Media Release
26th October 2005
Driving Tips from Irish Advanced Motorists to keep Safe over the Long Weekend and Watch the Clock!
The end of Irish Summer Time (Sunday 30th October 2005) combined with busier then normal roads will bring added danger this weekend – so extra driver precautions are needed. That is the warning from Irish Advanced Motorists (IAM), a not for profit organisation dedicated to improving driving standards in Ireland.
“Optimum driving conditions are now ending after a longer than usual summer period with good weather. So drivers should watch the speedometer and reduce their speed to reflect poor weather conditions. Drivers should remember that speed limits are not targets. They are there as a guide for driving in optimum conditions. However slippery surfaces and of course the longer hours of darkness as the clocks go back are a potentially lethal combination and may require slower speeds then those indicated,” said IAM’s National Training Manager, Mike Kavanagh.
"Drivers should remember that speed limits are not targets. They are there as a guide for driving in optimum conditions.
The IAM has long held that the end of Irish Summer Time means that the most dangerous time of the day on the road, late afternoon/early evening, is in darkness. “It is one of the principles of good driving that you should always be able to stop safely within the distance you can see to be clear. As the days grow shorter, drivers should be prepared to alter their behaviour and drive according to the conditions,” said Mike Kavanagh. Other driver safety suggestions from the IAM include:
■ Don’t wait until it’s fully dark to turn your lights on: “see and be seen”
■ Take particular care where children may be playing as light fades, especially between 4pm and 6pm
■ Clear all ice and debris from your windows before you start driving
■ Check your windscreen wiper blades are in good condition and reservoir topped up. Keep the windscreen clear
■ Carry a spare pair of shoes in your car as dry soles make it easier to drive
■ Check your lights and tyres, including your spare tyre and carry a spare set of light bulbs
■ Wipe your head lights and tail lights to keep them bright.
Avoid Tailgating
Tailgating is deemed by many drivers to be one of the things they dislike most about other drivers. But yet, the majority of drivers confess to driving too close at times. Keeping a suitable gap between yourself and the vehicle in front not only reduces the chance of a rear end shunt, but it improves your observation and reduces your stress levels (as well as your passengers).
To calculate the appropriate space to keep between yourself and the car in front, you can use the “2 second Rule”. When the car in front gets level with a stationary object such as a tree or a road sign, start to count how many seconds it takes you to get level with the same object. If you arrive at the object before you have counted to two seconds, then you are too close.
You can count to two seconds by saying the phrase “only a fool breaks the 2 second rule”. If the road is wet then this gap should be increased to four seconds by adding the phrase “know the score and make it 4”.
(Ends)
Advice courtesy of Mike Kavanagh, Director, Irish Advanced Motorists
(056) 7771778.
Enquiries:
Maeve Governey, Heneghan PR: 01 6607395 or 086 8057884
