By T.K. Malhotra (President)
With the auto boom, which has brought more than 3.5 Crore vehicles on to Indian roads, the accident rate has also risen alarmingly. In about three lakh road accidents that occur every year, more than 70,000 persons are killed and 2.5 lakh injured. It is therefore, of paramount importance to drivers and other road users of fine-tune their road sense.
The summer is finding many to the hills and other cooler climates. This warrants special driving skills and techniques for driving at night through flooded areas, hilly terrain and adverse weather conditions.
Night Driving
Driving at night is not free from hazards. Poor visibility with limitation of sighting distance impairs the judgment of a driver. The glare caused by vehicles coming from opposite direction causes momentary blindness. Overshooting the destination and getting lost on unfamiliar roads further adds to the danger of driving at night. The light traffic during nights also further generates the urge to speed, which may result in disaster.
It is always advisable to use headlights between sunset and sunrise hours. The headlights must be maintained clean and accurately adjusted for maximum light without causing trouble to other drivers. Of course, we should dip headlights in cities with bright lighting. A good driver while leaving a brightly lit place drivers slow till his eyes adjust to the darkness.
On highways and city outskirts use full headlights but dip the beam at the sight of an approaching vehicle within a distance of 250 meters or reciprocate when the headlights of oncoming vehicles dip.
Remember, if "dip your light" signals are continued by opposite approaching vehicles inspite of your lights having been dipper, it only communicate in the driving language that your headlights are not properly adjusted. They are still causing glare to other vehicles. It is also important to keep driving at a controlled speed to be able to stop within the distance you can clearly see.
Hill Driving
Before starting, check brakes. Position the vehicle in correct gear for climbing and descending. Do not change gears mid-way on a gradient. It is absolutely wise to descend a gradient in the same gear as used for ascending it. Excessive use of brakes must be avoided by staying in correct gear to control speed. Over use of brakes may result in extensive heating leading to temporary brake - failure which may be dangerous. However, brakes will resume normal function when allowed to cool. Hill parking rules are somewhat different than we usually observe. We must place stones or some solid blocks under the wheel while stopping on a steep gradient.
Driving in Fog
Always drive at a speed to be able to stop within a distance to your visibility - "see and be seen" should be the rule. Always use dipped headlights and front fog lamps.
Take care to use winds screen and side glasses. Avoid hanging into the lights of the vehicles in front for "false" sense of security. Driving in fog after dark is dangerous and should be avoided. If must, budget more time to reach your destination and never be in a hurry.
Take caution to watch your speed as you may be going much faster than you think. Don't speed - up to get away from the vehicle following you from behind. With each halt, check and clean wind screen and reflectors etc. We must keep in mind that fog has a tendency to cause illusion. It can drift rapidly giving a feeling of "clearing". But it can suddenly reappear and if so happens, watch out for the traffic behind before reducing your speed rapidly. While driving, do not rest your foot on the clutch to avoid clutch slippage, loss of power and high fuel consumption. Taking a leisurely holiday and seeing the sights with the family car to distant destinations is a comfortable alternative with some thoughtful preplanning and attitude to safe driving.
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