489053836-Light-Vehicle-Handbook-UAE-Driving-License-Guide-Book.pdf

Light Vehicle Handbook The aim of this book is to provide students with the technical information required to avoid accidents on the roads. On obtaining a driver's license, you are responsible for the safety of October 2018 others and yourself....

Handbook The aim of this book accidents on the roads. others and yourself. Copyright © 2017 ae TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS REGULATING THE ROADS 1.1 Traffic Rules 1.2 Road traffic signs 1.2.1 Traffic sign groups 1.3 Road markings 1.4 Basic positioning 1.4.1 Right-hand traffic 1.4.2 Basic positioning 1.4.3 Basic positioning 1.4.4 Basic positioning 1.4.5 Oncoming traffic 1.4.6 Distance 1.5 Rules of the Road 1.5.1 The Left 1.5.4 The Turning Rule 1.5.2 The Main 1.5.3 The Exit or Entering Rule 1.5.5 The Obstruction Rule 1.5.7 The Zipper principle 1.5.6 The Bus Rule 1.6 Exceptions to the rules 1.6.1 Vehicles 1.7 Duty towards 1.7.1 Respect for 1.7.2 Courtesy 1.8 Order of traffic precedence 1.8.1 Signals given 1.9 Give Way and Crossing rules 1.9.1 Give way situations 1.10.1 Indicator signal 1.10.2 Horn, lights 1.10.3 Using the horn at night 1.10.4 Stoplights 1.12 Defensive driving TABLE OF CONTENTS INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 2.1 Inside the city limits 2.1.1 Positioning 2.1.2 One way traffic 2.1.3 Roundabouts 2.2 Using your 2.2.1 Scanning technique, 2.2.2 Visual defects 2.3 Lanes 2.3.1 Queuing in a lane 2.3.2 Changing lanes 2.3.3 Things to consider 2.4 Overtaking 2.4.1 Pedestrian Crossing 2.4.2 Elderly and 2.4.3 Children and traffic 2.5 Stopping, parking and turning 2.5.1 Sudden, abrupt stopping 2.5.2 Stopping and parking 2.5.3 U-turns 2.5.4 Changing direction OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 3.1 Outside city limits 3.1.1 Safety check before setting out 3.1.2 Things to 3.2 Road works 3.2.1 Dealing with road workers 3.3 Ordinary roads 3.3.1 Turning onto a major road 3.3.2 Estimating 3.3.3 Overtaking distance 3.3.4 Overtaking rules for main roads 3.3.5 Turning off 3.3.6 Using lay-bys, 3.4 Driving on motorways 3.4.1 Entering a motorway 3.4.2 Lane discipline 3.4.3 Hogging the fast lane 3.4.4 Leaving a motorway 3.5 Dirt road DRIVING UNDER DIFFICULT CONDITIONS 4.1 Driving in 4.1.1 Your Vehicle 4.1.2 Coping with the heat and sun 4.1.3 A large midday meal 4.2 Driving safely in the dark 4.2.1 Your eyes at night 4.2.2 Speed at night 4.2.3 Vehicle lights 4.2.4 How to use 4.2.5 How to use 4.2.6 If you are being overtaken 4.2.8 Positioning 4.2.7 Dipping your 4.2.9 Parking and 4.2.10 Using your 4.2.11 Unprotected road users 4.2.12 Noises at night 4.3 Driving in fog 4.4 Driving in high winds 4.5 Driving in rain 4.5.1 Aquaplaning 4.5.2 Dealing with floods 4.5.3 Dealing with flooded areas 4.5.4 How to deal with a skid CRITICAL SITUATIONS 5.1 What is the 5.2 Different 5.2.1 The single vehicle accident 5.2.2 Crossroad 5.2.3 Turning accidents 5.2.4 Oncoming traffic accidents 5.2.5 Overtaking accidents 5.2.6 Accidents 5.2.7 Pedestrian 5.2.8 Accidents involving cyclists 5.2.9 Accidents in the night 5.2.10 Front to rear accidents 5.2.11 Motorcycle accidents 5.3 The impact 5.4 Camels and 5.5 How to avoid 5.6 Towards an 5.7 What to do 5.7.1 Dealing with accidents 5.7.2 Fire TABLE OF CONTENTS DRIVING BEHAVIOUR AND ROAD COURTESY 6.1 Emotional maturity 6.1.1 Developing 6.1.2 Immaturity 6.1.3 Role models 6.1.4 Responsibility 6.1.5 Identity (weak identity) 6.1.6 Adapting 6.1.7 Poor Self-control 6.1.8 Know yourself 6.1.9 The difference 6.1.10 Elderly drivers 6.2 Personality 6.2.1 Impulsiveness 6.2.2 Excuses (Blaming others) 6.2.3 Repression 6.2.4 Reaction 6.2.5 Prestige 6.2.6 Self-assertion 6.2.7 Jumping the queue 6.2.8 Reinforcing 6.2.9 Learning by imitation 6.3 The will 6.3.1 Superficial learning 6.3.2 In-depth learning 6.3.3 Overlearning 6.4 Focus on driving 6.4.1 Avoiding distractions 6.4.2 Stress 6.5 Group pressure 6.5.1 Negative impact 6.6 Factors with adverse effects 6.6.1 Stages of 6.6.2 Illness and medicines 6.6.3 Alcohol 6.6.4 Illegal drugs 6.7 Distractions while driving 6.7.1 Important things to consider 6.8 Traffic offences THE BASICS- GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR 7.1 Before you 7.1.1 The driver's manual 7.1.2 Listen to your car 7.2 How it all 7.2.1 The Engine 7.2.2 The lubrication system 7.2.3 The cooling system 7.2.4 The fuel system 7.2.5 The exhaust system 7.2.6 The electrical system 7.2.7 Vehicle Lights 7.2.8 Rear lights 7.2.9 Visual aids: 7.2.10 The transmission system 7.2.11 The brake systems 7.2.12 The tyres 7.2.13 The tyres characteristics 7.2.14 The steering systems 7.3 Economical driving 7.4 Driving with 7.5 Testing time: 7.6 Motor vehicle insurance SAFETY WHILE DRIVING 8.1 Car safety 8.1.1 The car’s protective shell 8.1.2 How to adjust 8.1.3 Seat belts save lives 8.1.4 Airbags (SRSs) save lives 8.1.5 Children in the car 8.1.6 Forgetting 8.2 The natural laws 8.2.1 To calculate 8.2.2 Centrifugal 8.2.3 The force of gravity 8.3 More about 8.3.1 Some vehicle characteristics AVOIDING DANGER ON THE ROAD ROAD TRAFFIC SIGNS ROAD MARKINGS Chapter One REGULATING THE ROADS 1.1 Traffic Rules Road traffic has almost everywhere have uniform rules Traffic laws and was in its infancy regulations that Traffic laws govern equipped and perform To guide road users towards correct behaviour on the roads, and help the police and judiciary to determine who is right and who is wrong in the event of an accident, a set of traffic rules has been incorporated into Federal Law. Knowledge of these rules is, of course, essential for every driver so that he or she will not break them out of carelessness or ignorance exposing others to a risk. 1.2 Road traffic signs 1.2.1 Traffic sign groups The purpose of road traffic signs is to convey information. There are warning signs, prohibitive signs, regulatory signs and direction signs, all of which give you important information about the road you are driving on. The municipality decides exactly what signs and where they are to set up. To make things easier for drivers, each sign has a distinctive combination of shape, colour and symbol. Since we drive on the right hand side of the road, most of the road-signs directing the traffic are placed on the right side. Some of the signs appear on the left side also where they are more suitable. 014 REGULATING THE ROADS These are: Warning signs, triangular in shape, which offer a caution Prohibitive signs, circular in shape and red in colour, which prohibit and restrict All drivers must be familiar with every traffic sign currently in use. You will find them illustrated in the appendix for Road Traffic Signs. 1.3 Road markings Road markings are used to qualify and clarify the rules and regulations enacted from Federal Law. They may warn of a danger; they may divide the road into different lanes; they may separate a motor vehicle lane from a cycle track or pedestrian way; or they may signal some sort of prohibition. Their advantage is that they can easily be seen when other signs are hidden by traffic and they can give a continuing message as you drive along the road. As a general rule, the more paint, the more important the message. 016 REGULATING THE ROADS 1.4 Basic positioning 1.4.1 Right-hand traffic On two way traffic roads a vehicle should be driven in the lane furthest to the right, as seen from the direction of travel. Keep to the right, leaving plenty of space for any fast- moving vehicles. Always try to position your car so that you can handle unexpected overtaking and sudden meetings with oncoming traffic with maximum safety. Overtaking and meetings with oncoming vehicles always involve an element of risk. If visibility is poor, as it may be if your view is obscured by a hill or a bend in the road, or if you are driving at night or in fog or rain, the risk is greatly enhanced. 