Roadwise States Louisiana Driving lessons Seat position, starting & efficient driving Louisiana driving lesson · Vehicle Safety
Seat position, starting & efficient driving A 3-minute lesson from the Louisiana course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Vehicle Safety
Checkpoint questions 5
Source pages 51, 52, 53 How you sit, start and stop affects your control and your passengers' comfort. Smooth inputs are safer, and good habits and maintenance also save a surprising amount of fuel.
Adjust your seat before you drive: Headrest positioned to fully support your head when you lean back Elbows slightly bent on the wheel: less fatigue and room for the air bag At least 10 inches from a steering wheel with an air bag Knees slightly bent; right heel planted so you pivot between gas and brake Handbook p. 51 ↗ Know the rule
Press the accelerator gently but firmly with the ball of your foot; don't stomp or race the engine. Slow down by easing off the gas and gradually pressing the brake.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ Know the rule
When you stop behind another vehicle, stop far enough back to see the bottom of its tires.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ Know the rule
Never move your car until you've looked for pedestrians and oncoming traffic; then signal and move into traffic when safe.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ Know the rule
When backing, turn your head and look back; don't rely only on the rearview mirror.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ Know the rule
Never turn the ignition to 'lock' while the car is moving; the steering locks and you lose control.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ Three basic driving skills: Physical: your coordination with the vehicle Social: how you interact with others on the road Mental: decision making every second you're behind the wheel Handbook p. 51 ↗ Know the rule
Route selection, speed and engine tuning have the highest potential to sap fuel economy. Poor habits can drop a 30-mpg car to as low as 17 mpg.
Handbook p. 52 ↗ Fuel-saving habits: Keep the engine tuned and tires properly inflated Use the recommended grade of motor oil Observe the speed limit and remove excess weight Avoid peak traffic, stop-and-go driving and excessive idling Use cruise control on the highway Combine errands and park in the shade Handbook p. 53 ↗ 3.3% Gas mileage improvement possible from properly inflated tires
Handbook p. 53 ↗ Know the rule
The correct tire pressure is usually on a sticker on the driver-side door jamb or in the owner's manual.
Handbook p. 53 ↗ Put it into practice
You pull up behind a stopped car at a red light. Stop where you can still see the bottom of its rear tires, not right on its bumper.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What happens if you turn your vehicle's ignition to the 'lock' position while it is still moving? The steering locks and you lose control Nothing unusual will happen The engine stops, but steering still works The parking brake will automatically engage Answer: The steering locks and you lose control
Locking the ignition while moving locks the steering wheel, a dangerous loss of control.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ How should you adjust your elbows in a normal driving position? Fully locked and straight Bent sharply, close to the wheel Slightly bent while holding the steering wheel Straight, wrists on top of the wheel Answer: Slightly bent while holding the steering wheel
Slightly bent elbows prevent fatigue and give the air bag room to expand safely.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ Your right heel should be planted on the floor so you can pivot between the gas and brake pedals. True False Answer: True
Plant your right heel firmly on the floor so you can shift your foot between the gas and brake without lifting your whole foot.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ When you stop behind another vehicle, how far back should you stop? Where you can see the bottom of its tires One car length for every 10 mph Exactly 3 feet from its bumper Close enough to read its license plate Answer: Where you can see the bottom of its tires
Always stop far enough away from the vehicle in front of you that you can see the bottom of its tires.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ Keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by as much as: 10 percent 1 percent 30 percent 3.3 percent Answer: 3.3 percent
Properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by as much as 3.3 percent, and they're safer.
Handbook p. 53 ↗ Previous lesson Pre-trip vehicle checks Next lesson Steering methods & cornering About the source Roadwise’s Louisiana course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 51, 52, 53. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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