Policy Text
Driver Awareness PSP
4 hours
I. INTRODUCITON
a. Class and instructor introduction
b. Safety Policy review
II. LEGAL AND MORAL ASPECTS
a. California Vehicle Codes
i. 17001 CVC
ii. 17004 CVC
iii. 17004.7 CVC
iv. 21052 CVC
v. 21055 CVC
vi. 21056 CVC
vii. 21057 CVC
viii. 21806 CVC
ix. 21807 CVC
x. 22350 CVC
b. Case Law
i. Lewis v. Sacramento
ii. Cruz v. Briseno
c. Agency Policy / Pursuit Policy Update
d. Moral Aspects
III. BASIC DRIVING PRINCIPLES
a. Steering control
i. Seating position
1. Driver comfort
2. Efficient vehicle control
3. Wrist break over top of steering wheel
4. Seated 12" from air bag
5. Adjust mirrors
ii. Steering method - 2 handed shuffle steering
1. Hand position at 9 and 3 or 8 and 4
2. Hands do not leave steering wheel
3. Maximizes steering accuracy
4. Safer and more effective recovery
5. Minimize weight transfer
6. Minimize air bag deployment injury
iii. Steering method - backing
1. Body rotated to right
2. Right hand placed on right headrest
3. Vision directed over right shoulder
4. Left hand on steering wheel at 12 position
5. Left foot braced on floor board
II(f)
II(g)
II(e)
6. Use of mirrors
b. Throttle Control
i. Full throttle is total depression of accelerator pedal
ii. Maximum acceleration is accelerating as quickly as possible to full throttle
without losing traction
iii. Increase throttle will widen the arc of the driving line in a turn, and will
increase weight transfer
iv. Decrease of throttle will tighten the arc of the driving line in a turn
c. Weight transfer
i. Weight distributed between front and rear wheels
ii. Engine location has greater part of weight distribution
iii. Types of weight Transfer
1. Lateral side to side
2. Longitudinal - front to rear or rear to front
iv. Lateral transfer created when vehicle turned left/right
v. Longitudinal transfer created when:
1. Braking rear/front
2. Accelerating - front/rear
3. Decelerating - Rear/front
vi. Can't be eliminated in a moving vehicle
vii. Minimized by good driving techniques an smooth operation
d. Speed Judgment
e.
i. The ability of a driver to estimate a safe speed for any given situation
ii. Considerations
1. Road conditions
2. Type of driving maneuvers
3. Driver limitations
4. Vehicle limitations
5. Weather conditions
iii. Closure rate
1. Being able to judge the proper rate of deceleration needed to
negotiate a curve, avoid a hazard, or stop
Brake Application
i. Types of braking
1. Normal
2. Panic
3. ABS
4. Threshold
f. Roadway Position
a. 0-10 scale
b. More "cooling" time
c. Allows speed for longer distance before brake application
d. Steering always available
i. Definition: The position of the vehicle on the roadway that maximizes
speed with minimum steering and risk of loss of vehicle control while
negotiating a turn.
1. AKA - Driving Line
ii. Driving advantages
1. Minimize and control weight transfer
2. Minimize steering input
3. Smoother vehicle operation
4. Maximum speed through turns in the safest manner
iii. Driving points in a turn
1. Entry #1
2. Apex #2
3.
Exit #3
4.
Use of all available space on your side of road
IV. VEHICLE CARE AND MAINTENANCE
a. Pre-shift Vehicle Inspection
i. General appearance
ii. Tires
1. Pressure
2. Wear
iii. Wheels
iv. Lights
v. Equipment
vi. Body Damage
vii. Interior
1. Trash/Debris
2. Clean Windows
3. Adjust seat and mirrors
4. Check gauges
5. Brakes
6. Secure gear
7. Seatbelts
viii. Listen for unusual sounds
V. DEFENSIVE DRIVING
a.
Defensive Drivers
i. Avoid collisions regardless of right-of-way
ii. React properly to hazards
iii. Maintain a professional attitude
b. Dangerous Drivers
i. Overconfident
ii. Self-righteousness
iii. Impatience
iv. Pre-occupation
c. Collision Avoidance
i. Space cushion
1. Three second rule
2. Perception / reaction time
II(c)
3. When stopped, see rear wheels
ii. Intersections
1. Clear left, right, then left again
2. Cover brake on stale green
3. Don't turn wheels until ready for turn
4. Look through turns
iii. Maintain high visual horizon
II(d)
iv. Consider steering to the rear of a conflict vehicle (driving to the solution)
v. Backing
1. Large percentage of collisions involving LE vehicles
2. Use proper backing techniques
vi. Lane changes
1. Signal
vii. Blind spots
d. Occupant Safety Devices
i. Safety belts
ii. Supplemental restraint system (air bags)
e. Vehicle Dynamics
(lecture)
i. Rear wheel cheat
ii. Front end swing