Avoid being a statistic, practice road safety this festive season
Federal-Mogul Motorparts, a division of Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: FDML) today announced that it is becoming increasingly important to practice safety measures to reduce the chances of being involved in a car accident during the festive season.
According to the preliminary festive season road death statistics announced by the Minister of Transport Dipuo Peters, a total of 1 118 crashes and 1 368 fatalities reported were from road accidents that took place between 1 December 2014 and 5January 2015. This number can be significantly reduced if all motorists and their passengers change their safety habits.
A number of useful safety tips have been compiled by Federal-Mogul Motor parts and its South African Champion brand ambassador Rob Byrne – a popular traffic reporter on radio and television personality, who also relies upon by more than 145 000 Twitter followers for accurate traffic updates.
Safety starts at home
Byrne says that safety on the road begins with a simple home test to check that the vehicle’s headlights, wipers, indicators and taillights are in working order or getting the vehicle inspected at a specialist centre. “Many centres offer free checks to encourage road safety, and a team of professionals will ensure that the vehicle is entirely roadworthy before it begins its journey.”
A home check should also include a thorough inspection of the spare wheel set to ensure that there are no missing components, while tyres and shock absorbers should be checked for wear and tear. "If there is any damage to shock absorbers or tyres, it is highly recommended that the vehicle is taken to a specialist fitment centre, as this will affect braking and performance."
Squeaky or 'spongy-feeling' brakes are telltale signs that the braking system must be checked. In this case, it is also advisable to take the vehicle to a specialist who can determine precisely what action should be taken.
Once on the road, Byrne notes that all road users can reduce the alarmingly-high rate of accidents and fatalities by following basic road safety tips. “The fundamental basics are; sticking to the speed limit, making sure everyone is wearing a seatbelt and ensuring that absolutely no alcohol whatsoever is consumed by the driver,” he explains.
The dangers of drunk driving
The Global Status report on Road Safety for 2015, conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), revealed that South Africa has the highest rate of alcohol-related road deaths, where as much as 58% of deaths can be attributed to alcohol consumption.
Passengers should regularly check that the driver is not under the influence of alcohol or displaying any signs of fatigue. Pedestrians are also encouraged to play their part in road safety, by not drinking and walking, which is another major road safety hazard.
Byrne reveals that the majority of road deaths involve pedestrians, and that the use of headlights during the day is also recommended. “Headlights make the car more visible, not only to pedestrians, but also to fellow motorists overtaking from the opposite lane.”
Passengers also play an important role in road safety and are advised to not only buckle up but hold the driver accountable for road safety. This advice is especially applicable to taxi passengers, who are statistically at the highest risk.
According to Byrne, a lack of simple road courtesy among drivers is another contributor to accidents. “It is important to practice defensive driving, which is about giving others right of way and letting them pass. Drivers should leave a three second gap between themselves and the vehicle in front. This gives enough reaction time in the event of an emergency. Unfortunately, this gap is often filled by hurried drivers who inadvertently make the route more hazardous.”
Byrne also recommends that a break should be taken every two hours or 200 km. “Even when obeying all the rules of the road, drivers can become tired and lose focus when travelling for extended periods. Regular stops play an important role in keeping everyone in the vehicle alert.”
Federal-Mogul Motorparts is committed to improving vehicle safety, not only with useful tips and advice for drivers, but also with recent local innovations that include;
- The introduction of copper-free Ferodo Taxi brake pads, designed specifically for Toyota Quantum minibus taxis that transport millions of commuters nationwide during the festive season. Ferodo Taxi pads have improved brake pad and disc wear, which improves safety by lowering friction.
- The launch of Champion Easyvision, the rebranded consolidation of two tried-and-trusted wiper blade ranges. A 'retro-clip' system allows flat blades to replace conventional blades, to ensure that the Champion range covers 95 percent of local light vehicles and light commercial vehicles.
About Federal-Mogul
Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: FDML) is a leading global supplier of products and services to the world’s manufacturers and servicers of vehicles and equipment in the automotive, light, medium and heavy-duty commercial, marine, rail, aerospace, power generation and industrial markets. The company’s products and services enable improved fuel economy, reduced emissions and enhanced vehicle safety.
Federal-Mogul operates two independent business divisions, each with a chief executive officer reporting to Federal-Mogul's Board of Directors.
Federal-Mogul Motorparts sells and distributes a broad portfolio of products through more than
20 the world’s most recognized brands in the global vehicle aftermarket, while also serving original equipment vehicle manufacturers. The company’s aftermarket brands include BERU®* ignition systems; Champion® spark plugs, wipers and filters; AE®, FP Diesel®, Goetze®, