Drivers Fitness Clear Vision
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* Reducing the presses to speed from time and schedule pressure where behavior is ruled by timetables, appointments and arrangements entered into would also be difficult, requiring a general reduction in the pace of modern life. Recognising and resisting the perceived pressure to ‘keep up’ with the traffic around you is not easy, just as overcoming any habitual behavior supported by social norms requires hard, and sometime seemingly thankless, expenditure of effort. * The inclination to speed remains. Amongst female drivers access to faster cars and the potential for the enjoyment of speed is increasing. Amongst males, the thrill of speed — and the pleasure of a fast bend nicely judged — may not decrease with age. Speeding Facts INTERNATIONAL FACTS ON SPEEDING * The faster you go, the more likely you are to crash. The faster you crash, the more likely you are to die. * Where we don't link speed to a crash - for example, we may blame alcohol or the weather - the outcome depends on the speed the driver is traveling at. * If you're driving at 120 km/h, you are twice as likely to die in a crash than if you are driving at 100 km/h. If you're driving at 130 km/h, you're three times as likely to die. Slower driving saves lives International experience shows that as speeds reduce, the road toll goes down.
Evidence of the speed/crash relationship Evidence of the speed/crash relationship has been demonstrated in studies of the following situations:
Risks to pedestrians The severity of injuries sustained by a pedestrian hit by a vehicle is clearly related to the impact speed. The risk of death increases dramatically at speeds from 40 to 60 km/h. For example, the likelihood of death for a pedestrian hit at 40 km/h is approximately 30 percent, while the likelihood of death for a pedestrian hit at 60 km/h is around 90 percent. The risks for vulnerable pedestrians, such as the elderly and young children, are even higher. Some facts about speed cameras A study of crash data in the 20 months following the introduction of speed cameras in New Zealand in 1993 found
International experience shows that speed cameras are a highly cost-effective speed management tool. This means that they save a lot of lives for the cost of putting them in place and operating them. Driver Fatigue DRIVER FATIGUE AND ROAD SAFETY Almost everyone knows that driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is a deadly combination. However, few people seem to realize the danger associated with driving while fatigued. In fact, drivers who become drowsy or fall asleep at the wheel contribute to thousands of crashes each year. Fatigue is a condition that affects everyone. Although typically associated with long-distance driving, fatigue can set in after a long day at work, an outing at the beach, or virtually any activity. Circadian rhythm, the body's natural rhythm associated with the earth's rotation, causes nearly everyone to be less alert or even drowsy between 1 and 5 p.m. Emotional stress, illness, or boredom can also cause fatigue. Sun glare, a major factor in eyestrain, can contribute to fatigue. Overeating, drinking alcoholic beverages, or riding in an overheated or very cold vehicle can compound the effects. What can you do to prevent tiredness from making you another crash statistic? Start any trip by getting enough sleep the night before - at least six hours is recommended. Wear good quality sunglasses, avoid heavy foods and, of course, don't consume any alcohol during your trip. If you can, have another person ride with you, so you will have someone to talk to and who can share the driving. Avoid driving during your body's downtime. Be on the alert for these signs of sleepiness: trouble keeping your eyes open, difficulty paying attention, or yawning frequently. If you notice any of these danger signs, stop periodically for a rest, and if needed, a quick nap - even 20 minutes will help. During your break, get some exercise - it helps you become more alert quickly. The problem with long-distance driving is that many people do not know, or choose to ignore, how much driving is too much. On long trips, schedule a 15-minute break outside the vehicle every two hours or every 160 km. There is no rule to say how far you should drive at any given time, but no destination is worth risking your life. Don't overextend yourself. Determine a reasonable distance in advance, and stop driving when you reach it. If you must stop for a rest, stop at a designated rest area or parking lot. It usually is not advisable to just pull off to the side of the road to sleep, yet there may be times when it is better to pull off the road and nap than to continue driving and chance falling asleep behind the wheel. Avoiding driver fatigue on long trips
If you must stop along the roadway to rest, follow these precautions:
Road Safety Precaution Measures Before leaving...
While travelling...
Rest stop precautions...
When parked...
