Glossary of Terms
Glossary of Terms
Angle Parking –Position a vehicle diagonally to the curb with the bumper 3-6 inches from the curb.
Basic Speed Law – Driving at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for current conditions.
Braking Techniques – The variety of techniques involved in slowing down or stopping your vehicle. These include control brake, threshold brake, trail brake, ABS brake.
Blindspot Check – A chin-to-shoulder movement to see objects hidden on the side of your vehicle.
Camber – Slope provided to the road surface.
Central Vision – The field of vision around your focal vision in which you can see clearly while looking straight ahead that aids in determining vehicle position to the roadway
Charging – Closing in on a vehicle or other object quickly.
Closed Space – You are unable to see for at least 15 seconds or there is less than 4 seconds of following distance.
Closure Rate – The rate at which one vehicle closes the space between itself and another vehicle or object.
Commentary Driving – System of thinking aloud as you practice the searching process. The driver verbalizes the reasons for speed and roadway position adjustments.
Communication Options – Ways you tell or show other drivers your decisions and/or actions. This may include turn signals, hand signals, and speed control.
Control the Rear – Knowing what is behind you and taking action using the best speed, lane position and communication.
Controlled Intersection – An intersection with either a traffic signal or a sign, directing yielding responsibility.
Distracted Driving – When a driver is delayed in the recognition of information needed to accomplish the driving task safely because of some event, activity, object, or person within or outside the vehicle that shifts the driver’s attention away from the driving task.
Environment – The circumstances, objects or conditions by which one is surrounded.
Fixed – A condition in your driving environment that does not move.
Following Distance – The amount of time/space between vehicles when following another vehicle in the intended path of travel to avoid conflict.
Forty Five (45) Degree Search – The search that is used at an intersection when a stop is not required.
Fringe Vision – The space between central and peripheral vision.
Gap – the open space between two approaching vehicles which will afford a driver enough time to move into or through another lane of travel without interfering with other road users.
Guide Sign – A type of sign that gives information.
Hand-Over-Hand Steering – Pulling the steering wheel down with one hand, while the other hand crosses over to pull the wheel farther down. Used for quick turns at speeds below airbag deployment speed.
Hand Position – Placement of the hands at 9 and 3 or 8 and 4 o’clock for best balance based on the vehicle steering wheel and input.
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) – A vehicle with two or more passengers.
Highway Hypnosis – An altered mental state in which a person can drive with no recollection. Characterized by a drowsy or trancelike state.
Highway Transportation System (HTS) – A complex system including federal, state, local, and individual systems functioning together to provide a reduced-risk and lawful driving environment made up of people, vehicles, and roadways.
Identify (SIM)– The solutions needed to manage restrictions and start to apply them
Idle Speed – The speed your car moves when you release the brake pedal.
Impaired Driving – Driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, while fatigued, or distracted.
Implied Consent Law – By driving a vehicle you have agreed to submit to chemical tests of your breath, blood or urine to determine alcohol or drug content, if asked to do so by law enforcement.
Inattentional Blindness – Failure to notice an object or event when attention is directed towards a primary task or target.
Intersection – Where two or more roads come together.
Judging Time – Method used to determine how far away you are from an object or space.
Lane Positions – The position of your vehicle within a lane.
Lateral Maneuver – Vehicle movements to the side (swerve, pulling to and from the curb, lane change, merging, exiting).
Left Alley Turnaround Maneuver – Heading into an alley or driveway on the left, and then backing into a street.
Legal Stop – Required stopping location at a stop sign, traffic signal, or at any crosswalk.
LSMILE – An acronym used for driver readiness.
Manage (SIM)– Manage your space by reevaluating and adjusting your solutions before reaching the point of no return
Median – A portion of the roadway separating opposing directions of the roadway.
Microsleep – Sleep lasting less than 30 seconds.
Monitor the Rear – Knowing what is going on behind your vehicle.
Move Over Law – ORS 811.147 states that if you’re approaching a motor vehicle pulled over on the roadside with emergency lights flashing, you must move over into another lane. If unable to change lanes, reduce speed 5 mph below the speed limit when passing.
MSMOG – The acronym used for any lateral movements.
Ninety (90) Degree Search – The search that is used at an intersection when a stop is required.
