Road Safety Talks

How Do Solar-Powered Cars Work?

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 04:55:00 +0000

How Do Solar-Powered Cars Work? | A solar vehicle is primarily powered by direct solar energy. Photovoltaic cells (PVC) are installed on the car to collect and convert solar energy into electric energy. Made of silicon and alloys of indium, gallium and nitrogen, the semiconductors absorb light and then release it, creating a flow of electrons that generate electricity.

The first solar car was introduced in 1955 at a Chicago auto show. It was 15 inches long, featured 12 PVC cells and was called the Sunmobile. Its solar-power-operated, 1.5-volt motor turned the driveshaft and transferred the energy to propel the wheels.

Seven years later, the first full-size solar-powered car, a 50-year-old Baker, was unveiled as a concept car. But it was never mass-produced. Numerous other solar-powered cars, some with odd names like Bluebird and Quiet Achiever, had their moments of fame in auto shows and competitions.

In more recent years, several Japanese and American carmakers have also introduced solar-powered hybrid cars. The concept-only vehicles have ranged from using solar power to run accessories to cells installed inside headlights. In the mid-1980s, Mazda’s solar offering was the Senku, while Ford unveiled the Reflex and Cadillac had the Provoq.

None of the manufacturers’ solar-powered cars made it to the public. And likewise, the ambitious French-made Venturi Electric, which combined a solar-, wind- and battery-powered engine, didn’t make it. The Venturi held only three passengers and had a maximum speed of 30 mph.

Transforming concept solar cars into publicly available solar cars poses a few questions. How does the car travel at night? Is the solar car only feasible in states where the sun shines a majority of the time? Ford aims to solve these issues with the introduction this week of the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept car.

Source: Yahoo Tech

Say NO To Mobile Phone While Driving

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:13:00 +0000

Say NO To Mobile Phone While Driving | Study shows people who use mobile phone while driving are four times greater chance involving in a crash. See this road safety poster below and you will know what I mean. A reminder to all of us.

Source: Think Safety

Car Crash Test at 160kmh (Wow!)

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:30:00 +0000

Car Crash Test at 160kmh (Wow!) | Jamie and Adam (from MythBusters) become speechless at the sight of a car crashing into a wall at 100 mph or 160 kmh. Not only them stunning with the result, but also me. It is about the speed most of luxury vehicle travelling on the Malaysian expressways. Pretty scary result I would say. Watch the video and some snapshot of the 160kmh crash test. P/S: Would MIROS dare to do a 180 kmh crash test? It would be the world first and fume your name all over the world. :D

Video of the 160kmh Crash Test

Pictures of the Normal Crash Test

Pictures of the 160kmh Crash Test

Are Double-decker Buses Safe on the Roads?

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 07:05:00 +0000

Are Double-decker Buses Safe on the Roads? | Bus operators have criticised the authorities for deeming double-decker buses unsafe, saying that they had encouraged the use of these vehicles in the first place. The Pan-Malaysian Bus Operators Association said the now defunct Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board had encouraged the use of double-deckers as a way to reduce operating costs.

“Now, they are saying these buses are unsafe and cannot be used on certain roads, which means the operators will have to bear losses,” association president Datuk Mohamad Ashfar Ali said yesterday.

It was reported that a study by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) had found double-deckers to be unsafe and unsuitable for long journeys, especially on winding roads. Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri had said that the build of the buses and their high centre of gravity made them suitable only for use in towns or on highways and not on winding roads and hilly areas.

He asked the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to review the routes for such buses to prevent accidents. “When they introduced double-deckers, they did not impose any restrictions on routes and told us that the buses were safe,” Mohamad Ashfar said, adding that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and inspection body Puspakom had also approved the vehicles as safe.

SPAD chief operating officer Azhar Ahmad said the commission would liaise with JPJ and Miros to resolve the issue. “While considering the interests of bus operators, we have to also look at the safety of passengers,” he said. He added that SPAD would not rush to review the routes for double-deckers as they were already on the road and had been approved by the JPJ.

Miros director-general Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon clarified that the buses found on Malaysian roads were not “double-deckers” but “high-deckers”. “We do not have double-decker buses in the country,” he said, explaining that double-deckers were much higher than high-deckers. “Not all buses are suitable. Certain roads, in hilly areas for example, should not be used by any kind of bus,” Dr Wong said.

He added that Miros would publish the findings of the study on its webshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifite soon. Meanwhile, SPAD will meet agencies such as the JPJ, Miros, the Transport Ministry and bus operators on the issue.

“We will look into the technical and safety aspects such as the Safety Health and Environment Code of Practice (SHE-COP) and international standard practices like the United Nations Economic Commission of Europe's (UNECE) R66 regulations before reaching a decision,” SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said in a statement yesterday.

Now, what you guys think of this double-decker buses issue? Feel free to share.

Source: The Star Online

Opel Crash in Poland - Consequences of Drink and Drive (5 PICS)

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:04:00 +0000

Opel Crash in Poland - Consequences of Drink and Drive (5 PICS) | The accident occurred on 3rd February 2007 in Ustron, Poland. Four youngsters were speeding on highway, when they lost control over their car and hit the nearby sound-absorbing wall. The car was Opel Calibra.

This crash happened while they were getting back home from the pub. The speed-o-meter was found stuck or stopped at speed 160km/h. Three of them died instantly - the fourth one died after arriving to the hospital.

