Panorama
Promoting Family Safety
Special Traffic Issue 2013
Panorama
Inside this issue
S P E C I A L
Promoting Family Safety
T R A F F I C
Special Traffic Issue 2013
2 0 1 3
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I S S U E
Do as I Do …
not Only as I Say!
Time and time again you hear that
young drivers (younger than 25) are
more likely than anyone else to be
injured or killed in a vehicle crash, in the
Kingdom and other countries.
9
A Distracting
Danger
Now, a growing number of pedestrians
are becoming the perpetrators, not
the victims, of accidents, traffic and
otherwise. The reason? Modern
technology — especially headphones,
mobile phones and other handheld
devices.
15
Safety on
Wheels
Bikes, scooters, roller blades
and skateboards are classic
symbols of childhood recreation,
Loss Prevention, Room A-117
Building 3150, LIP
Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia
transportation and health.
Participation in wheeled sports
helps children develop the habit
of healthy physical activity, and
Cover Photo: Hatim Oweida
Photos by Ali Saeed
Altraiki P. Company - Fax: 8471412
© Copyright 2013, Saudi Aramco. All rights reserved.
also contributes to a sense of
independence and responsibility.
6
Would You Drive
Blindfolded?
When you are driving home from
a hard day at work or taking your
family out for a nice meal, how
would you feel if some of the other
drivers were wearing blindfolds?
12
Are the Cars of the Future
Already Here?
More technologies for safer vehicles are in development.
If these technologies are combined with careful, driving
skills we may all reach our destinations more comfortably,
more quickly and much more safely.
18
Road Markings:
Getting You there
Safely
Increasing levels of congestion on the
roads have played a significant role in the
increasing tempers among drivers and
increased traffic collisions.
Do as
not Only
Why are so many young people involved in fatal
crashes? Because young people do not take safe
driving seriously! They consider driving a fun activity
and a chance to prove how brave they are — often to
their peers — and in general push the limits of physics
by performing some very dangerous stunts. Why do
they do this? Because they are young and immature,
and have poor driving role models.
2
Pa n o ra m a
as I Say!
It’s not just good parenting to talk to your children about
safe driving; it’s a life and death situation. You need to
discuss everything about traffic safety with your sons
before they even reach driving age. Start when they are
young passengers — both boys and girls — to stress
the importance of using their vehicle restraints. Insist
that they are buckled up before every trip. You can also
emphasize the importance of following all traffic signs
and signals, and safe driving rules and regulations. Say,
for example, “the roads are dangerous and this is why
dad always drives defensively to be in control of the
vehicle and to be able to react in an emergency or when
others make mistakes.”
When your son is ready to drive, make sure that he takes
driving lessons and passes his driving test. Once he has
his driving license, and for the first six months, restrict his
driving to only when supervised by you and during the
daytime. This way you can monitor his driving to make
sure that he drives defensively. Once you feel confident
that he has gained enough experience, allow him to
drive on his own. But set limits that clearly outline the
consequences of breaking the rules, i.e., loss of his driving
privilege, monetary fines and even injury and death. You
may think that you cannot get through to your son, but
research tells us that children do listen to their parents.
You do influence your son’s driving habits. Remind him
that driving is a privilege — a privilege that he will lose
if he doesn’t drive by the rules of the road and your
own rules.
Modeling safe driving
Talking to your son about safe driving is important, but
not as important as modeling safe driving. Many parents
are unaware of the influence they have on their children’s
driving behavior. Your driving style and behavior behind
the wheel, including how you react to various driving
situations and mistakes by others, are more significant
to your son’s developing driving habits than anything
you may say. Remember that even as a young child
your son observes your driving behavior and learns from
you. Children naturally imitate their parents and when
it comes to driving, fathers need to model good driving
skills and behavior so that their sons follow their lead and
avoid risky behaviors.
Stress the importance of obeying these rules. If he fails to
do so, he will lose his driving privilege for a certain period
of time depending on the rule. For example, if he is
observed using a mobile phone, he will not be allowed to
drive for a week; if he is speeding, he will not be allowed
to drive for a month. Repeated violations will result in
taking the keys away from him altogether.
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Special Traffic Issue 2013
I Do …
Driving parenting is a life and death situation
Risky behaviors
What are some of the risky driving behaviors of young
drivers?
Speeding — Young drivers believe that they are immortal
— nothing bad can happen to them — so they exhibit
the worst of all risky behaviors: driving at unsafe, high
speeds. Speeding is one of the most common factors
contributing to traffic crashes. Speeding reduces a driver’s
ability to steer safely around curves or objects, extends
the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and increases
the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to
a dangerous situation. It’s important to note that the
relative proportion of speeding-related crashes to all
crashes decreases with the driver’s increasing age.
Aggressive driving — The US National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving
as driving that takes place when an individual commits a
combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger
other persons and property. Aggressive driving is exhibited
in many different ways including not following the rules
of the road (i.e., running red lights and stop signs),
disregarding other drivers’ rights (i.e., cutting in front of
them, tailgating and swerving in and out of lanes), not
giving the right-of-way to pedestrians and others, and
honking and making angry gestures.
