Perhaps a good idea to have a thread on safe driving hints to help improve our skills and keep us safe on the road. I think this thread should include little improvements for our general driving. We must all have picked up snippets from either courses or general observations which may help others. This is not an ego thread, it is not an "I know more than you" thread, it is just hints which we can say "Yeah, good point, I might try that." Who knows, it may help us live longer on the roads if we keep an open mind. I'll start it off:- A simple skill called "Covering the brake". Do we all employ it? If not, here's how it's done. When you take your foot off the accelerator for whatever reason, put it over the brake even if you don't end up using the brake. This will cut down your reaction time by up to one second if you need to use the brake. At 60km/h you cover 88 feet/second (OK my metric and imperial are mixed, WHO CARES just think about the implications) Example:- As you approach a set of traffic lights which are on "stale" green, taking your foot off the accelerator and covering the brake will allow you to stop much quicker if the light changes amber and you are in that "no man's land" than if you have to take your foot from the accelerator and put it onto the brake to commence a stop. If someone is facing you and making a right turn across your path at those traffic lights, covering the brake can make the difference between having an accident or not having an accident. Now, kids, go outside and practice until it becomes second nature.
Alan41
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brickus This is not an ego thread, it is not an "I know more than you" thread, it is just hints which we can say "Yeah, good point, I might try that." Who knows, it may help us live longer on the roads if we keep an open mind.
Great thread Brickus.
I doubt anyone with common sense would dispute your opening comments, as some of us are well aware that you have a lot of first hand knowledge and dealings with road safety so I for one appreciate your time and effort to post on this subject. Please keep the tips and hints coming.
ADMIN NOTE.
Anyone else who can add to this thread and also the fire safety threads of Dave /Smokeydk is encouraged to do so.
Last Edit: Jan 15, 2012 11:06:05 GMT 9.5 by Alan41
Senior Driving Safety Tips, Warning Signs, and Knowing When to Stop
As we age, it’s normal for our driving abilities to change. Aging doesn’t automatically mean we need to stop driving, of course. However, to drive safely, it does mean that we have to pay attention to any warning signs that age is interfering with our driving safety and make appropriate adjustments. By reducing risk factors and incorporating safe driving practices, many of us can continue driving safely long into our senior years.
Even if you find that you need to reduce your driving or eventually give up the keys, though, it doesn’t mean the end of your independence. Seeking alternative methods of transportation can offer many other health and social benefits, as well as a welcome change of pace to life. In This Article: How aging affects driving Warning signs of unsafe driving Maximize safety on the road Life without driving Talking to seniors about driving concerns Related links Print Authors Text Size Senior driving tip#1: Understand how aging affects driving Everyone ages differently, so there is no arbitrary cutoff as to when someone should stop driving. However, older adults are more likely to receive traffic citations and get into accidents than younger drivers. In fact, fatal crash rates rise sharply after a driver has reached the age of 70. What causes this increase? As we age, factors such as decreased vision, impaired hearing, or slowed motor reflexes may become a problem. You may have a chronic condition that gradually worsens with time, or you may have to adjust to a sudden change, such as a stroke.
Aging tends to result in a reduction of strength, coordination, and flexibility, which can have a major impact on your ability to safely control a car. For example:
Pain or stiffness in your neck can make it harder to look over your shoulder to change lanes or look left and right at intersections to check for other traffic or pedestrians. Leg pain can make it difficult to move your foot from the gas to the brake pedal. Diminished arm strength can make it hard to turn the steering wheel quickly and effectively. As reaction times also slow down with age, you may be slower to spot vehicles emerging from side streets and driveways, or to realize that the vehicle ahead of you has slowed or stopped. Keeping track of so many road signs, signals, and markings, as well as all the other traffic and pedestrians, can also become more difficult as we lose the ability to effectively divide our attention between multiple activities. You may have driven your entire life, and take great pride in your safety record. But as you age, it is critical that you realize your driving ability can change. The keys to driving safely are to recognize that changes can happen, get help when they do, and be willing to listen if others voice concerns.