Something to learn. (1) Try to avoid drive with your peers. Study finds people (especially youngsters) tend to drive more aggressive among their peers. (2) Don't drink and drive!!! (3) Don't show off your car abilities to your friends while being drunk and on public roads!!! Remember your loved ones. Below are some more pictures of the crash.

Source: Car Accidents

Mercedes Benz Rollover Crash in Sri Lanka

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:30:00 +0000

Mercedes Benz Rollover Crash in Sri Lanka | This Mercedes Benz crash was happened in late October 2011 in down south area of Sri Lanka. Two people were died on the spot. Below are some of the photos.

For your information, a rollover is a type of vehicle accident in which a vehicle tips over onto its side or roof. The most common cause of a rollover is traveling too fast while turning.

Source: Car Accident

Even Salmon Wait For Cars Before Crossing the Road (Interesting Video)

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:38:00 +0000

In a very strange occurrence of events the salmon in this river have found a shortcut to their spawning stream. I just hope they can hear speeding cars! But well, seems like they know the road rules very well. Better than most of us. Watch this video about the salmon wait for cars before crossing the street. Very interesting!

Minnesota Students Push for Phone Ban

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:00:00 +0000

The four students took on the cell phone topic for their Public Policy and Private Initiative class. They did research on the number of deaths and injuries related to driving while using a wireless device, they drafted language for legislation, and took it to their state senator.

"I wish we didn't have to legislate something like this, but the bottom line is there's a lot of deaths, a lot of injuries and we need to do something about it," said State Senator Chuck Wiger.

Wiger introduced the bill on behalf of the students Monday. If it passes, as is, all drivers would be prohibited from using their phones for any reason in the car, unless it's an emergency. They could also face fines up to $300.

"If this law passes, it will be the first law in the United State to ban hands-free devices, which is actually kind of cool because research we found shows that hands-free is no different than driving hands-held," said senior Katherine Garvey.

Minnesota already bans cell use for bus drivers and young drivers with provisional licenses. They students know pushing it to the rest of the population will be a tough sell.

"Maybe this bill isn't the one that gets passed, but at least it will provoke conversation and thoughts on the issue, and that's really what you want to do is get the issue moving," said Gaughan.

The students' teacher, Maureen Conway, says regardless of the outcome of this particular bill, she hopes the lesson learned is that the path to change has to start somewhere.

"The most important idea I want them to get out of this is that all of this history happened because individual people took a chance. Individual people wanted something done. They approached the government, they created a foundation, they did something because they wanted to see change," said Conway.

Source: Youth Road Safety

Sesame Street Supports Road Safety Decade of Action

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Sesame Workshop provided Muppets fans with a sneak peak at its new public service announcements (PSAs) for road safety. Grover, the energetic blue Muppet from “Sesame Street,” is the Road Safety Ambassador for the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.

The three short spots, each under a minute long, are entitled “Grover the Pilot,” “Astronaut Grover,” and “Safari Grover.”

In the PSAs, an animated Grover stars in three different scenarios where he imagines himself a savvy traveler during everyday activities, his role-play identified in the above titles. The spots show Grover demonstrating good road safety: using a seatbelt or helmet and practicing safe road-crossing behavior.

After each instance of good road-safey behavior Grover, who does not speak in these spots, gives viewers a thumbs up, the “all systems go” sign. Grover wears the official international road safety symbol, a yellow Road Safety tag, to signify his ambassadorial role.

The PSAs, developed in partnership with the FIA Foundation, were uploaded to the YouTube channel for “Sesame Street.” According to Sesame Workshop, the goal of the PSAs is “to make road safety a family priority and a shared family experience.”

Thanks to ToughPigs, the website for “Muppets fans who grew up,” for linking to the Sesame Workshop’s PSAs on its ToughPigs Facebook page.

In addition to PSAs, Sesame Workshop and the Global Road Safety Partnership are developing a Road Safety Education Framework. The materials will provide educators, parents and practitioners with content and strategies to help children better understand the risks associated with travel on or near the roads, and to learn and adopt safe practices.

"The Decade of Action is a critical opportunity for coordinated action among our global partners to mobilize our media reach to promote road safety awareness among road users, especially families with young children," said Gary E. Knell, Sesame Workshop President and CEO in a press statement.

"The PSA messages, generously funded by the FIA Foundation, and Framework, developed with the Global Road Safety Partnership, promote an early understanding of critical road safety knowledge for increased use of seatbelts, child restraints and helmets, and encourage safe pedestrian behavior."

Sesame Workshop became a member of Global Road Safety Partnership in 2010.

The three PSAs, animated by LA-based Rubicon Studios, will be distributed to broadcasters in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. They will be broadcast starting on May 11, 2011, marking the global launch of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Source: Examiner.com

"Cars 2" - Disney Commitment Towards Road Safety

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:00:00 +0000

The Department of Transportation (DOT), Disney, and Pixar have teamed up to help fight distracted driving with a new public service announcement with Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater, and the colorful characters of “Cars 2.”

In advance of the June 24th release of the movie, the 30-second PSA is called, "Only the bad guys drive distracted." With the help of the Cars characters, it advises viewers that "No calling, no texting. Nothing that can take away your focus."

The ad will be available in more than a dozen countries with various translations and the DOT is working on increasing that coverage by partnering with the Make Roads Safe campaign for globhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifal road safety.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has worked with Disney before on various safety campaigns. The last time was in 2005 for the re-release of the Cinderella movie to help remind parents to fit their children snugly in a booster seat.

