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Drivers
There is a significantly greater risk for young drivers from 18 to 24 years of age to find themselves in a serious road accident. That risk is up to 4 times greater in comparison to drivers from 30 to 59 years of age.
A number of factors contribute to the relatively high percentage of participation of young and new drivers in RTA and their dangerous behaviour on the road. They are mostly associated with inexperience and young age: mental and physical immaturity, inclination to take risks, desire for self-affirmation, use of alcohol, drugs and fatigue, lack of routine and automatic behaviour, limited capacity for detection and prevention of hazardous situations, overestimation of their own capabilities, underestimation of situations, etc.
The highest degree of occurrence of incidents and mortality by fault of young drivers is not a Bulgarian phenomenon.
Elderly drivers
Traffic safety is of vital importance to all ages. Older drivers, however, experience physical changes, which may affect their ability to drive safely. The lenses of the eye lose their ability to change the focus quickly, peripheral vision is narrowed, the retina becomes less sensitive to light, etc. The time for processing of information by the brain increases, which prolongs significantly the response time in the event of hazards. The physical ability of the elderly to withstand shocks is considerably smaller, because of which injuries in a RTA with a relatively low degree of seriousness are fatal.
Drivers without qualifications
In recent years the number of serious RTA by fault of drivers without qualifications increases continuously. Children, young people, adults - drivers without qualifications drive vehicles with or without the knowledge of the owners of the cars or the parents in large numbers. In certain areas driving vehicles by drivers without qualifications is accepted without criticism and often with approval. Every 10th casualty on the roads is the fault of a driver without qualifications.
Seat Belts
The usage of safety means by drivers and passengers affects directly the severity of injuries in RTA of the passengers in the car or on the motorcycle. Surveys among car manufacturers indicate that safety belts reduce the number of serious injuries by 30% and prevent death cases by 50 %. Children, who are not secured, are threatened seven times more in case of an accident than if they use seat belts and children’s seats. (from the site)
The speed
Exceeded and inadequate speed is the main, the most common cause of loss of control over the vehicle, of the extended stopping distance and the heaviness of injuries to the human body in road traffic accidents. The correct choice of speed of travelling guarantees the quality of movement. Very often drivers forget that it is hard for the human body to bear mechanical shock, it is easily hurt and has a threshold of tolerance. Chances for survival in an accident decrease under certain speed depending on the shock. In case of an impact between a car and a pedestrian this speed is 30 km/h, between a car and a cyclist - 30 km/h, a car and a tree - 40 km/h, two cars in a side impact - 50 km/h, car to a car in a frontal impact - 70 km/h. (From the site)
Alcohol
Alcohol is one of the main factors for RTA with particularly serious consequences. A number of scientific studies show that the risk of participation in an accident with victims is increasing at a fast pace with the increase of the level of alcohol in the driver’s blood. Public intolerance towards driving a car by a driver under the influence of alcohol must be created. Cases of serious road accidents in which the drunk driver had been alone almost don’t exist. Therefore the number of the deceased passengers in cars, driven by drunk drivers, is greater than the number of deceased drivers. (from the site)
Fatigue
The effect of fatigue on serious accidents on the road is difficult to estimate but is recognized as a big and continuously growing problem. Fatigue is a factor, contributing to accidents during long and short trips. There is evidence that deprivation of sleep can have the same harmful effects as the consumption of alcohol. Drivers, who were awake from 5 to 7 p.m., behave worse while driving a car than those with alcohol in blood within 0.05 ppm. After 21 hours of insomnia their performance is approximately the same as during driving with 0.15 ppm of alcohol. Fatigue most often grows into the so-called drowsy driving. Drowsing on the steering wheel is fatal if driving at a high speed.
What is fatigue?
Fatigue during driving is one of the reasons for hundreds of deaths each year. Fatigue is a partial reason for about 30% of serious accidents.
Fatigue can be just as deadly as driving drunk and speeding.
Fatigue is perfidious because it occurs without realizing and often the driver does not realize that he is too tired to drive. However, drivers can recognize certain symptoms of fatigue and stop driving before it is too late.
