Communication
must communicate with other users by
- indicator
- brake lights
- horn
- headlights
- hand and arm gestures
Indicators
-most important means of signal use them when: -driving away -overtaking -merging and exiting -changing lanes -getting in lane and turning left or right
When to indicate
- on trunk roads an motorways - 300 meters before deceleration lane
- roads outside built up areas or on 70km/h roads in built up area at about 200 meters before junction… if there is a deceleration lane or a space marked for traffic turning left/right about 150 meters is sufficient
- on roads in built up area (50km/h) at about 100 m before junction. If an exit slip road or space market for traffic turning left/right about 50 meters is good
- residential streets about 50 meters will be sufficient.
don’t drive past side roads with indicator on though…
Brake lights
use them to alert vehicles behind you that you intend to stop
-touch lightly before actually brake
Sound or light signals
avert threatening danger.
-you may use light signal to alet an overtaking lorry or bus that it may move into the right lane
Hazards - when to put on
use when
- have stopped in a place where others can’t see you
- held up by a queue
- being towed
Hazards - what to expect when see
- vehicle has broken down
- vehicle which has been parked dangerously
- traffic build up
- vehicle being towed
Yellow hazard warning lights: what to expect when see
- approaching slowly moving transport from behind
- approaching an extremely wide vehicle
- approaching dangerous situation caused by a clear-up operation or traffic accident
Driving with lights on
Every car has around 40 lamps..
-most imp are headlamps - they are your eyes at night
-60% vehicle accidents involve vehicles with insufficient light
Types of headlights
- full beam headlights
- dipped headlights
- fog lamp
- parking lights
Dipped headlights
improves visibility, esp in bad weather
- if see others with them on, can anticipate what your’e getting into (fog or rain ahead).
- must use these as night and dusk but also if poor weather conditions
Daytime running lamp
mandatory on all new passenger cars as of 2011
- Used to alert others of your presence
- switched on automatically when car is on
- Not allowed to have daytime lights switched on if using dipped lights, headlights, fog light, spot light or floodlights being used
- usually when turn on any of said lights, daytime lights will automatically switch off
Main beam
-use at night if dipped are insufficient to get a good view of the road, and you’re not inconveniencing others
main beam is not allowed if:
- daytime
- approach another user (including pedestrian)
- following another vehicle (including bicycle and moped) at a short distance
Dipping
if you use your main beam you will stun oncoming vehicles. They will flash their lights to tell you
- Dip right away
- Blue warning on dashboard tell you if this is on
Low sun
May need to use lights if sun is low
- if sun is behind you, oncoming traffic will have difficulty seeing you
- dipped headlights allow for them to see you more easily
Being dazzled - stunned
occurs if
- oncoming traffic dips too late
- dipped headlights of oncoming traffic are too high
- low sun
- light on dirty windows
Reaction should be
- reduce speed
- stop if necessary
Flashing signal
may flash your headlights if main beam is too strong.
-if don’t bring it down, look to right of road to avoid
Pedestrian on roadway
Be extra watchful of pedestrians in the dark
-never stay too much on right
From light to dark
Dangerous when go from well lit area to dark area, because eyes need to get used to it and obstacles and cyclists are hard to see
Reflection
In the dark, rain and a wet road surface, your headlights are reflected
- Road lines and marking can dissolve into this light
- adjust speed and avoid puddles and don’t rely on senses
- Reducing speed will allow you to brake more efficiently, and give more time to take in the poorly visible lines and markings on the road
- marker posts and lines by the side of the road are good landmarks. This coupled with a slow speed will allow safety.
Town center
If in environment with a lot of lights, you:
- will not see traffic lights in time
- notice traffic signs too late
- have problems distinguishing pedestrians and cyclists
Speed bumps
In the dark and with even your lights working well, you see things a split second later than normally. ex. speed bumps
Distance and speed
distance to oncoming vehicles and the speed with which they approach are difficult to judge, even in the daytime and when the weather is fine