Check out the new animated spokes-cars in the video below.

Source: Consumer Reports

Malta Road Safety Campaign Focus On Use of Bicycles

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Motorists will be taught how to drive around cyclists while bicycle riders will learn how to keep themselves safe through a campaign planned by the transport authority.

The campaign would also address other dangerous road habits such as speeding and drink-driving with the aim of making roads safer all round, a spokesman from Transport Malta said. A date for its launch has yet to be established.

Data released by the National Statistics Office, show that 457 people were involved in traffic accidents between April and June. Five pedestrians and a driver – four men and two women – died in the second quarter of the year.

Recently, the wife of cyclist Cliff Micallef, who lost his life in a hit-and-run incident on the Coast Road two years ago, called on the authorities to take action to make roads safer. “We can’t let people die like this... Roads remain unsafe for cyclists and not enough has been done to stop drink-driving,” Shirley Micallef had said.

Her 45-year-old husband died on July 30, 2009 after he was run over by a car in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, about 20 metres from the entrance to the White Rocks Complex, minutes into his morning exercise routine.

He had been training for the LifeCycle Challenge to raise funds for the renal unit at Mater Dei Hospital. Anthony Taljana, 21, was charged with causing the fatality while under the influence of alcohol. His case is still pending.

Bicycle lanes have often been criticised as being unsafe, especially since they start and stop erratically. Transport Malta, which is responsible for roads, explained that bicycle lanes were introduced in 2006 as part of its ongoing work to promote a shift to alternative transport modes.

“The introduction of these cycle lanes, as with most projects, posed challenges to Transport Malta including, among others, educating the public on the use of the cycling infrastructure, promoting a cultural change from the use of the motor vehicle to cycling and identifying stretches of road, the width of which can accommodate a cycle lane, according to standard specifications...

“It is pertinent to note that old roads, such as the Coast Road, were not built with cycle lanes in mind... Due to the road width restrictions along stretches of this road, it was not possible to have a completely continuous cycle lane. Such is standard practice across all countries and, where cycle lanes are not provided, cyclists are urged to proceed with caution until the next stretch resumes,” the spokesman said, adding that new roads constructed over the past years had cycle lanes built-in on the pavement.

Source: Times of Malta

Michelin Sponsors Road Safety in China

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:00:00 +0000

BEIJING - Being a tire maker always committed to improving its products, Michelin says it makes safety a firm focus. The French company has issued its "Michelin China Road Safety Manifesto" in Beijing, along with the launch of the Michelin 2011 Road Safety Campaign themed "Safety, One Step Forward". As part of this, it launched a series of activities aimed at mobilizing concrete action for the improvement of road safety in China.

"Michelin's mission is to make a contribution to the sustainable mobility of humans and goods, and safety is one of the core values of sustainable mobility," said Yves Chapot, president of Michelin (China) Investment Co Ltd.

Michelin (China) has released its first handbook for tire and road safety in three tailor-made versions for passenger car drivers, truck and bus drivers, and elementary school students.

"In addition to innovative tires that ensure people's safe commuting, Michelin has also been actively raising public awareness of road safety through education programs in cooperation with various Chinese authorities and organizations. The Michelin 2011 Safety Campaign is another big step forward in our continuous efforts toward road safety for better mobility."

In recent years, as more people can afford automobiles and other means of transportation in developing countries and emerging economies including China, the potential for danger has increased.

According to the latest statistics from the World Health Organization, in May, road traffic accidents kill 1.3 million and injure 50 million people every year around the world, and 90 percent of those killed are in developing countries. Moreover, road accidents have become the leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 29.

In China, according to the Ministry of Public Security, 238,351 road traffic accidents killed 67,759 and injured 275,125 people in 2009, causing direct property loss of 910 million yuan ($140 million). Illegal driving, excessively fast driving, poor vehicle condition, intoxicated driving, driving while tired and poor safety awareness are the six major causes of accidents.

In light of these statistics, Chapot pledged that Michelin China would appeal to all of its employees, business partners and customers to observe safety principles and take the lead in shouldering responsibility for creating a better and safer road transportation environment.

In the months ahead, Michelin will hold a "China Road Safety Pioneer Talk" every month, "Road Safety in School" programs and "I Will" safety vow program, targeting the major causes of road accidents and vulnerable groups of people in order to educate and train the public about safety.

Meanwhile, Michelin also released China's first handbook for tire and road safety in three tailor-made versions for passenger car drivers, truck and bus drivers, and elementary school students.

Chapot said that Michelin will also play an active role in the "China Road Accident In-depth Research" project hosted by China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) this year, providing exclusive technical support from the tire industry.

This program will undertake deep analysis and research into the major causes of traffic accidents in five big cities in China, providing important information to help road traffic authorities in their decision-making.

"Through Michelin's years of focus and dedicated efforts regarding road safety, we have found we share the same mission and passion. As a technical administration body in the auto industry and the technical support organization for the Chinese government, CATARC fully understands that maintaining road safety requires the common participation and common action of the whole of society," said Zhao Hang, director of CATARC.

For more than 120 years, Michelin said its primary focus has been on providing safe, reliable tires with excellent balance of performance for the sustainable mobility of humans. Michelin has also pledged to raise public awareness of road safety by launching public awareness programs globally. Recently, the Michelin Group signed the Global Road Safety Commitment to support the Decade of Action for Road Safety, 2011-2020, which is actively promoted by the United Nations.