Distracted driving — Distractions are deadly because they
take a driver’s mind and eyes off the road. Even only a few
seconds is enough to prevent a driver from seeing a hazard
and will delay his reaction time. Distractions coupled with
a lack of driving experience put young drivers in a very
vulnerable position for a crash. Young drivers are usually
distracted by any of these actions: eating or drinking;
tuning the radio or listening to a portable multimedia
player; smoking; searching, talking, calling or texting on a
mobile phone; steering with knees (kneeing); using a GPS;
and staring at something on the road.
Following too closely — Tailgating is dangerous because
it shortens the amount of time a driver has to react to
a hazard on the road. And remember, the higher the
speed, the longer it takes to stop safely. All drivers should
follow the two-second rule: Watch the rear bumper
of the vehicle in front as it passes a fixed object; count
two seconds: “one thousand one, one thousand two.”
This rule helps determine and maintain a safe following
distance under normal road and weather conditions.
One or more seconds should be added for each factor
that causes driving conditions to deteriorate: rain, fog,
shamals, night driving, heavy traffic, road construction or
health issues.
4
Carrying too many passengers — When a young driver
has too many friends in the vehicle a safety issue can
arise. Friends talking and laughing may distract the
Pa n o ra m a
driver from driving safely. Friends may try to influence
him to take risks that he might not otherwise take, like
stunt driving or speeding. Young passengers may try to
interfere with the driver physically (playfully blocking his
eyes, placing their foot on the accelerator, elbowing him),
making it difficult or impossible to drive safely.
Driving when tired or sleepy — According to the US
National Safety Council (NSC), young drivers are often
sleep deprived. When it comes to sleep, the brain is like
a bank. You deposit a certain amount of sleep every
night or you may have a sleep deficit. If the driver has a
sleep deficit over many nights, his brain will not be fully
functional for him to drive safely. The driver should get
enough sleep or catch up if he misses sleep, eat a light
meal before driving, make frequent stops, drive with
one other person and pay attention to sleep deprivation
warning signs — if too tired or sleepy, he should get off
the road and rest.
Failing to buckle up — Vehicle restraints do not prevent
crashes, but they help prevent fatalities and minimize
the severity of injuries in the event of a crash. When a
driver and passengers are in a collision, their bodies go
through three separate collisions of their own: first, the
collision the body feels when the vehicle makes the initial
impact; second, the collision of the body against parts of
the vehicle (i.e., the dashboard, steering wheel, doors,
seats and seatbelts); and third, the collision of human
organs inside each body. The severity of all three of these
collisions worsens as speed increases. When vehicle
occupants are properly restrained, the impact of the
collision is reduced.
Spell out the rules
Clearly define the family’s safe driving rules and
consequences. Write up a contract that both you and
your son sign:
Seat belts: Always buckle up!
Mobile phone: No searching, texting or talking. Turn
off the mobile phone when in the car.
Curfew time: Have the car back home by 10 p.m.
Passengers: No more than one at a time (increase
the number of passengers with time).
Substances: No use of any kind, including
medications that can cause
drowsiness.
Distance: Establish the maximum distance that
he can drive from home (increase the
distance with time).
Driving safely: Follow all established rules including
speed limits.
Family car only:
No driving anyone else’s vehicle,
including friends’ vehicles.
A message from a parent to a young
driver
Recognize the hazard — Scan ahead, around and
behind the vehicle. Check the rearview and side
mirrors every three to five seconds. Use the “what
if …” strategy to stay alert and spot hazards. There
are two types of hazards. Driver hazards are those
created by the driver, by his own behavior and by
making unsafe driving decisions like running a red
light or speeding. Driving hazards are those created
by the traffic environment — the road, weather or
other drivers. While you may not create these hazards,
you need to anticipate that these can happen and be
prepared to respond appropriately.
Understand the defense — Know what to do to avoid
a hazard. Know the consequences of your driving
choices. Know the basic defensive driving actions. By
following the established traffic rules and regulations,
you improve your chances of staying safe.
Act correctly — Be alert and concentrate on the
driving task. Choose the safest driving maneuver to
avoid a crash. Remember that other drivers may act in
time, but they may act incorrectly. Be ready to respond
appropriately to the mistakes of others to avoid a
crash.
Identify actions you can take to gain control of
the driving situation. Even though you cannot
control certain driving conditions (i.e., weather,
light, road conditions, traffic and other drivers) you
can control how you react to them. Take the lead.
Make rules for your vehicle and anyone riding with
you, such as everyone wears a seat belt and no
one distracts you from driving safely. They need to
keep the noise down and do everything possible to
keep you focused on the task of driving safely.
Recognize the legal and personal consequences
of both good and poor driving choices. For
every decision you make, there is a result and a
consequence. With control comes responsibility.
Have a backup plan in case things get out of
control. Stop the car if your friends are acting up.
Call for a ride for your friends if necessary. Your
choices are for yourself and your friends. Your
friends will come to respect you and eventually
follow your lead.
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Special Traffic Issue 2013
Apply the crash prevention formula
Understand that you are in control in most driving
situations. You are the only person who can
control your behavior. You are the one who makes
decisions for yourself and who chooses to act as
you do. Stand up to those in the vehicle who push
you to behave in an unsafe manner. Who is the
boss of you anyway? Look your passengers in the
eye and state your case firmly and confidently.
Don’t back down. Tell them that you want to drive
safely because you want to stay alive.
