Requirements November 1969 until June 1972

1. On a car preferably one owned by your family, point out:

(a) At least ten items of supplemental safety equipment which are - or should be - present for accident prevention.

(b) At least three items of safety equipment or features are or should be present to reduce the chance of death or injury in case of an accident.

            Explain the value, proper use, and maintenance of each.

2. Do the following to demonstrate your knowledge of car care for safety maintenance:

(a) Check operation of all exterior lights (high and low beam, front and rear directional signals, stop lights, license-plate light, taillights).

(b) Check operation of all interior lights (direction signal indicators, high-beam light, instrument panel lights, and others).

(c) Locate and change a fuse on the light or horn circuit.

(d) Check a windshield wiper blade by smear-and-clear test. Replace the blade and retest.

(e) Adjust rearview  mirrors to obtain maximum vision when seated at the wheel, eliminating “blind” area to left rear at a distance of 20 feet from the rear of the car.

(f) With car stopped, check brake pedal with full pressure to determine whether the distance pedal travels is less than halfway. Then, hold full pressure for 30 seconds or more to make sure that no further pedal movement occurs.

3. At a service station, inspect tires for inside or outside defects. Examine the tires on a car (preferably the family car), including the spare, for safe condition. Check pressure with a gauge. Check once a week for a month and submit record. Explain conditions found, their meaning and corrections when required.

4. With stakes, mark out the distance necessary to stop a car traveling 60 miles per hour on dry pavement. Discuss additional allowances that bad weather and road conditions would require.

5.  Be prepared to explain or answer questions about the seriousness and the size of the traffic accident problem in the United States, your state, and your community. Visit your police department, sheriff’s office, of state highway patrol and get information on at least two serious accident cases. From the evidence, tell what driving and safety rules were violated and how these accidents might have been prevented.

6. Do the following:

(a) Demonstrate six ways in which a passenger can contribute to the safe operation of a car in which he is riding and explain what you will do when you find yourself in a car being driven in a reckless manner.

(b) Using a bicycle, demonstrate four safe practices common to bicycle and automobile driving.

(c) Obtain the driver’s manual of your state. Point out to your merit badge counselor the requirements you must meet to obtain a driver’s license.

(d) Draw the shapes of the six basic traffic signs and explain the meaning of each.

7. Do ONE of the following three projects:

(a) Observe, study, and prepare a report on one important community activity for traffic safety.

(b) Report on a traffic safety project in which you participated with your troop or post.

(c) Report on an individual project that you carried out in promoting traffic safety.