Having operated in China for more than two decades, Michelin has brought advanced global experience in road safety management into the country, while taking full consideration of China's auto industry status quo and Chinese consumers' need for safety, and has introduced a series of products with an excellent balance of performances, together with technology and services, said a company statement.

For example, Michelin has hosted the "Community Tire Security Check" for seven years and expanded it to more than 100 cities, servicing more than 100,000 cars.

Furthermore, Michelin has been working closely with Chinese partners in a series of public education programs focused on drivers and children. In 2007, Michelin joined hands with the Road Traffic Safety Association of China in public safety education in central and western China.

Last year, Michelin held "Grow Up in Safety" childrens' safety classes in four big Chinese cities. Last December, Michelin signed a cooperation agreement with China Traffic Management Research Institute to cooperate on tire safety information and training.

Source: China Daily

How Much Global Road Crashes Cost Us?

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:13:00 +0000

YOURS strives to offer its subsribers and members digestable information to build capacity and increase knowledge of global road safety issues. There are many scholarly reports written on road safety which are often hard to understand for their technical approach. In this article, we focus on the major economic and social costs of global road crahes by pulling information from scholarly texts that is easy to understand.

Everyone killed, injured or disabled by a road traffic crash has a network of others, including family and friends, who are deeply affected. Globally, millions of people are coping with the death or disability of family members from road traffic injury. It would be impossible to attach a value to each case of human sacrifice and suffering, add up the values and produce a figure that captures the global social cost of road crashes and injuries.

The economic cost of road crashes and injuries is estimated to be 1% of gross national product (GNP) in low-income countries, 1.5% in middle-income countries and 2% in high-income countries. The global cost is estimated to be US$ 518 billion per year. Low-income and middle-income countries account for US$ 65 billion, more than they receive in development assistance.

Road traffic injuries place a heavy burden, not only on global and national economies but also household finances. Many families are driven deeply into poverty by the loss of breadwinners and the added burden of caring for members disabled by road traffic injuries.

Adapted from: World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention (World Health Organization, 2004:55)

Road traffic crashes have a devastating emotional impact on the families and communities involved: every death represents the loss of a father, wife, son, daughter, brother or sister. And there is an equally devastating economic impact: the sudden violence of a road death often robs a family of its only breadwinner. Road injuries can impose a life long cost of caring for severely disabled family members.

Low and middle income countries are disproportionately affected by road crashes. Despite having lower levels of motorisation than developed countries, developing countries have generally very poor road safety records. While there has been a downward trend in road fatalities in rich countries over the past thirty years, developing nations are experiencing dramatic increases in road traffic injuries.

More than 1.3 million people are killed and between 20 and 50 million are seriously injured each year in road crashes. In total, up to 500 million people may be injured in road crashes annually, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The majority of these, about 90%, occur in those countries classified by the World Bank as being low or middle income.

Adapted from: Counting the Cost of Road Crashes and the Poor (FIA Foundation, 2005:2)

Source: Youth Road Safety

Could Public Campaign Reduce Road Fatalities?

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:03:00 +0000

Sustained public information campaigns on road safety can play a crucial role in reducing road fatalities on GCC roads, according to a UK government marketing professional.

Emma Stranack, deputy director of external communications at the Department for Transport in the UK, said that raising and sustaining public awareness of the key risks of speeding, mobile phone use, and not wearing seatbelts, helps change attitudes about road safety, leading to safer and more considerate road behaviour.

Stranack's public campaigns have helped reduce deaths on British roads by 45 per cent in the last decade.

Stranack has led the development and delivery of the UK Government’s THINK! public awareness campaigns on road safety. The campaigns, which include advertising, partnership marketing and digital engagement, have contributed to a reduction of fatalities from 3,409 in 2000 to 1,850 in 2010.

She will be among an expert line-up of road safety experts at the sixth edition of the Gulf Traffic Conference, taking place on December 12 and 13 at the Dubai International Convention and Centre, a statement from the organizers said.

Stranack will provide an overview of the role of communications in UK road safety at the conference, including case study examples of THINK! campaigns covering priority issues such as speeding and wearing seatbelts.

“Research shows that human behavior, rather than vehicle or environmental factors, accounts for the majority of road casualties,” said Stranack. “In addition to legislation and safety engineering measures in vehicles, our experience illustrates that public information campaigns on road safety have a clear role to play in raising awareness of risk, changing attitudes and in creating consent for legislation and enforcement measures, thus generating social norms.

“The issues we have tackled with THINK! are similar to those faced in the Gulf region and I hope that sharing some of the techniques and approaches that have worked in the UK will help contribute to improving road safety in this area of the world,” he said.

Increasing road safety and reducing traffic are top priorities for regional governments, and are the main topics of discussion at the two-day conference. The event will bring together leading regional and international road traffic and transportation experts.

“It is clear that the GCC region is taking road safety seriously and is making good progress in addressing the main issues,” added Stranack. “Events such as Gulf Traffic 2011 should reinforce this by sharing best practice and insight from across the region and by reviewing international case studies to help inform the design of road safety measures.

“As part of the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety, I am honoured to represent the UK Department for Transport at the conference and share what we have learned about how communications can help contribute to reducing road casualties,” she said.

Organised by Informa Exhibitions, the conference runs alongside the Gulf Traffic Exhibition, which has so far confirmed an exhibitor line-up of 149 contractors, manufacturers and suppliers from 27 countries in the Middle East and overseas.