1.4 Basic positioning 1.4.4 Basic positioning when turning left Drivers intending to turn left on two-way roads should keep their vehicles close to the centre-line Before turning left, it is essential to check the road in both directions. When you turn left you must give way to all oncoming traffic. The law clearly states that turning left at a junction is permissible only if you can turn safely without obstruction to the oncoming traffic and vehicles coming up from behind. 018 REGULATING THE ROADS Some situations you may encounter on the road: 1. A car may start to overtake a string of vehicles approaching from the other direction. Action: Keep to the right, slow down and flash your headlights. 2. Encountering a vehicle coming towards you on the wrong lane, which is considered an unpleasant experience. Action: Hold your brakes firmly, flash your headlights repeatedly, and use the horn. You may need to steer your vehicle to the right as a last resort. 3. You encounter several heavy vehicles at the top of a hill. One of the drivers behind may risk overtaking before you reach the top. Action: Be ready to steer to the right, slow down and flash your headlights. 4. An oncoming car gets into a skid. Action: Slow down, keep well clear, don’t slam on the brakes. As a last resort, you may have to steer off the road. 1.5 Rules of the Road 1.5.1 The Left Hand Vehicle approaching from the left At road junctions and intersections not controlled by traffic lights or road markings, priority must be given to vehicles approaching from the left. This also applies in parking lots and public areas, etc. 1.5.4 The Turning Rule 020 REGULATING THE ROADS 1.5.5 The Obstruction Rule In the event of a walkway is prohibited. This is known as the Obstruction Rule. 1.5.7 The Zipper principle 1.6 Exceptions to the rules 1.6.1 Vehicles excluded from the rules Since emergency vehicles, fire engines, ambulances or police vehicles on duty must be able to get to the scene of an accident as quickly as possible, they are entitled to violate the traffic rules by breaching a red light or passing an island on the wrong side, always provided of course, that they can do so safely. To warn other road users of their presence and demand free passage, emergency vehicles are fitted with a rotating, flashing light. Sometimes a siren and/or strobe lights are used as well. Always give way for emergency vehicles. 022 REGULATING THE ROADS 1.7 Duty towards 1.7.1 Respect for Controlled pedestrian crossings are defined as all crossings controlled by a police officer or a traffic light. All other types of crossing are deemed as uncontrolled pedestrian crossings, even though a traffic signal may be flashing amber. Avoid overtaking cyclists at intersections. Keep plenty of space from the cyclists for they often wobble. Slow down and stop if you see that a pedestrian is waiting to cross the road. 1.8 Order of traffic precedence You may run into situations the order of precedence is as follows: 1. Signal given by a police officer The green traffic light is on but the policeman is signaling for you to stop. The policeman’s signal takes precedence. 024 REGULATING THE ROADS 1.8.1 Signals given Sometimes a police police will only take following an accident Signals given by a traffic take precedence over all else. Signals given by policemen: Beckoning a vehicles approaching from left may continue. All Vehicles must stop when police man raise his hand. 1.9 Give Way and Crossing rules 1.9.1 Give way situations An obligation to give of your intention down or stopping in plenty of time. You must give way: At uncontrolled pedestrian crossings where pedestrians have already stepped out or are just about to step on to the crossing. As you turn onto the road from a parking lot, a gas station, a residential area, a pedestrian way, the hard shoulder or an off-road area. 026 REGULATING THE ROADS 1.10 Giving and receiving 1.10.1 Indicator signal Sometimes misunderstandings occur in traffic. Although this may be simply due to ignorance, it's also true that some drivers tend to interpret signs and signals in different ways. Besides watching out for other people’s signals, you must also interpret their meaning. If a signal is unclear, keep alert for other clues. Giving a signal does responsibility in 1.10 Giving and receiving 1.10.2 Horn, lights and hazard signals Sound signals or horn may only be used to avert a danger. If you are driving properly and safely you will seldom need to use your horn. And remember, the fact that sounding your horn will not exempt you from responsibility in the event of a collision. It can be very useful to use the proper light signals before starting to overtake, especially on fast roads to clear your intention to other road users. Flashing your headlights/high beam have the same meaning as sounding the horn, no more no less. Do not sound your horn: Except to avert danger Longer than necessary 028 REGULATING THE ROADS 1.10.4 Stoplights Stoplights come on automatically as soon as you touch the brake. As you approach an intersection, a good method of signaling is to use the brake light to make your intentions clear to other road users in good time and with sufficient distance. Now and then it may be necessary to warn other road users following you too closely or when you have entered a sudden traffic jam/ congestion, by touching the brake pedal and flashing your stoplight. 1.11 Light signals Know your lights in the correct order: 1. Steady red 2. Steady green light means GO. 3. Steady amber to red. Brake smoothly! 4. Continuous of traffic. signs take precedence. If there is no traffic Other types of light signals: 1. Pedestrian remember 2. Controlled activate 3. One flashing and calls amber light crossing or a warning sign. 4. Lane control means that 5. Alternately 030 REGULATING THE ROADS 1.12 Defensive driving Defensive driving enables you to predict risks and avoid danger. Essentially, sensible defensive driving means being aware at all times of the risks involved and doing your best to prevent accidents. It means showing consideration for road users who are obviously not as familiar with the road as you are. It means respecting unprotected road users and showing courtesy and respect for all those whose skills are not up to your own. Defensive driving requires practice, experience and a good deal of imagination. Once you have studied If you are not sure about the answer, go back and read that part again. Be aware that the questions do not cover the whole content of the chapter. 2 What is the colour of a prohibitive sign? 5 What is the Turning Rule? 8 What is the Obstruction Rule? 032 REGULATING THE ROADS REGULATING THE ROADS 033 Chapter Two INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 2.1 Inside the city limits 2.1.1 Positioning inside the city limits To avoid accidents, you must position your car correctly, which means thinking far enough ahead to avoid having to change lanes at the last second. The one sure way to avoid a collision is to keep to your lane at all times, following its course as marked on the road, even though a straighter, simpler path may sometimes appear more suitable to you. 1. Straight ahead To continue straight ahead, choose the lane best suited to your onward journey in plenty of time. Avoid unnecessary lane changes by thinking ahead. The lane arrows help you to choose the correct lane. 036 INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 2.1.2 One way traffic One-way traffic means The streets are marked beginning of the block prevent traffic from sign is posted at an appropriate point. One-way traffic means in one direction. 