Welcome Kristen Bauguess to DrivingUniversity.com

Session 2 - Progress

	VEHICLE EQUIPMENT
	OCCUPANT PROTECTION

Before you get out on the road and drive, you need to make sure that you know how to operate your car, and that your car meets Virginia safety standards. You wouldn't go skydiving without making sure your parachute was in top condition: why would you put yourself into a one-ton driving machine, with less than perfect equipment? Or without knowing how to properly use that equipment? Keeping that car engine tuned and your vehicle in good repair not only keeps you and your passengers safe, it also can improve your gas mileage. This session will cover basic automotive equipment: why you need it, and how to maintain it.

Fun Car Facts: Gottlieb Daimler, one of the earliest manufacturers of the car, once thought that the maximum number of cars in Europe would be around 5000, due to a shortage of chauffeurs.

LIGHTING

In the early days of driving, as more and more cars started to take over the road, safety devices had to be invented to help control traffic and prevent accidents.  How were all these moving vehicles supposed to avoid hitting each other?  Lights and horns were installed, and a system of standards was adopted for the use of signals.  Now all drivers can anticipate the actions of others, and respond accordingly, but only if the other guy has working equipment, and uses it. And YOU are the other guy!

Headlamps
Your headlights must be on from sunset until sunrise.  This is the minimum set by law.  Of course, you may turn on your headlights whenever you like, when you feel that you need a bit more visibility.  For example, at sunrise and sunset, glare can blind you to the cars on the road. If you are having trouble seeing because the sun is in your eyes, other drivers are having trouble seeing you.  Turn on your lights.  Caution: it is never legal to drive with just your parking lights on.

You must also use your headlights whenever you are unable to clearly see 500 feet ahead of you.  This lack of visibility may be caused by any type of conditions: rain, fog, smoke, etc.  If you are using your windshield wipers at any speed other than intermittent, you must have your headlights on.  It is only common sense that if you can’t see out of your windshield, other drivers can’t see you!

When deciding between low and high beams, ask yourself: are my lights going to interfere with someone else's vision?  If you are within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle, or within 200 feet of the car in front of you, you need to use low beams.  Also use low beams in fog or snow; high beams will reflect back at you and diminish your sight distance.  Your low and high beam lights should enable you to see 100 feet and 350 feet ahead, respectively.

If you have trouble seeing at night, you might benefit from using special passing and/or driving lamps.  These are mounted, in accordance with Virginia law, alongside your standard headlights, and give you extra light in front of and to the side of your vehicle.  These lamps must be installed within specific height and angle guidelines.  For this reason, have them installed by a professional.