Module 5
Risk
Management
5—
Acknowledgements
Special thanks go to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Texas Transportation Institute (www.looklearnlive.org), Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Montana Office of Public Instruction, Virginia Department of Education, AAA Foundation for Traffic
Safety for use of their photo library, and Fred Mottola, National Institute for Driver Behavior (Zone Control Principles, including targeting, visual lead, and reference points).
The information provided herein is accurate and current pursuant to the Program of Organized Instruction for Driver Education and Traffic Safety adopted by rule on February 2009.
Prior to starting the Parent Taught Driver Education Model Program Course 101,
you must receive your student’s Parent Taught Packet from the Texas
Department of Public Safety. To receive the packet, the parent must submit the
application (DL92 — Request For a Parent Taught Packet). Each student should
be registered separately with the Texas Department of Public Safety for the
Parent Taught Driver Education Program. You can locate the application on the
following web site:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/internetforms/Forms/DL-92.pdf
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Agency (TEA) and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of TEA, except under the
following conditions:
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obtaining permission from TEA.
2. Residents of the state of Texas may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for
individual personal use only without obtaining written permission of TEA. However, prior to starting the
Parent Taught Driver Education Model Program Course 101, you must receive your student’s Parent
Taught Packet from the Texas Department of Public Safety. To receive the packet, the parent must submit
the application (DL92 — Request For a Parent Taught Packet). Each student should be registered
separately with the Texas Department of Public Safety for the Parent Taught Driver Education Program.
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5—2
Module Five: Risk Management (Minimum 2 hours)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Instructional Objectives ………………………………………………………………….. 4
Risk Factors ………………………………………………………………………………... 5
Space Management ………………………………………………………………………. 17
In-Car Progress Assessment …………………………………………………………... 36
Driving Plan ………………………………………………………………………………... 37
Classroom Progress Assessment ……………………………………………………... 38
5—3
Instructional Objectives
The student legally and responsibility performs Risk Reduction (Management) reduced
-risk driving practices in the Highway Transportation System by analyzing, predicting,
and minimizing risk factors and employing a space management system.
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Risk Factors. The student reduces risk by legally and responsibly analyzing,
predicting, and minimizing risk factors.
Space Management. The student reduces risk by legally and responsibly
employing a space management system, such as Search, Evaluate, Execute in
Texas (SEE iT) to predict, analyze and minimize risk.
In-Car Progress Assessment. The student reduces risk by legally and
responsibly utilizing baseline and progress assessment tools to evaluate and
improve behind-the-wheel skill level (mastery equals 70% or above).
Driving Plan. The student formulates a Driving Plan to endorse and promote
lifelong legal and responsible reduced-risk driving practices in the Highway
Transportation System (HTS).
Classroom Progress Assessment. The student reduces risk by legally and
responsibly completing a Progress Assessment to evaluate classroom
knowledge and understanding and measure progress (mastery equals 70% or
above).
5—4
Risk Factors
Risk is defined as the ―c
hance
of injury, damage, or loss.‖ This
can be explained by expanding
upon each element of this
definition:
Participation in the HTS involves constant risk
that must be predicted, analyzed, and
minimized including the effect a driver’s actions
have on vulnerable roadway users.
“...chance” — This is the
probability or likelihood of a crash.
To properly assess a specific risk, you need to
have some idea of how likely it is to happen.
For example, the likelihood or chance of being
in a minor ―fe
nder bender‖ is much greater
than the chance of being in a fatal collision.
Teenage behaviors contribute to teen-related
crashes. Things that aggravate the problem
are Inexperience and immaturity combined with:

Speed

Drinking and driving

Non seat belt usage

Distracted driving (cell phone use, loud
music, other teen passengers, etc.)

Drowsy driving

Nighttime driving

Other drug usage
“...of injury, damage, or loss.” — These are
the consequences of a crash. They are an
unwanted outcome of an activity that anyone
would want to avoid.

―Injury‖ could involve yourself or others,
and could be permanent or even lifethreatening.

“Damage” involves personal property.

―Loss‖ could include things such as
financial loss, loss of opportunity, loss of
convenience, loss of time, other losses.
Assessing risk involves knowing what the
consequences could be. For example, the
consequences of a high-speed, head-on
collision, or any collision with a train are
far more serious than a minor fender
bender.
The driving task involves more than just the skill
to operate a motor vehicle. One of the most
important aspects of driving is handling risk.
Young people as a group have been found to
be more likely to take risks. This is one possible
explanation for the fact that young drivers are
over-represented in motor vehicle crashes and
fatalities. Even though they are more likely than
older drivers to be risk-takers, they do not
necessarily have the ability to either properly
assess the risks in driving or to handle
potentially dangerous situations which they may
encounter.
Driving is a risk-taking activity. Each driver
accepts a certain level of risk just by getting into
a vehicle. Risk acceptance is a natural part of
driving. Drivers who take unnecessary chances
demonstrate risk-taking behavior and the
probability of being involved in a collision
increases by the elements of risk involved.
Therefore understanding that ―r
isky‖ activities
are based on how we assess the risk and how
much risk we are willing to accept is the first
step to becoming a safe driver. Many times,
driving behavior is based on risk perception
rather than actual risk.
5—5
Risk Factors

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Types of Collisions
Participation in the HTS involves
constant risk that must be predicted,
analyzed, and minimized including the
effect a driver’s actions have on
vulnerable roadway users.
Benefits of predicting, analyzing, and
minimizing both potential and immediate
risk factors.
Risk and the Driving Task. The driving task
involves more than just skill to operate a motor
vehicle, it is just as important to make reducedrisk decisions. As hard as you try, you may not
always do things correctly - many incidents
could have been avoided or eliminated if you
could. The problem is, there will always be
factors working against you, but there are many
factors working for you as well.
Risk Assessment — Involves Knowledge.
While it is impossible to determine with
accuracy the levels of risk in all driving
situations, there are guidelines to help you
assess risk more accurately.

Consider the possibly of a dangerous
situation developing.

Prepare yourself to take action in the event
of a conflict.

Always consider your options and the
consequences of your actions.

Head-On Collisions. The possibility of
serious injury and death is more likely with
a front-impact crash. Head-on collisions are
more likely to occur on two-lane highways,
in narrow lanes, and in construction zones.

Rear-End Collisions. Rear-end collisions
are one of the most common types of
multiple vehicle collisions. Tailgaters are
especially at risk. You can lower your risk if
someone is tailgating you by slowing down
to encourage the tailgater to pass you.

Side-Impact Collisions. Despite recent
safety advances in side protection such as
reinforced steel beams in doors and
sidemounted airbags, most vehicles are
less well-equipped to withstand a side
impact than they are a head-on impact. If
you are at risk of colliding with the side of
another vehicle, honk your horn and flash
your lights to warn the other driver. Swerve
right rather than left when there is no time
to look first. If your car is about to be hit,
your best option is to accelerate rather than
brake if the way is clear.
Accelerating will get you past the danger
more quickly. Braking may actually
contribute to a side-impact collision,
especially if the other driver has judged that
your speed is sufficient to avoid a crash. If
the way ahead is not clear, another
alternative is to turn in the direction that the
other vehicle is moving to force the impact
behind you to the rear of your vehicle. If you
turn in the direction of the approaching car,
you risk colliding head-on with it.
Photo Courtesy of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
5—6
Risk Factors
A benefit to a driver is the ability to predict,
analyze and minimize both potential and
immediate risk factors. To accomplish this, a
driver must process information from the traffic
scene. Information processing is the brain’s
ability to interpret information provided by the
human senses and to employ critical–thinking,
decision-making, and problem-solving skills in
performing legal and responsible reduced-risk
driving practices in the Highway Transportation
System.
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Place your hands at 9 and 3 or below on the
steering wheel with thumbs along the rim.
Adjust speed for conditions.
Drive only when alert and able to efficiently
process information from the driving
environment.
Adhere to traffic laws - they are designed to
improve safety and efficiency.
Vision is the main sense that provides the
information to the brain so the brain can employ
critical–thinking, decision-making, and problemsolving skills in performing legal and
responsible reduced-risk driving practices in the
Highway Transportation System.

Immediate Risk is the high priority
possibility of having a conflict that results in
a crash or collision needing a driver visual
attention.

Potential Risk is the probable possibility of
having a conflict that results in a crash or
collision.
Ways to Predict and Analyze Driving Risk

Examine in detail what threats or changes
in conditions could increase/decrease threat

Examine in detail how the potential or
immediate hazard might affect your
intended path of travel
Drivers need to develop reduced
risk driving habits.
A driver must make every effort to reduce risk in order to lessen the possibility of a conflict.
Ways to Minimize Driving Risk. Reduce the
possibility of conflict by putting more space
between your vehicle and the hazard.

Wear your seat belt and sit at least 10
inches from the airbag.
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Turn your headlights on at all times.

Continue to improve your traffic safety
knowledge and refine your driving skills.

Keep a margin of space between you and
other vehicles. Wise drivers keep vigilant
control over the space in front of their
vehicles.

Use a simple visual search process—SEE
iT (Search, Evaluate, Execute, in Time)

Maintain your car and understand how it
works.

Develop safe driving habits.

