How to drive safely on rough roads

I was recently sniffing through my documents when I landed on a safety manual drawn by the African Outdoor Group.
The manual, which I received about two years ago during a journalists’ symposium in South Africa, seemed so relevant and that is why I will share a few tips with you today.
Although many of the contents are technical, I will labour to explain where necessary as well as pick out the less technical bits that are relevant for the day-to-day driver.

However, for today, we shall specifically focus of off-road or rough road driving tips key among which ensures that drivers keep safe.
Rough surfaces might include driving in the wilderness, bushy areas or on a relatively ungraveled marrum road with hilly or bumpy surfaces.
The ideal vehicles for off-road driving are four wheel drives because of their ability to navigate challenging surfaces.
Whereas many of them are purposely meant for off-road driving, they can as well apply on normal road surfaces, which among them include.

Precaution
While driving on a rough road surface, the best option is a four wheel drive car. However, you must ensure that you drive as slow as possible but as fast as necessary depending on the situation at hand.
Four wheel drive is a powerful driving mode, therefore, any mistake mist turn disastrous, which in this case calls for precaution.

Be in control
Driving is a technique that demands vitality and a little bit of versatility. Therefore always drive gently and if in doubt conduct a recce.
You should also avoid excessive wheel spin and sudden brakes as well as selecting the correct and right gear.

Drive safety
Safe driving demands paying attention to finer details which can be as small as buckling up, proper handling of the steering wheel and how you can effectively use the pedals.

Seat adjustment
Car seats are usually adjustable and how you put them in place always matters. For instance, it is proper that you put legs first before you adjust the seat. The leg must be on clutch adjusted at least between 30 and 40 degrees for manual drive vehicles.

Steering wheel
Bumpy surfaces are always a rough driving experience. Therefore, always drive with both hands on the wheel. Additionally, sit with wrists fixed on top of the steering wheel.

Safety belt
The safety belt has a primary restraint system. Three point primary restraint system (shoulder, chest, and lap). The momentum (speed x mass) is equal to what the primary restraint system tries to avoid.

Head rest restraint
The head rest is the part off your car seat on which your head rests. It should be fixed, adjustable and the top of the restraint system should be within eye view.

Passive safety features
These are features that keep you safe in cases of emergence such as a hard knock or something around that.
One of them is the electronic control unit that helps to monitor the sensoring system of a car in case of collision.

Pretension takes up slack
Nobody under the age of 12 is allowed to sit in the front seat of the car because the pretensioner can sack them in and submarine or be hit by the airbag.

Secondary restraint system
All cars have a safety or restraint feature such airbags, which ensure that damage to a passenger is minimised in case of an accident.
Airbag are released at a speed of about 300 kilometres per hour.
Therefore, it produces a rate of energy that might injure a passenger. It is hence advised that you always sit upright so that you might avoid falling victim.

Load limit
Many people overload cars without understanding the danger of their actions. Therefore, you should always be able to feel the weight of your load using the safety belt.

Steering positions
The most ideal driving position reads like the time on the clock, which reads a quarter to 3pm. Many people drive while leaning backwards.
However, this is wrong and should be a no for any driver.
Loose objects
Avoid driving with loose objects in the car. They can hit your car or the screen in case of an accident. Keep them stored or fastened somewhere.

[email protected]