Take the time
This week, as part of our program of road safety weeks, we are looking at the dangers of rushing as we approach our peak period.
Rushing while behind the wheel is a real problem. Drivers become less observant, make fewer checks for other road users, drive at inappropriate speeds, and carry out manoeuvres too quickly.
These kind of driver behaviours inevitably lead to more collisions and potentially, more casualties.
The aim of this week’s road safety campaign is to encourage our drivers to ALWAYS ‘Take the Time’ to plan and react to situations that occur on the road, so they can take any necessary avoiding action.
Time is a driver’s best friend. When behind the wheel, we’re constantly taking in information, from what traffic is doing around us to the road layout, and what seen and unseen hazards we need to be aware of.
Time allows us to plan for what might happen, to react to situations that develop, and to take avoidance action if something does occur.
10 driver safety tips
- Always drive at an appropriate speed toallow you to react to the unexpected
- Look carefully when pulling out at junctions – Judge the speed that other road users are travelling atand check for cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians
- Check your mirrors and blind spots before turning into a driveway or side-road –Remember, other drivers may not be so patient and may try to overtake
- Reverse safely – Control your speed with the clutch and cover the brake with your right foot. Reverse sensors are useless if you are travelling at more than 4mph. Get Out And Look (GOAL) if you aren’t sure what’s behind you. It’s always safer to pull out of a space than reverse
- Follow the HIT procedure – An extra couple of seconds to put your vehicle in gear and turn the wheels means it will not roll away if the handbrake fails
- Change lanes safely – Check your mirrors and blind spot, indicate your intention to manoeuvreandonly change lanes when you are satisfied the way is clear
- Overtake safely – Only overtake if it is safe and necessary to do so. Do not overtake cyclists unless you can leave a minimum gap of 1.5m
- Leave adequate space behind the vehicle in front – Leave a minimum of three seconds (four in wet conditions) behind the vehicle in front to give you enough time to react
- Wait for gaps in traffic before overtaking parked vehicles – Only go when you can safely leave a one metre gap around your vehicle
- Yield to other drivers - Even if you feel you have right of way, there’s no glory in being right, but having a collision and having to spend time completing an investigation.
Leaflets have been produced and will be available in units to hand to drivers to provide safe driving tips.