Position your vehicle to maximize your
ability to see and be seen by others.
—Failure to Wear a Safety Belt —
Even though failure to wear a safety belt
is seldom the immediate cause of a crash,
it often makes the consequences of the
crash worse. Studies have indicated that
failure to wear safety belts is often associated with higher risk drivers.
For example, in one study, researchers at
General Motors Research Laboratories
found that drivers who tended to leave
shorter following distances were also the
ones who most often failed to wear a
safety belt.
5—7
Factors that Contribute to Risk
The driver — Very often
the drivers actually
create the high risk
situations they become
involved in. A lack of
risk awareness is one
possible explanation for
why this happens.
According to the Texas
Department of Public
Safety statistics, the
following are the seven
driving behaviors that
Photo Courtesy of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
most often lead to
crashes.
1. Speeding — This is the number one cause
of crashes in Texas. This includes both
driving above the posted speed and driving
too fast for conditions. Increased speed
leads to more severe collision and longer
braking distances, and shortens the time a
driver has to react. Studies have shown
that novice drivers are more likely to drive at
higher speeds than experienced drivers.
2. Failure to Yield Right of Way — This is
the second leading cause of crashes in
Texas. Examples would be trying to ―beat
‖
another car while entering a freeway, trying
to "beat" a train at a crossing, or ignoring a
yield sign on an access road. This daring
behavior may be the result of impatience,
aggressive driving, inattention, or poor
judgment.
3. Driving While Intoxicated — This is the
third leading cause of crashes in Texas.
Younger people are often experimenting
with alcohol during their early years of
driving. This is a dangerous combination.
Studies have shown that driving ability
decreases as Blood Alcohol Concentration
(BAC) increases. It is also evident that
driving is impaired far below the BAC level
that is considered legal intoxication. The
risk of being in a fatal collision goes up
dramatically as BAC increases. The risk is
even greater for young inexperienced
drivers.
4. Following Too Closely — This is the fourth
leading cause of crashes in Texas. Studies
have indicated that novice drivers tend to
leave shorter following distances than
experienced drivers. This is often cited as
an example of a risk-taking behavior linked
5—8
to the higher frequency of crashes among
young drivers. Space provides time– time to
change speed or lane position to avoid a
hazard.
5. Disregarding stop and go signal — This
is the fifth leading cause of crashes in
Texas. This could be from inattention or
from trying to ―bea
t‖ a light or ―
roll‖ through
a stop sign. These actions can lead to
crashes because other drivers expect you
to stop.
6. Improper Turns — Examples of improper
turns would be turning wide in a right turn or
cutting corners on left turns. Sometimes
improper turns are caused by failure to
control speed going into a turn.
7. Unsafe Passing — This involves illegal
passing or passing without sufficient
clearance. A lack of driving experience, or
risk-taking could contribute to this problem.
Taking unnecessary chances or risk is not the
only cause of crashes. Distractions while
driving can be just as deadly. Often drivers do
not realize what they are doing is distracting
them from the driving task. Typical
distractions include:

Changing the radio channel, CD or tape

Dialing, texting or talking on the cell phone
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Passengers

Pets

Eating (especially when food falls in your
lap) or drinking

Smoking

Reading a road map, directions, etc.

Searching for an item in a purse, wallet,
glove compartment, back pack etc.

Having items slide off the front seat

Engaging in intense or emotional
conversation

Putting on makeup or looking at yourself in
the mirror

Driving an unfamiliar vehicle without first
adjusting the mirrors and seat, locating
vehicle options (lights, windshield wipers or
other vehicle controls).
Risk Factors


How to predict and analyze potential and
immediate risk by categorizing risk
factors into controlled, low, moderate,
and complex risk.
How reduced-risk driving practices
respond to potential and immediate risk
in controlled, low, moderate, and
complex risk environments.
Low Risk Environment. A low risk
environment is usually limited to speeds under
40 mph having
uncontrolled and
controlled
intersections in
urban, suburban,
and rural settings.
Traffic flow volume
in low risk
environments should
be at a minimum allowing time for the novice
driver to identify risks through changes to line of
sight or path of travel.
Features
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Wide, clearly-marked lanes
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Break away sign support posts
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New design guard rails
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Protected left and right turn bays
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Banked roadways
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Crowned roadways
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Grooved roadways
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Curbs

Side walks
Risk Factors Inherent to Low Risk
Environment:

Line of sight restriction caused by houses,
trees, bushes, etc.

Path of travel restrictions caused by
vehicles parked on the side of the road,
toys in street, children playing in streets,
etc.

Pedestrians

Animals

School zones

School buses

Parks and recreation centers

Children playing in driveways

Complacency - Driver lulled into false
security that environment will remain low
A driver must be cautioned that a low or
moderate risk environment one moment has
a possibility of changing to complex at any
moment, especially when children or pedestrians are present, traffic volume is increased, or traffic flow changes.
risk
Unexpected increase in and type of traffic
flow
Moderate Risk Environment is limited to
speeds under 60 mph having controlled
intersections in urban, suburban, and rural
settings. Traffic flow is moderate, allowing time
for the novice driver to identify risks through
changes to line of sight or path of travel. Two
way, one way, and multi-lane roadways are
recommended for use in moderate risk
environments.

Features

Wide, clearly-marked lanes

Break away sign support
posts

New design guard rails

Protected left and right turn
bays

Banked Roadways

Crowned Roadways

Grooved Roadways

Curbs

Side walks
5—9
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Inherent to a
Moderate Risk
Environment :
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Lane
blockages
No gap in the
traffic flow in
which to make a lane change
Traffic stoppages that could trap you in an
intersection
One or two way reversible lanes
Shared left turn lane
Yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalks
Turns allowed
from more than
one lane
Changing speed
limits
Increased traffic
flow, especially
at rush hours
(morning, noon,
and evening)
Line of sight restriction caused by houses,
trees, bushes, etc.
Line of sight restrictions caused by
buildings, billboards, stores, etc.
Path of travel restrictions caused by
vehicles parked on the side of the road,
toys in street, children playing in streets,
etc.
Pedestrians.
Animals.
School zones and school buses
Pedestrians waiting for city buses
Light rail
Commuter parking areas
Local business

Fast food restaurants
Gas Service Stations
Business driveways
Parks and recreation centers
Children playing in driveways
Complacency - Driver lulled into false
security that environment will remain
moderate risk
Unexpected increase in and type of traffic
flow
Complex Risk Environment is limited to
speeds under 70 mph having controlled or
limited access interchanges or intersections in
urban, suburban, and rural settings. Traffic flow
is heavy and many times unpredictable, which
does not allow excessive time for the novice
driver to identify risks through changes to line of
sight or path of travel. Two-way, one-way,
limited-access, and multi-lane roadways are
recommended for use in complex risk
environments.
Features:
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5 — 10
Wide, clearly-marked lanes
Break away sign support posts
New design guard rails
Protected left and right turn bays
Banked Roadways
Crowned Roadways
Grooved Roadways
Clear highway shoulders
Rumble strips
New design median barriers
Crash attenuators
Risk Factors
Risk factors inherent to Complex Risk Environments:
Risk Factors — Merging Lane
Risk Factors — Multiple Lane Roadway

Heavy traffic

Higher speeds—greater braking distances
needed because it takes longer to stop

Lack of a gap to merge

Traffic slowing or stopping ahead

Field of vision is narrowed

Visibility problems ahead and to the side

Highway hypnosis

Velocitation effect (not realizing the actual speed of
the vehicle is faster than
what you feel)
Risk Factors — Passing

Passing is one of the most dangerous maneuvers a driver can attempt

High speed passing on expressways adds
to the danger

Entering and exiting sometimes on the left

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Vehicles on shoulder reentering
High volume of traffic on expressways increases the chances of collisions

Passing may occur on the left or right

Windy sections of the
roadway
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Two vehicles changing lanes into same
lane
More than two lanes heading in the same
direction present special search technique
challenges

Slow moving vehicles ahead

―Pack D
riving‖

Tire Hydroplaning during wet weather conditions
Risk Factors — Exiting
Heavy traffic

Short ramps

Acceleration lanes

High walls that may block visibility

Traffic ahead on the ramp may slow or stop
abruptly
Risk Factors — Entrance Ramp

Picking the wrong lane

Traffic ahead and behind on the ramp

Sharp curves on the ramp

Visibility problems ahead and to the expressway
Risk Factors — Acceleration Lane

Amount of traffic in lane and on expressway

Short acceleration lane
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Limited space ahead

Actions of drivers ahead and behind
―Weave‖ lane conflicts
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Traffic on the exit ramp
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Short deceleration lane

Very slow ramp speed
Risk Factor — Highway Hypnosis. When
driving over a long period of time, particularly on
a rural expressway with little traffic, be aware of
a condition known to drivers as ―h
ighway hypnosis.‖ When traveling at high speeds for long periods of time, the driver may become hypnotized
by constant staring ahead on the roadway,
which may result in driving in a dulled, drowsy,
trance-like condition.
Risk Factors — Expressway Entrances
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5 — 11
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This is a dull or drowsy condition that can
occur because of the concentration needed
while driving long distances.

Plan breaks and rest stops to combat highway hypnosis.

