It is a common phenomenon to hear people bragging about their driving prowess and having donkey years of driving experience, therefore insinuating that they are bigger than a road accident. Well, research shows that both experience and inexperience drivers do have road crashes. The reason behind this and probably what makes you a good driver is, your ability to not just drive your own car or bike, but to also be able to predict the actions and inactions of the car(s) in front and behind, coupled with the fact that machines or automobiles cannot be trusted always as it can fail at any time.
Similarly, there is a need to attend a driving school where you will be taught the road signs, after which you should proceed to get a valid driver’s license. This is because knocking someone down and killing the person without having a driver’s license is murder which is tantamount to a jail term, while if you have a drivers’ license, it is called a manslaughter with less draconian consequence.
The lines we see on the roads are not for mere fancy, they are a signal to something.
There are basically two types of lines on the road, the one beside the two edge of the road and the one on the center of the road. The one on the center is the focus here which is also of two types. They mean different things as well. One is broken lines while the other is straight or unbroken lines. The broken lines mean that the road is straight enough for you to have a good view ahead of you so as to overtake while the unbroken lines signifies that the road is either not straight or have some blind spots.
The following are the essential life saving tips that every driver and by extension everybody should know:
1). Always endeavor to use your seat belts and crash helmets as they reduces fatality of road crashes by almost 45-50%.
2). Get a functional fire extinguisher.
Endeavour to have a First Aid box kit in your car.
Children should be kept behind the seats to avoid distractions.
3). Avoid rolling objects like empty cans, oranges or mangoes in the car as they can roll to block your breaks and pedals causing failures.
4). The head rest in the car is left detachable to use it in times of emergency like when you need to break the windscreen from the inside; this is because the windscreen is less strong from inside.
5.) When walking on the way, ensure you walk at the left hand side of the road to see oncoming vehicles. So also is when you are walking with children and women, ensure they walk on your far left.
6). Maintain a reasonable distance between the car or bike in from and you so as to give you enough time to react when a sharp turn is initiated by the car or bike in front. This could be done by maintaining the three (3) seconds rule.
8). When carrying objects that is longer than your car like rods, ensure you tie a red cloth on it so as to enable a car or bike behind you to see it.
9). Three reflective warning triangle should not be absent in your car.
Pay attention and master the road traffic signs in general.