DRIVING HABITS THAT CAUSE ACCIDENTS

Driving a car is an ecstatic activity if the driver obeys the rules and regulations of the highway to the later. However, driving could turn sour if the driver does not abide by the laid down road ethics. A good driver is expected to abide by stipulated highway codes and respect the rights of other road users. Therefore, to minimize road havoc, every driver is expected to know and observe the dos and don’ts of the highways. This article aims at highlighting the dos and don’ts that every driver plying the highway should observe to avoid accidents. Every road user looks forward to arrive at his or her destination safely, hence the need to be cautious and careful when driving on the roads.

According to a report by Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in 2012, bad driving habits constitute about 80% of accidents on the highways in Nigeria. Therefore, drivers should be wary of the bad habits that may cause road mishaps and desist from them. It is said that good habits are hard to acquire but easy to live with, while bad habits are easy to acquire but difficult to live with. If the reader of this article would imbibe to the guidelines provided herein, he or she would make a good driver and consequently, reduce the road mishaps that pervade our roads.

One of the major causes of road accident, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), is driving under the influence of drugs. Many drivers are fond of driving while high on marijuana or tipsy on alcohol. Many drivers, especially in Nigeria, are culprits to this. It is commonplace to drive to drinking bars and drink to stupor, and thereafter drive back home.  Many of such driver are never lucky to drive back home alive, as they crashed on their way home. In Nigeria, alcohol and other psychoactive substances are freely sold at motor parks to drivers and other road users. The drivers would consume these drugs before getting behind the steering. This accounts for the high rate of road accidents in Nigeria.  Another cause of road accident is driving while tired or drowsy. Many drivers hit the road even when they are not fully alert. This, however, has caused numerous road mishaps as the driver may sleep off while driving. In this part of the world where people embark on travelling at nights, it usually occurs that the driver may sleep off and the result may be debilitating. The human circadian rhythm is programmed to sleep at nights and stay awake during the day. Anything to the contrary may result to drowsiness, and if a driver would want to cheat the body’s internal clock by denying him or herself rest, an accident may occur.

Over-speeding and reckless driving is another major cause of road accident. Non-adherence to speed limits on the highways causes accidents. Many drivers do not restrict themselves to the stipulated speed limits of the roads they are plying. Others engage in reckless driving such as swerving dangerously and applying the break suddenly. Driving slowly on the left lane which is supposed to be for fast acceleration could also cause accidents. 

Distracted driving also leads to road mishaps. Talking on the phone while driving could cause the driver to lose concentration and subsequently lead to an accident. It is a very dangerous habit to talk on the phone while driving; the consequences could be deadly. The act of using the phone while driving has sent many drivers to their early graves. Again, turning around to talk to passengers is also a bad driving habit which may lead the driver into trouble. It may cause the driver to swerve into the opposite lane or even jeer off the road. Listening to loud music is distracting and could cause accident. Many drivers don’t enjoy driving without listening to music. Music makes driving enjoyable. But it becomes a problem when it is too loud that the driver cannot hear horns from other vehicles. Drivers should endeavor to keep the volumes of music at a bearable minimum when driving. Another distractive habit is eating while driving. Driving requires total attention and also involves the use of the legs and hands (depending on the transmission system of the car). Therefore, using the hands or legs to do other things such as eating may lead to accident. Other distractions that may lead to accident include; reading while driving, looking at signposts or pedestrians while driving and scrounging for things at the backseat while in motion.

Failure to cut speed when the weather is bad could cause accidents- driving too fast for the weather condition. It is expected that drivers should reduce speed when driving in the rains. The driver should also make sure that the windscreen wiper and headlights are functional before driving in unfavorable weather. Over speeding in the rains may lead to a serious accident. When it is raining, the roads are slippery and the tire grip is very low. Therefore it is advisable that the driver should drive at a minimal speed in the rains. Drivers are also expected to put on their headlights while driving in the night to illuminate their paths. However, in extreme weather conditions where the driver senses that it would be very difficult to drive, he or she is expected to park and wait for the weather to get better.

The poor condition of the automobile is also an accident-causing factor. Before one should embark on a journey, he or she is expected to check the general condition of the car. The driver is expected to check the engine oil level and the water level in the radiator and ensure they are gauged; and most importantly, check the tires. Most times, the lack of proper maintenance of the car can lead to accident. For example, over- inflated tires may burst while driving, and may lead to accident and death. The driver is expected to check out for anomalies before moving the car. 

Not wearing seatbelt and not adjusting the seats properly may also cause road mishaps. The driver is expected to wear seatbelt at all times. Car airbags makes cars safer but they are designed to work in tandem with seatbelts. It helps to prevent drivers and passengers from ejecting during high speed crashes and rollovers. Therefore, it is mandatory for all drivers to put their seatbelt when they are driving. They are also expected to adjust the seats to their comforts and safety so as to facilitate good driving. The driver should ensure the seats are well adjusted so that their feet can reach the pedal. They should also make sure that their arms are slightly bent with their shoulder back in the seat. Their legs should also have a slight bend at the knee when pedals are pushed downwards. The driver should also adjust the three mirrors so that he or she can see everyone around them.

Bad roads can causes accidents too. In this part of the world where roads are in a deplorable condition, drivers need to be on high alert when driving to avoid running into pot-holes. Many roads in Nigeria are characterized by potholes. Other roads are very narrow and have dangerous bends which may cause accidents if care is not taken by the driver.

Tailgating is another cause of most road mishaps in Nigeria. It is a dangerous and intimating driving habit which causes road accidents. It is allowed that at 100km/hr, one should allow a gap of at least three seconds between the driver and the car in the front.

To avoid road accident, a driver must imbibe good driving habits. A good driver would ensure he or she is mentally and physically ready to drive, and that the vehicle is also ready for use. A good driver does not drive under the influence of drugs nor get behind the steering when they are tired and/or drowsy. Before they move the car, good drivers would put their seatbelts, ensure that the doors are locked, adjusts all the three mirrors for the best view and ensure that the headlights are on (at nights and in bad weather). The driver should also check to make sure that the passengers are safely seated. A good driver would also make smooth and gradual start after ensuring that the targeting path is clear, and stops or halts appropriately.

A good driver obeys traffic lights. He or she stops when the light shows red and moves when it turns green. It is a good driving habit to check and make sure that the road is clear before entering any intersection, irrespective of whether you have the right to way. Most times, many drivers are not courteous of oncoming vehicles at intersections because they have the right of way. However, the other driver may be oblivious of that fact and may lead to collusion. Therefore, a good driver slows down at intersections and look out for other vehicles even if they have the right of way.

Again, it is good driving habit to ensure that before matching down the break, a driver should check the rearview mirror. A good driver keeps his or her eyes scanning the situation all around. The good driver ensures that he or she keeps to the speed limits while driving, and uses the indicator properly. It is proper for a good driver to indicate for at least five seconds before entering the highway from the kerb. He or she is also to indicate at least for three seconds before negotiating a turn. Before a good driver would change lanes, he or she would indicate for at least three seconds.

A good driver ensures that he or she strictly abides by the rules and regulations expected from him or her. He or she drives to stay alive. Therefore, if all drivers would abide to the expected codes of conduct on the highways, road carnages will be minimal and lives and property will not be lost unnecessarily. Drive to stay alive.