Pull to a safe area for rest and sleep when
Risk Factors
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How risk is processed differently by novice
and experienced driver.
How risk factors are predicted, analyzed,
and minimized by employing Traffic Laws,
Driver Preparation, Vehicle Movements,
Driver Readiness, and Risk Reduction
reduced-risk driving practices.
How multi-task performances and
distractions complicate predicting,
analyzing and minimizing risk factors.


timing divided attention tasks
managing distraction
utilizing a space management system that
includes information processing
It is also
important to
recognize that
taking attention
from the path
of travel means
the vehicle is
moving on the
roadway
without the driver seeing where the vehicle is
going or mentally processing any new
information. Therefore, a driver should not
increase risk by allowing any of the multi-task
performances to become a distraction:
Although risk-taking involves both novice and
experienced drivers, statistics have shown
younger drivers are more likely than older
drivers to be risk-takers. Novice drivers often
have less understanding and knowledge of
risk awareness, especially in right-of-way,
need to reduce speed (slow down),
speeding, distractions, driving under the
influence of alcohol or being a passenger
with someone who has been drinking,
improper turns, stop and go signals,
passing, and following too closely
situations.
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Studies have shown that younger drivers often
believe they possess the ability to either
properly assess the driving risks involved or to
handle the potentially dangerous situations they
encounter. Unfortunately, this misjudgment has
resulted in younger drivers being overrepresented in motor vehicle crashes and
fatalities associated with risk taking.
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A driver manages (predicts, analyzes, and
minimizes) risk by utilizing risk reduction
techniques including:

applying knowledge and understanding of
Texas traffic laws

utilizing driver preparation procedures
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utilizing occupant protection and having
passengers utilize occupant protection

utilizing vehicle operation and control
techniques
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utilizing attention techniques
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targeting line of sight and path of travel
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utilizing vehicle movements procedures
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utilizing reference points
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maintaining vehicle balance
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utilizing driver readiness techniques
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Targeting line of sight and path of travel
Signaling
Changing gears
Checking gauges
Checking mirrors
Checking blindspot
Monitoring speed
Checking lane placement
Checking traffic signs, signals, and
roadway markings
Checking street signs
Checking roadway characteristics - Road
and lane width, lane markings, roadway
surface, shoulder condition and slope, curb
type and height, hills and curves,
intersections and interchanges, areas of
limited visibility, location and type of
structures adjacent to the roadway
Checking weather conditions
Monitoring intersections/interchanges
Checking motorized and non-motorized
highway users
Photo Courtesy of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
5 — 12
Risk Factors
Regrettably, we do not always do things in
the right manner. How many incidents can be
eliminated? Since there will always be factors
working against you, what do you have working
for you?
A space management system is like an
insurance policy. It can give you substantial
protection for a small investment—just your
involvement and understanding.
Decision-making. Decision making is the most
important skill used in driving. A driver operating
in city traffic flow makes 50-60 decisions per
mile. Most driving decisions are based on an
internalized sense of procedures that tells us an
action/decision is appropriate or not. These
procedural decisions then become our habits,
based on our experiences. These experiences
can be positive and negative experiences.
Complacency. Drivers easily get complacent
about what has appeared to be a good style of
driving. For example: Have you ever had to ride
with someone who makes you very uncomfortable? The driver felt good about using
inappropriate performances because for many
years those same actions had led to success
rather than failure.
Performance. It is easy for us to do something
incorrectly and not know it. We perform poor
maneuvers at times and get away with them.
Perhaps, after a while, we cease to see them as
being poor driving procedures.
Experiences. Drivers learn from positive
experiences as well as from negative
experiences. New drivers often learn by
observation of other drivers. Their habits
become specific behaviors which are mimicked
by new drivers. Habits are difficult to change.
Practicing specific behaviors and making
judgments can lead to the changing of habits
that take place on a procedural level.
Guided Practice Concepts. A space management system will provide a background of good
processes and judgment only if time is taken to
practice.
Resistance. There is an internal resistance to
changing habits. The greater the resistance felt
when attempting to use a space management
system, the greater the need there may be to
change the habits already formed.
Habits. A driver’s current driving habits will, as
the years go on, probably lead to sloppier
driving which, of course, can get the driver into
trouble. The reason for this is that it is easy for
drivers to get positive feedback from negative
behavior.
Good Driving. Drivers tend to feel that
whatever they do is good driving, provided there
is no crash. When there is a crash, it is usually
caused by the "erratic actions of the other
driver.‖
In-Car Sessions. Practice should consist of 1530 minute sessions. The time must be spent actively getting feedback on what is being done in
accordance with the space management system.
If drivers are to benefit from the practice sessions,
they need a clear concept of what to practice.
5 — 13
Guidelines for Risk-Taking
Never risk more than you can afford to lose.
Example is that of a young driver who breaks a
specific traffic law or parental rule which will
result in the loss of his license. The young
driver might be risking too much. Another,
would be in gambling. If you cannot afford to
lose money, you should never wager that much.
Do not risk a lot for a little. An example of this
behavior might be ignoring a railroad crossing to
save a few seconds or even minutes of time.
The risk of a very severe crash or an expensive
ticket is not worth that small amount of time
savings.
Consider the odds and your situation.
Elements of driving that are beyond your control
(actions of other drivers, weather, pedestrians,
etc.) from those you do control (speed, use of
alcohol, wearing safety belts, obedience to
traffic signals, etc.). In dealing with risk, drivers
should try to use those things they can control
to help deal with those things they cannot.
Factors Contributing to the Degree of Risk
Factors Contributing to Degree of Risk

Vehicle condition (condition of tires, suspension system, brakes, clean windshield,
etc.)

Weather (rain, ice, snow, glare, etc.)

Driver condition (fatigued, impaired, distracted, angry, late, inexperienced, ill, etc.)

Poor skill (poor communication, weak visual
search skills, bad habits, etc.)

Road condition (narrow, poor condition, obstructions, construction, etc.)

Other users (children and other pedestrians, cyclists, trucks, wild and domestic animals, etc.)

Underestimating risk (overestimating ability
and vehicle capabilities, not wearing a seat
belt, drinking and driving, not accepting responsibility for bad driving decisions - it's
the other guy fault, being invincible, etc.)

Emotions (angry drivers are more likely to
take risks than happy drivers, passengers
can affect driver emotions, driving to "cool
off,‖ etc.)

Distractions (smoking, portable technologies, pets, passengers, stereo systems,
etc.)

Underestimating the physical laws that affect driving (speed, gravity, traction, torque,
inertia, kinetic energy, force of impact, centrifugal force, center of gravity, etc.)
A number of studies of the relationship of Blood
Alcohol Concentration (BAC—amount of
alcohol in your blood) to fatal crash risk have
been undertaken. As one would expect, the
chance of being involved in a fatal motor vehicle
crash increases as the BAC increases. When
specific age group analysis is made, however, it
is very evident that young drivers are at a much
greater risk of being involved in a fatal motor
vehicle crash.
The risk for drivers age 16-19 is higher than for
all other age groups at any BAC level studied.
In addition, risk of death rises faster, as BAC
levels increase, for this age group. For
example, even at BAC’s of .015-.045%, the
younger group was about two and one-half
times as likely to be in a fatal crash, while the
older group’s risk was no different than the
sober level.
A similar comparison for the .05-.079% BAC
range found that the 16-19 age group’s risk
factor was nine times greater than a sober
driver while drivers over age twenty had a risk
factor only two times greater. Drivers age 16-19
have forty times greater risk of being in a fatal
crash at a BAC of .08-.099% than a sober
driver.
The same BAC range produces a risk of about
seven times greater for drivers over age twenty.
At the top side of the scale, BAC’s of over .15%
produce extremely high risk for young drivers
(420 times more likely to be in a fatal crash). It
should be noted that in Texas, the average BAC
at arrest is .16%.
Photo Courtesy of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Photo Courtesy of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
5 — 14
Risk Factors that Diminishes Reduced Risk Driving Practices







How risk-taking diminishes reduced-risk
driving practices
Consequences when the driver’s
perceived risk is different from actual risk
and formulate plans to accurately
recognize risk.
Ways to reduce the risk factors related to
multi-task performances.
Risk factors and the top five contributing
factors to crashes and fatalities in Texas
by examining the motor vehicle crash and
fatality statistics as reported by the
appropriate state agency.
Traffic crash and fatality rates of drivers in
various age groups to the rates of novice
drivers ages 15 – 17;
Why novice drivers are over-represented
in crashes, injuries, and fatalities including
those involving speed, alcohol and other
drugs, single vehicles, and off-road control
loss crashes.
Reduce risk by legally and responsibly
predicting, analyzing, and minimizing risk
factors.
Another factor affecting visual attention is that
the more driving experience a driver has, the
driver is more likely to become a victim of
seeing what ―
they expect to see‖ (perceived
risk) rather that what is actual risk. Usually a
driver thinks things are not as threatening as
they actually are. However, it is extremely
important that a driver continually uses their
eyes to check to the front, sides, and rear of the
vehicle for the ―a
ctual risk.‖
Top five leading causes of traffic fatalities in
Texas as reported by the Texas Department of
Public Safety are:

Driving while intoxicated

Speed - Under Limit – Unsafe

Speed Over Limit

Fail to Yield ROW to Vehicle

Wrong Side-Not Passing
The top driver errors committed most
frequently by 16-year-olds in crashes are:

Not attending to the path of travel

Driving five mph or more too fast for
conditions

Trying to drive through a curve at too high
a speed

Inadequate searching at an intersection—
pulling in front of cross traffic

Involving the so-called victim’s lack of
attention at an intersection and being
struck by another driver

Using improper evasive action—quick turn
not made

Failing to maintain visual lead

Failing to see action developing at the side
of the roadway

Following too closely

Willfully taking right-of-way

Being distracted
Most of these behaviors involved improper
visual search, frequently combined with an
inappropriate decision, i.e., speed in curves or
for conditions and following too close. Some
involved failure to take proper evasive action
(i.e., simply steer out of danger rather than hard
brake); some were the result of willfully
dangerous behavior.
Factors that reduce the effectiveness of risk
reduction techniques include:

