Do we have the awareness needed to adjust driving style in the mountains?

On the Arrive Alive website we share information on the need for defensive driving and some rather challenging conditions on our roads. We believe that too few drivers adjust their speed and driving style to the road, traffic and weather conditions. We decided to raise a few questions with safe driving specialist Eugene Herbert specifically with regards to driving in the mountains:

Would you agree that we do not “test” ability to drive mountain passes before licensing drivers and allowing them to drive in mountainous areas?  

Yes a driver should be licenced before attempting to drive mountain passes. A driver should have gained some experience in driving on roads before any attempts are made in mountains.

What in your experience are the major causes of crashes in mountain passes?

The main cause is limited forward vision and positioning for the corners and bends that extends forward vision. A driver begins to look at the inside of the bend without lifting the vision to look through the corner. Drivers are frequently caught out by bends that a sharper than initially thought.

How important is driving experience in navigating dangerous mountain passes?

Driving experience is important in driving on any roads but because of the demanding nature of mountain passes – especially so.

What are the major adjustments required to driving technique when having to drive mountain passes?

Selection of a correct gear for ascents or descents is very important as this will control the speed of the vehicle. Drivers often are reluctant to engage the suitable gear before dealing with any hills and are often caught out trying to engage a lower gear in corners or bends. Forward vision and looking through corners is essential as by doing this it gives the driver the complete picture of how to negotiate a bend etc.

What would be the best suggestions to offer drivers not familiar to driving in mountainous areas when:

-           Driving up the mountain Be especially aware of slow moving trucks that are crawling up or down the mountain pass. Their extremely slow speed often catches or road users out and cause problems

-          Driving down the mountain  Also drive down a maintain pass in the same gear as you would drive up the pass. This will control your speed of decent by engine compression and avoid long periods of braking cause the brakes to over heat

Are there special considerations to take into account with regards to vehicle roadworthiness/ readiness when having to drive in mountainous areas?

An exterior and interior check is essential and the vehicle must be roadworthy with a good service record

Any specific advice or caution when towing a trailer or caravan?

A major concern it descending with a trailer or caravan. Engage the correct gear before the decent to control the speed of decent and use the straight roads for braking to avoid braking in a bend

Also view:

Safe Driving in the Mountains/ Mountain Passes

Defensive Driving and Road Safety

Do we have the awareness needed to adjust driving style in the mountains?

Do we have the awareness needed to adjust driving style in the mountains?

On the Arrive Alive website we share information on the need for defensive driving and some rather challenging conditions on our roads. We believe that too few drivers adjust their speed and driving style to the road, traffic and weather conditions. We decided to raise a few questions with safe driving specialist Eugene Herbert specifically with regards to driving in the mountains:

Would you agree that we do not “test” ability to drive mountain passes before licensing drivers and allowing them to drive in mountainous areas?  

Yes a driver should be licenced before attempting to drive mountain passes. A driver should have gained some experience in driving on roads before any attempts are made in mountains.

What in your experience are the major causes of crashes in mountain passes?

The main cause is limited forward vision and positioning for the corners and bends that extends forward vision. A driver begins to look at the inside of the bend without lifting the vision to look through the corner. Drivers are frequently caught out by bends that a sharper than initially thought.

How important is driving experience in navigating dangerous mountain passes?

Driving experience is important in driving on any roads but because of the demanding nature of mountain passes – especially so.

What are the major adjustments required to driving technique when having to drive mountain passes?

Selection of a correct gear for ascents or descents is very important as this will control the speed of the vehicle. Drivers often are reluctant to engage the suitable gear before dealing with any hills and are often caught out trying to engage a lower gear in corners or bends. Forward vision and looking through corners is essential as by doing this it gives the driver the complete picture of how to negotiate a bend etc.

What would be the best suggestions to offer drivers not familiar to driving in mountainous areas when:

-           Driving up the mountain Be especially aware of slow moving trucks that are crawling up or down the mountain pass. Their extremely slow speed often catches or road users out and cause problems

-          Driving down the mountain  Also drive down a maintain pass in the same gear as you would drive up the pass. This will control your speed of decent by engine compression and avoid long periods of braking cause the brakes to over heat

Are there special considerations to take into account with regards to vehicle roadworthiness/ readiness when having to drive in mountainous areas?

