Drivers stopped on the road by an unexpected breakdown or accident often underestimate all the circumstances and do not take care of their safety, confident driving professionals. Convinced that they are perfectly visible, they often carelessly enter the driveway even at dusk, and such behavior results in serious injuries or even death. There is no shortage of cases where drivers who carelessly get out of their car are killed under the wheels of cars passing by. Many accidents happen during the dark hours of the day because although it is mandatory to have a reflective vest in the car and wear it when getting out of the vehicle, the frequent driver does not have it at all or it is so far away that it is not possible to reach it quickly.
"It's a problem in my head because people don't appreciate such situations properly. That's how I saw an accident while driving home in Vilnius today: a small car collided with a minibus. The driver of the minibus stopped at the far left of the road and ran to the right lane to ask if everything was fine for the other driver. And all this was done on a street where the traffic flow is moving at 80 km / h. and faster," said Olga Židovlenkova, an instructor at the Amplius LT Driving School. According to her, first of all, drivers need to understand that in the event of a car breakdown, something needs to stop as right as possible. Even, according to the instructor, when opening the car door when stopping on the street, it is necessary to check that there are no passing and obstructing cars.
Finally, you should only get out of the car when it is safe to do so. The reflective vest must always be within easy reach of the driver. "And be sure to wear a vest. This must always be in the car at hand. In the worst case, the driver should at least put on a few reflectors before going to the street," the interviewee is convinced. The instructor also reminded that in the event of a forced stop, the Road Traffic Regulations (KET) state that it is mandatory to turn on the hazard warning lights. "The car must flash, and if it is not possible to turn on the emergency lights, then it is possible to put on a rear flashlight that illuminates the phone so that passers-by can orient themselves," the interviewee advised. Forgotten emergency stop signs In case the instructor spoke, if there is no emergency light signal, it is defective, or if the stop is where other road users would see the stopped car less than 100 meters before it, it is mandatory to park in front of the direction of travel on that side of the carriageway emergency stop sign. It is specified that in settlements such a sign should be placed no closer than 25 meters from the stopped vehicle, and outside settlements - no closer than 50 meters. If the car breaks down - take care to make everything visible and wait for help to stand further away, on the side of the road, where it is safe.
"However, very often people forget this rule and do not put a triangle sign in general. Although I would say that sometimes such signs would be useful: one farther, the other closer, because often passing cars overturn or cross the sign and it is no longer visible. It has been seen that truck drivers often use two signs each," the specialist commented. Not for safety, but for technical inspection Finally, assured O. Židovlenkova, not a single accident happens because the drivers and passengers of the damaged car stand in the driveway after getting out of the vehicle for some reason. "Without reflective vests, especially in weather like now, early in the morning or in the evening, they are simply invisible. If the car breaks down, you have to make sure that it is visible and wait for help when standing further away, on the side of the road, where it is safe," the specialist emphasized.
The driving instructor also had blamed for undisciplined drivers who do not think that the list of mandatory items in the car KET is not just for himself. "It seems to everyone that, for example, you need to have the same vests for a roadworthiness test, not for your safety. It has been seen more than once when drivers borrow everything they should have before a roadworthiness test. Most likely, if you stopped ten cars on the street now, maybe only three would have everything mandatory," predicted the traffic safety specialist.
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