2.1 Within city limits 2.1.3 Roundabouts Roundabouts make it easier to enter junctions and intersections in light-traffic areas and, giving priority to the vehicles inside the roundabout, can make roads safer. Since all approaching vehicles must give way to those already on the roundabout, the risk of colliding with another vehicle is greatly reduced. Roundabouts are essentially no different from an ordinary crossroads, with one or more lanes encircling a central island. To avoid having to stop or hesitate about where to turn off, think well ahead. And expect large or oversized vehicles to need more than one lane to turn. 038 INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 2.2 Using your eyes and other senses 2.2.1 Scanning technique, There is a reason why road users sometimes fail to recognize and react to the key elements of their traffic environment. A driver’s scanning technique, or how and when to read and interpret the driving when proceeding along the road is crucial in helping to identify the overall conditions which could end up in an accident. Tests have shown that scanning techniques vary between individual drivers and tend to change and advance in step with the driver’s advancing experience. 2.2 Using your eyes and other senses 2.2.2 Visual defects Good visual acuity and an unimpaired visual field, that is to say sharp vision and an unobstructed view, are fundamental to correct decisions in complicated traffic situations. Your eyes provide you with 90% of all the information you need to manage your car in traffic, so any visual defect is likely to affect your driving in one way or another. Driving in the dark is especially tough on your eyes. Some drivers become shortsighted at night and may need corrective lenses; others suffer loss of visual acuity because of a reduction in their sensitivity to contrast or the eye’s ability to distinguish between various shades of grey. 040 INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 2.3 Lanes 2.3.1 Queuing / lanes In a queue, traffic jam or other congested conditions, collisions or pile-ups frequently occur simply because the vehicles involved were driving too fast or were too close and unable to brake in time. By looking well ahead and keeping track of the vehicles further up the road you can steer clear of such accidents. This makes it much easier to adjust your speed to an appropriate level, since the stop lights of the cars up ahead will warn you when it is time to slow down and you will have more chance to react if you have to stop in a hurry. 2.3 Lanes 2.3.3 Things to consider It's permissible following situations: In a congested traffic where the right lane is open; The overhead signs above the lanes show that the lanes lead to different destinations; Drivers are keeping to their own correct lanes before negotiating a junction; Changing lanes quickly, Adapt your speed to local conditions. Check the traffic all around. Use your mirrors, and don’t forget your car’s blind spot. Check your side mirror! When the closest vehicle has drawn level, signal that you wish to change lanes and check the reactions of other drivers. 042 INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 2.4 Overtaking and 2.4.1 Pedestrian Crossing Overtaking and crossing - junctions, bends and hills Overtaking is prohibited: Just before or while crossing a junction or intersection At places where your view of the road is obstructed, such as at the brow of a hill or at a bend on the road School crossing patrols help school children to cross a busy and crowded street 2.4 Overtaking and 2.4.3 Children and traffic Children live in a world of their own and should really be kept away from roads and traffic altogether, but since this is not always possible, the driver should learn something about how they behave. School crossing patrols help school children to cross a busy and crowded street on the way to and from the school. The patrols alert drivers that there are children on the road. A child should be treated as a living warning sign. And the responsibility for ensuring that there won’t be an accident is yours. After all, the person with the experience, with the ability to foresee potential danger, is you, not the child. Children playing in or near the road may not be thinking about the traffic. Watch out for the ball. Watch out for the child 044 INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 2.5 Stopping, parking and turning 2.5.1 Sudden, abrupt stopping Many accidents occur due to vehicles stopping abruptly without prior warning, causing the following vehicle to collide with the offending vehicle. An even worse habit observed on the roads is when a driver sharply cuts across another vehicle. This is quite common among taxi drivers, when they suddenly see a potential customer waiting by the side of the road. Never cut across other vehicles suddenly, whether in order to turn or to pick up a passenger. It is advisable, in addition to giving the correct signal, to press gently on your brake pedal several times as an added precaution to alert drivers behind you and give them time to take appropriate action. 2.5 Stopping, parking and turning Stopping/Waiting and Parking: What’s the difference? As soon as you pull up, you are considered to have stopped. As long as you remain behind the wheel with or without engine running, you are considered to be waiting. And, the moment you go out of the car after stopping, you are said to have parked your car. Stopping and waiting stop or park. Within 15 meters of a junction/crossing or pedestrian crossing. At any place where you might conceal a road sign or traffic light. 046 INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS Parking is prohibited At places where you might hinder access to or exit from a building or site. Alongside another parked vehicle or any equipment installed at No Stopping/Parking signs Wherever the No Stopping or Parking sign is posted, stopping and parking are both strictly prohibited. 2.5.3 U-turns Some junctions have provision allowing U-turns to be made. Here you will have to position the vehicle in the left lane and make the U-turn 2.5.4 Changing direction If you find yourself traveling in the wrong direction and have to turn around, make sure you turn at a place where other road users will be able to see you clearly. If you have to reverse, always reverse into the minor road. When reversing, watch out for children. Once you have studied If you are not sure about the answer, go back and read that part again. Be aware that the questions do not cover the whole content of the chapter. 2 What should be your basic positioning on a one-way traffic with several lanes? 5 When is it permissible to pass from the right side? 8 What are the spots where parking is not permissible? 048 INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 049 Chapter Three OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 3.1 Outside city limits 3.1.1 Safety check before setting out You must be able to carry out a systematic check of your car, taking into account the weather, your destination and the state of the road. The driver’s manual will give you advice and instructions. During the practical training, you will learn how to do a systematic check of your car. Always adapt to local 052 OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 3.1.2 Things to consider 3.1.2.1 Speed limits Driving speed must never exceed the speed at which the driver can maintain safe control of the vehicle and bring it to a halt on the carriageway or hard shoulder. This means that the distance needed to slow the car to a halt must be clear and free of any visible or anticipated obstacle on the road ahead. 