The SAS Survival Driver’s Handbook. John Wiseman

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СКАЧАТЬ way to maintain safe control of the vehicle is to have both hands on the wheel, positioned at two o’clock and ten o’clock or three o’clock and nine o’clock.

      This is why it is illegal to use a hand-held mobile telephone while driving (there are phones that can be operated safely without taking your hands off the wheel, so if you must use make or receive calls in the car, use one of these). One of the most common causes of accidents is tuning the radio or changing a cassette while driving. Don’t get too engrossed in a radio programme or telephone conversation — your hazard perception and response times will suffer. If you have passengers, keep your eyes on the road while you talk to them — and avoid getting into an argument or having a stressful heart-to-heart with the one you love.

       DON’T SMOKE AND DRIVE

       Smoking can seriously damage your health in the long term — smoking while driving can kill you in seconds. For as long as that cigarette lasts, it is placing you and your passengers in jeopardy.

      To start with, concentration is lost while you search for the cigarette packet and lighter. To light up you have to take one hand off the wheel (two hands are needed to light a match). Once the cigarette is lit, you need one hand to hold it or remove it from your lips. The ash has to be flicked somewhere, which means using the ashtray or flicking it out of the open window (with a risk of it being blown back into your eyes). Sometimes when the smoker tries to take the cigarette from their mouth it sticks to the lips, so that the hand slides down, nipping off the hot tip which drops into the lap causing your attention to be diverted yet again.

      When the cigarette is finished it must be extinguished and disposed of. Using the ashtray involves taking a hand off the wheel, throwing the cigarette out of the window could injure cyclists or pedestrians, or cause grass fires.

      Some insurance companies now charge smokers a higher premium to reflect the risks they run. Why run risks when you don’t have to? If you must smoke, wait until you stop for a break and then light up.

      NEVER allow pets to roam free in the car — they can become excited and cause a major distraction. The majority of dogs love travelling and like nothing better than sticking their heads out of the window. This can be dangerous; have the windows open just enough for ventilation, but not enough for the dog to get its head out. If your dog is a poor traveller, don’t sit him on your lap to make him feel better, seek the advice of a vet before you travel. For a long journey, some nervous pets may need to be prescribed tranquillizers. Keep all pets in the rear of the car, either in purpose-built carriers or behind a wire screen. It’s a good idea to see they get exercise before the journey to make them a little calmer. Take along a supply of food and water for them on the journey and stop frequently to monitor their condition.

      Dogs should be put on a lead when you let them out as they will be excited and want to run. Don’t let them in fields where there are livestock, and don’t let them foul public areas. If you have to leave an animal alone in the car, leave them with adequate ventilation and water. On a hot day, park in the shade and leave the rear windows open at least 4 inches. Do not leave them unattended for hours on end — as the sun moves across the sky the shadow will disappear and the car will turn into an oven. Every year there are reports of dogs dying a terrible death in parked cars because of their owners’ thoughtlessness.

      Insects like wasps, bees or hornets, can cause pandemonium when they get themselves trapped inside a moving vehicle.

      STAY CALM. Keep your eyes on the road. Don’t swipe at the insect — you will only make things worse. Wind a window down so that it can fly out. If that doesn’t work, pull over when it is safe and legal to do so, open the door and coax it to leave.

      Children can be a major source of distraction on long journeys. As the miles mount up their enthusiasm gives way to boredom. Don’t allow children to slip their shoulders from seat belt in order to get a better view of the surroundings. Take along a supply of colouring books and favourite soft toys to help pass the time. Be careful what you give the children to eat before and during the journey, especially if they are prone to travel sickness. Sweets may add to the pleasure of the trip, but avoid large boiled sweets which they might choke on, and sticky sweets which will mark the interior of the vehicle. Crisps will make them dry so have a drink handy. This will lead to them requiring to relieve themselves, so be prepared for plenty of short halts.

      Frequent rest stops are essential. Stop at a designated picnic or parking area and supervise the children, preventing their pent-up energy from placing them in danger. Keep them off the road and don’t let them play ball games where cars are parked. An open field is ideal for letting them stretch their limbs in safety. Don’t climb fences to gain access — honour the country code.

      As it gets dark encourage the children to sleep. Cushions and blankets will make this easier.

Awareness

      A safe driver is one who thinks about their driving and looks for ways to improve it. The majority of motorists consider themselves to be good drivers, but the fact that driver error plays a part in over 90 per cent of accidents means that a lot of people are kidding themselves.

      An important aspect of driving safely is developing an awareness of your limitations and those of your vehicle. We all have limitations, though many of us fail to recognize them. When there’s an accident or near-miss, we tend automatically to hold the other driver responsible rather than accepting our own portion of the blame. That means we come away without learning anything from the experience. So it’s no wonder that drivers who have been in an accident are twice as likely to have another one, while drivers who are at least partly to blame for an accident are four times more likely to be involved in a similar accident within the next year.

      All too often when we take risks, we try to justify them instead of taking a critical look at our attitude and driving practices. That needs to change if you want to be a safe driver, because otherwise you will go on repeating those risks and having accidents or narrowly avoiding them.

      Start by making an adjustment in the way you assess your own performance as a driver. Recognize your limitations. If you are middle-aged, don’t think that because you are experienced you cannot be involved in an accident. If you are a mature driver, adapt your driving habits to fit your physical abilities. Drive shorter distances, stay out of heavy traffic, and try to stick to familiar routes. Drivers of all ages should review their driving from a safety angle. Do you routinely leave for work at the last minute and use aggressive tactics to get you through rush-hour traffic regardless of the risks? Can you honestly say that you always match your speed to your vision and the prevailing road surface conditions? Do you enjoy the thrill of danger? Do you think that your fast cornering, rapid acceleration and breathtaking manoeuvres impress others? In safety terms, you’re a disaster. It’s definitely luck rather than judgement that has kept you alive thus far.

      The more routine an action becomes, the harder it can be to change. Advanced driving lessons can help you to re-evaluate your driving and improve your standards, and there’s the added incentive of a reduction in insurance premiums if you pass the advanced driving test at the end.

       CAR GAMES FOR KIDS

      • Each child in turn adds up the number plate of the car coming in the opposite direction. The highest score wins.

      • Each child picks a colour. Every time they spot a car of that colour they score a СКАЧАТЬ