Reduce crashes in inclement weather with thoughtful defensive driving!

Corporate South Africa is assisting with road safety awareness through internals campaigns and self -regulation! we would like to share a few road safety tips sent by Eskom to all employees encouraging them to be safer when driving in inclement weather:

Dear Colleagues

DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER

Rainy weather conditions are still expected for most of the country in the next few weeks, which could result in most roads being in a bad state. With that in mind, please consider these few tips that, if applied correctly, will help keep you safe.

Be aware of the following safety tips for driving in the rain:

Inspect your vehicle

• Make sure your windscreen wipers are working correctly, and replace cracked or old ones.


• Check your tyres, and make sure that you have sufficient tread to ensure effective grip on the road. Tread disperses water, which is critical in rainy driving conditions.

Allow extra time

• Plan ahead, and leave early, so you have sufficient time to get to your destination without having to speed.

Slow down

• Driving more slowly allows you to observe more details. When it rains, oil and grime on the tarmac rises to the surface, making the road slippery.


• When you drive slowly, the contact period between the tyre and the road surface is greater, and this improves road handling.

Increase your following distance

• It is difficult to stop or brake suddenly on a slippery road. Make sure that there is plenty of room between your car and the car in front of you.


• You should be able to see the back tyres of the car in front of you.

Turn on your headlights

• While the law does not require you to have your headlights on at all times, it is good practice to keep them on to increase your visibility.

Do not use cruise control

• Using cruise control during wet conditions is dangerous because your vehicle could easily start to do what is known as “aquaplaning”. This is when your wheels automatically speed up the moment they lose traction, and this can cause you to lose control.

Do not drive through flooded areas

• Only a few centimetres of water are enough to lift and move a vehicle. Flooding can occur on highways and roads within moments of a heavy downpour. Also be aware of low-level bridges.

Avoid fallen or hanging power lines

• If, for whatever reason, your vehicle is in an incident and comes in contact with a power line, stay inside the vehicle, and use your hazards to draw the attention of other road users while waiting for help to arrive.

Stay close to the middle of the road

When driving in the rain, try to stay as close to the centre of the road as possible. Puddles can form on the edges of the road, and you never know how deep these may be. They could be big potholes that could damage your vehicle.

Pull over correctly

• If you decide you cannot drive safely in a severe storm, move completely off the roadway, and turn your lights and hazards on.

Please share this message at your meetings, and encourage staff to tell their stories and have a discussion about these incidents. Also share the message with your family and friends.

Supervisors must communicate this message to all employees, including those without access to computers.

Prepared by:

Sustainability Systems (Occupational Health and Safety – Operational Safety)

Also view:

Safe Driving in Bad Weather

Safe Driving in Heavy Rain

Reduce crashes in inclement weather with thoughtful defensive driving!