Driving safely is not always easy. In fact, it is one of the most complex things that people do. It is also one of the few things we do regularly that can injure or kill us. It is worth the effort to be a careful driver.
Being a safe driver takes a great deal of skill and judgment.
This task is even more difficult when you are just learning to drive. The first six months of driving for any novice driver,
regardless of age, are the most critical because the new driver is more likely to be involved in a crash due to lack of experience.
Driving requires the individual to utilize mental, visual, and physical abilities to safely operate a vehicle. It can easily take every ability you have. If anything happens resulting in an impairment of your abilities, you may not be a safe driver. Mental and visual abilities are necessary when judging gaps
in traffic and other functions necessary to make rapid and
appropriate maneuver decisions. Physical abilities, including
flexibility of the neck and torso, are important when using best possible vision for safety hazards before turning, backing,
changing lanes, or merging. This includes strength in your
extremities and the stamina needed for effective control of the
vehicle under normal and emergency response conditions. Your ability to be a safe driver depends on being able to see clearly, not being overly tired, not driving while under the
influence of drugs or alcohol, and being emotionally fit to drive.
In other words, you are responsible for being in shape to drive safely.
Vision
Good vision is a must for safe driving. You drive based on what you see. If you cannot see clearly, you will have trouble
identifying traffic and road conditions, spotting potential
trouble, or reacting in a timely manner.
Vision is so important that the law requires that you pass a vision test before you get a driver license. If the test shows your eyesight doesn’t meet the licensing standard without glasses,
your license may have a restriction for corrective lenses. We may require you to get an examination by an eye care specialist and submit a Visual Examination Report.
Other important aspects of vision are:
• side vision – You need to see out of the corner of your eye. This lets you spot vehicles and other potential trouble on either side of you while you look ahead. Because you cannot focus on things to the side, you must also use your side mirrors and glance to the side if necessary.
• judging distances and speeds – Even if you can see clearly, you still may not be able to judge distance or speed well. You are not alone, many people have this problem. It takes practice to be able to judge both. It is especially important in knowing how far you are from other vehicles and judging safe gaps when merging and when passing on two-lane roads, or when judging the speed of a train before crossing tracks safely.
• night vision – It is more difficult to see at night than in
the daytime. Some drivers have problems with glare while driving at night, especially with the glare of oncoming headlights. If you have problems seeing at night, don’t drive more than is necessary and be very careful when you do. Because seeing well is so important to safe driving, you should have your eyes checked every year or two by an eye specialist. You may never know you have poor vision unless your eyes are tested.
If you need to wear glasses or contact lenses for driving, remember to:
• always wear them when you drive, even if you are only going down to the corner. If your driver license says you must wear corrective lenses, and you get stopped without them, you could get a ticket.
• try to keep an extra pair of glasses in your vehicle. If your regular glasses are broken or lost, you can use the spare pair to drive safely. This also can be helpful if you do not wear glasses all the time because it is easy to misplace them.
• avoid using dark glasses or tinted contact lenses at night, even if you think they help with glare. They will also cut down the light that you need to see clearly.
Hearing
Hearing can be helpful to safe driving. The sound of horns, sirens, or screeching tires can warn you of danger. Hearing problems, like bad eyesight, can come on so slowly that you do not notice it. Drivers who know they are deaf or have hearing problems can adjust and be safe drivers. These drivers learn to rely more on their vision and tend to stay more alert. Studies have shown that the driving records of hearing impaired drivers are just as good as those drivers with good hearing.
Fatigue
When you drive while drowsy or tired, you do not see as well, nor are you as alert. It takes more time to make decisions and your ability to react to situations is greatly slowed. You can be more irritable and easily upset. When you are tired, you also increase the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel. Resulting collisions could cause major injury or death to yourself and others.
There are things you can do to help from getting tired on a long trip.
• Try to get a normal night’s sleep before you leave.
• Do not leave on a trip if you are already tired. Plan your trips so you can leave when you are rested.
• Do not take any medicine that can make you drowsy.
• Eat lightly. Do not eat a large meal before you leave. Some people get sleepy after they eat a big meal.
• Take breaks. Stop every hour or so or when you need to. Walk around, get some fresh air, and have some coffee, soda, or juice. The few minutes spent on a rest break can save your life. Plan for plenty of time to complete your trip safely.
• Try not to drive late at night when you are normally asleep. Your body thinks it is time to go to sleep and will try to do so.
• Never drive if you are sleepy. It is better to stop and sleep for a few hours than to take a chance you can stay awake. If possible, switch driving tasks with another driver so you can sleep while they drive.