3.1.2.2 Adapting your speed You must also adapt your speed to the state of the traffic, the weather, visibility, the weight of your load, the condition of your vehicle, and, above all, your own abilities. Do not base your driving on what you think. Base it on what you see and on what you know. 3.1 Outside city limits 3.1.2.3 The road Avoid accidents as In built-up areas Where visibility is poor owing to bad weather or poor light At pedestrian crossings or other places where pedestrians cross the road At crossroads and junctions At sharp bends At the brow of a hill or wherever the driver’s 054 OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 3.1.2.4 Speed blindness It is all too easy to become accustomed to high speeds, to become speed blind. After a while, the motorway actually seems pleasurable. You enjoy traveling fast. Then your exit comes up. Turning off the motorway is easy and when the speed limit sign appears you wonder whether your speedometer is showing the correct reading. By the time you’ve slowed down to 60 km/h the car feels practically at a standstill. This is something you will almost certainly experience at first hand and it is very seldom that the speedometer will be wrong. 3.1 Outside city limits 3.1.2.5 Tunnel vision Tunnel vision causes the visual field to ‘narrow’ with increasing speed. The faster you drive, the further ahead you fix your gaze. In other words, you see things only in a small portion of your visual field and therefore fail to observe things off to one side. To avoid tunnel vision, adapt your speed to local conditions and keep shifting your gaze. Scan all parts of the road ahead. When driving at high speed, counteract tunnel vision by scanning. Keep in mind also that tunnel vision can be caused by or aggravated by stress. 056 OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 3.1.2.7 Skidding Avoid braking on a bend. This can make your vehicle unstable. The sharper the bend, the more drastic the effects of braking and the more likely the vehicle is to skid. Brake before the bend, if any braking is necessary. Do not confuse ‘using the accelerator’ with ‘accelerating’, which means going faster. When dealing with bends ‘using the accelerator’ means using it just enough to drive the vehicle around the bend. Drive at a safe speed while keeping the right amount of load on the engine and the right amount of grip on the road. Where vision is restricted, be prepared to meet oncoming vehicles, pedestrians or obstructions, such as slow- moving or broken-down vehicles, without much advance warning. Look well ahead for changes in the camber of the road, which could affect your control. 3.1 Outside city limits 3.1.2.8 Keeping your What is the correct The three-second rule is an easy way to measure the distance to a car in front of you on main-road driving. As you drive, choose an obvious reference point on the road ahead, such as a palm tree or a shadow from a bridge. When the car in front of you passes that point, start to count - one hundred and one... one hundred and two you pass that point before reaching one hundred and three, you are driving too close. Take your foot off the accelerator! If the driver ahead applies the brake, it will normally take about a second for you to react and apply the 058 OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 3.2 Road works 3.2.1 Dealing with road workers Road repairmen work their work, but they consideration for repair works site. Some ways you can Keep a sufficien Light Vehicle is to provide students with the technical information required to avoid On obtaining a driver's license, you are responsible for the safety of October 2018 Issue v1.2 BOOK by Emirates Driving Company, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | www.edcad. 1 011 013 014 014 016 017 017 when continuing straight ahead 017 when turning right 017 when turning left 018 018 to the car in front of you 019 020 Hand Rule: Vehicle approaching from the left 020 020 Road or Priority Road Rule 020 020 021 021 021 022 excluded from the rules 022 unprotected road users 023 pedestrians and cyclists 023 and interaction with others 023 024 by a police officer or other authority figure 025 026 026 027 and hazard signals 028 028 029 031 035 036 where several lanes lead to the same direction – inside the city limits 036 037 038 eyes and other senses 039 peripheral vision and central visual field 039 - visual acuity and the visual field 040 041 041 and passing other vehicles in lanes 041 042 and crossing junctions inside the city limits 043 043 disabled pedestrians 043 044 045 045 045 047 by means of a U-turn or reversing 047 051 052 052 consider when leaving town 053 059 059 060 060 the meeting point when overtaking 061 062 064 a road: Right and left turn 064 stopping, parking and making U-turns 065 066 067 and changing lanes 068 068 069 driving and off-road driving 070 073 sunshine and hot weather 074 074 075 075 076 076 076 076 your headlights when you see an oncoming vehicle 077 your headlights when overtaking 077 078 when you drive in the dark 078 headlights at a bend in the road 078 emergency stops at night 078 headlights in built-up areas 079 079 079 080 081 082 082 083 084 084 089 main cause of traffic accidents? 091 types of critical situation and accident 092 092 accidents inside and outside the city limits 092 inside and outside the city limits 093 093 094 with people under influence of alcohol or other intoxicants 094 crossing accidents 095 095 096 096 096 of the intersection collisions 097 other animals on the road 099 critical situations 100 accident-free traffic environment 101 in the event of a traffic accident 102 102 104 107 109 a moral code of conduct 110 110 110 111 111 to reality (deficient reality) 112 112 and know your driving skill 113 between experienced and inexperienced drivers 113 114 traits and certain types of bad behaviour 115 115 115 115 formation – doing the opposite of how you feel 116 116 116 117 bad habits (Probability conditioning) 117 118 to learn and the need to learn 119 119 119 120 120 120 121 122 122 123 fatigue and tiredness 123 123 124 124 125 125 and penalties 126 129 start-The importance of service and maintenance 131 131 132 works: The main components and systems involved 133 133 134 135 136 137 138 140 141 The instrument panel 142 144 145 147 148 149 150 a heavy load or pulling a trailer 151 Vehicle inspection and registration 152 153 157 159 159 the car seat, the head restraint and how to load a car 160 161 162 163 the children in the vehicle 166 167 the distance required to stop a moving car 167 force: When the road bends 169 169 handling different cars 170 170 175 183 215 increased exponentially in the UAE. Vehicles and pedestrians are found throughout the seven Emirates. It is therefore absolutely necessary to and regulations and that road users comply with these rules. road rules have been under development internationally since the motoring at the beginning of the last century. Today you will find signs, rules and have been harmonised and approved internationally. how a road should be marked and signed, how vehicles should be and how the driver should behave in different situations. Rules, road Before obtaining your traffic signs and driving licence, it is road markings important that you learn regulate traffic and understand the signs, road markings and Without these it would not traffic rules be possible for traffic to move freely on the roads. Some of the signs and lines shown here are not In the UAE, work is still in yet common in the UAE. progress on the combining However, with the rapid of Federal Law and traffic expansion of traffic and the rules so that international road network, they will soon and regional rules may be become part of our traffic followed in daily practice. system. In the meantime, you will need to be familiar with them if you plan on driving to another country. REGULATING THE ROADS 013 Road traffic signs are an essential part of any Symbols are used as traffic system. much as possible, because they are more They tell you about the rules easily recognised, you must obey and warn you understood and can about the hazards you may be standardised, meet on the road ahead. irrespective of language. Signs may be in the form of words or symbols on panels, road markings, beacons, You will