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Safer
Driving
UKmotorists
guide to safer driving... |
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Motorways
Motorways
are statistically the safest roads - they carry 15% of traffic
and account for around 3% of accidents. But due to the high
speed and volume of traffic, any accidents are usually serious.
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• Your view of the road ahead is usually just the back of a
lorry and traffic stopping ahead will give hardly any if no notice
so leave a gap in between you and the vehicle ahead that you could
stop in if an emergency occurred. Remember that stopping distances
at motorway speeds are vastly increased.
• Sustained motorway driving will make you less aware of your
speed. Monitor your speed regularly and use cruise control if you
have it (Where it is safe to do so) Don't forget that if you leave
the motorway 30mph will feel like you are crawling.
• Remember to stay alert. Motorway driving can be boring and
even hypnotic, stress and tiredness will drastically lengthen your
reaction times. This can cause accidents so have a break of about
15 mins every 3 hours.
• Avoid hogging the middle lane. This is tempting to do so
that you are not constantly pulling out to over take slower vehicles
but this is what you are meant to do. Driving in the wrong lane
increases congestion and can be very annoying to other road users.
• Look ahead for signs of stopping traffic and be ready to
brake. Sometimes when you are looking far ahead the view of the
traffic makes them look as though they are stopped so look out for
brake lights. Over-braking can cause tail backs and even accidents
as the people behind you suddenly seeing an unexpected brake light
also brake and usually because it may be a surprise they brake harder
than you. The result is a concertina effect in the traffic where
the traffic further back will actually have to come to a stop. This
is what sometimes causes those inexplicable traffic jams which seem
to have no cause.
• Don't rubber neck at accidents. You could have your own!
Also it slows down the traffic in the same way as over braking and
will increase the severity of the accidents impact to other traffic.
• If the vehicle behind you is driving too close for comfort
don't slam your brakes on or start playing stupid games. Pull over
and let them pass.
If you breakdown
Stopping on the motorway hard shoulder is very dangerous; you should
only stop in an emergency or if directed to do so by signs. Each
year in the UK, about 250 people are killed or injured in accidents
on hard shoulders. But if you do have to stop...
• Get your car as far off the road as possible using the hard
shoulder where available. A leave your wheels turned away from the
road so that if your car is caught it won't be pushed into the road.
• Put your hazard lights on and if visibility is poor put your
sidelights on.
• Leave the vehicle using left hand doors and stay out of the
vehicle.
• Lock all your doors except for the front passenger door
• Walk to the nearest emergency telephone following the arrows
or marker provided at the side of most motorways.
• Face the oncoming traffic while using a phone so that you
be aware of any traffic which looks like it may be on a collision
course with you or your vehicle. If you have a mobile you can use
this from the side of the road, away from the traffic.
• Wait near but not in your vehicle for help to arrive. If
possible climb up the embankment to get as far from the traffic
as you need.
• If you are alone and feel vulnerable waiting outside your
car then wait in your car in the passenger seat ( This looks like
you are waiting for another person, i.e. the driver, and is safer)
and put your seatbelt on and lock the doors. |
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