GENERAL
Objective: To prevent accidents by trying to anticipate hazardous situations and adjusting driver behavior to compensate.

Smart Tips:

• Learn to recognize driving situations that can be hazardous.
• Assume other drivers will make errors.
• Adjust speed, position, direction and attention to be able to maneuver safely if a hazard develops.
• Scan far enough ahead to be able to react safely to approaching situations.
• Scan frequently to the side and rear for passing or approaching vehicles.
• Scan thoroughly before changing speed or direction.

RIGHT-OF-WAY
Objective: To prevent accidents by drivers giving "right-of-way" until it is apparent that right-of-way is being given by the other driver.

Smart Tips:

• Do not force other drivers to brake or steer because of your obstructive maneuver into their path.
• Assume other drivers will not see you and avoid you when you maneuver into their path.
• Move into your intended path or direction only after you are assured you will not conflict with other traffic.

START-UP/BACK-UP
Objective: To prevent start-up/back-up accidents by anticipating the hazards involved and knowing how to safely control them.

Smart Tips:

• Before start-up or back-up, walk around vehicle and look underneath to ensure you have safe clearance for start-up.
• Don't forget to check blind area on left and in front as well.
• After your walk-around check, don't delay in moving vehicle. Do not allow time for another hazard to approach.
• Check mirrors for proper adjustment frequently.
• Start up slowly at first to allow other vehicles and pedestrians, who may have unexpectedly approached, to safely move away.

PASSING
Objective: To prevent accidents during passing by anticipating the hazards involved and knowing how to safely avoid them.

Smart Tips:

• Before you pass, check to be certain no one is passing you.
• Assume the driver in front of you doesn't know you are passing. That driver may pull to the right to pass a vehicle in front or make a right turn.
• While you are passing, watch carefully for vehicles that may be entering the roadway from side roads or driveways.
• Assume vehicles approaching from the opposite direction will not see you or slow down for you to complete your passing maneuver.
• Watch out for vehicles passing other vehicles from the opposite direction.
• If the vehicle you are trying to pass speeds up, let it go. Don't get into a dangerous race.
• Don't take risks. If in doubt, don't pass.
• Signal your intentions to pass.

USING AND CHANGING LANES
Objective: To prevent accidents during lane use and lane changing by recognizing the potential hazards and knowing how to safely control them.

Smart Tips:

• The most important rule in lane usage is to maintain a safe following distance. Keep the two-second rule, to ensure that if the driver in front of you slams on his brakes, you can avoid a collision, stay in your lane and not be hit by the vehicle following you all at the same time.
• Try to scan ahead of what is immediately in front of you.
• If you see trouble ahead, flash your brake lights to alert drivers following you.
• If you cannot see ahead of the vehicle you are following, increase your following distance. It might swerve into the next lane to avoid a slow or stopped vehicle and leave you exposed to a rear-end collision.
• Clean mirrors and check adjustment frequently.

PARKING
Objective: To prevent accidents when parked, by anticipating the hazards involved and knowing how to safely avoid them.

Smart Tips:

• Always try to park your vehicle off the road altogether. Even leaving a small portion of your vehicle on the travel lane creates a serious hazard.
• If you pull off onto the shoulder, turn on your hazard lights day or night. At night, drowsy drivers who see only tail lights on your vehicle may follow you onto the shoulder thinking you are still moving.
• If a sudden breakdown or other emergency forces you to park on a travel lane, turn on your hazard lights immediately. Then set up reflective triangles at the proper distances immediately and call for help. At night, this is an especially hazardous situation for both you and other drivers, be extremely careful.

PEDESTRIAN INTERACTION
Objective: To prevent accidents involving pedestrians by anticipating hazards likely when maneuvering close to pedestrians and knowing how to handle such situations safely.

Smart Tips:

• When maneuvering close to pedestrians, anticipate that the pedestrian may do the unexpected.
• Adjust your driving to safely avoid a pedestrian who jumps out in front of you. It is difficult for pedestrians to correctly judge how fast you are approaching. If you are going faster than normal for the area, you may count on the pedestrian judging there is time to cross when really there is not.
• Pedestrians will often assume that you see them and that you will slow down for them to complete their crossing.
• Don't assume they will give you the right-of-way until it is obvious they are waiting for you to pass. At night especially, pedestrians assume you can see them because they can see your headlights so easily.
• Pedestrians all too often walk or stand in the blind spots in front and to the left of your vehicle.
• Scan around vehicle thoroughly when pedestrians are present.

Source: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov