Carmudi
AS many Tanzanians are preparing for the festive season, Tanzania leading online market place, Carmudi, has embarked on its campaign of ensuring that many Tanzanians are celebrating it responsibly by following simple tips.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam to the members of the press, Carmudi East Africa Managing Director, Mr William day says, “Carmudi aims at ensuring that people driving safely and responsibly as they are celebrating with their families, hence making sure that the national workforce is not lost due to reckless driving”.
Mr William said Carmudi will always work with other stakeholders in ensuring safety of Tanzanians, and shared the following tips;
Avoid the “fast lane.”
By using the center or left lane on multilane roads, you have more “escape routes” should a problem suddenly arise that requires you to quickly change lanes or pull onto the shoulder. Most highway accidents occur in the right lane. Furthermore, you are more conspicuous to highway patrol if you are in the “fast lane.”
Keep your eyes scanning the area ahead.
Don’t just eyeball the car in front of you but watch the traffic in front of that car as well. This increases your chance of seeing a problem while still having enough time to react to it, and decreases your chance of rear-ending the vehicle in front of you should they make a sudden stop.
Beware of blind spots.
Adjust your side mirrors and rearview mirror to provide you with one near seamless panoramic scene of the view behind you, but don’t rely solely on them. Actually turn to look directly into the lanes beside you to avoid missing something left undetected by your mirrors. Also consider the blind spots for other drivers around you, especially truckers, and try to minimize the amount of time you spend in them.
Drive with your hands in the 9 and 3 o’clock position.
Instead of the lazy, typical way people drive with one hand at 12 o’clock or both hands resting at the bottom of the steering wheel, this recommended position facilitates maximum vehicle control when you’re forced into quick maneuvering to avoid a potential car accident.
Judge a driver by his/her car’s condition.
If a car’s condition indicates an inattentive owner because of body damage or dirty windows, it could easily suggest an inattentive driver, too. Also, drifting in the lane often identifies a tired, drunk or cell phone-preoccupied driver — so you should get away from that person.
Know your car’s limits.
Pay attention to how your particular vehicle reacts in certain situations — if the vehicle leans a lot when you’re rounding corners, this means that wrenching the wheel at high speeds to avoid an accident will be a scary proposition. It’s also key to be familiar with the limits of your car’s brakes and tires. How long does it take to stop when you apply maximum pressure? How much grip do your tires have? If you replaced your car’s stock tires with a cheap set, chances are you’ve reduced its braking and handling capability.
The nighttime is not the right time.
Some people like to travel at night to avoid traffic, but with it comes certain hazards. In addition to your own increased fatigue and decreased field of vision, you need to be aware of joyriding teens and drivers who may be tired or drunk. Drive extra defensively around the witching hour, after midnight when some people are leaving bars, parties or sports arenas.
None of these are surefire ways to prevent a car accident. You can only control what you do behind the wheel, not what your fellow drivers do. But take responsibility when you drive and focus on the task at hand. It’s not a time to return phone calls or shave or log onto your e-mail. Driving isn’t a mindless activity, it’s an exercise in self-restraint, self-defense and self-preservation.