News & blog - Staying Safe

1. Avoiding Certain Shoes Your brand new pair of Jimmy Choos or Gucci loafers might look fantastic but certain footwear is just not suitable for driving in. Even something as simple as changing gears could cause a serious accident in the wrong type of shoes. The sole of the foot can become trapped underneath the pedal whilst raising your foot to change gear. Wearing mules, flip-flops and other shoes without adequate ankle support can lead to the foot slipping off the pedal or missing the pedal altogether. High heels are not advised for similar reasons. These dangers can cause accidents if you don’t have enough time to recover the situation. A 2005 survey conducted by Norwich Union Motor Insurance in the UK found that flip-flops are the most dangerous item of driving footwear. Of the 1000 motorists questioned, three-quarters said that they found it challenging to drive in flip-flops, yet a quarter admitted to regularly driving in them.   2. Taking Medicines Many people in the UK have to take over-the-counter remedies and prescription medication for a number of ailments – ranging from the serious to the not-so serious. And the truth is that not many of us would think twice about jumping into the car to pick up a prescription, pop the tablets once we get them and drive off on our merry way. But maybe we should as driving safety can often be compromised if you are on prescription medication and the UK police law on driving while on prescribed medication is strictly adhered to. 3. Driving When tired Driving to work while still half asleep is something that lots of us do every single morning, and many motorists will admit to driving when we think we might actually be too tired to do so safely. Most people don’t see it as a big issue and do it without a second thought, yet driving while tired is a serious problem that results in thousands of motoring accidents every single year. To drive a car you need to be alert, aware of what’s going on around you, and able to concentrate on what you are doing. If you are overly tired then you are unlikely to be able to drive to a standard necessary to keep yourself, pedestrians and other road users safe. Why is it so Dangerous? Fatigue reduces your reaction times and makes you far less able to do things that would usually come easily to you and despite how quickly you think you can react, it’s probably nowhere near the reality. Not to mention that if you choose to ignore the obvious risks of driving tired, then you could end up falling asleep at the wheel, which could leave you seriously injured or even killed. Of course you might escape injury yourself and kill another road user, leaving you facing criminal charges and a lifetime of ‘what if’s’. Call Us Now Chat Live Now Clients

  It became compulsory for motorists to wear a seat belt at all times when on the road in 1973. Designed to prevent the occupants from coming out of their seats and suffering secondary impacts, seatbelts marked a significant improvement in driver safety levels. This represented the start of the safety crusade, with other regulations such as the Euro NCAP tests being enforced on manufacturers subsequently. These steps have been very positive, with their having been less than 2,000 car related deaths in 2010 compared to the 5,500 who would die each year on average in the mid-1980s. Nevertheless, this is still far too many people and it shows that no one should get complacent about safety. However, a survey conducted found that 15% of motorists still regularly go without wearing a seat belt. We therefore take a detailed look at some statistics which prove how important seat belts are and chronicle the various regulations enforcing their usage which are in place in the UK. Statistics The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) recently revealed that 370 people are killed each year as a result of failing to wear a seat belt while on the road. This was corroborated by Direct.gov.uk whose research indicated that a vehicle occupant in a 30 mph accident will face an impact between 35-60 greater in force than their own body weight with whatever is in front of them (i.e. steering wheel, glove box, seat of other passenger etc.). Conversely, the same research indicated that the chances of potential injury of even fatality would drop by 50% if a seat belt was correctly used. People are most likely to fail to wear a seat belt in the back of a car according to RoSPA, with 30% of people admitting to regularly committing this crime. However, this is not only endangering their own lives but also potentially the lives of occupants in the front of the vehicle. Seat belt laws Since 1973 it has been compulsory for people in the front of a vehicle to wear seat belts at all times while on the road; and this regulation has encompassed back seat passengers since 1991. Along with seat belts, children are also required to use booster seats when passengers in vehicles until they either reach a height of 135cms or 12 years of age, whichever of these milestones comes first. However, it is legally permissible not to wear a seat belt if: • You are reversing or supervising a learner driver who is reversing. This is due to the potential restriction which seat belts can cause to movement. • You are an appropriately licenced Taxi driver who is carrying paying passengers or ‘plying for hire’ • You are driving a delivery vehicle which is carrying goods and no more than 50 metres between shops. • You are an occupant in an emergency services vehicle (i.e. police car, fire engine etc) • You are investigating a fault in a trade vehicle. The only other time when it is permissible not to wear a seat belt is when a ‘Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing’ has been issued by a qualified doctor. There are no specific conditions which automatically results in this being issued, with each case having to be assessed individually by the doctor. However, the one precondition of this exemption is that the certificate must be kept in the vehicle at all times so that it can be shown to police if you happen to be pulled over. For car insurance purposes it is also required that you inform the insurer of this affliction and its consequences. What about classic cars? You are only required to use seat belts if your vehicle is equipped with them. This obviously rules out certain classic vehicles. However, you will not legally be able to carry children under the age of 3 in such vehicles and any children older than this will only be able to travel in one of the back seats. How to use a seat belt This might seem elementary, but too many people fail to take into account how easily the effectiveness of seat belts can be stifled. It is therefore vital that you take the time to ensure that there is no slack in your belt prior to setting off and that the belt is not twisted at any point. The seat belt should also go across the chest and over one of your shoulders. If you fail to take this advice, then you may as well not wear a seat belt at all; heavily increasing the likelihood of you being injured or even killed in an accident. Seat position is also important; with it suggested that you maintain a 25 centimetre gap between yourself and the steering wheel/dashboard; sitting any closer than this could result in the airbag actually doing more harm than good. In addition, make sure that the top of the head rest is level with the top of your ears and as close to your head as possible. Failing to do this could result in neck injuries in the event of an impact. If you are pregnant you will still be required to wear a seat belt unless you have been issued with a Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing by a doctor. According to the DVLA, seat belts reduce the possibility of doing harm to an unborn child in an accident by 70%. If you are pregnant you should therefore make sure that the lower strap is positioned under the bump and the belly button and across the hips, with the higher strap diagonally positioned between the breasts and around the side of the bump. Possible penalties Anyone who is caught by police failing to adhere to the stated seat belt regulations when in a mobile vehicle will be liable to pay a fine of up to £500. This penalty is also likely to be issued to the driver of the vehicle if[…..]

