Chapter 7 Starting the Engine STARTING, STOPPING, STEERING, and TARGETING to Start the Engine

Drive Right chapter 3 Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Chapter 7 Starting the Engine STARTING, STOPPING, STEERING, AND TARGETING To start the engine:

parking brake should already It takes considerable skill and practice to develop habits that be on from the last time it was

will allow you to move the parked. vehicle smoothly as you accelerate, steer, and brake.

Starting Starting With the shift 2. The shift lever should be in PARK. selector in PARK or NEUTRAL, insert The engine can only be started from and turn the key to the start position. the PARK or NEUTRAL positions. 4.Insert the key and turn the ignition 3. Place your right foot on the brake switch to on. Continue turning pedal. This will keep your foot off the key to start the engine. Release the the accelerator and in position when key as soon as the engine starts to the parking brake is released. avoid damage to the starter.

Hand Positions for Controlled Starting Steering 5.Check the gauges, warning lights, Imagine that the steering wheel is the face of a clock. Place your hands at either and fuel supply. the 9:00 and 3:00 positions or the 8:00 6.Turn on the headlights if they don’t and 4:00 positions. A 9-3 or an 8-4 position will give come on automatically after starting you a balanced grip and help the car. Get in the habit of driving you avoid injury if the air bag in your vehicle’s steering wheel with your headlights on during the deploys during a collision. day to help other drivers see your vehicle.

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Use of Targets and the Steering Hand Position Wheel Using a target helps you steer the vehicle Always keep your knuckles and thumbs with pinpoint accuracy.

on the outside of the rim of the steering A target is a fixed object far out in the distance that appears to be in the center of the path you intend to drive. wheel to reduce injury in a collision. A target serves as an aiming point for where you want your vehicle to go. Using targets will give you the ability to steer your vehicle accurately.

Targeting Steering Hand-over-Hand Steering This method To steer the vehicle, turn is best to use when you need to make the steering wheel so that the center of it is aligned tight right turns, or to make quick with the target. steering actions to correct a skid. This

Don’t use the road lines will give you maximum movement of as a guide for where to the steering wheel in a short period of look when you practice time. steering.

Steering Steering 1. Begin with the hands in a balanced 9-3 position. 4.Cross the right hand over the left hand to the 12 2.To make a right turn, begin with the right hand at position and continue turning to the 5 position. the 3 position, and pull down to the 5 position. 5.To straighten the steering wheel, turn the steering 3.Move the left hand up to the 12 position, grip the wheel back using the left side of the steering wheel, and pull down to wheel. the 5 position. 6.To make a left turn, use the left side of the steering wheel starting at the 9 position.

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Hand-to-Hand Steering Push/Pull or Hand-to-Hand This method is best when there is a need 1. Begin with your hands in the 8-4 position. for small steering adjustments, such as 2. To make a left turn, grip the wheel with making a left turn or going into a slight your right hand at the 4 position. 3.Slide your left hand to the 10 position. curve. Grip the wheel and pull down to the 7 This method will keep your body position. balanced behind the steering wheel and 4.Push the right hand up to the 2 position. prevent your hands from crossing the Slide the left hand up to the 10 position. area of the steering wheel in which the 5. With your left hand, pull the steering wheel down to the 7 position while sliding air bag is stored. the right hand down to the 4 position. 6.Continue to pull and push as more steering is needed.

Putting the Vehicle in Motion Vehicle in Motion

A vacant parking lot is a good place to practice 3. Keep your foot on the brake pedal. Locate good driving behaviors. the parking brake and release the lever

1. Put your right foot on the brake. Keep the without looking at it. ball of your foot on the brake pedal, and 4. Before taking your foot off the brake, the heel of your foot on the floorboard. check the path of travel you want the 2. Shift into DRIVE by placing your open vehicle to take. Look to the left, front, and palm under the shift lever and moving it right of your vehicle. Check the rearview towards your body and into the drive and outside mirrors. position.

Vehicle in Motion Acceleration Control 5.Make blind-spot area checks. Even with side view mirrors, When you are ready to move, take your there are blind spots where you may not be able to see another vehicle alongside you. foot off the brake and allow the vehicle’s Look over your shoulder towards the side you will be moving into, or move your idling engine to begin moving the vehicle head forward while checking the outside mirror. before pressing the accelerator pedal.

The dark shading indicates blind spots. Never rely only on your rearview mirrors when Press the accelerator smoothly. checking for vehicles to the rear.

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Vehicle in Motion Braking Control Accelerate smoothly, and then work to maintain a steady speed. Braking Point As you practice using the brakes, try to feel the vehicle’s braking point, which is the Coasting is not a bad thing. By using an orderly point at which the brakes begin to work and slow visual search pattern and proper spacing you can often eliminate the need for sudden acceleration or the vehicle. deceleration. Making small adjustments in speed will not only be Constant Braking Pressure Apply constant more enjoyable for you and your passengers but it will also be safer. pressure to the pedal when braking. A constant “squeezing” pressure on the brake pedal will Decelerate gradually. Practice releasing partial activate the brakes without causing your wheels to pressure from the accelerator. lock up.

