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Be Considerate to Others

 

 

How often have you forgotten to signal? Are you guilty of changing lanes suddenly? If you find these situations familiar to you, it is time to change your mindset about driving. It’s all about being considerate. A considerate driver will drive more safely and make the roads safer for others as well. Like we always say, it’s not your "grandfather’s road", we share the use of it.

There is also a need to respect more vulnerable groups of road users such as motorcyclists, byclists and pedestrians. Special care is needed especially when overtaking cyclists as they will be at more risk of injury should another vehicle 'brush' past them to avoid the hassle of changing lanes completely. Two-wheelers are a part of our lives and everyone at some point in time has depended on them in one way or another - for security, rescue, enforcement, logistics, transport, leisure or convenience.

Therefore, drive with open eyes and a big heart.

 

Facts

  • Almost 83% of all fatalities from road accidents* in Singapore in 2010 involved car drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists.

* Singapore Traffic Police

 

Safety Tips  

Don’t Honk Unnecessarily

Reserve honking for warning others and not for venting your frustration. Excessive honking can cause unnecessary alarm to other road users leading them to make unpredictable moves..

Apologise and Forgive

You could raise your hand to apologise when you make a mistake. If the other party apologises, show your acceptance by acknowledging his gesture.

Never Drive on Shoulders

Road shoulders are strictly for emergencies. You could cause a road accident if you drive along them during a traffic jam.

Don’t Tailgate

Tailgating makes the driver in front nervous and gives you less time to react if the vehicle in front slows down or brakes suddenly. So try to observe a safe following distance.

Don’t Road Hog

Distractions can turn you into a road hog. This will hold up traffic. So pay attention to the road ahead. Always give way by keeping to the left unless overtaking, especially on expressways.

Signal

Do signal to other road users of your intentions early. Also, make sure you turn off your signal after use to avoid confusion. These will help to make our roads safer for use.

Be Patient

A calm driver is the best driver on the road. When you are calm, you avoid panic and confrontations. And the best way to be calm is to plan your journey and leave early to avoid rushing.

 

Survey Bites  

Findings from the 2011 AXA Road Safety Survey: 

  • Respondents rank not giving way to oncoming vehicles while turning into and turning out of the main road as the 4th most dangerous driving habit.
  • 53% motorcyclists indicate that they ride more cautiously in the presence of a pillion rider compared to 36% private car owners. Motorcyclists are also more aware of the speed limits on normal roads compared to private car owners andtaxi drivers.
  • Among the dangerous driving behaviours declared by respondents, overtaking, turning and switching lane without signalling is the 3rd most commonly committed offence (48% of respondents)