Cellular Technology and Road Safety The dangers of cellular phones to road safety are well debated and documented. It is an offence to hold and use a cellphone or other electronic communication device such as BlackBerry, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) etc whilst driving. The only defense for a person charged with this offence would be where the driver has made a genuine emergency call when it would have been unsafe to stop driving to make the call. These dangers can be summarized in short with the following notes:
Information on the dangers of cellular phones and distractions have been included on the Arrive Alive website in a section titled “Avoiding distractions whilst driving” Improving road safety through the mobility & benefits of cellular phones Cellular technology has changed the lives of all road users. It is impossible to consider a life without our cellular phones. Business people faced with increased traffic congestion have a greater incentive to use their phones and other wireless technologies to make the extra time spent in their cars more productive. Despite the drawbacks of distractions, phones provide through their mobility several positive features, including:
Advice when using cellular phones in an emergency:
Also consider the following: - Be alert to situations on the road where a cellphone's radio frequency and electronics may be potentially harmful such as: construction zones where blasting is occurring, or at petrol stations/fuelling areas. Road Safety and Education about Cellphones A cellular phone is a responsibility and a privilege. People need to learn how to use it safely to maximize the benefits. Cellular providers are encouraged to promote safe cell phone use through education and training. The cellular industry worldwide has developed a variety of cell phone safety guides providing safe-driving tips and explaining how to report emergencies. It is imperative that adequate awareness be created amongst cell phone users to help them recognise hazards that could lead to accidents, disabilities and deaths and thus avoid these mishaps. Several wireless service providers and automobile manufacturers have launched campaigns to improve awareness of the risks of driver inattention. These campaigns include public service announcements, brochures as well as the promotion of safety through radio ads and other media. Click here for the Cellular Safety Brochure of SACTA Cellular Companies and Road Safety in South Africa Cellular providers in South Africa assist in providing many benefits to road users through education and guidance about these benefits and safety aspects. Cellular Providers in South Africa have provided the following important information to clients / road users: Vodacom Personal safety is a key factor for many South Africans. In an emergency situation, the ability to make an immediate phone call to an emergency service number to request assistance can and has meant the difference between life and death to thousands of people. Vodacom, South Africa’s leading cellular network, provides its customers with various Emergency services that address safety and security needs and assist in saving countless lives. Some of the options Vodacom provides in terms of security are Look4me and Look4Help which we explain in more detail below. Security services provided:
Look4me is a service that is very helpful in finding out where loved ones are and if they're safe, exclusively available to Vodacom customers. Look4me allows Vodacom customers to track other Vodacom customers via their cellphone, provided consent was granted. To use Look4me, the customer (user) pays a monthly subscription fee and a transaction fee for every search performed.
Look4Help is another service to which all Vodacom customers may subscribe. By setting up four cell numbers of family and friends, the customer can trigger an SMS alert, which sends out a distress message with their location to the four pre-specified cell numbers in an emergency situation. Saving the Look4Help number as a speed dial extends the customer's cellphone to a mobile panic button. When the speed dial number is dialled in an emergency, the selected recipients are informed of the sender's location - they are notified that the sender is in an emergency situation and can try to contact him/her, physically come to their rescue or contact an emergency service to assist. Vodacom customers are charged a monthly subscription and a transaction fee for every time the speed dial number is dialled. Location services are intended to compliment, not be a substitute for, parental supervision. However, in conjunction with other types of communication, such as phoning or texting, they can help parents keep in touch with their children.
Netcare 082 911 is an Emergency Service that is available for free, to all Vodacom contract customers. The benefits of this service are as follows:
112 Emergency Service is available to all Vodacom customers. By dialling 112 from a Vodacom cellphone, you will be connected by the operator to the closest public emergency service, including the police, traffic, ambulance service and fire department closest to your location. The operator will obtain information from the customer to determine their location, after which the customer will be connected to the most appropriate and closest emergency service. It is important for customers to hold on the line until they are connected to the emergency service requested. With the information provided by the customer to the emergency services, the most appropriate cause of action will be taken. Dialling 112 from a Vodacom cellphone in an emergency situation allows the customer to be connected to their closest emergency service for response. All calls to this number are free of charge.
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