drivemecrazy

Road accidents should not be blamed only to carelessness, driving under the influence, defective auto parts, and the usual things often blamed for accidents. Did you know that a study says that there could be one root for speeding, dozing, road rage, and meeting mishaps? Yes, there is. It is the wrong smell inside the vehicle. At first, this sounds so funny yet it pays to follow what I’m saying here.

The RAC Foundation stated in their study that the right smell inside a vehicle could aid the driver distinguish dangers earlier, to keep focused on the road ahead, and to be patient enough to forgive other drivers’ errors. It has been found out that the smell is such a powerful sense that could result to a lack of concentration or an overreaction even to the small irritations on the road. These things could then result to trouble.

Researchers found out that the following scents should be avoided:

• Chamomile, jasmine, and lavender. Perhaps if you want to sleep, you can get these. Known as relaxing odors, these scents are dangerous for drivers to smell for they could make them too much relaxed in front of the steering wheel. A too relaxed driver is not good as this feeling could lull him to sleep. You should also be aware that air fresheners with flowery scents contain the same effects.

• The smell from fast food wrappers, fresh bread, and even pastry. These odors could result to drivers’ irritability, the want to speed up, and a greater possibility of being involved in a road rage. This is supported by the fact that these odors could make drivers feel hungry, thus making them want to be in a hurry to fill their appetites.

• The scent of fresh cut grass, pine woods, or roadside flowers. Indeed, these scents could be relaxing, but these could also make the drives be in a nostalgic stage that could make them daydream while driving.

With these, you should not anymore allow your vehicle interior have odors like those mentioned. Though these smells are not sickly, there’s a proper time and place to satiate your feelings about these smells, but not in your vehicle, please. Care about every road user’s safety.

If you read my previous posts about the DOs of driving so you could minimize the risks of meeting an accident, I tell you that doing those things is not enough still. There are things that you might be doing when driving that could bring you into trouble. With that, I compiled here the DON’Ts in driving for you to use to avoid meeting road mishaps.

• Don’t eat or drink while driving. It is always necessary that when you drive, you use both hands. How could you comply with that if one hand is holding a burger, for example? If you badly need food in your stomach, then stick to easy-to-eat foods like snack bars and bottled water.

• Don’t smoke. When you hold a stick of cigar, your movement will surely be limited making it hard for you to operate your vehicle. What more if you accidentally drop it? Imagine what trouble could happen!

• Don’t keep loose objects in your car. Just don’t make the interior of your vehicle messy. Loose objects could roll or slide under the brake pedal. That would surely be trouble. Also, if you have a messy interior, chances are, you would keep an eye over these things so they won’t bother anything inside your vehicle. However, that would make you divert your attention from the road. It would also mean trouble.

• Don’t tailgate. The safest distance from a vehicle is at least one car length. The more distance you can spare, the better. If someone is tailgating you, don’t risk your life by slamming the brakes just to teach that person a lesson. Give him a signal to move a little farther from you.

These would be all for now. There’s still more of the things you should NOT be doing while driving. So better watch out for my next post. I’m sure you’ll want to know more of it. Enjoy and be safe on the road.

It is not anymore new to you that the scariest thing about driving or even riding a vehicle is the fact that meeting an accident is always a possibility. Perhaps, with this, the thought of not getting in contact with a vehicle had crossed your mind already. However, you cannot do that because you had grown so dependent on a vehicle. You have no other choice but to minimize, as much as possible, the risks of meeting a road mishap.

Though you would say that it is hard to get away from an accident, there are ways of minimizing at least the possibility of meeting it. Some things could really help.

First, check your vehicle regularly. You know, it doesn’t mean that when your car engine starts just fine today, nothing is wrong. Don’t assume that it is always at its best condition. Assume otherwise. It would greatly help if you ensure that all of the components of your vehicle are at the top of their shape. Many road mishaps are connected to a failing auto part.

Second, as much as the opportunity permits you, keep your vehicle a little isolated from the rest. It is always safe that you have a space where you can do your necessary moves and turns should the need arise.

Third, scan far ahead of you. Don’t limit your vision to the car just in front of you. When you scan farther ahead, you will be given much time to react about certain circumstances that could be happening ahead of you.

Fourth, communicate. You know this. Put your lights and flares on to alert other drivers about your move.

Here are only the first four of nine things to do to help you minimize the risk of meeting an accident. There are more to come and they are guaranteed to be of equal importance with the four mentioned here. Please refer to my future posts for the continuation of these important reminders for drivers like you. Be safe on the road always.

It is a fact that drowsy drivers are usually involved in road accidents. In fact, the National Sleep Foundation had stated that nearly half of all fatal crashes are attributed to fatigue or drowsy driving. To support that, even the Department of Transportation also estimates that about four percent of traffic fatalities in the U.S. are linked to fatigue.

Accident data had established the profile of drowsy drivers as young people (more often are males), those who have changing work hours, drivers who insist on driving through the night, those who drive long distances between breaks, and those who take medication (or even alcohol). Added to the list are drivers who drive frequently and those who drive alone.

However, the curse of drowsy driving does not only concern the driver but it extends even to innocent passengers and even to other people on the road. With that, passengers should be always on the lookout for drivers who sooner or later would fall into a catastrophic sleep in front of the steering wheel. So if you are a passenger, better watch out for these signs:

• Weaving. Have you been noticing that the driver has been, most of the time, making steering corrections? Get that alarm ringing! He could be distracted enough by his fatigue or drowsiness from driving. 
• Erratic or confused behavior. When you notice that the driver had grown so quiet, it is a sign. Also, the same applies when the driver engages in conversations just to stay awake. A more obvious sign is if what he or she is saying doesn’t make any sense at all. 
• Restlessness. Fidgeting. This is a sign that the driver is fighting so much his or her urge to sleep. He or she keeps on moving around--restless as you call it. 
• Tailgating unusually close to other vehicles. More often than not, it’s not only tailgating but any driving style that’s unusually deviated from the normal practice of the driver. 
• The jerking neck. Also called microsleep, this is when the driver really falls asleep for a moment. This is for sure the sign you would not want to see. At least, the other signs involve the driver’s urge to fight it but in this case, it’s different and it’s more dangerous. 
• Other physical signs of fatigue. Signs such as frequent yawning, shallow breathing, and less frequent eye blinking speak of fatigue and drowsiness. 

If you have been observing that the driver right beside or in front of you have these characteristics, then better advise him or her to stop and rest. It would be the safest move of a concerned passenger like you. Let’s all travel safely!