Safe Driving Techniques

Depends on the specs of your truck. I drive one on the side, its a 99 with a 525 N14, 18 OD, and 3.73 rears... coming back, I have to go down Floyd Hill, which is six miles at 6 percent... I'm typically in 6 low when I descend it, between 79 - 81k.

Distracted driving is bad because distractions take your attention away from the very important task of driving. During a split second of inattention, you could place yourself and others in danger and not be aware enough to avoid an accident in time.

Depend on the questions.

Check your mirrors, slow down, signal, slow down some more, check the appropriate side mirror then turn the steering wheel. Allow the car to travel into the driveway then break. If a small child gets in your way stop.

USE A CAR!!!

Is it possible that you are both at fault? The person backing out is at fault. He was stopped and should have been looking before backing out. However, if the parking lot is designed so that you can only go one way, then you may be at fault. The insurance companies will look at the police report and fight it out.

Driving below 40 miles, long line of traffic, stopped along side of road

There are several possible results; including wheel spin, which will waste fuel, damage your tyres and more importantly reduce the amount of control you have.

First, let me give you my experience level...9 years in Alaska, 3 years in upstate New York (Snowtown USA), 3 years in northern Utah (in the mountains where the Olympics were). Let's just say, I have driven in a LOT of snow. Now for the answer I think you are looking for:

It depends mostly on the type of snow you generally have in your area. If it is very cold and you have mostly powder snow, then narrower tires would be your best bet because it will push the snow out of the way much easier. Powder snow on the highway is most often associated with the appearance of dust in your rear view mirror. BTW, if the temperature is very cold and you have powder snow, it is very hard and sometimes impossible to make a snowball...it just falls apart when you let go of it.

If on the other hand, you get mostly wet snow (makes a snowball easily and tightly) a wider tire would be your best bet since it has more channels in the surface with which to grip the snow. Since it is wider, it will also tend to ride up away from the ice formed on the roadway itself from the compacted snow of other drivers.

That all being said, once the snow on the roadway turns to ice the only way you are going to get sufficient traction to be really safe is with the use of studded tires. The difference in traction is actually VERY dramatic.

Depending upon how much you drive in the snow, chains may be in order and they are much easier to apply to narrow tires. The wider the tire, the less clearance you have from the car's body parts. Chain damage can get very expensive extremely quickly. NOTE: Chains do virtually nothing for you on sheer ice and sometimes actually lessen your traction because steel is hard and skates across the ice easily.

This depends on the snow conditions and how you intend to operate you vehicle.

Narrow tires tend to produce more traction until they dig in and the chassis touches the ground and you are stuck.

Wider tires tend to not dig in so deep but can slip more on a snow surface.

These basics do not apply to ice covered by snow or icy conditions.

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I need to add (from poster #1) about studded tires, chains on etc. You need to check with the DOT of the state you are in or traveling through. Stud tires AND/OR chains may be very well illegal to use in said states. This would be up to you to verify. Even a simply check with the State (of interest) Highway Patrol would be able to assist this question. Personally, out here in the upper midwest, both have been illegal to use for several decades. They are very destructive to roadways, highways and interstates. If you are 'outback', they may be wonderful, but with most people who live in areas who need them--having a 4X4 of some sorts, they absolutely have been made illegal for use in many states. Good Luck on deciding if you can use in your area.

na mate

One gear down from normal road gear, but remember the transmission is not meant to be a brake.

In bad weather using vehicle high beams is acceptable when no other vehicle is in front of you. The high beam can increase visibility but can be blinding to drivers coming from the other direction or in the rear view mirrors of drivers ahead of you.

It It should not be used in foggy driving conditions as the fog will reflect the high beam back at the driver making it harder to see.

80mph

lack of friction?

Many engines these days are what is called "interference" engines - that is, if the timing belt breaks various parts of the engine, particularly the valves and pistons will collide with one another because with the belt broken their carefully timed synchronised movements are no longer carefully timed.

If the RAV4 engine is an "interference" engine, which it probably is, and the belt breaks (which is more likely to happen while the engine is running fairly fast - eg, when you are accelerating), the result will be a loud noise and massive, expensive damage, possibly irrepairable.

Timing belts are very cheap by comparison - don't risk it !

You should use dipped beams. Using high-beams simply reflects the light off the fog directly into your eyes, so causing dazzle.

It depends on the vehicle, tires, weather and road surface, (Gravel, black top, concrete). Vehicle braking distance by type of car varies greatly:

Pickup trucks/ SUVs- range from 145-175ft depending on weight/options, for example- 4x4 1ton being heavier take longer to stop.

most cars- 115-135ft.

high performance cars- 105-115ft.

supercars- 92-105ft, large multi piston caliber, carbon ceramic brakes are almost mandatory for sub 100ft stopping distance.

It can mean "at rest" or "not moving" or "sitting in one spot".

You should not turn the ignition off. Put your foot on the brake and apply steady pressure to stop. At almost the same time put the transmission in neutral. You will safely come to a stop with the engine still running and P/S and P/B still working. Immediately turn the engine off as soon as you come to a stop. Turning the ignition off will cause you to loose P/S and P/B, which is a horrible idea.

The purpose of vehicle signalling is to alert other traffic as to your intentions.

Given this, every time you intend to depart from the (in NZ) "keep to the left" rule you should use your traffic signals.

Have a companion talking with you, having a radio or tape on with lively music. Take occasional rest breaks and drink water or coffee.

You have one down and 4 up in gear.

What would hurt more, falling on cement or falling on a large pillow?

The same principle works with padded dash boards.

The padding gives less resistance and will absorb more of the impact of your body on the dash, than a hard plastic dash board.

Yes. If you have a driver's license, you're required to report your new address to the DMV, and get an updated license.

You typically have 30 days to do this.