31. Don't Overreact

Whilst rural drivers may get into difficulty in the capitals, city drivers are equally prone to crashes on the open road.

The following mistakes cause drivers to crash in country areas:

 

Mistake	Cause	Remedy
Entering corner too fast	Misjudged corner	Read corner earlier, brake earlier
Braking too harshly in the   corner	Speeding, not seeing the severity of the corner early	Read corner earlier, brake earlier
Speeding or overtaking on bends or crests	Not recognizing the danger, which is waiting beyond the bend or crest.	Read corner earlier, brake earlier. Slow down, expect Danger!
Slow reaction, misjudging speeds and distances	Looking elsewhere daydreaming, rather than watching the road ahead.	Concentrate every moment when driving a motor vehicle.
Running into the gravel (dirt) beside the road	Too fast into the corner, not recognizing the corner, lack of judgement	Concentrate, don't underestimate your speed, brake early

 

According to the Road Accident Research Unit at the University of Adelaide this last driving error, running off the bitumen, and not being able to regain control, results in many fatal crashes.

A moment's inattention, looking at the scenery or nodding off when overtired, is enough for the car to head straight off the bitumen into the dirt. 

If this happens, don't panic ! A motor car is designed to drive on a gravel surface. There's no real problem, yet.

Despite the mistake of running into the dirt, the overreaction which follows can cause damage and injury.

Avoid these two overreactions: 

1. Sharp braking! Imagine sudden, heavy braking with two wheels on gravel and two wheels on bitumen. The car may skid sideways towards the right into possible oncoming traffic.

2. Jerking the steering wheel! Turning the steering wheel suddenly,  trying to recover is dangerous at high speed. Not only may you cross into the oncoming traffic, but lose control altogether.

The best course of action after running off the road is: 

1. Immediately come off the accelerator. 

2. Brake lightly, where necessary. 

3. Gently steer back onto the bitumen, keeping a firm grip on the steering wheel. .

When confronted by debris on the road, don't brake sharply; running over it may be a better option. Hold the steering wheel firm as you run over the obstacle.  

At high speed, harsh braking, or a sudden turn on the steering wheel, will result in swerving. In wet weather or on slippery surface, you will lose control easily. 

Be gentle: 

Accelerate gently - Brake gently - Corner gently

 

Your safety is

DRIVING PLUS

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Disclaimer: Above information is for Australian learner drivers. Regulations could vary in your part of the world. We take no responsibility for any accidents, failed driving tests, even if the advise in this book has been followed. We recommend to use above information in conjunction with a professional driving instructor. 

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