Chapter 1 - Human Failings as a driver

Question 1

Why is Road Safety a slow process to learn?

Answer 1

Traffic consists of people - each individual with a different naturem mood, mentality and age.

Plus it consists of people travelling by foot, bike , moped, scooter/motorbike, car, van, bus or lorry.

Basically, there are a lot of variables that one has to take into account.

Question 2

Importance of hearing?

Answer 2

Much information about traffic is comes through the ear.

E.g. Sirens, Alram bells, car horns, brakes, etc.

These sounds inform you and help you too anticipate certain situations.

Question 3

Importance of eyesight?

Answer 3

Most, and often the most important information is registered b the eyes.

E.g. Traffic signs, Light signals, text manels, movement, etc.

Question 4

Importance of Smell?

Answer 4

As a driver it is important to smell danger.

E.g. Gases in your car caused by a broken exhaust, leaking disel oil, etc.

Question 5

Importance of touch?

Answer 5

When your sense of touch and balance are disturbed, you won’t be able to feel vibrations in the car, nor power exerted in curves, cadence of the tyres and conditions of the road.

Question 6

Is it advisable to drive when you are not in the condition/shape to drive?

Answer 6

Of course Not!

If you have a headache, feel ill, etc. you shouldn’t driver as these are all factors that influence your driving.

Question 7

Should you multi-task while driving a car?

Answer 7

NO!

Road users should concentrate on one thing at a time.

So no serious conversations, making telephone calls, lighting a cigarette, etc.

All these things may distract you and increase the risk of an accident occuring.

Question 8

Is it important to stay concentrated even though you are taking a familiar route?

Answer 8

The more familar the route –> easier to lose concentration.

Hence, distrust the so-called “automatic route”

Question 9

What is highway hypnosis? Why is it impotant to remember?

Answer 9

Highway hypnosis - Loss of concentration caused when driving on long, straight roads through a monotonous landscape.

Important to still stay aware.

Question 10

Should you drive if you are tired?

Answer 10

No –> Fatigue is in 15% of accidnets the main cause of the accident –> reduces reaction time.

To avoid take a 15 minute rest for every 2 hours of driving.

Question 11

Problems caused by drinking and driving?

Answer 11

Alcohol impedes your ability to make objective judgements –> eyesight, adjustment to light and dark, sense of distance and reaction speed all decrease.

Question 12

What is the legal maximum blood alcohol level?

Answer 12

Legal max Blood alcohol level 0.5 pro mille

Breath test - 220 micrograms per litre of exhaled air

Question 13

What is the legal maximum of alcohol for young drivers?

Answer 13

Novice driver - Driving licence less than five years

Blood Alcohol - 0.2 pro mille

Breath test - 88 Micrograms per litre of exhaled air

Question 14

Does a glass of beer, wine and liquor contain the roughly the same amount of alcohol?

Answer 14

yes

Question 15

What factors may influence your sensitivity to alcohol?

Answer 15

1. Your size (body mass)
2. Tolerance
3. speed at which you drink
4. empty stomach
5. if you are feeling ill

Question 16

Can medication impair your driving? If yes, what type of medication?

Answer 16

Yes!

This includes:

1. Tranquilizers
2. Sleeping pills
3. Painkillers
4. Appetite depressants
5. Pep Pills
6. Anaesthetic Injections by dentist
7. Medicines against allergies, travel sickness and common cold.

Note some medications can remain in your system for a prolonged period of time - e.g. 48 hours.

Question 17

Why is taking recreational drugs a bad idea if you are going to drive?

Answer 17

Drugs impact the central nervous system, physical + mental health and alter behaviour.

Effects are usually unpredicatable and the substance can have a different impact when taken at different times + they are broken down more slowly.

Overall, very dangerous and thus classified a criminal offence.

Hashish, marijuana, cocaine and other substances can remain detectable in the urine for 5 days to 3 weeks.

Question 18

What is the zero tolerance for combined use policy?

Answer 18

Mixing drugs and alcohol is very dangerous –> Completely not allowed.

If you are found with a combination of substances in your system –> you have comitted a criminal offence and shall be penalised.

Question 19

Why is it important to keep control of your emotions while driving?

Answer 19

When driving you must control your the car and your emotions –> this is the case for both negative and positive emotions.

If your emotions get the upper hand –> your concentration can be negatively impacted.

Question 20

Problems that high stress may cause when driving?

Answer 20

Stress may cause you to become hectic, nervous, absent-minded and ultimately make you lose your concentration –> may lead to you making mistakes

Do not let stress get the upper hand

Question 21

What is driving defensivley mean? What does defensive behaviour depend on?

Answer 21

Driving defensively means that you react correctly to the mistakes made by others.

It is based on…

1. Anticipation
2. Observation
3. Reaction

You drive densively if you…

1. Anticipate possible developments
2. React correctly to errors by others
3. Display the correct observation behaviour
4. Respect the interest of other road users

Question 22

What should you do if you are unable to elimnate a danger in a situation?

Answer 22

Make a sounds or a light signal, depending on the situation.

E.g. Flashing uour hazard warning lights if certain conditions force you to suddenly reduce your speed or stop

This would happen in the following cases…

1. Event of traffic build up
2. Stop at places that are difficult to survey
3. have to stop and visibility is poor due to darkness or weather

Question 23

What are some key social behaviours that one has to remember on the road?

Answer 23

1. In the case of a narrowing road - allow room for overtaking drivers.
2. Give way to funeral processsion (uitvaartstoet)
3. avoid driving through puddles
4. allow drivers to join lane if you are driving in a queue

Question 24

Social behaviours you need to avoid?

Answer 24

1. Overtaking unexpectedly
2. Overtaking with a small speed difference
3. In the event of traffic build up –> closing off spaces which another road user wanted to take up by accelarating.