Gulf Traffic 2011 is supported by Dubai Police and is held under the patronage of Lt. General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, the statement said.

Source: Trader Arabia

Expensive Traffic Tickets Can't Reduce Road Accidents

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:15:00 +0000

DESPITE dramatically increased traffic fines earlier this year and contrary to expectations, road accidents in Namibia have increased by some 20%.

The shocking news came to light during the recent Namibian Road Safety Indaba, held in Windhoek when traffic safety expert and Criminal Justice Lecturer, Eliphas !Owos-oab, from the Polytechnic of Namibia made his presentation on how the increased traffic fines affected road safety.

He said Namibia lacks a road safety strategy and stressed that law enforcement practices have become predictable. “Drivers know where the law enforcement hot spots are and slow down when they get there and accelerate when they have passed them. Furthermore, spots are never at places where Police officers have the most problems.”

He said Namibia’s strategies are diverse and every traffic entity has its own strategy derived from the national vision. “We lack accident data, and whatever data are available, lack integrity. Road safety is in a bad shape, not because bad decisions were made, but rather because good decisions were and are badly implemented.”

He dropped another bomb when he said the national statistics of the Road Safety Council released in 2009 are those of 2006. “For the past five years we don’t have anything.”

He also said the current Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) statistics grant too much weight on injuries and facilities, thus excluding damages to vehicles and property.

!Owos-oab noted that law enforcement is not coordinated and information technology between the courts and the law enforcement agencies and NATIS is not integrated.
According to him, when a driver licence is suspended, the driver can go to a Police Station, swear out an affidavit and obtain a duplicate at NATIS. He recommended that there should be immediacy of traffic violation punishment and sanctions.

“If Namibia is to contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of traffic law enforcement on its roads, it needs to examine policy choices about the role of the Police in road safety and traffic law making.”

He recommended that road safety should be a presidential mandate or there should be a permanent advisory board advising the Ministry of Works and Transport on road safety management issues or a lead agency coordinating road safety issues in Namibia.

Source: New Era

Sarcastic Road Safety

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:30:00 +0000

Dear Driver, forget everything you learned in driving school. They are wimps who work for our age-old enemies, pedestrians!

Only I am good enough driver – gold worth an old observation goes something like this: all who drive slower than you are idiots, and everyone driving faster than you are maniacs who will cause all the others drivers to get killed! Considering there is almost no chance that someone goes through the same speed as you, it is logical to conclude that only you are good driver. You must truly hate all other drivers!

The enemy is observing – You must not use the direction indicator as this gives away your intentions to the enemy drivers behind and in front of you. Protect your privacy and direction of movement of malicious curious ones. Sometimes it is necessary to further confuse them, left-turning indicators and providing tactical turn right!

The red light – Look left and right before you go through a red light. The higher speed riding on a red at the intersection, the less is chance that you hit another car. This maintains an high safety level, which is important!

Safe distance – suggested safe distance between vehicles in a bar in no way should be realized! Always to crawl into the trunk of the driver in front of you because that is the way to stop someone from adjacent lane to get in between you and significantly jeopardize the safety of all!
Time is money – When you’re dying, you are sure to realize that because of slow reflexes of drivers in front of you at traffic lights, you lost a total of 9.4 seconds of life! Those who do not start as soon as the yellow light turns on, deserve to die of cancer. Ready your hand on the buzzer as soon as you stand behind someone at a traffic light and wait.

CAUTION! For those drivers who do not get the sarcasm above, that was sarcasm. Drive safely, follow the rules!

Source: Childhood

Vehicles Pile-Up on a British Motorway Inferno Crash - 16 Dies and 35 Others Injured (Pics and Vid)

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:36:00 +0000

A 27-vehicle pile-up on a British motorway in foggy and wet conditions sparked explosions and an inferno, leaving several people dead and around 35 injured, police and eyewitnesses say. Television pictures show a line of cars and lorries on fire following the massive crash at around 2030 GMT on Friday (0730 AEDT Saturday) on the M5 motorway near Taunton, southwest England.

Blazing lorries flipped onto their side and people desperately tried to prise open the doors of cars to help trapped passengers escape in chaotic scenes after the crash. Eyewitnesses said they heard explosions as the vehicles went up in flames and saw debris and casualties strewn across the road.

Around 50 firefighters battled to free people who were trapped in the wreckage of their vehicles on the northbound carriageway, and police said a long stretch of the major route was closed and would not reopen for 24 hours. Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, of Avon and Somerset Police, said "several people" lost their lives in the crash but did not give a precise figure. "The officers and the other emergency services faced a very, very difficult scene when they arrived," he told the BBC. "Many vehicles were on fire and the collision itself involved what we believe to be about 27 vehicles, both lorries and cars.

"So they were faced with virtually all of them on fire. Many of them have burnt literally to the ground." Around 35 people were believed to have been injured, he said. Local resident Bev Davis described seeing a wall of flames at the crash site from her home close to the motorway. "All we could hear was the sound of a horn and then the flames got so high so quickly and the noise was horrific," she told the BBC. "There must have been 200 metres worth of fire - plumes of smoke were going up and everything was red."

Motorist Paul O'Connor described the scene as "horrific." "It was quite horrific and I have never seen anything like that - I could see people lying on the side of the road," he told Sky News television. "It was quite disturbing really." Jon Adair said on Twitter: "Worst traffic accident I've ever seen on the M5 nr Taunton. Burning vehicles & casualties/debris strewn across road."

