How safe is your driving?
The next time you’re involved in an accident, refrain from pointing your finger at the other driver. Human error — that means you — accounts for over 80-percent of all automobile mishaps in Malaysia, a country with one of the highest rates of accidents worldwide.
We are always going to say it’s the other driver’s fault, of course. But before you do, consider these questions:
Was I going too fast on a slippery surface?
Wet roads have more than just water between your tyres on their surface. There is oil and grease, too, which floats to the surface after a hot spell, reducing your car’s traction and contact with the road. Studies say that going over 30km/h on a wet surface means you have semi-contact with the actual road itself; go over 50km/h, and you’re only in contact with the water molecules on the surface, believe it or not. Not many people realize how dangerous wet roads really are until its too late.
Was I wearing my seatbelt? My passengers?
One can never stress the importance of seatbelts too much. Data gathered by Volvo says that wearing a seatbelt can decreas the risk of death and/or injury by 50 to 60-percent. You literally have a better chance of surviving a head-on collision.
Are my tyres road-worthy?
Tyre treads get worn sooner or later, but most of the time we don’t get any warning signs that it is time to change them until its too late. Goodyear recommends checking your tyres for tell-tale signs like sawtooth edges and irregular wear patterns regularly. A simple test is to place a mid-sized coin into the tread groove. If less than 1/10th of the coin is visible, then you need a new tyre.
Is my eyesight in good shape?
Unfortunately, not every driver wears his or her glasses all the time; and no optician can offer break-proof, loss-proof lenses. Now, if a haze = low visibility for drivers with perfect eyesight, then what does it mean for those of us who don’t? A driver’s vision should be no less than 20/20, either with or without eyesight aids. So, if you were supposed to be wearing glasses, were you?
Was I lax because I was so close to my destination?
Familiarity, it seems, breeds more than just contempt. Drivers are sometimes guilty of being lax at the wheel when they are nearing frequented destinations (home, office, sundry shop), because they are in an area they know well. They don’t notice such trivial things as stop signs and relax their concentration on the road. Unfortunately, you may have a new neighbour who is not so familiar with the roads around your destination.
Did I shift into neutral going down this hill?
An easy mistake to make: a downhill slope, nothing in front of you, why not give the engine a break and save some petrol, right? Wrong.
If your engine stalls on a downhill slope for any reason whatsoever (no petrol, faulty carburetor), you’re in big trouble. Your brakes will fail (they need the engine running to function properly), and what worse place for that to happen on a slope, eh?
Are all my vehicle’s lights working properly?
Another common mistake we make is to take the reliability of our vehicles for granted. We never look at our car on the road, and are often the last to know when a signal lamp is not working, or when the rear brake lights need replacing. Check your vehicle from the outside-in often… if only to make sure you are right about this every time.
Safety Extras
Photo credit: PhotoDu.de. Click on image to visit photographer.
Halogen lamp/spotlight
Great for driving at night along lonely coastal roads, these can really light up dark corners and increase visibility by at least fifty metres. “A pair of these could save you an embarrassing ditch-dive,” says Derek Wei of Brother’s accessories shop. Price: RM28-RM200 each.
Four-way sensors
Four-way sensors are placed at all four corners of your car, and work much like reverse sensors. Together with an cabin visual display, it gives you warning if you’re too near something (tree, wall, rock, another vehicle)… or if something is too near you. “The sensors have a sensitivity of about eight metres. The closer it gets to your vehicle, the more lights blink on your display,” says Derek. Price: RM128-RM298 a set.
Mirrors
Wide-angle rearview mirrors give you a better view of what’s happening behind your vehicle, and spot-mirrors (the kind you attach to your side-mirrors) give you a view of that evasive blind-spot whilst driving and/or overtaking. “Simple devices, but they are effective in avoiding collisions,” Derek says. Price: RM7.50-RM68.
Mobile jump starter/Air pump
These are essentially battery packs, which you keep in your boot and which could help in case of breakdown. Some models come with an air compressor, too, which can be used to keep flat tyres healthy until you reach a workshop. Price: RM38 (air pump); RM188 (battery power only); RM298 (both-in-one).
Some other accessories that Brother’s recommends putting in your boot for emergencies include a fire-extinguisher (RM38-RM68), a halogen lantern (RM58-RM88), a triangular hazard reflector (RM28) and an automobile toolkit (circa RM150).
Photo credit: Lars Trebign. Click image to visit photographer.
Bull bars
Not very pretty to look at, and more likely to appeal to men than women, these bars have proven reliable in keeping your bumper safe in traffic. “In a collision, the other guy’s car might be badly damaged but yours will be okay,” says Derek. Most vehicles (including sedans) can be fitted with them. Price: RM98-RM1,000 each.
ABS (Anti-Brake System)
In a panic-brake situation, most cars’ brakes tend to lock the wheel, disallowing any control over steering the car. ABS allows you some degree of steering control, as it prevents the wheel-lock. “This is a standard safety feature on many cars these days, but many vehicles below RM50,000 do not come fitted with ABS. You can get it installed, though,” says Derek. Price: RM680-RM1280 each.
