Tips and taught



Traffic crashes are the number one killer of road user

Risk awareness:

Risk is defined as the possibility of injury, damage or loss. Lack of risk awareness is considered a major factor in the number of traffic crashes, especially among new drivers.

Simply to say that, driving is a risky job, if we can control our risk of a collision and manage risk of driving to a minimum.

Improper lookout: 

Driving is a combination of awareness and reactions, but mostly it is a visual exercise.

How soon and how well we see things is, arguably, more important than how we react.

After all, if we see something in time to take evasive action, we can avoid a crash...

Conversely, if we have very little time to recognize a problem, the only hope is gut-instinct and reaction- which usually results in the wrong decision!

One could argue that there is no such thing as, accident. Rather there are events that are predicable and thus preventable. The most common causes of collision are almost all vision related. Speed-too fast for conditions and couldn't see something in time.

Drinking alcohol; reduced ability to identify a failure to see something in time.

If driver of a vehicle do not see the treat in time to take proper action.

Inattention or risk assessment

while it is nearly impossible to determine with complete accuracy the level of risk in specific driving situations, there are three guidelines that can help you assess risk more accurately: 1) Consider the possibility of a dangerous event developing. 2) Prepare to take action to mange the situation. 3 ) Consider the consequences of you decisions.

Lack of risk awareness:

The purpose, of HOW TO DRIVE is to help you understand the risks involved in driving and how to better mange risk the chance of injury, damage, or loss. Managing risk when you drive involves controlling visibility, time, and space, and being aware of the amount of traction available.

Whenever you drive, make sure you're in top physical shape; fatigue, drowsy and health condition is deadly weapon for drivers.

Fatigue: if you drive when you are tired, fatigue can creep up on you .

There is no warring; just a nod of the head and your attention goes off. Absolutely anything can happen when a driver falls asleep, and survival is just a matter of luck, a dozing driver risks not only his or her own life but also the lives of others on the road.

Drowsy Driving Awareness

Drowsy driving is dangerous and often results in injury or death. Falling asleep at the wheel or the inability to pay adequate attention while driving may be a result of being sleep deprived. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that every year there are 100,000 drowsy driving crashes reported to police costing $12.5 billion in USA.

When Is It Most Likely To Happen?

Most drowsy driving crashes happen at predictable times. We are most likely to feel fatigued, and our risk of being involved in a drowsy driving-related crash increases between 1 pm and 4 pm and 2 am and 6 am.

Who's At Risk?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, 51% of adults reported that they have driven while drowsy, and 17% reported falling asleep at the wheel in the past year. Working late night shifts, taking care of young children, or managing hectic schedules can all be risk factors for drowsy driving. In addition, those who stay awake through the night, such as those who are working, driving, or students who stay awake studying for an exam, are at an increased risk for being in a crash.

Warning Signs of Drowsy Driving

Yawning, inability to keep eyes open and head raised, not remembering the last few miles traveled, drifting out of the lane, or hitting rumble strips are all indications that a driver should pull over in a safe area to nap or switch drivers.

What Can Be Done?

If you begin to feel drowsy, find a safe rest area to pull into and take a nap. This is more effective than opening the window, turning up the radio, or using caffeine to stay awake. It takes approximately 30 minutes for caffeine to take effect, and the relief is temporary. If fatigued after a shift, try to find a quiet place to sleep before getting on the road or ask someone to pick you up.

Answers the below quiz, and see how, your risk management pay off.

1)    What is your "top" priority while driving?

A: reaching your destination?

B: Making good time?

C: The actual task itself?

D: Staying awake?

2)    What is the best way to awaken drivers to the dangers of fatigue?

A: Highway rumble strips?

B: public service announcement?

C: A healthy diet and exercise program?

D: A proactive/defensive driving course?

3)    When is the most dangerous time for driving?

A: Wee hours of the morning?

B: After lunch?

C: On long distance trips?

D: In the summer time?

4)    drowsiness in driving is due mainly to:

A: Boring scenery?

B: Lack of sufficient sleep?

C: Not taking regular breaks?

5)    It is really time to get off the road when:

A: You start yawning?

B: You've missed your exit?

C: You feel restless?

6)    Which is the most serious effect of fatigue?

A: Affects your ability to respond to an emergency?

B: reduces attention span?

C: Worsens mood?

D: Slows reaction time?

7)    The best definition of a distraction would be:

A: Lack of concentration on a task?

B: Inattention to a task?

C: A diversion of attention from a task?

D: A way of drawing attention to a task?

8)    Which of these distractions is the greatest risk for a collision?

A: Eating and drinking?

B: Personal grooming?

C: Noisy/talking passengers?

