Safe and comfortable driving

 

HINTS TO DRIVERS FOR SAFE AND COMFORTABLE DRIVING        Driving is not a simple thing. A driver should always aware the serviceability of the vehicle, road traffic rules, climatic condition where want to be drive and road situations.  It is experienced that, due to simple carelessness of the driver sometimes will cost so many life of the human beings. Sometimes somebody become injured while in a journey and nature push them to live without life in the remaining period. Since this is my humble effort to give the following Hints to Driver for a safe and comfortable driving. So all drivers should be go through this points and keep in mind for avoid unwanted occurrence while in a journey. 1.  Documents:  Check and ensure the vehicle’s document and valid driving licence of driver with the vehicle. 2.  Functions of switches: It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure the safety of himself and occupants during the journey. So he should be familiar with all functions of switches and indicators/ gauges provided with vehicle. 3.  Safety equipment: Before commencement of a journey, check the serviceability of all safety equipment, first aid kits, Jack, wheel spanner etc and it held in place. 4.  Loading capacity: The driver should be aware the vehicle weight and loading capacity as specified by the manufacture of vehicle and load should be equally distributed in the loading area. 5.  Extra connections Extra electric connections for accessories should only be taken from fuse box. 6.  Working under the vehicle: Do not carry out any maintenance/ work under the vehicle which supported by jack. Also do not start the engine or run the vehicle while it supported by jack. Wheel chock also to be used to avoid to rolling the vehicle.  7.  Service & maintenance: Always give good service and maintenance to the vehicle as per company’s recommendation/ schedule for keeping the vehicle in safe and good condition. 8.  Tyre inflection: Ensure before the journey that, the tyres are correctly inflected as per company’s recommendation.  9.  Serviceability of tyre: Check the tyre for any damage and remove any foreign object embedded in tyre. 10. Tyre traction: It is dangerous to drive the vehicle with tyre’s threads have been worn out excessively because the vehicle may loss the traction. 11. Washing: While washing the vehicle, never splash in to the ECU, accelerator sensor and never pour the water to any electric devices, censors, connection and air hoses etc. Always clean off the water from door to prevent frozen and difficult to open in cold area. Never wash interior of the vehicle with water, use vacuum cleaner or wipe it only with cloth. 12. New features: There is a feature given in BS IV vehicles where vehicle will automatically ‘OFF’. Once the vehicle is kept idle till 5 minutes without pressing the accelerator pedal for 5 minutes. 13. Protection of sensor: All sensors are to be protected from water, heat & other tempering etc for better service. 14. Drain water: Drain water from water separator whenever indicator comes ‘ON’ in instrument cluster. 15. Air filter: If read band appears on service indicator or air filter clogging indicator, replace the chocked air filter element. 16. Burning smell: If you feel any burning smell, exhaust leak, fuel leak etc get it rectified immediately. Or if it persists, remove battery terminal as soon as possible. Also keep fire extinguisher handily if possible. 17. Night driving: Before driving in night, make sure the head lights are working properly and are kept clean always. Slow down the vehicle when the oncoming traffic approaches or when vehicle is closer to a curve, If the visibility is greatly reduced, use the edge line as a guide to maintain the lane of travel. If there is no edge line, use the centre line to guide the vehicle. Keep the wind shield glass always clean. 18. Indicator: Always use indicators left turn/ right turn or straight forward depending up on your choice, should be switch ‘ON’ at least 20-25 meters before the turn or junction. 19. Head light: The head light should be ‘ON’ when driving in between sun set and sun rise. Or any other time when there is not enough light to see a person, who wear a dark clothing at a distance of 100 meter. Do not drive the vehicle with head light ‘ON’ during day time. 20. Dipper: While head light is ‘ON’ at night, it is difficulty to watch the road or pedestrian etc by the driver of oncoming vehicle, so it the duty of the driver to use dipper so that the low beam light should be ‘ON’ and oncoming vehicle’s driver can watch the road. 21. Drunk and drive: Never do drunk and drive and never use phone while in driving. 22. Intoxication: Never use any intoxication materials while in journey which irritate passengers. 23. Mirror: The mirror should be settled before moving the vehicle. 24. Wheel nut: Check the tightness of the wheel nut frequently. 25. Battery: Ensure the battery is fully charged and is in good condition. 26. Electrolyte: Do not allow the battery electrolyte to come in contact with eyes, skin, fabrics and painted surfaces. The electrolyte contains sulphuric acid which can cause the injury and severely damage. Were rubber gloves to avoid risk of contact. 27. Fluid level: Frequently checked the fluid level in steering, clutch, Coolant through transparent container. Also check the engine oil level before every day drive. 