What do you need to do upon parking and getting out of the vehicle?

Before shifting the gear to Park, parking your car, and getting out of it, you need to engage the parking brake. This step ensures that your vehicle remains stationary and reduces the stress on the transmission system. Additionally, it’s advisable to turn off the engine and remove the keys to secure the vehicle. However, if you’re parking your car for an extended period, avoid engaging the parking brake to prevent potential damage from the brake components fusing together.

Nevertheless, regularly engaging the parking brake provides an extra layer of security, preventing the car from rolling away, especially on inclines. This practice helps prevent your vehicle from rolling and reduces stress on your transmission’s parking pawl, all while maintaining the vehicle’s stability. In the Philippines, there is no specific law mandating the use of the parking brake, but it is considered good driving practice for safety reasons. Knowing these procedures helps ensure the safety of the driver, passengers, and pedestrians, and keeps the vehicle in good working condition.

Be advised that this question is part of the LTO CDE Exam. Please check below for the correct answer if you are going to take this exam:

Question: What do you need to do upon parking and getting out of the vehicle?
Answer: engage the parking brake

What do you need to do upon parking and getting out of the vehicle

What is a Parking Brake

The parking brake, also known as the hand brake or emergency brake, is a critical safety feature in your car. It operates independently of the main brake system and is connected to the rear brakes. When engaged, the parking brake applies pressure to the rear brakes, holding the vehicle in place. This mechanism is essential for preventing roll-away incidents, especially on steep inclines.

Modern cars come with different types of parking brakes, including stick levers, center levers, foot pedals, and push buttons. The choice of parking brake type depends on your vehicle’s design and model year. Regardless of the type, using the parking brake regularly helps keep it in good working condition, ensuring it will function correctly when needed.

Photo credit: Kensington Service Center

When to Use Your Parking Brake

Using the parking brake should become a habit every time you park your car, whether on a flat surface or a hill. Engaging the parking brake before shifting into Park minimizes the strain on the transmission’s parking pawl, a device that locks the transmission in place. Over-reliance on the parking pawl can lead to wear and potential failure, especially if you frequently park on slopes.

For long-term parking, it’s better to avoid using the parking brake. Extended engagement can cause the brake components to fuse, making it difficult to move the vehicle later. Instead, use tire stoppers or wheel chocks to secure your car and prevent any movement.

The Importance of Regular Checks

Regularly checking your parking brake is crucial for maintaining its functionality. Parking brakes can corrode, weaken, or snap if not used frequently. Routine inspections, ideally during every other oil change, can help identify any issues with the parking brake. This preventive measure ensures that the parking brake remains reliable and effective.

In case your brake warning light illuminates, it might indicate that the parking brake is still engaged while driving, which can damage the brake pads and rotors. Always disengage the parking brake before driving to avoid such damage.

Correct Usage of the Parking Brake

To properly use the parking brake, stop your car with the primary brakes, set the parking brake, and then shift into Park. This sequence reduces stress on the transmission and ensures the vehicle is securely held in place. When you are ready to drive, start the engine, press the primary brake, release the parking brake, and then shift into Drive.

Using the parking brake every time you park not only enhances safety but also keeps the brake in good working order. Regular use prevents rust and ensures the parking brake will function properly in an emergency.

Video: The Right Way to Use Your Parking Brake

For a detailed visual walkthrough on the proper use of parking or hand brake, you may check out this video from Around the Home:

Summary

Engaging the parking brake whenever you park is a good safety tip. It is also necessary to do so before shifting to Park when parking manual transmission cars as it provides added security and reduces transmission stress. However, you also need to make sure to avoid using it for long-term parking to prevent brake components from fusing. Regular checks and correct usage help maintain the parking brake’s effectiveness and ensure vehicle safety in the long run.

What should a driver of a light vehicle do before overtaking a 6-wheeler truck?

