Common Causes of Road Accidents
•Avoiding Safety Gears like Seat belts and Helmets
•Non-adherence to lane driving and overtaking in a wrong manner
Facts related to Accidents
•Vulnerability of road users to accident increases during night by 40%.
•An aware and conscious drive reduces the chances of mishaps by 80%.
•90% of deaths on road are due to head injuries.
•A good quality helmet reduces chances of head injury by 80%.
•Use of Seat belt while driving reduces the risk of death of an occupant during an accident by 50%.
•Normally cost of good tyres is only 2- 4 % of the price of a vehicle. Compromise on the cost of tyres can result in damage, which cannot be assessed in terms of money.
•Driving requires all senses, using mobile phone while driving diverts 50% of our senses.
Facts related to Accidents
Impact on a person by a vehicle cruising at speed of 60 Kms per hour is equivalent to falling from a four storey building, while this impact at 100 Kms per hour equals to falling from a 12 storey.
How different factors of Roads contribute in Accidents
•Drivers: Over-speeding, rash driving, violation of rules, failure to understand signs, fatigue, alcohol.
•Pedestrian: Carelessness, illiteracy, crossing at wrong places moving on carriageway, Jaywalkers.
•Weather conditions: Fog, snow, heavy rainfall, wind storms, hail storms.
How different factors of Roads contribute in Accidents
•Passengers: Projecting their body outside vehicle, by talking to drivers, alighting and boarding vehicle from wrong side travelling on footboards, catching a running bus etc.
•Vehicles: Failure of brakes or steering, tyre burst, insufficient headlights, overloading, projecting loads.
•Road Conditions: Potholes, damaged road, eroded road merging of rural roads with highways, diversions, illegal speed breakers.
Direct Consequences of Accidents
1. Fatality (Death)
2. Injury
3. Property Damage
Preventive measures for accidents
•Education and awareness about road safety
•Strict Enforcement of Law
•Engineering: (a) Vehicle design (b) Road infrastructure
Road Safety Tips for Pedestrian
•Walk with care and with all sense.
•Look towards oncoming traffic.
•Never assume driver has seen you when you are about to cross the road, its your responsibility to save yourself.
•Avoid crossing road where drivers may not be able to see you.
•Wait for suitable gap in the traffic flow before crossing the road.
•Never jump over the divider railings. You may tumble on to the traffic.
Road Safety Tips for Pedestrian
•Always hold hands of children while crossing the road.
•Avoid using roads for morning walks and jogging.
•Take extra care if you have to cross the road on or near a crest or curve.
•Avoid crossing road between parked cars.
•Crossing road by the shortest and most direct route reduces your time on road.
To cross the road children should learn following
•Stop at the kerb
•Look at your right, left and right again.
•Ensure that no vehicle is approaching then walk across the road.
While alighting the bus
•Do not be in a hurry, wait till the bus stops.
•Use handrail to get off the bus.
•Exit from the front door of the bus.
•Be visible to the driver while alighting.
•Do not crawl under the bus to pick up lost things.
•Never move behind the bus, the blind spot driver.
While traveling in bus
•Be seated properly and face forward.
•Do not put any part of your body outside the bus.
•Do not travel on footboard.
•Keep the aisle clear.
•Do not make much noise and distract driver.
•Follow the instruction of driver and conductor.
TEN GOLDEN RULES FOR ROAD SAFETY
ØSTOP OR SLO DOWN: Allow pedestrains to cross first at uncontrolled zebra crossings.
ØBUCKLE UP: So that your family and you are safe in the car. Seat Belts reduce the chances of death of a car occupant in accidents.
ØOBEY TRAFFIC RULES AND SIGNS: To prevent road accidents.
ØOBEY SPEED LIMITS: For your own safety and that of others. In residential areas and market places, ideal speed should be 20 kmph and the maximum speed limit is 30 kmph.
ØKEEP VEHICLE FIT: To prevent breakdown and accidents on road.
ØNEVER USE MOBILE WHILE DRIVING: To avoid distractions that largely lead to accidents.
ØWEAR HELMET: To protect your head while riding a two wheeler. A good quality helmet reduces the chances of severe head injury.
ØNEVER DRIVE DANGEROUSLY: To ensure your won safety and that of other road users.
ØBE COURTEOUS: Share the road with all and be considerate. Never rage on the road.
ØNEVER MIX DRINKING AND DRIVING: Be Responsible… Don’t drink while driving.
Mandatory Road Signs
Mandatory Road signs are obligatory on the traffic which uses a specific area of road. These signs indicate what must one do, rather than must not do. Mandatory Road signs are generally round in shape with red border. Some of them are blue in colour. ‘Stop’ and ‘Give Way’ are octagon and triangular, respectively, in shape. Violation of these signs attracts heavy fines and punishments. Importantly, violation of these could lead to major accidents also.
STOP & GIVE WAY SIGNS
STOP
GIVE WAY
RIGHT TURN PROHIBITED &
LEFT TURN PROHIBITED SIGNS
RIGHT TURN PROHIBITED
LEFT TURN PROHIBITED
NO STOPPING OR STANDING &
SPEED LIMIT SIGNS
NO STOPPING OR STANDING
SPEED LIMIT
Cautionary Road Signs
Cautionary Road signs are meant to warn the driver about the hazards/situation lying ahead on the road. The driver should obey these for their safety. Though violation of these road sign do not attract any legal action, they are very important for the fact that avoiding them could result in major accidents. Cautionary signs are triangular in shape with red border.
RIGHT HAND CURVE & LEFT HAND CURVE SIGNS
RIGHT HAND CURVE
LEFT HAND CURVE
RIGHT REVERSE BAND & LEFT REVERSE BAND SIGNS
RIGHT REVERSE BAND
LEFT REVERSE BAND
GUARDED LEVEL CROSSING (200 METERS) & GUARDED LEVEL CROSSING (50-100 METERS) SIGNS
GUARDED LEVEL CROSSING (200 METERS)
GUARDED LEVEL CROSSING (50-100 METERS)
Informatory Road Signs
Informatory Road signs are meant to provide information on direction, destination, roadside facilities, etc. to the road user. Following informative road signs helps a driver in saving time, reaching destination without wandering around. These signs are generally facilitators to the driver. These signs are normally blue in colour.
DESTINATION SIGN
PLACE IDENTIFICATION SIGN & PUBLIC TELEPHONE SIGN
PLACE IDENTIFICATION
PUBLIC TELEPHONE
FIRST AID POST &
EATING PLACE SIGNS
FIRST AID POST
EATING PLACE
PARKING LOT CYCLE RICKSHAWS & FLOOD GUAGE SIGNS
PARKING LOT CYCLE RICKSHAWS
FLOOD GUAGE