28. ECM/ ECU: The ECM/ ECU (electric control module/ electric control unit) must be connected or disconnected to the wiring when the ignition is ‘OFF’. 29. Welding work: The ECU & battery should be disconnected before welding works on the vehicle 30. Head light: Never use any over rated bulbs on head light, otherwise electric loops will over heated and burnt. Use light beam only when road ahead is clear off the traffic   31. Fuses: Always use correct rating of fuses with vehicle for personnel safety. 32. Alternator: Do not run the alternator without the battery. 33. Start: Do not start the engine with gear in engaged position. 34. Accessories: Do not keep any accessories switched on while starting the engine. 35. Re-start: If your vehicle fails to start when the key is in the ‘start’ position, the key must be taken back to ‘ACC’ position before attempting to re-start the vehicle. This is to be followed to avoid damage to vehicle, starter motor and to prevent battery drain. 36. Cranking :Do not crank the engine more than 10 second for start at a time. 37. Seat belt: Driver as well as other occupants should be wear seat belt properly before journey. 38. Air pressure: Never drive the vehicle if the air pressure is too low. Or you observe any leakage in the brake system. 39. Parking brake: Before driving, ensure that the parking brake is fully released. Driving vehicle with engaged parking brake may damage the brake liner & clutch and also consume excessive fuel. 40. Steering wheel free play: Check the steering wheel free play with the engine running and the vehicle is in stationary. 41. Engine in off position: Never ever drive the vehicle with engine in off position as it is very dangerous as the power steering and power brake are stop working. 42. Move on first gear: Always move the vehicle with first gear to avoid excessive wear out of clutch plate. 43. Centre lock: As per my view, never use centre lock of door while in journey, because in any emergency, a passenger could not be able to open the door and escape himself or the co-passengers from a hazardous circumstance where driver is in unconscious or otherwise.  Allow the passenger to lock their door before journey.   44. Green band: While in journey, the engine speed should be in the green band at all time for fuel economy and comfortable driving with less gear shifting. 45. Reverse gear: The reverse gear should only be engaged when vehicle is in stationary. Waite for a few second after de-clutching to ensure smooth engagement of the reverse gear. Extra care should be given while vehicle running in reverse gear. 46. Down gear: Change down the gear if the engine no more running smoothly. 47. Shifting of gear lever: Do not grasp the gear shift lever with finger along, but support it with the heel of your hand. 48. Brake pedal: When ABS is active, the driver will feel that, the “brake pedal is pulsating”, which is a normal matter. Never keep foot on brake pedal while running. 49. Pumping brake pedal: Do not pump the brake pedal when driving, this will interrupt operation of the ABS and may increase the braking distance. 50. Engine temperature: Check the engine temperature while running and not allow it to increase or decrease beyond the company’s recommendation. 51. Over taking: While in over taking or passing, increase your vehicle speed by at least 10 Km/H greater than the speed of the vehicle ahead. Before preparing to pass, be sure to check the traffic and then pull out in to the right lane promptly with turn signal ‘ON’. 52. Running space: While running, always keep sufficient distance depend up on your speed to the vehicle running ahead and it should not be less than 6 meter. 53. Neglect driving: Never go over speeding, even the best braking system cannot prevent accident caused by neglect driving. 54. Comfortable and safety drive: Over speeding is not treated as a good driving. A good driving is that, the conveyance of the passengers/ goods to their destination in a comfortable and safety manner with in the specified time limit. 55. Take rest: If you feel fatigue, stop the vehicle and take rest as soon as possible, do not try and push on especially in the ‘body clock danger time’ of night, early morning and afternoon. 56. Climbing to gradient: While climbing to sharp gradients choose the appropriate gear so that gear changing in the middle of the climb is not required. Shifting to lower gear while climbing has to be done cautiously to avoid loss of traction. Never use any brake. 57. Up gradient and sharp bent: While in up gradient drive, Judge the extent of gradient and sharp bent, traffic ahead tills the end, and shift the gear to the appropriate position (lower gear) at the first indication of the vehicle which not responding with the accelerator pedal. This will avoid to losing vehicle momentum and also will avoid the excessive wear of clutch plate. Also ensure that the exhaust /engine brake is not engaged. 58. Descending to gradient: While descending to sharp gradients choose the same gear which used for climb the gradient. Use auxiliary brake like exhaust /engine brake judiciously without over revving the engine. Brake application to such situation should be done smoothly to avoid loss of control. 59. Down gradient and sharp bent: While in down gradient drive, shift to lower gear before approaching down gradient and sharp bent, use exhaust brake/ engine brake for better control of engine speed. Never drive the vehicle in neutral gear, and never shift the gear to lower ratio suddenly, this will lead to engine failure. 