Helpful Driving Information

SPACE MANAGEMENT

To be a safe driver—to drive defensively—you must manage the road space around your car.
There are three basic elements to space management:

• Speed control
• Lane positioning
• Communication

SPACE MANAGEMENT

Using these three tools, you can manage your space and be positioned to see and process information to make decisions. Your most important goal in managing your road space is to achieve balance of these three tools at all times.

SPACE MANAGEMENT
Kinds of Spatial Conditions

We need to determine the kinds of spatial conditions that exist while driving on the road.

SPACE MANAGEMENT

There are three types of conditions you encounter on the road:
(1) Open Conditions
This means that you have a space or a larger area in which to drive that is without restrictions—you see only wide, open spaces on the road ahead, with no restrictions around your car—you are free to move forward or to change lanes without conflict.

SPACE MANAGEMENT

(2) Closed Conditions
A closed zone means that it is not available for your car's path of travel—that there is a restriction to the drivers view or that space is unavailable in a particular zone.

SPACE MANAGEMENT

(3) Changing Conditions
This often occurs when the driving situation changes from an open to a closed zone. Changing conditions can include speed limits, roadway or weather conditions, lane width, environmental conditions, visibility, traffic flow, time of day, traffic controls, etc. Each of these conditions should have an influence on what speed is appropriate, the path of travel, and what type of communication is used.

SPACE MANAGEMENT

Professor Frederik R. Mottola’s Space Area Zone Control:
There are seven basic areas of operating space around the vehicle. The diagram on next slide shows the six zones, areas, or spaces surrounding the car which are visible to the driver. A zone is an area of space around a vehicle that is the width of a lane and extends as far as the driver can see. The vehicle occupies the central area, or Zone 7. Each area must be managed in order to reduce risk of collision.

KEEP A SPACE CUSHION TO THE FRONT

Good drivers keep a safe following distance so they can see well. The more space you allow between your car and the car ahead, the more time you will have to see a hazard down the road and the ability to avoid it!
Steering will be easier if you have a big picture of your intended path of travel. Keep enough space between your car and the car in front of you so that it does not block your view. Driving in the center of the lane also improves your view of the roadway.

KEEP A SPACE CUSHION TO THE FRONT

Following too closely causes most rear-end collisions. A good safety rule is to keep a following distance of not less than three seconds. Consult your state's Drivers Handbook for details.
You will have to increase the following distance in some cases, e.g., when you follow a motorcycle, pull a trailer, carry a heavy load, drive in adverse weather conditions or slippery roads.

KEEP A SPACE CUSHION TO THE FRONT

When you follow too closely and another driver cuts in front of you, the normal reaction is to slam on your brakes and swerve out of the way. Swerving out of the way most often results in cutting someone else off or possibly driving off the roadway. It might also result in the car behind you crashing into you or into other cars around you. If another driver cuts in front of you, just take your foot off the gas. Don’t overreact if you are cut off.
Plan your escape route before an accident happens.

KEEP A SPACE CUSHION TO THE SIDE

Don't drive in the blind spot of another driver. The other driver may not see your car and could change lanes and hit you.
Avoid driving alongside other cars on multi-lane streets. Someone may crowd your lane or change lanes directly into your car. Move ahead of the other car or drop back.

KEEP A SPACE CUSHION TO THE BACK

Watch for tailgaters! If someone is following you too closely, be careful. Tap your brake lightly a few times to warn the tailgater that you are slowing down. This will flash your brake lights as a warning. Brake slowly before stopping.
Lose the tailgater as soon as you can by changing lanes. If you cannot change lanes, slow down enough to encourage the tailgater to go around you. If this does not work, pull off the road when it is safe and let the tailgater pass.