Driving tips to ensure that you arrive alive

Volkswagen’s Driving Academy team of professional driving instructors, offer some good advice. We will provide more in due time, so watch this space.

Attitude check
Although exterior and interior checks for your car are vital, an attitude check is just as helpful in preventing accidents. A positive, proactive attitude can really help reduce collisions. Tolerance and consideration for other road users. Restrain yourself from reacting aggressively to another road user’s aggressive behaviour.
A realistic view of your own driving abilities and concern for your safety and that of your passengers and other road users.

Be aware
Constantly changing conditions demand frequent alterations in course or speed. Make sure you remain aware of all other road users, including the positions of pedestrians and other vehicles, and signal your intentions timeously. Pay attention to the road surface and weather conditions.

Urban driving
Pedestrian traffic, vehicles moving in and out of parking bays, and buses, taxis and cyclists add to the hazards of driving in urban areas. In the absence of local knowledge, pay close attention to advanced warning and/or information signs.

Night riders
Driving at night comes with its own unique set of challenges. Good, clear visibility is vital, so make sure that your windscreen is clean and the wipers are used in wet weather. Keep your windscreen free from mist at all times.
Head and tail lights should be in good working condition with the lenses clean and head lamps properly adjusted to give a good beam ahead without blinding other road users. It is also very important to drive at a speed at which you feel comfortable, and which will enable the vehicle to be brought to a halt within the range of the head lamps. Slow down – especially when in dimly lit, urban areas.

Not A Bright Idea
Sometimes a driver will be dazzled by the glare of lights from an oncoming vehicle, often because its lights (although dipped) are badly adjusted. On such occasions, don’t lose your temper and resist the temptation to retaliate by switching your own lights to full beam. Two “blinded” drivers hurtling towards each other in the night is a recipe for disaster.
If you are faced with bright lights from approaching traffic, avoid looking directly at the lights, rather slow down and be prepared to stop. Direct your vision to the near side of the road ahead and be on the look-out for pedestrians and vehicles ahead. The greatest difficulty occurs after the offending vehicle has passed, as your eyes will take some time to adjust to the sudden reduction of light that follows.

Beat fatigue
Night driving is always a test of endurance, particularly on long journeys. Prepare for them by taking sufficient rest beforehand. Fatigue is generally first felt as eye-strain. If you feel drowsy, stop the car, stretch your legs, enjoy some refreshments and rest your eyes. A short rest will help to restore the failing powers of concentration and observation.

Slow down
At 20km/h, a minor driving error can easily be corrected but at 120km/h the same error could prove deadly. Never attempt to exceed the speed limit as it leads to late reactions in an emergency. If it is necessary to drive at high speeds it should be done with complete concentration, clear visibility and knowledge of your stopping distance. If you double your speed, you should increase your braking distance by four times.

Preventing collisions
In South Africa, one person is killed every hour in a collision and approximately 15 000 people die on our roads every year. One out of seven South Africans living today has, or will be involved, in a collision resulting in injury.

As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure”. To have time to prevent a collision, know and make use of the Standard Accident Prevention Formula:
Recognise the hazard – think and look as far ahead as possible. Never assume everything will be allright and always expect the unexpected.
Understand the defence – there are certain methods of handling each traffic situation, know these and teach yourself to react positively when the need arises.
Act in time – once you have seen the hazard and recognised the defence, never adopt a “wait and see” attitude, as you will be wasting valuable time and space.

Hopefully, these will help you become a more alert and responsible driver, which will contribute to making South Africa’s roads better and safer for everyone.

Don’t become a statistic!
Source: Arrive Alive