Driver Conditions

Distracted

Fatigued

Aggressive while driving

Alcohol and other drugs usage

Risk-taking

Weather conditions

Light Conditions

Traffic conditions

Roadway conditions

Vehicle conditions
Photo Courtesy of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
5 — 15
Factors that contribute to RISK
The vehicle — Ownership responsibilities
require that a vehicle always be in good working
order. But there are times when a driver either
waits too long or neglects to do vehicle
maintenance. Factors such as worn or bald
tires; poorly adjusted and/or worn brakes,
broken headlights, worn windshield wiper
blades, dirty windshield, etc. all can be risk
factors
leading to possible conflicts and crashes.
Developing Habits and Judgment
Experiences you gain will guide you in your
decision making. Learning to drive means first
learning the physical skills of driving (procedural
tasks) and with extended practice refining these
procedures until they develop into habits. As
habits form, you will begin to feel more
comfortable with the procedural tasks of
operating a motor vehicle. Then through
observation and instruction, you will begin to
start applying decision-making skills
(processing tasks) based on the space
management system you are learning.
The roadway and environment — Roadway
and environmental risk factors include; roadway
construction and maintenance; areas of
restricted vision, such as intersections, hills and
sharp curves; weather conditions, such as
bright sun glare and shadows, wet slippery
roads, and limited visibility brought on by
adverse conditions.
There may be times when you may feel
resistance to the changes required to
effectively apply the skills you have learned into
a more structured method of driving. This
internal resistance to changing habits is natural,
but when changes are needed and you put
them into practice, it will aid you in developing
risk management skills.
How does one determine how much risk is
acceptable?
Decision-Making is the most important skill
used in driving. The driving task is fundamentally a thinking task, your hands and feet will do
only what your brain tells them to do and, in turn
your vehicle will respond to their input. A driver
operating in city traffic conditions can often
make 50-60 decisions per mile, most of them
without the driver realizing a decision has been
made. That is because most driving decisions
are based on an internalized sense of
procedures that tells us whether an action/
decision is appropriate or not. These
procedural decisions then become our habits,
based on our experiences.
Risk Acceptance—Involves Knowledge
about the potential for errors and the result of
the consequences for your decisions. As
mentioned earlier, you sometimes do not do
things correctly, but with knowledge you can
help reduce risk. Good seeing habits and your
ability to manage space on the roadway are
essential ingredients for reduced-risk driving.
Drivers need visibility, space, and time to avoid
possible conflicts and perform the driving
maneuvers needed to be a safe driver.
Risk Compensation—Involves recognizing
potential errors or limitations and making
appropriate adjustments to:

Reduce speed to reduce errors

Adjust lane position to reduce errors

Use appropriate communication to reduce
errors
The structure of a space management
system can help. You will very seldom be
surprised by the actions of others that would
require a critical high stress or evasive
response if you watch for slight changes, make
minor adjustments for best speed control and
lane position, and use effective communication.
Risk Management. To manage risk and to
lower the probability of a conflict, drivers must
perform driving tasks with reduced-risk results.
In order to do this, the driver must develop
social, physical, emotional, and mental skills.
As you begin your driving experience, you will
learn from both positive and negative
experiences.
Photo Courtesy of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
5 — 16
Space Management System

Space management process.

How to predict, analyze, and minimize risk
factors by utilizing a space management
system, such as "SEE iT—Search, Evaluate,
and Execute in Texas."

Space management system such as "SEE
iT—Search, Evaluate, and Execute in Texas‖
while establishing vehicle operating space,
line of sight, path of travel, lane placement,
right-of-way, following interval, vehicle
speed, and communication.

Space management system, such as
Search, Evaluate, Execute in Texas (SEE iT)
to predict, analyze, and minimize risk.

Space management system to safely interact
with other roadway users including
vulnerable roadway users.

Reduce risk by legally and responsibly
employing a space management system,
such as Search, Evaluate, Execute in Texas
(SEE iT) to predict, analyze, and minimize
necessary to
bring the
vehicle into
the most
controllable
situation.
With a welldefined
system for
determining a good or poor situation, the driver
can on a processing level, receive sufficient
feedback to improve the procedural level of his/
her mental driving performance.
Before moving the vehicle, the driver must
search for the ongoing conditions, continuously
evaluate the space/areas to determine which
are open, closed, or changing in the driver’s line
of sight or path of travel, and execute how much
acceleration is best, what lane position to take,
and decide whether or not there is a need for
communication.
As the driver proceeds, the speed and lane
position selected should be determined by the
changing conditions of the line of sight, path of
travel, and target areas. Examples of changing
conditions are: legal speed limits, roadway
conditions, lane width, environmental
conditions, lane selection, visibility, traffic flow,
time of day, traffic controls, and weather
conditions. Each of these conditions should
have an influence on what speed feels
comfortable, what lane selection or position is
chosen, and how communication techniques
are used.
Developing a System. Drivers are more likely
to see what they anticipate seeing, the more
routine their driving experience becomes. A low
level of risk expectancy makes a driver think
that things are not as threatening as they
actually are.
A space management system is a way to
organize information into meaningful
categories so drivers can easily and quickly
make good decisions.
As a result, the driver may continue to operate
in situations when conditions, on a processing
or judgment level, should dictate to him/her that
an adjustment in speed or lane position (time or
space) is needed. Fortunately, the consistent
use of a space management system can
combat this low level of expectation.
Therefore, to help new drivers develop safe
driving habits, it is necessary to establish some
guidelines on the processing level that will
compensate for this lack of alertness and low
level of awareness. Driving safely involves
knowing all the available options and the
willingness to use them. Otherwise, this low
level of risk expectancy will lead a driver into not
adjusting the speed or lane position that is
5 — 17
Orderly Visual Search Process
Look Ahead — Do Not Look Down!
Speed and Vision. As speed increases, the
amount of information needed to maintain car
position and detect movement also increases.
The ability of peripheral vision to detect the
motion of other objects is reduced when speed
increases. Minor adjustments to the steering
wheel occur in shorter time frames, causing
significant or exaggerated vehicle movements.
With higher speeds, the visual lead needs to
increase to give:

More time to gather information.

Increased peripheral vision, giving the
driver time to detect motion and decide an
adequate response.

More space between other vehicles and
your vehicle, so abrupt responses are held
to a minimum.
The Visual Search Process. The first space
management skill a driver must develop is an
effective visual search. To search effectively, a
new driver needs to know where to look, when,
how, and what to look for, and how to evaluate
if a potential problem could be a high risk or
reduced risk situation. A visual search process
is an organized pattern of focused eye
movements scanning the path of travel and
driving environment searching in a regular
sequence for critical areas or conditions.
An organized searching process starts from the
visual lead area, which is 20-30 seconds from
the front of the vehicle. Keeping the eyes
focused farther away from the vehicle will allow
the driver more time to make decisions.
Targeting in the center of the path of travel at
least 20 to 30 seconds ahead is critical to
gaining as much information as possible from
the driving scene.
WHERE AND HOW TO SEARCH
Where to search involves moving the eyes
from near (inside and outside the vehicle - as
close as the dashboard and mirrors) to 20 to 30
seconds into the target area to identify objects
or conditions that could increase the level of
risk.
There are three forward search patterns that
should continually be evaluated to gain control
over the intended path of travel. To have
effective control over the front zones drivers
must also keep awareness over the rear zone
which becomes the fourth search pattern. A
systematic search can help drivers develop an
effective searching pattern into habit. Such
searching habits will provide opportunities to be
mentally ahead of the vehicle and eliminate
high stress, high risk situations. One example
of a search pattern is:

Look to the target area

Search and evaluate the front zones in the
12-15 second range

Search driveways and intersections for
possible changes to the line of sight/path of
travel