recognise traffic bollards or traffic lights. signs more easily if you This section deals with the understand the shape and various types of traffic sign colour of the six main groups and their meaning. or categories. To do its job effectively, a sign must communicate its message clearly and early enough for you to see and understand it and act accordingly. Regulatory signs, Supplementary signs, circular in shape rectangular in and blue in colour, shape and mainly which give positive the same colour as instructions the primary sign Mandatory signs Direction signs, Temporary signs, rectangular in shape, on an which inform, give orange background positive instructions and local directions Learn the different groups or categories of signs first; this will make it much easier to remember the individual signs later on. REGULATING THE ROADS 015 Road markings appear as lines, continuous or broken, painted along or across the carriageway. In addition to lines, you will encounter arrows, studs, symbols and text messages. A broken line functions as a recommendation, as a warning or as a guide for road users. Drivers must be familiar with Continuous lines all types of road markings. are prohibitive lines. Crossing or straddling a You will find them continuous line dividing illustrated in the appendix two lanes is prohibited. Road Markings. 1.4.2 Basic positioning 1.4.3 Basic positioning when continuing when turning right straight ahead Wherever possible, get into Drivers intending to the right-hand lane if you turn right should keep intend to continue in the their vehicles as close direction you are traveling. to the right-hand edge At or just before the junction of the carriageway you will have to keep to as is appropriate for the right, even though you traffic conditions. may have to negotiate with parked cars. Position your car and turn off, keeping as far to the right as possible. This not only makes it easier for the vehicles on your left but also prevents drivers from creeping up on your right. After turning off, position yourself as appropriate for your ongoing itinerary. It goes without saying that, in streets with two-way traffic with just one lane in each direction, you must keep well to the right so as to allow plenty of room for oncoming traffic. REGULATING THE ROADS 017 1.4.5 Oncoming traffic On a good wide road with Mistakes are easily made little traffic, oncoming traffic with a general tendency for should normally present drivers to judge the meeting no problem. The narrower point between their two the road is, the greater the vehicles as being further risk of an accident involving away than it actually is. two vehicles traveling in Other common mistakes opposite directions. are to assume the meeting point is at a spot halfway If possible and suitable, between the two vehicles. Of one driver on a narrow road course, this can be true only must stop and wait for the if both the vehicles happen oncoming vehicle. Vehicles to be traveling at exactly on the same side of the road the same speed. as an obstacle up ahead must give way to vehicles approaching from the opposite direction. 1.4.6 Distance to the car in front of you As drivers tend not to keep their distance and queues often build up in city traffic, the risk of collision in such conditions can be high. Not only does driving close behind another vehicle raise the risk of an accident, but your view of the road ahead is also obscured and driving will not be smooth. If you have another vehicle so close on your tail that you fear it will run into you from behind, slow down slightly so as to increase your safety margin with the vehicle ahead of you. REGULATING THE ROADS 019 Rule: 1.5.2 The Main Road or 1.5.3 The Exit or Priority Road Rule Entering Rule The Left hand rule does not You must give way to all apply where a Give Way or other traffic whenever you Stop sign is present. exit a parking lot, a petrol station, a residential area, Entering a primary road, a pedestrian way, the hard priority road, main road or an shoulder, or enter from an asphalt road from a gravel road, Off-Road area. you must give way or stop to traffic approaching from both This is known as the Exit or left and right. Entering Rule. This is known as the Main Road Rule or the Priority Road Rule When turning left at a crossroads, you must give way, not only to oncoming motor vehicles, but also to any pedestrians who may cross your path. This is known as the turning rule. 1.5.6 The Bus Rule traffic jam, obstructing a crossroads or In cities or countries with public transport buses, buses leaving a bus stop have priority inside the city limits. This is known as The Bus Rule. Where two roads meet like jam,etc., and is acceptable T-Junctions, it makes road even though a road sign sense to apply the zipper principle, where one car may indicate that the from each road moves approaching traffic ahead alternately. has the priority This situation is very common during the rush hour, at road works, in traffic REGULATING THE ROADS 021 Slow down and pull over to Remember: the side of the road, stop completely if necessary. Emergency Vehicles are Disrupting the passage of beyond the traffic-rules. an emergency vehicle or forcing your way through is To warn other road prohibited. users of their presence and demand free You are also required to passage, emergency give priority to: vehicles are fitted with a rotating, flashing light. Military vehicles when moving in convoy Sometimes a siren and/ or strobe lights are Official convoys used as well. Rescue vehicle convoys, Always make way for etc. emergency vehicles. Oncoming vehicles may Slow down and pull pass at a road work- over to the side of site unless otherwise the road, stopping instructed by a sign. completely if necessary. unprotected road users pedestrians and cyclists 1.7.2 Courtesy and interaction with others Traffic involves interaction with other road users. Pedestrians, cyclists, car drivers, as well as truck and bus drivers, share the same road environment. As we interact, we also have to adjust, compromise and show courtesy to other road users. So how do we interact with other persons in the normal course of life? We open doors for one another. We don’t jump the queue when waiting at the Probable causes supermarket checkout. of pedestrian crossing accidents: We are respectful when we meet as pedestrians. The driver did not notice or ignored Why do we behave the pedestrian at the differently when we side of the crossing. meet as drivers? The driver’s view Would we push our way was obstructed, to get ahead of another perhaps by the door vehicle if we knew that post of his or her car. we would meet the driver later at work? The driver was going too fast and had The same rules of behaviour insufficient time to should apply when we are watch the road, as interacting with other road he/she should users as do in other social interactions. The driver overtook a vehicle that had stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the road. REGULATING THE ROADS 023 in which several types of instruction are given at once. If you do, 2. Traffic light 3. Traffic sign 4. Rules of the road The green traffic The traffic light No police officer, light is on but the is flashing no traffic light, sign says Stop. amber, but the and no traffic The signal-light sign says Stop. sign. Here the takes precedence The sign takes rules of the over the traffic precedence. road apply, in sign. this case the obligation to give way to vehicles approaching from the left. Rules of the Road by a police officer or other authority figure officer is directing the traffic. Usually, the You must also comply with over if the traffic lights are out of order or signals given by the military or a major public event. police and other persons officially authorised to police officer directing or checking the direct traffic. vehicle