adminThere are many ways of abusing a vehicle: one of the common ones is neglect, letting your vehicle deteriorate to a point where it no longer functions the way it is supposed to. This will obviously lead to breakdowns and at times accidents. It will also mean a repair bill and increased fuel and oil consumption.
Poorly trained drivers can shorten the life of a vehicle by riding and snapping the clutch, selecting the wrong gear, applying the brakes excessively and driving over kerbs. Some neglect to check tyres, oil pressure and other maintenance items.
We encourage all drivers to undergo a defensive driving course and learn to understand the importance of knowing how their cars work.
They will master the skills to know what a car needs in the way of maintenance and be proud of keeping one’s car in tip-top operating conditions.
Every driver should, however, know that it is not really your vehicle to do as you please. The law says it is an offence for you to operate your vehicle on the streets and highways of Zimbabwe in a condition that endangers any person.
The ZRP and VID reserve the right to impound any vehicle – private or public service vehicle or company car – without fear or favour.
Error 4
Schedule Delays
Transportation cannot operate without a schedule. A schedule is a promise of delivery to a customer.
It is a piece of paper until a driver turns it into on-time deliveries. Even private motorists have a schedule of some sort.
Drivers can create schedule delays by reporting late for work, sleeping alongside the road, or having their vehicle breakdown on the road because of rough operation or failure to make a proper inspection of the vehicle before take-off.
Good scheduling means efficient use of your vehicle. Do not make unnecessary trips. You can plan your errands so that you can accomplish all of your shopping errands in a single trip.
This will reduce wear and tear of your vehicle and even exposure to accidents.
The Traffic Safety Council carries out driver assessments in the form of a road test. Abuse of vehicle components and failure to do correct pre-drive checks will lead to failure.
The test also comes along with a vision test which also divulges whether one’s eyesight is suitable for driving.
A driver must plan his/her trips to take advantage of the best road, light, weather and traffic conditions.
For instance, every driver knows how long it takes to travel from home to work. If you start a trip 0 minutes late, you must expect to arrive 10 minutes late.
Error 5
Discourtesy
Courtesy and consideration towards other road users is the most important basic driving attitude there is. Everyone should be concerned about making driving more civilised and pleasant for everyone.
A discourteous driver exceeds speed limits, makes reckless overtaking, straddles lanes, blocks traffic at intersections or even uses the horn excessively.
The habit of driving courteously can help a driver to avoid a lot of emotional stress and keep your presence of mind in spite of the actions of others.
The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe’s objective is to promote among all motorists an attitude of mutual understanding, courtesy and co-operation .
For feedback you can whatsapp us on 0716 000 507 or contact the Product Development and Marketing Manager, Ernest Muchena, on 0772 110 898, or email us on [email protected] or [email protected].”
Online Reporter