Check the rearview mirror

Evaluate the 4-6 second range before
entering that space

Look again to the 12-15 second range

Check the 4-6 second range

Check the rearview mirror

Check speedometer and gauges
If environmental conditions limit one’s line of
sight to less than 20 seconds, adjust speed as
appropriate and look to the furthest point
possible. Determine an appropriate speed and
position and identify an alternate path 12 to 15
seconds ahead if the planned path of travel
should become closed or threatened. Searching
also involves monitoring the immediate path of
travel, four to eight seconds ahead, the
instrument panel, and timely mirror usage to
monitor
traffic to the
sides
and rear.
5 — 18
Space Management System
before searching to the target area, three or four
seconds would be quickly consumed and the
driver is not able to get mentally ahead of the
vehicle.
When to search involves timing and direction
of the search pattern. When to search requires
consciously looking to determine conditions all
around the vehicle before initiating any
maneuver.
What to search for requires forethought and
planning - To be effective when searching the
highway and traffic scene, the driver must be
looking for specific kinds of information. Simply
stated, ― Theeyes don’t tell the brain what it
sees—the brain tells the eyes what to look for.‖
If the brain is not programmed to look for
specific information, the eyes simply scan the
scene and primarily respond to the more
colorful and/or moving objects.
How to search involves looking in a systematic
pattern of far ahead to near, as well as to the
left, right, and rear of the vehicle; and, making
efficient use of both central and fringe vision.
Searching/Look To The Sides: When
approaching any place where other cars,
people or animals may cross the intended path,
look to both sides. Don’t rely on traffic lights or
stop signs. Always watch out for other drivers—
they may run the light. Check to the sides for
speed and lane position options. Identify the
best speed and lane position options for
existing conditions.
Since the brain is limited in the amount of
information it can process at any one time, a
more effective method is to search for and
classify information by category. Searching can
be made easier by classifying topics into one of
four groups:
Searching/Look Behind: Check the traffic
behind every time the foot goes to the brake.
Know if somebody is tailgating, coming up too
fast, or trying to pass. Most rear-end collisions
are caused by vehicles following too closely.
1. Roadway Features
 Road and lane width
 Lane markings
 Roadway surface
 Shoulder condition and slope
 Curb type and height
 Hills and curves
 Intersections and interchanges
 Areas of limited visibility
 Location and type of structures adjacent
to the roadway.
2. Signs, signals, and markings: Warning,
regulatory, directional, and informational.
3. Motorized vehicles: Cars, trucks, tractortrailer rigs, buses, motor homes,
motorcycles, construction/farm tractors, and
other slow moving equipment and horse
drawn equipment.
4. Non-motorized highway users:
Pedestrians, bicyclists, and animals.
Searching/Blind Spots: These are areas
around the vehicle that are not visible in the
mirrors. Enhanced Mirror (BGE) Settings help
reduce the blind spot areas. Before making any
move to the side, quickly turn the head to see if
the blind spot is clear. Also avoid driving in
someone else’s blind spot. It’s as important for
other drivers to see you as for you to see them.
Searching/Identify: Scan the road ahead for
potential hazards such as a vehicle, pedestrian,
animal, or situation that could force you to slow
down, speed up, or turn. Make more aggressive
searches when there are line-of-sight
restrictions that may conceal a pedestrian or a
bicyclist. A driver can look in, under, and around
parked cars for feet, wheels, shadows, and
movement. When done at the proper distance,
pedestrians and bicyclists can be seen before
they create a surprise.
Would an
airplane ever land
on a highway?
The immediate path is the space within 4-6
seconds of travel time. It is very important to
acquire the skills to search all three ranges: the
target area, the 12-15 second range, and the
immediate path. The immediate path should
only require an update of the conditions
originally detected when evaluating the travel
path. By looking only at the immediate path
Be prepared for
anything to
appear on the
roadway!
5 — 19
Space Management
Communication is an exchange of
information. To be effective communication
must be clear and take place early enough for
others to receive and act upon the information
that was sent. Drivers can communicate with
other highway users in several ways: through
the use of turn and emergency flasher signal
lights, brake lights and headlights; by lane
selection and position of the vehicle within a
lane; the use of hand signals, the horn and
speed of the vehicle; the actions of the driver
such as the use of a cell phone. Depending on
circumstances one method may be more
effective than another and at other times more
than one method may be needed.
Where to Stop. The pavement will tell you
where the legal stop must occur: the stop line,
the crosswalk, or before entering the
intersection. Use a staggered stop (15 feet from
the legal or safety stop) to give space for turning
traffic entering the lane beside you.
Few drivers realize that
signal lights flash only one
to three times per second
and as a result
the signal should be
activated several seconds
in advance of any planned
move so that other
highway users have enough time to see and
interpret your intentions. This time/distance is
typically well beyond the minimum distances
required by the motor vehicle code.
Searching into Turns. Turns and curves
reduce your line of sight. Adjust speed before
entering the turn. Before turning, turn your head
and look into the turn before turning the steering
wheel. Look through the turn to the exit. If you
can’t see the exit of the turn – Slow Down!
Searching Intersections. When approaching
an intersection search 45 degrees to the front,
left, right. While stopped, search 90 degrees –
left/front/right. The sequence depends upon the
conditions in the intersection. Search for line of
sight and/or path of travel restrictions.
Determine the point of no return (you will
continue into the intersection) when you are 2
seconds from the intersection. Your speed will
determine the distance from the intersection.
The slower you approach an intersection, the
more time you will have to decide if you can
enter the intersection or you must stop.
5 — 20
Space Management System
The Space Management System, SEE iT
(Searching, Evaluating, and Executing in
Texas — good to use while driving in all other
states, too) consists of components that will
allow the driver to manage time, space, and
visibility. The space management system is
easy to use and applies to all highway
situations.
EXECUTE appropriate adjustment(s). Carry
out any alternative action needed that best fits
the situation that has arisen. (Speed, lane
position, space cushion, and communication
method may all be required to reduce the risk.)
The driver can change speed, change direction,
or communicate.
A driver’s options relative to speed control
are:

Projected path clear - maintain speed

Projected path clear - increase speed

Projected path threatened - off accelerator/
decrease speed

Projected path closing -no alternate path/
decrease speed

Projected path closed - controlled braking/
decrease speed
The three-step process is to help change a
driver's awareness from the procedural habit
level to the process judgment level of driving.
The three steps must be actively practiced to
develop them into a decision-making process.
All three steps will be used to illustrate line of
sight and path of travel problems and solutions.
Achieving the very best use of speed control,
lane positioning, and communication is the most
important goal in reducing risk. Using the three
steps involved in space management and
applying them to the six basic space areas
(zones) around your vehicle will help you attain
that goal.
Considerations relative to communication
including adjustment of position, speed, and
use of signal devices are:

Circumstances under which a driver should
communicate

Timing of the communication

Method used to communicate
SEARCH for objects or conditions.
Searching means to scan the entire scene for
anything that might come into your line of sight
or path of travel. For instance, other roadway
users or conditions in or adjacent to the
projected path of travel that could increase risk.
Included are vehicles; pedestrians; animals;
restricted visual field; limited space to the front;
sides and/or rear; and potential conflict points
such as curves, long and/or steep downgrades;
hill crests, railroad crossings, and interchanges.
EVALUATE the projected path ahead for
alternate paths of travel. You need to give
meaning to what you have observed. Evaluate
where the possible points of conflict may occur,
what could happen and how it will affect you if
does occur, and what alternative in path of
travel and speed adjustments may be needed
to prevent the conflict from occurring. Check to
sides and rear for speed and lane position
options. Maintain open space on at least one
side into which the vehicle can be steered.
Identify best speed and position options for
existing conditions.
Photo Courtesy of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
5 — 21
Space Management — Searching
Searching 20 - 30 seconds ahead.
Sometimes a typical driver search is only four to
five seconds ahead of their vehicle. While
adequate to avoid stumbling when walking, this
short visual search leads to excessive braking,
and adjustments of speed and position when
driving. Development of an adequate visual
search is difficult to master. However, it is the
only way an individual can effectively assess a
safe travel path, identify possible sightline
changes well in advance, and determine
appropriate speed or position adjustments.
however, that a loaded tractor-trailer rig may
require 10 to 15 seconds to stop under the
same conditions.
Searching 4-8 seconds ahead. Searching 20
to 30 seconds ahead and identifying an
alternate path 12 to 15 seconds ahead into
which the vehicle can be steered, can assist in
avoiding most threatening situations. The driver
must also monitor the immediate path, 4 to 8
seconds ahead.
The 4 seconds ahead represents the following
interval and the 8 seconds provide a safe
stopping zone under most conditions. In heavy
traffic, the old 2 second following interval
provided time to steer, assuming the driver was
monitoring the actions of the vehicle five units
ahead, but was rarely sufficient time to safely
brake to a stop.
Searching 12 - 15 seconds ahead. By
searching ahead 20 to 30 seconds and
identifying an intended path of travel and
possible alternative paths 12 to 15 seconds in
advance, the driver has more time and space to
exercise options. By looking as far ahead as
possible and adjusting speed to the visual field,
the driver has more time to identify potential
problems. Early identification and assessment
of objects and/or conditions provides time to
adjust speed and/or position with awareness of
adjacent, oncoming, and/or following vehicles.
Depending on the driver’s level of attention to
driving and where that attention is directed at a
specific point in time, four to eight seconds
should provide sufficient time to bring most
passenger cars to a stop on a dry paved road or
improved shoulder. It is essential to remember,
20 to 30
12 to 15
4 to 8
Although your field of vision allows you to see the front three zones around your vehicle, you will need to
keep aware of the conditions in all six of the zones. This requires you to scan ahead of your intended
path of travel. In our illustration we have outlined this area in blue from the beginning of your field of
vision to the intended target area. You will need to perform an orderly search process in this area.
The search process will consist of three ranges:

4 to 8-second range—Immediate Action Required!

12 to 15-second range—Escape Routes.

20 to 30 second range to the target area—Looking for open path of travel.
5 — 22
Space Management — Searching
Three to Four Second Following Time. Gives
the most control over the space directly in front
of the vehicle. Reduce risk by creating as much
space as possible. Adequate distance has
many advantages:

More time to adjust to traffic conditions

reduced surprises

More space in which to maneuver the
vehicle

Control of the space ahead of the vehicle
Controlling Space to the Front and Rear.
There are three ways to control space to the
front. Time arrival to a given point by

Adjusting speed

Placement of the vehicle when stopping

Controlling speed while in motion.
Following Time. Following too closely is a
primary causation of traffic collisions among all
drivers. Time is needed to react to danger to
avoid a collision. A reasonable following time
may change as a result of road conditions,
weather conditions, fatigue, drugs, inattention,
or traffic conditions; and, even vehicles of
different weights affect the ability to stop.
The three to four second following time is
the minimum following time under good
driving conditions. Remember, how it works
like this:

Choose a fixed object such as a sign or tree
ahead of the car in front of you.

As the car ahead passes the object, count
off three or four seconds (one-thousandone, one-thousand-two, one- thousandthree, one-thousand-four).

If it takes at least three to four seconds
before you pass the object, you have
enough distance for a sudden stop.