from the side Slow down If given from a police car, follow the police car and Pull over behind it when it stops. Vehicles approaching from behind and ahead must stop both left and right may continue. Stop If a police car behind you starts alternately flashing the blue and red lights mounted on its radiator, pull over to the side of the road and stop immediately. After a while the light may change to a steady red. The order to stop may be preceded by a flash of the headlights. REGULATING THE ROADS 025 way requires you to give clear indication You must not attempt to to give way to other vehicles by slowing pass through the crossing if by so doing you might obstruct, impede or endanger other road users. This is known as the To oncoming traffic Exit or Entering Rule. as you prepare to turn left and to all To traffic coming vehicles using the up from the left. carriageway you Vehicles approaching will enter as you a junction or make the turn. crossroads from the left have priority. This is known as the Turning rule. This is known as the Left Hand Rule. As instructed by traffic lights and traffic signs. signs and signals If you are about to stop on You must signal to other a main road, park or turn road users what you intend round, your car’s position to do next when you: will give other drivers a clear signal, a visual clue as to Set off the curb or side what you intend to do next. of the road, Giving a signal does not release you from the Turn off at a cross roads, responsibility in the event of an accident. In other Turn onto the road, words, you must never let your attention stray or stop Change lanes or position showing consideration for yourself on the road. other road users. All signals must be given in plenty of time, and they must be unambiguous and clearly visible. not release you from the event of an accident. REGULATING THE ROADS 027 signs and signals 1.10.3 Using the horn at night If you intend to pass a You must not use your horn horse and a rider in residential areas from midnight to 6:00 am, except Hazard lights must only be to avoid danger from a used in the event of an moving vehicle. emergency or accident. If you need to warn It is very dangerous and other road users of your strictly forbidden to use the presence at night, flash your hazard lights in heavy rain headlights instead. as an excuse for high speed. In a sudden traffic jam or in congested conditions you may use the hazard lights very briefly to inform the driver behind you that they need to brake hard. During the towing, it might be acceptable to use the hazard lights of the trailer being towed. The vehicle up front must be able to use its indicators visibly. 1.11 Light signals There are different types of light signals for different categories of road user. Here are a few of the more common ones. Traffic lights normally apply to all vehicles. Traffic lights are set up at crossroads and junctions to increase safety and ensure the smooth flow of traffic. Even so, many accidents still occur at light-controlled crossings. Proceed with caution even if you have a green light. A light signal or traffic sign indicating an obligation to give way will nearly always apply to you if it is placed on the right-hand side of the carriageway just before the crossing. However, if you are in a lane reserved for vehicles that are about to turn left, the traffic light with its green arrow filter signal will often be placed to the left of the carriageway. Do not turn at a light just because you think the road is clear; make doubly sure that it really is clear before attempting to go through the crossing. And far too many motorists, whether intentionally or unintentionally, go through the red light. REGULATING THE ROADS 029 light means STOP. Driving through a red light is prohibited. light means STOP if you can do so safely. The light is about to change Flashing amber light serves as a warning; it does not regulate the flow If the traffic light is flashing amber or has been switched off entirely, traffic sign, typical traffic rules apply. lights are placed at some junctions. As you turn onto another road, that the pedestrian lights may be green. If so, you must Give Way. pedestrian crossing. Pedestrians who wish to cross the carriageway can a traffic light at a controlled pedestrian crossing. amber light (or two alternately flashing amber lights) spells danger for extra care at busy locations or crossing points. This type of flashing signal is often used to draw the driver’s attention to a pedestrian signs are mounted above the lanes that are open to traffic. A red cross the lane is closed to traffic. flashing red lights at a fire station, etc. mean Stop. To drive defensively, you should: Think ahead Always position safely and keep Be alert to what is to the correct going on around you driving lane Drive with active Drive at the observation, correct speed Recognise Check your rear view traffic hazards mirror frequently Keep a safe following Brake in good time distance from the vehicle in front of you Check the road before setting off REGULATING THE ROADS 031 this chapter, try to answer these questions. 1 What is the colour of a roadwork sign? 3 What is the shape of 4 When does the Left Hand a warning sign? Rule apply? 6 What is the Main 7 What is the Exit or Road rule? Entering Rule? 9 What is the Bus Rule? 10 What is Zipper Principle? where several lanes lead to the same direction – 2. Turning right 3. Turning left To turn right, choose To turn left, choose the right-hand lane the left-hand lane best suited to you in best suited to you in plenty of time. plenty of time. Avoid unnecessary Avoid unnecessary lane changes by lane changes by thinking ahead. thinking ahead. The lane arrows The lane arrows help you choose the help you choose the correct lane. correct lane. that you can drive only in one direction. To turn left from a one-way street, keep as far to the left with the One-way traffic sign at the as possible. and apply until the next junction. To entering in the wrong direction a No Entry that you can drive only INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 037 When you exit from a roundabout you may have to To turn right, get into change lanes, so it is especially the right hand lane. important to keep an eye open for vehicles that may be To turn left, move coming up from the right. over into the left-hand lane. Maintain the same lane before, during, and when exiting The illustration above the roundabout. shows how the Give Way and Roundabout Use the right indicator when signs together signal deciding to exit your obligation the roundabout. to give way. When approaching a junction, Always signal your maintain the same lane before intention to leave and after crossing. the roundabout by flashing your right hand indicator. peripheral vision and central visual field The central visual field represents the tiny area in which the image is actually in focus. Everything else is blurred. Obviously, then, it is essential to keep shifting your gaze in order to scan every part of the road ahead. The important thing to realise is that the two fields of vision, central and peripheral, complement each other perfectly. Your peripheral vision enables you to discover things, while your central field of vision, where the objects are in focus, enables you to recognize them. The red spot is the only part of Experienced drivers the retina where we perceive make better use of their objects as being sharply peripheral vision and they in focus. It corresponds to tend to scan the road more our direct or central field of systematically than novice vision. It is a curious fact that, or inexperienced drivers. of everything we see, only 2 Novice or inexperienced percent is in full focus. drivers on the other hand, tend to concentrate more Everything else in our on stationary objects and peripheral field of vision