It is that time of the year when the majority of Kenyans get on
the road on their way to shags. Sadly, it is also the time of the year when
most accidents are prone to happen with resultant loss of lives. This December
has been particularly bad with over 150 people who have died due to road
crashes. There are many factors that lead to road accidents including road
design, but the biggest culprit is human error.
Road accidents usually result in devastation to family
and friends, however, these accidents are avoidable. They can be avoided by
preparing well for the journey and using low-risk driving techniques.
One of the causes of accidents, according to NTSA, is bad driving habits, inexperienced drivers, and drunk driving. It is then clear that if there has to be any headway in reducing road accidents in Kenya, the focus needs to be on drivers. Driver retraining with a focus on safety is one way of helping reduce accidents.
Ford and CMC brought in a team from South Africa to train
Kenyan drivers on safe driving under the Ford Driving Skills for Life program.
The training focused on safe driving and also economic driving that saves
fuel and also the environment.
The trainers shared the following tips for safe driving
1. Use of safety belts at all times
It is important that both the driver and the
other occupants of the car have their seat belts on at all times when the
car is in motion.
A passenger without a seat belt is a danger to the driver.
In the event that one is involved in an accident and the passenger doesn’t have
a seat belt they can be thrown towards the driver and both could die.
Seat belts also reduce chances of injury or death in case of
an accident.
2. Adjust rear view and side mirrors
Always endeavor to make sure that your side and rear view
mirrors are in the correct position to maximise your vision of other cars on
the road. As such you should adjust the side mirrors so that you can only be
able to see your rear door handles. To know if your rear view mirror is great,
you should be able to see the tip of left ear clearly.
It is important to understand where your car’s blind spot
is. This is the point at which you cannot be able to see a car which is
overtaking you. Therefore as you switch lanes other than looking at the side
and rear view mirrors, look over your shoulder to see whether there could be a
car which is in your blind spot.
If you are the one overtaking and all that you can see of
the driver in front of you is his/her hands on the steering wheel then you are
in their blind spot. This simply means that they cannot be able to see you and
can swerve towards you lane at any moment. As such the logical thing to do is
speed up and overtake them while being wary of the other driver swerving
towards you. However, if you can see the face of the driver on their side
mirror then you are not in a blind spot.
3. Relax and anticipate traffic situations
Be courteous, avoid constant acceleration and braking. Give
way to other drivers.
4. Avoid distractions while driving
Driving needs your full attention to minimize the risk of a
crash.
Don’t do anything else while driving including eating, using
mobile phones or adjusting the radio. Those few seconds of distraction can cause
an accident for example a situation whereby you have taken your eyes off the
road to change the station on your radio and then the car in front of you
suddenly brakes. By the time you realise what is happening and try to brake it
might be too late leading to a collision.
You should also not drive while under the influence of
alchohol.
5. Maintain a safe distance between yourself and the car
in front
You should always keep a safe distance between yourself and
the car in front you so that you give yourself space and time to brake in case
something happens. Increase the distance at night, when it’s raining and when
visibility is poor. I learned this the hard way when one morning I happened to
be following a car too closely and the driver suddenly braked, due to the short
distance between my car and vehicle in front I rammed into it. Fortunately no
one got injured but needless to say my whole day got messed up not to mention
the costly repairs.
6. Switch off engine selectively.
If you are expecting to stop for more than 20 seconds then
you should turn off the engine. This could be in traffic , traffic lights and
at closed gates. By doing this you will be able to save alot of fuel that
could have been needlessly wasted.
7. Adequate tyre pressure
You should check your tyre pressure at least once a week.
Correct tyre pressure saves fuel and increases safety. You should also check
your spare tyre pressure and condition every week as well. This is to avoid a
situation whereby you have gotten a flat tire only to realise that your spare
tire is also flat. This happened to me once and i can tell you it wasn’t funny.
8. Remove unnecessary weight from the car
Extra weight means that the engine will be under more
pressure to perform hence more fuel will be used unnecessarily. Always ensure
to remove all unnecessary luggage from your car.