Senior driving tip#2: Know the warning signs of unsafe driving Sometimes unsafe signs can come up gradually, or a recent change in health may hasten problems. Even if the individual warning signs seem minor, together they can add up to a substantial risk. If you are concerned about your own driving or concerned about a friend or loved one, keep an eye out for these warning signs:
Issues with health Health problems don’t always mean that driving needs to be stopped, but they do require extra vigilance, awareness, and willingness to correct them. Some health problems include:
Conflicting Medications. Certain medications or combinations of medications can affect senses and reflexes. Always check the label on medications and double check with your healthcare team if you are taking several medications or notice a difference after starting a new medication. Eyesight problems. Some eye conditions or medications can interfere with your ability to focus your peripheral vision, or cause you to experience extra sensitivity to light, trouble seeing in the dark, or blurred vision. Can you easily see traffic lights and street signs? Or do you find yourself driving closer and closer, slowing by the sign to see it? Can you react appropriately to drivers coming from the back or on the side? Hearing problems. If your hearing is decreasing, you may not realize you’re missing out on important cues to drive safely. Can you hear emergency sirens, or if someone is accelerating next to you or honking the horn? Problems with reflexes and range of motion. Can you react quickly enough if you need to brake suddenly or quickly look back? Have you confused the gas and brake pedals? Do you find yourself getting more flustered while driving, or quick to anger? Is it comfortable to look back over your shoulder or does it take extra effort? Problems with memory. Do you find yourself missing exits that used to be second nature, or find yourself getting lost frequently? While everyone has an occasional lapse, if there’s a pattern that is increasing, it’s time to get evaluated by a doctor. Issues on the road Trouble with the nuts and bolts of driving. Do you see yourself making sudden lane changes, drifting into other lanes, braking, or accelerating suddenly without reason? How about failing to use the turn signal, or keeping the signal on without changing lanes? Close calls and increased citations. Red flags include frequent "close calls" (i.e., almost crashing), dents and scrapes on the car or on fences, mailboxes, garage doors, and curbs. Increased traffic tickets or "warnings" by traffic or law enforcement officers.
Senior driving tip#3: Maximize safety on the road Aging does not automatically equal total loss of driving ability. There are many things you can do to continue driving safely, including modifying your car, the way you drive, and understanding and rectifying physical issues that may interfere with driving.
Take charge of your health Regular check-ups are critical to keep you in the best possible driving shape. Other steps you can take include:
Getting your eyes checked every year. Make sure that corrective lenses are current. Keep the windshield, mirrors, and headlights clean, and turn brightness up on the instrument panel on your dashboard. Having your hearing checked annually. If hearing aids are prescribed, make sure they are worn while driving. Be careful when opening car windows, though, as drafts can sometimes impair a hearing aid's effectiveness. Talking with a doctor about the effects that ailments or medications may have on your driving ability. For example, if you have glaucoma, you may find tinted eyeglass lenses useful in reducing glare. Sleeping well. Getting enough sleep is essential to driving well. If there are problems, try to improve nighttime sleep conditions and talk with your doctor about the effect of any sleep medications on driving. Find the right car and any aids you need for driving Choose a vehicle with automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. Keep your car in good working condition by visiting your mechanic for scheduled maintenance. Be sure that windows and headlights are always clean. An occupational therapist or a certified driving rehabilitation specialist, for example, can prescribe equipment to make it easier to steer the car and to operate the foot pedals.
Drive defensively In these days of cell phones and digital music players, drivers are even more distracted than they used to be. This means you’ll want to take extra steps to drive safely, like leaving adequate space for the car in front of you, paying extra attention at intersections, and making sure you are driving appropriate to the flow of traffic. Avoid distractions such as talking on the phone while driving or trying to puzzle out a map, even if it’s a GPS on the car; pull over instead.
Make sure you allow sufficient braking distance. Remember, if you double your speed—say from 30mph to 60mph—your braking distance does not become twice as long, it becomes four times as far, even more if the road is wet or icy.
Know your limitations If a driving situation makes you uncomfortable, don’t do it. Many older drivers voluntarily begin to make changes in their driving practices. For instance, you may decide to drive only during daylight hours if you have trouble seeing well in reduced light. If fast-moving traffic bothers you, consider staying off freeways, highways, and find street routes instead. You may also decide to avoid driving in bad weather (rain, thunderstorms, snow, hail, ice). If you are going to a place that is unfamiliar to you, it is a good idea to plan your route before you leave so that you feel more confident and avoid getting lost.
