Road Safety

Ride Safe & Stay Safe - Road Safety

Driving is a skill that requires constant and complex coordination of the mind and body of the driver.

 

CONCENTRATION NEEDS OF DRIVING TASK

Driver distraction is a huge unrecognized danger. It leads to slowed reactions, distracted perception, impaired coordination, decreased visual and auditory awareness, disorientation, and slowed mental processing.

 

SKILLS NEEDED BY A DRIVER INCLUDE:

·         Visual Skill (seeing): e.g. watching the road in front and around the vehicle, using mirrors, shoulder checks, checking gauges, speedometer, etc.

·         Auditory Skill (listening): e.g. squealing of brakes, the sirens of an emergency vehicle, vehicle sounds, etc.

·         Bio-Mechanical (doing-hand-eye co-ordination): e.g. turning the steering wheel, activating signals, headlights, horns, pressing the accelerator, brakes, clutch, etc.

·         Cognitive (Thinking): e.g. anticipating any future movements, assessing situations such as movements of other vehicles, weather conditions, preparing to avoid hazards, etc.

 

TYPES OF DISTRACTIONS

·         Adjusting the radio, cassette, or CD player.

·         Using/dialing a mobile phone.

·         Eating and drinking while driving.

·         Other occupants in the vehicle.

·         Outside distractions like accidents, friends in other vehicles, vehicles stopped by police, roadside advertising, new construction, etc.

·         Personnel grooming.

·         Pre-occupation in thoughts or mind-wandering.

·         Reading or writing.

·         Activities of fellow drivers in the traffic stream.

·         Drowsy driving and driver fatigue.

·         Drinking and driving.

·         Smoking while driving.

 

TIPS ON AVOIDING DRIVER DISTRACTIONS INCLUDE:

·         Avoid emotionally charged or complex conversion.

·         When hungry or thirsty take a break.

·         Attend to personnel grooming and check your route before you leave.

·         Make it a habit to use your cell phone only when parked.

·         Never read or take notes while driving.

·         Identify and preset your vehicle’s climate control, radio, and CD player.

·         Make sure your children are comfortable and properly bucked up.

·         Resist the urge to get a good look at the accident scene.

 

STAY SAFE AT THE PETROL PUMP

·         Turn off your vehicle engine while refueling. Put your vehicle in park and/or set the emergency brake.

·         Turn off any auxiliary sources of ignition such as pilot lights.

·         Do not smoke, light matches, or lighters while refueling at the pump or when using petrol anywhere else.

·         Use only the refueling latch provided on the petrol dispenser nozzle, -never jam the refueling latch on the nozzle open.

·         Do not re-enter your vehicle during refueling.

·         In the unlikely event of a static caused fire occurring while refueling, leave the nozzle in the fill pipe and back away from the vehicle.

·         Do not over-fill or top-off your vehicle tank, which can cause petrol spillage.

·         Avoid prolonged breathing of petrol vapors. Use petrol only in open areas that get plenty of fresh air. Keep your face away from the nozzle.

·         Never siphon petrol by mouth nor put petrol in your mouth for any reason. Petrol can be harmful or fatal if swallowed. If someone swallows petrol, do not induce vomiting. Contact a doctor immediately.

·         Keep petrol away from your eyes and skin-it may cause irritation. Remove petrol-soaked clothing immediately.

·         Use petrol as a vehicle fuel only. Never use petrol to wash your hands or as a cleaning solvent.

·         Do not use portable electric/ electronic equipment such as a mobile phone on petrol pumps.

·         Avoid using tools that can generate sparks so as to avoid any chance of petroleum vapors catching fire.

  

SEATBELTS AND SAFETY IN CARS

The chances of survival in case of an accident is 70 percent more if a passenger has fastened his seatbelt than if he is not wearing a seatbelt.