Managing Risks to drivers in Road Transportation
Many people are seriously injured every week in crashes involving someone who was driving, riding or otherwise using the road.
Factors that determine a road crash or accident are 3: Driver, Vehicle Condition and the Road Condition respectivly.
In this topic Road Safety Initiative - Uganda highlights the principal defensive-skills required of a Professional Driver as being the main factor in a road crash.
Main causes of accidents:
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Time pressure – (driving to meet a deadline).
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Over-speeding
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Overloading
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Fatigue (tiredness)​
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Driver having less hours of sleep
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Using a phone while driving
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Consumption of alcohol within 12 hours before driving
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Use of some medicines and illegal drugs
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Poor vehicle maintenance
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Poorly trained or inexperienced drivers
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False Confidence
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Over confidence
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Bad weather.
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Inadequate visibility due to environmental factors(making it hard to detect vehicles and other users)
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Traveling in darkness
Vehicle factors:
Braking,
Handling and maintenance
Defects in road design,
Potholes,
Road layout and maintenance can also lead to unsafe road use behavior
Factors influencing risk after a Crash:
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Delay in detecting crash
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Presence of fire resulting from collision
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Leakage of hazardous materials e.g. Petrol
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Presence of alcohol and other drugs in blood;
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Difficulty rescuing and extracting people from seen of accident
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Difficult evacuating people from buses and co-involved in crash
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Lack of appropriate pre-hospital care;
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Lack of appropriate care in hospital emergency rooms
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Lack of patience
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Seat-belts and child restraints not used
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Crash helmets not worn by users two-wheeled vehicles (the disabled)
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Roadside objects not crash protective
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Insufficient vehicle crash protection for occupants for those hit by vehicles
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Presence of alcohol and other drugs
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Poor road user eyesight.
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Presence of alcohol, medical or recreational fatigue ​
Starting the journey
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Continuous wearing of seat-belts except when reversing.
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No phone calls whilst driving
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Courtesy towards the vulnerable slow down and allow them to cross:
Motorcyclists, Cyclists, Passengers, pedestrians, children and elderly people, older drivers, young drivers, women drivers
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Zero-alcohol principle or drugs
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Plan your journey
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Avoid driving when likely to be sleepy
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Plan to share the driving if possible
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Ensure you have enough rest ​
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Book an overnight stop if necessary
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Plan the route, and alternative routes if necessary;
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Plan when to take rest breaks – at least every 2 hours
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Anticipate delays; if expected at a particular time, call to let them to know that you will be late.
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NEVER drive to meet a deadline it could be your deadline!
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Safe and legal speed
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Drive defensively (mind about other road users)
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Know your location at all times
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Mind passenger comfort
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If you start to feel tired, find somewhere safe to stop, nap for 15 minutes or more, take strong caffeine drinks
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If the vehicle malfunctions, or you hear an unusual noise, stop and get a qualified person to check it. Driving on could seriously damage the vehicle.
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Do not give lifts to strangers, nor to military, police or armed personnel in private cars.
Drive Defensively
The principle of safety must take priority over time pressure!
Public roads are a sheared space and not points of conflict; it doesn’t have to be frustrating or dangerous.
Defensive driving is about driving safely, minding your safety and the safety of other road users.
Competitive driving increases the risks to everyone and is the opposite of responsible, considerate and defensive driving.
Defensive driving is about questioning the actions of other road users and being prepared for the unexpected, so that you are not taken by surprise.
Daily vehicle checks
Safety Tips
It is good practice for drivers to have a checklist to help them remember their routine duties:
"RSI" Training manuals:
To ensure Vehicle mechanical safety pdf.:
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Inspect vehicles for mechanical and safety standards to ensure adequate safety and security;
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Advise mechanics on critical areas that require maintenance, repair or replacement of parts;
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Provide theory and practical lectures to the Bus mechanics and Provide learning materials in identifying critical vehicle faults.
"RSI" Training Manual:
Vehicle Mechanical Safety and Training Manual:
PASSENGER BUS SAFETY TRAINING - MONITORING AND INSPECTION CONCEPT
·Wipers
·Lights
·Horn
·First aid kit
·Fire extinguisher
·Spare water
·Torch/flashlight
· Map if necessary
·Paperwork including vehicle log;
·vehicle registration and insurance
documents
·Fuel – preferably full. Always keep at
·least half-full in case of emergency.
·Oil
·Coolant
·Brake fluid
·Water
·Tyres
·Spare wheels
·Tools: tow-rope, jack, wheel brace/
·spanner etc
·Full vehicle equipment
Screen-wash fluid
Driving Topics
THEORY DRIVING:
The theory driving is aimed to check that drivers know more than just how to operate a car and this includes:
Hazard Perception, Safety Margins and Hazard Awareness or Developing Hazards.
PRACTICAL DRIVING:
To learn and understand the skill of driving by taking lessons from a trained and FULLY qualified driving instructors.
To acquire the knowledge of rules through their instructors and studying the Modern Highway Code.
A key element of learning is to test and reinforce their knowledge.
Take the right ATTITUDE though no one is perfect; be careful, courteous and considerate to all other road users.
DEFENSIVE DRIVING
To sensitize road users about concentration on the road, being responsible, considerate, questioning the actions of other road users and being prepare for the unexpected so that they are not taken by surprise!!
ECO Driving (Supports environment)
ECO Driving is about enhanced hazard perception and awareness skills.
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Emissions and Noise;
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Selective use of gears;
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Progressive use of accelerator;
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Compliance with speed limits;
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Utilisation of engine braking/torque;
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Carrying unnecessary weight;
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Route planning etc;
Urban Traffic Congestion Management
Traffic congestion is demand for road space outstripping the available road infrastructure to the extent that free movement of traffic is nearly impossible.
Tackling traffic congestion is smoothing the traffic flow, goods and services as well.
The emphasis is not to increase the speed of traffic but to ensure journeys run more smoothly and that the driver or passenger can more reliably estimate the time the journey takes. Read more......
