not being charged and is using stored
electricity
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Instrument Panel
Brake System Warning Light – reminds you to
release the parking brake and warns is the braking
system is not working properly
 Antilock Braking System Light – tells you the
ABS is working properly
 Safety Belt Light – This reminds you to fasten
your safety belt before moving
 Air Bag Warning Light – tells you if the airbags
are working properly
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Instrument Panel
Turn-Signal Indicators – These tell you
the direction that you have signaled to turn
 High-Beam Indicator – this is a light that
glows when the high-beam headlights are
on
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Vehicle Controls
Steering Wheel – this controls the direction of the
front wheels.
 The steering wheel adjustment lever can mover
the steering wheel for better driving comfort
 Selector Lever – in a automatic transmission
vehicle, this is moved to choose forward or
reverse gears
 This is located on the steering column or on the
center console
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Vehicle Controls
Ignition and Starter Switch – the engine is
started by putting the key in the ignition and
turning the key to the start position
 Cruise Control – is a device that lets you
maintain your desired speed without
keeping your foot on the accelerator. It is
typically used on highways, expressways,
etc.
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Cruise Control
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Standard Cruise Control
 Adaptive Cruise Control
12/1/11
How do you think knowing the
basic controls of a vehicle before
you begin to drive, will impact
your driving experience.
Vehicle Controls
Parking Brake – This keeps the vehicle in place
when it is parked. It is located either on the far
left of the pedals or on the center console
 Clutch Pedal – in a stickshift, pushing this down
allows to to shift gears. Located to the left of the
brake pedal
 Foot-Brake-Pedal – pushing this slows or stops
the vehicle
 Accelerator Pedal – this is located to the right of
the brake pedal. Pushing this will increase the
speed of the vehicle.
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Devices for Safety
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Safety Belts – always
wear belt when the vehicle
is in motion
Head Restraints –
padded device on the back
of from seats to prevent
whiplash injuries
Horn – normally located
on the steering wheel.
Do you always wear your
seatbelt correctly when you
enter a vehicle?

Yes
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No
Devices for Safety
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Mirrors
– Inside mirror – shows
directly behind the
vehicle
– Outside mirrors – show
to the right and left
behind the vehicle
– Even with properly
adjusted mirrors there
will still be blind spots
Getting Ready to Drive
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Outside Checks – walk
around vehicle and look
for
Oil marks
Tires are inflated
Wheels are pointed
straight
Windshield, headlights,
and taillights are clear
Getting Ready to Drive

Inside Checks
 Adjust seat for best
comfort and foot control
(Seat posture activity)
 10 inches away from
steering wheel
 Hand and legs slightly
bend when on steering
wheels and pedals
 Adjust head restraints and
mirrors
 Fasten safety belt
Automatic Transmission
Shift Indicator – shows gear position on steering
column or on the instrument panel
 Park (P) – This position locks the transmission.
You should shift into park every time you stop the
vehicle
 Reverse (R) – This position is for doing
backwards. Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into reverse. Reverse lights should
come on when in reverse.
 Neutral (N) – This Position allows the wheels to
roll without engine power. If you stall when
driving, use neutral to restart car.

Automatic Transmission
Drive (D) – This
position is for moving
forward. Keep foot on
brake when shifting
into drive.
 Low (L1, L2) – These
positions allow the
engine to send more
power to the wheels at
lower speeds
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Steering the Vehicle
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Have a comfortable and
balances driving position
Hands at 9 and 3
Pick aiming point and
drive to it
Make constant corrections
Look for hazards ahead
Hand-over-hand Steering

To straighten out do the reverse or allow
wheel to slip through your fingers
 Is well suited for precision maneuvers,
steering through curves, intersection entry
and exit and skid recovery
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16SoOO
fftkE
Putting the Vehicle in Motion
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Putting vehicle in motion activity
Press firmly on the brake
Shift the vehicle into drive
Turn on left turn signal
Check for traffic in the rearview mirrors
Look over left shoulder for traffic
When the roadway is clear, release the brake and
gently press on the accelerator moving away from
the side of the road
Cancel your signal
Reach your desired speed and let up on the
accelerator
Stopping the Vehicle
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Check traffic in mirrors
Let off the accelerator
Gently press on the brake
pedal
Gradually press on brake
until vehicle is stopped.
Ease up just before
stopping
Keep foot on brake if
vehicle is still in drive
Driving a Manual
Transmission
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Always make sure you set the parking brake with
a manual transmission vehicle.
You must learn how to to coordinate using the
clutch with the accelerator and gear shift lever
Friction Point – this is where you feel the engine
take hold and start to move the vehicle
Most manual transmission vehicles have 4 or 5
gears. The lower gears are for slower driving.
The higher gears are for expressway driving and
are fuel saver gears.
Downshifting – is shifting from a higher gear to a
lower gear.
Driving a Manual
Transmission
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Neutral (N) – used when
standing still and starting
First gear – used for
starting the vehicle in
motion
Second – Fourth – shift
through as speed increases
Fifth/Sixth gear – are
overdrive expressway
gears
Reverse – used for
backing. Never shift to
reverse when vehicle is
moving
Using a Clutch

Always press pedal to
the floor before
starting the engine,
before shifting, and
before coming to a
stop.

Riding the Clutch this means resting for
foot on the clutch
while driving.
 This cause clutch wear
and can lead to
expensive repairs.