COMMUNICATION AMONG ROAD USERS – A RECIPE FOR MUTUAL SAFETY

COMMUNICATION AMONG ROAD USERS – A RECIPE FOR MUTUAL SAFETY

Many a times, road users (drivers, pedestrians and motorist) feel independent from each other on our roads. Realistically, we are all connected to each other. The action of one affects the triangle and each one is mutually responsible for the safety of theirs on our roads.

And because of the above mindset, many accidents and human casualties happen our roads. In this, we would look at some of the ways road users come communicate with each other for mutual safety.

Car traffic indicators

Car traffic indicators are used to show the intention of the driver about what direction he or she will go next. It is useful to the other surrounding road users as well. Ideally, the indicator should be actuated 30 meters before the turn in the city and 150 meters before the turn on the high because of the speed at which the cars are moving.

VEHICLE INDICATORS

Just imagine that all the vehicles behind you assume that you are moving straight ahead only to show that you are making a turn within the next 2 seconds. Imagine the consequences on the pedestrian on the shoulders of the road. This is most common among commercial drivers in the urban areas i.e. Mini vans (trotros and taxi). It is best to declare our intentions earlier so that other road users can make provision for us. It is also incumbent on other road users to be on the lookout for this when at junctions and other turns.  Defective indicator light should be checked and replaced.

Hand signals

HAND SIGNALS

So, I was driving on an inner city road, i stopped for a vehicle to enter the main road from a junction. Unknowingly, a motorist was right beside me not knowing that a vehicle is entering into the other lane. This is a clear situation of where and when hand signals need to be used.

In a case when a vehicle stops for a pedestrian to cross the road or for a vehicle to enter the main road, hand signals are essential to warn nearby motorist of what is going on around.

A lot of commercial drivers are good at this but omit proper and recognised hand signals and we should know them off head and what each of them mean.

Horn

Horn is a safety feature in the vehicle for warning and alerting motorist and pedestrians of the dangers around. Unfortunately, this is often abused mostly by commercial transport operators (taxi and trotro) who use it to alert standing by passengers. That is why it has lost its significance.

Horn Action

Headlight flashing

Headlight flashing is the act of briefly switching on the headlights of a car on and off intermittently or momentarily switching a headlights high and low beams to communicate to another driver(s) and other road users. It is sometimes called optical horn by some manufactures because it is used to draw the attention of theirs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjLTTNzJmkI
( A link to a YouTube video demonstrating headlight flashing courtesy Tim Clayton )

Head light flashing can also be used for the purposes

·         To let other drivers, know of their presence.

·         To signal that the flashing driver is yielding the right of way.

·         To warn other drivers of road dangers such as broken down vehicles on the road.

These are ways by which drivers and other road users can communicate their intentions to other for the mutual safety of the other. It is best to look out for these signs when we on the road. Let’s be safe.

About the Author

Edmond Nana Cabir Flynt is a vehicle sales advisor and consultant based in Takoradi - Ghana. He is also a volunteer, an entrepreneur, and an auto show radio presenter.

For further enquiry, consultation, advertisement, product promotion (vehicle related), vehicle and accessory sale, contact him on the following numbers +233(0)209461930 /+233(0)548383591 and email: nanaflynt@gmail.com