Thursday, January 28, 2016

Essential Tips to Stay Safe this Festive Season by FORD Malaysia and from Yours Truly


Ford Malaysia has sent me some tips for those of you who will be on the road this Chinese New Year season. I believe it is my duty to share the tips stated below. I also want to add these two tips:


1. PLEASE USE YOUR INDICATORS WHEN YOU WANT TO MAKE A TURN OR OVERTAKE. 



I think 90% of Malaysian drivers do not do this. Is it so bloody hard to signal? No energy is used as automotive manufacturers spend a lot of time setting the weight of the indicator stalk so that no one will sprain their fingers or hands whilst signalling. Why are you people so lazy? Signalling won't kill you but it will ensure that the person behind you knows that you are going to turn, change lanes or overtaking. Why? You want to keep your maneuver a secret? Hello, wait till someone rear ends you. They may be at fault but after he or she rear ends you, do you want to be car-less for a while?



2. PLEASE DO NOT GO DOWN A ONE WAY STREET OR THE WRONG WAY DOWN AN INDICATED ROAD IN ANY SITUATION WHATSOEVER.



Is it so hard to follow road signs? If the arrow points one way or there is a NO ENTRY sign. Please abide by it. It only takes a few seconds longer if you followed the road traffic signs to reach your destination. Why are you so inconsiderate? You're driving not walking. There is no energy spent driving that extra 100 meters or so and it basically does not take three hundred years to take the correct path. It would take less than a minute or so going down the correct way most of the time. I thought most of you Malaysians out there are good Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Atheists etc. Only in front of God you want to be all pious issit? You also have a duty to other human beings too . Make the effort to follow road signs lah. There are other people using the road too



There is more. But let's now hear it from the good people at Ford Malaysia who have prepared the nice list below:



TIPS FROM FORD MALAYSIA

Don’t Become a Statistic: Essential Tips to Stay Safe this Festive Season

With the festive season on the horizon, more and more Malaysians are preparing for their

journey home to visit friends and family.

In fact, the Malaysian Highway Concessionaire, PLUS, expects traffic on major highways

across the country to increase by 15 percent to 1.5 million vehicles daily during the festive

season.

With busier roads and people keen to make it home as quickly as they can, it’s important to

take a moment to remind ourselves of a few things before embarking on a long journey.

Maintain Your Vehicle

I like this picture...the left hand is pulling the oil dipstick, but the right hand is ready to touch some hair.... She doesn't have a clue does she. 

Follow these six simple tips to ensure your car is in tip-top shape and ready for the drive:

1) Check engine oil level

Ensure that the engine is cold or has been off for at least ten minutes before

checking the level of your engine oil, using the dipstick under the hood

2) Visually check coolant level and brake fluid level

Ensure that both coolant and brake fluid levels are between the low and high mark

3) Check all exterior lights, like headlamps, fog lamps, brake lights and indicators 

Ensure that all your lights are functioning well before you set off on your journey

4) Check tire pressure and tire thread

Check tire pressure regularly. The recommended air pressure for your tires is usually

found on a placard at the front door, in the glove compartment or in the owner’s

manual.

5) Visually check for any warning lights

Ensure that no warning lights are illuminated on your dashboard before beginning

your journey

6) If you’re travelling with children, ensure your child safety seat/s are properly 


secured


There are different mounting systems available – regardless of which you choose, it

is important to correctly install the seat and ensure all belts and adjustments are as

tight as possible to minimize movement in the case of an accident.

Special tips for travelling at night

Some people like to travel home in the evening – it can be a good way to avoid the crowds,

but some things can be trickier when darkness falls. Vision is limited at night, and depth

perception, colour recognition and peripheral vision are negatively impacted once the sun

has set. Here are some tips, especially for the night-owls.

1) Stay Alert

Sure, you might be a great driver at night, but don’t assume that everyone else on

the road is. Always be vigilant – double check for oncoming traffic whenever you

cross an intersection or stop sign, even if you have right of way. Take an extra

moment to watch for oncoming cars when your red light turns green, and leave extra

room for other vehicles. Remember that vehicles can seem further away at night than

they actually are, so make sure to account for that before making a manoeuvre.

For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com

Follow at www.facebook.com/FordMalaysia or www.youtube.com/FordMsia

2) Don’t Be Sleepy

Driving while tired can be just as dangerous as driving while drunk – cognitive

impairment after approximately 18 hours awake is similar to that of someone with a

blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%; after about 24 hours awake, impairment is

equivalent to a BAC of 0.10%, higher than most legal limits.

If you find yourself starting to feel fatigued, pull off the road immediately and try to

find a petrol station or rest stop along the highways. Take a walk, get some fresh air,

or take a nap – even a 20-30 minute nap can help ease fatigue. But whatever you do,

don’t try to push through fatigue.

3) Interior Lighting

Driving with your dashboard panel on at full brightness can impair your vision when

looking at the dark roads ahead. Keep that dash dim – and definitely keep those

reading lights off – whenever possible while driving.

4) Maintain Your Windows

Don’t compromise your vision with dirty glass – a clean windshield is just as

important as keeping your eyes open when driving at night. Streaks can cause

dangerous glares on the windshield, windows and mirrors, so avoid touching them

with your hands to prevent oil from getting on those surfaces. Make sure you also

clean them regularly by keeping a soft cloth in your door pockets.


5) Don’t Go Into the Light


Staring directly at an oncoming car’s lights will hamper your vision at night long after

the vehicle is gone. Try using the left, shoulder of the road as a locator to help you

stay on course while the oncoming car passes.

6) Blinding High Beams

Don’t be that guy who blinds oncoming cars with high beams. Turn off your

highbeams when a vehicle is approaching to give drivers the visibility while

decreasing the chance that high beams will shine into the cabin of oncoming

vehicles.

7) Mister Lonely

Driving by yourself at night can feel especially lonely. But with SYNC, you have a

number of listening options to keep you company: stream music from your

smartphone, listen to your favourite tunes via a paired mobile device with SYNC, or

catch up on your favourite radio and podcast apps. With SYNC, you’ll never have to

feel alone on your drive again.

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