Would You Drive
Blindfolded ?
6
Pa n o ra m a
When you are driving home from a hard day at work
or taking your family out for a nice meal, how would
you feel if some of the other drivers were wearing
blindfolds? Would you wear a blindfold while driving
nearly 100 km/h? Probably not. But that is essentially
what some drivers are doing when they are texting
while driving. Sending a text message takes a driver’s
eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds … more
than enough time to drive the length of a football
field at normal highway speeds.
As this incident shows, it does not
take much to create an accident.
Even just a fraction of a second
can mean the difference between
a blown tire and a serious injury, or
even death, for yourself and your
passengers.
Driven to distraction
Take Hamed, for example: one
evening he and his friend, Ali, were
heading to meet with a few other
friends. Hamed was driving and
wanted to send his friends a text
message so they would be sure
where to meet up. Ali wanted to
send the message, so Hamed could
concentrate on driving. Hamed said
that it was no big deal, that he was
an excellent multitasker and that they
were not going that fast anyway.
While he was glancing down to enter
his text message, a driver in front of
them decided to make a last-second
Distractions while we are driving can
take many forms: adjusting the radio/
CD player/MP3 player, using a DVD
player, smoking, grooming, using a
GPS, talking/searching/texting on a
mobile phone, eating and drinking,
talking to passengers, and dealing
with noisy children. One common
element among these things is that
they take our attention away from
our primary task of driving safely.
The distractions we experience while
driving fall into three categories:
Visual — What we see or are
looking at.
q
Manual — What our hands and
feet are doing.
q
Cognitive — What we are
thinking about.
q
Many of the previously mentioned incar distractions fall into two or three
of these categories, making them
even more dangerous. Some of them
are out of our control, so we must
be sure to enlist the help of all our
passengers to have safe trips. When
we are distracted, accidents can and
do happen much more frequently,
and are much more serious as well.
A study by the US National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
found that “80% of crashes and
65% of near-crashes involve some
form of driver distraction occurring
within three seconds before the
vehicle crash.” The study also found
that 16% of highway deaths were
the result of distracted drivers. And
one of the principal distractions that
can lead to vehicle crashes is the
use of mobile phones — dialing a
number, answering a call, talking on
your mobile phone, searching for a
website or phone number, or sending
a text message when driving are all
deadly behaviors.
In 2011, there were more than
3,300 road fatalities in the US due
to distracted driving, according to
latest NHTSA statistics. In the US,
as with other places throughout
the world, the number of deaths
due to distractions is increasing
every year.
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Special Traffic Issue 2013
turn. Ali yelled out and Hamed was
able to swerve to just barely avoid
the car. Luckily, they only had a flat
tire from hitting a curb, but their
incident could have been much
worse if there had been a pedestrian
around or if they were going faster.
Texting multiplies the risk
The bottom line
Throughout the Kingdom and
worldwide, mobile phones have
become ubiquitous. In addition,
for the past 10 years, every new
mobile phone sold is equipped with
texting capabilities. The number of
text messages especially seems to
be increasing exponentially. These
billions of text messages sent every
day suggest that we are all becoming
more distracted by them, whether at
home, at work or in our vehicles.
Searching and text messaging require
your full attention, like when you
are sitting at an airport or at home,
but not while you are operating a
two-ton machine that is moving at
120 km/h. Drivers need to realize
that there is zero tolerance for using
mobile phones to dial a number, do
a search, talk or text while driving a
vehicle.
Many drivers do not understand that
searching and texting on mobile
phones is even more dangerous than
simply talking on them. The reason is
simple: searching and text messaging
require your eyes, one or both of
your hands and your brain — all
three distraction categories: visual,
manual and cognitive. Because of
this combination, these actions are
by far the most serious distractions
when driving.
So what can we all do to make
our roads safer? One of the most
important things you can do when
driving is to put your phone down
and don’t pick it up. If you feel
tempted, turn off your phone and
put it somewhere can’t reach it.
You can also check out some of
the many apps that are available
to monitor your driving. These can
check a vehicle’s speed and if it is
moving faster than 15 km/h, all your
messages will be blocked.
According to an Australian study,
while texting, drivers spend about
400% more time taking their eyes off
the road and are 70% less likely to
stay in their lane. Although a driver
talking on a mobile phone can watch
the road and use a hands-free device
to keep both hands on the wheel,
studies have found that both of these
activities are equally dangerous.
However, someone responding to a
text message must stare at his hands
or a tiny screen, making this activity
the most dangerous of all.
One US study that used video
cameras to observe driver behavior
found that 81% of all incidents
involved some type of driver
distraction. By a wide margin, text
messaging had the greatest relative
risk. Drivers text messaging were up
to 23 times more likely to experience
a crash, near crash or other unsafe
event, when compared to drivers not
using a mobile phone at all.
8
Pa n o ra m a
Your responsibility
If you have passengers, let them
answer your phone or do your
searching and texting for you. If you
use a driver, make sure he follows
all the rules of the road and that he
does not drive while distracted. If you
or another driver really needs to use a
mobile phone, pull into a parking lot
or somewhere safe. Talking, dialing,
searching or texting while driving can
be deadly for you, other drivers and
pedestrians. Just say no.
What distracts us?
