iberately though and these are the ones that are the most dangerous. They sit behind you flashing their headlights in an effort to move you, but of course there is nowhere to go as you are in the process of overtaking and there is no room to pull in on the left. To this kind of driver, the two second rule means that they can just about cope with another vehicle in front of them before they decide to intimidate them by driving inches away.
Undertaking – Tailgaters that don’t get their way will often resort to undertaking if they can. Yes, there are also those selfish individuals out there that hog the middle and the outside lane. They have no idea that there is a queue of traffic waiting to get past them, probably because they are in their own little world thinking about what to have for dinner. This causes some individuals to loose patience and undertake.
Poor lane discipline – Some drivers are all over the place and they don’t seem to realise that they are supposed to stay in between those white dashed lines.
Indicators – Some people have no idea what these pretty orange flashing lights are actually for! They move here and there and go wherever they please without any thought of letting the rest of the road users know what their intentions are.
These are just a few of the things that can be particularly irritating about other drivers and their habits. Below are some other annoyances ;
Cutting corners, particularly at junctions .
No headlights in conditions that require them .
Throwing cigarettes out the window.
Leaving main beam on, or dipping only at the last minute.
Inappropriate use of the horn.
Impatient people Pushing in ahead of a queue of traffic.
SPEED is the single biggest factor contributing to road deaths in Ireland. Over 40% of fatal collisions are caused by excessive or inappropriate speed.
A 5km/h difference in speed could be the difference between life and death for a vulnerable road user like a pedestrian.
Speed has been identified as a key risk factor in road traffic injuries, influencing both the risk of a road crash as well as the severity of the injuries that result from crashes.
Excess speed is defined as exceeding the speed limit.
Inappropriate speed is defined as driving at a speed unsuitable for the prevailing road and traffic conditions.
Excess and inappropriate speed are responsible for a high proportion of the mortality and morbidity that result from road crashes.
Controlling vehicle speed can prevent crashes happening and can reduce the impact when they do occur,lessening the severity of the of injuries sustained by the victims.
Dropping off 3 storeys is equivalent
to crashing at 50km/h
Dropping off 12 storeys is equivalent
to crashing at 100km/h
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS SAFE SPEEDING
In a 60 km/h zone, travelling at:
In rural out of town areas, travelling just 10 km/h faster than the average speed of other traffic, you are twice as likely to have a serious crash.
Stopping distance in Wet conditions
Stopping Distance in dry conditions
Images provided by Holroyd City Council Austrialia.
Driving in Fog
Fog can be thought of as a cloud at ground level. It forms when the temperature drops to the dew point (the temperature at which air is saturated), and invisible water vapor in the air condenses to form suspended water droplets. Fog can reduce visibility to 1/4 mile or less, creating hazardous driving conditions. If you can't postpone your trip until dense fog lifts -- usually by late morning or the afternoon -- follow these tips:
• Fog lamps may be used only in dense fog. In clear weather conditions they are liable to cause glare or dazzle and must be turned off.
For more information, contact:
Road Safety Officer
Mayo County Council
Aras an Chontae
Phone: 094 9047115
9am to 5pm