The Importance of Vehicle Safety in the Contemporary Period - Research Paper Example

Vehicle Safety There has been a rapid increase in the number of vehicles on the roads all over the world. Rise in the number of vehicles is quite consistent with the increase in population. The increased volume of traffic poses a lot of risks for the drivers. There is dire need for the drivers to take safety measures to make the journey safe for themselves as well as for the others. This paper discusses certain measures to ensure vehicle safety. Drunk driving is forbidden in most of the countries across the world owing to its immense potential to cause harm not only to the drunk driver but also to the other drivers and passers-by. When an individual is drunk, he/she loses the consciousness level that is required to drive prudently. Overcome with emotions and sleepiness, the individual takes sharp turns and drives at a very fast speed. Many people tend to drive after drinking thinking that they are too trained to be caught in any accident. A vast majority of the drunk drivers are quite expert at driving, but when the individual is not fully conscious, the driving skill becomes a secondary factor. What the driver primarily requires is a control over the senses. A drunk driver does not even realize when he/she sped up more than necessary, and in the very moment, was caught in the accident. Wearing seat belt seems a formality to a lot of drivers and many consider it too simple a protective measure to be efficient, though it is a fundamental necessity of driving. Seat belt is a shock absorber. It holds the driver back and keeps the head from smashing against the front mirror or the steering in the instant when the car suddenly strikes against something or is caught in an accident. Whenever a car suddenly stops, the lower part of the body stops with it while the upper part keeps moving at the same speed due to inertia. Thus, drivers that do not wear the seat belt get their heads crashed while the lower part of the body remains intact. But since the head is wounded, it means the brain is wounded. Human brain is amongst the most sensitive body organs and is of prime importance since it controls the body functions. Any damage to the brain cannot be sustained by the body. This is the reason why a vast majority of the drivers getting wounds in the head die at the spot. Thus, wearing safety belt while driving is a must. Many drivers tend to drive with a child in their lap. Driving while cuddling the child is no less dangerous than driving while or after drinking. The driver with a child in the lap may not even realize when the child just runs his hand over the steering wheel and the car takes a sudden turn, just to smash into the car running aside. Children are very unpredictable and should never be trusted for sensibility when the matter is as sensitive as driving on the road. A driver should never keep the child in his/her lap and should also make sure that the steering wheel is beyond the approach of the child. When a driver has to cover a long journey specially in the night, it is imperative that somebody engages him in the conversation. Drivers have a lot of tendency to fall asleep while driving in the night. There is no daylight and the traffic is also considerably lesser in the night than it is in the day. The resulting calm, smooth and uninterrupted journey makes the driver relaxed. After a whole day’s work, the driver feels very lethargic and the added relaxation effect further enhances his tendency to drive unconsciously. A lot of accidents happen in the night and it is no wonder that many of the drivers bumping their cars with the street poles and others sliding aside the bridges are not drunk at all. Night is as dangerous a time to drive as it is peaceful. In the night, when the driver has somebody to talk to, it helps him use his brain continuously and thus, remain awake. Furthermore, both the driver and the individual sitting aside or at the back can kill the time nicely. Another risk factor that particularly enhances during the night is the speed of the car. Owing to the lack of crowded traffic in the night, drivers tend to drive very fast. Their vision in the night is significantly lessened than during the day. Many objects particularly those that are dark in color merge with the blackness in the background and cannot be identified by the driver until the car has been bumped into them. In addition to that, just like the drivers are driving fast in the night, pedestrians are also rushing in an attempt to reach home sooner. Thus, they may not locate an approaching vehicle and may collide with one in the middle of the highway. Chances of accidents of the vehicles increase manifolds in the night, so extra care should be taken during the night. Drivers can enhance their safety during the night-driving by having somebody to talk to them throughout the journey, keeping the head-lights on and driving at a moderate speed. Other safety measures like wearing the seat belt apply as well. It is advisable to make certain last-minute checks before starting the journey. The driver must check how much fuel he/she has and whether it would suffice in the journey or not. He/she must have some money with him/her to cater for any unexpected needs. The driver should check that the engine is fully functional and that the carburetor is filled with water. In addition to that, the driver must confirm that the car brakes are fully functional. Any dysfunction noticed must be get corrected without wasting a minute. Vehicle safety is very important for peaceful and safe driving. Some measures one can take to improve vehicle safety is avoid drunk driving, wearing the seat belt, keeping the children away from the steering wheel, talking while driving in the night, driving at a moderate speed and getting the vehicle regularly inspected. Read More