According to a 2011 poll, more than
2,800 drivers in the US admitted
to engaging in these types of
distractions:
Distracting Activity
Eating or
drinking
Drivers who
admitted to this
activity %
86
Distracting Activity
Drivers who
admitted to this
activity %
Sending or
receiving text
messages
37
Setting or
changing a
GPS system
41
Reading a
map
36
Combing or
styling their
hair
20
Surfing the
Internet
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Special Traffic Issue 2013
A Distracting
Danger
9
Pedestrians have always been vulnerable in traffic. They have often been the victims of
collisions with vehicles from simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time when
a traffic incident took place. In the past, pedestrian safety focused on being aware of
your surroundings while walking, for leisure or for self-transport; of seeing and being
seen; and being able to take defensive action against the actions of drivers.
Now, a growing number of pedestrians are becoming
the perpetrators, not the victims, of accidents, traffic
and otherwise. The reason? Modern technology —
especially headphones, mobile phones and other
handheld devices.
Connect to safety, not electronics
New studies have shown that wearing headphones
connected to electronic devices, and using devices
such as mobile phones and gaming devices, while
walking is playing a significant role in the increase of
pedestrian incidents and even fatalities. According to
the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2011
over 1,000 people suffered injuries while walking and
using a mobile phone or other electronic device. Further
data from the US National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) found that in 2010, although
the overall traffic deaths were down, pedestrian
fatalities rose by 4.2% and pedestrian injuries by 19%.
And a new study just released dealt specifically with
the dangers of using headphones while walking (by
researcher Richard Lichenstein and colleagues at the
University of Maryland). The study found that between
2004 and 2011, serious injuries and deaths tripled
among pedestrians struck by a car or train while wearing
headphones connected to an iPod or other handheld
device.
The following are recorded pedestrian incidents in the
US, but could be just as common in other countries:
Falling onto a train track while texting.
q
Being hit by a pickup truck while playing a video
game and stepping onto the road.
q
Falling off a sidewalk while texting.
q
Knocking down an elderly man while cycling and
using a mobile phone.
q
Falling into a ditch while talking on a mobile phone.
q
Walking into a telephone pole while texting.
q
Falling into a fountain while texting.
q
10
Pa n o ra m a
Walking into a bear while engrossed on a mobile
phone.
q
Most of the above accidents resulted in injury to the
pedestrians only; only two were collision accidents.
However, there is no doubt that there is an alarming
increase in pedestrian accidents simply from being
distracted.
The brain link
Why is pedestrian distraction becoming such a dangerous
problem?
Concentration is critical to safe walking — or completing
any task safely — and focus is needed both to see and
to hear. Previously, it was still a challenge to prevent the
mind wandering — has the shopping been done? Did the
children do their homework? When do I have time to get
the car fixed? — when taking a walk. The very pace of
walking provides a rhythmic solace.
Using electronic devices and headphones while walking,
however, splits the brain function to a much more
inattentive capacity. Psychological studies show that
most people cannot focus on two things at once —
even (or especially) when they think they can. Instead,
their attention shifts back and forth between tasks and
performance suffers. So when your mind is filled with
sound, you cannot think other things and when your
head is down and texting, you cannot think or even see
other things.
Researchers from the Maryland study attribute the basic
inability to walk and use electronic devices at the same
time safely as distraction and environmental isolation.
Distraction, also known as “inattentional blindness,”
involves both the distraction of interpreting sound as
well as the distraction needed to operate a device.
Inattentional blindness had already been determined as an
emerging cause of vehicle accidents; now studies such as
this are linking it to pedestrian injuries too.
Environmental isolation is simply a lack of attention to
what is going on around you; and, therefore, the dangers
that may be about to impact you. Of particular concern
in pedestrian accidents is that audible cues can be more
important for safety than visual cues. A total of 29% of
the reports in the Maryland study specifically mentioned
that horns or sirens were sounded before the pedestrian
was hit — but the victim just never “heard” the warning.
“The rule for walking
with mobile phones is
easy to follow and is the
same for vehicle drivers:
Don’t do it!”
But it’s not that serious surely? I’m only
walking
q
q
Pedestrian distraction can have an impact on road
safety through the proximity of pedestrians to traffic
when on the sidewalk or while crossing roads. Their
lack of attention can have an impact on those around
them, including drivers.
Mobile phone use is one of the most dangerous driver
distractions. There is now evidence to support the idea
that it can be just as dangerous when walking.
The problem isn’t as widely discussed as distracted driving
yet, but the danger is real. So real that some states
in the US would like to introduce laws and penalties
for what is termed “distracted walking.” Jonathan
Atkins, deputy executive director of the US Governors
Highway Safety Association based in Washington, D.C.,
stated, “We are where we were with cellphone use in
cars 10 years ago. We knew it was a problem, but we
didn’t have the data.” This data is now beginning to
materialize. Many researchers believe that the actual
accident rate from using electronic devices while walking
could be much higher, only this specific information is
not yet consistently documented in accident reports,
or the accident itself may knock the devices out of the
pedestrian’s hands/ears before help arrives so it remains
unknown.
q
Keep as far from the road as possible.
q
Stay aware — at intersections, crossings and in
crowds.
q
NEVER just keep walking at intersections and
crossings. STOP AND LOOK FIRST.
q
Know that you alone are responsible for your actions
while walking and wearing headphones.
