Driver condition refers to your physical, mental and emotional fitness to drive. A driver in top physical, mental and emotional shape can adjust to all the other conditions and to the errors of other drivers as well.
Aggressive drivers
Aggressive drivers create an unsafe driving environment through their inconsiderate, self-centered driving habits. Drivers often commit multiple violations. Because of these driving behaviors, hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and property damage occur each year, and these behaviors contribute to the growing problems of hazardous traffic conditions and those criminal acts related to aggressive driving.
Different Kinds of Drivers
Your chances of staying out of an accident are better with a vehicle in tip-top condition than they are with one that has operational defects. You are the only one who knows when something is not working out right.
B - BATTERY:
It supplies current to operate the motor and ignition system when the engine is started.
B - BRAKES:
Brake system is necessary to slow down or stop the movement of the car. This is the most significant mechanical device that controls your car. Check them everyday (footbrake and handbrake) for its failure due to neglect may result to dangerous consequences.
L - LIGHTS:
Lighting system provides directional signs and signals when driving during the day and during the night. The signals are guide for other motorist to avoid accident and promote courtesy.
O - OIL:
The bloodlife of your lubricating system. It provides protection to your engine. This prevents excessive wearing out of moving parts in contact with one another through the application of lubricating oil between those moving parts.
W - WATER:
This provides a means of absorbing too much heat from the engine during the operation to maintain its working temperature. To prevent overheating, check the water level of the radiator everyday before you start your car. It should be at the maximum level.
W - WIPER:
This is a mechanical device that wipes out water on the windshield whenever it rains. Rain reduces visibility. Be sure to check your wipers by testing them before you leave.
F - FUEL
It is a liquid that produces pressure and power causing the movement of engine parts. Check the level. You can’t afford to have your fuel at the minimum level otherwise you will use up and run out of gas while on traffic.
F - FLUID
There are two (2) kinds of fluid, Brake fluid and automatic transmission fluid.
A - ACCESSORIES
Any attachment on a motor vehicle usually for aesthetic purposes and not an essential part of the vehicle for its operation.
Examples of accessories:
T - TIRES
Check for wear and tear. Refer your car’s manual on the replacement and rotation of your tires. Moreover, check the air pressure of your tire. Ensure that the front and rear tires have the same pressure. See tire safety for further details.
C - CLEANLINESS
The cleanliness of the vehicle reflects the personality of the owner. Defects and damages are also discovered.
H - HORN
Check regularly since this will be useful to forewarn other road user (driver and pedestrians)
ROAD CONDITION
Refers to the total roadway and the type and condition of road surface. These can affect your ability to steer, stop and maneuver. Any trip may involve a number of different road conditions, each requiring adjustment in your driving.
HYDROPLANING
Most tires make contact with wet road surfaces like a windshield wiper. As the speed increases, the tires start to ride up on a film of water like water skis. This is called hydroplaning. A gust of wind, a change of road level, or a slight turn can create a skid.
WEATHER CONDITION
Bad weather condition may affect the ability to see clearly and quite hard to control the vehicle.
LIGHT CONDITION
Too much light or glare from the sun can affect your sight, it will be hard for you to recognize what's ahead of you.
ROADWAY CONGESTION
Considered a factor that tends to exacerbate aggressive driving behaviors. As the number of licensed drivers and registered vehicles has increased, this congestion often causes drivers to become frustrated, which, unfortunately, leads to more aggressive, high-risk driving style.
COLLISION WITH VEHICLES AHEAD AND BEHIND
To avoid rear-end collision with the vehicle ahead, you must have enough time and distance to stay out of trouble with the car ahead and sometimes with the car behind.
| Road Condition | 32kph | 48kph | 64kph | 80kph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Wet Pavement | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Gravel | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Packed Snow | 6 | 9 | 12 | |
| Ice | 12 | 18 |
If another vehicle comes too close to you and you feel you are uncomfortable, tap your stoplights to give him warning, or simply let him overtake you. It is better that way than to keep him tailgating you.
