adminThe five types of errors are: accidents, traffic law offences, vehicle abuse, schedule delays and discourtesy.
This is the first of a series of articles on the errors which help all to enjoy perfect driving.
Error 1: Accidents
An accident is the most costly error a driver can make.
A single lapse in judgment can result in a complete loss of a vehicle or cargo worth thousands of dollars not to mention the possible loss of human life on which no monetary value can be placed.
One can argue that vehicles and cargo are insured, but who pays the insurance company?
Companies and vehicle owners do. So it boils down to the fact that companies and individuals pay for their own accidents.
It is therefore important that companies find good men and women and teach them how to avoid accidents.
There are a few other mistakes that can prove to be so costly to a company in the case of company vehicles or to an individual in the case of private cars.
However, there is more to perfect driving than avoiding accidents.
Error 2: Traffic Law Offences
The second error is traffic offences. Every driver has a legal and moral obligation to know and obey all traffic rules and regulations.
Driving is a privilege, not a right.
A person who demonstrates disrespect for traffic laws will have their privilege taken away from them.
Traffic offences can involve a court appearance, inconvenience, loss of time from work, and a possible fine.
To some people, loss of one’s driving privilege could also mean loss of their livelihood.
But there is an even better reason for being a law-abiding driver – traffic laws are for your protection.
They have a safety objective. When you break a law, you risk an accident.
A person who gets a traffic ticket from the police must rejoice and be glad that his/her mistake was resolved that way, instead of by an accident.
Good traffic law enforcement is something we should be proud of. It makes our streets and highways safer for everyone.
A professional driver has more laws to obey than a private motorist.
There are laws regulating how long he can be behind the wheel.
There is a requirement to stop at rail/road level crossings and should observe truck speed limits.
There are certain streets he/she cannot use. There are also regulations on weight and height restrictions which he/she has to adhere to.
The professional driver is also expected to know the traffic laws of the countries through which he passes and the local by-laws of every town on his route.
l To be continued next week
l The author, Ernest Muchena, is a defensive driving expert. For feedback, contact us on [email protected] or [email protected]
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