An easy way to calculate your following distance is as
follows:
- When the vehicle directly ahead of you
passes a fixed point, e.g. light pole or fire hydrant,
say to yourself: one thousand
and one, one thousand and two
- You should be able
to complete these two phrases before you reach that
same point with your car.
How about doing a quick
check to see that your following distance is sufficient?
In other words,
if the car in front
of you stops dead - CAN YOU STOP IN TIME? If
fearless Fred pushes in front of you and occupies
your following distance
- don't panic or get annoyed. Decelerate slightly
for a few seconds only and regain your following
distance. It's
as easy as that.
Did you know that a safe following distance
of at least two seconds gives you enough space
and
time to react in
the case of emergency? And if you are driving
on a public road and you happen to be behind
a large truck or a bus,
please pull back a little bit, increase your
following distance. That will give you more
visibility around the
side of the large vehicle in front of you. |
Total brake failure usually happens when you're
braking hard to stop suddenly.
- Pump the brake pedal fast and hard. This may restore
enough brake fluid too slow or top the car.
- You'll
know in 3 or 4 pumps whether the brakes are going
to work.
- At the same time, apply the handbrake hard.
(Hold handbrake button in) and "pump" the
handbrake, without locking the back wheel for too
long.
- Change down to lowest gear (this helps to slow
the car by using the engine's braking power).
- Stay
aware of traffic so that you can still steer and
swerve if you need to.
- If necessary, rub the wheels
against the left curb or steer into bushes or something
else
soft to reduce speed.
- If a collision cannot
be avoided, steer for a sideswipe rather than a head-on.
- When
you no longer need to change direction, switch off
the engine.
|
Thank you for taking the time to log onto my website.
Your support is highly appreciated. I have been asked
by hundreds of people to help them understand the safest
way to negotiate a traffic circle.
Very briefly, here goes:
Let's start off by talking about the procedure when approaching a Y-junction.
Should you wish to take the left fork, you use the left indicator. Should you
wish to take the right fork, you use the right indicator. It is as easy as
that (and it's very similar for traffic circles). As you approach the traffic
circle, it should not be forgotten that you yield to vehicles approaching from
your right, who are already in that circle.
Single Lane Traffic Circle (and you have just
entered)
As you approach the first exit / entrance, you apply the Y-junction theory.
Left indicator to go out at the first exit or right indicator to remain in
the traffic circle (now everybody behind you and those waiting to enter in
front of you will know what your intentions are. ie, either to exit, or move
further around the traffic circle. The same procedure will apply when you approach
any other exit or entrance in that circle.
Two Lane Traffic Circle
The procedure, if you are in the left hand lane, of a two lane traffic circle,
is identical to a single lane traffic circle. One extra point to remember,
there is no law that says if you enter a traffic circle from position one (6
o' clock - see diagram) that you have to take the exit at position 2 (9 o'
clock) or position 3 (12 o' clock). If your destination takes you further around
that traffic circle, e.g. position 4 (3 o' clock), you have every right to
do so.
If you enter a circle and wish to use the right hand or inside lane, you are
quite entitled to do so, however now you have an extra responsibility. When
you wish to exit that traffic circle from the right hand lane, it will be your
responsibility to make sure that you do not cut in front of anyone else on
your left hand side (in other words in the left hand lane). Remember, they
do have a right to carry on around the traffic circle to reach their destination.
They do not have to take the exit with you.
Hope this helps - Safe Driving.
PS: Any further queries, questions, problems, information
or data required - please contact me on using the contact
form or email me at jvb@trafficguy.co.za |
