New Jersey · Handbook chapter 5 · 7 min read

Chapter 5: Defensive driving

Avoiding crashes in New Jersey: aggressive driving and road rage, distractions, drowsy driving, following distance, lane changes, wet and icy roads, fog, night driving, work zones, skids, vehicle failures and what to do after a crash.

Why this chapter matters

Most crashes are caused by driver error. Defensive driving questions test your judgment: how far to follow, how to recover from a skid, what to do when a tire blows, and who to call after a crash.

The crash-prevention formula

• Be alert: never assume the other driver will not make a mistake.
• Be prepared: expect the unexpected and know what to do.
• Act in time: do not panic.

Aggressive driving and road rage

Aggressive driving includes sudden speed changes, erratic lane changes, ignoring signals and signs, failing to yield and tailgating. Road rage is when a driver loses their temper over traffic. Stay calm and give an angry driver room. Report an aggressive driver on (888) SAF-ROAD or #77 from a cell phone, ideally after pulling over.

Distractions

There are four kinds:

• Visual: eyes off the road.
• Manual: hands off the wheel.
• Cognitive: mind off driving.
• Auditory: sounds that pull your attention away.

Texting, apps, programming GPS, choosing music, eating, turning to passengers and reaching for things are all distractions. A few seconds of looking away at highway speed means traveling the length of a football field blind. Distractions are a leading cause of crashes for teen drivers.

Drowsy driving and highway hypnosis

A tired driver can be as dangerous as a drunk driver. A 2003 New Jersey law makes knowingly driving while impaired by lack of sleep recklessness under the vehicular homicide law. On long trips, avoid highway hypnosis by moving your eyes and not staring at one thing for more than a few seconds, and rest about every two hours or share the driving. Young people, shift workers, commercial drivers, people driving alone or at night, and anyone on medicine that causes sleepiness are most at risk.

Communicating

Use your turn signals, make eye contact, tap the horn when needed and, at night, flick your lights from low to high and back. Turn on your hazard lights whenever you pull off the road.

Following distance

Tailgating causes chain rear-end crashes.

• One car length rule: about one car length (20 feet) for every 10 mph.
• Three-seconds-plus rule: when the car ahead passes a fixed object, count; you should need at least three seconds to reach it. Use four seconds or more in bad weather, and six seconds or more on snow-covered roads.

Stopping distance is perception distance plus reaction distance plus braking distance. Heavier vehicles take longer to stop. On ideal roads at 50 mph keep at least five car lengths; on wet pavement double it.

Changing lanes and passing

Check the mirror, glance over your shoulder at the blind spot and signal every change. Pass only when necessary, legal and possible without speeding. Return to the right lane when you can see the car you passed in your rearview mirror, then cancel your signal. When someone passes you, keep to your lane and ease off so they can get by.

Road conditions

• Wet roads: slow down and increase following distance to four seconds or more.
• Hydroplaning can start at about 35 mph; above about 55 mph the tires may leave the road surface entirely, so braking and steering stop working. Avoid bald tires, slow down in heavy rain and drive in the higher center lanes.
• Snow and ice: clear the whole car first. Brake gently to test the surface. You skid if you accelerate too fast, turn too fast or brake improperly. Snow tires help in snow but not on ice; chains give the best traction on ice. Studded tires are allowed from November 15 to April 1. If stuck, rock gently between forward and reverse.

Reduced visibility

• Fog: slow down, use low beams and fog lights.
• Frost: scrape all windows before you start and use the defroster.
• Sun glare: adjust the visor and slow down.
• If you can barely see, pull well off the road and turn on your flashers.

Night driving

About 90 percent of driving decisions depend on what you see. At night, slow down and drive so you can stop within the distance your headlights show. Night reaction time is about 1.5 seconds, so stopping takes longer: about 211 feet at 40 mph on low beams.

Driving situations

• City: look at least 12 seconds ahead (about a block at 25 mph) and watch for pedestrians, cyclists and mopeds.
• Highway: speeding is one of the most common crash factors, even in good weather.
• Hills, bridges and animals: slow down for road hazards, and slow for animals rather than swerving.
• Work zones: fines are doubled. Warning signs or flashing lights can start up to half a mile before the work. Turn on your headlights, do not tailgate or speed, avoid distractions and obey flaggers.

Reacting to problems

• Ignition: never turn the key to lock while moving; the steering will lock.
• Skids: take your foot off the gas and steer in the direction the rear of the car is sliding, looking where you want to go. Avoid braking in a side skid. The same method works for front- and rear-wheel drive.
• Running off the pavement: do not jerk back. Ease off the gas, slow to 25 mph or less, then turn about a quarter turn back onto the road.
• Emergency stop on a highway: turn onto a paved shoulder near traffic speed, then slow. Place a warning device behind the car and another at least 300 feet back.
• Car fire: get everyone out and away, and call for help. Do not try to put it out.
• Into water: a car floats for about three to ten minutes. Escape through an open window while it floats. A seat belt helps you stay conscious on impact. Follow the bubbles to the surface.
• Stalled on tracks: get everyone out at once and move away at a 45-degree angle toward the direction the train is coming from, then call the number on the crossing sign or 911.

Vehicle failures

• Brakes fail: shift to a lower gear and pump the pedal fast and hard. If that fails, use the parking brake while holding the release.
• Tire blowout: hold the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, do not brake, and coast to a safe stop.
• Power steering fails: grip the wheel hard and steer to a safe stop.
• Headlights fail: stop safely, try the switches, then use parking lights or flashers.
• Gas pedal sticks: shift to neutral, steer off the road and turn the engine off.
• Hood flies up: slow down, look under the hood or out the side window, and pull off.

Avoiding a crash

You can stop, turn or speed up. If you must hit something, hit something that gives way (bushes) rather than something hard, something moving in the same direction rather than something standing still, and something standing still rather than something coming straight at you. Avoid a head-on collision at almost any cost. If you are about to be hit from behind, brace against the seat with your head on the headrest.

After a crash

Stop, stay calm, call the police and an ambulance if needed, warn other traffic, and do not move anyone who has been killed. Police must be told of crashes with injury, death or damage. If damage is over $500 or someone is hurt and the police did not file a report, send a written report to the MVC within 10 days. Tell your insurer at once. If you hit a parked car, notify the police and try to find the owner.