About the Author

Brief Contents

List of Figures, Tables, and Boxes

Acknowledgments

Introduction

“The Good Driver” Myth

Basic Rules of the Road (Then and Now)

What This Book Is All About

PART I C DRIVING IS A STATE OF MIND C AND BODYC AND VEHICLE

Chapter 1 - The Mind/Body Driving Connection

Physical and Mental Fatigue

And Just What Kinds of Problems Does

Driving While Fatigued Create?

The Way You Sit in a Car Can Help

You Remain Alert

“Avoid Driving While Taking This

Product”

Driving While Under the Influence ..

Chapter 2 - Your Vision and Sense of Space

Protecting Your Vision

Seeing at Night

Protecting and Enhancing Your Driving

Vision C Day and Night

Car Design and Visibility

The Myth of “Tired Eyes”

Selective Vision and Your Sense of Space

Looking Near, Looking Far

Always Leave Yourself an “Out”

Sense of Space in Traffic Situations

Chapter 3 - Your Reaction Time/

Sense of Timing

What Is Reaction Time?

A Hypothetical Example of Reaction Time/

Sense of Timing

Many Factors Other Than Age Affect

Reaction Time

Decision Making Behind the Wheel

Over-dependence on Reaction Time

Training Can Improve Reaction Time

Chapter 4 - The Windshield and Mirrors: Your “Windows” to the Road

The Windshield

Windshield Visibility

Windshield Wipers

Rearview and Sideview Mirrors

How Important Are Mirrors?

Adjusting the Mirrors

“Blind Spots”

Chapter 5 - Seat Belts and Child Safety Seats  

Seat Belts

Why Do We Need Seat Belts?

How to Wear a Seat Belt Properly

Child Safety Seats

For Short Trips, Why Bother with a

Child Safety Seat?

An Adult’s Lap Is Pretty Safe, Right?

When Are Kids Big Enough for a

Regular Seat Belt?

There Are So Many Kinds of Safety Seats.

Which One Is Best?

Why Does an Infant Seat Have to Face

the Rear?

How do I Make Sure the Child Safety Seat

Is Working Properly?

Where’s the Safest Place for Kids

in the Car?

Symptoms of “Sick” Tires

Proper Tire Rotation

Worn Tires

Tire Abuse C Yours and Nature’s

Wheel Spinning

Driving Speed

Temperature and Temperature Changes

Chapter 9 - Smart Car Care: Tips for Keeping Your Vehicle Safe and on the Road

Stick to Your Routine (Maintenance)

Keep Your Vehicle a Well-Oiled Machine

Go with the Flow: Your Vehicle’s Fluids

Know the Positives and Negatives of

Your Battery

Check Wipers & Washer Fluid Intermittently

Light the Way to Safer Driving

Help Your Tires Tread Lightly

Conserve FuelBut I’m Not Comfortable with My Child in the Back. Shouldn’t She Be Closer to Me?

If an Older Child Must Be Seated in Front  

Chapter 6 - Air Bags: How They Work and

Precautions to Take

How Air Bags Work

Air Bag System Components  

Rapid Deployment  

Dust

Side and Curtain Air Bags

Precautions to Take

The Risk Zone

Air Bag Fatalities

Protecting Yourself and Your Passengers

from Potential Air Bag Injury

Tilt and Telescoping Steering Wheels

Manual On-Off Switches for Air Bags

Chapter 7 - Tires, Part I: Type and Quality

Make a Big Difference

Tire Tread Design

All-Weather Tires

Snow Tires

Chains and Studded Snow Tires

How to Decode a Tire: The Sidewall Story

Typical Information on the Sidewall of a

Passenger Car Tire

Typical Information on the Sidewall of a

Light Truck Tire

Replacement Tire Selection

Tire Size and Construction

Speed Rating

Tire Mounting Do’s and Don’t’s

Chapter 8 - Tires, Part II:  Care and Maintenance

Make an Even Bigger Difference

Proper Tire Inflation Pressure

The Correct Air Pressure

Keeping Tires at Proper Pressure Is Easy

The Perils of Improper Inflation

Chapter 9 - Smart Car Care: tips for Keeping Your Vehicle Safe on the Road 

Stick to Your routine Maintenance

Keep Your Vehicle a well-oiled machine

Go with the Flow--Your vehicles Fluids

Know the Positives and Negatives of Your Battery

Check Wipers and Washer Fluid Intermittently

LIght the Way to Safer Driving

Help Your Tires Tread Lightly

Conserve fuel

Chapter 10 - Know Your Car:

