Driving takes on a whole new perspective when you realise that your ongoing practice in road safety can prevent accidents and save lives. 1,2
Dangerous Driving
It doesn’t take long to notice irresponsible driving on the highway or in town. These drivers don’t care about road safety and pose a great danger on our roads. It’s vital to remember that every time you drive, you are responsible for the lives of all road users.1
Let’s review the following highway driving tips and use them to make a difference to road safety.
First Things First – Fasten Your Safety Belt
Always buckle up before driving off, no matter how short the trip. Besides, driving without a safety belt is illegal in South Africa. Fortunately, modern cars will remind you should you drive off without fastening the safety belt. 1
Speed Kills
So says a sign that you often see on South African roads. The law requires you to stick to the speed limit for your and other motorists’ safety. Exceeding a speed limit is dangerous because you have less time to react. In addition, speeding may compromise the performance of your car’s brakes and tyres, among other things. 1
Road Work Areas
When approaching a road work zone, obey all the signs, slow down and select the correct lane. It’s quite common to see speeding motorist try and overtake while entering a converging lane. Look out for any heavy machinery and large moving trucks. 1
Don’t Drink and Drive
This warning you often see displayed. The law currently dictates that the alcohol content in your blood must be less than 0.05 g per 100 ml of blood. Alternatively, the legal breath alcohol limit must be less than 0.24 mg in 1,000 ml of breath. Driving under the influence is not worth the terrible risks, such as loss of life and possible jail time.2
Driving While Distracted
Driving requires your undivided attention on the road ahead so that you can take appropriate action. Using your cell phone while driving is dangerous and illegal, and this major distraction can cause drivers to lose control on the road. 1
Three Categories of Distractions While Driving
The one distraction is manual, when you take your hands off the steering wheel. The second is visual, such as reading a cell phone message. The third distraction is mental, when you no longer concentrate on driving. 1
Falling Asleep at the Wheel
The average person requires about 7-8 hours of sleep per day. Get a good rest before embarking on a long journey. If your brain decides to fall asleep, it’s virtually impossible to prevent it. That is why it is also essential on your journey to have a rest break every two hours. That would also be an excellent time to change drivers. 1
Are the Windscreen Wipers Working?
Trying to cope with ineffective wipers in a rainstorm while travelling is dangerous. You may have to stop on the side of the road and only continue to the next garage when the rain has stopped. Regularly check the wipers to ensure that the rubber blades aren’t starting to perish. 1
What about Engine Failure?
It’s each driver’s responsibility to make sure their car is serviced regularly and is good to travel. Should your car suddenly lose power, slowly move to the left side of the road, and park safely away from traffic. It’s vital to have access to a 24-hour roadside assistance and towing service as part of your car insurance package. 1
Disclaimer
The article’s aim is to inform the public about highway driving safety tips. 1,2
Travelling requires you to look after your safety and your family’s by having adequate car insurance. Contact us at PMD to learn more about our affordable car insurance products. Enjoy our world-class client service while we show you our products’ unique benefits, such as fixed premiums* and a reduce-to-zero excess*. T’s and C’s apply.
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Sources:
1https://medium.com/@autobahnaudivw/top-10-highway-driving-safety-tips-471883ccac28
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.