60. Shifting to lower gear: Shifting to lower gear from high range in high speed will be damage the transmission, clutch and drive line. 61. There is a vehicle behind the curve: While drive in hilly terrain, the road may be in sharp bent ay various locations and the oncoming vehicle could not be visible, sometimes both vehicles become face to face and the road width is not enough due to single road to side the vehicle by steering control to escape from accident. So while driving in hilly terrain with narrow road, always assume that, “there is a vehicle behind the curve”. So slow down the vehicle to a controlled speed and give horn to avoid accident.    62. Assistance to accident vehicle: It is the formal duty of a driver to give assistance to accident vehicle on the way by pick up them and give first aid then convoy the injured persons to the nearest hospital for save the life. 63. Fuel economy: Best fuel economy (low consumption) is obtained at low engine speed at highest possible gear without over loading the engine.   64. Turbo charger: If vehicle fitted with turbo charger, give idle run for at least one minute, after start and before stoppage to avoid oil starvation.  65. AC not being used: If AC is fitted with vehicle, and AC is not being used for a prolonged period, run the AC at least once in a week for two minutes with engine at idle speed for proper function. 66. Coolant cap: Never open the coolant cap for top up the radiator while engine is in hot. 67. Driving in a rainy day: While driving in a rainy day, check the wiper blade for proper functioning. Avoid harsh braking and sharp turning, it may cause loss of control and lead to be skid. For slowing down, shift to lower gear and brake gently. Keep light ‘ON’ if the visibility is poor. If the vehicle run through a river or in water, after passing apply brake several times for dry brake liners and regain original braking efficiency of the vehicle. 68. Driving in fog: Fog on road can be extremely dangerous. Fog is sometimes unexpected and visibility can deteriorate rapidly. On fog immediately reduce the speed of vehicle. Do not assume that the fog is thin out after you enter it. Always try, not to drive in fog, it is better that rest any bus stops or suitable area until visibility is better. Or if you really need to drive, slow down before you enter in to fog, use low beam head lights and fog lights for best visibility even in day time. Give alert for other drivers who may have forgotten to turn on their lights. Seeing tail/ head lights in the front of you may not be a true indication of where the road is ahead of you, the vehicle may not be on the road at all. Avoid passing over other vehicles. Don’t stop along the side of the road unless absolutely necessary.  69. Driving in cold weather: While driving in cold weather always take care and drive very slowly and smoothly in slippery roads. and if it is too slippery due to ice glass formation, stop at first safe place. Ice glass formation is too dangerous. You can’t control your vehicle until and unless you use chain on tyres. 70. Never keep foot on pedals: Always depress the clutch pedal fully while changing gear and never keep foot on clutch pedal while running. 71. Hand Brake: While parking on a steep inclined with any reason, apply hand brake & keep vehicle in gear then use wheel chock in down side. 72. Parking in gradient: While parking in up gradient, keep vehicle in 1st gear and if in down gradient, it should be in reverse gear and also use wheel chock on both cases at down side. 73. Park away from road: While parking, always keep the vehicle away from the road and ensure that your vehicle not interfere with pedestrians or oncoming traffic. 74. Flammable materials: Do not stop/ park the vehicle over flammable materials like dry grass, waste paper or rags. They may ignite and cause a fire & damage your vehicle. 75. Curved road: Never park a vehicle in a curved road where not have a clear view of 50 meter in front and rear. 76. Public entrance: Never park the vehicle too near to the public entrance to a hospital, theatre or public hall etc and near to any inter section or a roundabout. 77. Door on the road side: After parking , remember that, you may not open the door on the road side if it will interfere the traffic. 78. Parking brake: Always use parking brake after park the vehicle. It is the formal duty of a driver that, to save a person who are suffering due to a clash or any reason on the road by bring them to a medical assistance after first aid, in the name of god and humanity. 79. Waste disposal:  Never through away the plastic water bottle, eatables cover, disposable plate etc on the road side. Collect all of them and put it in to a waste box. Always keep the road and surrounding area clean. 80. Never remove the key: Never remove the key until and unless park the vehicle aside properly. 81. Engine in running condition: Never leave the vehicle with engine in running condition. 82. Bring the vehicle to neutral: Do not switch off the vehicle in gear, bring the vehicle to neutral before switch off. 83. Remove the key: Always remove the key from the ignition lock when you leave the vehicle, even if you are leaving for a short period.

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