9. Being comfortable
When you get into a car, always adjust the seat and headrest
to fit you. By adjusting your seat it one ensures that at any one time you are
able to reach the pedals without straining. Once you adjust your seat, your
knees should be bent while resting on the pedals. The elbows should also be
bent as you hold the steering wheel. The reason why the elbows and knees should
be bent is that in case of a collision, they can be able to absorb the shock
waves from the impact. If they are straight, it could result elbows popping out
and serious back injuries.
An adjusted head rest enables one to avoid whiplash
after one is restrained by the seat belt during a collision.
10. Braking Distance
As you drive, one should always be wary of the braking
distance of their car. This is the distance that the car travels after you hit
emergency brakes. You will find that a heavier car will move for a longer
distance before stopping. As such always endeavor to look at the car behind you
to check whether they are able to stop in good time in case you brake suddenly.
If not increase your speed to give them a good braking distance.
11. Driver Fatigue
During this festive period, most people will likely stay up
late as they hang out with their friends. This being the case, some people are
most likely to come straight from the club, freshen up and embark on a journey.
In other cases, due to a hectic schedule, one might not be able to get adequate
sleep. Lack of enough sleep leads driver fatigue which is one of the leading
causes of accidents. Driving requires that one is focused and aware of what is
happening on the road at all times. Fatigue leads to one losing concentration
hence leading to accidents. Sleeping on the wheel especially at night is also a
result of driver fatigue. So, this holiday season always ensure that you get
adequate sleep before setting out.
12. Vehicle Maintenance
A vehicle just like any other machine needs to be well
maintained in order to give you good service. A badly maintained vehicle will
lead to breakdowns and failure of the engine. During this period, we often find
ourselves pushing our cars to the limit as we embark on long journeys. It is
important that before your start your journey, always that the car service is
up to date and also perform the following checks;
- Tires
are at the correct pressure and have adequate tread – safer to replace
than take chances. Don’t forget to check the spare tire, jack, wheel brace
and safety equipment
- Engine
cooling system is functioning – remember to check coolant level as a
loaded vehicle is more likely to overheat.
- Windscreen
– keep it clean for best vision and check that the windscreen wipers are
not worn out, replace wiper blades if necessary.
- Engine
and transmission oil – check the levels of the engine and transmission oil
and ensure that it is not due for oil change.
- Brake
and clutch fluids – check the little reservoir to ensure the level is at
the upper level mark. If there are brake fluid leaks have the vehicle
checked by a mechanic. Ensure there are no squeaks coming from the
wheel areas that could indicate brake pads are due to be replaced.
- Ensure
that you do not overload your vehicle and that you secure items in that
car well. Loose objects in the passenger cabin could become missiles in a
sudden stop situation.
13. Rain
It appears that the rains are back with us this festive
period. Whenever it rains, the roads get slippery and one has to be extra
careful when driving. Avoid speeding in rainy weather as your car is most
likely to spin out of control and skid while braking.
14. Drunk Driving
This is the season to be merry and as others call it,
Decembar. As we hang out with friends and family, we are wont to drink one too
many and end up drunk. It is not safe to drive while inebriated as your senses
are dulled and can affect the reaction times of the best drivers. Other than
the fact that it is a criminal offense, driving while drunk makes your life and
other road users at risk. If you know that you are going out to drink, have a
designated driver or just call a cab.
Active park assist
We were also shown how to use the park assist on the Ford
Everest which is a handy feature that assists the driver to park the car. First
you need to activate the parking assist once you see a free parking. You will
then need to then slowly pass the parking and then stop after which car will
the park itself with you controlling the brakes.
Anti Lock Braking System (ABS)
This system prevents locking of the wheels when you hit the brakes. In a car which doesn’t have ABS when you hit the brakes hard, the wheels lock which means that you cannot be able to turn the steering wheel to avoid the obstacle which can cause a crash. ABS generally offers improved vehicle control and decreases stopping distances on dry and slippery surfaces.
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