How to ensure road safety while you take the driving seat in Qatar

Safe driving is something to be taken very seriously and could be a matter of life and death. Too many times driving is taken for granted and one does not realize the power of being at the steering wheel. Being responsible while driving a vehicle is very important.

Here are a few tips that will help you drive safely:

Driving Safety

-You must leave sufficient safety distance, especially in case of any sudden stop. The safety distance varies according to the circumstances and the driving environment, Under normal circumstances, this distance should not be less than 5 - 10 meters (estimated). During windy or rainy days, the distance shall be multiplied more than twice. Always give way to larger vehicles as they are harder to control and have lesser visibility of the road below.

-Tailgating is a servere driving risk and can result in serious crashes and pileups. It is also a traffic violation and can attract steep fines.

-Always wear your seatbelt and ensure that the other passenger next to you is also wearing it. Seatbelts are made to help keep you from harm in the event of a collision. When they work with airbags in a vehicle, they can keep you from suffering a lot of damage such as from flying forward and hitting the windshield, being thrown off the vehicle, moving around inside the vehicle and hitting the steering wheel, doors, etc.

-Always follow speed limit. Keeping to the speed limit will not only reduce the risk of an accident, but will also help you avoid traffic fines.

- Avoid switching lanes abruptly. Use indicators while changing one lane to another or diverging, moving to the left or right.

-Do not divert your attention towards mobile phones and other entertainment devices. Using devices causes drivers to take their eyes off the road, their hands off the steering wheel, and their minds off the road and the surrounding situation.

-Overtaking is a dangerous maneuver that can cause a driver to be caught off-guard and cause accidents.

-Always drive with full attention. If you are unable to focus on the road, park aside and take rest until you are ready to drive again.

-Adhere to the road signs and signals.

-Do not enter an intersection if the traffic ahead has not cleared.

-Adhere to pedestrian crossings and yield to pedestrians waiting to cross the roads at a crossing.

-Driving too slow, can cause a traffic buildup and frustration of drivers following you, it can also impede the smooth flow of traffic and encourage them to overtake from the right.

Car Safety  

Ensure your vehicle meets all the following requirements:

-Condition of tyres and tyre pressure. Regularly check the inner sidewall of the tyres as they may contain hidden wear and tears.

-Efficiency of the brakes.

-Oil levels and coolant to avoid engine overheating and malfunction and water measurement.

-Proper functioning of headlights, brake lights, indicators, airbags, reflectors and fog lamps.

-Place the fire extinguisher in an accessible location within the vehicle. The validity of the fire extinguisher should be checked regularly and should be renewed accordingly. Use the fire extinguishers for smaller fires and leave it to the authorities in case the fire is uncontrollable.

-Do not place anything on the dashboard that may obstruct the deployment of airbags.

Driving in Challenging Weather Conditions

Driving in Rain

A wet road decreases the vehicles traction and grip on the road. This reduces the effectiveness of braking and the tyres grip during turning. Cars will require longer to brake and slower speeds to make turns. The conditions can worsen if it rains after a long dry period, as the rainwater will wash up all the engine oil and grease build-up previously on the road, making it more slippery.

-Maintain a greater following distance from the vehicle in front and approach turns at slower speeds. Avoid applying sudden brakes and making sharp high speed turns as the vehicle will tend to slip and slide.

-Stay calm and drive defensively at all times. Keep your hands on the wheel at all times in order to react quickly to any unforeseen situations.

-Avoid puddles and standing water on roads. They often contain hidden potholes, debris and dirty water. Not only can your vehicle hydroplane and lose control, but also can impair your vision and other drivers by splashing water.

-If the vehicles begins to hydroplane, avoid braking or turning suddenly as the vehicle may begin to slide and spin. Instead, allow the tires to regain traction and steer towards a safe direction or open spaces.

-Check your windshield wipers blades and washer fluid levels before you head out. In the event of a muddy splash on the windshield, using the wiper may smear the windshield with mud and worsen the visibility. Instead, pay attention to the road and use the wiper with the washer when it is safe to do so.

-If the vehicle’s windshield and windows begin to fog up, use the front and rear defogger and wipe your mirrors if needed.

-Avoid using cruise control as it cannot handle an adverse situation as effectively as a human. Ensure that your Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is live and working properly.

Driving in Fog

Since fogs can also cause the roads to be moist and wet. Most of the precautions of driving in rain are also applicable here. However, fog impairs visibility far more than rain and is even worse during the night. Thick fog can obstruct vehicles and objects from view even if they are only a few meters away, regardless of their lights being switched on or not.

-Ensure your lights and reflectors are working properly and switch on your fog lamps if your vehicle is equipped with one. Do not use high beam unless absolutely necessary as the light from high beams reflects off the moisture droplets in the fog, making it harder to see and also blinding the drivers in the opposite direction.

-It is a common misconception to turn on the hazard lights during foggy conditions. Turning with hazard lights on is equally bad as not using your turn signals at all as it does not indicate your intention of making a turn. Do not drive with your hazard lights on unless you find yourself in an emergency situation. Instead, switch on your lights to keep your tail lights on and use your indicators as required.

-Watch your speed as the fog may disorient your perception of speed due to the lack of any visible reference. Drive at very slow speeds in order to react or brake. Standing traffic, objects, hazards and even intersections can seemingly appear out of nowhere.

-Be mindful of your route and anticipate your turns before you see them to avoid any sudden turns. Do not lose attention of the road even for a second. It is recommended to switch off your radio and open your window a little as it may help you hear the traffic that you cannot see.

-If the fog is too dense to drive, especially at night, you may want to park safely and wait until conditions improve.

We hope this list is a helpful reminder for you as you head out on Doha’s roads. Keep them in mind and safe driving!

--

Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.

Instagram - @qatarliving

Twitter - @qatarliving

Facebook - Qatar Living