The hazards imposed by agricultural activities on the road
November 7, 2023Why are men almost always on the cell phone when they drive!
November 21, 2023By Dumisa Dlamini
The road space is always defined with a category of hazards a motorist should be cognizant of for a proper response in his/her manoeuvring on the road. Certain hazards are said to be moving, changing, and stationary of even physical. Coming to unpack road hazards, the very terrain and geometry of the road infrastructure can be and is a hazard oftentimes than not. Such hazards are identified earlier if drivers would scan their road environment, read and be adherent to the road signs, regulations, and road markings.
This signage would be indicative of what the road is apt to be in a few meters ahead so that drivers could adjust their speed. The geometrical outlay of the road poses a lot of physical hazards that cannot be changed so long as the road is there, which however, call upon drivers to approach each hazardous space with caution and appropriate speed. A lot of serious and fatal accidents have ben realized wherein the geometry of the road has not been clement, straight, or easy to pass without losing control of the vehicle.
CURVES, BENDS AND SHARP CORNERS
A well designed and furnished road would have signage and amenities that will inform, prohibit, or even restrict a driver of the danger posed by that geographical outlay of the road. That could be a part where the road curves either side and would not allow a vehicle to make a safe turn when over-speeding. Curves and bends therefore have seen vehicles losing control even before completing the turn or colliding with oncoming traffic because this driver had encroached on space not meant for his travel. His positioning of the vehicle would be dangerously on the other side, and they would be trying to balance a vehicle. This applies to sharp corners where motorists fail to anticipate that another vehicle would be rightfully on its lane when they fail to stick to their side. Such occurrences as loss of control, overturning and head on collisions are oftentimes than not prevalent as vehicles are negotiating curves, bends, and sharp corners.
SLOPES, CAMBERS, AND BLIND RISES
The road may not be flat for a long distance and drivers are confronted by hazardous slopes, cambers where the road surface is not even and a blind rise where they would not see what could be on the other side. For slopes and ascents drivers have lost control of their vehicles where they would overspeed. Yet in some cases others, especially with heavy loads would fail to ascend a steep hill. Vehicles have backsilided in such geometrically conditions of the road and the country has a few of those like: Malagwane, Mehlwabovu, Mhlosheni, Ncabaneni to name a few where the sloppiness or steepness of the road challenges motorists.
The blind rise is as much dangerous and could cause fatal accidents especially when the motorists decide to overtake vehicles in front when approaching. They may not be aware of oncoming traffic and a head-collisions or smashes from behind are very common. In whatever circumstances where an accident occurs, there would be a driver who by omission or commission had an erroneous indulgence. The physical and geometrical aspect of the road is one area drivers make mistakes.
TAKE AWAYS:
- Approach a defined geometrical area of the road with caution
- Kill your speed or you will be killed at the corner, bend or curve
- Never overtake on a barrier line
- Engage the correct gear before you ascend or ascend a sloppy or steep area
- Scan and understand the road geometry and be safe