Symptoms
There are several easily identifiable signs, which indicate when one is tired:
yawning often
it is hard to hold your head upright and your eyes open
your eyes burn
your eyesight begins to blur
you start seeing "things"
you get distracted, you are thinking about everything else, but not the road
you become impatient and take premature decisions
you feel hungry or thirsty
your hands sweat
your reactions are slow
you feel uncomfortable
your speed is unstable
you start making mistakes when you change gear
you roam along the centre line, enter the opposite lane or stagger to the roadside
you hear humming or buzzing in your ears
you don’t notice a vehicle until it suddenly overtakes you
you don’t remember the last few kilometres
How to avoid fatigue during long journeys
There are several simple ways to avoid fatigue. Their application will help you arrive successfully at the end point of the trip:
plan your trip so that you have enough sleep in the night before travelling (approximately 7-8 hours of sleep)
allow for not more than 8-10 hours of driving a day. The longer you drive, the longer you will have to compensate for the fatigue
plan regular breaks for rest (minimum 15 minutes every 2 hours)
plan to start your journey early in the day and try not to drive during the night
plan to spend the night somewhere
when you stop, get out of the vehicle and take a walk, take some exercise by breathing deeply
if possible, pass the steering wheel to somebody else from time to time. Your companions can tell you if you have symptoms of fatigue
eat well-balanced food during the trip - neither too abundant, nor too scarce. If possible, eat during the normal dining hours. This will force you to stop for breaks (avoid greasy foods - they will make you feel sleepy)
do not drink alcohol before driving or during breaks - it will put you to sleep
check what medicines you take - some medicines reduce the sharpness of perceptions or cause drowsiness. If your medicines do, ask your physician whether you can stop taking them for the time of the journey
Myths and facts
There are many myths about fatigue during driving
Myth: It will be safer if I travel during the night because I will avoid busy traffic during the day
Fact: Your body is set according to the normal 24-hour biological clock. If you drive during the time you would normally be sleeping, then your fight with sleep would be fierce. The likelihood of falling asleep on the steering wheel after normal bedtime, especially after midnight, is great.
Myth: It is a good idea to start a journey after work
Fact: This is the most inappropriate time for starting a journey. Your physique and/or your brain have been under pressure throughout the day and you are tired after work, even if you do not realize this. It is best to get a good sleep during the night and start going the next morning.
Myth: Loud music will keep me awake
Fact: This can help for some time, but not for long. Loud music can also diverge your attention from driving and even put you to sleep!
Myth: A jug with coffee or other caffeine drink will keep me awake
Fact: Caffeine is only a short-term solution and its effect will decrease the faster the more often you drink it.
Myth: A flow of fresh air from the window will keep me awake
Fact: This may refresh you for a short time, but if you are tired the only solution is sleep!
Distraction
Driving MOTOR VEHICLES requires constant attention and monitoring of the road transport situation, signalling and marking, the behaviour of the rest of the participants in the traffic, the measurements of various devices, etc. The sources of distraction for the driver both in the vehicle and outside it have increased significantly in recent years. Modern vehicles are equipped with satellite navigation, complicated sound systems, climate control, as well as audible and visual warning of damage to the vehicle, which compete for the driver’s attention.
The use of mobile phones leads to a significant increase of the risk of accidents, regardless of whether the phone is in the hand or a hands-free device is used. Risks are bigger for beginner drivers.
Sources:
National strategy for improving safety on the road of Republic of Bulgaria for the period 2011 - 2020.
http://dokkpbdp.mvr.bg
A number of factors contribute to the relatively high percentage of participation of young and new drivers in RTA and their dangerous behaviour on the road. They are mostly associated with inexperience and young age: mental and physical immaturity, inclination to take risks, desire for self-affirmation, use of alcohol, drugs and fatigue, lack of routine and automatic behaviour, limited capacity for detection and prevention of hazardous situations, overestimation of their own capabilities, underestimation of situations, etc.
The highest degree of occurrence of incidents and mortality by fault of young drivers is not a Bulgarian phenomenon.
Elderly drivers
Traffic safety is of vital importance to all ages. Older drivers, however, experience physical changes, which may affect their ability to drive safely. The lenses of the eye lose their ability to change the focus quickly, peripheral vision is narrowed, the retina becomes less sensitive to light, etc. The time for processing of information by the brain increases, which prolongs significantly the response time in the event of hazards. The physical ability of the elderly to withstand shocks is considerably smaller, because of which injuries in a RTA with a relatively low degree of seriousness are fatal.
Drivers without qualifications
In recent years the number of serious RTA by fault of drivers without qualifications increases continuously. Children, young people, adults - drivers without qualifications drive vehicles with or without the knowledge of the owners of the cars or the parents in large numbers. In certain areas driving vehicles by drivers without qualifications is accepted without criticism and often with approval. Every 10th casualty on the roads is the fault of a driver without qualifications.
