The Driver’s Physical Condition

It is enough to have a vehicle in good running condition to ensure safety in driving. As a driver you must be physically, emotionally and mentally fit to operate your vehicle on the road. This is vital to safe driving.

1.Vision

A driver must see quickly, clearly and accurately. Seeing too late makes decisions come too late. Decisions made while driving are based on what the driver see. If eyes do not see properly, it can be corrected by using corrective lenses.

2.Smell

By smelling, you can tell the presence of gas that may be coming out of your car. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may result to drowsiness, headaches, nausea or mental dullness that impair your driving ability. Check your engine and exhaust system if they are in top condition.

3.Hearing

A driver who has impaired hearing may not hear important sound like police vehicles, sirens of fire engines and horns of other drivers who wish to pass. The use of hearing aids overcome this defect.

4.Touch
Proper coordination of hand and feet helps in controlling the vehicle while in motion. Sensitivity to the important parts of the car such as brakes, steering system, accelerator, lights and signals through your sense of touch enable you to determine any incoming failure that may surprise you and the other driver to an emergency.

5.Emotions
Emotions affect driving performance. Failure to control emotions may lead to driving errors.

Anger – it impairs the performance of smooth braking and accelerating due to changes in some body functions such as increase heartbeats.

Anxiety – it may lead to panic decisions.

Excitement – stress and sometimes happiness changes the functions of the body and mind that prevents wise decision necessary for safe driving.

Fatigue – is the most common that lower driver’s fitness. Fatigue may come from lack of sleep, excessive physical exercise or from mental or emotional stress. Fatigue dulls the mind and slows down nerve and muscular responses. As a good driver, you must learn to cope with all these emotions, to perform the driving task safely and effectively.
http://www.lto.gov.ph/tips.html