Jason Sharp, who witnessed the accident from a nearby rugby club, told the BBC that he heard a number of explosions. "Petrol tanks I believe were going up - black smoke going up," he said. He said there was heavy fog and the roads were wet at the time of the crash. Paul Slaven, of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said the fierce fire was likely caused by the number and type of vehicles and he had no indication they were carrying any toxic or chemical material. "At least two of the vehicles on fire were articulated lorries and there would be a lot of fuel on them," he said.

Source: Yahoo News

Study Finds Banning Blackberry Will Reduce Accident Rate

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:05:00 +0000

A dramatic fall in traffic accidents this week has been directly linked to the three-day disruption in BlackBerry services. In Dubai, traffic accidents fell 20 per cent from average rates on the days BlackBerry users were unable to use its messaging service. In Abu Dhabi, the number of accidents this week fell 40 per cent and there were no fatal accidents.

On average there is a traffic accident every three minutes in Dubai, while in Abu Dhabi there is a fatal accident every two days. Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, the chief of Dubai Police, and Brig Gen Hussein Al Harethi, the director of the Abu Dhabi Police traffic department, linked the drop in accidents to the disruption of BlackBerry services between Tuesday and Thursday.

Email, Messenger and internet functions were unavailable to users in the Middle East, Africa and Europe after a crucial link in the BlackBerry network failed. Gen Tamim said police found "a significant drop in accidents by young drivers and men on those three days". He said young people were the largest user group of the Messenger service.

"The accidents that occur from the use of these devices range between minor and moderate ones, but at times they are deadly," Gen Tamim said. Brig Gen Al Harethi said: "Accidents were reduced by 40 per cent and the fact that BlackBerry services were down definitely contributed to that."

"Absolutely nothing has happened in the past week in terms of killings on the road and we're really glad about that," Brig Gen Al Harethi said. "People are slowly starting to realise the dangers of using their phone while driving. The roads became much safer when BlackBerry stopped working."

The precise statistics for traffic accidents in the two emirates this week were not revealed to The National. The dangers of using mobile phones while driving was tragically highlighted by the death of the UAE international footballer Theyab Amana. He crashed his car two weeks ago into the rear of a road-painting lorry near Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi, reportedly while using a BlackBerry. His mourning father urged motorists not to use phones while driving.

"That accident must have really made people think twice before using their BlackBerry while driving," Brig Gen Al Harethi said. Ammar Al Alwan, an Iraqi resident in the emirate, said he believed the Abu Dhabi Police figures were accurate.

"I did use my BlackBerry while driving," said Mr Al Alwan, 25. "But after seeing the effects of doing so and the accidents and lives that have been lost I stopped. I have already quit using my BlackBerry while driving. Texting can wait."

Maha Khoubieh, a Syrian resident in Abu Dhabi, said she tended to look at the twinkling red light of her BlackBerry when on the road. "Sometimes it's just really hard not to," said Ms Khoubieh, 27. The drop in accidents and fatalities surprised her.

"It's quite scary to see how much a phone can affect our lives," she said. "I definitely think that from now on, my BlackBerry will stick to the inside pocket of my handbag and we should all be able to do our part to improve the safety of our roads."

Two weeks ago, Abu Dhabi Police announced a campaign against motorists who use their phones while at the wheel. Gen Tamim likewise warned that Dubai Police will soon be using electronic evidence against drivers who cause accidents while using their smart devices.

"We have the capability to know who sent what when, and if an accident occurs while someone was messaging we will prove it and present the electronic evidence to the Public Prosecutor, and charge the driver with the costs of retrieving that evidence," he said.

More than 36,500 fines have been handed out in the emirate so far this year to drivers using their phones. The fine for anyone caught driving and talking on the phone without a headset is Dh200 and four black points on their license.

Those who drive in a way that poses danger to the public are fined Dh1,000 and issued with 12 black points. Police also confiscate their car for 30 days. Traffic safety experts echoed the calls for drivers to be more vigilant and not use phones while driving.

"Distracted driving is a cause for concerns on the streets and a cause for accidents," said John Hughes, the regional manager of traffic safety consultancy ARRB Group.

"The use of cellphones while driving is a major distraction and we call on all drivers to either use hands-free sets or avoid them on the roads, to raise the safety standards and avoid death and injury."

Source:The National

OPS Sikap Campaign WIll Continue As Always

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:01:00 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR: The “Ops Sikap” campaign to curtail road accidents during festive periods will continue to be held, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday. Deputy Home Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusop said the campaign is still relevant and helps to ensure that motorists exercise prudence in their driving.

“Ops Sikap” will not be replaced with another mechanism because it remains effective in checking the rate of accidents and deaths during festive periods, he said when replying to a question from Salleh Kalbi (BN-Silam).

“Based on statistics, 60 per cent of fatal accidents occur outside the Ops Sikap areas,” he added. Abu Seman said a study by the Bukit Aman Traffic Branch Research Unit showed that 90 per cent of road users agree that they become more alert to traffic regulations with the enforcement of the “Ops Sikap” campaigns.

“A study by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia indicates that generally factors contributing to accidents are recklessness of the motorists due to driving without sufficient rest, using the handphone while driving, speeding and being insensitive to traffic regulations,” he said.

