Driving Hazard Recognition

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Key Questions

The following key questions are answered in this module:

What is one of the most dangerous places on the road? How should you approach this place?
Intersections are one of the most dangerous places on the road. When approaching an intersection, you should, slow down, be cautious and alert, follow all traffic rules, and clearly signal your intentions.

What is the most common blind spot on a vehicle?
The most common blind spots are areas near the back of the vehicle on both the left and right side, and low spots immediately in front and behind the vehicle.

What are the best procedures to follow when driving in bad weather?
When driving in bad weather, it's best to: drive slower than normal, be extra cautious, leave extra space between you and the car ahead of you, and to turn on your lights so that other drivers can see you.

What other hazards can be dangerous while driving in bad weather?
In addition to limited visibility, bad weather can also make it harder to control your vehicle and can increase your chances of losing control of your vehicle.

What are some unpredictable hazards, and how can you avoid them?
Pedestrians, children, animals, and parked vehicles on the side of the road can be unpredictable hazards. Be cautious and prepared to react as if they were going to dart into traffic without any warning. To minimize these hazards you should drive slow, keep your eyes open, and move over if it's safe.

Sample Video Transcript

Below is a transcript of the video sample provided for this module:

Blind spots are areas of the road that a driver can't see while looking forward or looking in the rearview or side-view mirrors. The most common blind spots are areas near the back of the vehicle on both the left and right side and low spots immediately in front of and behind a vehicle. Larger vehicles, such as those often used in work settings, tend to have larger blind spots, and therefore, drivers of these vehicles need to be even more careful. Always adjust your mirrors to reduce your blind spots as much as possible. But never trust your mirrors 100%. Before you change lanes, put on your blinker and always turn your head and check in the direction you want to turn to make sure there is no vehicle in your blind spot to the side. Likewise, to reduce the chance that another vehicle will accidentally turn into you, minimize the time spent in other vehicles blind spots.

Additional Resources

Use the additional resources and links below to learn more about this topic:

• U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) – www.dot.gov
• DOT Safety and Security – http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/safety-security.htm
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – www.nhtsa.gov
• NHTSA Driving Safety – http://www.nhtsa.gov/Driving+Safety
• NHTSA Research - http://www.nhtsa.gov/Research
• US Government Website for Distracted Driving – www.distraction.gov