1. Avoid fiddling with radio or CD controls. If you don’t know your car’s stereo system well, sit down in the parked car and spend a half hour getting to learn it. Use your eyes at first, then practice changing the stations etc. with your hands while not looking. Practice until you can do this confidently and quickly. Another alternative is to only change stations or track when stationary at lights, parked etc. 2. Adjust the mirrors to your height and sight before you start the car. This can change from morning to evening, so you may need to adjust more than once a day. Often after a day’s work we sit lower than in the morning, from sheer exhaustion and this can reduce the effectiveness of our mirrors by an inch or more! Make sure that you can see things properly out of your mirrors before you drive off each time. 3. Avoid music or radio talk if it distracts you. If you need total quiet to concentrate, forgo the radio and just concentrate on driving. 4. Obey the signals and signs. Watch for indicators, stop signs and traffic lights all the time, not just when you know they are coming up. Avoid speeding up to beat the amber light unless you have no alternative but better than that, start concentrating on the traffic light sequence well before you reach it, so that you can slow down gently. 5. Be conscious of possible problems. Driving is about anything happening any time and you need to remain alert to the possibilities. It is really important to anticipate possibilities – this does not mean the same thing as assume – it means that you must anticipate what might happen next. For example, you see a driver’s head in front of you turn one way but they haven’t used the indicator. Be prepared for their sudden slowing down and turning because you read their body movement. People forget signalling sometimes and it is wise to be prepared. Anticipate light changes, congestion impacts (driving too close can result in rear-ending during traffic jams), turning vehicles, wide vehicles needing more space, emergency vehicles needing to pass through etc. 6. Avoid talking too much. Talk is distracting. If you feel that your passengers are going to be insulted by your silence, tell them you don’t mind them talking among themselves but you can’t answer because you are concentrating on driving. This is especially important in congested, peak hour traffic when you are tired. 7. Avoid eating or drinking. Many colliions occur as a result of reaching for food or drink when driving. And the activity of doing either often requires one less hand on the wheel. Drinking can cause you to put your head back and your eyes don’t focus on the road. Pull over, or wait for a stationary place before attempting either action. 8. Be confident about your driving. A confident driver is more likely to pay attention because he or she knows the limits and strengths of the vehicle under their control. And remember that – the vehicle is under your control. It doesn’t drive itself; you are the one wholly responsible. Call Us Now Chat Live Now Clients

  Apparently, it is scientifically proven that when speaking to someone in your car or in some cases on the mobile phone, the driver gets what is called ‘inattention blindness’. This basically means that even though your eyes are wide open, your brain is no longer receiving visual signals from your eyes and will simply stop seeing things in front of you, including pedestrians and other cars. Passenger conversations are just as costly as being on the phone and negative passengers do not add to your safety. Having said this, being on the phone meant you had a higher chance of being involved in a road traffic collision than anything else in regards to passengers. Below are some 3 main tips on dealing with negative passengers: 1. Don’t carry them If you know that you may be thrown slightly of guard by a specific passenger, ask them to make their own way to your destination, this way, you stay safe and reduce the chances of a road traffic collision. 2. Be vocal Some passengers may want the music extremely load in the car, something you may not like at all. Be vocal and voice your concerns, not everyone car drive safely with music blaring in the car. 3. Music If you are going to listen to music, AND, you have a negative passenger in the car, try to keep it calm and cool. Listening to crazy and up beat music will not help with your adrenaline. Call Us Now Chat Live Now Clients