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Driving Safely 

Tips-to-Drive-Safely

Distracted Driving

Driver distraction was recognized as a problem as far , occurs when a driver is delayed in the recognition of information needed to safely accomplish the driving task or when drivers concentrate on something other than operating their vehicles such as engaging in cell phone conversations, adjusting the radio, or eating and drinking can be distracting and potentially dangerous.

Number of incidents and accidents that occur when drivers become distracted.  But the best advice is to avoid distractions whenever possible.

Have You Been a Distracted Driver?

Radio, CD and Cassette Players:
Searching for stations or for that exact piece of music you have to have now are absorbing of attention and steel it from driving. To lessen their impact, Learn your system well enough to use by touch and sound alone. When buying a car, opt for fingertip controls on the steering wheel and head-up displays for tuning, if available.

Multi-disc CD players require less fiddling. Decide your listening mood before you start and load the machine. Take advantage of the push button or scan devices on your sound system. If you are driving alone do your adjustments while stopped. If you have passengers, pre-instruct them in the use of the controls and let them be your trained surrogate while you’re behind the wheel.

Children:
Just as there are table manners there should be car manners. Let the kids help make the rules about yelling, hitting, crying, complaining to the driver etc. Belt children in appropriate car seats. If you are tempted to belt them in other ways be sure you stop first. ,Don’t get involved in inter-child arguments or who-started-it polemics. Forget the “Don’t make me stop this car!” threats. Stop the car. Get it settled. You cannot be an upset mother and an alert driver at the same time. Forbid games that involve tossing a ball or anything else that might get under foot and interfere with the controls.Sure, play the alphabet game and the license tag game with them, but don’t keep score. (You might get emotionally involved.)

Cell phones:
Using a cell phone while driving increases your chance of getting into a crash by 400%. When dialing a phone number or engaging in intense conversation, you’re not watching the road like you should.

Drunk Driving
Alcohol is a factor in 6% of all traffic crashes, and over 40% of all fatal crashes.

Aggressive driving

Aggressive driving has become a serious problem on our roadways. It is often caused by frustration, impatience and irritability. Drivers in this state of mind sometimes speed, follow other vehicles too closely, change lanes frequently or abruptly without signaling, pass on the shoulder or other unpaved areas next to the roadway, and in general drive recklessly or Aggressive driving can refer to any display of aggression by a driver. It is often used to describe more extreme acts of physical assault that result from disagreements between drivers.

This increase in incidents has resulted also in an increase in the number of people killed and injured by aggressive drivers is scary and there are more vehicles on the roads. Yet the number of miles of roadway has increased by only 1%. Also, people are busier. Time is at a premium, and road congestion causes frustration.

The exact number of motor vehicle crashes caused by aggressive drivers is unknown, and hostile manner without regard to the safety of others. They sometimes harass other motorists which can result in altercations on the roadway a dangerous situation.

Most behaviors associated with aggressive driving are illegal. They don’t believe there will be consequences to their actions.

Characteristics of aggressive drivers:

Express frustration. Drivers climb into the anonymity of an automobile and take out their frustrations on anybody at any time. Their emotions are high, and the concern for fellow motorists is low.

Speed. Going faster than the posted speed limit, being a “road racer,” going too fast for conditions, and weaving in and out of traffic are some examples of speeding.

Lack attention to driving. Distractions from driving are a major cause of roadway crashes. Motorists are often seen eating, drinking, primping – yes, even shaving – as they drive. Some drivers make their automobiles a “home away from home,” with fax machines and laptop computers.

Rubberneck. Slowing down to look at an incident is a natural human reaction. But this behavior slows traffic, causes congestion, and may lead to another car crash.

Run red lights. Disregarding traffic controls is a leading cause of urban crashes.


Don’t be an Aggressive Driver

Change your schedule so you do not have to drive during rush hours. If you’re running late, call ahead. Then relax. Don’t drive when you are angry, upset or overly tired. Get comfortable. Enjoy listening to music and avoid anything that might make you feel anxious. Practice good posture. Sit back In your seat, loosen your grip on the steering wheel and don’t clench your teeth. And remember, you never know what state of mind the drivers around you are in.Give others the benefit of the doubt; be polite, courteous, and
forgiving.

