Accident Avoidance Exercise - Setup Diagram ACGG Car Control Exercise Setup Guide Page 1
Accident Avoidance Exercise Goal: To have the student keep their eyes up looking ahead and scanning the horizon. They should learn to look where they wish to go, and not look at what they wish to avoid. At the end of the exercise, the student should be able to steer into the correct lane with smooth and precise hand inputs and come to a complete stop while increasing speeds in successive runs. Personnel and Roles: 1 Starter (Exercise Leader) - Starter releases vehicle. Does NOT provide any feedback or critique. Conducts pre-exercise meeting. 2-3 Coaches - critique students based upon outlined criteria. 1 Trigger man - operates the remote for the traffic signal standard. 2-3 Cone shaggers - picks up cones which are struck. 1 Traffic flow mgr - can be done by a coach. Communicates with starter to release next student. Operation and Equipment: Exercise leader should ensure that exercise is setup correctly, as described in the Setup Diagram. Green cones should be used at the starting line and yellow cones should be used at the Reaction Line/Trigger point. At the Reaction Line, Trigger selects which lane the student should wind up in either, left, right or center. These are indicated by arrows on the light standard. The first couple of runs should be done at a speed where the student can successfully complete the exercise (approximately 35 mph). Student speeds should be increased as the exercise continues (approximately 50 mph max). Critique: Coaches should: Watch where the student is looking as they approach the Reaction Line. Eyes should move beyond lane as soon as light recognized. Watch for slow inputs; steering moves must be smooth, crisp and precise. Students will naturally anticipate a lane; wrong turns indicate a failure to keep vision up and scanning. Watch for braking WHILE turning which will upset the cars balance. Students should come to a complete stop in the lane Students should be instructed to increase speeds as they progress through the exercise. Key Words: Vision Flick Smooth Precise ACGG Car Control Exercise Setup Guide Page 2
Slalom Exercise - Setup Diagram ACGG Car Control Exercise Setup Guide Page 3
Slalom Exercise Goal: Familiarize the students with the feeling of lateral forces and how that can move from side to side without losing control of the car and how they can be affected by steering and throttle inputs. This should build upon weight transfer information presented in the class room. Personnel and Roles: 1 Starter (Exercise Leader) - Starter releases vehicle. Does NOT provide any feedback or critique. Conducts pre-exercise meeting. 2-3 Coaches - critique students based upon the outlined criteria. 2-3 Cone shaggers - picks up cones which are struck. 1 Traffic flow mgr - can be done by a coach. Communicates with starter to release next student. Operation: Exercise leader should ensure that exercise is setup correctly, as described in the Setup Diagram. Green cones should be used at the starting line. Each student should be instructed to accelerate to approximately 25 mph (stay relatively slow). The student should negotiate the slalom course by turning steering wheel progressively left than right, at steady throttle. After the student has successfully completed the exercise at this speed they should be instructed to increase their speeds to approximately 30-35 mph. Execute slalom at steady throttle, with continuous left-right-left-right turning motion on steering wheel. Speeds can be increased in successive runs for students who can successfully complete the exercise at the above recommended speeds. Critique: Coaches should: Watch for too much speed (cones down) Watch for abrupt inputs and spins Listen for steady throttle inputs Watch to see if student is looking ahead Look for consistency Key Words: Vision Rhythm Link Transition ACGG Car Control Exercise Setup Guide Page 4
Threshold Braking Exercise - Setup ACGG Car Control Exercise Setup Guide Page 5
Threshold Braking Exercise Goal: To help the student familiarize themselves with the various different levels of braking, progressing from a full braking event with ABS, to being able to stop the car without the use of ABS. At the end of the exercise, the student should be able to bring their car to a full stop within the braking box using the threshold braking technique. Personnel and Roles: 1 Starter (Exercise Leader) - Starter releases vehicle. Does NOT provide any feedback or critique. Conducts pre-exercise meeting. 3-4 Coaches - critique students based upon the outlined criteria - shag cones if needed. 1 Traffic flow mgr. Communicates with starter to release next student. Operation: Level 1 - Full Brake Pressure: During the first couple of runs, the student should accelerate their car to 40-50 mph and maintain that speed into the braking zone. At the braking point (designated by yellow cones) at the end of the braking zone, the student should immediately apply full brake pressure ("pedal to the floor") and hold that pressure until they come to a full stop, feeling the ABS engage (for cars so equipped). Initially, the point where the car stops is not a critical concern, but should come to a full stop before end the braking "box". Level 2 - Gradual Brake Pressure: During the next couple of runs, the student should accelerate their car to 40-50 mph and maintain that speed into the braking zone. At the braking point, they should apply increasing pressure to the brake pedal over a second or two (as opposed to the "pedal to the floor") until ABS engages and maintaining that pressure until the car stops. At this point in the exercise - the student should come to a full stop within the braking "box". Level 3 - Threshold Braking: During the next series of runs, the students should be instructed to accelerate to 40-50 mph (or greater depending on the student); smoothly apply their brakes at the braking point, quickly increasing pressure until ABS engages. At ABS engagement, the student should slightly release the brake pressure to stay just below ABS threshold. If possible they should try to maintain this pressure on the pedal until car stops. The student should come to a full stop within the braking box. Critique: Coaches should: Level 1 - Full Brake Pressure: Make sure that the student immediately provides full braking pressure and engages ABS. Student should not release brake pedal until the car has come to a complete stop. Have student reduce speed if they cannot stop the car by the end of the braking zone. Stopping within the braking "box" is not important. ACGG Car Control Exercise Setup Guide Page 6
Level 2 - Gradual Brake Pressure: Make sure that the student gradually provides full braking pressure and engages ABS. Student should not release brake pedal until the car has come to a complete stop. Student should be able to bring the car to a complete stop within the braking "box". Have student reduce speed if they cannot stop the car within the braking "box". Have student increase speed if they are stopping short of the braking "box". Level 3 - Threshold Braking: Make sure that the student smoothly provides full braking pressure. Watch for inadvertent engagement of ABS (wheel jumping or sliding). Car should maintain a constant attitude and not dip or bob during braking. Student should be able to bring the car to a complete stop within the braking "box". Have student reduce speed if they cannot stop the car within the braking "box". Have student increase speed if they are stopping short of the braking "box". Key Words: Vision Brake pedal pressure Balance ABS ACGG Car Control Exercise Setup Guide Page 7
Instructor Assignments Event Name Overall Exercise Leader: Exercises begin at: ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE Assignments Instructors Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Leader: Starter Starter Starter Assistants: Trigger Trigger Trigger Traffic Mgr Traffic Mgr Traffic Mgr Coach Cones Coach Coach Cones Coach SLALOM Assignments Instructors Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Leader: Starter Starter Starter Assistants: Traffic Mgr Traffic Mgr Traffic Mgr Coach Cones Coach Coach Cones Coach THRESHOLD BRAKING Assignments Instructors Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Leader: Starter Starter Starter Assistants: Traffic Mgr Traffic Mgr Traffic Mgr Coach Coach Coach Coach Coach Coach Coach Coach Coach Coach Coach Coach Notes: ACGG Car Control Exercise Setup Guide Page 8