Petaccio's Driving School

When you are turning either right or left at an intersection, be very careful not to signal too early if there are other places to turn before the intersection. A driver on another roadway who believes you intend to turn somewhere else could pull out in front of you.

Young drivers are frequently cited for exceeding speed limits. Excessive speed is one of the major causes of collisions by young drivers. Learning how to control speed is one of the most critical tasks that young drivers must master.

Sometimes the same lane is used for both entering and exiting a highway. It may be less risky to let the vehicle getting on the highway go first, but be prepared to yield whether you are the one who is exiting or the one who is entering.

A majority of drivers fail to stop at stop signs. It is important to keep this in mind when you try to anticipate the actions of other drivers.

The tread on automobile tires improves their traction and decreases the chance of a skid. Automobile tires have tread to account for different weather and driving conditions. Tire tread increases the traction in starting and stopping the car, and helps to prevent the car from skidding sideways when it goes around a curve. The condition of the tread is an important part of decreasing skids.

When a vehicle with power steering stalls, the power steering is lost. If the vehicle cannot be started and needs to be rolled off the road, the steering wheel will be very difficult to turn.

To avoid a collision, it is generally wiser to steer evasively than simply to apply the brakes. Evasive steering is preferable to braking - especially at speeds over 25 mph - because less distance is needed to steer around an object than to brake the vehicle to a stop. By steering instead of braking, a driver can most often avoid a collision and safely steer his or her vehicle past the situation.

Nearly one out of seven recovered stolen vehicles still have the keys in them.

Tires are designed to grip the road in a variety of conditions. For the best possible traction, tires should be inflated to the maximum pressure recommended by the manufacturer. Properly inflated tires will grip the road evenly. If the tires are under or over inflated their traction will be reduced. By using the tire pressure gauge while inflating, a driver can accurately inflate his or her tires.

Vehicle engines contribute to air pollution. Some people keep their vehicles running while they are not moving. In some countries, keeping the engine running in such situations is illegal. In order to minimize the amount of pollution their vehicles emit, drivers must turn off the vehicle if they stop for more than two minutes.

Keep in mind that people under the age of 21 who drink and drive are breaking not just one, but two laws. They are breaking the law against driving while intoxicated, and the law against underage drinking. If caught drinking and driving, underage drivers face severe penalties, including suspension of driver's licenses, fines, and possible jail time.

Braking tests show that tractor trailers may need twice the braking distance of cars to stop. For example, the braking distance for a car traveling at 55 mph may be 150 feet, while the braking distance for a tractor trailer traveling at 55 mph may be 300 feet or more. Keep this in mind when weather conditions add to the challenge of stopping.

Most drivers realize that winter creates additional hazards for driving. Here are some tips for students when driving in winter conditions: - Maintain a safe interval between your vehicle and others. - Reduce speed to correspond with conditions. - Keep windows clear. - Watch for danger spots ahead.... - Get the feel of the roadway. See more

When drivers go around curves too fast, especially when going downhill, it is easy to "ride the brake." On hilly or mountainous roads, this can cause the car to go into a skid or even roll over. Shifting the car into a lower gear will help to slow down for curves, as well as curves on a hilly or mountainous road.

Drivers are not as cautious about moving in and out of traffic when they are on a familiar road as when they are driving on a road that is new to them. On familiar roads, drivers take for granted that what was there before is still the same. Many collisions occur when drivers hit fixed objects because they are paying less attention on a familiar road.

With the number of licensed drivers in the US approaching 200 million, the roadways have become more congested. As the number of vehicles on the road increases, basic maneuvers such as changing lanes become more difficult. Young drivers need to learn to judge the speed of other vehicles, how to determine whether a break in traffic offers enough time to change lanes safely, and how to speed up and slow down when changing lanes.

Statistics continue to underscore the need for drivers to concentrate on the roadway and not allow themselves to be distracted by other people in the car, a cell phone call or text, or alcohol. Drivers cannot assume that another driver is not distracted.

Until 1974, each state set its own maximum speed limit. In response to a shortage of gas, Congress enacted the Emergency Highway Conservation Act, which went into effect early in 1974. It established a national speed limit of 55 mph. In 1995, the national speed limit law was repealed. Once again, each state can set its own maximum speed limit.

Some states have special driver's license renewal procedures for older drivers to help ensure their driving competency. For example, older drivers may be required to renew their license more often, in person, and to pass a vision test.

Color blindness is a condition in which a person is unable to distinguish between red and green or between blue and yellow. A driver who is colorblind must recognize the meaning of traffic signs and signals by their shape and position or by reading the words on them rather than by their color.

A speedometer tells you how fast you're traveling at a given moment, but to find out your average speed for a particular distance, a little math is required. Your average speed equals the total distance traveled divided by the total time traveled.