In bad weather, increased your following
time by several seconds to give an extra
All time and distance relationships are designed
for the best driving conditions:



A 2-second following time provides the
driver time to steer out of problem areas at
all posted speeds on a dry surface and
brake out of problems at speeds under 35
mph.
A 3-second following time provides the
driver time to steer out of problem areas at
all posted speeds on dry surfaces and
brake out of problems at speeds to 45 mph.
At highway speeds even a 3-second
following time is inadequate when braking
to a stop to avoid striking a fixed object if
the vehicle following behind is a tractortrailer rig. In such instances, a stopping
zone of 10 to 15 seconds may be required.)
A 4-second following time provides the
driver time to steer out of problems at all
posted speeds on dry surfaces and brake
out of problems at speeds up to 70 mph. It
is important to note that many passenger
car tires are not designed to steer out of
problem areas at speeds beyond 75 mph.
At speeds over 75 mph, high speed rated
tires are required due to sidewall flexion at
higher speeds and turning movements.
5 — 23
Space Management
Controlling Space to the Rear. There are
options for controlling your rear zones: Check
the rear view mirror:

After seeing a change to conditions ahead

Before and after braking action

While stopped in traffic

Before and after making turns

Before and after making a lane change
The larger the vehicle in front of you, the more
following distance you will need.
Stopped at a Traffic Light. When you are the
first driver at a red traffic light and the traffic light
turns green, take two seconds to ensure the
intersection is open by delaying moving until
after you have searched the left, front, and right
zones.
Stopping Behind a Vehicle. When stopping
behind another vehicle, a safe driving habit is to
leave enough distance from the vehicle in front
so that the rear tires are seen touching the
pavement. This good habit may keep you from
hitting the vehicle in front of you if someone
crashes into the rear of your vehicle. It also
allows room to go around a stalled vehicle
without backing and causing a traffic hazard.
Conditions
Adjustments
A. Is your mirror blind spot clear?
Slow down or accelerate until you have a safe
following interval for either your car or the other
car and then change lanes. This applies to both A
and B conditions. Your vehicle position usually
determines which alternative you should choose.
B. There may not be enough
space in the next lane for
your vehicle to move into.
C. A vehicle in the lane you
want to move into may be
approaching at a speed
greater than you are traveling.
Wait until the vehicle passes and then proceed
with the lane change.
D. You may not be able to complete your lane
change before entering an intersection.
Wait. DO NOT change lanes in an intersection.
Drive through the intersection first and then proceed with the lane change.
There can be many other reasons to cancel or wait
to make a lane change. SAFETY MUST ALWAYS
COME FIRST. If there appears to be the possibility of a conflict, WAIT UNTIL THE WAY IS
CLEAR.
5 — 24
Space Management
When the planned path of travel is open, but
threatening objects or conditions exist on
both sides. When there are threatening
objects or conditions to both sides of the path of
travel, reduce speed, cover brake while in the
area of reduced space, and maintain lane
position one.
Making Lane Placement Decisions.



When space to the front is clear. When
traveling in lane position one, search 20 to
30 seconds ahead along the planned path
of travel and 12 to 15 seconds to the left
and right frontal areas to identify planned
and alternate paths of travel. Continually
reassess the immediate path four (4) to
eight (8) seconds ahead. If an object or
condition adjacent to the projected path of
travel reduces space to either side, check to
the rear and side and move to position two
or three as appropriate.
When there is no following traffic. The
absence of traffic to the rear provides the
maximum level of control to the rear. It permits
quicker and more abrupt changes of speed and/
or direction in response to changes in ongoing
and oncoming traffic or other roadway users.
When more than one object or condition
adjacent to path of travel poses a
possible threat. Having identified that the
planned path of travel is open, determine
which object or condition poses the greater
risk and decide on change of speed and/or
position appropriate to the situation.
Depending on which object represents the
more serious consequences; a reduction in
speed and movement to lane position two
or three is typically sufficient.
Selecting a Safe Gap. Knowing how much
space there is between you and other vehicles
is critical. The ability to judge a safe gap is
necessary any time a driver is joining with traffic
or passing through an intersection. Enough time
is needed to make speed and steering
adjustments.
The vehicle approaching from the left will be the
most hazardous, since it will enter your path of
travel before vehicles traveling from the right.
Different size gaps are needed for different
maneuvers. To judge a gap, estimate the speed
and closing rate of the on-coming vehicles. A
larger gap is needed to turn right than to cross
an intersection. A left turn is more dangerous
than a right turn because the vehicle is in the
intersection for a longer period of time.
When the planned path of travel is
closed, but alternate paths are open.
Having identified alternate paths of travel 12
to 15 seconds ahead and maintained an
area into which the vehicle can be steered
into at least one side, more time is provided
to reassess traffic to the side(s) and rear
and communicate intentions prior to
adjusting position and speed.
From a stopped position, to pass through an
intersection with traffic moving at 30 mph the
gap needed is:

5-6 seconds to cross a two lane roadway
without interfering with traffic flow (look for
vehicles almost a block away)

7-8 seconds to cross a four lane intersection

7-8 seconds to turn left (look for vehicles
more than a block away)

6-7 seconds to turn right (look for vehicles
at least a block away)

When changing lanes look for a 4-6 second
gap
When the planned path of travel is closed
and there is no alternate path. Having
determined when searching 20 to 30 seconds
ahead that there is no alternate path available
12 to 15
seconds ahead, immediately check to the sides
and rear to detect the presence, location, size,
and speed of any following vehicles. If present,
flash brake lights to alert the following driver
and begin to apply the brakes.
Attempt to maintain forward motion while
opening up the space ahead. If the distance
ahead cannot be increased, brake to a stop
while maintaining a gap to the rear.
5 — 25
Space Management
Vehicle Distance Traveled Per Second.
Vehicles travel at 1.467 feet per second. To
determine how many feet a vehicle is traveling
at a given speed two methods for calculating
result in almost the same answer.


Simple reaction time: the average is .75—
ranges from .5 to 2.0 seconds
Complex reaction time: the average is 2.5—
ranges from 2.0 to 7.0 seconds
Factors Affecting Response Time
Perception time can be affected by: distractions,
inattention, poor visibility, line-of-sight
restrictions, etc. Reaction time can be affected
by: fatigue, illness, medications, alcohol, age,
etc.
Formula #1
5,280 feet ÷ 60 min ÷ 60 Sec =
1.467 feet traveled per second
1.467 X 50mph = 73.3 feet per second
Examples of response times:
Formula #2 (For a more simplified calculation,
but not precise, multiply speed by 1.5 feet per
second)

2 seconds on dry surfaces — steer out of
problem areas at all speeds or brake out of
problem areas at speeds under 35 mph

3 seconds on dry surfaces — steer out of
problem areas at all speeds or brake out of
problem areas at speeds under 45 mph

4 seconds on dry surfaces — steer out of
problem areas at all speeds or brake out of
problem areas at speeds up to 70 mph
1.50 X 50mph = 75 feet per second
Formula #3 (for the easier calculation). Take
the speed, divide by 2, add the result back to
the original speed.
50mph ÷ 2 = 25
25 + 50 = 75 feet per second
Knowing how fast the vehicle is traveling can
help drivers understand the limits of their ability
to react and the vehicle to respond.
Cut reaction time by covering the brake
when a possible conflict is seen. Covering
the brake is accomplished by holding the foot
over the brake pedal. Most passenger car tires
are not designed to steer out of problem areas
at speeds over 75 mph. High speed rated tires
are required because of sidewall flexion at high
speeds and turning movements.
Driver Response Time. Drivers need sufficient
time to see a hazard, determine a safe
response and time to take the correct action.
Perception time is the amount of time it takes
for you to see a hazard.
Reaction time is the time it takes for you to act
after you saw the hazard. The average reaction
time is 3/4 second. The hands can respond
quicker than the feet.
Photo Courtesy of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
5 — 26
Space Management
Reduced Risk Driving Decisions. When
driving, 50-60 decisions are made per mile.
Those decisions are based upon the ability to
see and identify potential hazards. As traffic
conditions are evaluated, the driver must be
able to accurately predict

If the hazard is moving toward you or away
from you?

If the traffic light is a stale green?

If the zone will be open or closed?

What lane position should you be in?

Where will the other driver go?

Is there more than one possible action?

Where would your escape route be?

Where will the point of conflict occur?

Will the pedestrian enter the roadway?

Is there is sufficient traction?

How fast is the vehicle traveling?

What other possible decisions could be
made?
fend)
2.
Change Speed.

Path of travel is open—maintain,
increase, or decrease speed

Path of travel is changing—off
accelerator and cover brake

Path of travel is closing—off
accelerator, squeeze brake

Path of travel is closed—controlled
braking
3. Change Direction—some times the safest
action is to take another route.
Once a prediction is made, the decision must
be made on the action you will take to avoid the
hazard. Your goal is to perform (execute) the
action with smooth precision. Drivers have three
actions available; and, more than one action
may be needed.

Move to a different lane position to gain
more space

Change lanes

Turn onto another street
New conditions and situations are always
present when driving. A driver must constantly
question the present conditions.

What speed selection feels most
comfortable for each situation?

What is the legal speed limit?

What should the lane or lane position be?

What is a good speed selection for this
situation?
1. Communicate. To be effective,
communication must be clear and early
enough for others to perceive and react
upon. Communication techniques include:

Signals (turning, backing, hazards)

Brake light (flash, slowing, stopping)

Lane position (space management,
turning intent)

Horn (a light tap to warn, increase eye
contact)

Head lights (visibility, hazards)

Hand signals (never intentionally
of-
What would be a high risk or poor speed
selection, with little to gain? Each situation is
different with changing conditions.
The speed and lane position selected are
usually based upon the legal limitations, the
destination, and what is comfortable for the
driver. Whatever the choices for speed and
position, the space management system relies
on looking for conditions that could cause less
control over line of sight, and/or targeting
area, and/or path of travel. Watch for changes
5 — 27
Space Management System
There are five choices for lane placement
without making a lane change. Most cars are
less than six feet wide while highway lanes are
10 to 12 feet wide. This leaves four to six feet of
space to the side without having to change
lanes. Lane Placement:

Lane placements 1, 2, and 3 are positions
within a given travel lane.

