The UN Road Safety Collaboration is launching a global campaign for the Road Safety Week, which takes place from 4 to 10 May 2015. The theme for this initiative is “Children and road safety”.

Everyone on the road is supposed to have a driver’s license. Unfortunately, this does not always ensure common sense and responsibility on the road. Safe driving is crucial because things can happen in a split second. Here are the top 20 safe driving tips which can help save lives:

  1. Always make sure you had enough sleep and something to eat before a long drive. Highly caffeinated beverages are not the best choice as they will initially make you will feel more alert, but then the effects will recede with time and your attention may wander.
  2. Do not take long journeys without breaks, even if you don’t feel tired. It is recommended to take a 15-minute break every two hours. Use this to eat something small, get some fresh air and stretch your legs by walking around.
  3. Share the driving responsibilities with someone else. This will allow you to keep an eye on each other while driving and also enable you to rest without losing time. If you’re driving alone, turn on the radio or put on some music and keep your window wide open when it is safe to do so.
  4. Never drink any alcohol before getting behind a steering wheel. Select a designated driver who has to refrain from drinking any alcohol at all before you and your companions start drinking.
  5. Be aware of the weather predictions. If you can, plan your route around future weather forecasts. A minor detour to circumnavigate bad weather could actually wind up saving you major time.
  6. Search the Web for traffic update sites and listen to radio traffic alerts, especially when approaching major cities.
  7. If you are driving a rental vehicle, familiarise yourself with the car and all of its equipment.
  8.  Make sure your vehicle is in prime condition. To ensure safety for both yourself and those around you and to keep your vehicle running smoothly, remember FLOWER: Fuel − Play safe and stay topped up; Lights − Regularly check main beams, indicators, fog lights, sidelights and brake lights; Oil − Over-filling or under-filling the oil risks engine damag; Water − Keep the screen wash reservoir full and use plenty of additives in winter; Electrics – Check the battery, wiper blades, electric windows, horn and heater fan; and Rubber − Your tyres should be kept at the pressure recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer. Information about the correct pressure for your tyres can be found on a label inside the driver’s door (or passenger side in some makes) or in your owner’s manual. Check your tire pressure and treads at least once a month.
  9. Consider becoming a member of the Automobile Association (AA) or signing up for your car insurer’s roadside assistance programme. You won’t regret it when your car breaks down on a lonely back road.
  10. Make sure everyone in the car buckles his or her seatbelt.
  11. Keep your distance. The two-second rule in dry weather is still the golden rule. When visibility is low such as during light fog, light rain or night-time driving, you should double the following distance to a minimum of four seconds.
  12. Eliminate distractions. The most common cause for accidents is that the driver has been distracted. Limit the number of distractions that you have in the car, such as eating or talking.
  13. Focus on the horizon. Rather than keeping your eyes fixed on the car right in front of you, keep your eyes on the horizon as you watch the traffic ahead of you. This will enable you to see any activity up ahead that may cause an accident and it will give you plenty of time to adjust accordingly.
  14. Stay in one lane as much as possible. Many car accidents happen when a vehicle suddenly changes lanes. If you aren’t the one changing lanes, then you need to keep an eye on those who are. Many drivers try to slip between cars, even when it is too dangerous to do so.
  15. Check intersections carefully as a majority of accidents occur there. Many drivers will simply start driving when the light turns green, but not everyone stops when the light turns red. Check your left side for any cars that are ignoring the red light and then look to the right before you start driving through the intersection.
  16. Stay away from bad drivers. If you notice that someone is showing signs of being a bad or incompetent driver, then you need to keep your distance. You may want to change lanes and slow down to let the car pass so that you don’t have a chance of it rear ending you
  17. Watch out for road rage. Often a driver becomes violent over what seems to be a trivial situation. While you can’t control the actions of other drivers, you can control your own. Don’t engage in aggressive actions that could provoke road rage, such as tailgating, blocking the passing lane, failing to use turn signals, beeping the horn excessively or using high beams to “punish” other drivers. Avoid eye contact. Road rage is escalated when drivers look directly at one another.
  18. Make it a habit to signal early. In normal driving conditions, turn your signals on five to eight seconds before you turn or change lanes to give drivers behind you adequate time to react. Be sure to turn off your signal after you’ve completed the action.
  19. Adjust your mirrors to reduce the blind spot next to your car. Make sure that the mirrors are properly adjusted for you. Three easy steps for adjusting your car’s mirrors:(a) Adjust the interior mirror so that the rear window is framed;  (b) before you start your car, sit in your normal driving position and put your head against the driver’s side window, look in your left side view mirror and adjust it so that you see as little of the left side of your car as possible; and (c) from your position in the driver’s seat, place your head along the centreline of the car, look in your right side view mirror and adjust it so that you see as little of the right side of your car as possible.
  20. Avoid using your cell phone. Instead, pull safely off the road and out of traffic before making a call. Studies have found that drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a crash when using a cell phone. Using a hands-free device is not the solution for avoiding a crash because phone conversations take your mind off the road and off the important task of driving.

 

Sources
www.independenttraveler.com
www.gecapital.co.uk
www.kupper-chevrolet.com
www.arrivealive.co.za
www.ford.co.za
www.wheels24.co.za
www.drivesouthafrica.co.za