On the cost of the “Ops Sikap” campaigns, he said many of the operations were sponsored by companies such as Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS) Berhad and Telekom Malaysia ™ Berhad.

Source: Newsabahtimes

Sunday Joke - Text While Driving If You Want to Meet Jesus Quick

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 04:19:00 +0000

Source: Reddit.com

Top 7 Why Not Safe Leaving Kids in a Car

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:22:00 +0000

Every year the reports roll in; another child has died after being left unattended in a car. While death from heat is the common cause, there simply is no safe time to leave any child unattended in a car. The statistics are a tragic. Many parents just didn’t realize their child was in the car or believed it was temperate enough to leave the child there for just a little while.

While several states have created laws to protect children, it is important for everyone, not just parents, to realize how these “accidents” happen and what to do if you find an unattended child in a car. Each year we are given up to 40 reasons why we should not leave children unattended in a vehicle (i.e. the deaths caused by this negligence), but here are seven more:

Reason One: The Facts

According to Jan Null, a San Francisco State University professor, each year between 30 and 40 children die as a result of being left unattended in a car. Most of these deaths occur during the hot summer months; however, children do perish in cars during the winter as well.

Many of the deaths are accidental and occur when a child has been “forgotten,” usually by a parent who does not normally drive with the child. There is no greater reason to not leave a child unattended in a car.

Reason Two: Heat Stroke

When a child is left unattended in a vehicle during hot weather, he or she actually suffers from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. These illnesses are treatable if the child receives immediate medical attention; however, because many of the children are not found in time, treatment is not an option.

Symptoms include severe cramping in the feet, calves, or hands; tense muscles; nausea; headache; slowed heartbeat; fainting; and convulsions. Death from any heat related illness is painful and slow.

Reason Three: Hypothermia

Hypothermia and frostbite are illnesses generally associated with spending too much time outside during cold weather. Children and the elderly are especially prone to these problems. In fact, infants can develop hypothermia by sleeping in a cold room.

Children who are left unattended in a cold car can quickly develop hypothermia as their body temperature begins to dip below 95 degrees. Symptoms include extreme fatigue and clumsiness. Hypothermia is fatal unless treated immediately.

Reason Four: Poor Logic

Many parents who make the decision to leave a child in their vehicle do so believing that by parking the car in the shade and cracking the windows, they will ensure that their child is safe. Studies have shown that both of these ideas are far from true.

In fact, in one study comparing a car left in full sun, with its windows closed, to another car in the shade with its windows cracked; the temperature difference was negligible. There is no safe way to leave your child in a car.

Reason Five: No Regulations

As this problem grows, some states have begun to address the issues by passing a variety of laws, making it illegal to leave a child in an unattended vehicle. These states include Florida, Texas, Washington, Michigan, and others.

Several states have enacted laws that go into effect if a child dies as a result of being left unattended. Still, over half of the states have no legislation regarding this growing and tragic problem.

Reason Six: The Underlying Causes

While there are dozens of cases each year in which a child dies after being left unattended, in most cases, the “how” behind the tragedy originates in one of three ways. First, the child is left in the vehicle intentionally. A parent or guardian leaves the child to run errands, have dinner, or even see a movie, not recognizing the danger.

Second, a child climbs in an unlocked vehicle, closes the door behind him or her, and isn’t found until it is too late. Finally, there are cases in which the parent effectively forgot the child was in the vehicle. This typically happens when the parent driving the car does not typically have that responsibility. Whether the child is left intentionally or by accident, the results are often the same—a child dies.

Reason Seven: Don’t Get Involved

As parents and as citizens, there are things we can do to help prevent these tragic deaths. Parents are encouraged to keep their cars locked at all times. Automobile manufactures should be encouraged to add an alarm function to all vehicles that would sound if the ignition is turned off and all safety belts are not released.

Everyone should be aware of their surroundings, especially in parking lots, and should take immediate action if they find a child in a car. Remember, that there is no safe time of the year to leave a child unattended in a vehicle. Every single death of a child left unattended is preventable if only people would get involved.

CONCLUSION:

If you follow any driving safety tips, make it this one: do not leave a child unattended in a car. Children who are left alone in a vehicle will, at the least, become gravely ill. In the worst cases, the child will die. This is the one reason to never leave a child in a car.

Spring, summer, fall, winter—it does not matter. High temperatures or cold, intentionally or by accident, there is no excuse for one more child dying in an unattended vehicle. We simply must take the steps necessary to avoid another senseless tragedy.

Source: Drive Steady

Road Signs for Idiots

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:50:00 +0000

Please don't be an idiot on the road. You pay tax, I pay tax and most of the people on the road pay the tax also. So please be considerate to others. Okay? If you still want to be an idiot, this one is for you.

Source: Reddit.com

A Fact About Teens Driving

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:02:00 +0000

According to many road safety research worldwide, teens tend to drive dangerously with their peers inside the vehicle. Do you agree with this?

Source: Reddit.com

Things That Makes You Worst Driver on the Road

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 04:34:00 +0000

Are you one of the list? if yes, you better prepare yourself. Know yourself so that you can save you and others on the road.

1. Being a Celebrity: Fame and Fortune Brings Traffic Citations, Accidents, and DUI’s

Everyone dreams of being a celebrity and being famous but being a celebrity can ruin your driving skills. Celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton are known for their poor driving skills. Lohan and Hilton both got into trouble with the law for DUI offenses.

