Responsible traffic participation and eco-safe driving

Antisocial and aggressive driving

Taking priority out of turn, driving too fast, ignoring traffic lights, and cutting off other road users.

Social and defensive driving

Predicting and recognizing the mistakes of others and helping to rectify them.

Anticipation

Looking ahead and thinking ahead. Being prepared to react at a moments notice.

Decisive driving

Making the right decisions on time and implementing those decisions quickly. It also means being clear about your intentions, which requires knowledge of traffic rules and awareness of traffic.

Traffic behavior and safety

Cause of accident in %

Human error: 92%

Vehicle malfunctions: 5%

Road and weather conditions, situational factors: 3%

Risk factors

Many human mistakes happen because drivers do not pay enough attention.

State of mind

Your state of mind can affect your attention.

Fatigue

Fatigue can affect driving due to slow reaction time and limited ability to think well. At least 10 - 15% of accidents are caused by fatigue.

Distraction

Calling, reading and sending messages, affecting reaction time.

Illness or physical impairments

E.g a broken arm or leg

Alcohol

Alcohol can cause overestimation and affect your perception. One standard glass of alcohol only leaves your body after 1 to 1.5 hours.

Drugs

For example, drugs like weed can make you react less quickly, whereas stimulant drugs can make you drive more aggressively.

Medications

It is illegal to drive while taking certain medications e.g sleeping pills, anti-depressants, heart and blood pressure medications and eye drops that reduce vision.

Maintaining distance

Failure to maintain adequate distance is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents on the motorway.

Braking deceleration

A passenger car must have a statutory minimum braking deceleration. Braking deceleration is indicated in m/s squared.

Stopping distance

Traffic regularly requires drivers to handle both expected and unexpected situations which necessitate braking. Stopping distance = Thinking distance + braking distance

Thinking time

• Observing

• Predicting

• Evaluating

• Deciding

• Handling

Thinking distance (Speed: 4) + 10% = Thinking distance in metres1

Example: (60 km/h : 4) + 10% = 15 = 1,5 = 16,5 metres

Braking distance (Speed : 10) x (Speed : 10) : 2 = Braking distance in metres 1

Example: (60 km / h : 10) x (60 km/h : 10) : 2 = 6 × 6 : 12 = 18 metres

Following distance (Speed : 2) + 10% = Following distance in metres1

Example: (60 km/h : 2) + 10% = 30 + 3 = 33m

Poor conditions

• Type of road surface and its conditions

• Road banking

• New road surface

Ruts

Longitudinal groves that form in the road surface due to heavy loads such as freight traffic. Rutting on motorways occurs primarily in the right-hand lane.

Aquaplaning

A layer of water between the tyre and the road surface, which decreases the grip of the tyres.

What to do if aquaplaning occurs

Release the accelerator and use the clutch. Wait until the vehicle regains traction before braking or steering.

Slipperiness due to frost

• Do not do anything abruptly

• Release the accelerator

• Do not press the clutch pedal unless its necessary

• Wait until you have a lower speed

Winter precipitation

Keep an eye on the road ahead, release the accelerator on time, and avoid sudden braking . Use the front fog lights if visibility is less than 200 metres.

Mist

Release the accelerator. Use the front fog lights if visibility is less than 200 metres. If less than 50 metres, use the rear fog lights too.

Crosswind (Side wind)

Windsocks often occur in areas with an increased risk of crosswinds. The more horizontal a windsock is, the stronger the wind is.

Obstacles to visibility

• Low sun

• Shadow under trees

• Twilight

• Dark

• Polder blindness and tunnel vision

Limitations to field of view

• Drivers field of view

• Obstruction of view caused by environment

• Other road users field of view

Road types

• Access roads

• Distributor roads

• Flow roads

Inexperienced / vulnerable road users, large vehicles

• Children

• Pedestrians

• Cyclists, moped riders and snor-fietsers

• Horse riders and horse transport

• Brommobiel drivers

• Drivers of vehicles with limited speed

• Lorry drivers

• The elderly and the disabled

What generally happens as you go from A → G?

Fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions increase.

Hazardous substances

• Carbon oxides (CO and CO2)

• Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

• Sulphur dioxides (SO2)

• Particulate matter of fine dust (PM)

How are diesel vehicles classified?

From 0 - 6. The higher the class, the cleaner the vehicle.

Environmental measures

• Catalytic converter

• Particulate filter

• AdBlue

Environmentally friendly driving

• Drive away immediately after starting

• Shift gears as early as possible

• Anticipate well and keep distance

• Allow the vehicle to roll

Maintenance and periodic checking (1)

• Steering

• Horn

• Suspension

• ABS (anti-lock braking system)

• Brakes

• Tyres

Maintenance and periodic checking (2)

• Retro reflectors

• Mirrors

• Windscreen washers and wipers

• Exhaust

• Lighting and indicators

Oil levels and liquids

• Engine oil

• Coolant

• Brake fluid

Warning lights

• Red or flashing orange , STOP now

• Yellow or orange (not flashing) FIX SOON

• Green, ON , a system is switched on

• Blue , high beams on.

Different ADAS features

• Drive ACC keeps your speed and distance.

• Stay Lane support keeps you in your lane.

• See Night vision helps you spot hazards in the dark.

• Park Parking sensors warn when you're close to objects.

• Protect AEB brakes automatically to avoid a collision.

• Connect V2X communicates with other vehicles and road infrastructure.