Washington · Handbook chapter 4 · 5 min read

Chapter 4: You behind the wheel

The Washington Driver Guide on the driver: health, vision and night glare, hearing and earbuds, fatigue, emotions, aggressive driving, road rage, informed decisions, the OODA loop, distracted driving laws and how to search and scan.

Why this chapter matters

Most crashes start with the driver, not the car. Washington's guide spends a whole chapter on your health, attention and mood, and the test checks that you know the rules on phones, earbuds, fatigue and aggressive driving.

Health and vision

• Check in with yourself before you start the engine. A bad cold, a headache or stress can all slow you down. If you feel unwell, let someone else drive.
• You must pass a vision test to get a license. If you need corrective lenses, always wear them to drive, and avoid dark or tinted lenses at night.
• Peripheral vision lets you notice movement at the side while you look ahead.

Seeing at night

• Make sure your headlights are on and aimed correctly.
• If oncoming lights dazzle you, look toward the right edge of the road and use it as a guide.
• Slow down and leave more space. You should be able to stop inside the area lit by your headlights.

Hearing, earbuds and phones

• It is illegal to drive wearing earbuds, earphones, headphones or a headset that plays sound or cancels noise. A hands-free device in one ear is allowed if it meets the state rule.
• No driver may hold a phone, tablet or gaming device while driving. Adults may use hands-free, but it can still distract.
• Permit and intermediate license holders may not use any mobile device, even hands-free, except to report an emergency.

Fatigue

Fatigue dulls your vision and judgment much like alcohol. Pull over and rest if you:

• Cannot remember the last few miles or have trouble focusing.
• Blink often, have heavy eyelids or struggle to keep your head up.
• Miss exits or signs, drift out of your lane or hit rumble strips.
• Feel restless, irritable or aggressive.

Before a long trip, get 7 to 9 hours of sleep, plan to stop about every 100 miles or 2 hours, and share the driving if you can. If you are alone and getting tired, pull off and take a 20-minute nap.

Emotions and calm

Feelings change how you drive: anxiety can make your foot heavy on the accelerator. Before you set off, try slow breathing, counting slowly, and leaving plenty of time for the trip.

Aggressive driving and road rage

• Aggressive driving is a traffic offense. It means deliberately driving in a way that endangers people or property: speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane changes, poor signaling, ignoring traffic controls, or passing too close to people walking or cycling.
• Road rage is a criminal offense: an angry reaction that turns into violence with a vehicle or another weapon.
• Street racing and unauthorized street demonstrations bring fines, jail and possible impound of the vehicle, for drivers and anyone who helps.

If another driver is raging at you, breathe, move out of the way, avoid speeding, honking or gestures, and keep your eyes on the road. If you think you are being followed, drive to a busy place with open businesses and call police. Report road rage in progress by calling 911, with the location, plate number, direction of travel, vehicle colors and what happened.

Making decisions

Good decisions come from knowing what is around you. Check your mirrors, let others know what you plan to do, prepare your speed and position, and make a final check before you move. Aim to be aware, predictable and smooth.

The guide offers the OODA loop:

1. Observe what has changed.
2. Orient: work out what the change means for you.
3. Decide on the safest action.
4. Act smoothly, and signal so others understand.

Teen drivers should remember that the part of the brain that handles judgment is still developing, so put safety ahead of speed and peer pressure.

Distractions

Distractions can be inside the car (phones, food, the radio, passengers), outside it (billboards, crashes), physical (fatigue, discomfort) or mental (daydreaming, worry, strong emotions). Distracted drivers drift from their lane, speed up or slow down without meaning to, miss signals and people, and follow too closely. Plan ahead, put the phone away and stay observant.

Searching and scanning

• Searching is using your eyes; scanning adds moving your head, neck and body so you see more.
• Ahead: look beyond the car in front, and watch for feet, wheels and shadows around parked vehicles.
• To the sides: check left and right at intersections, and do an over-the-shoulder check for bicyclists and pedestrians before you turn.
• Behind: check before you change lanes, cross a bike lane, slow down, back up or go down a long hill, and more often in heavy traffic.

Respect and the road

Make sure everyone is buckled, be fit to drive, avoid conflict whatever the fault, and look after the road. Litter causes crashes and can start wildfires, which is why Washington's littering fines are severe. Turn off the engine when parked for a while, and never leave it running in a garage because of carbon monoxide.