Cyclists and vehicle drivers should never wear headphones
while engaged in cycling or driving. Doing so is a
dangerous distraction.
Mobile phones
The rule for walking with mobile phones is easy to follow
and is the same for vehicle drivers: Don’t do it!
q
Don’t walk and talk, text or search with your mobile
phone or game (even if it is a “short” call or text).
q
Don’t walk and talk with mobile headphone
attachments.
q
Stop and finish your call, search or text, before moving
on. As a courtesy to other pedestrians, move out of
the way when you do so.
Using your mobile phone while walking is dangerous and
thoughtless. Don’t think that you are above this danger,
either on the street or while driving a car; no one is.
Safety while walking
Can you believe it!?
Headphones
Officials in the US city of Philadelphia marked a fake
“e-lane” section of a sidewalk in a busy part of the
city as a joke. Not everyone thought it was funny. In
fact, when the “e-lane” was removed, some people
were angry because they thought it was “really
helpful to not have people in their way while they
were walking and texting.”
Ideally, headphones should only be worn while walking in
large, open spaces away from traffic and other obstacles.
Realistically, because most people cannot or will not do
this, follow these tips at a minimum:
q
Don’t have the sound so loud you cannot hear your
surroundings.
q
Walk with only one earphone in so you can still hear
your surroundings clearly.
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Special Traffic Issue 2013
Well, it is serious. Being attached to an electronic device
is on parallel with the distraction of a car driver. In fact, a
parallel with traffic safety can be drawn because:
Are the Cars of
the Future
Already Here?
Did you know that two out of three motorists will be
involved in an injury accident during their lives?
Did you know that as a motorist, you can expect to be
involved in an accident once every 10 years? Even the best
driver can’t control other people’s driving.
Did you know that there is a one-in-20 chance that you will
receive a serious injury in any crash based on statistics from
the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA).
12
Pa n o ra m a
Vehicle manufacturers are always
looking for the next appealing option
for drivers. While you may not be
interested in a car with teak wood
that needs to be oiled regularly or a
leather-lined wooden iPod drawer,
or the lights that can make the
inside of your car look like your
favorite constellation, most people
are interested in technologies that
make vehicles safer. And that’s where
manufacturers are working the
hardest.
Crash-proof vehicles already
in the making
Many of the future technologies
that will help make vehicles safer
and crash-proof, are available now.
You may already see some of these
technologies, including:
Cameras
Many vehicles have cameras for
backing up, but vehicles will be
equipped with more cameras. Some
vehicles already have multicamera
systems with three to five cameras.
They can show precise distances
and give alarms; graphics and colors
tell the driver when other objects
or vehicles are close by. Cross-path
cameras show a 180-degree view
from the back or front of the vehicle
and alert the driver if another vehicle
is approaching as he or she backs up
or pulls out of a blind driveway.
Night vision pedestrian detection
A pedestrian detection system
brings the vehicle to a full stop if
it detects a pedestrian in front. In
some vehicles a thermal imaging
camera enhances the driver’s ability
to distinguish objects while driving at
night. The camera can detect human
beings, animals and objects in front
of the car before they become
visible in the headlight beams. Some
cameras can even show the direction
of movement for a pedestrian or
animal.
Collision mitigation and
rear-mounted radar
Rear radar on vehicles has been
around for a while, but now these
systems can search for approaching
traffic. The radar systems sense when
something is too close and will then
“precharge” the brakes to give them
more power and tighten the seat
belts.
Driver capability
A camera mounted near the driver
is currently being used to trigger
an alert if the driver appears to be
“wandering” on the road. This is
known as the “sleepy driver” system.
Enhancements that “remember”
a driver’s normal behavior behind
the wheel and establish a baseline
profile of the driver are being used.
By continually measuring elements
such as speed, acceleration, pedal
use and other factors, the system
alerts the driver when changes to the
usual driving pattern suggest that
the driver is losing concentration or
getting sleepy, indicating that it’s
time for a break.
Crash-proof vehicles of the future
More technologies for safer vehicles
are in development. The cars are
powered and controlled using a
combination of sensors, location
tracking and onboard computing
power to drive the vehicle safely.
Between July 26 and October 28,
2010, the VisLab Intercontinental
Autonomous Challenge (VIAC) had
four autonomous vehicles driving
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Special Traffic Issue 2013
These are scary statistics certainly.
But the statistics aren’t all bad.
According to the US Department
of Transportation, the number of
fatalities per vehicle mile traveled
was the lowest ever in 2011. The
reasons seem to be the combination
of improved technology and
education.
with virtually no human intervention
on a 15,000-km trip from Parma,
Italy to Shanghai, China. This is the
longest-ever trip by an unmanned
vehicle.
Self-parking cars are currently
available, where the onboard
computer takes over the steering
and maneuvers the vehicle into a
parking space. A similar computer
program is under development that
will help vehicles maneuver into tight
horizontal spaces, such as a small
garage.
Traffic jam assist
For some 2013 models, one
manufacturer has introduced traffic
jam assist. The system uses radar
and cameras to keep track of all
surrounding vehicles on a congested
highway where traffic is going
slowly, and responds to what it sees
by speeding up, slowing down or
stopping. Traffic jam assist can also
steer, keeping the vehicle in its lane.