Braking Braking Wheel lock-up occurs in a vehicle without ABS Hard, Smooth Stop For hard stops, apply when the brakes are applied with such force that the maximum braking pressure at the start of wheels stop turning and the tires begin to slide on the braking without locking the wheels, and hold pavement. that position. Normal Smooth Stop To make a smooth stop, You can still make a smooth braking action by release some braking pressure one or two seconds pulling back your toes during the last one or before the vehicle comes to a complete rest. two seconds before the vehicle comes to a full For a smooth stop, keep the ball of your foot on the stop. pedal while lifting your toes. This will release enough ABS Braking When the ABS system activates, braking pressure—without affecting the braking your brake pedal may begin pulsating, which is action—so that the vehicle will be level at the moment normal. of total stop. Do not release your foot pressure.

Manual Transmission

safe driving tip DRIVING WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION

Turn Your Head Develop the habit of turning It will be easier to learn good manual your head in the direction you want to go transmission skills after you have learned how before turning the steering wheel. This will to use the steering wheel, brake pedal, and help you stay mentally ahead of the vehicle. accelerator, and have developed skills to Your eyes should always precede the vehicle on manage space. the path you want to travel.

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Manual Transmission Manual Transmission

The purpose of the clutch is to connect the The purpose of a transmission is to convert engine speed into power to turn the wheels of a rotating engine shaft to the gears in the vehicle. transmission. This connection is made with As speed is increased, there is less need for power. Shifting gears in the transmission clutch plates held together by friction. changes how the speed of the engine is When the clutch pedal is pressed down, the transferred to the vehicle’s wheels. While the lower gears of the transmission provide the engine separates from the transmission, which greatest power, the higher gears allow for the allows the driver to change gears. highest speeds.

Advantages of Manual Transmission Disadvantages of Manual Transmission

A manual transmission has better fuel A manual transmission forces the driver to have one hand off of the steering wheel on a economy. continual basis, which could result in less control during a critical steering situation. Cars with manual transmissions are less Inexperienced drivers may focus on shifting expensive and require less maintenance than the gears instead of the traffic. cars with automatic transmissions. A driver may inadvertently shift to the wrong gear, causing damage to the engine and The driver has more control over how power is transmission. applied. There is a greater workload on the driver during heavy stop-and-go traffic.

Manual Transmission Manual Transmission Typical patterns of gear positions for manual To learn how to drive a car with a manual transmissions. Positions may vary, especially for reverse (R). transmission, you can find detailed lessons on

the Internet.

You can also ask a licensed driver to help you.

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Semi-Automatic Transmission BACKING

Many auto manufacturers are producing semi-automatic transmissions, also MIRROR USAGE AND BACKING known as a “clutch less manual transmission.” PROCEDURES

The clutch is replaced with electronics that Using mirrors effectively is essential for getting allow the driver to shift gears manually by timely and accurate information about

merely moving the shift lever. conditions behind your vehicle.

Backing is a high-risk maneuver.

Mirror Usage Inside Rearview Mirror There are three mirrors that come as standard • Check before and after making a turn at an equipment on most vehicles: intersection. • Check the inside rearview mirror when you • the inside rearview mirror see something in the path you intend to • two outside mirrors travel. • Before and after passing another vehicle. • Check the mirror before and after making a In addition, convex mirrors can be added to lane change. • Make two or three quick mirror checks help compensate for blind spots. rather than one prolonged check.

Outside Mirrors Convex Mirrors Before moving the vehicle to either side, check the outside mirror on the side to which you will The surface of a convex be moving. mirror is curved To check for a vehicle in the mirror’s blind spot: outward like the exterior • look over your shoulder in of a ball, which allows a the direction you wish to move wider view of the area to • move your head forward while checking the outside the side and rear of the mirror vehicle.

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Backing Steps for Backing Safely

Backing is a high-risk maneuver because 1.Place your foot firmly on the brake, and shift drivers cannot see behind their vehicles. into REVERSE.

Obstructions lying on the pavement can go 2.Use a target to aim the car toward. Look over undetected. your right shoulder to see your targeting path. 3.Check all three mirrors in addition to looking Always walk to the rear of the vehicle before over your shoulder. getting into it to check for a safe path for the 4.Travel no faster than a crawl by slightly tires to travel. releasing brake-pedal pressure.

Backing Straight Backing Left or Right

. When backing left or right, start with both hands on When backing straight, put your left hand on the wheel. the steering wheel at the 12:00 position. Pull the wheel from the top down in the direction you want the back of the vehicle to go. Move the top of the steering wheel in the Be sure to check not only the rear as you back but also direction you want the back of the vehicle to the swing of the front of the vehicle before turning

go. takes place

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