|
|
LOW RISK DRIVING |
Road Safety PLUS - by Dieter R. Fischer ISBN No. 0 09577 426 0 6, |
| 1. The Basics |
1.1 START UP PROCEDURES
(THE CAB DRILL)
Everything we do in life frequently, becomes a habit. Routines may make life dull at times, but they are necessary in learning and driving safely. Forgetting one small item, such as putting on the seatbelt or adjusting the mirrors, may have serious consequences when an emergency happens. .
The cabdrill is a logical order to get yourself, the car and traffic ready for take-off. A driver, having failed to prepare before take-off, gets distracted from driving while adjusting the mirrors or seat, after another family member had used the vehicle. It’s too late to search for the windscreen wipers after it had started raining or the horn, if a child is about to run across the road.
There are 12 items in the cabdrill. Lets break these into four categories of three each:
After entering the car:
Prepare yourself:
- Shut and lock doors, locate all controls
- Ensure handbrake is on
- Ensure gearlever is in neutral
Prepare the vehicle:
- Adjust seating
- Adjust mirrors
- Fasten seatbelt
- Start engine (Check warning lights and gauges and familiarize with positions of the key (ignition/accessories etc.)
2. Select appropriate gear (in an auto, foot must be firmly on brake)*Please note: Examiners in South Australia insist that you indicate at this point to follow the law (5 seconds time span).
3. Release ratchet on handbrake (pull up a little, press button and hold).
Preparation for traffic:
Release handbrake and move off. (Procedures for smooth take off in a manual vehicle are covered in the next chapter). Concern is often expressed about the danger of being trapped by a locked door. Whilst this is valid, the possibility of an intruder is greater, especially when travelling alone at night.
- Check mirrors
- Give five seconds indication
- Check over shoulder (blindspot)
Another common mishap is, leaving the door open while reversing a short distance and getting it jammed on a fence post, petrol pump etc. This could not happen, if the very first point of the cabdrill is observed.The procedure for parking the car at the kerb is as follows:
- Select a safe and legal place.
- Check mirrors and indicate.
- Stop with the footbrake, then apply the handbrake
- Shift the gear lever into 1st gear or reverse or ‘Park” (automatic).
- Turn off accessories, then turn off engine
Note the word accessories. By thinking for a moment, which ones of these are on, you are not only switching off the obvious ones (indicators, windscreen wipers), but also remember the lights. If they had been turned on during a rainy day, it is less likely that you will forget and get a flat battery.