HOW TO AVOID UNEXPECTED HAZARDOUS FACTORS WHEN DRIVING A CAR?

1. Human Factors

Using mobile phones

Using a mobile phone while driving is one of the most dangerous distracting factors. Reading messages, making calls, or using phone applications can cause loss of vision and lack of focus on the road and traffic conditions.

Before starting to drive, turn off or set your mobile phone to silent mode for calls, messages or notifications. You should make calls or send messages before departing.

Drowsiness, fatigue

Fatigue, lack of sleep, or driving for a long time can lead to dozing off, causing distraction and accidents. Long-distance drivers often experience frequent sleep deprivation. This is extremely dangerous, as lack of sleep will make the mind less alert, impairing the ability to observe, recognize and handle unexpected dangerous situations.

Ensure you have had enough sleep and rest before driving to avoid dozing off and losing focus when operating the vehicle.

 

Eating and drinking while driving

Eating and drinking in the car, especially while steering the wheel, can cause all kinds of distractions. Holding food, the mind and eyes focused on the meal make it difficult for the driver to be aware of developments on the journey.

Plan time to eat and drink before starting the trip or after you have stopped the car in a safe place.

Alcohol, beer, and stimulants

The use of alcohol, beer, or stimulants is the main cause of most traffic collisions. Alcohol, beer, and stimulants will affect the brain functions, including the ability to think, reason, and coordinate muscles, all of which are impaired. Do not put yourself and those around you in a dangerous situation, at any time, for any reason.

To avoid unwanted accidents, you should not use alcohol or beer before driving, nor should you use stimulants.

 

Makeup, smoking

Putting on makeup in the car causes the driver to sometimes let go of the steering wheel or shift their gaze to the mirror. This distracts the driver when driving, making it impossible to control the situation.

When smoking, the actions of lighting, smoking, or flicking the ash into the ashtray all cause the driver's line of sight to not be focused on the road ahead.

Ensure you have enough time to arrange everything before driving, including smoking and putting on makeup. This helps you avoid rushing and increases your ability to focus on the road.

Unstable mood

Negative emotions can make your mental state abnormal, whether it's something joyful or something sad, a state of anger or irritability will also be a factor that easily causes distraction when driving. When encountering such situations, you will tend to be overly excited, such as driving at high speeds, always thinking about the event, which increases the risk of accidents and reduces your ability to concentrate and maintain control.

Take some time to stabilize your emotions, control your emotions by thinking about good things, saying positive things instead of having scary and negative thoughts.

 

Playing music too loudly

Listening to music at an excessively high volume or through headphones can cause distraction and prevent you from hearing sounds from your surroundings. Adjust the volume to a level where you can hear it comfortably, and do not wear headphones when driving to avoid becoming distracted.

Reaching for items while driving

Holding a phone, getting documents, or even just reaching for a piece of candy can cause distraction. Even though it doesn't take much time, having one hand off the steering wheel and leaning over means you cannot properly see the road.

Remember that once you have your hands on the steering wheel, try to minimize taking your hands off and keep your eyes focused on the road ahead. Place any necessary items like food, drinks, or napkins within reach before starting the vehicle.

 

2. Mechanical and equipment factors

Letting the fuel tank get too low

Many drivers nowadays have the habit of waiting until the fuel gauge is on the "red line" before refilling. However, according to experts, letting the fuel level get too low can be harmful to the fuel system.

This can lead to the fuel pump suddenly failing, the vehicle becoming damaged, and incurring significant costs for towing and repairs. Experts advise that when the fuel level reaches around 1/4 tank, the driver should immediately find a gas station to refuel.

Not slowing down when going over speed bumps

Driving over speed bumps or humps at high speed not only damages the tires, suspension, and chassis, but also makes for an unpleasant experience for the passengers.

Many cases of flat tires are caused by going over speed bumps too fast, which is dangerous, time-consuming, and can be costly. Therefore, when driving on poor road conditions, go very slowly. The driver should also observe the road and proactively steer around, and reduce speed when seeing speed bumps or other obstacles.

 

Forgetting to use the parking brake when parking

Even for automatic transmission vehicles, when parked on a flat road and in Park mode, the driver should still use the parking brake. According to experts, when parked, the entire weight of the vehicle rests on a very small component - the parking pawl.

This is a part that is prone to wear and tear or breaking, so engaging the parking brake provides additional support and increases the lifespan of the parking pawl. Experts advise drivers to follow these steps when parking: apply the foot brake to bring the vehicle to a complete stop, pull the parking brake, then shift from Drive to Park before turning off the engine.

Ignoring warning symbols on the dashboard

We need to understand that a car is a modern machine, and the warning lights on the dashboard do not turn on randomly - they only light up when your vehicle is experiencing an issue.

There are many types of warning lights, such as the check engine light, brake warning light, airbag warning light, electric power steering warning light, temperature warning light, oil pressure warning light, and more.

While some warnings may not seem urgent and do not pose an immediate danger to driving, ignoring these warnings over a long period of time can potentially lead to you having to spend a significant amount of money on vehicle repairs.

Therefore, when you notice a warning light on your dashboard, you should address it immediately or take the vehicle to a reputable repair shop to fix the issue in a timely manner.

Not Performing Periodic Vehicle Maintenance

The nature of a car is a complex system, and if it is not maintained regularly, it can lead to issues and safety concerns. Performing periodic maintenance ensures that your vehicle remains in safe and reliable operating condition.

The car's transmission is an important component that needs to be maintained regularly. Changing the transmission fluid at the right time helps ensure the transmission operates smoothly, transmits power accurately, and enhances the driving experience by reducing friction and operating temperature. This helps increase the transmission's efficiency and reduces energy consumption.

 

Currently, Gartz is the leading distributor of high-quality automatic transmission lubricants. If you are looking for a reliable option for maintaining your vehicle's transmission, Gartz is an excellent choice. Gartz currently offers 7 lines of automatic transmission lubricant products that are widely trusted by garages and customers.