When traffic speeds up, the system
returns control to the driver.
Augmented reality dashboards
Augmented reality will be able to
identify outside objects and display
information about them on the
windshield, in front of the driver.
These displays would identify
objects in front of the vehicle and
tell the driver how far they are from
the object. For example, if you’re
approaching a car too quickly, a red
box may appear in the windshield
around the car you’re approaching
and arrows will appear showing you
how to maneuver into the next lane
before you collide. Or the GPS will
highlight the actual road you need to
take and show where to turn onto
that road, without your eyes ever
leaving the road or needing to read a
small GPS screen.
In-car advance warning
This system would display different
colors or alerts to warn the driver of
a possible threat. A green light shows
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Pa n o ra m a
“
More technologies for safer vehicles are in
development. The cars are powered and controlled
using a combination of sensors, location tracking
and onboard computing power to drive the vehicle
safely.
”
that all is safe, while a red might
indicate that the forward, rearward
or blind-spot precrash system has
discerned a threat of collision.
Airbags
Airbags have been around for
many years, and next to seat belts
have been responsible for saving
many millions of people from death
and serious injury. But the next
generation of airbags will not be for
the passengers, but for the vehicle
itself. Airbags that will deploy from
underneath the car (also called
“skidding airbags”) and help stop
a vehicle before a crash are being
tested. These airbags will be part of
the overall active safety system and
deploy when sensors determine that
an impact is inevitable. The bags
have a friction coating that helps
slow the car down and can double
the stopping power of the vehicle.
V2V and V2I
Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicleto-infrastructure (V2I) are perhaps
the most exciting technologies in
development. Imagine approaching
an intersection where you’ve
got a green light, but your car is
warned that another vehicle is
running the red light and likely
to collide with you; or wanting
to pass a slow vehicle on a single
lane road and being alerted that
there’s an oncoming car still out of
sight. V2V works by using wireless
signals to send information back
and forth between cars about their
location, speed and direction. The
information is then communicated
to the cars around it. Engineers
at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) are working on V2V
algorithms that calculate information
to determine what the best evasive
measure should be if another car is
approaching.
V2I would allow vehicles to
communicate with things like road
signs or traffic signals and provide
information about safety issues. V2I
could request traffic information
from a traffic management system
and access the best possible routes.
It could anticipate stop lights and
warn of areas where the traffic is
heavy. V2I could also alert drivers to
approaching emergency vehicles.
It’s almost here now
Engineers and designers are working
constantly to find ways to appeal
to consumers. Safety continues to
be a focus, as most drivers want to
have the safest driving experience
possible. From lighter, stronger
materials to Bluetooth hands-free
connectivity; from electronic stability
control to safety cages; the newest,
most desirable options for driving are
likely to keep you, your passengers
and your vehicle safe and in good
condition for many kilometers of
driving.
If the most advanced vehicle
safety technology combines with
a careful, skilled driver we may
all reach our destinations more
comfortably, more quickly and
much, much more safely.
Special Traffic Issue 2013
Safety on
Wheels
15
Bikes, scooters, roller blades and skateboards are classic symbols of childhood
recreation, transportation and health. Participation in wheeled sports helps
children develop the habit of healthy physical activity, and also contributes to a
sense of independence and responsibility.
Unfortunately, bicycles are associated
with more childhood injuries than
any other consumer product except
the automobile. In fact, each year
in the United States, about half a
million kids are seriously injured in
bicycle-related accidents. Additionally,
more than 176,000 children aged
5 to 14 are treated each year in
hospital emergency rooms for injuries
related to skateboards, scooters and
skates.
Head injuries are the leading
cause of wheeled sports-related
deaths and the common cause of
permanent disability after a crash.
Head injuries account for more than
60% of bicycle-related deaths, more
than two-thirds of bicycle hospital
admissions and about one-third of
hospital emergency room visits for
bicycle injuries in the US. Without
proper protection, a fall of as little
as half a meter can result in a skull
fracture or other traumatic brain
injury.
Helmet basics
Helmet use should not be optional
for anyone in your family, no matter
where you are or how short the ride.
Today, helmets cost less and are more
comfortable. When worn, bicycle
helmets cut the risk of severe brain
damage by up to 85%.
Here are some things to keep in mind
when buying a helmet:
• Make sure that the helmet has
a Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), or an
equivalent Snell sticker inside.
These indicate that the helmet
meets standards set by the CPSC
or the Snell Memorial Foundation,
a nonprofit group that tests
helmet safety, or another
recognized testing authority.
When kids wear a helmet, make sure
that the straps are fastened. Also
make sure they don’t wear any other
hat underneath it.
Be sure to replace any helmet made
before 1999. If your child hits any
surface hard while wearing a helmet,
replace it — helmets lose their
capacity to absorb shock after taking
serious hits. Also consider the carfeful
storage and cleaning of helmets —
away from extreme temperatures and
avoid using chemicals and solvents
that could affect the integrity of the
helmet itself.
A few bike helmets can be used as
protection for other activities, but
in general, they’re best suited for
biking. Most helmets are made for
one specific type of activity — for
example, special helmets made for
inline skating or baseball.
Kids should not wear any helmet
when they’re on a playground or
climbing a tree — there is a risk of
strangulation from the chin strap
during these types of activities.