The Ten-Minute Checklist

Air Filter

Battery

Belts and Hoses

Brake Fluid

Brake System

Coolant /Antifreeze

Engine Oil

Lights

Power Steering Fluid

Shock Absorbers

Tire Pressure

Wheel Alignment

Tire Rotation

Tire Tread

Transmission Fluid

Washer Fluid

Wiper Blades

Chapter 11 - The Glove Compartment and Trunk: Keep Them Well Stocked for Safety

What to Carry in the Glove Compartment

in Case of a Breakdown

What to Carry in Your Trunk

What to Keep in a First-Aid Kit

Cold Weather Gear

PART II C THE SCIENCE AND TECHNIQUES OF  EVERYDAY DRIVING

Chapter 12 - Introduction to Vehicle Dynamics:

The Physical Basis of Car Control

Loss of Control C Two Types

Wherever the Laws of Physics Take It Y 

Chapter 13 - Maintaining Traction: Tire-to-Road

Grip and Weight Transfer

Tire Adhesion C Tire-to-Road Grip

Rolling Contact

Weight Transfer to the Tire Patch

“Car Feel” C Keeping in Touch with the

Control Limits of the Car

Chapter 14 - Losing and Regaining Traction:

How to Handle Braking Skids,

Power Skids, and Cornering Skids

Braking Skids

Front-Wheel Braking Skid

Rear-Wheel Braking Skid

Power (Acceleration) Skids

Rear-Wheel Drive Power Skid

Front-Wheel Drive Power Skid

Cornering Skid

Chapter 15 - Steering and G-Forces:

Vehicle Dynamics in Action

Newton’s Laws of Motion Applied to Driving C Simplified

Your Vehicle’s Control Limits

The “Driving Equation” C Figuring Out

the G-Force

Small Changes in Speed/

Very Big Changes in G-Forces

The Tire Adhesion Factor

The Phenomenon of Understeer

and Oversteer

Neutral Steer, Understeer, Oversteer

The Physical Dynamics of Understeer

 and Oversteer

Causes of Understeer and Oversteer

How to Compensate for Understeer

and Oversteer

Power Oversteer 146

Trailing Throttle Oversteer 146

Chapter 16 - Curves and Cornering at Speed:

How to Handle the Road When

It’s Not Straight

The Three Types of Corners (Curves)

The Science of Handling the Curves

Cornering Techniques

“Straightening Out the Corners”

Outside-Inside-Outside Technique

Speed and Braking while Cornering

Remember, You Cannot Judge the

Next Curve by the Last One  

Chapter 17 - Speed and Stopping Distances:

The Time-Distance Relationship

to Stopping and Turning  

Speed Plays All Kinds of Tricks on Us

Miles Per Hour (mph) vs

Feet Per Second (fps)

Time-Distance Driving Scenario

Time-Distance-Weight Driving Scenario

Time Needed to Cross an Intersection

Time Needed to Turn at an Intersection

Safe Following Distances and Braking

A Typical Following Distance Scenario

How Much Space Should You Keep

in Front of You

How Do Your Figure Out How Much

Space You Have?

Safe Following Distances When Driving

at Night

Specific Following Distances for

Certain Vehicles

Chapter 18 - Braking Control, Part I:

The Science of How a Car Stops

Brakes Don’t Stop Cars

Brake Pedal Pressure and Loss of Control

The Vehicle Stopping Equation

Chapter 19 - Braking Control, Part II: Non-ABS

and ABS Techniques

The Difference between Non-ABS and ABS  

Non-ABS Braking

“Controlled Braking” in Non-ABS Vehicles 179

ABS Braking 181

Brake Failure 182

Brake Fade  182

Practice Makes Perfect 183

Chapter 20 - Turning: How to Turn Left, Turn Right, Back Up, and Turn Around 185

Turning Left

Turning Right

Backing Up

Cars Are Designed to Go Forward

Key Points to Keep in Mind When

Backing Up

Turning Around

U-Turns

Two-Point Turns

Three-Point Turn

Chapter 21 - Passing and Being Passed

When NOT to Pass

When to Pass

How to Pass Safely

Signaling Your Intent to Pass

Safe Passing Distance

Safe Passing Speeds

Special Passing Situations

Passing on Three-Lane Highways

Passing on the Right

Being Passed

Give Way to the Right

Maintain a Steady Speed

How to Merge onto a  Highway Without Crashing 207

PART III C ACCIDENTS

Chapter 22- Accident Stats: Who, What, When,

and How

Gender

Age

Age/Gender Differences

Alcohol Involvement

Vehicle Types

Crash Types

Chapter 23 - What Causes Accidents?