No Zone – The space surrounding a truck, and other large vehicles, where the driver is unable to see you.
Open Space – At least 4 seconds following distance, at least 15 seconds visual lead, and no path restrictions
Overdriving Headlights – Not being able to stop inside the illuminated area ahead.
Parallel Parking – Parking where the vehicle lines up parallel or going the same direction as the curb. When parallel parking, the vehicle must be no further than 12 inches from the curb.
Path of Travel – The space your vehicle occupies as you drive toward the target.
Path Restrictions – Temporarily or permanently prevent you from occupying space
Perception – Attaching meaning to what you are seeing.
Peripheral Vision – Vision to the side that sees color and motion change.
Perpendicular Parking – Parking the vehicle at a right angle to a curb or parking stripe.
Pitch of Vehicle – The weight of the vehicle transferring forwards and backwards.
Pivot Point – The inside rear tire around which the vehicle pivots during backing turns.
Pivoting – Method of moving your right foot from the brake to the accelerator.
Point of No Return – Point beyond which a driver can no longer stop safely without entering the intersection or space.
Precision Turns – Turning the vehicle accurately.
Push-Pull Steering – The steering technique we use for most turns.
Reference Point – A point on the vehicle, viewed from the driver’s seat that relates to some part of the roadway.
Regulatory Sign – Regulates traffic movement.
Right Alley Turnaround Maneuver – Heading into an alley or driveway on the right, and then backing into a street.
Risks – Chance of injury, damage, or loss. In driving, risk (potential or immediate) is the possibility of having a conflict that results in a crash or collision.
Roll of Vehicle – Weight of the vehicle transferring side to side.
Roundabout – Circular intersections with a center island. Traffic moves in one direction, counterclockwise, around the center island.
Safety Stop – Stop made after making a legal stop, as needed to overcome a line-of-sight blockage.
Search (SIM)– Search to the target area for any restrictions
Shared Left Turn Lane – Center lane used by traffic moving in opposite directions to make a left turn.
Side Position – Positioning your vehicle next to an object for turning or parking.
SIM – An acronym used for searching and space management principles.
Speed Control Options – The options we have to accelerate or slow our vehicle. For example, idle speed, cover brake and light acceleration.
Speed Limit – The safe and reasonable speed declared by the state for that part of the highway system.
Staggered Stop – Stop 15 feet from the stop line or crosswalk.
Stop Line – A wide white line painted on the street at a stop sign or traffic signal, indicating where to stop.
Stopping Distance – Distance your vehicle travels while you make a stop.
Target – A fixed object that’s as far ahead as you can see above the center of your intended lane.
Target Area – The area around the target.
Timing – Adjusting your speed to arrive at an open space.
Tracking – Following the roadway to maintain proper lane position.
Traction – Friction or gripping power between the tire and the roadway surface.
Trail Braking – Slight decrease of braking pressure, which does not change speed but allows driver to maintain control and balance when stopping or turning.
Transition Points – A place on the car seen in relation to the target area that is used to determine the precise moment to make a change in steering, acceleration, or braking action when exiting a turn or curve.
Three (3) Point/Y-Turn – A U-turn you are unable to complete without backing and moving forward.
Uncontrolled Intersection – Intersection that has no signs or signals to regulate traffic.
U-Turn – The turning of a vehicle in a U-shape course, so as to go the opposite direction.
Vehicle Balance – Even distribution of the cars weight across its four tires connecting with the road.
Vehicle Blind Area – Area around the vehicle you cannot see while in the driver’s seat.
Velocitation – A phenomenon caused by driving for long periods at the same speed. The change in speed makes you think the car is going much faster or slower than it actually is.
Vision Restrictions – Limit your ability to gather information about the condition of your intended path.
Vulnerable User – Roadway users that are at greater risk in any collision with a vehicle.
Warning or Alert Indicators – An instrument panel lighted symbol that warns of a system malfunction, and usually stays on while the system is malfunctioning.
Warning Signs – A type of sign that indicates a potential hazard, obstacle or condition requiring special attention.
Yaw – The spinning effect of a vehicle around its center of gravity. When a vehicle loses traction to the rear, the vehicle tends to move to the left or right around its center of gravity.
Yielding – Stopping or slowing to allow another roadway user to go before you.