Effectively Dealing With an Emergency Situation on the Roads
Posted by admin at 6 November 2018, at 21 : 47 PM
Various studies have found that we are driving more than ever, with the percentage of individuals choosing to drive rather than walking, cycling, or using public transport jumping a huge 3.5 percent. With more people on the roads, it’s extremely important that we are more aware of how to deal with emergency situations on the roads – not only for our own sake, but for the sake of other road users in general too! So, here’s a little information on how to effectively deal with road incidents!
Prepare in Advance
You can never know when disaster might strike on the roads. You could be the best driver in the world. But it’s not necessarily your own actions and ability that you need to be worried about. When you take to the roads, you take to a relatively unpredictable public space. There are a whole host of potential dangers that may affect you. Some of these include:
* Children straying into the road
* Animals straying into the road
* Other pedestrians straying into the road
* Debris in the road
* Poor road surface (such as potholes)
* Poor weather conditions (including rain, hail, fog, snow, and ice)
* Malfunctioning traffic lights
* Obscured or damaged street signs
* Cyclists
* Motorcyclists
* Other motorists
* Your own vehicle malfunctioning
You really do have a lot to be wary of and it may not be your own actions that see you involved or implicated in an emergency situation on the roads. So, you need to make sure that you are prepared for negative incidents regardless of your own ability. Here are just a few different ways to prepare.
Have a First Aid Kit on Board
Every driver should have some sort of first aid kit stored in their vehicle. You never know when you might need to use this. It should contain basic items such as eye washes, bandages, antiseptic wipes, plasters, scissors, medical tape, safety pins, and tweezers.
Have Safety Equipment on Board
You should also have a few different forms of safety equipment on board that can be employed when needed. You may want to invest in some sort of small fire extinguisher suitable for vehicles and store it in your boot space. You should also have a safety warning triangle. This can be placed behind your vehicle (should it stop in the road) to alert oncoming traffic of a stationary vehicle’s presence.
Have Tools on Board
Having a few tools stored in your vehicle can also be useful. Jump leads can be used to jump start a car with an empty or drained battery. A jack and lug wrench can be used to change a tyre for an emergency tyre. These simple tools can help you to get to a nearby garage rather than having to wait at the roadside, which can be a relatively dangerous place.
Take Out Breakdown Cover
Taking out breakdown cover in advance can also ensure that you are never stranded at the roadside for all too long. Professionals will be able to assist you and escort you to a safe place as soon as possible once you call for their help.
Have Emergency Contacts on Hand
You should never use your phone while driving. But if you experience an incident and have brought your vehicle to a stop with the engine off, you should have a set of different emergency contacts saved to your device. You can then reach out to them easily! Emergency contacts should include:
* Family Members – these individuals can come to your assistance should you need them.
* Insurance Provider – your insurance provider can get a claim processed as quickly as possible.
* A Lawyer – Gray and White Law can survey the situation and create a legal case on your behalf, which could result in you receiving compensation for your difficulties.
Steps to Take in an Accident
Now that preparation has been carried out, you should be aware of steps to take should you actually find yourself in an accident!
Stop
The first thing that you should do is stop your vehicle. Never drive away from the scene of an incident you have been involved in.
Call for Medical Help
If you or anyone else involved is injured, you should call for medical help. Emergency services will generally be able to dispatch this to you the fastest.
Exchange Insurance Details
You need to exchange insurance details with other individuals involved in the incident. This will help you to make a claim and repair any damage to your vehicle.
Sure, you may experience shock when dealing with an emergency situation on the roads. But hopefully, the above information will remain in your mind and you will be able to deal with the situation as effectively as possible.