An exterior and interior check is essential and the vehicle must be roadworthy with a good service record

Any specific advice or caution when towing a trailer or caravan?

A major concern it descending with a trailer or caravan. Engage the correct gear before the decent to control the speed of decent and use the straight roads for braking to avoid braking in a bend

Also view:

Safe Driving in the Mountains/ Mountain Passes

Defensive Driving and Road Safety

Do we have the awareness needed to adjust driving style in the mountains?

Do we have the awareness needed to adjust driving style in the mountains?

On the Arrive Alive website we share information on the need for defensive driving and some rather challenging conditions on our roads. We believe that too few drivers adjust their speed and driving style to the road, traffic and weather conditions. We decided to raise a few questions with safe driving specialist Eugene Herbert specifically with regards to driving in the mountains:

Would you agree that we do not “test” ability to drive mountain passes before licensing drivers and allowing them to drive in mountainous areas?  

Yes a driver should be licenced before attempting to drive mountain passes. A driver should have gained some experience in driving on roads before any attempts are made in mountains.

What in your experience are the major causes of crashes in mountain passes?

The main cause is limited forward vision and positioning for the corners and bends that extends forward vision. A driver begins to look at the inside of the bend without lifting the vision to look through the corner. Drivers are frequently caught out by bends that a sharper than initially thought.

How important is driving experience in navigating dangerous mountain passes?

Driving experience is important in driving on any roads but because of the demanding nature of mountain passes – especially so.

What are the major adjustments required to driving technique when having to drive mountain passes?

Selection of a correct gear for ascents or descents is very important as this will control the speed of the vehicle. Drivers often are reluctant to engage the suitable gear before dealing with any hills and are often caught out trying to engage a lower gear in corners or bends. Forward vision and looking through corners is essential as by doing this it gives the driver the complete picture of how to negotiate a bend etc.

What would be the best suggestions to offer drivers not familiar to driving in mountainous areas when:

-           Driving up the mountain Be especially aware of slow moving trucks that are crawling up or down the mountain pass. Their extremely slow speed often catches or road users out and cause problems

-          Driving down the mountain  Also drive down a maintain pass in the same gear as you would drive up the pass. This will control your speed of decent by engine compression and avoid long periods of braking cause the brakes to over heat

Are there special considerations to take into account with regards to vehicle roadworthiness/ readiness when having to drive in mountainous areas?

An exterior and interior check is essential and the vehicle must be roadworthy with a good service record

Any specific advice or caution when towing a trailer or caravan?

A major concern it descending with a trailer or caravan. Engage the correct gear before the decent to control the speed of decent and use the straight roads for braking to avoid braking in a bend

Also view:

Safe Driving in the Mountains/ Mountain Passes

Defensive Driving and Road Safety

Do we have the awareness needed to adjust driving style in the mountains?

Do we have the awareness needed to adjust driving style in the mountains?

On the Arrive Alive website we share information on the need for defensive driving and some rather challenging conditions on our roads. We believe that too few drivers adjust their speed and driving style to the road, traffic and weather conditions. We decided to raise a few questions with safe driving specialist Eugene Herbert specifically with regards to driving in the mountains:

Would you agree that we do not “test” ability to drive mountain passes before licensing drivers and allowing them to drive in mountainous areas?  

Yes a driver should be licenced before attempting to drive mountain passes. A driver should have gained some experience in driving on roads before any attempts are made in mountains.

What in your experience are the major causes of crashes in mountain passes?

The main cause is limited forward vision and positioning for the corners and bends that extends forward vision. A driver begins to look at the inside of the bend without lifting the vision to look through the corner. Drivers are frequently caught out by bends that a sharper than initially thought.

How important is driving experience in navigating dangerous mountain passes?

Driving experience is important in driving on any roads but because of the demanding nature of mountain passes – especially so.

What are the major adjustments required to driving technique when having to drive mountain passes?

Selection of a correct gear for ascents or descents is very important as this will control the speed of the vehicle. Drivers often are reluctant to engage the suitable gear before dealing with any hills and are often caught out trying to engage a lower gear in corners or bends. Forward vision and looking through corners is essential as by doing this it gives the driver the complete picture of how to negotiate a bend etc.