Lane placement 4 and 5 involve moving the
vehicle so that the left or right wheels are
straddling the lane line markers.

Other options involve changing lanes or
moving to the shoulder of the road.
least one side 12 to 15 seconds ahead into
which the vehicle can be steered and safely
brake to a stop.
Under conditions where there is no alternate
path into which the vehicle can be steered, the
only option is to reduce speed to increase the
following interval. Anytime a driver moves into
an area of reduced space with a vehicle
tailgating, it is essential that the driver start
reducing speed earlier. Slowing earlier and
tapping the brakes to alert the following driver
provides greater control over the vehicle to the
rear.
Controlling space to the front - There are
three ways to control space to the front. The
driver can time arrival at a given point by
adjusting speed, placement of the vehicle when
stopping, and controlling speed while in motion.
To improve following interval under heavy but
free flowing traffic conditions, take advantage of
the tendency of drivers to travel in platoons or
packs. Rather than driving in a pack, position
the vehicle in the first or second lane from the
right, behind the last vehicle in the pack and
establish four second following interval. Now
reduce speed by two to three miles per hour.
Within a matter of seconds traffic will clear.
True, faster moving vehicles in the next platoon
will overtake and pass, but basically there will
be many fewer vehicles to deal with at any one
time.
In the past, on multiple lane higher speed
highways, faster moving traffic tended to travel
in lane one, the lane furthest to the left.
However, over the past few years there appears
to have been a move away from such lane
discipline, and weaving has increased between
all lanes. This behavior obviously calls for
increased vigilance of traffic to the sides and
rear regardless of the lane selected.
The purpose of an aggressive visual search is
to better enable the driver to identify safe
projected and alternate paths of travel. The
vehicle must be positioned properly so that the
driver has an adequate sight path. Maintaining
an adequate sight path requires a following
interval of at least four seconds. [The two
second following distance rule was intended to
provide time to steer, not stop].
At highway speeds even a four second interval
is inadequate when braking to a stop to avoid
striking a fixed object if the vehicle following
behind is a tractor trailer rig. In such instances a
stopping zone of 10 to 15 seconds may be
required. Therefore one of the goals of the
decision making process is to always attempt to
identify an alternate path, an open area to at
5 — 28
Space Management System
Basis for lane adjustment. Using the SEE
system approach, lane adjustments are based
on restrictions to the line of sight or to the
intended path of travel. Assigning lane position
numbers or colors to the basic positions within a
lane allows the new driver to move to the
position quickly and can be communicated more
easily than asking the student to move over a
little (Module 3). Each lane position has a
reference guide to make it easily used. LP 1 is 2
-3 feet from left and right sides of lane, while LP
2 is within 6 inches of the left line, and LP 3 is
within 6 inches of the right line. Straddle
positions are to the left or right lines or edges of
roadway. Other adjustments are lane changes
and should be considered to the left or to the
right.
When the planned path of travel is closed
and there is no alternate path. Having
determined when searching 20 to 30 seconds
ahead that there is no alternate path available
12 to 15 seconds ahead, the driver should
immediately check to the side(s) and rear to
detect the presence, location, size, and speed
of any following vehicles. If present, flash brake
lights to alert the following driver and begin to
apply the brakes. Attempt to maintain forward
motion while opening up the space ahead. If the
distance ahead cannot be increased, brake to a
stop while maintaining a gap to the rear.
When the planned path of travel is open, but
threatening objects or conditions exist on
both sides. When there are threatening objects
or conditions to both sides of the path of travel,
reduce speed, cover brake while in the area of
reduced space, and maintain lane position one.
When space to the front is clear. When
traveling in lane position one, search 20 to 30
seconds ahead along the planned path of travel
and 12 to 15 seconds to the left and right frontal
areas to identify planned and alternate paths of
travel. Continually reassess the immediate path
four to eight seconds ahead. If an object or
condition adjacent to the projected path of travel
reduces space to either side, check to the rear
and side and move to position two or three as
appropriate.
When there is no following traffic. The
absence of traffic to the rear provides the
maximum level of control to the rear. It permits
quicker and more abrupt changes of speed and/
or direction in response to changes in ongoing
and oncoming traffic or other roadway users.
When more than one object or condition
adjacent to path of travel poses a possible
threat. Having identified that the planned path
of travel is open, determine which object or
condition poses the greater risk and decide on
change of speed and/or position appropriate to
the situation. Depending on which object
represents the more serious consequences, a
reduction in speed and movement to lane
position two or three is typically sufficient.
When the planned path of travel is closed,
but alternate paths are open. Having
identified alternate paths of travel 12 to 15
seconds ahead and maintained an area into
which the vehicle can be steered on at least
one side, more time is provided to reassess
traffic to the side(s) and rear and communicate
intentions prior to adjusting position and speed.
Photo Courtesy of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
5 — 29
Space Management System
The typical sizes of gaps needed to perform
the maneuver in a passenger vehicle

Right turn: 7-9 second gap to the left

Left Turn: 9 second gap to the right and 7
second gap to the left

Crossing a Four Lane Road: 6-7 second
gap in traffic from both directions

Merging: 8-second gap in traffic

Changing Lanes: 4-second gap in traffic

Passing: You will need to accelerate 1015 mph faster than the vehicle you are
passing. At 50 mph it will take 6 seconds
to pass a vehicle traveling at 40 mph.

3-Point Turnabout: 20-30 second gap in
both directions

When stopped in traffic wait 2 seconds
before moving your vehicle – search the
front zones.

When you are the first one stopped in
line at a traffic light, wait 2 seconds before
moving when the light turns green. Search
the intersection for red light runners.
You will need to increase these times and
distances for:

Large trucks

Campers

Buses

Heavy traffic
Adverse
road
conditions

5 — 30
Space Management System
Searching into a curve. Seeing the curve and/
or downgrade 12 seconds ahead as a front
zone change or a limitation in the path of travel
will cause less stress and give the driver more
control because he/she will now test the braking
capabilities and get the best speed and lane
position to negotiate the curve.
account of your tracking path. As you are more
confident in the use of reference points, your
fringe vision will be more comfortably and
efficiently used.
By searching into the curve you are able to
immediately evaluate any problem to your LOSPOT at a time when you may need to avoid a
surprise crash situation.
If a driver notices that the front is closed to your
path of travel (POT— space to the target
ahead that your vehicle will occupy on the
roadway) due to the red light and the stopped
car. You can save fuel if you stop accelerating
and use the energy of the car’s momentum. You
should also apply the brake with light pressure.
Looking 12 seconds ahead would enable you to
see the right zone change created by the traffic
that is pulling out of parking spaces and by the
bus that is stopped or stopping in the right lane.
The control you have of the front zone will be
changed by the curve of the entrance ramp and
by the traffic flow that will be coming from your
left. Trees can cause a LOS limitation.

After seeing a curve in the roadway, make a
mirror check for rear zone awareness.

Check the left, front, and right zones to
know what your options are.

To evaluate your POT, search into the
curve before you turn the steering wheel.

Search 12 seconds ahead for new LOSPOT changes.
Looking for Problems. The problem most
drivers have is that most often they don’t have
problems. Think about that for a while. Do
drivers really expects a problem over the hill
crest or around the curve? For the previous
9,000 times going into the curve, there wasn’t a
problem. Drivers feel comfortable going a little
faster than they perhaps should, but still there is
no problem. When the problem does occur, we
get surprised.
Curves and hills reduce a line of sight (LOS –
sight distance from the driver’s eyes to the
target at the end of the intended path of travel)
You are unable to see what you are driving into;
therefore, you cannot know how your POT is.
Looking 12 seconds ahead into curves means
to direct your eyes through the curve, trying to
see to the end of the curve as soon as you
possibly can. By looking through hills and
curves, you are
consciously looking to
see if your POT is
open or closed to your
vehicle’s movement.
For example: a car stalls while backing out of a
driveway into our POT. So what’s the solution?
We must see the curve and hill crest as a LOS
change, then aggressively look for the actual
POT available or not available to you.
Basic Cornering. As you approach a curve, do
your braking in a straight line. Remember the bit
about the tire patches. If you’re braking at 1.05
Gs, and that is the limit of the tires, if you start
to turn, something’s going to happen you don’t
want to happen. As the driver turns to the apex,
he/she should release pressure on the brake.
If you were looking
ahead, you would see
the zone change to
your LOS-POT
created by the curve.
Your LOS is closed.
As you get closer to
the curve, by looking
into the curve you
would be able to see
the condition of your
POT as early as
possible.
If the driver is still braking as steering is feed to
the vehicle, he should release pressure in the
same manner as he/she steers. This is called
trailing brake and will allow the driver to control
motion of vehicle into curve. The apex of the
corner is the point at which your car is closest to
the inside edge of the usable roadway surface.
With most cars, the driver should use a late
apex so that they can use the power sooner on
the exit of the curve.
While looking into the curve you will be using
your central vision to see any changes to your
POT, and your fringe vision should keep
5 — 31
Space Management System
Managing Space—Multiple Lane Roadways

Adjust the vehicle’s position and speed to
road and weather conditions in order to
provide time for braking, accelerating, and
steering.

Develop a minimal four second following
interval when merging onto the roadway,
changing lanes, and exiting the expressway
area.

Minimal steering inputs are needed to
change lanes when passing, entering, or
exiting. Excessive steering can lead to a
loss of control at higher speeds.

