Still on driver and pedestrian safety

First, speed increases the chances of a collision, because if the    vehicle speeds, it becomes more difficult for drivers to see pedestrians. Also, high speed reduces the amount of time the driver and pedestrian have to avoid a crash. Second, the faster the vehicle, the severe the injury to the pedestrian. Therefore, speeding, tailgating at […]

First, speed increases the chances of a collision, because if the    vehicle speeds, it becomes more difficult for drivers to see pedestrians. Also, high speed reduces the amount of time the driver and pedestrian have to avoid a crash. Second, the faster the vehicle, the severe the injury to the pedestrian. Therefore, speeding, tailgating at high speed, lack of courtesy, not using turn signals, quick lane changes without signaling, speeding up to a stop light or stop sign or a stopped vehicle then braking as if it were an afterthought, making unsafe left turns (without signals), not yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks among others, all add to the pedestrians’  worries.
If you read the piece on pedestrian folly a fortnight, you will remember that I identified that pedestrian are sometimes not aware of risk they face when using the road.  Drivers sometimes are unaware of their own risk of hitting a pedestrian. For instance, alcohol, familiarity with the routes, and cell phone usage might reduce a driver’s ability to recognize the risk of hitting a pedestrian.  This is why drivers must remain focused while on the wheels and show courtesy. Unfortunately, it is one ingredient missing in the dictionary of the average driver who finds it difficult to share the road by giving way to other road users. This tendency is worse when it applies to pedestrians’ safety.
Drivers, irrespective of ages must heed the Scripture I cited from the book of 1 Samuel on obedience of traffic rules, courtesy, and safety especially to pedestrians. Drivers must be patient with all road users as safe driving involves learning the basics of operating a vehicle, internalizing traffic rules. It also requires good judgment and reflexes, experience, patience, common sense, emotional, physical and mental balance. While younger drivers’ understanding and judgment may not be as developed as   experienced drivers, middle-aged drivers quite often become complacent after years of driving. In the case of older drivers, despite their experiences on the wheels, peculiar age challenges such as losses in vision, hearing, attentiveness, decision-making ability, or reaction time sets in; although these can be improved upon   through training.
Distracted driving is a major concern to us in the Corps because of the grave danger it portends in our efforts to cut down crashes. I have treated distracted driving severally because it plays a major role in road traffic crashes. I am equally passionate about this because a distracted driver maimed my driver for life.  Distracted drivers like the one who crashed my staff by Bolingo Hotel in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory   often engage in texting habits such as reading, typing,  sending  text messages or reading and sending emails, endangering  both themselves and other road users. Research states that anything that takes   your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off your driving is a risk to avoid. Research by Transport Laboratory in the United Kingdom equally shows that the human brain cannot give full attention to more than one activity at a time. It simply says that you cannot do two things at the same time with the same measure of competence or efficiency especially when the two tasks are competing for the same resources.  Simple tasks such as tuning a radio can be risky in bad weather or heavy traffic.
To minimize this danger, learn to designate a front-seat passenger to serve as a standby driver or “co-pilot,” rather than fumbling with anything that distracts such as phones, newspapers, or even babies. But if you are alone, learn to be proactive and practice adjusting the temperature or radio settings without taking your eyes off the road, preprogram your favorite radio stations for easy access and arrange tapes and CDs in an easy-to-reach spot and properly buckle up your children. For our womenfolk who indulge in converting cars to grooming arena, practice completing personal grooming before you start driving or preferably when you arrive your destination.
While driving, always remember that a one second distraction can lead to a crash. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Avoid using cell phones, texting devices, navigation systems, and other electronic gadgets. If you must use a cell phone, the best practice is to make your call while your vehicle is safely parked. Do not take notes, read, or look up phone numbers. Avoid involved, stressful, or confrontational conversations. If you can’t avoid eating, choose easy-to-handle items and make sure all drinks are secured in cup holders. Take a break if you find yourself “lost in thought” or tired.
I mentioned earlier that most drivers rarely give way to other road users especially pedestrians. It is imperative for drivers to watch out and give right of way to people walking, jogging, biking, crossing a street in the middle of a block, or darting from between parked vehicles. Drivers must take extra care when people with disabilities are crossing the road and watch out for children playing or entering the street especially when approaching built up areas such as schools, playgrounds, or residential neighborhoods. After a traffic light turns green, yield to people crossing a street or vehicles that may still be turning in front of you or crossing the intersection. Even if traffic lights or crosswalks are not present, drivers must still yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway. Never attempt to pass any vehicle that has stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross. Drivers must take every possible precaution to avoid a collision with pedestrians.
Motorists are cautioned that pedestrians are likely to cross in the middle of the block, whether or not a crosswalk is present. Aggressive driving and road rage is mostly pronounced under the present economic challenge in the face of falling oil price and devalued naira.