Some of the factors causing emergencies for drivers often lay in the surrounding environment. While some can be easily foreseeable, others can emerge quite suddenly, making you need to face a dangerous situation.
Getting theoretical information on how to confront emergencies will help. Anyway, nothing is more potent than practice in giving you the ability to do it effectively. The NSW Safer Driver Course offers you that practice under guide and supervision of an experienced instructor and in conditions of safety.
Identifying Risk Factors in the Environment Around You
Along the road, external elements that can turn into danger include climatic and landscape-connected ones.
The Factors That Turn a Road Into a Skating Slope.
One of the main dangers while driving is the loss of adherence that can lead to stopping issues or skid-caused crashes.
Rain: strong one can lead to aquaplaning if the tires aren’t adequate (by kind, or consumption level). But also recently-started rain is dangerous! On dry roads, there’s always a subtle film of dirt, oil, and gum created by vehicle passage; a new rain begins adding water to this mix, turning it into a slippery carpet.
A layer of leaves on the ground can also create the deadly carpet; you can find it crossing forests, but even on tree-sided city roads. Sand or debris along the road can cause adherence issues as well.
Ice and snow are an analog danger, especially if your car isn’t mounting adequate tires or snow chains.
Dealing With the Enemy Between the Tires and the Asphalt
Loss-of-adherence risk has its prevention strategies:
- Check the condition of tires before starting your trips. Especially if the car is new to you and you don’t know how it uses to react.
- If the vehicle has ABS and ESC take the time to understand how they work and to get used to their action.
- If you recognize risk factors around you, increase your attention and lower your speed. Do it by releasing the accelerator as the first thing and passing to lower gears where possible.
- Increasing the distance from the preceding vehicle will allow you to brake, if needed, more gently. Acting this way will consent the tires rolling decelerating effect to work.
- If you need to steer to change direction or lane, do it gradually. Always use the blinkers to inform other drivers of your intention.
If anyway the wheels fail to adhere to the ground, keep or gently orient the steering wheel in the direction the car is aiming. Ease the accelerator and use gears if possible to allow engine braking action. If you really need to stop, try with a series of short presses on the brake.
Rather than crashing on the car in front of you, it’s better to direct versus the roadside – but only if you see nobody there! People in the car, if they’re using safety belts, are more shielded from the crash than pedestrians.
Other Dangers Created By Bad Weather
Water puddles can hide deep holes or road bumps that might make you lose control, damage the vehicle, or remain stuck because of engine flooding.
Also, deep snow and heavy or low-grounded vehicles could end in your car remaining blocked by a thick layer that it can’t overcome. You could risk being buffered by following cars or incurring in hypothermia, on longer time ranges without receiving aid.
Rains and snow can create dangers also on more ground-related means: river flooding can reach the roads, turning them into streams. Landslides and avalanches can happen especially on badly managed mountain and hills territories.
Trees siding the road can have broken branches (or even entirely collapse) because of accumulated snow weight, or also for the strength of the wind during storms and hurricanes. Gales can hit your car with other things than trees or branches, so when the wind rises, always watch out for possible missiles.
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.