Listen to the concerns of others If relatives, friends, or others begin to talk to you about your driving, it may be time to take a hard, honest look at your driving ability:
Talk to your doctor. Your doctor should also be able to provide an opinion about your ability to drive safely, or refer you to a specialist for more intensive evaluation. Getting a professional evaluation An occupational therapist or certified driver rehabilitation specialist can provide a comprehensive evaluation of the skills needed to drive and recommend car modifications or tools to keep someone driving as long as possible. It can also help diffuse accusations from family by providing a neutral third party perspective. You can ask your medical treatment team for a referral, or visit the following websites for more information:
Post by teddybear on Jan 16, 2012 13:12:21 GMT 9.5
Something thats concerns me is " Round abouts" . I feel that alot of people are confused when it comes to them. I see alot of people who do not stay in their lane when exiting or the confusion when indicating out of one. Can someone tell me if the law is different in different states? For me i have witnessed a driving school with a learner indicatingright before approaching a round about, then proceeding ahead, instead of actually turning right. I have been at a round about, giving way to the right, when the car on my right indicated left, so i went to go and they continued on into the round about almost causing an accident!
For me i give way to right .... I indicate out when there are cars waiting .... And i always stay in the lane i am in. No cross cutting off anyone. Right or wrong it works & its safe!
Last Edit: Jan 16, 2012 13:17:22 GMT 9.5 by teddybear
Alan41
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I always find it easier to keep in left lane and if you're going straight ahead, indicate left as you pass the left turn exit, if you indicate before it they think you're turning left. If you're turning right indicate right as you enter the roundabout then indicate left as you approach the right turn exit.
And don't forget Trucks need more road than we do.
DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE
Last Edit: Jan 16, 2012 16:01:36 GMT 9.5 by Alan41
just a simple thing to keep in mind allways keep wheels straight when stopped to turn in a driveway or street if you get hit from behind it will push you into oncoming traffic mousey
Badger's comment about tail enders this morning prompts a reply. After a long dry spell, road grime (sand, grit etc) and oil spills build up on bitumen surfaces filling the cracks between the gravel stones embedded in the bitumen mix. When it rains, these turn to mud pies with a nice slippery mix of oil to make the roads treacherous until the persistent rain washes the cracks clean. During this initial "first rain" period, it is adviseable to double the distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you because braking distances are increased not only by the rain but also the slick surface. I know that idiots will fill those gaps but it is not difficult to just fall back and keep that safe distance. Living longer has always been a high priority of mine, I hope it is your's too.
I don't know if this is the right section, but it will do. I have just driven from Wentworth across the Hay plain to Hay and met dozens of semi's and B Doubles going each way, I just want to say what a great bunch they were, courteous, responsible and helpful. Keep on truckin guys
I try to stay away from the orange pills
Alan41
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I don't know if this is the right section, but it will do. I have just driven from Wentworth across the Hay plain to Hay and met dozens of semi's and B Doubles going each way, I just want to say what a great bunch they were, courteous, responsible and helpful. Keep on truckin guys
Sounds like all the good ones are up there.
Watch out for the bloke in a Volvo B double tipper though if you get to Sarforstraya, goes by the name of Mickthemungrel. ;D ;D
I don't know if this is the right section, but it will do. I have just driven from Wentworth across the Hay plain to Hay and met dozens of semi's and B Doubles going each way, I just want to say what a great bunch they were, courteous, responsible and helpful. Keep on truckin guys
Sounds like all the good ones are up there.
Watch out for the bloke in a Volvo B double tipper though if you get to Sarforstraya, goes by the name of Mickthemungrel. ;D ;D
Yeah, easy to pick him out.............he wears a bowler hat.....I've a photo here somewhere...............ah, here it is..............
You don't stop riding because you get old, you get old because you stop riding! If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. When the last tree has been cut down, when the last stream is poisoned, only then will mankind realise that we can not eat money! Some don't understand why I let my dogs sleep on my bed. That's OK, my dogs understand! I'm Larry the Spook and I'm ALMOST NORMAL!
Another suggestion is take frequent breaks on long drives. Get out, stretch the muscles, walk around. How often do we drive for long periods and go to get out of the car and think gawd, the muscles are stiff and sore. This impairs your ability to react quickly.
