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It’s the responsibility of every road user to observe and ensure traffic safety. Here are some tips on what you can do to ensure safe motoring.
Your vehicle must be in tip-top condition before driving off. While checking your vehicle, think POWER:
Check the brake fluid level. If it drops frequently below the minimum level, there must be a leak in the system. Do not drive the vehicle until it has been thoroughly examined by a qualified mechanic.
Make sure that the headlights, tail lights, indicator lights, reversing lights, brake lights and all gauges are functioning.
The condition of your tyres affects steering. Make sure that they are properly inflated using a pressure gauge. Remember to conduct a monthly check on the tread. Tyres with treads less than 1.6mm in depth should be replaced. Smooth or bald tyres will cause the car to skid when you brake hard – regardless of whether the road is wet or dry. Do not forget to check the spare tyre as well.
Make sure that all doors are properly secured.
An important aspect of driving safely is knowing your limit and that of your vehicle because driver errors play a part in over 90% of motoring accidents. When we take risks, we often try to justify them instead of taking a critical look at our own attitudes. The road is not meant for competitive driving. Share them with other road users.
Safe driving means giving your full attention to the road. Being distracted by something going on in the vehicle can lead to terrible consequences. Even if you are confident that you will not be distracted while talking, your hazard perception and response will be compromised. As such, eliminate distractions whenever possible – whether it’s talking to passengers or using a mobile phone.
Research surveys show that most road-rage offenders believe themselves to be the victim of someone else’s bad driving. They interpret simple incidents like being overtaken as a threat and respond aggressively. To combat road rage, always be tolerant and stay calm. Allowing ample time for your journey also helps to reduce anxiety and increase your threshold for tolerance.
Fatigue is a major cause of accidents. Signs and symptoms of fatigue include constant yawning, growing impatience with other road users, bad temper and inconsistent speed. Make sure you rest well before you drive.
Develop your ability to read the road and identify potential dangers early so that you can respond in good time. You need to observe what is happening constantly, anticipate what may happen next and devise strategies that will allow you to deal with unforeseeable circumstances. By weighing situations and options all the time, you’ll be in a position to react quickly, reduce your speed well in advance of a hazard and avert the need for sudden braking or violent swerving – all of which may lead to accidents
A major irritation on the road is a driver who tailgates. Tailgating is a dangerous practice. It’s important to always keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front because:
The law for overtaking is simple – stay in the left lane, unless you are overtaking, and return to the left lane once you have done so. When overtaking, you need to check that it is safe to do so and leave a safe gap between your vehicle and the vehicle in front. You need to be well clear of the vehicle before returning to your lane or line of traffic. Do not cut in sharply.
Cornering places heavy demands on the tyres. There is only a limited amount of grip available – harsh braking or acceleration while steering around a bend will destabilise the vehicle, causing it to skid. To minimise this, adjust your speed and select the appropriate gear before the turn.
A driver cannot afford to ignore the weather because it affects the visibility distance and how well the vehicle responds to the controls.
Ensure that your vehicle is well maintained to cope with any weather as dirty windscreen and faulty wipers will hinder vision when it rains. Clean the windscreen thoroughly with a solvent to remove all road grime and grease. Check your wipers regularly for signs of wear and tear.
The stopping distance increases dramatically on slippery roads. Therefore is important to slow your speed down when it rains.
Aggie Krasnolucka
is Programmes Director at the FIA Foundation where she looks after its portfolio of road safety interventions as well as leads the Motorcycle Initiative – a global hub of interventions working towards improving motorcycle safety across areas of helmet safety, infrastructure, technology, and legislation.
Previously, she worked across different areas of the international development context including community outreach and engagement, road safety, access to health, private public partnerships as well as fundraising and communications. Aggie holds a master’s degree in social anthropology as well as linguistics and literature.
Professor Wong
is currently a Full Professor at the Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, University Putra Malaysia. He has been serving the department and the University since 1997. During his service, Professor Wong was seconded to Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), a Statutory Body in Malaysia (with MIROS Act 2012) and a national research institute in Malaysia in December 2007 as the Director of Vehicle Safety and Biomechanics Research Centre. He was then appointed as the Director-General of MIROS in August 2011. His 10-year secondment to MIROS ended in September 2017 and was appointed to be the MIROS Board Director. In February 2022, Professor Wong is appointed as the Chairman of MIROS Board of Directors. Professor Wong is also appointed as an Adjunct Professor of Qatar University. He served as the Special Advisor on Road Safety to the Minister of Transport and Communications Myanmar till 2021. He was appointed to serve in the Steering Committee of the United Nations Road Safety Fund from 2022 to 2024. Recently Professor Wong was appointed as the Fellow of the Academy of Science Malaysia.
Professor Wong has driven the drafting, deliberation and enactment of MIROS Act 2012 by the Parliament of Malaysia. He is also directly and indirectly involved in establishing numerous national and international initiatives and interventions in Road Safety, amongst them are rear seatbelt law, national implementation framework of UN WP29 Regulations, enforcing various UN Regulations on Road Vehicles, airbag fitment, ASEAN New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) for Malaysia, Guideline for Road Safety Audit, Code of Practices for Transport Sector under OSHA Malaysia, ISO39001 road traffic safety management systems and the competence requirements for auditing and certification in ISO17021-7, Pilot implementation of ISO39001 in Malaysia, use of electric cars, motorcycles and bicycles, in-depth crash and accident database, Automated Enforcement System, Mandatory of Electronic Stability Control System, Revision of Drive Under Influence, Malaysian Accident Emergency Call Systems Initiative, Endorsement of 2015 ASEAN Declaration on Road Safety Strategy by ASEAN Transport Ministers, road safety recommendations to the Government of Myanmar with in-Country Expert Mission to Myanmar, and many others.
Mr. Michihiro Toki
is a seasoned mobility and road safety expert with over 25 years at the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF). He currently serves as Manager of the Project Development Division in JAF’s Traffic Environment Department, leading national road safety campaigns and sustainable mobility initiatives.
Mr. Toki began his career in 1998 as a roadside assistance patrol officer, gaining hands-on experience with the diverse challenges faced by drivers in Japan. He transitioned to membership promotion in 2006, working with automotive dealers to expand JAF’s member base.
In 2018, he assumed a leadership role at the branch level, overseeing road safety, motorsports, and public relations. As a JAF Certified Safety Advisor, he delivered safety lectures, managed motorsport activities, and led public outreach. Promoted in 2021 to Section Manager, he expanded his role to include Safety Advisor training, PR strategy, and membership benefit development.
Appointed to his current position in 2024, Mr. Toki now directs the training of Safety Advisors nationwide and develops interactive programs for diverse audiences, including international drivers. He collaborates with government and industry partners to tackle traffic safety issues.
Beyond JAF, Mr. Toki serves on national bodies including the Sub Study Group for Advanced Safety Vehicles (MLIT), the Cabinet Office’s Traffic Safety Forum, and as Vice-Chairman of the Training Commission at the Japan Automobile Education Foundation.
Mr. Toki is recognised for his dedication to public safety, his strategic leadership in mobility initiatives, and his deep commitment to enhancing the driving culture in Japan.