Pedestrian safety

Pedestrian safety is for all ages. Unfortunately, in traffic incidents involving pedestrians and motorists, it is the pedestrian who suffers, often with tragic results. In many cases it is not the driver’s fault. It is the responsibility of both driver and pedestrian to ensure each others safety, Several pedestrians and motorists are killed by automobiles every year, There is no one cause of crashes involving pedestrians.

Walking is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and can provide a range of benefits. People are healthier and stay healthy longer when they get regular exercise. Physical activity can help prevent heart disease, obesity, and even some types of cancer and diabetes. Exercise such as walking 30 minutes per day can have a positive effect on depression and anxiety and help to improve one’s mood.

Pedestrians are still in a world dominated by motorists, however, and collisions with motor vehicles do occur.Several pedestrians are killed each year in Kenya, and others suffer injuries. Children ages 5-9 and adults over 75 years old are particularly vulnerable to these collisions. Injury prevention and travel safety begins with a mutual respect between both motorists and pedestrians.

We are all pedestrians. Everyone is a pedestrian at some point in his or her trip, whether it is from doorstep to bus stop, from the parking lot to an office, or taking the dog on a leisurely trip through the neighborhood streets.

The message for Pedestrian is: Pedestrian Safety is a Shared Responsibility

There is no one cause of crashes involving pedestrians. Pedestrians and motorists must both do their part to keep pedestrians safe.

Some simple rules to avoid incidents:

As a pedestrian:

Cross at marked crosswalks or traffic lights, not in the middle of the block or between parked cars; Make sure drivers see you before you cross; Cross when traffic has come to a complete stop; At a traffic light, cross at the beginning of a green light. Do not cross once the “Don’t Walk” signal begins to flash or once the light has turned to yellow. Never cross on a red light; Watch for traffic turning at intersections or entering and leaving driveways; Wear bright or light-coloured clothing or reflective strips, when walking in dusk or darkness.

As a Children:

Cross at intersections only. Never cross from in-between parked cars. Before crossing, look left, right and left again and listen for traffic. Wear light colored or reflective clothing at night. If there is no sidewalk available, walk as far off the roadway as possible on the left side of the road, facing oncoming traffic. Obey all traffic signs and signals. Avoid playing in driveways or on sidewalks near roadways.

Things to remember as a driver: 

You can encounter pedestrians anytime and anywhere even in places where they are not supposed to be found.
Pedestrians can be very hard to see especially in bad weather or at night. You must keep a lookout and slow down if you can’t see clearly.
Stop for pedestrians who are in a crosswalk, even if it is not marked. When you stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, stop well back so that drivers in the other lanes can also see the pedestrian in time to stop.
Cars stopped in the street may be stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross. Do not pass if there is any doubt!
Don’t assume that pedestrians see you or that they will act predictably. They may be physically or mentally impaired or drunk

Pedestrian safety education for children can improve their knowledge and change their road crossing behaviour, but effects on injury are unknown. It is critical to teach children to look left-right-left before crossing streets. Cross only at designated crossings. Entering traffic mid-block or from between parked cars is dangerous. Teach children to never dart out into traffic.
As a Children:

Cross at intersections only. Never cross from in-between parked cars. Before crossing, look left, right and left again and listen for traffic. Wear light colored or reflective clothing at night. If there is no sidewalk available, walk as far off the roadway as possible on the left side of the road, facing oncoming traffic. Obey all traffic signs and signals. Avoid playing in driveways or on sidewalks near roadways.

Things to remember as a driver: 

You can encounter pedestrians anytime and anywhere even in places where they are not supposed to be found.
Pedestrians can be very hard to see especially in bad weather or at night. You must keep a lookout and slow down if you can’t see clearly.
Stop for pedestrians who are in a crosswalk, even if it is not marked. When you stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, stop well back so that drivers in the other lanes can also see the pedestrian in time to stop.
Cars stopped in the street may be stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross. Do not pass if there is any doubt!
Don’t assume that pedestrians see you or that they will act predictably. They may be physically or mentally impaired or drunk

Pedestrian safety education for children can improve their knowledge and change their road crossing behaviour, but effects on injury are unknown. It is critical to teach children to look left-right-left before crossing streets. Cross only at designated crossings. Entering traffic mid-block or from between parked cars is dangerous. Teach children to never dart out into traffic.

