LOW RISK DRIVING

Low - Risk Driving a skill for LIFE

- - - - - - - - - - Road Safety by Dieter Fischer - - - - - - - - - - ISBN No. 0 09577 426 06

Your SAFETY is Driving

View 3 D Animation of this crash - CLICK HERE

B 21. TAKE-OFF at lights - WAIT 2 Seconds

The following is a true account of a tragic crash. The driver of the vehicle in the left lane is lucky to be alive. His life changed dramatically in two seconds. It took years for him to live a normal life again.

The crash could have easily been avoided, by waiting just a little longer, before rushing off the instant the lights changed.

View 3 D Animation of this crash - CLICK HERE

1. Five seconds to disaster: The small hatchback on the left is waiting at the red traffic lights. The van beside him blocked the view to the right completely.

The driver, running late for an appointment, couldn’t afford to lose any more time. The lights changed to green. The impatient driver in the small hatchback jumped into the intersection.

With his vision blocked to his right, the driver in a hurry didn't know that a huge truck, also running late, was approaching from his right.

2. Two seconds too early: The van did not move off so quickly. The driver could see what was approaching from his right, a huge truck at high speed.

A mere two seconds later, and the truck would have cleared the intersection without causing the tragedy it did!

Trucks take a long distance to stop when fully laden!