Pick bright colors or fluorescent
colors that are visible to drivers
and other cyclists.
The helmet fit test
Look for a helmet that’s well
ventilated.
Sits level on the head.
Is not tilted forward or backward.
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Pa n o ra m a
A helmet fits well if it:
Has strong, wide straps that
fasten snugly under the chin.
Make sure the straps form a “V”
under the ears when buckled.
Is tight enough so that after
fastening, no sudden pulling or
twisting could move the helmet
around.
Ways to get your child to
wear a helmet on every ride
Make it a habit from the first time
your child rides a tricycle, bike or
roller skates. Be sure he/she wears
a helmet every time.
Enforce this simple rule: No
helmet, no bike or other wheeled
sport.
Explain that riding on wheels can
be fun but dangerous too and
wearing a helmet can keep them
from hurting their heads badly.
Let your child pick out the helmet
so he/she is more likely to wear it.
Safe riding for children
Children of all ages can be at risk
when riding a bike, or any other
equipment with wheels. Here is some
advice on how to help your children
learn about playing safe depending
on their age.
Little kids (1 to 4 years old)
Little kids look forward to being
big kids, but they need to follow
guidelines suitable for their age
before they start riding “big kid”
bikes and using other wheeled
equipment. Because they are not
ready to ride a bicycle, children under
the age of five usually ride tricycles.
All children, whether a tricycle
rider, bike rider or a passenger on
an adult’s bike, must wear a wellfitting helmet.
While riding/wheeling:
Always supervise your children.
Never allow children to ride in the
street.
Make sure they do not wear long,
loose clothing, including thobes,
dresses or wide-legged pants that
can get caught in bike chains or
wheel spokes.
Don’t allow children to ride when
it is dark.
Big kids at play
(5 to 9 years old)
As the training wheels come off your
child’s bike, the risk for bike and
wheel-related injury increases. To stay
safe on two, three and four-wheeled
toys and vehicles, big kids need
to learn the rules of the road and
practice safe behaviors.
Before riding:
Make sure that the bike or
wheeled vehicle is the right size.
Make sure your child has the right
size helmet and that he/she wears
it every time when bikes, skates
or scooters are used.
While riding:
Actively supervise your children.
Children should avoid riding
bikes, skateboards or scooters
between and around cars.
Children should practice bike
and wheel sport safety: learn the
rules of the road, wear reflective
clothing and accessories, and ride
on the sidewalks when possible.
Take children to the store when
buying a helmet to ensure a
proper fit.
Always ensure that tricycles and
bicycles are the right size for the
child.
Inspect bicycles, scooters and
skateboards to ensure that
reflectors are secure, brakes work
properly, gears shift smoothly,
“
After riding:
Maintain equipment properly.
Preteens and teens
(10 to 14 years)
Though your child may be
especially mature or a skilled rider,
it is just as important to wear
all protective gear every time,
everywhere. If your child rides a bike,
enjoys skateboards, scooters or inline
skates, make sure that whenever the
“wheels” are around, the right gear
is being worn.
After riding:
Make sure your preteen wears a
proper, fitted helmet every ride.
Inspect bicycles, scooters and
skateboards to ensure that
reflectors are secure, brakes work
properly, gears shift smoothly,
and tires are tightly secured and
properly inflated.
While riding:
Know where they are going and
the route they will take. Know
what time they are expected to
return.
Make sure children avoid riding
bikes, skateboards and scooters
between and around cars.
Insist that they practice bike and
wheel sport safety: learn the
rules of the road, wear reflective
clothing and accessories.
Maintain equipment properly.
Lessons to teach children
Always follow the safety rules and
traffic laws.
Ride right; bikes travel with traffic,
not against it. Ride on the righthand side of the road.
Only ride or skate in good
weather and during the day. Stay
on sidewalks and paths — not
roads — until the age of 10.
Use hand signals when turning.
Before you cross the street:
Before riding:
Head injuries are the
leading cause of wheeled
sports-related deaths and
the common cause of
permanent disability after
a crash.
Use a crosswalk if possible.
Stop and look: left, right and
left again.
If a car or truck is coming,
wait until it has passed
before crossing.
Watch for uneven surfaces while
riding or skating.
Making safety a family affair
One of the best ways to help kids
learn safe bike riding or safe use of
any other equipment with wheels is
to set a good example by following
the rules of the road yourself. Most
important, always wear your helmet.
Go for rides with your kids so you
can show them what safe riding
looks like. It’s also a great way
to stay active as a family and get
valuable “together time” that
you’ll all enjoy!
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Special Traffic Issue 2013
Before riding/wheeling:
and tires are tightly secured and
properly inflated.
“
Teach your children how to be safe
while they learn to ride a tricycle or
toy car, or participate in other toddler
wheeled activities.
Road Markings:
Getting You
there Safely
Increasing levels of congestion on the roads have played a significant
role in the increasing bad tempers among drivers and increased traffic
collisions. You see it happen every day as you drive to and from work
or take your family shopping or to other activities involving road travel.
Basically, many times when you are in a vehicle and driving on the
Kingdom’s congested roads, you see a driver who decides it is okay to
weave in and out of traffic disregarding the lane markings. Oops … he
just realized that he has to turn left but the lane marking has a right turn
arrow. But there is a way around all his troubles; he will just drive on the
shoulder. But what’s that up ahead? Oh no, it’s a stalled vehicle on the
shoulder of the road.
