Tag: Accident

The Yuletide is around the corner and without any iota of doubt, the volume of traffic on virtually all Nigerian roads will be unusually high thereby increasing the safety risks on the roads. There is therefore the need for all drivers and vehicle owners to clearly and deeply understand the causes of road crashes and also develop the essential accident avoidance skills most especially, the Hazard Perception skill. Below is a classification of the causes of accidents to guide all drivers for safe vehicle handling.

Human factors
• Distraction -The driver must focus his attention on driving.
E.g. No phone calls, make-up, shaving, looking at women, eating, text messages, searching for an item to buy, searching for an address or any other object along the road while driving.
•Fatigue – The driver must have enough sleep before driving.
•Over-speeding- Adjust your speed according to the official speed limit and the road condition.
•Dangerous overtaking – Don’t overtake at a bend, on a hill, on a bridge, at a junction and where there is a solid line on the road.
•Road rage – Don’t drive with anger.
•Drunk driving – Avoid alcohol when driving.
•Drugged driving -Avoid Indian hemp and other psycho-active drugs (including the cough syrup that has codeine which can make you drowsy).
•Stress – Avoid emotional pressure and unnecessary thinking.
•Tailgating -Don’t be too close to the vehicle in front of you.
•Failure to give way – Always give way to other road users where necessary and as the law permits.
•Communication – Always use the right signals to alert other road users.
•Bad Health – Don’t drive when you are sick.
•Low Energy Level – Don’t drive when you have low sugar level or low blood level.
•Vision – Bad vision can cause accident both in the day and mostly at night. Drivers with bad vision should go for medical attention and be using glasses to drive.
•Training – Inadequate knowledge of vehicle technology, traffic rules and regulations and defensive driving techniques can cause accidents. Drivers should go for regular training programmes no matter how many years they have been driving. There is no end to learning.

Mechanical factors
•Tyre – Bad threading, expired tyre, worn out tyres or weak tyres, twisted tyres. Always check your tyres, gauge your tyres appropriately check the bolts and nuts.
•Brake – Check your brake system to avoid brake failure (check the brake oil, brake pad, brake hose, brake hub, etc).
•Steering wheel – Make sure your steering wheel is okay.
•Lights – Make sure your head lamps, pointers, brake lights and hazard lights are working properly.
•Horn – Make sure your horn is working and use it correctly and when necessary.
•Always take your vehicle to the mechanic for routine checks and maintenance.