In some households, dogs are part of the family and the kids would never allow you to head out for the weekend without their furry sibling. But, there is a key downside to taking your pooch anywhere by car and that is pet hair.
There are endless medical problems that can affect your ability to drive safely – both temporary and permanent and in this article we focus on your vision.
Motorcycles are cool and fun to ride, but in truth, they are much riskier modes of transport than cars.
Riding a motorcycle is one of the coolest things I’ve ever learned to do, but it requires much more thought and focus than one might initially think.
The smell of cigarettes is normal to smokers but can make for an undesirable ride if your passengers don’t smoke.
Frontal airbags are standard equipment in cars and contrary to what some drivers think about their effectiveness, airbags greatly reduce injury and save lives.
Natural disasters, commonly referred to as acts of God, are unpredictable situations that can cause a lot of damage to people’s lives.
Travelling in a car for a long period of time can be exhausting and trying on your body, resulting in stiff joints, tight muscles and mobility issues.
Texting while driving can be viewed in much the same light as driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and can make your passengers incredibly uncomfortable.
By H&H Admin
Fatigue is a condition that affects everyone but few motorists realize the dangers caused by operating a vehicle while feeling tired or sleepy.
One of the key elements of safe driving is being awake and competent enough to concentrate on the road. According to South African road accident statistics, motorists who become drowsy or fall asleep at the wheel contribute to thousands of road accidents each year.
Driver fatigue is a physical and mental tiredness caused by lack of sleep or rest over a period of time. Generally associated with long-distance driving, fatigue can set in when the body’s natural rhythm is interrupted.
Feeling tired at the wheel may be caused by a number of reasons such as:
There are a few signs that indicate tiredness and it is important that all motorists are able to identify these early on in their journey. These include:
When driving, it is imperative to take action as soon as you start to feel drowsy.
In the longer term, it is critical to get enough quality rest – between 6 and 8 hours – before you embark on a long journey. This will help reduce the chances of you becoming a road accident statistic and increase the odds of you, your passengers other road users being safe.
By H&H Admin
Cycling is an extremely popular form of exercise (and transport) in South Africa and each year, more and more people venture out onto the roads on bicycles.
However, cyclists are among the most vulnerable road users, accounting for numerous fatalities and injuries annually. Even at low impact speed, cyclists can sustain serious injuries.
Here are some tips to help drivers make our roads safer for cyclists.
This may sound quite basic but the reality is that a vast number of motorists do not use their indicators while others use them incorrectly.
Indicating should be standard procedure but many car-versus-cyclist accidents are caused by road users not indicating timeously, if at all they do. To help keep cyclists safe, road users should aim to indicate in good time so that cyclists can take note of their intended actions and react accordingly.
A good driver habitually checks their side mirrors and blind spots regardless of if they are changing lanes or travelling in a straight line. Not only does it help with general road safety but a high number of accidents occur as a result of drivers turning abruptly in the path of cyclists.
The reality is that drivers are more accustomed to looking out for other cars and not cyclists and while cyclists may be difficult to see (because of their size), drivers must make a conscious effort to check their surroundings before changing lanes or turning.
A general rule of road safety when driving alongside cyclists is to give them as much room as safely possible. This may include giving cyclists a wider berth than you normally would give other road users when overtaking.
Remember that although drivers and cyclists maybe both be on the same road, travelling in the same direction, both relate to the road very differently.
For instance, a small shallow pothole on the road may not be a big deal for a driver but could be a major threat to cyclists. While a motorist might simply drive over the pothole cyclists would have to swerve to avoid the same abnormality. By giving cyclists space, drivers can avert potentially dangerous situations.
Tailgating is not a good idea and is one which can turn fatal when it involves a cyclist.
Motorists need to remember that a cyclist can only pedal so fast and tailgating won’t make them go any faster. Instead, tailgating a cyclist makes them nervous which could result in them making a mistake such as braking more sharply than intended.
Needless to say, tailgating a cyclist is incredibly dangerous. Drivers should leave as much space between themselves and cyclists as possible.
It is important to exercise caution at all times but especially so when driving in the vicinity of cyclists. Driving distracted, intoxicated or when extremely tired are just some of the most dangerous things drivers do which jeopardize the safety of all road users and cyclists in particular.
Remember that cyclists have very little protection and can be seriously injured in the event of a collision, no matter how slowly a driver may be travelling.
Bad driving habits also reduce a driver’s reaction time and in the eyes of the law, motorists are more likely than not to be held responsible in the event of an accident involving cyclists.
It is simply not worthwhile to get into a quarrel with cyclists as road rage incidents have a way of spiralling out of control alarmingly quickly. Even if a cyclist put themselves in danger by not following the rules of the road, it is not your responsibility as a driver to ‘educate’ them.
In as much as this article is aimed primarily at drivers, it would be unfair not to address cyclists’ obligations towards maintaining their safety.
Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and as such courtesy and respect go a long way as does an attitude of driving defensively. For all road users, the idea should be getting to one’s destination as safely as possible and for that to happen, we should all remember to share the road.
Being involved in an accident can be both traumatic and frustrating and in the ensuing panic you may say or do something which could work against you further down the line.