New Drivers

Eperienced drivers should familiarize themselves with the risks associated with young, inexperienced drivers.

Young drivers are the most at risk group on the road.

Young drivers exhibit certain attributes that contribute to their higher risk of road crashes. These include:

Lack of experience.
Risk taking behaviour.
The use of older vehicles with less safety features.
Speeding.
Peer pressure.

Why, when and where did they die?
On average between 2003-2006, for drivers in the 16-25 year age group who were killed or seriously injured:

30% of drivers who were killed had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). of .05 or above and 23% of drivers seriously injured recorded a BAC of .05 or above.
10% were not wearing a seat belt. 45% occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
20% occurred between 4-5pm, 6-8pm or 12-1am.
45% were on country roads and
42% on roads signposted as 100km/h or 110km/h. 55% were male.

Night driving
Young drivers are more likely to drive at night and on weekends than older drivers.

Older Drivers

Older road users include drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. Whether driving, walking or cycling, if unsafe choices are made, family, friends, physicians, other health-care providers, and licensing officials can be pivotal in providing older persons with options for maintaining safe mobility. These individuals can also identify drivers with functional limitations that impair driving performance and direct older drivers to safer transportation alternatives.

Older drivers have higher rates of fatal crashes, based on miles driven, than any other group except very young drivers, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The high death rate is due in large part to their frailty. They are less likely to survive an injury than a younger person. By 2030, people age 65 and older are expected to represent 25 percent of the driving population and 25 percent of fatal crash involvements.

There is a growing need to help older drivers sharpen their skills as well as recognize their changing abilities and adapt their driving practices appropriately. In addition, an increasing number of states routinely attempt to identify, assess and regulate older drivers with diminishing abilities who cannot or will not voluntarily modify their driving habits.

Some Conditions to drive

Medical conditions.
Medical condition that could affect your ability to drive safely, include heart problems, epilepsy diabetes etc. If you are on prescribed medication, ask your doctor if it could affect your driving.

Your eyesight.
It’s illegal to drive if you can’t read a number plate from 20.5m (67 feet) away. Have your eyes tested regularly, as changes in your eyesight can happen slowly and without you realising it.

Weather Conditions
Despite the fact that the danger of accident and injury on the roadway always increases when weather conditions turn bad, million of car owners fail to alter their driving practices when the roads get wet or slippery. To help protect your self, your passengers, and everyone else on the roads, it’s essential to know how slick roads adversely affect your auto’s performance and how to change your driving habits to minimize these effects

When driving, generally one of the main rules to staying safe is being able to stop within the distance that you can see. At night this is particularly true, therefore if there are no streetlights you ahould be travelling slow enough so that you can stop within the distance illuminated by your headlights. You can see further when on main beam so if for any reason you need to dip your headlights you should alter your speed accordingly.

Regular checks of your lights should be done to ensure that they are in working order. The easiest way to do this is to get someone to watch while you run through the switches. If no one is available you can check lights, such as break lights, by parking close to a wall and looking for the reflections.

Any eyesight problems that you may have can become worse when drivig in the dark. Whether you have perfect eyesight or not, travelling at night puts more strain on your eyes and is therefore more tiring. For this reason, long journeys in the dark are best avoided but if this is not possible regular breaks are of the upmost importance.

Driving at night is more dangerous than during the day. One of the obvious reasons is darkness. Ninety percent of a driver’s reaction depends on vision, and vision is severely limited at night. Depth perception, color recognition and peripheral vision are compromised after sundown.