The Driving System

The Driving Problem

Types of Accidents

Accident-Producing Situations Caused by

Drivers Themselves

Accident-Producing Situations Caused by

Defective Vehicles

Chapter 24 - Typical Accident Scenarios:

And How to Deal with Them

Yield the Right of Way

Basic Accident Situations

Oncoming Car

Entering & Merging

Ongoing Cars or Cars Ahead

Cars Following Too Closely

Cars Backing Out

Motorcyclists

Pedestrians and Bicyclists

Other Driving Dangers

Someone Runs a Red Light  

You Have a Blowout

You Start to Skid

Your Brakes Fail

Your Accelerator Sticks

Your Hood Flies Open

Your Car Goes into Deep Water

Chapter 25 - Crash Course: Simple Tips

that Could Help Save Lives

I’ve Just Seen a Bad Collision.

What Can I Do to Help?

Should I Always Stop?

What’s My First Step in Treating the Injured?

I Don’t Think She’s Breathing. Now What?

How Do I Control Severe Bleeding?

All This Blood and Breathing.

Should I Be Worried about AIDS?

If I Do Move Someone, How Should I Do It?

I Think She’s in Shock. Now What?

How Can I Help Myself If I’m in a Wreck?

PART IV C DRIVING IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS

Chapter 26 - Foul Weather Driving

Driving in Rain

Hydroplaning

When Rain Causes a Flood or There Is

Rushing Water

If Your Vehicle Stalls in Water

Driving in Snow

Prepare to Get Under Way

Maintaining Traction on Snow

If You Get Stuck in Snow or Ice

Blizzard Conditions

Driving on Ice

Stopping and Braking on Ice

To Recover from an Ice Slide

Winter Driving Scenario C The Dynamics

in “Action”

Fog

Extreme Heat

What to Do If Your Car Overheats

Lightning

Chapter 27 - Driving Safely at Night: There’s

More to It Than Good Headlights

Keep Your Headlights  in Good

Working Order

Keep Your Windshield and Mirrors Clean

Adjust Your Speed to the Range of Your

Headlights

Keep Your Eyes Moving

Protect Your Eyes from Glare

Use Your Lights Wisely

Make It Easy for Others to See You

Usual Bedtime

Chapter 28 - Roadside Breakdown: How to Deal

with Roadside Emergencies

How Do I Know Something Is  Wrong

with My Vehicle?

If There’s Something Wrong with My Vehicle,

Should I Stop Where I Am or Continue?

If I Have to Pull Over, How Do I Do It

Safely?

How Should I Get Help?

Should I Stay in My Car While Waiting

for Help?

What If a Stranger Approaches?

Are There Any Repairs I Can Make to Get

Myself Moving Again?

What If I Get a Flat Tire?

How Can I Jumpstart a Battery Safely?

What Can I Do to Prevent a Breakdown?

Chapter 29 - Road Rage: How to Avoid It,

How to Deal with It

What Starts Road Rage?

Who Commits Road Rage?

Things to Do/Don’t Do to Avoid or

Deal with Road Rage

Chapter 30 - Alone Behind the Wheel

What Should I Know about Parking Safety?

Should I Do Anything Special in

Parking Garages?

If I Lock My Car Before I Leave It,

Is that Enough?

I Hear a Lot about Carjackings.

Is There Any Way to Avoid Them?

Got Any Safety “Trip Tips”?

Should I Always Have My Doors Locked

When I’m Driving?

What Do I Do If My Car Just Conks Out?

Is Having a Phone in the Car a Good Idea?

I Seem to Get More Tired When I Drive Alone.

What Can I Do about It?

What If I Plan and Prepare But Someone

Confronts Me Anyway?

PART V C RESOURCES

Website Resources

Index