Seat Belts
The usage of safety means by drivers and passengers affects directly the severity of injuries in RTA of the passengers in the car or on the motorcycle. Surveys among car manufacturers indicate that safety belts reduce the number of serious injuries by 30% and prevent death cases by 50 %. Children, who are not secured, are threatened seven times more in case of an accident than if they use seat belts and children’s seats. (from the site)
The speed
Exceeded and inadequate speed is the main, the most common cause of loss of control over the vehicle, of the extended stopping distance and the heaviness of injuries to the human body in road traffic accidents. The correct choice of speed of travelling guarantees the quality of movement. Very often drivers forget that it is hard for the human body to bear mechanical shock, it is easily hurt and has a threshold of tolerance. Chances for survival in an accident decrease under certain speed depending on the shock. In case of an impact between a car and a pedestrian this speed is 30 km/h, between a car and a cyclist - 30 km/h, a car and a tree - 40 km/h, two cars in a side impact - 50 km/h, car to a car in a frontal impact - 70 km/h. (From the site)
Alcohol
Alcohol is one of the main factors for RTA with particularly serious consequences. A number of scientific studies show that the risk of participation in an accident with victims is increasing at a fast pace with the increase of the level of alcohol in the driver’s blood. Public intolerance towards driving a car by a driver under the influence of alcohol must be created. Cases of serious road accidents in which the drunk driver had been alone almost don’t exist. Therefore the number of the deceased passengers in cars, driven by drunk drivers, is greater than the number of deceased drivers. (from the site)
Fatigue
The effect of fatigue on serious accidents on the road is difficult to estimate but is recognized as a big and continuously growing problem. Fatigue is a factor, contributing to accidents during long and short trips. There is evidence that deprivation of sleep can have the same harmful effects as the consumption of alcohol. Drivers, who were awake from 5 to 7 p.m., behave worse while driving a car than those with alcohol in blood within 0.05 ppm. After 21 hours of insomnia their performance is approximately the same as during driving with 0.15 ppm of alcohol. Fatigue most often grows into the so-called drowsy driving. Drowsing on the steering wheel is fatal if driving at a high speed.
What is fatigue?
Fatigue during driving is one of the reasons for hundreds of deaths each year. Fatigue is a partial reason for about 30% of serious accidents.
Fatigue can be just as deadly as driving drunk and speeding.
Fatigue is perfidious because it occurs without realizing and often the driver does not realize that he is too tired to drive. However, drivers can recognize certain symptoms of fatigue and stop driving before it is too late.
Symptoms
There are several easily identifiable signs, which indicate when one is tired:
yawning often
it is hard to hold your head upright and your eyes open
your eyes burn
your eyesight begins to blur
you start seeing "things"
you get distracted, you are thinking about everything else, but not the road
you become impatient and take premature decisions
you feel hungry or thirsty
your hands sweat
your reactions are slow
you feel uncomfortable
your speed is unstable
you start making mistakes when you change gear
you roam along the centre line, enter the opposite lane or stagger to the roadside
you hear humming or buzzing in your ears
you don’t notice a vehicle until it suddenly overtakes you
you don’t remember the last few kilometres
How to avoid fatigue during long journeys
There are several simple ways to avoid fatigue. Their application will help you arrive successfully at the end point of the trip:
plan your trip so that you have enough sleep in the night before travelling (approximately 7-8 hours of sleep)
allow for not more than 8-10 hours of driving a day. The longer you drive, the longer you will have to compensate for the fatigue
plan regular breaks for rest (minimum 15 minutes every 2 hours)
plan to start your journey early in the day and try not to drive during the night
plan to spend the night somewhere
when you stop, get out of the vehicle and take a walk, take some exercise by breathing deeply
if possible, pass the steering wheel to somebody else from time to time. Your companions can tell you if you have symptoms of fatigue
eat well-balanced food during the trip - neither too abundant, nor too scarce. If possible, eat during the normal dining hours. This will force you to stop for breaks (avoid greasy foods - they will make you feel sleepy)
do not drink alcohol before driving or during breaks - it will put you to sleep
check what medicines you take - some medicines reduce the sharpness of perceptions or cause drowsiness. If your medicines do, ask your physician whether you can stop taking them for the time of the journey
Myths and facts
There are many myths about fatigue during driving
Myth: It will be safer if I travel during the night because I will avoid busy traffic during the day
Fact: Your body is set according to the normal 24-hour biological clock. If you drive during the time you would normally be sleeping, then your fight with sleep would be fierce. The likelihood of falling asleep on the steering wheel after normal bedtime, especially after midnight, is great.
Myth: It is a good idea to start a journey after work
Fact: This is the most inappropriate time for starting a journey. Your physique and/or your brain have been under pressure throughout the day and you are tired after work, even if you do not realize this. It is best to get a good sleep during the night and start going the next morning.
Myth: Loud music will keep me awake
Fact: This can help for some time, but not for long. Loud music can also diverge your attention from driving and even put you to sleep!
Myth: A jug with coffee or other caffeine drink will keep me awake
Fact: Caffeine is only a short-term solution and its effect will decrease the faster the more often you drink it.
Myth: A flow of fresh air from the window will keep me awake
Fact: This may refresh you for a short time, but if you are tired the only solution is sleep!
Distraction
Driving MOTOR VEHICLES requires constant attention and monitoring of the road transport situation, signalling and marking, the behaviour of the rest of the participants in the traffic, the measurements of various devices, etc. The sources of distraction for the driver both in the vehicle and outside it have increased significantly in recent years. Modern vehicles are equipped with satellite navigation, complicated sound systems, climate control, as well as audible and visual warning of damage to the vehicle, which compete for the driver’s attention.
The use of mobile phones leads to a significant increase of the risk of accidents, regardless of whether the phone is in the hand or a hands-free device is used. Risks are bigger for beginner drivers.
Sources:
National strategy for improving safety on the road of Republic of Bulgaria for the period 2011 - 2020.
http://dokkpbdp.mvr.bg
