When the braai is about done and mense are getting ready to leave you’ll often hear people saying to one another, “safely home”.
It’s the polite thing to say, but how many of us are really taking this seriously?
What Bobby means is, how many of us are putting some action behind those kind words and making the small changes that can have really big results, especially if we all chip in? Safely home begins with you, not with the next ou. If you do it, maybe he’ll do it, too.
Over the last couple of weeks Bobby has been offering some practical tips on how to make sure you are seen as a driver and a pedestrian. After all, visibility is key to safety. Here’s a couple more tips and tricks to bring the death rate on our roads down. We need to do that, for sure.
It’s rainy season now (finally), and this brings new challenges for visibility. As much as we like the water, it’s no good all over your windscreen and blurring your view. So get new wipers, don’t wait until the old ones are totally worn. No use in saving a few rands, rather save lives.
While we’re at it, in wet weather it’s best to double your following distance as it increases your ability to see and gives you more reaction time. Take note that in rain the glare of oncoming lights is magnified by the water on your windscreen. Best to slow down.
Turn your headlights on, even when it is just cloudy and dark. Some say it’s best to drive with lights on all the time. Makes a lot of sense, as you can be seen from a far greater distance.
If you’re walking, remember that it’s your responsibility to be seen, so wear a reflective band.
What can you do this week to improve your visibility to others on the road, and make sure you can see them better?