Travelling along a major arterial yesterday (not a freeway) I was mindful of not changing lanes in front of some trucks as approaching various traffic lights. All you need is the light to turn orange and you could end up with a very angry truck driver, or end up with him sitting in your back seat. This is more so when you are towing. A better idea is to wait till after the intersection and then change lanes.
Last Edit: May 24, 2012 11:37:12 GMT 9.5 by Alan41
Nearly had that happen once Badger. Me following old lady with a truck behind me. He was a tad too close and the old lady decided to do an illegal u-turn on double lanes. I hit the anchors, so did the truckie. I could see he wasn't going to stop in time so I went left regardless of what was beside me. I figured I'd rather be sideswiped than flattened. I pulled over about 200 metres down the road and looked back to see the truck stopped inches from her car. Had I still been there I wouldn't be here today.
Life is too short, enjoy while you can.
Alan41
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Nearly had that happen once Badger. Me following old lady with a truck behind me. He was a tad too close and the old lady decided to do an illegal u-turn on double lanes. I hit the anchors, so did the truckie. I could see he wasn't going to stop in time so I went left regardless of what was beside me. I figured I'd rather be sideswiped than flattened. I pulled over about 200 metres down the road and looked back to see the truck stopped inches from her car. Had I still been there I wouldn't be here today.
Good move Tess. It's called defensive driving. Dad always taught us to regard all others on the road as idiots.
... I could see he wasn't going to stop in time so I went left regardless of what was beside me. I figured I'd rather be sideswiped than flattened. ...
Have had to do that before. Once I had to swerve right, into ongoing traffic (and then very very quickly back onto the correct side of the road), to avoid a 100 kph head on when a guy coming towards us lost it on a sweeping bend. Unfortunately, the couple in the car in front did not react and were killed.
Yes, Alan, you can be the world's best driver and some dweeb can ruin your day.
I suggest some people check the rules regarding roundabouts.
You give way to vehicles ALREADY on the roundabout...not necessarily give way to right. If they are NOT on the roundabout, you have right of way...but be cautious with this.
If you indicate "Right"approaching a roundabout, this gives indication to drivers approaching from your left that you are entering the roundabout and not turning left. You THEN indicate left if you are exiting.
Please read you States rules and for those that are not driving instructors, please do not give advic e as you may be giving the incorrect advice, even though well intentioned.
Dunco's explanation is Victoria's law as well. Very few people know the rule concerning "You give way to vehicles ALREADY on the roundabout" and likewise, very few people indicate their intention to exit a roundabout.
Last Edit: May 24, 2012 19:13:57 GMT 9.5 by Alan41
Indicators on a roundabout? Geez thats completely optional in Horsham on any day. They can't even handle traffic lights so they ripped them out to put another roundabout in.
Life is too short, enjoy while you can.
Alan41
Founding Admin WizzBang Warrior from WarRAINgul
I used to play sports. Then I realised you can buy trophies. Now I?m good at everything.
Posts: 4,013
Tug\ Motorhome: 2003 VY Berlina.sedan.(hers) Caravan: 1986 Nissan Urvan pop top campervan. (Ours)
Indicators on a roundabout? Geez thats completely optional in Horsham on any day. They can't even handle traffic lights so they ripped them out to put another roundabout in.
Tess, the way some drive in Horsham I wonder why we don't have redlight cameras on every corner. And the STOP sign in the Plaza S/centre is a waste of time too. The locals obviously can't read. ;D
Last Edit: May 24, 2012 22:57:27 GMT 9.5 by Alan41
The right way to present a new car....Cadillac did it right in China . It would not be allowed here of course. Health and safety would have a field day!
Victoria: I was reminded last night, purely in conversation, that it is illegal to proceed through a railway level crossing while the lights are still flashing regardless that the boom gates have raised fully. The lights generally flash for about 3 seconds after the boom gates have raised fully. If a cop is behind and you proceed while the lights are still flashing you will get done for 4 demerit points.
There is a zero tolerance of level crossing and school zone offences.
I have been tooted more than once for not proceeding (illegally). I just ignore them and wait.
Last Edit: Jun 28, 2012 16:46:44 GMT 9.5 by Alan41
Geez thats completely optional in Horsham on any day. They can't even handle traffic lights so they ripped them out to put another roundabout in.
;D
