Five things to know about 30 km speed limits
30km/h zones are increasingly being planned or proposed by local authorities around the country so what are the benefits asks Geraldine Herbert 1) The evidence is conclusive 90% of pedestrians hit by a car travelling at 30 km/h survive; whereas when hit by a car travelling at 50 km/h less than 20% will. 2) A recent Italian study on the introduction of a 30 km/h zone to the city of Turin showed that the reduction in the collision...
Driving in Heavy Rain and Floods
We have some driving tips for making it through heavy rain and floods writes Geraldine Herbert Drive on the highest section of the road and don’t set off if a vehicle is approaching you Leave time and space to avoid swamping other cars and don’t splash pedestrians and cyclists as you drive through water. Drive slowly and keep going once you have started – make sure you have a clear run. In a manual car, keep the...
Winter Solstice – The Longest Night of the Year
Sunday 22nd is Winter Solstice or the longest night of the year so we have some advice when driving in the dark writes Geraldine Herbert In Dublin, the sun will rise at 08:37 am on Sunday and set again at 16.07 pm so the chances are you will be driving to work or home in the dark. Driving in the dark can cause fatigue – plan your journey, scheduling at least one stop every two hours. Don’t ignore warning signs of fatigue....
Six Tips To Avoid Drink Driving This Bank Holiday Weekend
We have six tips to avoid drink driving this bank holiday weekend writes Geraldine Herbert If you’re at a barbeque or summer party enjoying the return of the hot weather then remember home measures are often larger than anything you get in a pub. Research shows that consuming even a small quantity of alcohol in the day increases the body’s natural fatigue in the late afternoon. Many crashes involve pedestrians who have been drinking...
Why car maintenance helps prevent accidents on the road
If your car has ever come out of its MOT test with a fail and a hefty bill of necessary repairs to its name, you’ll have no doubt bemoaned the fact you have to pay lots of money to change parts on a car that seemingly worked fine yesterday. However, there is very good reason you’re paying for those repairs. The MOT is the baseline test for your vehicle’s road safety capabilities and identifies issues before you have a chance to find...
Safety First – Tips For Safe Do-It-Yourself Car Maintenance
When you’re working on your own car it’s always easier to just jump right in and get going but before you do think about your safety writes Suzanne Keane Unfortunately accidents happen so you should always take the necessary precautions to stop your car from injuring you or someone else. At the side of the road – Always carry a warning triangle! If you have to pull in, get as far off the road as...