Road
Safety
Securing Your Vehicle
Make
sure that your car is always locked, even when going to pay
for fuel. Lock your vehicle on entering, especially traffic
that is slow moving. Keep briefcases and handbags out of sight
to avoid them being stolen by opportunist thieves. Robberies
at traffic lights have increased in the last few years. Check
the interior of your vehicle before entering, especially the
back seats.
When
you park in a public place do not leave valuables on view
inside the vehicle, place these items in the boot or inside
the glove box. Make sure that your car is secured with approved
security devices.
Breaking down on the Motorway
Make
sure that your car has enough fuel and oil and that you have
the correct tyre pressures. Also check that your tyres are
in good condition. In order to avoid breakdowns make sure
that your vehicle is well maintained. Regular maintenance
highlights problems in the early stages and this can prevent
a breakdown.
If your
vehicle has a problem while using a motorway, try to stop
next to an emergency telephone box. These boxes are usually
one mile apart. Emergency boxes will transfer your call to
the appropriate breakdown services. Always put your hazard
warning lights on.
If you
have to walk to the telephone box the arrows on the marker
posts point to the nearest one. The call will be free and
you will be put through to the police control. They will take
your details before transferring your call to your breakdown
service. Let the operator know if you are alone or disabled.
Park on the hard shoulder. Lock all your doors if you are
alone apart from the passenger door and use the passenger
door to exit your vehicle.
Try
to keep a warm blanket, coat and walking shoes in the vehicle.
When you have made your call stand or sit on the motorway
embankment away from the traffic. The main danger is from
passing traffic sometimes they just can’t see you in
time. If you are alone and a vehicle pulls up immediately
get into your car and lock the passenger door. Never pick
up hitchhikers and what most people don’t know is that
it is illegal for anyone to stop on the motorway to offer
assistance.
Breaking Down at Night
If
your vehicle breaks down in a dark place make sure that your
hazard warning lights are on. Try to drive on to a well lit
area where there might be a telephone. A mobile phone is a
must if you often travel at night. Try to remember landmarks
and street names to assist the breakdown service in locating
your vehicle. When you make a call make it clear you are alone
and ask for advice. Carry a torch in your glove box and a
personal alarm could also be very useful.
Safety of Passengers
It
is best not to overheat the inside of the car because this
can cause fatigue or motion sickness. It is better to put
on extra clothing and this is another reason to keep a car
blanket inside your vehicle. If you are driving a long way
make sure you take regular breaks. Make sure that your child
seat is correctly fitted. Never put a rearward facing child
seat on the front passenger seat if an airbag is fitted.
Road Rage and Driver Safety
In
order to avoid an incident try not to get defensive with another
driver if they are angered by a driving error. Say it was
your mistake or say that you are sorry.
A recent
survey on road rage found that: “more than half of all
drivers had been sworn at, more than two thirds had been the
target of abusive hand signals, 600,000 had been attacked
or punched and over a million drivers had been rammed by another
car.”
Never
lose your temper and don’t return verbal abuse or threaten
any gestures if you do it will only make things worse. Also
avoid eye contact it can defuse the situation. If you are
followed by another vehicle make your way to a highly populated
or busy area and use your horn or flash your lights to attract
attention. If you are forced off the road by another vehicle
you should lock all the doors and do not leave your vehicle.
Report
road rage incidents to the police and try to give as much
information as possible. Drive at the correct speed limit
and never get distracted. If you see that another driver is
having difficulty, drive on and report it later by telephone.
Never stop to offer assistance.
If you Have a Disability
If
you are unfortunate to have a disability which prevents
you from following the above advice you should: Switch
on your warning lights; stay in your vehicle and at
the time of placing your emergency call to the breakdown
services inform them or the call handler of your circumstances
and/or requirements.
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