What is the Smith System quizlet?
The Smith System (TSS) A visual system that is a pinnacle of defensive driving and has 2 foundations and they are: 1) Visibility 2) Space. This system has 5 parts to it. The Smith System: Principal 1. Aim High in Steering: Keep 12-15 sec between you and the other car and see 12-15 sec of the road ahead of you.
Direct eye contact with other drivers, using your headlights or flashers, and of course a short blast of your city or air horn will help you communicate with other traffic and make sure they see you!
Leave Yourself an Out. • The fourth principle of the Smith System states to leave yourself a way out. This means ensure that other drivers do not box you in while selecting their lanes. Do not follow other vehicles too closely, and always anticipate what choices other drivers make.
Keeping an adequate distance between us and the vehicle in front of us is the easiest part of our space cushion to control. The National Safety Council (NSC) recommends following the 3-second rule; allowing a minimum of 3 seconds of travel between our vehicle and the vehicle we are behind.
Keep Your Eyes Moving
Consistent eye movement prevents your body from entering the trance state, keeping you alert to every driving condition ahead of you.
The best way to avoid backing accidents is to avoid backing at all. Whenever possible, plan ahead to avoid having to back your vehicle later. Look for parking spots that allow you to pull through the spot so you can drive forward to leave.
Space to maneuver their vehicle away from conflict. Visibility to detect danger and the potential for conflict with another vehicle or fixed object early. Time to react to volatile and complex driving environments.
- Think safety first. ...
- Be aware of your surroundings — pay attention. ...
- Do not depend on other drivers. ...
- Follow the 3- to 4-second rule. ...
- Keep your speed down. ...
- Have an escape route. ...
- Separate risks. ...
- Cut out distractions.
- Aim high in steering. “Aiming high in steering” means don't make your steering adjustments based on what is directly in front of you. ...
- Get the big picture. ...
- Keep your eyes moving. ...
- Leave yourself an out. ...
- Make sure they see you.
#1: Incorrect Speed
To avoid speeding, always know the speed limit, regularly check the speedometer, and allow enough time to reach your destination.
What is Aim high in steering?
Rule #1: Aim High in Steering
Aim high in steering means drivers should be looking ahead 10 to15 seconds when traveling down the roadway. Essentially, where will my car be in the next 10 to 15 seconds. By doing this, drivers can identify potential hazards earlier and have more time to take the appropriate action.
The process of searching critical areas of the traffic environment in a regular sequence is called an orderly visual search pattern.

- Place your right arm on the back of the passenger seat.
- Turn your shoulders and head to the right.
- Look out of your rear window.
- Use your left hand at the top of the steering wheel to steer.
- Keep your foot on the brake pedal.
- Back up slowly.
Have a space cushion. Leave enough space between yourself and the vehicle ahead, behind and to either side to stop safely or steer around a possible hazard. If someone is following too closely, and if it is safe, reduce your speed just enough to encourage them to pass.
When you are driving, you want to create what is known as a space cushion between you and the other vehicles around you. This simply means that you create a safe distance in the front, side, and rear of your vehicle from others. A space cushion can also be referred to as a buffer zone, positioning, or a cushion length.
The standard PADI pre-dive safety check uses the acronym BWRAF. This stands for BCD/buoyancy, weights, releases, air, and final ok. Following are some of the issues we most commonly see when it comes to buddy checks, and how to address them before getting into the water.
The Smith System of driving is about reducing collisions, preventing injuries and saving lives. The Smith 5 Keys employs five basic principles. Each principle is designed to reduce the risks involved in driving by teaching drivers to anticipate dangerous situations.
Question | Answer |
---|---|
When possible avoid backing. If you must reverse, the preferred procedure is: | Straight line- sight line- blind line |
The recommended speed for reversing is: | Less than 1 mile per hour |
Obtaining Space, Visibility, and Time are three primary goals of the Smith System: | True |
...
Here are some ways to help you avoid collisions when backing out of an area.
- "Think twice, look twice." It's best not to rely solely on mirrors and cameras. ...
- Minimize distractions. ...
- Check and adjust your mirrors. ...
- Take your time. ...
- Use your horn.
Always go slowly, watching carefully in all directions. To steer the car in reverse, turn the wheel in the direction you want the rear of the car to go. Turning the wheel to the right steers the back of the car to the right. Turning the wheel to the left steers to the left.
What is the best way to learn backing a rig?
- G.O.A.L. (Get Out And Look) ...
- Roll Down Your Window. Never back into a space without first rolling down your window to look behind you, and always take a look out your left mirror to guide you.
- Use A Spotter. ...
- Sound Your Horn. ...
- Steer the Trailer, Not the Truck.
...
How to master the 5 principles of Smith System driving
- Aim high. ...
- The big picture. ...
- Keep your eyes moving. ...
- Leave yourself an out. ...
- Make sure they see you.
The main concept of the Smith System is space cushion driving. Space cushion driving unlocks vision barriers and allow you to open a whole new vista of comfortable, at ease, and smooth driving. Good vision buys time and space to help you avoid trouble and adjust to traffic conditions.
Our instructor drilled the acronym AGKLM into our heads before we even got behind the wheel. "All Good Kids Love Milk," is how we remembered it. Applying it to my everyday driving helped me stay accident-free over the years.
- Keep Calm as You Drive. ...
- Steer Clear of Aggressive Drivers. ...
- Smooth Over the Situation. ...
- Drive Courteously. ...
- Report Aggressive Drivers.