Before overtaking a 6-wheeler truck while driving a light vehicle in the Philippines, it’s crucial to prioritize safety and proper communication. Firstly, ensure you have a clear view ahead and behind you. Check your mirrors and blind spots for any vehicles attempting to overtake you or approaching from behind. Communicate your intention to overtake by signaling early with your indicator lights. It’s courteous to wait for acknowledgement from the truck driver—often signaled by a flash of headlights or a wave—before proceeding. This ensures mutual awareness and reduces the risk of unexpected maneuvers.

Overtaking a 6-wheeler truck requires extreme caution and proper judgment especially if you are a driver of a motor vehicle. Since 6-wheeler trucks are significantly larger and heavier than light vehicles, there is a huge difference between how they maneuver and the time required to accelerate or decelerate. Their size also creates larger blind spots, making it crucial for drivers of light vehicles to ensure they are visible to the truck driver before attempting to overtake. For this reason, it’s best to wait for the truck driver to acknowledge your signal before overtaking. Even then, it’s crucial to assess the situation thoroughly to confirm it is safe to overtake.

What should a driver of a light vehicle do before overtaking a 6-wheeler truck?

Safely Overtaking a 6-Wheeler Truck and Other Large Vehicles: Tips for Drivers of Light Vehicles

Overtaking large vehicles, such as 6-wheeler trucks, means passing them on the road to move ahead. This is different from overtaking vehicles of the same size as your car because large vehicles have larger blind spots and take longer to accelerate or decelerate. These factors make it more challenging and risky, requiring more caution and space.

The size of the other vehicle significantly affects safety and considerations for overtaking. Larger vehicles obscure your view of the road ahead, making it harder to see oncoming traffic and potential hazards. Additionally, the increased size and slower maneuverability of large vehicles mean you need more time and distance to complete the overtaking maneuver safely, making it inherently more dangerous than overtaking smaller vehicles.

How to Overtake Safely

When conditions are favorable and you’ve received acknowledgment from the truck driver:

Step 1. Signal and Positioning

Use your turn signal to indicate your intention to overtake. Position your vehicle to the left to prepare for overtaking.

Step 2. Check Visibility

Ensure there’s no oncoming traffic by scanning ahead for clear sightlines. Avoid overtaking near blind curves, intersections, or pedestrian lanes. Observe TLSL (turn-look-signal-look) technique.

Step 3. Assess Road Conditions and Truck Length

Evaluate road conditions and the space before you and the length of the truck you are overtaking carefully. Only overtake when you have ample space to complete the maneuver safely and without heading straight to the no zones or blind spots.

Step 4. Execute the Maneuver

Accelerate smoothly and steadily past the truck, keeping a safe distance. Do not exceed the speed limit and always be prepared to merge back into your lane once you’ve safely overtaken.

When Not to Overtake

There are specific situations where overtaking is unsafe and prohibited:

  • No Overtaking Zones: Respect road signs indicating “No Overtaking” zones, especially near bends, crests, dips, and bridges where visibility is limited.

  • Road Markings: Do not overtake when faced with road markings like solid yellow lines or double parallel yellow lines, which indicate it’s unsafe or illegal to pass.

  • Intersections and Turns: Avoid overtaking near intersections, blind curves, or when approaching corners where your view is obstructed.

Tips for Overtaking Large Vehicles

  • Always be patient and courteous when driving, especially when overtaking large vehicles like 6-wheeler trucks. 

  • Use your horn and headlights to communicate with other drivers, but do so sparingly to avoid confusion or startling other drivers. 

  • Keep in mind the weather and road conditions, as these can greatly impact the safety of your overtaking maneuver. 

  • Make sure your vehicle is in good condition, with working lights and mirrors, before attempting any overtaking.

  • Respect traffic signs indicating no overtaking zones, as well as road markings such as double yellow lines, which prohibit passing in certain areas for safety reasons.

  • Be prepared for unexpected movements from the truck, such as lane changes or braking. 

  • Maintain a safe following distance to allow for adequate reaction time.

By adhering to these guidelines, drivers can ensure safer road practices when overtaking 6-wheeler trucks, promoting smoother traffic flow and reducing the risk of accidents.