FOG

Fog can be thought of as a cloud at ground level. It forms when the temperature drops to the dew point (the temperature at which air is saturated), and invisible water vapor in the air condenses to form suspended water droplets. Fog can reduce visibility to 1/4 mile or less, creating hazardous driving conditions. If you can’t postpone your trip until dense fog lifts usually by late morning or the afternoon follow these tips:

Drive with lights on low beam. High beams will only be reflected back off the fog and actually impair visibility even more. Reduce your speed and watch your speedometer. Fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding. Listen for traffic you cannot see. Open your window a little, to hear better. Use wipers and defrosters as necessary for maximum visibility. Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as a guide. Be patient. Do not pass lines of traffic. Do not stop on a freeway or heavily traveled road. If your car stalls or becomes disabled, turn your vehicle’s lights off, and take your foot off of the brake pedal. People tend to follow tail lights when driving in fog. Move away from the vehicle to avoid injury.

Reduced visibility conditions include twilight, darkness, rain, snow, fog, smoke, and bright sunshine.

Use moderation in judging safe speed. Slow down enough to maintain a safe stopping distance. Do no slow down so much that you become a risk to drivers behind you. Be aware that in reduced visibility conditions, drivers tend to follow the tail
lights of vehicles in front of them. If you must pull off of the road, pull as
far off of the road as possible, turn off your headlights, take your foot off of
the brake pedal, and turn on your hazard lights. Make sure you have a pair of sunglasses in your vehicle to deal with bright sunlight.

Night Driving 

Traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day. Yet many of us are unaware of night driving’s special hazards or don’t know effective ways to deal with them. Why is night driving so dangerous? One obvious answer is darkness. Ninety percent of a driver’s reaction depends on vision, and vision is severely limited at night. Depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised after sundown.
Prepare your car for night driving.
Keep headlights, tail lights, signal lights and windows (inside and out) clean.
Have your headlights properly aimed. Mis-aimed headlights blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.
Don’t drink and drive. Not only does alcohol severely impair your driving ability, it also acts as a depressant. Just one drink can induce fatigue.
Avoid smoking when you drive. Smoke’s nicotine and carbon monoxide hamper night vision.
If there is any doubt, turn your headlights on. Lights will not help you see better in early twilight, but they’ll make it easier for other drivers to see you. Being seen is as important as seeing.
Reduce your speed and increase your following distances. It is more difficult to judge other vehicle’s speeds and distances at night. Don’t overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area. If you’re not, you are creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle.
When following another vehicle, keep your headlights on low beams so you don’t blind the driver ahead of you.
If an oncoming vehicle doesn’t lower beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the right edge of the road and using it as a steering guide.
Make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise.
If you’re too tired to drive, stop and get rest.
If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible.
Warn approaching traffic at once by setting up reflecting triangles near your vehicle and 300 feet behind it.Turn on flashers and the dome light.Stay off the roadway and get passengers away from the area.

Rainy Weather
When it comes to driving in rain, there is nothing more important than having a good set of wiper blades. Windshield wiper blades are not meant to last forever. Most experts believe they should be changed at least twice a year or every 10,000KM . But studies have shown that the average motorist changes his or her wiper blades just once every two or three years. As a result, many drivers are using blades that are cracked or frayed and not able to properly clear rain from the windshield.

While skids on wet pavement may be frightening, hydroplaning is completely nerve-wracking. Hydroplaning happens when the water in front of your tires builds up faster than your car’s weight can push it out of the way. The water pressure causes your car to rise up and slide on a thin layer of water between your tires and the road. At this point, your car can be completely out of contact with the road, and you are in danger of skidding or drifting out of your lane, or even off the road.

To avoid hydroplaning, keep your tires properly inflated, maintain good tread on your tires and replace them when necessary, slow down when roads are wet, and stay away from puddles. Try to drive in the tire tracks left by the cars in front of you.

If you find yourself hydroplaning, do not brake or turn suddenly. This could throw your car into a skid. Ease your foot off the gas until the car slows and you can feel the road again. If you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping actions. If your car has anti-lock brakes, then brake normally; the car’s computer will mimic a pumping action, when necessary.

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About the author: Job

If you judge people you have no time to love them. I love Cars...My Passion(Staying Dedicated to Work)

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