Monthly Archives: June 2012

Keys to know while driving a vehicle

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Before you change course or speed you need to know what is happening in front, to the sides and behind you; mirror checks at these points are essential.

At all times know what is going on all around you, and let other road users know what you intend to do. Taking, using and giving this information is essential before you change speed or direction.

Mirrors are one of the keys to defensive driving. Always use them to keep up to date with what’s behind and to the sides of your vehicle.

Recognise where other people’s blind areas will be and avoid remaining in them longer than necessary.

If the vehicle behind is too close, slow down gradually to increase your distance from the vehicle ahead so that you can avoid having to brake suddenly.

Try to avoid the emergency arising

• Look well ahead
• Look out for pedestrians
• Always drive at such a speed that you can stop safely
• If vision in the distance no clear, slow down
• Brake in good time, if necessary lightly press the brake pedal early or more than once to show your brake lights to following traffic

Never accelerate when someone is overtaking you. Be prepared to ease off if necessary to help them pass you. Don’t block vehicles travelling faster than you who may want to overtake, even if they are breaking the speed limit.

Always be on the lookout for other vehicles creating dangerous situations.

• A vehicle overtaking too close to a bend
• A vehicle approaching a bed too fast
• Oncoming vehicles skidding in bad weather
• A vehicle waiting to turn into a concealed entrance

Try and get eye contact with the driver of the approaching vehicle to determine which course is best. Your speed should allow you to stop if the other driver cuts across your path.

Always keep an eye on the vehicle in front as you’re about to enter the roundabout.

Don’t assume the driver won’t have to stop while you’re still looking to the right. Many rear end collisions happen this way. Make sure the vehicle has actually moved away.

Learn more driving skills from our driving lessons.

Things that matter while driving a car

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Driver Stress & Fatigue

Reduce the risk of fatigue by making sure that you are not tired before you start driving. Adjust your seat so that your driving position is comfortable. Bad posture causes muscular fatigue, which in turn causes mental fatigue.

Night driving put heavy demands on the eyes and any slight eyesight irregularity can cause stress and fatigue.

Noise and vibration cause fatigue, so do everything possible to reduce noise in the vehicle. Open windows are a major source of noise so keep them closed and use the ventilation controls instead, but make sure that you have enough ventilation to stay alert.

Taking rest breaks is essential to recover from the onset of fatigue. It appears that most people need a rest break of at least 20 minutes to restore alertness. On long journeys you should plan a series of rest breaks.

Excessive Vehicle Speed and Loss of Vehicle Control

Speed has a major impact on safety. International evidence clearly shows that lower speed limits result in fewer accidents. Drivers who drive fast regardless of the circumstances have an accident risk three to five times greater than drivers who do not. At greater speeds the risk obviously increases – you approach hazards faster, you have less time to react, and the impact damage is greater. A child hit by a car at 30km may be injured but will probably live; a child hit at 60km will probably die.

High Demands on Concentration and Sources of Distraction

As you driver faster, the nearest point in which you can accurately focus moves away from you. Foreground detail becomes blurred and observation becomes more difficult because you have to process more information in less time. The only way to cope with this is to scan further ahead, so that you gain more time to assess, plan and react.

Learn safe driving from Northshore driving school and be safe on the road.

Both are essential – speed and safety

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The speed at which you drive is one of the most important factors in determining your risk of having an accident. The faster you go, the less chance you have of taking avoiding action, and the greater your risk of having an accident

The speed at which you drive should depend on the road, the weather, and traffic conditions. When you adapt your speed to the prevailing circumstances you must anticipate and plan for potential as well as actual dangers.

Remember – a speed limit is not a target. Statutory speed limits set the maximum permissible speed, but this is not the same thing as a safe speed. The safe speed for a particular stretch of road is determined by the conditions at the time. At night, in conditions of low visibility or high traffic volume the statutory speed limit may well be excessive. It is the driver’s responsibility to select a speed appropriate for the conditions.

The skill of driving safely at speed is not easily acquired. Every driver has their own speed limit: this is the highest speed at which they are safe and comfortable in any given situation. You should know what yours is and never go beyond it.

Key Safety Points:

• Do not drive at speed unless you are competent, and it is safe to do so
• Be familiar with the controls and the handling characteristics of your vehicle – use the controls smoothly
• High-speed driving requires maximum attentiveness – if you cannot achieve a high level of attentiveness because of fatigue or some other cause, do not drive
• Always drive so that you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear, by day or by night
• If you double your speed you quadruple your braking distance

Driving Instructors, Driving Class

Beware of traffic hazards and be secured

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Driving too close to the vehicle in front is one of the most common causes of collisions. Create and maintain a safety cushion of space around the vehicle.

Take into account the road surface, weather conditions, speed and visibility and adjust the safety cushion accordingly.

Enter & leave traffic stream with minimum interruption to other road users. Think about what can be seen, what cannot be seen and what might reasonably be expected. Which hazards represent the greatest threat? Order hazards in importance and decide what to do.

Observation links are clues to the likely behaviour of other road users. Be aware hazards associated with the below traffic mixes:

• Probable roundabout ahead, the exit point of a junction
• Road curves to left or right, sharp turns
• Pedestrian stepping into the road, pedestrians stepping out from behind vehicles, small children hidden from view
• A row of parked vehicles, doors opening, vehicles moving off
• A bus at a stop, cyclists, vehicles moving in and out
• Pull-ins, petrol stations, pubs, parking spaces etc.
• Accident

Acknowledge that attitudes affect driving performance. Be aware of your own attitudes and recognise that they affect your risk of having an accident.

Recognise that you are vulnerable. Make safety your primary concern in all your driving decisions.

Consider your own experience of near misses or accidents and what you can learn from them.

Carry through changes in attitude to your driving performance by applying them in every driving situation

Safe Driving Courses, Driving Lessons