Useful
information for drivers
Over 560 people are killed in drink-drive crashes each year. Never drive if there’s even a slim chance you are still
under the influence of drink or drugs. Never drive on medicinal drugs if it
says you shouldn’t on the packet and check with your GP or pharmacist if you’re
not sure. Illegal drugs are unpredictable in how they affect you and can have
lethal consequences. Can you afford to lose your licence or your job? Would you
cope with the effect that this will have on your family?
<Having an accident as
a result of driver fatigue will result in a higher level of personal injury
than any other type of accident. This is because a crash caused by drivers
falling asleep at the wheel typically involves vehicles running off the road or
into the back of another vehicle. They tend to be relatively high-speed
crashes, because drivers were not braking before the point of impact.
However,
you might not always realise just how tired you are, so it is important that
you are aware of the warning signs.
Research
shows that normal sleep does not occur without warning. Warning signs include:
increased difficulty in concentrating, yawning, heavy eyelids, eyes starting to
‘roll’, and neck muscles relax, making the head droop. If you experience these
symptoms, you should find somewhere safe to rest as soon as possible, rather
than trying to fight off tiredness. Winding down the window, listening to music
and talking to a passenger do not help
prevent sleep, although they may temporarily help you to stay alert until
you find somewhere safe to stop.
Tips
§
If
you have a journey in excess of 2 hours, plan it into your working day, rather
than adding it to your day.
§
Try
to avoid driving between
§
If
you stop at service station, park as far from the facilities as possible. The
walk will help to refresh you. Ensure that your rest period is more than 15
minutes.
§
If
you drink caffeine, drink two cups of coffee or a high-caffeine drink, such as
an energy drink.
§
If
you take a snooze make it no longer than 15 minutes. Set the alarm on your
phone. Place the phone close enough to hear it, but far enough away so you
physically have to move to switch it off.
§
If
you still feel tired, do not
continue your journey.
Remember that safety is the most important thing to consider while driving – much more important than sticking to a schedule.
Keep a safe distance
Nearly half of motorway
drivers are risking accidents by driving too close to the vehicle in front. A
survey found that the M4 in
Vehicle Safety Checks
More than 600 people are killed or seriously injured in road
crashes involving vehicle defects every year (Source: DfT). To ensure that your
vehicle is always safe, you can’t rely on your annual MOT. It is essential that
you carry out some simple regular checks yourself. It is a driver’s legal
responsibility to ensure that the vehicle being driven is of a road worthy
condition. Vehicles driven with defects can be issued with an immediate PG9
(Prohibition Notice), which means that the vehicle cannot be driven. The
fine for defective tyres is 3 penalty points and up to a £1,000 fine.
Here are the basic checks which you need to make on a regular basis:
Exterior
Tyres
Pressure / Tread / Condition
Lights
Cleanliness, Condition, Corrosion, Illumination (Main and Dipped Parking) Reversing, Brake, Fog
Wiper Blades
Cuts,
Tears, Operation
Mirrors
Clean
& Functional
Any Loose Fittings
Bumper,
Number Plate, Roof Rack and Towing Fixtures
Windscreen
Scratches,
Cracks, Clean
Under the Bonnet
Fluid Leaks
Power
Steering, Brake and Oil
Fluid Levels
Oil,
Water, Screen Washers, Brakes and Power Steering
Inside the Vehicle
All loose items secured, and heavy items located safely
Condition, security and adjustment of
seatbelts
Adjustments to all mirrors
Location and function of parking brake
Operation of all additional safety features (ABS, ESP, etc.)
The location of security alarms and/or steering lock