Survival Skills on the road - Series 1
Driving is an art that is perfected gradually through continuous exposure to driving. It therefore means that the amount of time one has behind the wheel counts in terms of experience rather than the age of a driver’s licence with no practice. Some drivers acquire driver’s licences and do not get to drive thereafter for a long period, and thus go through an unlearning process to the extent of needing some sort of coaching again when they get a chance to go behind the wheel. This is buttressed by Pavlov’s theory of learning which says that anything that is learned can be unlearned. When one acquires a driver’s licence, the next five months are critical for the new driver. Mentally, the new driver can experience some pressure some of which is perceived from the fact that one has acquired a Certificate of Competence. It must be made clear that a certificate of competence is not a certificate of experience. The driver at this stage is at the bottom of the ladder and needs to take one step at a time. Driving under supervision from a more experienced driver is encouraged. The new driver must guard against driving at higher speeds when vehicle control is still a challenge. Hurried decisions and movements are discouraged. The driver at this stage is expected to make independent decisions which should be informed and precise, coordinate with other road users and make each journey safe and enjoyable.
The State of Mind and Body
The state of mind of a driver is of paramount importance. Driving demands full application of mind and body whenever one is behind the wheel. The mind controls the body and this means that the body will be useless when the driver is thinking of something far away whilst behind the wheel. When one is upset or overjoyed it is therefore encouraged to stay off the wheel. The driver must concentrate always and be aware of all forms of hazards along the entire journey. The driver also needs to be physically fit in order to drive well. There are some ailments that can render a driver unfit and hence it may be safe to stay off the road. Some drivers have not yet been involved in accidents not because they are good drivers but just because other road users compensate their mistakes.
How to survive a trye burst
Most drivers have misconceptions about a tyre burst whilst driving on the road. Can a vehicle be safely stopped after a front or rear tyre burst when driving at a high speed? Why is it so common that vehicles roll/overturn after a tyre burst? For those who have survived a tyre burst, was it as a result of a miracle or you took certain precise steps which you can remember?
The Problem
- When a tyre burst occurs, the first thing that comes to the driver’s mind is stopping the vehicle. Most drivers instinctively pump the footbrakes in order to bring the vehicle to a halt. This is a number one recipe for disaster, and most drivers don’t remember anything that happens after applying footbrakes as what follows is equivalent to a whirlwind and only bystanders can account. Let me repeat that application of footbrakes after a tyre burst is not advisable especially when travelling at speeds above 80km per hour as this destabilises the suspension system causing the vehicle to change course and overturn. There is great need for drivers to understand the suspension system and its relationship with brakes when travelling at high speed. This may seem to be a bit technical and hence the author will not dwell much on that as it may seem to confuse the majority of drivers.