If you haven’t heard yet, transportation authorities based in the Philippines have implemented a speed limit in key roads of the metropolis to put a stop on the spate of accidents that have been occurring lately. This is perhaps to cover up the boo-boo made by one Metro Manila Development Authority Chief who months back said that “There is no Speed Limit”, paving the way for more reckless drivers and accidents at that. So while that is covered, now we hear the bus companies complaining that they may cause traffic. So what?
Given a choice, would you choose traffic or accidents? It is no secret that the same bus operators are also responsible for the accidents and it is they too who have been ignoring speed limits. You would think they were driving smaller vehicles that could ride above 100 KPH! If they slow down, the matter that they re concerned about is the number of trips that they can finish in a day which will surely be diminished. But if they were as careful and law abiding in the first place, would this speed limit be lowered at 40 KPH?
The last request was to make it at 60 KPH. But seeing the bulk of these buses, that is fast for a large vehicle. And to think that Manila is packed with lots of pedestrians and private cars, they can still do a lot of harm.
So as far as the speed limit goes, it is a good move. Safety comes first and the bottom-line is that regardless of the speed you are driving, you will get to your point of destination anyway right?
The season of cheers is 52 days away and this early, people are thinking of gives to give and parties to go to. It has become a tradition that Christmas parties and social gatherings are apparent and aside from feasting on the various food and menu preparations, you cannot discount the fact that excessive drinking is included in the mix.
So what does this have to do with driving? Well for one, we are all aware that we are constantly warned about drinking and driving. This Christmas season, expect a lot of drinking and driving as well as people hope from one place to another, catching them at the wee hours of the morning. Now as far as drinking is concerned, there is usually no limit to how much you consume. But if you own a car and drive it from one place to another, make sure you don’t overdo it and intoxicate yourself.
A large portion of drivers today experience accidents mainly because they drink too much and commonly find themselves fall asleep behind the wheel while cruising at a certain pace. While the issue of drinking too much cannot be avoided, just make sure you do think rationally. If you feel that you are not fit to drive your vehicle then don’t.
Some take coffee to wake them up while others take short naps. On the road, you can choose to pull over and take a nap to somehow organize your driving sense. It is better to be aware of the road and yourself rather than waking up and finding yourself in the hospital. In fact, some don’t even wake up at all.
When you drive, speed is essential. But it also requires putting your mind on how fast you should drive your car. It is understandable that once you get your hands behind the wheel, the initial notion is to see how fast you can drive and get places in a hurry. However, when you get to long stretch roads like the freeway, it is likewise important to consider the factors of driving.
There are speed limits in most parts of the world when it comes to driving. There are some who could care less. Regardless of what the speed limit is, you don’t really need an officer to tailgate and catch you. If you think about it, it is a matter of being a responsible driver.
You really cannot discount the possibility of driving reckless at times. Especially if you see a road with not much cars around, the tendency is to drive fast, seeing the capacity of your car as far as how powerful it can with reference to your speedometer. But it only takes one obstacle or distraction to cause an accident. In most cases, such an accident can lead to tragedies or even loss of life.
Drivers normally learn their lesson after encountering an accident. To most, they could care less. But the fact of the matter is that driving can be entirely dangerous and apparently it all boils down to how you can discipline yourself when you drive.
Avoid the risks of accidents. It may be a matter of life and death which stems from being an irresponsible driver.
A certain percentage of accidents these days stem from beating the red light. But how do you classify beating the red light? For one, if you are about to reach an intersection with the traffic light already in yellow, be civil enough to note that you are on the verge of actually trying to beat the red light. So what can possibly happen?
1. You can be caught and ticketed for “Beating the Red Light” by traffic enforcers
2. The degree of being hit or incurring an accident is high.
3. Possibly hitting pedestrians to which you will be meted a lot of charges outside that of traffic violations
If you enumerate these bullets, there is no positive thing to look forward to as far as they are concerned. They all clearly show that you are bound for trouble with the authorities and other than the discomfort of being caught, raising the degree of charges against you is a given factor.
There is nothing to prove if you beat a red light. If you are in a hurry you just have to face the fact that prior adjustments to reaching your destination or meeting must be made with time to spare. A car is not a solution to get you places fast and safe.
Your car can indeed get you to your point of destination quickly but it depends on the degree of driving you are undertaking. Try not to be like the fast-driving people in movies. They are scripted. If you should do that in the modern roads of today, accidents are waiting to happen to which you may not even see yourself driving anymore due to mishaps and mental impact of incurring such problems.
As far as the set age on when to issue a drivers license, there have been qualms on increasing the age to 17 rather than the usual 16. Apparently this is because as far as being responsible drivers is concerned, a lot of debate has been said on the actual responsibility that most new drivers (a lot in their teens) of understanding the dangers of driving on the road at such an immature age.
The convenience of driving your own car is surely there but it is about being a conservative and responsible driver that is really the issue here. Also, the safety precautions as well on the drivers that are released today are showing significant numbers as far as accidents and deaths of younger drivers which have become a prime reason on re-evaluating the set age.
