As explained in our Steering Column, disciplined and safe driving is the key to enjoying your ride. You have to obey all road and safety rules even if you are driving just 200m to the nearest boutique to buy groceries. The main point is ignoring all distractions and maintaining focus on the road.
In order to keep focused while driving, you should follow these steps: Keep 100 percent of your attention on driving at all times – no multi-tasking apart from changing gears. This means no eating, no smoking (which is really bad for your overall health anyway) and no phoning (even if it’s hands free or speakerphone).
Stop for a moment if you have to adjust the stereo or the AC. And do not go above the posted speed limits – on an expressway, it is 100 Kmph and on non-city roads it is 70 Kmph. Within some city limits, you may have to observe a 50 Kmph limit. In Colombo, you have to slow down anyway because of the traffic – which is indeed why fatal or even serious accidents in Colombo itself are very rare. It is always better to slow down rather than speed up. Speeding gives you less time to react and increases the severity of an accident.
Defensive driving
If you drive helter-skelter on the road, it is time to practice defensive driving – a system where motorists use accident-preventing techniques with a focus on driving safely. To practise defensive driving: Think at least 10 seconds ahead – Be aware of what other drivers around you are doing, and expect the unexpected; Always assume that other motorists will do something crazy (especially three wheeler drivers and motorcyclists), and always be prepared to avoid it.
Keep a good distance with the car ahead of you and increase it in case of bad weather or at night. The general rule is that you should be able to come to a halt in around 6-10 seconds if the car driver in front applies the brakes.
Always use caution when changing lanes. Cutting in front of someone, changing lanes too fast or not using your signals may cause an accident or upset other drivers. Take a couple of seconds every now and then to look in the rear-view mirror and also the side mirrors especially before changing lanes.
It is advisable to build time into your trip schedule to stop for food, rest breaks, phone calls or other errands. Pull over to have food or take a phone call, but be extremely careful in doing so – give ample time to the motorists behind you by signalling early. Having rest breaks is especially important if your trip is over 50 Km.
Before starting your journey
If you have to drive alone at night, avoid the expressways as they tend to be monotonous. Adjust your seat, mirrors, and climate controls before putting the car in gear. If it is a long distance journey, check the battery, lights, wipers, wiper washer tank, coolant, tyres, fuel level (make sure the fuel indicator is working) and the brakes. Before every journey, look at the instrument panel and see if any warning lights come on. Attend to any issues before you start the journey.
If yours is an all-electric vehicle, make sure it is fully charged and know where it can be recharged during your journey if needed. Regular servicing can keep your car in tip-top condition, ready for any journey at a moment’s notice.
Secure cargo that may move around while the vehicle is in motion and do not attempt to retrieve items that fall to the floor while the vehicle is in motion, unless a passenger can pick it up safely. Have the items that you need within easy reach – such as sunglasses, toll fees, toll tickets, Revenue Licence and Insurance, Driver’s Licence and any other relevant documents.
Obey road rules
Always wear your seat belt – even for a very short drive. Never, ever, Drive Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol or narcotics. If you are under medication for any ailment, discuss with your doctor whether any of the drugs can make you drowsy even during the daytime. If you buy any Over the Counter (OTC) drugs from the pharmacy, ask the pharmacist the same question.
As for children younger than 15 or 16, do not let them ride in the front passenger seat even if belted. The SRS airbags are designed for adults. They deploy with a huge force that can easily kill a child. The lesson here is that younger children should always ride in the back seat and toddlers should be in properly fixed ISOFIX child seats.
Do not allow children to fight or climb around in your car – they should always be buckled in their seats. Too much noise can easily distract you from focusing on the road. Pets too should be properly harnessed. Be extra careful in areas where wild animals including elephants or heads of cattle may roam.
Needless to say, you should obey all road signs, traffic signals, traffic police commands and other road rules. Completely stop at “STOP” signs and look for other drivers and pedestrians in every direction before you proceed. Look for one-way signs/no right-turn signs in areas that you might not be familiar with.
Do not honk unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. If you are calm and composed, even a traffic jam can be a joy. Do not yell or swear at other drivers even for the slightest provocation. Smile, wave or flash your lights if someone gives you the way or extends some other courtesy.
Parking
Do not park on or near pedestrian crossings and always be on the lookout for jaywalkers. When you park, always try to reverse park (so that the car’s front faces the road). Reversing into a main road is an offence in any case. Reverse parking is sometimes not easy, but once you do it, you can just drive away. Also try parallel parking where possible and never, ever double park. Do not park on sidewalks or at bus stops, both of which can net you a fine. Also, be careful when opening the driver side door as other drivers or motorcyclists may not notice that you are about to open the door. There is a simple remedy – just look in the side mirror for any oncoming vehicles.
Always give way to emergency vehicles, except in cases where doing so might be dangerous due to traffic conditions. Even then, as soon as that situation is resolved, get to a side and let the emergency vehicle pass. On the road, make sure that you do not end up in that emergency vehicle.
