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Most of us that drive probably think we know how to stay safe on the roads but do you know how to safely carry loads on your car, exactly what to do if you breakdown on the motorway or what the law is in relation to seatbelts and booster seats?
Cars
How you load your vehicle will directly affect the way it handles on the road. Did you know that?
- Anything on the roof must be properly secured;
- Ropes and covers should not be allowed to flap about;
- Nothing should be allowed to stick out by more than one foot either side of the vehicle or three feet beyond the rear;
- Bicycles must not cover up the registration number or rear lights;
- If you lose your load on the motorway, do not try to recover it from the carriageway. Use the emergency telephone box to call the police.
Hopefully, you won't breakdown on the motorway. But if you do, here are some tips to help keep you and yours safe;
- Make your way to the hard shoulder as safely as possible;
- Keep well over to the left of the hard shoulder and stop as near to an emergency telephone box as you can;
- Get out of your vehicle - through the passenger door if possible;
- Keeping as closely as you can to the left of the hard shoulder, walk to the nearest emergency telephone box - marker posts at the side of the carriageway direct you to the nearest one. This is linked directly to the Highways Agency Regional Control Centre who will call out your emergency recovery service if you are a member;
- If possible, when waiting for recovery, sit on the bank or verge running alongside the hard shoulder rather than waiting in your vehicle;
- Police and emergency recovery organizations give priority to women on their own. If you feel unsafe you should sit in your vehicle in the passenger front seat with the doors locked, accept help only from people you have called and ask for their identification when they arrive.
If you suddenly breakdown in the carriageway, you should;
- Leave the keys in the ignition and put your hazard warning lights on;
- Get out of the vehicle and take refuge in the central reservation or on the hard shoulder (if you choose the central reservation, walk back the way you came to warn others of the obstruction ahead);
- Report the breakdown;
- Wait for recovery on the verge if possible;
- Keep tight hold of children;
- Leave animals in the vehicle.
Do you know what the regulations are for children, seatbelts and booster seats? Read on for more.
- Children aged between 0 and 11 years of age, but less than 135cms in height, must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in the front of vehicles.
- Children aged between three and 11 years of age but less than 135cms in height must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in the back of vehicles provided there is a seat belt in place to secure the child restraint.
- Children aged 12 or more, or children under 12 to do so if they are 135 cms or more in height, must wear an adult seat belt in the back of a vehicle (or they can use an appropriate child restraint)
- The use of rear facing child restraints where there is an active front air bag (unless the bag is designed not to cause injury to a child in a rear facing seat if it inflates) is prohibited.
- Children under three cannot sit in the back of a vehicle unless they are in an appropriate child restraint.
The exemptions are:
- Children in licensed taxis or hire cars if an appropriate child restraint is not available, and in police or security or emergency service vehicles;
- A child aged three and over who, because of an unexpected necessity, is travelling over a short distance in a passenger car or light goods vehicle where there is not appropriate child restraint:
- A child aged three or more riding in the back of a vehicle with two other children in child restraints where there is not room for a third child restraint;
- A disabled child who needs to use a disabled seat belt where none is available;
- Children under 14 travelling in large buses or coaches and for the under three's also in relation to small buses;
- Children aged three and over but under 14 travelling in the back of a small bus if there is not child restraint available must then wear an adult belt if there is one available.
- Make sure that your car is kept in good running order
- Do not put yourself at risk by running out of oil, petrol or water
- Take the time to learn the basics of car maintenance and have you car serviced by a reputable garage
- Consider joining a breakdown organisation as added security
- If you feel vulnerable travelling alone it is worth considering purchasing a mobile phone. Ensure the mobile is fully charged before setting off on long journeys
- Always let someone know where you are going
- Plan your route and take a map to avoid asking strangers for directions
- Take enough money with you for emergency phone calls and consider a phone card
- Take the details of your breakdown organisation and membership number
- Keep doors locked and keep handbags out of view
- Never pick up hitchhikers
- Avoid eye contact with aggressive or suspicious drivers
- If you are forced to stop, keep your engine running and enough room around you to manoeuvre
- If a driver gets out and approaches you, flash your lights and sound your horn. If you have an alarm, set it off