One thing you will not see when studying driving is how that person would really drive in the real world. Once issued a drivers license, they are practically free to drive and do what they want. Apparently, this is something that is lacking but is beyond the control of license issuers. Unless they actually meet an untoward accident that can place them back in their senses, chances are they will not even care on how they drive and where they drive.
Teens are up against a host of distractions, from cell phones to text messages to traffic congestion and aggressive driving. Driving instructor Robert Dicks says raising the driving age might be a good idea.
“Sixteen is very much not experienced,” said Dicks. “They’re very young, they don’t know how to handle one of these things.”
Source
One of the things that people should learn when it comes to studying driving is never to use your rear view mirror when you back up. It is good to use it as a reference when perhaps you want to know if there is a car or something behind you. But that is only a glance as much as possible. It is best to look at your rear windshield and see if you are truly clear to back up. A lot of accidents happen that way.
A clear sign of people who use rear view mirrors to back up would be to look at the rear end of the car. Normally, you will find busted or cracked taillights or dented trunks and bumpers. Small as they may seem, they are signs that the person driving the car is prone to this minor yet critical mistake. There are things that your rear view mirror does not show you and at times the small space can lead to irresponsible driving.
The same goes with side view mirrors. Most of the cars today come with larger ones but similar to rear view mirrors, they are just guides to help you. Miscalculations often occur if you rely heavily on these mirrors. The best way is still to really look and know how you are backing up your car. Be wiser and care more for your car. Outside the potential accidents, you are slowly deteriorating your car and not improving your basic driving skills.
There is a reason why texting has been banned while you are driving. For one, it takes your eyes off the road and will bring you nearer to accidents. When you drive a car, focus on the road and knowing how you handle your car are important. Outside of physical harm to yourself, you are also imperiling the lives of local commuters if you don’t watch where you are going.
Various laws have been passed to discipline drivers. But if you observe, people just cannot avoid texting or entertaining calls while driving. For voice calls, we have seen the offering of hand-free devices to accommodate executives on the go. But as far as texting is concerned, even the people who memorize the text keys are open to potent dangers coming their way.
Alaska, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington recently enacted laws that ban sending text messages while driving; 13 other states are reportedly considering similar legislation.
“The potential legal implications of texting while driving go far beyond the possibility of a mere traffic violation,” said Stephanie Rahlfs, an attorney at FindLaw.com. “In the case of a traffic accident, proof that the driver was texting while driving may be used to help prove liability for an accident, even in states that do not ban texting while driving.”
(Source) Canadian Driver
The laws are set in almost every country in the world. What needs to be done is to lay them with an iron hand. When that happens, perhaps we can be better drivers and live longer.
There is more to driving than jumping on your car and cruising along the roads. There are certain rules and regulations you have to follow such as speed limits and road courtesy. For every component of your car lies a reason for being. For example, signal lights and brake lights are present to avoid accidents and to provides advanced warning on where you are headed. If you will notice, there are laws for having busted taillights and it all boils down to safety on the road for you and the car behind you.
When you enroll in a driving school, these are the basics being taught to you. Knowing the enthusiasm that most people have when they are starting to drive their car, it is almost apparent that they would forget about these things. After they have completed their course, it is all about getting the drivers license and forgetting the things that driving schools teach you.
These instances are sad yet true. Driving schools are being used as ways to secure a driver’s license and are yet overlooked as far as to their purpose. Basics are there but the learning experience is not digested fully. That is perhaps one reason why most people get into accidents after a week or two, mainly because they find out that driving out there alone is totally different when you have an instructor guiding you and stepping on the brakes in case you forget to.
Discipline in driving does not only mean obeying rules and regulations. It all starts from day one of your driving lessons. If at this point you fail to pass simple instructions and understanding, you can expect worst things to come as far as violations and accidents when you drive out the road.
Studying driving is nothing compared to being released on the streets and driving your car. Without someone to guide you, you are on your own and alone in your car. Once that happens, you will be surprised at the difference it will be considering there will be no one to correct you and to tell you to do this or do that. In short, all judgment calls when you start to drive will be left to you. You should have confidence in driving otherwise you are bound to encounter some accidents along the way.
Confidence is something you need to bring when you drive. Driving is not about stirring the wheel and gassing up for acceleration. It takes mind and focus to drive a car so that you can get places. But be sure to put that confidence level in check. At times you may be tempted to drive fast and the faster you go, the closer you are to accidents. We can just check out news about car accidents. Most of them occur due to reckless driving.
These days, wise driving is all about defensive driving. Logically, at any speed you can reach your point of destination. For people who are following a schedule, driving fast is not the solution. You can always leave early so you will not be late for an appointment. In short, there are alternatives. It’s just a matter of thinking sensibly. The difference in choice can likewise be a telling part between safety and driving wisely and of course building on confidence to being a great driver.
