WEBVTT

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(mellow music)

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- Today, we're gonna talk about
one of the frequent causes

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behind fatal car accidents,

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among seasoned and novice drivers alike,

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that is, veering off the road,

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and then overcorrecting to try
to return back to the road.

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(door shuts)

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Let me demonstrate.

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(belt clicks)

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(engine revs)

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The natural reaction when
you veer off the road

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is to yank on the steering
wheel to get back on the road

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and slam on the brakes.

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However, this can cause
the car to roll over

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or veer sharply into oncoming traffic

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or some other obstacle.

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The results can be deadly.

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Everyone needs to be
prepared for this situation,

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and new drivers should
practice how to control the car

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if the car goes off the roadway.

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Parents should first
stress to their new drivers

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the dangerous consequences
of not paying full attention

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to the job of driving.

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Driving requires full
attention, every second.

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Talking on the phone,
fiddling with the radio,

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talking to passengers,
reaching for a drink,

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or a multitude of other distractions

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can cause the driver to veer off the road.

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It can happen in an instant.

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Stay focused and alert while driving.

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However, if this happens, with practice,

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the proper off-road
recovery can be learned.

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Parents should consider
practicing and demonstrating

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this skill, before asking
their teenager to do it.

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Maybe this is something that
they've never done before.

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They could benefit from this as well.

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First, it's important for a parent to find

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a straight section of
roadway with no traffic

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and a gravel, dirt, or grass shoulder,

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that's even with the road
surface, where you could practice.

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Don't practice this skill
on a road that drops off

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at the edge, or has potholes
or obstacles on the shoulder.

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Under these circumstances,
the novice driver could easily

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lose control and do serious
damage to your vehicle.

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Even at slow speeds,

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dirt or loose gravel can reduce traction,

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causing the vehicle to slide or skid.

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So once you have found
a place to practice,

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safely proceed at a very slow speed.

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First, as the driver
stares slightly right,

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the front-right tire
will leave the roadway

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and the rear-right tire
will quickly follow.

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The driver must take his or her foot

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off the accelerator pedal and not brake,

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or brake very gently.

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The vehicle must stay parallel

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to the paved portion of the road.

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If the circumstances permit,
the novice driver should drive

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on the shoulder or on
the dirt or rumble strip

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for a period of time,

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to get the feel of the
vehicle in this situation.

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In a real situation, the
car may kick up rocks

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and other debris.

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Then the driver should check traffic

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and ease back onto the
road at a slow speed.

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The main thing to
remember is not to panic.

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Knowing how to react to a
situation before it happens

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is your best defense.

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I'm Travis Tucker, reminding
you to pay attention

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and drive safely.

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(mellow music)