State of New Hampshire Departments of Education and

State of New Hampshire Departments of Education and Safety Division of Program Support Driver Education Risk Prevention Curriculum Guide Stopping in Traffic

Stopping in Traffic First in Line • Staggered stop • Legal stop • Safety stop • Point of No Return - PONR

Legal Stop Before Stop line, crosswalk, pedestrian zone LOS

Safety Stop Front even with curb line LOS

Staggered Stop See stop line, 15 feet LOS

How far away from the stop line is the front of our vehicle? Yes! About 15 feet, a car length.

Staggered Stop Advantages First in line, inside lane • Minimize Stress • Creates open space for yourself & others • Extra space others may require for wide right turns • Extra space others may use – cutting across yellow when turning left

Review PONR § That point at which you can no longer stop without entering an intersection § 2 seconds away from the intersection § Speed affects length of space consumed in 2 seconds § Faster speed = longer space § 20 mph = 30 feet per second § 40 mph = 60 feet per second

Point-of-No-Return Demonstration & Student Problem Solving Activity

Your Speed is 30 mph Do you have time and space to stop? Yes! Space allows for a gradual stop. Check rear and apply brake without delay.

Your Speed is 30 mph Have you reached the point of no return? No! However space may not allow for a gradual stop. Check rear and apply brake without delay. Make a smooth stop.

Your Speed is 15 mph Is this the point of no return? No! However space is short, a hard braking action may be required. Control the rear zone! Make a smooth, balanced stop.

Your Speed is 20 mph Do you still have the time and space necessary to stop? What is your best speed option? No! We are beyond the point of no return. Check the intersection, if safe proceed through the intersection without a speed increase

Stopping In a Line of Traffic • Stop To See Tires –Advantages • Monitor Rear Zone for “Sand Barrels” –What are sand barrels?

What advantages can you come up with?

Advantages • If the front car stalls, you can get around it • Space creates escape paths • You have empty space to minimize a rear end impact • There is space to avoid a skidding crash

“Sand Barrels” • Inertial Buffers • Strategically Placed • Slows and Softens the Force of impact

When Stopping in Traffic • Vehicles to the rear can and do serve the same purpose • 30 % of all Intersection Crashes Are Rear End Crashes • You are vulnerable to high impact rear end forces until there at least two cars stopped to the rear. • The more cars stopped to the rear, the less the force of impact will be

When Stopped in Traffic Continue to Monitor the Rear Zone Until at Least 2 Cars are Stopped Behind You

Managing Space And Stopping in Traffic • • • See Closed POT – at least 12 seconds away Check Rear Zone Try to time arrival into open zone Communicate to Rear – Tap Brake Lights Begin Braking Without Delay Control Rear Zone - adjust speed gradual/keep open front space Gradual Approach to Stop Location Make Smooth Stop Monitor Rear Until at least 2 cars are stopped in back With a car in Front – Stop to see tires With Start-up – Use 2 second delay start

See Closed POT At Least 12 Seconds Away What Zone Should You Check next?

Try to Time Your Arrival Into An Open Zone How will communicate with traffic in your rear zone? Yes! Tap brake lights. Then brake without delay.

Control Rear Zone Adjust speed gradually. Will you use light, controlled or hard brake pressure?

Keep Open Front Space

Gradual Approach to Stop Location

Make Smooth Stop 6 Cars are stopped ahead. How many seconds before each is moving? Yes! 6 Seconds

Monitor the Rear Zone Until at Least 2 Cars are Stopped Behind You

Stop To See Tires Touch the Pavement

Delay Start 2 Seconds

Advantages of 2 Seconds Delay When stopped in a line • Creates open space to front • Helps avoid being surprised by false starts of others • Begins the process of creating a 4 second following time • When stopped first in a line • Allows critical time to search the intersection for an open path-of-travel