AO - Driving Safety Lesson

Driving Safety

Introduction

There are a lot of financial responsibilities when it comes to owning a car, but an even more important duty is driving safety. Math is used to calculate a driver’s reaction time and stopping time. It can also be used in accident investigation! The skid marks, or tire tracks, left by a vehicle when it stops short are full of clues and information that can be calculated mathematically. Want to try it out?

Measurement Conversions

When dealing with units of measurement, conversions may be needed. Watch the video and take notes on the measurement conversions that you may use in this lesson.

In Your Notebook: Please take down important notes, such as formulas, and attempt the practice examples on your own before viewing the solutions!

Reaction Time and Stopping Distance Tabbed Activity

 

Accident Investigation

Math is used in accident investigation to determine factors of the accident such as the speed that the car was traveling. The skid marks, or tire tracks, are used to reenact the accident and determine what happened. Watch the videos and take notes on skid speed and yaw marks and how they are used to investigate an accident.

 

 

In Your Notebook: Please take down important notes, such as formulas, and attempt the practice examples on your own before viewing the solutions!

 

 

 

Test Your Reaction Time!

Try this experiment to test your reaction time! You will need a ruler and a friend.

Have your friend hold the ruler in the air and put your fingers at the 1 cm mark. Do not close your fingers around the ruler. Have your friend randomly decide when to drop the ruler. As fast as you can, close your fingers.

• At what cm mark did you close your fingers?
• Switch places with your friend and compare your reaction times!

For an added challenge, test your auditory reaction time. Set up the experiment the same way but close your eyes. Have your friend make a sound when he drops the ruler. Were you faster or slower?

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