Before beginning a desert trip, all Saudi Aramco employees must notify their supervisor(s) of their destination, their estimated time of arrival and return.
For work trips you must sign out in the Industrial Security log at the nearest main gate. Sign in the same log upon returning. For recreational trips, inform the main gate and a good friend. Provide both with a map of where you intend to go and the time you expect to return.
When you leave the desert and return to the road: • Disengage the front-wheel drive.
• Remove the automatic deflators, if any. • Reinflate the tires to the designated psi. • Report to the main gate.
• Notify your supervisor and friends.
• Fill out designated Saudi Aramco forms if vehicular damages occurred.
• Take the vehicle to the repair shop and use a replacement vehicle temporarily. Never Drink Water from a Radiator: Coolant is Poisonous
Emergencies
An emergency situation can occur at any time. As a defensive driver, you must know what to do in an emergency.
• Accelerator Sticks
Concentrate on your steering. Slap the pedal with your foot. If it remains stuck, shift to neutral and turn off the engine. Pull off the road and brake to a stop.
• Brakes Fail
Pump the pedal several times to see if the pressure builds up. If it doesn’t, coast in gear and use the parking brake. Shift into a lower gear. If you are on a hill, look for something to sideswipe, like a guardrail. Honk your horn to warn pedestrians and other vehicles.
• Wet Brakes
After driving through deep water, test the brakes lightly. If they are wet, they will pull to one side or not work at all. Drive slowly in low gear.
Apply your brakes lightly to dry them.
• Tire Blowout
If your tire blows out, keep a
firm grip on the steering wheel. Don’t brake! Concentrate on steering. Slow down gradually and pull off the road.
• Wheels Go Off the Pavement
Take your foot off the gas pedal. Hold the steering wheel firmly. Apply the brakes softly. Wait until there is no traffic, then turn both front wheels onto the pavement slowly. • Skidding
Skidding occurs when the tires lose their grip on the road. When your vehicle skids, turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid. Do not apply the brake or clutch pedal. Reduce speed gradually.
If Your Tire Blows Out, Don’t Brake… Decelerate Gradually
• Rollovers
Rollovers may occur when vehicles are forced off the road into the sand. The vehicle rolls over when the driver tries to drive back onto the road without slowing down. If you find yourself off the road, take your foot off the accelerator. Let the vehicle coast. Do not brake! Steer straight.
• Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning occurs when water builds up on the tires. The vehicle is lifted off the road on a film of water. The driver does not have complete control of the vehicle. Drive slowly in heavy rain to avoid hydroplaning.
At speeds above 90 kph, a water wedge may increase and the tire loses complete contact with the road, causing total hydroplaning. At speeds above 50 kph, a water wedge may penetrate tire-road contact and partial hydroplaning occurs. At low speeds, a tire cuts through water at tire-road juncture, and remains in complete contact with the road.
Steer Clear of Accidents: Learn What to do in an
• Vehicle Approaching in Your Lane
Steer to the right side of the road. Give the entire lane to the oncoming car. Sound your horn and flash your headlights. If you cannot leave your lane, brake sharply. This will lessen the impact if there is a collision.
• Fire
If your vehicle catches fire, there is probably a short circuit. Try to extinguish the fire with your fire extinguisher. Use a jack handle or other tool to rip out burning wires. If you don’t have a tool, try to smother the fire with sand or a blanket. If the fire gets out of control, get away from the vehicle quickly. The gas tank may explode. Use good judgment. Personal safety comes first.
• Emergency Communication
If your vehicle breaks down, use the emergency flashing lights to signal other drivers. Emergency flashing lights tell other drivers that you can't move, or if you can, you are moving very slowly.
It is not safe to open the hood or trunk cover. Instead, turn on your four-way or emergency flashers.
In fog or heavy rain, if visibility is so poor that driving is dangerous, pull off the road and park. Turn on your four-way flashers to warn others that your vehicle is not moving. When you think a tire is punctured, or the dashboard indicators signal engine failure, turn on your four-way flashers, reduce your speed gradually, and firmly move out of traffic toward the right shoulder of the road. Keep the flashers on after placing the warning triangles.
A Vehicle Doesn’t Have to be Moving to Cause an Accident
Parking
A vehicle doesn’t have to be moving to cause an accident. Improperly parked vehicles can cause accidents and even death. When parking, do the following:
• Bring your vehicle to a complete stop.
• Set the parking brake. • Turn your wheels toward the
sidewalk shoulder if you are parking downhill, and away from it if you are parking uphill. • Switch off the ignition.
• Shift into park (automatic transmission) or first gear or reverse (manual transmission).
• Remove your keys. • Lock the doors. Emergency Parking
In addition to following the above steps during an emergency parking situation, you must do the following:
On two-way roads:
• Move your vehicle at least 2 meters away from the road. • Place one warning triangle 50 meters in front of the
vehicle.
• Place another warning triangle 100 meters behind the vehicle.
On multi-lane roads:
• Place two warning triangles behind the vehicle: one at 10 meters, and another at 100 meters.
• Don’t forget to retrieve the rear triangles on the road before moving your vehicle.