Can our driver stop in time? … probably not!
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Pa n o ra m a
To help drivers make wise driving decisions, traffic
engineers provide crucial information in the form of signs,
signals and road markings. Road markings are traffic
signs painted on the road surface. They carry the same
weight with respect to the traffic laws and regulations as
standing upright signs (e.g., for speed limit, no passing
and pedestrian crossing). Road markings alert drivers
to traffic rules or laws, warn of upcoming hazards and
help to regulate the flow of traffic. Road markings divide
traffic lanes, indicate turning lanes, highlight pedestrian
crossings and other obstacles, as well as inform drivers
whether it is safe to pass or not.
It’s every driver’s responsibility to know what the road
markings mean and to obey them. Abiding by road
markings is especially crucial when driving in unfamiliar
areas. Together with traffic signs and signals, road
markings can help you avoid making potentially fatal
driving errors. They help bring order out of what would
otherwise be chaos.
Common road markings
The most common road markings are lane lines and
centerlines, which may be either solid or broken.
A solid lane line is used along pavement edges and
between lanes to keep vehicles in their lanes. Unless you
are turning, exiting a highway or changing lanes, stay
between the line markings. Passing another vehicle by
crossing a solid line is prohibited.
Yellow lane lines separate lanes of traffic flowing in
opposite directions and may also mark road edges.
White lane lines are used to separate traffic moving in
the same direction and may also mark road edges.
Highway centerlines
Obeying the centerlines on a two-way highway can
mean the difference between life and death. They are
meant to separate opposite lanes of traffic and tell
drivers when passing is permitted by law. Drivers must
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Special Traffic Issue 2013
Unclear road priorities, when drivers disregard who has
the right of way, are a major contributing factor in the
increased incidents of road rage and traffic accidents.
Lane markings can help drivers understand who has the
priority and the right of way.
A solid line on your side of the road and a broken line
in the opposite lane mean that you are in a potentially
hazardous area, you are approaching a hazardous situation,
or your visibility is too limited to pass safely. In any case, you
must not pass. Traffic traveling in the opposite direction is
permitted to pass if the way is clear.
A broken line on your side of the road and a solid
line in the opposite lane mean that you can pass
another vehicle if necessary, and if the way is clear and
you can complete the maneuver while the broken line is
still on your side. Passing is prohibited for traffic traveling
in the opposite direction.
A double solid line means that passing is prohibited for
traffic traveling in both directions.
Arrows
Turn arrows are used to indicate the direction in which
the traffic must flow. Many roads, but especially
those with intersections and exit or entry ramps, are
marked with directional arrows (e.g., right, straight or
left arrows). If you are in a lane marked with a curved
arrow, you must turn in the direction of the arrow. It
is illegal and dangerous to ignore the arrows. If both
curved and straight arrows appear in your lane, you
can either turn or go straight.
Oblique arrows are used to warn traffic that vehicles
in that particular lane must turn farther ahead. If
you do not want to turn, you should change lanes
when it is safe to do so and well before the upcoming
intersection.
Edge lines
Most paved road surfaces have solid lines and/or reflective
delineators along the edges to help separate the outside
edge from the shoulder. Edge lines help drivers position
their vehicle safely on the road. Edge lines are usually
marked with a solid yellow line. They are especially helpful
at night or in fog, sandstorms or rain. The raised reflectors
also remind a drifting driver that he is moving to the edge
of the lane or the road (the noise from driving over the
raised reflectors will even waken drivers who are falling
asleep).
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Pa n o ra m a
“
Drivers must understand the
distinction between solid
and broken lines, especially
when deciding if it is safe
and legal to pass another
vehicle.
“
understand the distinction between solid and broken
lines, especially when deciding if it is safe and legal
to pass another vehicle. Misinterpreting the markings
can mean the difference between life and death. The
universal understanding for highway pavement markings
to indicate safe passing is outlined below:
A very dangerous and all-too-common practice in the
Kingdom is disregarding the edge line markings and
driving on the shoulder of the road as if it were another
lane for traffic. The shoulder is meant to be used as a
safe place to guide your vehicle away from traffic and
out of harm’s way if there is a mechanical breakdown,
tire blowout or other vehicle emergency. Never drive
on the shoulder; you risk your life and the lives of those
around you.
Lines across traffic
Some road marking lines run across lanes of traffic.
Heavy white lines are used with stop signs or traffic lights
to indicate where vehicles should stop.
Diagonal or perpendicular lines
Two solid white lines that may sometimes have diagonal
or perpendicular lines within them are used to indicate
a crosswalk area and guide pedestrians across an
intersection and warn drivers of a pedestrian crossing
zone. When pedestrians are in a crosswalk, vehicles must
yield the right of way.
Sometimes diagonal lines are used to mark fixed
obstructions, like traffic islands and lane barriers. They
are also used to mark no parking zones. Drivers should
not drive or park in areas marked with diagonal lines.
A series of crossing diagonal lines (cross hatch), usually
in yellow, delineate an intersection, but drivers should
remember that they should not enter an intersection,
even if the traffic light is green, unless they can clear the
intersection completely at the time of entry.
Reading, understanding and obeying road markings
will guide you to your destination safely.