keep their eyes close to is more or less out of their own vehicle. focus, or blurred. Even if you have perfect eyesight, the sharpness or acuity of your peripheral vision is actually less than 0.1 on the acuity scale. INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 039 - visual acuity and the visual field It is important to realise that poor eyesight can seriously impair your driving ability. Your eyes provide you with 90% of all the information you need to manage your car in traffic 2.3.2 Changing lanes and passing other vehicles in lanes more dangerous on fast roads. It is clear from the number of accidents caused by speeding and failure to warn other drivers when attempting a lane change. Frequent overtaking on the right and left that leads to confusion of traffic flow and disturbance to other road users is doubly dangerous. A prohibitory line separating two lanes means: Do not change lanes! If you yourself wish to change lanes, think ahead and move over well in Drivers may change lanes advance of the prohibitory only if they can do so safely lines commonly found and without causing any at junctions and on unnecessary hindrance to stretches of road where other road users. local conditions make lane changing unsuitable. A driver observing that another road user wishes to Help keep the traffic flowing enter his or her lane should - drive in the correct lane. facilitate entrance into the lane by adjusting his or her In some cases, you may speed appropriately. pass another vehicle on the right without feeling If you see that another that you are passing on road user wishes to enter the wrong side. your lane, do all you can to assist him/her. The easiest way is to leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead. Some drivers insist on changing lanes constantly, frequently, dangerously and without good reason. These actions are even INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 041 to pass from right side in the in place where any action is prohibited according to traffic instructions, signs and indicationsYou may pass on the right hand side, of a vehicle that has clearly indicated that it is about to turn left. efficiently and safely: As you turn the The signs above the wheel, check your lanes correspond to side mirror and the lanes marked on glance quickly over the carriageway. A your shoulder again prohibit line between to check for any lanes means that vehicles that may be changing lanes is hidden in your car’s forbidden. Lane blind spot. indication signs make it easier for Move smoothly over drivers to select the into the other lane, correct lane in time. accelerating gently as you do so. Plan ahead. Choose your route wisely. crossing junctions inside the city limits 2.4.2 Elderly and disabled pedestrians Exceptions to the Many people suffer from overtaking restrictions some form of disability. Disabilities may be visible, You may overtake: signaled or invisible. If the vehicle ahead of Persons with invisible you has clearly indicated disabilities are less easy by a visual signal and its to recognize, so it is often position on the road that difficult for motorists to it is about to turn left, show them the courtesy and and if you overtake on consideration they are due. the right side. Any number of common conditions can lead to an invisible disability. So if you see someone you know or suspect to be challenged in any way, slowdown in plenty of time and be prepared to give way. INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 043 crossing junctions inside the city limits Remember: 1. Children are small. stopping to consider They are not easy the consequences. to see when they More often than are playing behind a not they run rather parked car. than walk across the street. 2. A child’s eyesight is not fully developed. 4. Children are always A young person’s at play. For children, eyesight is not everything is a fully developed game. They live in until around the a world of fantasy age of fifteen. A and imagination child’s visual field and have little is therefore limited. understanding of the Children don’t see dangers of the road. things ‘out of the corner of their eye.’ 5. Children do not They have specific become reasonable vision, i.e. they tend and safe in traffic to see only one thing until they are 9-12 at a time. years old. 3. Children are 6. Children are poor impulsive. They act judges of speed on impulse, without and distance. 2.5.2 Stopping and parking on the carriageway side could suddenly open just as you are passing. As a general rule, you should stop or park on the right-hand side of the road. Stopping or parking on the pavement is strictly prohibited. Drivers may not simply stop or park wherever they like in a manner that represents a danger or obstructs traffic unnecessarily. A vehicle halted on or at the side of the road may seriously impede the flow of traffic. It may obstruct other drivers’ view of the Many road and force other vehicles towards or across the accidents centerline; or it may simply make things more difficult occur for other people using the road. The more it obstructs due to vehicles other drivers’ view of the road, the greater the danger stopping it represents, particularly on roads where the traffic abruptly is moving fast. without Watch out for cars parked by the side of the road. prior warning, If someone is inside the vehicle, one of the doors INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 045 Things to remember when you leave your vehicle: Never stop or park where you might cause an obstruction or represent a danger to other vehicles. Make sure the handbrake is firmly on before you leave the car. Take the key out of the ignition and lock your car. When you park When you park up hill, downhill, turn your turn your front wheels front wheels towards to the opposite side the curb to prevent of the curb to prevent the car from running the car from running forward downhill in backwards downhill the event of parking in the event of parking brake failure. As an brake failure. As an extra precaution, it extra precaution, it is advisable to leave is advisable to leave your car in reverse your car in first gear gear rather than rather than in neutral. in neutral. is prohibited in the following places. And, naturally, where you cannot In an underpass On roads or or tunnel. tracks reserved for pedestrians On or just before or or cyclists. after a bend in the road or at the brow In restricted areas. of a hill. At T-junctions. in the following places the side of the road. In assigned parkings In front of a fire with any of the tires hydrant or at any touching or on the location reserved marking-lines. for handicapped/ disabled persons or At a bus stop. ambulances. A Parking Prohibited A Disabled Persons sign means that sign means that only although you may disabled persons stop to pick up or holding special drop off passengers permits may park in or goods, you must the space(s) marked. do so without unnecessary delay. at the junction. Remember normally have red light. to give way to all oncoming Designated U-turn sites traffic. At junctions with traffic work in the same way. Even lights and where U-turns are here, you will have to give allowed, oncoming traffic will way to all oncoming traffic. by means of a U-turn or reversing The responsibility for any Where the traffic flow is mishap will be entirely yours. heavy and the speed is high, do the changing of Making a U turn is only your direction at one of the permitted from the left lane designated U-turn sites and only if you can turn or keep going to a more safely and without causing suitable location further unnecessary hindrance to down the road. other road users. INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 047 this chapter, try to answer these questions. 