TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY

1. TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY At 120 kph, a vehicle travels 33m each second. Take your eyes off the road for 3 seconds and you will travel 100m without due care and attention. WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE DRIVING YOU TO DISTRACTION?

2. Don’t waste time and energy giving dirty looks or hand signals … take a deep breath and let the danger pass by. DISTRACTIONS YOU CAN’T CONTROL You could become the next entertainment … keep your eyes on your road, and concentrate on your own driving, not someone else’s misery • Excitement & entertainment… • crashes/accidents • fire, police, ambulances with flashing lights Other drivers … putting you under pressure to drive faster driving dangerously, tailgating, weaving through traffic • The unexpected … • children running onto the road • dogs, cats, camels, horses Be ready - drive at the right speed for the conditions. This means SLOW DOWN in residential areas.

3. Putting yourself under pressure… • allow enough time to arrive without speeding and worrying about police/speed traps • pull over for map reading, or get help from your passenger DISTRACTIONS YOU CAN CONTROL • Vehicle condition. Before leaving, ensure … • You have enough fuel - don’t be distracted by looking for petrol stations when you’re already empty • Your windows are clear and you have washer fluid • When did you last check your tyres? • Is your load securely fastened and flagged to warn other road users? • Entertainment … • changing radio stations, cassettes or CDs - wait for a better time • in-car computer system - you can usually drive without that information • eating, drinking, lighting cigarettes Passengers … children and pets jumping around the vehicle - they should be strapped in backseat drivers / arguments - pull over if you want to fight, or save it until later there's more ...

4. Driver condition. Before leaving, be sure … • You’re fit to drive … alcohol and drugs (prescription or otherwise) affect your judgement and skill. Don’t take risks, take a taxi. • Correct footwear and clothing - don’t start fixing flip-flops or removing jumpers and jackets when you’re already travelling. • Can you see properly? Most countries require you to be able to read a number plate at around 20m (about 5 car lengths). If not, you need to see an optician. MORE DISTRACTIONS YOU CAN CONTROL • FATIGUE ... • Avoid driving between midnight and 6am, and just after lunch, when you are naturally drowsy • If you feel tired, give yourself a break … take a short nap … drink some coffee … get some fresh air (turning up the radio probably won’t work) • Recognise the signs … a sleepy nod can last 3-5 seconds … around 150m at 120 kph and today's major distraction ...

5. 48 55 480 ft / 146m Without Cell Phone Use 480 ft / 146m 48 55 560 ft / 170m Dialing 608 ft / 185m 48 55 512 ft / 156m Social Conversation 544 ft / 166m 48 55 560 ft / 170m. Problem Solving 560 ft / 170m Increase in stopping distance at 65 mph (105 kph) while using a cell phone *Study performed by James & A. Scott McNight for National Public Services Research Institute AGE

6. Don't be driven off the road by distraction ”[ ... ] grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Reinhold Niebuhr