D: Using a cell phone?

9)    Which is the most dangerous sign of an aggressive driver?

A: Speeding?

B: A blatant disregard for the safety of others?

C: Following too closely?

D: Weaving in and out of traffic?

10) Which of the following emotional responses is the most stressful on a driver?

A: Impatience?

B: Competing?

C: Anger?

D: Punishin

http://blog.caasco.com/automotive/get-your-kid-on-the-road-to-success

http://blog.caasco.com/community/tips-parents-young-drivers

http://blog.caasco.com/community/4-tips-for-choosing-the-best-driving-school

Traffic congestion:

Traffic congestion is a condition on any network as use increases and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased queuing, the most common example is for physical use of roads by vehicles. There it occurs when traffic demand is greater than the capacity of a road (or of the intersections along the road). Extreme traffic congestion, where vehicles are fully stopped for periods of time, is colloquially known as a traffic jam.

Definition: There are several main causes of traffic congestion. The prime cause is simply a volume of traffic that generates demand for space greater than the road capacity, but there are a number of specific circumstances which cause or aggravate congestion - most of which reduce the capacity of a road at a given point or over a certain length, or increase the number of vehicles required for a given throughput of people or goods. The former causes include on-road parking, construction works, collisions and emergencies or unsafe road conditions (due to weather or other factors); the latter causes include conditions where the mode share between high and low occupancy vehicles primarily consists of low occupancy vehicles or of types of vehicle that take up a large quantum of network space per person. Speed and flow can also affect network capacity though the relationship is complex.

Traffic research still cannot fully predict under which conditions a 'traffic jam' (as opposed to heavy, but smoothly flowing traffic) may suddenly occur. It has been found that individual collision (such as a collision or even a single car braking heavily in a previously smooth flow) may cause ripple effects which then spread out and create a sustained traffic jam when otherwise, normal flow might have continued for some time longer.

 

Irresponsible behaviour:

Driver attitude linked to performance and crash risk (DDC) Defensive Driving Course

The most important actions you can take to avoid aggressive driving take place inside your head. By changing your approach to driving, you can make every trip more pleasant.

Since the biggest problem on the road is the driver, more specifically the driver's attitude. 92% of all collisions are the result of human error; this means that with the right attitude better drivers could save life and reduced collisions, as well as saving tax payers almost $9.1 BILLION per year.  By using the common since and participation, exercises to identify attitude problems, and recognize the consequences, and find out how to adjust their driving attitude. These ideas for a pleasant change:

Forget winning:

For too many motorists, driving becomes a contest.

Are you one of those drivers who allow the shortest time for a trip and the races the clock?

If something happens to slow you down do you get angry?

The solution; allow more time for your trip. You will be amazed at how much more relaxed you feel when you have few extra minutes. So instead of trying to "make good time," try to "make time good".

Listen to soothing music, practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing.

  Improper lookout:

Managing risk starts with an aggressive visual search of the roadway and off road areas. This should include:

 

  • Achieving early awareness by scanning 20-30 seconds ahead of your path of travel for objects or conditions that could pose a threat.
  • Identifying an alternate path of travel 15-20 seconds ahead, including the level of traction available, in case of emergency.
  • Predicting the possible actions of other highway users.
  • Assessing the consequences of alternative responses.
  • Adjusting your speed and position and communicating your intentions well in advance.

Summary: While it is impossible to completely eliminate risk in driving situations, there are ways to properly manage it.

1.     Know the Warning Signs of Drowsy Driving: Drifting from lane to lane; repeated yawning; difficulty keeping your eyes open or focused; tailgating or disregarding traffic signals.

2.     Get enough sleep before driving; 7-9 hours of sleep is needed every day. Driving without sleep in the past 24 hours is equivalent to a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.10% or legally intoxicated.

3.     Drive during what would be normal awake hours: most drowsy driving crashes happen between midnight and 6 am.

4.     If you feel drowsy while driving, stop at a safe rest area and nap for at least 15-20 minutes before continuing.

5.     Stop every 200 kilometer or 2 hours during long trips.

1.     Share the driving with a friend.

2.     Avoid driving after taking medicines that may make you drowsy (antihistamines, sedatives, etc.).

whether I consider myself to be a good or bad driver; whether I like myself as a driver; how I react to common driving situations; how much control I have over my driving and my emotions; how my mood changes as a result of driving episodes; how aware I am of my driving or of driving conditions; how the traffic went on a particular trip; my driving record (traffic tickets, collisions, near misses, are methods for gathering data on driving behavior.

 

Ref : How to drive, Defensive driving (driving to prevent collisions)

06/29/2017  Musien.M