What would be the best suggestions to offer drivers not familiar to driving in mountainous areas when:

-           Driving up the mountain Be especially aware of slow moving trucks that are crawling up or down the mountain pass. Their extremely slow speed often catches or road users out and cause problems

-          Driving down the mountain  Also drive down a maintain pass in the same gear as you would drive up the pass. This will control your speed of decent by engine compression and avoid long periods of braking cause the brakes to over heat

Are there special considerations to take into account with regards to vehicle roadworthiness/ readiness when having to drive in mountainous areas?

An exterior and interior check is essential and the vehicle must be roadworthy with a good service record

Any specific advice or caution when towing a trailer or caravan?

A major concern it descending with a trailer or caravan. Engage the correct gear before the decent to control the speed of decent and use the straight roads for braking to avoid braking in a bend

Also view:

Safe Driving in the Mountains/ Mountain Passes

Defensive Driving and Road Safety

Do we have the awareness needed to adjust driving style in the mountains?

Shield Your Vehicle: Guidelines for Auto Theft Awareness Month

Some facts: We’re heading into Independence Day weekend the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports that the vacation has the 7th-highest theft numbers of any holiday annually, the summer season season is higher-time for larger theft figures and July is Auto Theft Awareness Month.

Sounds like the perfect time for motorists to be on guard. Here are some anti-theft tips from certain-fire sources:

Preserve Your Crucial with You

The Los Angeles Police Division (LAPD), which polices a city where car theft makes up nearly a 4th of all house crimes, says that car thieves will take any possibility to make off in your ride.

And leaving your keys anywhere but your pocket is giving those thieves a large chance. From the LAPD:

• By no means leave your automobile operating unattended, even to dash into a company, retailer, or home.


• By no means leave any keys in the car or ignition, inside a locked garage, or in hide-a-essential boxes.

Far more info:
Automobiles with keyless entry or crucial codes can still be vulnerable to theft, according to the NICB. So owners of such vehicles, which are generally later-model vehicles with anti-theft technology, must nevertheless be wary.

In no way Leave Valuables in Sight

More from the LAPD:

• By no means leave valuables in plain view, even if your vehicle is locked. Put them in the trunk out of sight.

But automobile thieves target far more than just the valuables in your car—parts of your automobile can be just as beneficial.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), automobile thieves can strip a vehicle down in a half-hour. Plus, the final payoff for components is often worth a number of instances far more than the vehicle itself.

“Radios and wheel covers aren’t the only popular stolen car components thieves take,” the federal officials say. “They want what ever sells, from the mandated labeled components to those that aren’t. Among some of the most common parts or things left in vehicles are: engine, transmission, air bags, radios, GPS units, iPods, laptops, and purses.”

A lot more info:
On-line Auto Insurance has the lowdown on theft of catalytic converters and tailgates.

Close and Lock All Windows and Doors

About half of all automobile thefts are “due to driver error,” according to the NHTSA.

Leaving your doors and/or windows open is a big mistake. The LAPD says a driver need to lock up and close every thing in the vehicle even if it is parked “in front of your residence.”

A lot more info:
Even at a gas station, leaving your door/window ajar can be the essential slipup a thief is hunting for, according to a video advisory from the NHTSA.

Park in Effectively-lit Locations

No thief desires to do his enterprise in complete view. According to the NHTSA, much more than half of car thefts come about in “areas exactly where cars are parked without attendants.”

So leave your auto in a higher-targeted traffic, properly-lit area to ward off criminals.

Far more info:
California has extended held the unwanted title of “state with the highest number of vehicle thefts,” according to the NICB. But a closer appear at theft figures in the Golden State sheds a small a lot more light (no pun intended) on the problem. According to USA These days, the 3 Californian spots exactly where automobiles are stolen most are Barkersfield, Fresno and Modesto, in the state’s “less populous farm belt.” Those locations need to have much less lighting for much less people, but that also indicates a bigger chance for thieves.

Shield Your Vehicle: Guidelines for Auto Theft Awareness Month