1 What is the action when turning to left? 3 How do you change lane 4 How do you behave when and pass other vehicles driving in a queue inside on the road? the city limits? 6 What are the situations 7 What is the difference where overtaking is not between parking and permissible? waiting? 9 What should be your 10 What are the things you basic position in two- need to remember when way traffic for performing leaving the car? a U-turn? traffic conditions. when leaving town Major roads mean high Always adapt to local traffic speeds. And high speeds conditions. are perfectly acceptable provided nothing gets in the The maximum speed limit on way. Remember that hitting the major roads in UAE is another vehicle at 40 km/h, 140 km/h which is not particularly fast, is equivalent to falling inside the city, the speed onto a concrete floor from limit is usually 80 km/h, a height of 10 meters for the occupants of the Outside built-up areas, the vehicles involved, the impact standard speed is murderous. limit is 100 km/h. Fortunately, the recipe for avoiding collisions is simple: anticipate, observe, adapt. Hidden danger The road As you travel down the road, Naturally, you must also you must be able to bring adapt your speed to the your vehicle to a halt well condition of the road you are before reaching an obstacle driving on. On gravel roads, on the road ahead, whether the braking distance is much real or potential. As a driver, longer than on asphalt, and you must teach yourself to a wet asphalt road is more predict what could be hidden slippery than a dry one. behind a parked car, behind Teach yourself to ‘read’ a hedge or round the next the road and predict where bend. This ability comes danger might lurk: at bends, only with practice. on hills, on wet patches, and many other places. Driver limitations The vehicle Never allow speed to get the Performance varies greatly upper hand. Stay in control from one car to the next of your car at all times. and even more so from Many drivers overestimate motorcycle to motorcycle. their own abilities and drive So, if you borrow a vehicle dangerously fast. This is you’re unfamiliar with, make why single-vehicle accidents sure you take things easy. are the most common type of accident on main roads outside built-up areas. OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 053 much as possible. All vehicles must be driven at an appropriately low speed: view of the road is When approaching restricted children on or by the side of the Wherever there might carriageway be a risk of dazzle When approaching On encountering an animals on the oncoming vehicle on road ahead a narrow road At road works On slippery roads At the scene of When approaching a an accident bus, tram or school transport vehicle When the road that has stopped to surface is muddy set down or pick up and you might splash passengers pedestrians or other road users Instead, what nearly always Unless you keep an eye happens is that you have on your speedometer, you lost your sense of speed. can easily find yourself traveling 20-30 km/h faster It is only when you need than you think. to slow down quickly that you realise what speed is One factor contributing to all about. A car doing 60 speed blindness is a lack km/h on a dry road needs of stimuli needed for the about 35 meters of road to driver to form an accurate stop. If you are traveling impression of his or her at 120 km/h, you will need true speed. As modern about 110 meters. cars handle smoothly and without excess noise even In other words, whenever at high speeds, we are often you accelerate, it is vital unaware of how fast they to consider your can actually travel. stopping distance. In addition, monotonous Speed blindness is driving on straight, well- dangerous first and foremost made roads offers little in in that you tend to misjudge the way of visual variation. your braking distance. OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 055 3.1.2.6 Bends Too much acceleration can cause the wheels, particularly on rear-wheel drive vehicles, to lose their grip and skid resulting the vehicle swinging off the road. Increase the speed only when you have straightened the wheel as you leave the bend. Judging the correct road speed as you approach bends and corners takes practice and experience. The correct speed is the one that takes your vehicle around the bend under full control A bend can feel like a sharp with the greatest safety for corner to a driver who you, your passengers and approaches it too fast - with other road users. disastrous results. There are no hard and fast rules. You The speed should depend on will have to judge the correct the type and condition of the position and the proper road, the sharpness of the and correct speed for the bend, the camber or surface corner or bend. curve of the road, visibility and the weather conditions. The secret of dealing with bends is to slow down When reducing speed before before the bent. Use the entering a bend, take your accelerator so that the foot off the accelerator and engine is doing just enough reduce the vehicle speed work to drive the vehicle to the road speed using the round the bend without foot-brake progressively. going faster. If necessary, change to a lower gear. The correct speed at a corner or bend will depend You should reduce the on a number of things, speed before you turn. including how sharp it is and whether there is other traffic about. Remember You slow down before the bent and you have to use the accelerator so that the engine is doing just enough work to drive the vehicle round the bend without going faster. Adjust your speed and do not go into the bend too fast. The correct speed at a bend will depend on a number of things, including how sharp it is and whether there is other traffic about. Too much acceleration can cause your vehicle’s wheel to loose grip and skid. Increase the speed only when you have straightened the wheel as you leave the bend. Judging the correct road speed as you approach bends and corners take practice and experience. Avoid braking in a bend: this can make your vehicle unstable. The sharper the bend, the more drastic the effects of braking and more likely the vehicle is to skid. Brake before the bend, if any braking is necessary. Where vision is restricted be prepared to meet oncoming vehicles, pedestrians or obstructions, such as slow- moving or broken-down vehicles. OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS 057 distance: The three-second rule distance to keep between you and another vehicle? brakes yourself. In this time, stop lights of the vehicles you and your vehicle will ahead will give you ample have covered 17 meters warning that it is time to if you are traveling at 60 slow down, and you will km/h, 22 meters at 80 km/h have more time to react if and 33 meters at 120 km/h you have to bring your car to before you react. a sudden stop. Keep your distance, and Some people believe that always scan the road as far they save time by driving ahead as you can! fast. However, this is a misconception and an... one hundred and three. If Try to concentrate primarily unfortunate one, for it on what is happening to creates unnecessary stress the cars further up the and is the cause of many road, which is easier if you unnecessary accidents. are not following exactly in the tracks of the vehicle For example, if your average immediately ahead. If this is speed is 80km/h and you impractical, try to scan the accelerate to 100km/h, the traffic by looking through time you will save will be as the windows of the vehicles little as 1 minute over the further along the road. The next 10 kilometers. under considerable pressure. Not only must they concentrate on must also be on the constant lookout for oncoming traffic. So show people doing a tough job, slow down in good time and keep well clear of the reduce risks on the road:

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