Lesson 4 - Safe Driving

Purpose

• The purpose of this lesson is to introduce the participants to the importance of defensive driving and safe driving practices
• The purpose of hand positions on the steering wheel
• To develop two-foot throttle/brake control to traverse obstacles and to enhance backing and turning skills
• Courteous and ethical off-highway use for SxSs

Objectives

• Participant will be able to apply defensive driving practices for safety
• Participant will understand hand positions and importance
• Participant will demonstrate throttle/brake control to traverse obstacles
• Participant will understand ethical and courteous use of SxS's

Instructor Activities

Defensive driving provides techniques to address identified hazards in a predictable manner. It is to help you avoid collisions by assisting you to apply the following techniques:

• Observe: Look far ahead of you, keep your eyes moving, and searching for hazards. Drive at a speed that allows you to avoid all identified hazards. Avoid target fixation: don't focus on the hazard/obstacle. Look instead to where you want the SxS to go, with brief glances around you. Turn your head, and use the SxSs mirrors to minimize your blind spots. Get information about the entire area where you are driving.
• Assess: Identify the things that may be important or dangerous. Decide how you will deal with what you have identified.
• Execute: do what you have decided to do; change your path of travel to minimize danger; communicate with other users of the road or trail; use a special technique for a particular type of obstacle
• ✅ Describe hand position on steering wheel. USE REFERENCE Lesson 4 Technical Information - Steering
• ✅ Describe left-foot braking (two-foot control) USE REFERENCE Lesson 4 Technical Information - Left Foot Braking
• ✅ Open discussions regarding courteous and ethical off-highway vehicle use USE REFERENCE Lesson 4 Technical Information - Courteous and Ethical Behavior
• ✅ Open discussion of local laws

Assessment: