ARAMCO Defensive driving leaflets

8/16/2019 ARAMCO Defensive driving leaflets

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Inside this issueS P E C I A L T R A F F I C I S S U E 2 0 1 4

If you have any articles you

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suggestions, please e-mail them

to: [email protected]

Panorama (Issn 1319-2027) is

published quarterly by Saudi Aramco’s

Loss Prevention Department and is

distributed free of charge to company

employees and other readers with an

interest in safety. Articles may be

reprinted without permission provided

Panorama and Saudi Aramco Loss

Prevention are credited.

Photos by Ali Al-Mubarak Altraiki P. Company - Fax: 8471412

Loss Prevention, Room A-117Building 3150, LIP

Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia

© Copyright 2014, Saudi Aramco. All rights reserved.

6Passengers are ranked by drivers as among the most

frequent causes of distraction. Young children are four times

as distracting as adults, while infants can be eight times

more distracting; and it takes only a fraction of a second for

an unexpected hazard to cause a disastrous accident.

Distracting Darlings

Special Traffic Issue 2014

Promoting Family Safety

Panorama

2 Asleep at the Wheel?Driver fatigue is a serious problem and can seriously affect and impair driver

concentration and awareness. Tragically, its impact on safe driving is often

seriously underestimated by drivers.


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The Boundaries of ParkingRefresh your knowledge of parking rules and regulations

— it can make the frustrating world of driving much

more tolerable for everyone. A small investment, such as

understanding the rules and etiquette in parking lots, can

help prevent a vehicle incident.

Not by AccidentTraffic laws are meant to keep

road users safe but they will only

work when everyone followsthe rules and stops breaking the

law no matter what the excuse.

Everyone is responsible for road

safety.

9

Traffic Safety ChallengesEven the best drivers sometimes panic when faced

with a driving challenge. Here are a few reminders

on how to handle some of the most dangerous

driving situations you may encounter.


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Asleep at theWheel?Panorama

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Studies show that drivers don’t fall asleep without

warning and those who do fall asleep at the wheel

have often tried to fight off drowsiness by opening a

window or turning up the radio.

““


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It’s a shock, waking up in suchan abrupt fashion. Lucky for you,

when you’re in an armchair you

simply know it’s time to go to

bed. But what if you were behind

the wheel of a car? What if,

instead of awaking to a TV screen,

you came face-to-face with

another vehicle seconds before a

head-on collision?

Driver fatigue is a serious problemand can seriously affect and

impair driver concentration and

awareness. Tragically, its impact

on safe driving is often seriously

underestimated by drivers. The

facts speak for themselves:

• Research suggests that almost

20% of accidents on major

roads are sleep related.

• Sleep-related accidents are

more likely than others to

result in a fatality or serious

injury.

• Peak times for accidents are in

the early hours of the day and

after lunch.

Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness

that has a gradual onset. It

can be physical or mental,decreasing your ability to think

and focus clearly. Long hours at

the office or on the road, busy

lifestyles, pushing yourself too

hard and simply not getting the

recommended eight hours of

sleep every night all contribute to

a buildup that strains the body

and mind, causing fatigue.

For drivers, this can be incrediblydangerous, especially those who

“keep going” even when they

really feel too tired to do so. This

is dangerous for any activity, but

when in charge of a vehicle, or

any machinery, it can be lethal.

Recognize the signs at thewheel

Fatigued drivers experience thefollowing tell-tale signs:

• Disconnected or wandering

thoughts.

• Inability to remember the last

few moments or parts of the

road just driven.

• Inability to focus solely on the

road and surroundings.

• Frequent yawning.

• “Heavy” eyes and difficulty

keeping them open.

• Restlessness and muscle

soreness.

Reasons for fatigue can be varied

and include:

• Lack of proper rest and sleep.

• Driving for long distances/

periods of time or having a job

that requires this activity.

• Driving at irregular hours

(generally considered between

midnight and 6 a.m.) Early

afternoon (2 to 4 p.m.) has

also been identified as a key

time for fatigue onset.

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Have you ever been watching television or reading a book

when slowly your eyes begin to close? Your head falls

forward and before you know it, momentarily you have fallen

completely asleep, only waking when your head suddenly

jerks back at the moment you completely lose consciousness.


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• Consuming a heavy meal

before starting a journey.

• Taking medication that causes

drowsiness. (Never drive if you

are taking medication that

causes drowsiness. Check the

label to see if it states that you

should not drive or operate

heavy equipment. If you are in

doubt, consult your doctor.)

• Suffering from Obstructive

Sleep Apnea (OSA) — see table

below.

Recognizing the signs of fatigue is

the first part; taking action is the

second. Often, drivers are aware

when they are feeling sleepy,so this is the time to make a

conscious decision about whether

to continue driving. Those who

persist can underestimate the risk

of actually falling asleep at the

wheel. Studies show that drivers

don’t fall asleep without warning

and those who do fall asleep at

the wheel have often tried to

fight off drowsiness by opening a

window or turning up the radio.

This doesn’t work for long. If you

are fighting fatigue, it will win

unless you stop and rest.

Even short journeys are a potential

risk. Drivers simply cannot be

as alert to surrounding traffic

situations and pedestrians when

they are fatigued. How long does

it take to drift into the lane of an

oncoming car? A few seconds

only. So any time spent on the

road when fatigued is potentially

the time an accident could

happen, possibly a fatal one.

A refreshing start

No one needs to start a car

journey tired. Follow our Journey

Planner on page 5:

• Plan your journey to include

a 15-minute break every two

hours.

• Don’t start a long trip if you’re

already tired.

• Remember the risks if you have

to get up unusually early to

start a long drive.

• Try to avoid long trips between

midnight and 6 a.m. when

you’re likely to feel sleepy

anyway.

• If you start to feel sleepy, find a

safe place to stop and nap for

10 to 15 minutes — never the

hard shoulder of a motorway.

• Drinking two cups of coffee or

a high-caffeine drink can help,

but this can only be a short-

term solution. Drivers can have

a false sense of alertness that

does not last.

• Remember, the only real cure

for fatigue is proper rest and

sleep. Do not continue a

journey, even after a rest stop,

if you are too tired to do so.

It’s not just the driver who is

affected by driving while fatigued

— his passengers and everyone

else sharing the road with him are

potential victims of his decision.

Never risk driving when fatigued;

be fit to drive every time you

go out. No driver should make

a decision he could regret for alifetime.

Panorama

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Obstructive Sleep Apneabstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related medical condition. It occurs

when a person is sleeping and the muscles in the nose and throat relax so much that the

airway passages narrow, causing disruption to the airflow. The reduced airway results in

noisy and turbulent breathing (snoring). On occasion, the airways can close altogether,

causing pauses in breathing during sleep. These pauses are called apneas (literally,

“without breath”) and typically last for 20 to 40 seconds.

A person who has OSA will suffer during the day due to their lack of refreshing sleep at night. The

person wakes up feeling tired and may have a headache. Daytime sleepiness is very common with OSA

adults falling asleep at meetings, watching TV, even during conversations. But the most alarming fact

is that they can also do so while driving.

If you experience excessive daytime tiredness and are falling asleep during the day, you could suffer

from OSA. There is now increasing awareness of the relationship between OSA and falling asleep

during driving, particularly on long, straight roads. Consult your doctor about possible OSA and

treatment for it.

O


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JourneyPlanner

Use other travel modes,

it’s safer (e.g., taxi)Do you have

to drive?

Yes

Plan the route

During the journey

If you start to feel sleepy …

Too tired to continue? Find somewhere safe to stop overnight.

Be well rested

before you start.

Avoid heavy meals.

Ensure your vehicle

is in good condition.

Book an overnight

stop if necessary.

Avoid driving in peak

sleepiness periods.

(2 to 4 p.m. and

midnight to 6 a.m.)

Avoid driving when

you would normally

be asleep.

Find a safe place to stop

and pull over — NEVER

on the road or the

shoulder of the road!

Take two strongcaffeine drinks — butdon’t rely on these to

keep you awake for longdistances.

Take regular rest breaks — stop for

15 minutes every two hours.

Plan to take rest

breaks at least every

two hours.

Plan where to stop

for the night, if

necessary.

Check for delays

— plan alternative

routes.

Only continue if you feel

refreshed.

Rest for 15 minutes

minimum.

Stay focused and concentrate on

your driving.

Make sure you’re

not on medication

that could make you

drowsy.

No


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DistractingDarlings

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Children are very distracting

Whether it’s two or more young ones squabbling or

a lone infant protesting to be released from a childsafety seat, you do not want to divert your attention

from the road. My trick was to pull off to the side

of the road and recite the multiplication tables until

quiet was restored in the back seat. It got to the

point where all I had to say was “One times one

equals one; two times one” to have complete silence

in the car.

According to the American Automobile Association

(AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety, passengers

are ranked by drivers as among the most frequent

causes of distraction. Young children are four timesas distracting as adults, while infants can be eight

times more distracting; and it takes only a fraction

of a second for an unexpected hazard to cause a

disastrous accident.

How to prepare

It is tempting to discuss, argue, threaten and

otherwise get involved with the children, but all of

these are distracting and dangerous for a driver.

A little beforehand driving preparation can make the journey smoother and more pleasant for everyone.

Before setting out

Babies

• Plan to feed babies before you depart. If your

baby is eating or drinking in the car and starts to

choke, you will have limited ability to react.

• Check the child or baby restraint to ensure it

is correct for the size, weight and age of the

child. According to the AAA one of the thingsthat can prevent children from being distracting

is ensuring that they are restrained in the

appropriate seat. Start with your baby’s first trip

home from the hospital.

Older children

• Set the ground rules. Educate children on

car safety. Tell them that parents need to pay

attention to the road, so that everyone is safe.

• Make sure you have items that the children may

need on hand or within reach. Put snacks and

drinks where they are accessible. Sometimes

putting a bag with snacks between the children

helps eliminate arguments about space.

• Put toys within easy reach. In all cases, make

sure that any heavier items, such as video games

or larger books are safely stored in the seatback

pockets, so that they won’t become projectiles in

the event of a crash.

• Select DVDs if there is a DVD player in the vehicle.

Choose those that the entire family can agree on.

• Select CDs with children’s stories and songs for

the trip.

On the road• Be a role model. Always wear your seat belt and

drive defensively.

• Keep your eyes forward. Resist the urge to reach

back or take your eyes off the road even when

you’re stopped. It only takes a second for an

accident to occur.

• Do not use mirrors. Your rearview and side view

mirrors need to be used for checking the road.

They should not be adjusted to view children.

• Do use special mirrors. If your children are inrear-facing car seats, attach a mirror to the head

restraint to be able to monitor them.

• Make them wait: Tell your kids that you cannot

help because you are driving and that they will

need to wait until you can pull over or until you

get to your destination. You may have to listen to

a tantrum, but at least the child is restrained in a

seat and cannot get hurt or hurt anyone else.

• Pull over. If you cannot deal with screaming and

need to tend to your child immediately, pull overto a safe spot. It’s safer to get off the road and

go into a gas station than move to the side of the

road where you could face other hazards such

as the possibility of getting struck by another

vehicle.

• Distract your children. Engage them in a song

or game. Children’s music in the CD player or a

DVD of a favorite program can help. Pointing out

buses, fire trucks, and traffic lights can help the

children focus on what’s outside the vehicle and

forget what’s bothering them inside the vehicle.

“Are we there yet?” Every parent who’s traveled with

children has heard that question.


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• Stay off the phone. For the

safety of yourself and your

children (and others on the

road), refrain from using a

mobile phone to talk or text.

You’re carrying precious cargo

and your job is to transport

them safely. Not to mentionyou may be potentially setting

a poor example. If you need to

make a call, pull over to a safe

place.

Distracting the distractors

Many children have access to

electronic games or DVDs while

they are traveling and these

are usually great ways to keep

children quiet and engagedduring a trip. When batteries fail

or electronics are not available,

there are some games that have

kept children entertained over the

years.

Number of the day

Players: 1 or more

Equipment: A watch (optional)

The players decide on the order

of play — for example oldest

to youngest. They also pick a

number — for example they

might choose the number 5.

The first car to pass belongs to

Sami, the first player. The license

plate is 867HJA. The license plate

does not contain the number 5 so

Sami’s turn is over.

The second player, Jawaher, gets

the next car to pass. The license

plate is 151RBJ. Jawaher scores

one point for the 5.

Now it’s Ahmed’s turn. The next

car that comes has the license

plate 555ARZ. Ahmed gets 3

points — one for each of the 5s.

Then it’s Sami’s turn again. The

first player to get 25 points wins.

If you want a short game, set a

lower number.

If you want to play the game

alone, time yourself to see how

long it takes you to get to your

goal number. Then play againstyour own best time.

Night Rider

Players: 2 or more

This is a game for 2 or more

players. It is a good game to play

at night when you can’t see the

scenery. It is also a good game

when the children are getting

too competitive with each other

as it is a cooperative game that

everyone plays and no one loses.

All you have to do is make a

sound — a different sound that

is not too loud — whenever you

see or do something. For example,

when a car passes you, everyone

says BZZZZZ, BZZZZ, BZZZZ. When

you pass another car everyone

says Ding, Ding, Ding.

Some of the most common events

and the sounds that go with

them:

Car passes: BZZZZZ,

BZZZZZ, BZZZZ

You pass car: Ding,

Ding, Ding

You go over the

bridge: OOOO,

OOOO, OOOO

You go under the bridge: Aye,

Aye, Aye

You pass a sign: Ahhhh, Ahhhh,

Ahhhh

You pass a truck: Shhhh, Shhhh,

Shhhh

Truck passes you: Grrrr GrrrrGrrrr

Adapted from The Little Giant Book

of Travel Fun, which has dozens of

travel games that are good for all

ages and for long journeys as well as

short trips.

Barry, Sheila Anne 2001, The Little

Giant Book of Travel Fun, Sterling

Publication, Canada.


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Not by

Accident


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Saudi Arabia has achieved many successes on the

world stage, from being a leader in the energy

industry that supplies the world with the power to

prosper, to having some of the most modern and

well-built road infrastructure. It provides its citizens

with free education and medical care. It is a growing

power on the world stage; a record that they should

be proud of.

There is one record; however, that citizens and

residents of Saudi Arabia should not be proud to

hold. And that is Saudi Arabia’s traffic safety record.

According to the local media, Saudi Arabia’s roads

are among the most dangerous and deadly in the

world. Road deaths are a principal cause of fatal

injuries for male adults between the ages of 16 and

35. With over 300,000 traffic accidents annually,

about one third of the hospital beds in the Kingdom

are taken up by those injured in traffic accidents. In

the Arab News (Nov. 1, 2013, editorial), the rector

of the Dammam University and the Chairman of the

Supreme Committee of the Second Traffic SafetyForum reported that “the total bill for the carnage

on our roads is now running at around SR 13 billion

… a truly staggering figure.”

Why, you might ask, does Saudi Arabia have this

tragic traffic accident record? The country has

some of the best developed road networks and

infrastructure. It has the same traffic rules and

regulations as the rest of the world. According the

World Health Organization, Saudi Arabia’s traffic

enforcement is improving and currently rated quitehigh.

So what is the problem? Do the citizens and

residents willfully break the law? Traffic accidents

don’t just happen; they are caused by a blatant

disregard for the Kingdom’s traffic laws. As

stated in the Arab News, “road collisions happen

because someone behaved stupidly, with lack

of consideration for the rules or with reckless

abandon.”

Ask yourself, do you willfully disregard traffic rules

and regulations when you get behind the wheel?

Here are some of the excuses that people used when

they were seriously injured in vehicle collisions. Do

any of these sound familiar to you?

• I was running late for a meeting so I had to speed

to make up time.

• I considered myself to be a very competent driver.

I thought I could handle my vehicle at any speed

and maneuver it away from the hazard.

• I didn’t have the directions to where I was going,

so I was reading the map to help me get there.

• I was talking to my wife on the phone and didn’t

see the stop sign.

• I didn’t have time to take my vehicle to the

mechanics to check the brakes.

• I visually checked the tires to see if they were

properly inflated. They looked okay.

• My husband couldn’t take me to my medical

appointment, so I asked my 14 year old son to

drive. Although he doesn’t have a driver’s license,

his father taught him to drive.

• I was texting my friend and didn’t realize that we

needed to turn, so I instructed my driver to turn

left at the last minute.

• My children cry when I buckle them up in their

safety seats, so I leave them unrestrained.

• I don’t wear my seat belt — it’s too constraining.

There are just as many excuses as there are vehicle

accidents. The list is endless. But, are any of them

enough to excuse you from obeying the law and

taking the life of another person (or your own)?

Traffic laws are meant to keep road users safe but

they will only work when everyone follows the

rules and stops breaking the law no matter what

the excuse. Everyone is responsible for road safety.

Even passengers share the burden for the Kingdom’s

traffic safety record by allowing their drivers to

disrespect traffic rules and regulations.

Accident: An unplanned event or circumstance; an unexpected happening causing

loss or injury that is not due to any fault or misconduct on the part of the person

injured.

Law: A binding custom or practice; a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally

recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority.


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Stop the excuses now

If we want to improve the Kingdom’s traffic record

and to be safe on the road, then we (drivers and

passengers alike) must change our driving behaviors,

attitudes and habits. Here are some driving tips to

follow to help bring you and your passengers home

unharmed each time:

Don’t drive when under medication

Certain medications can

blur your vision and impair

your judgment and reflexes

(reducing your reaction time

and coordination), which

can cause you to make

unsafe driving decisions.

Use an alternate form oftransportation, such as a

taxi or bus, or ask a friend or an experienced family

member to drive instead.

Obey the speed limit

Speed limits are not

arbitrary numbers used by

the traffic authorities to

inconvenience you. They

are carefully determined to

ensure that vehicle speedsmatch the road and driving

conditions. Traffic accident

statistics from all over the

world show that speeding is the primary contributing

factor for fatal traffic collisions. Simply put, speed

kills!

If you think you will be saving time and getting to

your destination quicker by traveling 16 km/h over

the speed limit, think again. You might save a few

minutes but you are increasing your chance of beinginvolved in a vehicle collision by as much as 50%.

Take your time, obey the speed limit and you will get

to your destination safely.

Avoid distractions

Never allow distractions to take your eyes

and concentration away from the road.

Distractions while driving can take many

forms: adjusting the radio/CD player/ MP3 player, using a DVD player, smoking,

grooming, using a GPS, talking/searching/

texting on a mobile

phone, eating and

drinking, talking to

passengers, and dealing

with noisy children.

One common element

among these things

is that they take our

attention away from

your primary task of

driving safely. So “keep

your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel”

as Jim Morrison (rock musician) sang. Be mindful

of other drivers who may be using a mobile phone,

eating, drinking or otherwise distracted. They can

make sudden and unpredictable moves.

Be well rested

You may think that a few yawns while youare driving are nothing to be concerned

about. But research has shown that being

just a little drowsy increases your risk of

being involved in a traffic collision. A tired

driver’s responses

can be anything from

nodding off for a few

seconds to simply

losing consciousness.

This progression

can happen withoutwarning. When

travelling at any speed,

but especially highway

speeds, nodding off can be fatal. If you begin to

feel drowsy, pull off to the side of the road well

away from traffic and rest until you are feeling more

alert or ask a passenger to take over while you rest.

Remember the best advice is to get a good night’s

sleep (for at least 8 hours) on a regular basis. For

more information, refer to the article “Asleep at the

Wheel” on page 2.


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Keep a safe followingdistance

Safe driving guidelines from all over the world advise

drivers to maintain a safe following distance from

the vehicle ahead. Doing so will allow you sufficient

time to react to any hazards or traffic situations,

such as cars turning or stopping suddenly. The ruleof thumb for determining a safe following distance

under normal road and weather conditions is to

find a stationary object on the side of the road such

as traffic sign or street light and when the vehicle

ahead of you passes that object, start counting the

seconds “one thousand one, one thousand two.”

Count at least two seconds before your car passes

the object.

Be extra cautious in bad weather

If you are driving in badweather (fog, rain, sandstorms)

or through construction and

poor road conditions, be extra

cautious and increase your

following distance to 4 seconds

or more. Slow down; sand and

moisture from fog or rain can

make roads slippery. Be especially careful around

curves. If visibility is too poor to continue driving,

pull off the road as far away from traffic as possible.

Turn off your headlights, take your foot off the brake

pedal, and turn on your hazard lights. Wait until

conditions improve before starting to drive again.

Watch out for the other guy

Not everyone on the

road follows traffics

rules and regulations. It

is impossible to list all

the things another driver

might do, so be prepared

for the unexpected at all

times. Being prepared means always being aware of

the traffic around you. Check your mirrors and blind

spots frequently. Look ahead so you can see what

is happening. In the city, look at least one block

ahead and keep an eye on side streets so you will

know where the vehicles around you are and how

they are being driven. On the highway, look at least

400 m ahead. Keep well away from drivers who are

weaving in and out of traffic, speeding or driving

unsafely.

Keep your vehicle safe

Proper vehicle maintenance

not only extends the life

of your vehicle but it playsa major role in keeping

you and your passengers

safe. Imagine applying the

brakes when you need

to stop at a red light and the brakes fail, or being

involved in a rollover because a tire blew out. At any

speed, but especially highway speeds, these vehicle

maintenance issues can be fatal. Although the

Kingdom requires regular vehicle inspections, you

need to be aware of any potential mechanical and

safety concerns that can happen at any time. Havethe vehicle repaired by a qualified mechanic. Check

your vehicle’s tire pressure (including the spare) at

least weekly and more often in the summer.

Wear your seat belt

Always wear your seat belt and make sure that

all your passengers are properly restrained in

age- and size-appropriate

vehicle restraints. When

worn properly, seat belts help

prevent vehicle occupants frombeing thrown around inside

the vehicle or from being

ejected from the vehicle. The

US National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA)

statistics show that over half of the fatal injuries

were to people who were not wearing seat belts.

Seat belts help save lives, so buckle up!

Traffic safety does not happen by accident. It

requires everyone to obey the traffic laws. No moreexcuses. Follow these safe driving tips and help

change the traffic safety record of the Kingdom.

Traffic safety … it’s your choice!

Panorama

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The Boundariesof Parking

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Ali rushed in his car to the supermarket so he

would not miss his favorite team’s soccer game.

When he arrived at the store, the parking

lot was packed with cars. He sped through

the narrow lanes hoping he could find a spot

closer to the entrance. With his eyes focusedaway from the road, he did not see the car

backing up in front of him. The cars collided.

Ali knew the damage would be extensive

from the sound of the impact. He banged his

fists against the wheel and shouted, “Now I’m

going to miss the football match!”

If you have ever had a vehicle incident, orknown someone who has, you are aware of

the troubles it brings. Dealing with traffic

police, insurance companies and repair shops

can be frustrating and costly. Most of the time,

accidents can be avoided. And since many

accidents happen in or near parking lots, it is

important to know how to act and respond in

these situations.

Mentally shifting gears

Even the safest and most confident drivers get nervous

in parking lots. Shifting your mindset is important since

drivers abruptly go from driving highway speeds to parking

speeds multiple times on a given trip. Many people forget

that each change in environment requires a change in

thinking.

Anees figured out how to deal with the shift when he

drives in parking lots. “I am way more relaxed on the

highway, but in a parking lot I become a different person.

I get my adrenaline pumping and start concentrating like

a martial arts fighter. I drive very slowly — no more than

10 km/h. I’ve seen way too many accidents in parking lots

and don’t want to be that guy on the phone calling the

police,” he said.

Pedestrian factors

Being a pedestrian also demands that you steer yourself in

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Driver’s Checklist Yes No Park your car as centered and straight in a space as possible.

Yes NoAvoid parking at the end of an aisle where there is the additional exposure from vehicles

turning.

Yes No Avoid parking next to cars that are parked at an angle.

Yes No Use your horn to warn others.

Yes No Allow for more time so you are not late or rushed.

Yes No Take your time backing out of your parking spot. Check the rearview and side mirrors,and look over both shoulders.

Yes No Buckle up before putting the car in gear.

Yes No Use your turn signals to communicate your intentions to the other drivers.

Yes No Look for a parking space where you don’t have to back out.

Yes No Avoid competing and arguing with another driver for a space.

Yes NoConduct of a “walk-around” 360˚ inspection of your vehicle before backing out of a

parking space, looking for any driving obstacles.

Parking Safety Checklist

the right direction. One worker

who collects shopping carts for a

retail store sees shoppers getting

into close calls on a daily basis.

“They seem to forget that they

are no longer behind the wheel

when they get out of their car and

they walk right in front of movingtraffic like they are invincible,”

said Ahmed.

The combination of motor vehicles

and pedestrians requires everyone

to be alert to the constantly

changing conditions. Drivers need

to make an extra effort to watch

out for pedestrians, especially

children. And some parking areas

are scarier than others. Poorly

placed traffic signs and other

hazards (i.e., poor lighting, few

crosswalks, rough surfaces) make

the typical parking lot experiencemore perilous.

As Bruce Lee said, “[Parking lot

safety can only come] when being

wholly and quietly alive, aware

and alert, ready for whatever may

come.”

Got a lot of skills?

Slow driving and constant

alertness are important, but

more consideration needs to be

taken in a parking environment.

Developing and practicing astructured set of skills can help

you avoid accidents. Tameem,a youth driving instructor, hascreated a list for his studentswhen he teaches his parkinglessons to his classes.

Rate yourself to see how youwould do in Tameem’s class bycompleting the checklist below.

Pedestrian Checklist

Yes NoWear light-colored or reflective outer wear, if you’re walking after dark so that you will

be seen by drivers.

Yes NoWatch where you are going and be alert for obstacles such as curbs and broken

pavement. If you are carrying items, make sure you can see over the load.

Yes NoUse extra caution as you walk to your vehicle in conditions such as rain, dust, ice or

darkness.

Yes NoAvoid texting, conversations or other things that might distract you from scanning the

parking area and being constantly alert for moving vehicles and machinery.


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“If I were to go undercover and

test driver’s skills in a parking

lot, most adults would fail,” said

Tameem. “Many of them set

poor examples for their children

behind the wheel and later I have

to teach young adults not to drive

like their parents,” he jokes.

Refresh your knowledge of

parking rules and regulations — it

can make the frustrating world

of driving much more tolerable

for everyone. A small investment,

such as understanding the rules

and etiquette in parking lots, can

save you time, money and pain.

Parking Etiquette

Here are some suggestions on how drivers and pedestrians can improve their parking manners:

• Double parking is a no-no. No one likes to be blocked in by a stranger. The offending car can,

and should, be towed.

• First come, first served. The universal rule is that the first person waiting for a parking space is

to be the recipient of that parking space. To swoop in and take it is tantamount to theft.• Use your turn signals to indicate your intentions to others. You may also communicate your

intentions with eye contact, as well as appropriate hand gestures if needed.

• Pedestrians should resist obstructing traffic by walking in the center of a parking lane. Use a

sidewalk if possible and avoid using your mobile phone until you are out of congested parking

areas.

• Keep your children close to you in parking lots — have them hold your hand and stay near

them. Drivers should also watch for families with children, since little ones have a tendency to

jump out and run around at any given moment.


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Traffic Safety

Challenges


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Traffic accidents are preventable.

A preventable accident is one in

which a driver commits errors

or fails to react appropriately to

the errors of others. A defensive

driver has the ability to avoid

accidents despite adverse driving

conditions and the actions or

errors of others. Most drivers

are trained to drive properly.

However, even the best drivers

sometimes panic when faced with

a driving challenge. Here are a

few reminders on how to handle

some of the most dangerous

driving situations you may

encounter.

Avoid head-on collisions

Head-on collisions are the most

deadly accidents, often resulting

in fatalities. Driving on an

undivided highway increases your

chance of a head-on collision

because there is no barrier to

separate your vehicle from the

traffic moving in the opposite

direction. Some of the mostunsafe situations encountered on

undivided roads include a vehicle

attempting to pass another

vehicle; a vehicle swerving to

avoid a hazard on the road, such

as another vehicle, a pedestrian

or a cyclist; a speeding vehicle

entering your lane because the

driver is distracted; and a driver

losing control of his vehicle. Most

head-on collisions, however, canbe prevented using defensive

driving techniques:

• Drive only when alert and well

rested.

• Frequently scan the road

ahead for hazards. Look as far

into the distance as you can.

Noticing a hazard at a distance

allows you more time to react

to it and avoid a collision.

• Stay well to the right of the

centerline, where oncoming

traffic is less likely to stray.

Doing so helps you move to

the shoulder or side of the

road more quickly, if needed.

• Drive at a safe speed for road

and weather conditions. Thisway you will have more time

to appropriately react to a

hazard.

When you see an oncoming

vehicle driving in your lane, take

these precautions:

• Slow down and move to the

right.

• Sound your horn and flash

your lights.• Be prepared to stop or drive

off the road if the oncoming

vehicle does not move into its

own lane.

• If you decide to drive off the

road, avoid slamming on the

brakes. Remove your foot

from the accelerator, apply the

brakes gently and steer firmly

in the direction you want tomove.

Merge safely into highwaytraffic

When merging into highway

traffic, you must simultaneously

scan the highway for an opening

and adjust your speed to match

the speed of the traffic on the

highway. Follow these safety tips

to merge safely into highwaytraffic:

• Do not stop on the onramp

unless it is absolutely

necessary. If you stop, it will

take longer to reach the speed

of the traffic on the highway.

You may also set off a chain

reaction of collision with the

vehicles behind you.

• Allow an adequate gap

between your vehicle, the

vehicle that passes the ramp

in front of you and the vehicle

behind you.

• Turn on your signal light as

you merge, use your rearview

and side mirrors, and look over

your shoulder to make surethat no traffic is in your blind

spot or moving to the right of

your lane.

Change lanes safely

Lane changing is another

challenging driving situation.

These safety tips will help you

change lanes safely:

• Plan ahead so you have plenty

of time to change lanes.

• Before changing lanes, check

your rearview and side mirrors

and blind spots.

• Use your turn signal to indicate

your intentions.

• Keep a safe distance between

the vehicle in front of you and

the vehicle behind you.

•

Avoid slowing down orspeeding up dramatically.

However, be sure to match

your speed to the speed of

traffic in the lane you are

moving into.

• Do not cross more than one

lane at a time.

• Turn off your turn signal after

changing lanes.

Avoid a collision with thevehicle ahead

To avoid a collision with the

vehicle ahead, follow these tips:

• Stay back. Keep at least a two-

second following distance.

When the rear bumper of the

vehicle ahead of you passes

a stationary object, begin

counting “One thousand one,

one thousand two.” As you


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finish counting, your front

bumper should reach the same

object. If you reach it before

you finish counting, you are

too close. In adverse weather

conditions, such as rain and

fog, increase the distance

between your vehicle and thevehicle ahead to a four- or six-

second following distance.

• Stay alert for the actions of the

driver ahead of you. Watch for

his intentions — turn signals,

brake lights, drifting to the

right or left in preparation

of a turn, etc., and react

appropriately.

Avoid a collision with thevehicle behind

To avoid a collision with the

vehicle behind you, follow these

tips:

• Signal your intentions in time.

Use directional signals and

brake lights to communicate.

Give the driver behind you

time to adjust to your moves.

When stopped, keep your

brake lights on.

• Stop smoothly. By applyingthe two-second rule with

the vehicle ahead, you will

minimize the need for sudden

stops and thus reduce the

chances of rear-end collisions.

• Slow down when the vehicle

behind you does not follow at

an adequate distance. Adjust

your own following distance

to at least four seconds. This

action encourages tailgaters to

either pass you or slow down.

Avoid obstructed visionrelated accidents

When a driver’s vision is

obstructed by greenery or houses,

or by large vehicles parked on

either side of the road, especially

at intersection corners, he cannot

see oncoming traffic clearly. Toavoid accidents resulting from

limited line of sight, a driver must

follow these safety tips:

• Look around and into the

distance before reaching an

area with houses, greenery or

parked vehicles.

• Exercise caution when

approaching the area and

watch for oncoming traffic

from the opposite road.• Slow down and be ready to

stop if necessary to avoid

hazards due to others’

mistakes. Even if you have the

right-of-way, be careful and

ready to yield to the other

driver if necessary.

• Check your rearview and side

mirrors for traffic; look over

your shoulder for traffic in yourblind spot.

Approach a roundabout safely

To avoid an accident at a

roundabout (traffic circle), follow

these safety tips:

• Approach cautiously indicating

your intentions with a right

turn signal.

• Yield the right-of-way to traffic

already in the roundabout.

• Once traffic is clear, proceed

to the right — you never enter

the circle by turning left.

• When you are ready to exit the

roundabout, turn on your right

turn signal.

• Turn off your turn signal once

you leave the roundabout.

Stop intersection accidents

Accidents at intersections are

some of the most common types

of accidents. Every driver has

the responsibility to approach,

enter and cross intersections

cautiously to avoid accidents

that might occur because of the

actions of other drivers. These

actions include speeding, crossing

against a red light or a stop sign,crossing a lane when turning and


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coming from a blind spot. Follow

these tips to avoid an intersection

accident:

• Approach the intersection

cautiously.

• Drive defensively; always

expect the unexpected.

• Slow down, signal your

intentions and observe the

traffic around you.

• Never block the intersection by

entering it when you cannot

clear it safely before the traffic

light changes.

• Stop at red lights.

• If the light has been green for

some time, expect it to turn

yellow. Cross a yellow light

only if you are already in the

intersection and it is safe to

proceed.

• When the light is green,

proceed only if traffic has

cleared in all directions.

Avoid accidents whilereversing

All reversing accidents arepreventable. Check all clearances

when reversing, including

checking the rearview and

side mirrors, paying particular

attention to blind spots — the

area that starts about one half of

the car length behind the vehicle

and stretches far enough to hide

a vehicle. To back up safely, follow

these tips:

• Perform a “walk-around”

360° inspection of your vehicle

before you drive away. Children

might be playing around it or

pets might be resting close by.

• Back out with care, driving

slower than 22 km/h.

• Stop once after you begin

reversing to double-check

that no other vehicles or

Stay clear of aggressivedrivers

The best way to avoid provokingan aggressive driver and becoming

a target is to practice basic traffic

courtesy. Here’s how:

• Avoid tailgating.

• Use your horn sparingly.

• Don’t block the passing or the

right-hand turn lane.

• Don’t switch lanes without

signaling.

•

Don’t weave back and forthfrom lane to lane in traffic.

• Don’t flash your lights to signal

the driver ahead to move to

another lane.

• Don’t slow down in front

of a vehicle you have just

passed. Maintain a safe speed

according to the speed of the

traffic.

•

Use the proper turn lane forturning. Do not turn left from

the right lane or turn right

from the left lane.

• Don’t race to run through a

yellow light that’s about to turn

red.

• Be careful to turn headlights

from high-beam to low-beam

when meeting traffic or when

following another vehicle

• If you must drive slowly, stay

in the right lane; pull over

and allow built-up traffic to

pass whenever you have the

opportunity.

• Don’t inflict loud music on

neighboring drivers.

• Don’t take a parking place that

another vehicle is obviouslywaiting for; don’t take up more

than one parking spot.

• Don’t stop in the middle of the

road to use your mobile phone

or talk with a pedestrian or

another driver.

• Don’t stop and block traffic to

allow passengers to enter or

exit your vehicle. Make sure

that others can get past.If you notice that another driver

is targeting you in an aggressive

manner, don’t show a reaction.

Avoid eye contact and put

as much distance as possible

between your vehicle and his.

If verbal interaction takes place,

do your best to avoid escalation

of the conflict. Be polite and

courteous, even if the other driver

Documents

ARAMCO Defensive driving leaflets