When you are a celebrity you have a mindset where you cannot go wrong; throw in the paparazzi chasing you all the time with cameras and this is a recipe for disaster. Many celebrities get into car accidents with photographers all the time because they cannot drive properly around Los Angeles and other parts of California. In some instance, innocent bystanders have been hit or run over by celebrities who were trying to out run paparazzi members when they could have just posed for a picture and moved on with their day. They say be careful what you wish for and wishing to be a celebrity may mean that you have to take a taxi instead of drive a car to get around.

2. Hormones: Making Men & Women Worse Drivers Since the Wheel Was Invented

Now hormones can really mess with your mind and emotions so they can definitely make your driving skills worse. For example, a woman who is dealing with hormones may cry when she hears a song that was special to her and her ex-boyfriend. This could make her have to blot her eyes to prevent her mascara and make up from running which might make her lose her concentration and become involved in an automobile accident. Some studies show the exact opposite: that estrogen actually improves driving skill.

Not having enough hormones can cause problems as well. “Spatial skills such as map reading and parking may be difficult for some women because they had too little testosterone in the womb.” Researchers from the University of Giessen, Germany found that spatial ability was severely diminished when they had lower than normal testosterone.

But testosterone levels don’t affect only women. We all know that statistically speaking, women are lower risk drivers than their male counterparts. Hormones also impact men because they often become involved in fender bender and other minor accidents because they are staring at beautiful girls; and if you count testosterone + aggressive driving, then you might as well say that most male-caused accidents are hormonally based.

Lots of these accidents happen on beaches or college campuses when a girl walks by a man’s vehicle and he is not paying attention and hits the car in front of him. The next time an accident report is filed, you might just see hormone-crazed driver listed as the cause for the accident. The body is a very interesting thing and hormones are hard to control so they cause many accidents each year and make people worse drivers. Perhaps insurance companies should consider giving drivers discounts for taking hormone-suppressing drugs.

3. Video Games: A Joystick Can Mess Up Your Mind and Ruin Your Driving Record

Video games such as “Grand Theft Auto” have become very popular with people especially young men between the ages of 16 and 25. Now as most gamers know, video games are pretty harmless; no more than TV or board games.

There are a few studies that show that gamers make better drivers, or even surgeons. According to a study by the University of Rochester, people who played “Call of Duty 2″ and “Unreal Tournament,” were able to make decisions about 25% faster than those who played the “The Sims 2.”

According to the “Archives of Surgery” laproscopic surgeons improved their skills by up to 42% (as well as speed) by playing games like Top Gun. So all you hard core Halo experts out there really have some great talent when the time comes to consider a career.

Allstate even publish initial results that showed that 10 hours of game play by older patients basically makes the brain function the equivalent of a brain 10 years younger.

So how can it make a potentially worse driver? Most people have not had their brains rot out of their head from playing them for too many hours. However, a small percentage of us do, and the effect has been studied. The games actually make driving skills worse because you are training your mind to deliberately drive erratically, and in short, take bigger risks. Most people mimic what they see each day so playing video games such as this one will negatively impact how you drive in the future.

Games such as GTA, Need for Speed, and Gran Turismo, etc…. are known for having people drive at top speeds, and sometimes even run people down for fun (hey, it’s just a game) and therefore may help believe you are a better driver in the real-world, or perhaps help your mind justify some of these lower perceived risks. This translates into the reality of your life when you are behind the wheel of your vehicle each day when you are going to school, going to work, or running errands. It is important to remember to separate the reality of life with the fiction of video games so that your driving skills are as consistent as possible.

4. Genetics: Blame It on Your DNA

In a recent study of college undergrads, “those with a common genetic variation scored 20% worse in a driving simulator than their counterparts.” Genetics can play a big role in how you drive so the next time that you get into an accident or get a speeding ticket you may want to thank your parents and grandparents for causing you to become a worse driver. Every person is different so they approach driving differently and genetics does play a role in how people look, think, and act.

Driving is a huge responsibility and some people are prone genetically to be better drivers than others. For example, if you have Attention Deficit Disorder then your kids may be more likely to have the medical condition as well. This medical condition causes people to become poor drivers because they have a hard time focusing and concentration on one task at a time so they become hyper which can lead to accidents.

So the next time you get pulled over for a ticket, defend yourself in court with this study, and maybe the judge will let you off easy.

5. Steering Wheel Desk: Having Your Hands on This Desk May Hurt You or Others around You

Yes, there are steering wheel desks and they are actually for your steering wheel in your vehicle. Now most people are probably going to be glued to their computer’s search engine looking for this product because a majority of driver have never heard of it. It is basically like a small folded down desk that attaches to a steering wheel. This ends up distracting drivers more than usual. This and cause their hands to be on the steering wheel while their arms are on the desk. This can make it http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifharder for the hands to quickly stop the vehicle in the event that an object or emergency situation appears in front of the person quickly. The steering wheel desk is a bad idea for people, especially younger drivers who have poor or average driving skills to begin with.

The United States has become a country where DUI’s and traffic accidents are too common. Having excellent driving skills is important to keeping the roads as safe as possible. When you get behind the wheel of your vehicle remember these 5 surprising things so that you do not become a worse driver in the future.

Source: Cheap Insurance

A "Built For The Kill" Bus

noreply@blogger.com (M.Huzaifah Muntalip) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 04:06:00 +0000

Dare to hop on? Please, come on...

Source: Reddit.com