Move over one lane at a time rather than
moving across multiple lanes. Visibility and
time are key elements to performing a safe
lane change.

Make room for vehicles entering the
roadway from an entrance ramp by
changing lanes when clear.

When another driver tailgates, it is safer to
change lanes while keeping an adequate
distance to the front of the vehicle.

Maintain plenty of space when returning to
the lane after a pass.

Reduce speed when roadway narrows at
tunnels, construction zones, and for larger
vehicles.

Be alert for cross winds when driving over
bridges or through open mountain passes.
5 — 32
Space Management System—Scenario
Review Vehicle Operating Space (Module 3). There are seven basic areas of operating space for a
vehicle. Six of the space areas (zones) are around the vehicle, and the seventh or the central space is
what your vehicle occupies. Our concern is for the six zones that surround the central area. This
diagram illustrates the six zones which are visible to the driver in the central area. Each of the six
zones around the vehicle is identified by number, name, and color. This is to help make the zone areas
easier for you to understand and identify.
Direction of Travel
3
1
Right-Front Zone
(Maroon)
Front Zone
(Yellow )
2
Right-Rear Zone
(White)
Central Space Area
Left-Front Zone
(Green)
5
Rear Zone
(Blue)
Left-Rear Zone
(Red)
6
4
A zone refers to one of the six spaces around your vehicle. It is the width of a traffic lane and extends
as far as you can see. A zone has three characteristics, it can be OPEN, CLOSED or CHANGING.
OPEN — An open zone is a space where you can drive without restriction to either your line of sight or
path of travel.
CLOSED — The space or area is not available for the vehicle’s path of travel or there is a restriction to
the driver's line of sight. An alternative path of travel must be developed.
CHANGING — A worsening zone condition. It is often an open zone space that is changing to a closed
zone. Line of sight and/or path of travel become restricted resulting in an area with additional problems
or changes developing.
New conditions are always presenting themselves when driving. A driver must constantly question the
present conditions based on risk probability and potential consequences. There are many ways a driver
can be involved in a crash. Most are a result from the driver's inability to control the target area, line of
sight, or path of travel. Imagine you are the driver of the RED CAR. In this illustration you are
driving 55 miles per hour in the center lane on a three-lane roadway. There is a motorcycle traveling 50
miles per hour and a blue car traveling 60 miles per hour in the adjacent right lane. Do you recognize
the potential for a conflict?
Target
Area
Line of Sight
Path of Travel
Direction of Travel
Avoiding most problem situations requires you to apply the proper visual search techniques to the zones
around your vehicle, evaluate what you have
observed, and make the necessary adjustments to
path of travel, speed, and target area. First, add
zones to our illustration. We will apply a search of
the overlaying six zones to see if we can get a better
perception of the area or areas that could possibly
develop into a space conflict.
5 — 33
Space Management - Scenario
Searching: (Keep your eyes moving.)



Look ahead to your target area range. This area should be clear of any obstructions. If a vehicle
moves into your path of travel, adjust your target area to a new location and reestablish the path of
travel with an appropriate following distance. In heavy traffic volume, try to maintain a minimum 4second following distance to ensure time to respond should a conflict arise.
Check your left-front zone and your right-front zone in the 12 to 15 second range. Look for things
that could obstruct your line of sight or path of travel (intersections, driveways, traffic control
devices, parked cars, etc.) Use your mirrors (rearview and side) to check your rear zones. Give
quick shoulder checks to check blind spots.
Evaluate your 4 to 8 second range, this is critical space when you need to respond to a potential
conflict that may arise. (Although it may not always be possible try to keep 4 to 8 second range
area clear in all three of your front zones it is important to identify which of the six zones are open
and which are closed in case of a conflict.)
You will repeat this pattern continually as you move forward. Each time you look or glance at a
zone, it should only take an instant, allowing you to scan all six zones within seconds, without distracting
you from your original line of sight and target area. Searching using this pattern above will allow you to
evaluate all zones in your path of travel well in advance of possible conflicts. In our next example, we
can see how this search method applies.
Evaluating — After searching and seeing a changing or closed space area, evaluate the conditions of
the opposite space area before making a decision.
 Our path of travel appears clear, but the blue car approaching the motorcycle, is traveling at a faster speed, and consequently a possible zone change could happen.
 The motorcycle is in zone three and is also in the 12 to 15 second range.
 The blue car is also in zone three, but is in our 4 to 8 second range and closing in on the motorcycle
which is traveling slower.
DO YOU SEE the possible PROBLEM that could develop into a conflict?
3
5
1
6
2
4
5 — 34
Space Management - Scenario
Executing — Based on your evaluation of the related space areas, make a conscious effort to
communicate your intentions, and then execute the best speed and lane position adjustments that the
situation may require. Whatever speed and position you choose, the space management system
recommends looking for ways to compensate for ongoing conditions that could cause less control over
line of sight, targeting area, and/or path of travel. In other words, the driver should closely monitor
changes to the space areas in the front and to the rear of the vehicle. In our example, there are a
number of different actions you could take to avoid a potential conflict.
Let’s now conclude the scenario — You identified a possible conflict situation developing between
you and the blue car. This conflict will happen because the blue car traveling 60 mph is going at a faster
speed than the motorcycle which is traveling at 50 mph. In a few seconds the blue car must cross into
your path of travel to overtake the motorcycle. (You must never assume the driver of the blue car knows
you are there. You may be in the driver’s blind spot, the driver may be distracted, or the blue car’s driver
may simply believe he/she has plenty of room, or that you will get out of the way.)
Response - You noticed zone 3 is closed — with the possibility of zone one becoming closed as well.
You need to adjust your speed and lane position to allow the 4-to-8 second range to clear. This action
results in the motorcycle moving into the 20 to 30 second range in zone 3 and the blue car moving into
the 12 to 15 second range of zone 3.
The blue car started to change lanes upon entering zone one. You had prepared by adjusting your
speed and lane position in the central zone. As the lane change occurred you had two options:
slow down even more and allow the blue car to proceed into zone 1; or change your position and move
into the open zone 2. Both options would safely avoid any conflict between red and blue cars.
There are other possible choices you could have made. You must evaluate each situation that
develops on its own merit, and make the best decision you can based on what you have observed. By
watching for slight changes, making minor adjustments for best speed control and lane position, and
using effective communication, you will very seldom be surprised by the actions of others. Therefore,
high-stress or evasive responses may be minimized or avoided entirely.
Our example had several easy solutions. Experienced drivers who have developed proper search
patterns would have considered this a routine situation. Hopefully, this scenario raised your
awareness of the need to always be diligent in your space management system by applying proper
visual searches and utilizing zone control.
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In-Car Progress Assessment
In-Car Progress Assessment Tool located in Module 13: In-Car Instruction
The student reduces risk by legally and responsibly utilizing an in-car progress assessment tools to
evaluate and improve behind-the-wheel skill level (mastery equals 70% or above). The student is
assessed with a In-Car Progress Assessment Tool while demonstrating the ability to:

perform pre-drive tasks including pre-start and pre-drive maintenance procedures performed
prior to and after entering the vehicle;

utilize occupant protection and correct posture, seating, steering wheel, and hand positions;

locate, identify, and respond appropriately to vehicle symbols (alert and warning);

utilize vehicle devices (control, information, safety, communication, convenience, and comfort);

perform starting tasks including engine starting, engine operation, and starting-maintenance
procedures;

describe vehicle operating space;

perform vehicle operation and control tasks to accelerate, decelerate, steer (straight, right, and
left), move forward, back, turn (left and right), perform lateral and turnabout maneuvers, stop,
and park at various speeds;

perform blindspot and mirror checks;

perform multi-task performances utilizing countermeasure to compensate for divided attention;

sustain visual attention and communicate while executing vehicle maneuvers;

utilize a space management system; and

perform post-drive tasks including stopping, engine shut-down, post-drive maintenance, exiting
including a visual check to ensure that all passengers especially children and animals are out of
the vehicle, and securing procedures.
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Driving Plan
A Driving Plan incorporates the Knowledge and Skills of Module 5: Risk Management into the Driving
Plan whereby the student may utilize the Driving Plan to develop and sustain legal and responsible
reduced-risk driving practices. When describing a Driving Plan, the student will use the information
learned from Module 5: Risk Management to develop a positive driving culture as it relates to “Safety,
Economy, and Civility.”
Safety or the reduction of risk or injury. Legal and responsible reduced risk driving practices.
Economy or the reduction in the use of our environmental resources. Consumer responsibility,
conservation, environmental protection, and litter prevention.
Civility or the increase in polite and respectful acts—Share the Road. Sharing the roadway with other
roadway users including but not limited to motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians, trucks, work zone/
construction workers, animals, trains, etc.
The student will describe his/her Driving Plan in the Student Workbook.
Driving Plan Structure:
Safety: I will use the information I learned in Module 5: Risk Management to develop legal and
responsible reduced risk driving practices by …(student completes statement)
Economy: I will use the information I learned in Module 5: Risk Management to conserve our
environmental resources and develop environmentally friendly driving practices by … (student
completes statement)
Civility: I will use the information I learned in Module 5: Risk Management to develop courteous driving
behaviors to share the roadways with other roadway users by … (student completes statement)
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Classroom Progress Assessment
To achieve mastery of Module 5: Risk Management, the student must score 70% or above on the
classroom progress assessment. The student may want to discuss the results of the scored Progress
Assessment tool with the instructor. The student should utilize the scored assessment tool to improve
classroom knowledge and understanding.
The Module 5: Risk Management classroom progress assessment can be located in
the Classroom Progress Assessment Booklet.
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