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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2004. PAGE 13. ===
Changes in driving behaviour can prevent crashes
(MS) -- Most of us know someone
who has died in a car accident -- a
relative, coworker, neighbor, a friend
of a friend. All had good driving
records, drove cautiously and
obeyed the rules of the road, yet they
were killed by drivers who were not
as diligent and responsible.
Unfortunately, there are careless,
drunk, inexperienced or just plain
reckless drivers out there who cause
fatal car crashes every day, making
them the eighth leading cause of
death overall (after heart disease,
cancer, stroke, chronic lower-
respiratory disease, diabetes,
influenza and pneumonia, and
Alzheimer's disease), reports the
U.S.'s National Safety Council
(NSC).
The NSC recommends that all
drivers follow these safety tips.
DRUNK DRIVING
Don't drink and drive. If you plan
to drink, designate a non-drinking
driver, and always wear a safety belt.
Seat belts reduce the risk of -fatal
injury by 45 per cent in a car and 60
per cent in a light truck.
YOUNG DRIVERS
Be cautious of young,
inexperienced drivers. They are
involved in fatal traffic crashes at
over twice the rate as the rest of the
CCNS - The stalled car
syndrome, more noticeable on our
roadways than in our driveways,
has been with us for generations.
But it becomes more critical with
increased population. Beyond
missed appointments or being late
for work it also results in the
condition known as road rage. Not
only can a disabled vehicle have an
annoying "ripple effect" that goes
beyond the immediate scene; it can
be disastrous kr the driver who is
left vulnerable to roadside crime or
to the elements.
"Don't blame y'our car," says
Rich White, a Car Care Council
spokesperson. "It can't drive itself
to the shop and ask for an oil change
or new spark plugs.
population. Although young drivers
represent a low percentage of the
licensed drivers, they are involved in
a significant percentage of the fatal
crashes.
DRIVER FATIGUE
Don't drive if you are tired. It
happens frequently on long drives,
especially at night. And don't start a
trip late in the day. Long-distance
driving is hard work, and you need
to be fresh and alert.
If possible, don't drive alone.
Passengers can take turns driving
and also serve as conversation
partners to keep the driver awake.
Adjust your car's environment:
Keep the temperature cool , by
opening windows. Turn on air'
conditioning in the summer and keep
heat to a minimum during winter.
Raise the radio volume and switch
stations frequently.
Avoid soft, sleep-inducing music,
and don't use cruise control.
Stop at least every two hours, at a
gas station or rest stop.
Take a 20-minute nap in a safe.
guarded rest area, truck stop or
service' station (in emergencies
only).
DRIVING AT NIGHT
Traffic death rates are three times
greater at night than during the day,
Considering how dependent we
are on our cars, it's surprising how
we take them for granted.
An old battery or badly worn tire
has its way of forewarning us that
it's going to let us down, but we
tend to wait for the inevitable.
"Nearly 80 per cent of the
thousands of vehicles driven
through our check lanes during
National Car Care Month fail
inspection. Mqst discrepancies are
due to owner neglect and can be
corrected at little or no cost."
The Council stresses the value of
periodic checkups. This not only
helps prevent traffic jams due to
mechanical breakdowns, but also
ensures the optimum safety and
efficiency of our vehicles.
according to the NSC. More fatal
crashes occur on weekend nights
than any other time during the week,
yet many are unaware of night
driving's special hazards, or we
don't know effective ways to deal
with them.
Observe night driving safety as
soon as the sun goes down. Twilight
is one of the most difficult times to
drive, because your eyes are
constantly changing to adapt to the
growing darkness.
Night driving . is dangerous
because it's dark, and 90 per cent of
a driver's reaction depends on vision
that can be severely limited at night.
Depth perception, colour
recognition, and peripheral vision
are compromised after sundown.
Older drivers have even greater
difficulties seeing at night.
Prepare your car for night driving:
Clean headlights, taillights, signal
lights and windows (inside and out)
at least once a week. Have your
headlights properly aimed.
Misaimed headlights blind other
drivers and reduce your ability to see
the road.
Turn headlights on when in doubt.
Lights won't help you see better in
early twilight, but they'll make it
easier for other drivers to see you.
It is more difficult to judge other
vehicles' speeds and distances at
night. When following another
vehicle, keep your low beams on so
you don't blind the driver ahead of
you. If an oncoming vehicle doesn't
lower beams from high to low, avoid
glare by watching the right edge of
the road and using it as a steering
guide.
DRIVING DEFENSIVELY
Driving defensively means not
only taking responsibility for
yourself 'and your actions, but also
keeping an eye on "the other guy.-
Don't- start the engine without
securing each passenger in the car,
including children and pets.
Lock all doors. Obey speed limits,
and be cautious, alert and
responsible. If you notice that a car
is weaving, making wide turns, or
responding too slowly to traffic
signals, the driver may be impaired.
Avoid by turning right at the nearest
corner or exiting at the nearest
exit.
If it appears that an oncoming car
is crossing into your lane, pull over
to the roadside, sound the horn and
flash your lights. Notify police
immediately if a motorist is driving
suspiciously.
Follow the rules of the road. Don't
contest the "right of way" or try to
race another car during a merge.
Respect other motorists. Don't
follow too closely.
As quoted in Reader's Digest,
Gary Magwood, a driving educator,
summed it up best when he said,
"Motorists must remejnber that the
driver's seat is an inherently unsafe
place to be. Learn to use your eyes to
look far down the road. Learn to spot
problems before they happen, and
remember that even the safest
vehicles, on the best-designed
highways, on clear, sunny days, are
driven by fallible human beings who
can crash into each other."
Ideas to help you
avoid stalling