What is The Smith System o The Smith

What is The Smith System?

o The Smith System is a system of driving guidelines designed to help you drive safely and defensively. These guidelines include the following:

Aim high and look ahead o Look well ahead of your vehicle as you drive. As a general rule, try to look 20 -30 seconds ahead.

Keep your eyes moving o Search the scene constantly. Stay alert for changes on or near the roadway that might require you to adjust the speed or position of your vehicle.

Get the big picture o Search the whole scene not just part of it.

Make sure others see you o You must communicate with drivers and pedestrians. This can be done with blinkers, brake lights, hand signals, etc.

Leave yourself a way out o Always leave yourself a path of escape-a way to avoid a collision.

o Which of the Smith system guidelines is being used in the following example?

The Smith system cont. o You see a vehicle stopped ahead of you so you tap your brakes so the car behind you know they need to prepare to stop.

Answer: o Make sure others see you.

The Smith system cont. o You leave a responsible distance between you and the car in front of you, stopped at an intersection, so you can move around it to avoid a collision.

Answer: o Leave yourself a way out.

The Smith system cont. o You scan a ½ mile ahead of your vehicle as you travel down the interstate, looking for possible hazards.

Answer: o Aim high and look ahead

The Smith system cont. o As you drive down the road and scan the scene, you notice children playing by the roadside.

Answer: o Keep your eyes moving.

The Smith system cont. o You see the whole scene at an intersection, not just the car in front of you.

Answer: o See the big picture.

o. Be safe!