Video: When is it Safe to Overtake a Truck?

For a more detailed visual guide on safe overtaking of large vehicles like trucks, watch this video from mylicencesa:

Summary

Before overtaking a 6-wheeler truck, a driver of a light vehicle in the Philippines must prioritize safety by checking mirrors, communicating intentions clearly, and waiting for acknowledgement from the truck driver. Understanding the differences in size and handling between vehicles is crucial for executing safe overtakes and maintaining smooth traffic flow on the road. Make sure to only overtake trucks or other larger vehicles when the visibility and road conditions allow you to do so.

Who should go first when a car waits to turn left at an intersection as the traffic signal turns red?

When a car turning left is caught in the intersection as the traffic light turns red, it still has the right of way. According to Republic Act No. 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code), Article III Section 42B, all vehicles approaching the intersection must yield to those already inside, provided the car turning left has signaled its intention. This rule ensures orderly traffic flow and reduces the risk of accidents.

Failure to yield the right of way is punishable by law in the Philippines, with fines up to PHP 1,000.00. These penalties emphasize the importance of following traffic rules to maintain safety on the roads. Adhering to these laws helps prevent accidents and ensures a smoother traffic experience for all drivers.

This question will come up in your LTO CDE Exam and so please be guided on the correct answer below:

Question: A car is positioned in an intersection waiting to turn left when the traffic signal light turns red. Who should go first?

Correct Answer: the driver caught in the intersection waiting to turn left

A car is positioned in an intersection waiting to turn left when the traffic signal light turns red. Who should go first

Understanding the Right of Way at Intersections

In the Philippines, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) specifies clear rules regarding the right of way at intersections. According to RA 4136, Article III Section 42B, any vehicle that has not yet entered the intersection must yield to those already inside it, especially if the vehicle inside is turning left and has signaled this intention. This rule ensures that traffic flows smoothly and safely, preventing accidents and confusion at intersections.

Moreover, vehicles must adhere to specific lanes when preparing to turn left. Article IV Section 45 of RA 4136 states that the driver intending to turn left should approach the intersection in the lane nearest to the center line and make the turn by passing to the left of the center of the intersection. This regulation helps organize traffic and minimize conflicts between vehicles moving in different directions.

Exceptions to the Right of Way Rule

There are exceptions to this right of way rule. Emergency vehicles such as police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances have priority when operating on official business with audible signals. According to Section 43(b) of RA 4136, these vehicles must be given the right of way regardless of the usual intersection rules. This exception ensures that emergency services can respond quickly to situations, potentially saving lives and property.

Another exception involves “through highways” or “stop intersections.” Vehicles entering these types of roads must yield to all traffic already on them. This rule, found in Section 43(c), emphasizes the importance of caution when merging onto busy roads, preventing sudden interruptions in traffic flow and reducing the risk of collisions.

Penalties for Failure to Yield

Failing to yield the right of way at an intersection can result in significant penalties. According to the list of traffic violations and corresponding penalties available on the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) portal, drivers who do not yield to vehicles already in the intersection or properly signaling a left turn can be fined PHP 1,000.00. This penalty underscores the importance of understanding and following right of way rules to maintain safety and order on the roads.

Consequently, adhering to these regulations not only helps avoid fines but also promotes a safer driving environment. Proper understanding and implementation of these rules can also lead to smoother traffic flow and fewer accidents, benefiting all road users.

Video: Right of Way Rules on Intersections

Watch this video from Majesty Driving School and learn more about the rules and exceptions for yielding at intersections for better visual clarity and reinforce understanding of the rules 

Summary

A driver caught in the intersection waiting to turn left should proceed first when the traffic signal turns red, as long as they have signaled their intention to turn. This rule, supported by RA 4136, ensures that intersections are navigated safely and efficiently. Exceptions to this rule primarily involve emergency vehicles and specific road types, highlighting the need for drivers to stay aware and considerate of different traffic situations. Failure to comply can result in a PHP 1,000.00 fine.

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