 People love to travel by taking road trips. Not only do you get to visit exciting locations, but it can also be a relaxing and fun experience just to be out on the open road. However, there are certain potential hazards you should be aware of—one of the most common being passenger distraction. While most people prefer to have company on a long trip, the nature of the company could play a large part in determining just how safe your holiday ends up being. The following are things all passengers should know before embarking on a road trip. Show Taking charge of navigationBefore you embark on your trip, both the driver and the passengers should be familiar with the map, GPS system, and any other navigational tool you might be using. Both driver and navigator should have carefully studied the route and have a good idea of when they will arrive at their final destination. However, during the trip the passenger should have access to the navigation tools in case additional questions arise. The driver should never look at the map or GPS while driving, but should stay focused on the conditions of the road while the navigator gives vocal instructions. The navigator should be looking ahead and informing the driver of what to expect in coming kilometres. In addition to taking charge of directions, the passenger can act as a second set of eyes. After travelling for hours on the same stretch of road, it is easy for drivers to become inattentive. Passengers can assist by keeping an eye out for important road signs, changes in traffic, or hazardous road conditions. An extra set of handsBoth of the driver’s hands should be placed on the wheel at all times. This will help keep him or her prepared for hazards that may not leave much time for reaction. On long road trips however, drivers may get hungry or need to perform other functions. Passengers can help in this regard. They can find snacks and drinks and help the driver consume them in a safe way. They can change radio stations, switch to a new playlist, or adjust the volume on the car’s stereo system. They can also text, email, or call people if the driver needs to communicate with someone outside the car. The only thing the driver should be doing is driving, but the passenger can easily assist by acting as an extra pair of hands when necessary. Keeping the drivers eyes on the roadRoad trips are often planned around seeing specific places. Travelling in a car allows you to see sights up close and personal. However, regardless of where you are the driver’s primary attention should be focused on the road. Passengers should never distract the driver by pointing out interesting sights located off of the road. Encouraging the driver to look away from the road—even for only a few seconds—can easily be enough to cause an accident. If it is something the driver would want to see, encourage them to pull over to a safe spot on the side of the road before giving it their full attention. Another option is to use different drivers when travelling to and from a location. That way if the driver misses something, they can still get a good glance on the way back. Reducing distractionsNo one likes to sit in a car and stare out the window for hours on end. As such, passengers often plan ways to keep themselves occupied during long road trips. While there is nothing wrong with this, it is important that their activities do not distract the driver’s attention. Any games that are being played by passengers in a car should be kept quiet; screaming and shouting will reduce the focus of the driver. Do not engage the driver in your games unless they are mild and allow the driver to stay focused on the road. Do not throw items around the vehicle. Keep music at a reasonable level. When it comes to sleeping, create a system that you know will be safe. If there are several people in the car, stagger the sleeping arrangements so that there are always at least two people awake (the driver and one other person). If you are the only passenger, be careful to only nap when the driver is feeling fully fresh and awake, and don’t allow yourself to sleep longer than about thirty minutes at any one time. Car rulesOn family road trips, passengers are often children who may not fully understand the importance of car safety. When kids are cooped up in small spaces for long periods of time, it is easy for them to become restless and irritated. This can be made worse when brothers or sisters are sitting in the backseat with them. If parents, including the driver, are forced to constantly look back and act as referees between their children, the likelihood of an accident is substantially increased. Therefore, it is important to establish rules for children before the trip ever begins. Let them know what type of behaviour you expect of them, and what rewards (or punishments) they can expect as a result of their choices. Incentives can play a big role in keeping children calm and quiet. Vocal reactionsIf you as a passenger notice a potential hazard on the road, do your best to communicate the danger in a calm and collected way. Yelling can frighten the driver and cause him or her to make a mistake. It can be difficult to stay calm in a stressful moment, but doing so could save lives. Don’t backseat driveIt can be hard not to backseat drive, especially if you think you could be doing a better job than the driver. However, it more often than not leads to stress and arguments, which are the last things the driver needs. On long road trips drivers need to feel calm and relaxed, and stress increases the likelihood that mistakes will be made. If you are going to talk to the driver about his or her decisions, focus on the positive. Frequently assure him or her that they are doing a good job. If a change needs to be made, then discuss it in a respectful manner.
Congrats! You're officially part of the club. You have joined the millions of new drivers already behind the wheel. You're probably feeling excited, nervous, or possibly scared — you may even be feeling a combination of all three. Don't worry; these feelings are normal. Here are a few tips to keep you sane and safe. Know Your LimitsWhen you were a kid and first learned how to ride a bike, you probably started out with the basics. You knew your limits — you kept both hands on the handlebars, your butt firmly in the seat, and you limited your trips to your neighborhood. After some time, you gained experience and became more comfortable with your bike; you probably ventured farther and took longer trips. Driving a vehicle can be similar. As a new driver, the key is to make sure you are extra-careful and practicing safe driving habits. You might notice older friends and relatives doing something risky — like speeding up instead of slowing down at a yellow light. But when a driver who doesn't have a lot of experience on the road does it, that kind of behavior can be even more dangerous. Before you take a long road trip, make sure you're completely comfortable going to and from school and work. Before you begin driving at night, when reduced visibility makes driving more complicated, make sure you have daytime driving down. Before you start driving your friends around, if your state's GDL program allows it, practice driving with a responsible adult riding shotgun and on your own — so you aren't distracted by the company. page 1Safe Driving TipsHere are some tips for developing safe driving habits:
Responsible driving also can help you save money. A good driver is less likely to fork over money for car repairs and increased insurance premiums than a risky or bad driver is. page 2Know Other People's LimitsYou aren't the only person you have to be responsible for on the road — there are aggressive and inattentive drivers of all ages and driving experiences, not to mention pedestrians and cyclists. Their presence on the roads means it's not enough to make sure that you follow all the rules of the road — you also have to watch out for people who don't. It's important to be aware of your surroundings. For instance, when a light turns green, make sure the intersection is clear before you go; someone may run a red light and be headed for you. Other ways to be better aware of your surroundings include:
Driver training shouldn't end with driver's ed. Consider taking a defensive driving or driver improvement course every 2–3 years to keep your knowledge and skills fresh. Not only will this help you reduce your risk behind the wheel, it may save you some money on your car insurance premiums. It could also show your parents you're serious about being a good, safe driver. page 3Know Your CarTaking care of your car ensures that it's in good condition and functioning properly. Many breakdowns happen because drivers neglect routine maintenance. To avoid being stuck in one of these situations, try getting familiar with:
Knowing your car means that you won't be that person who runs out of fuel in the middle of nowhere because he drove around with an almost-empty tank, or the one whose tire blew out because she forgot to check the pressure. Sometimes vehicle crashes and breakdowns are unavoidable, no matter how responsible you are. You should keep some emergency items in your car at all times for use in such situations:
Practice makes perfect. So get out there and drive, keeping safety first. |
What is one of the last things a driver should do just before?
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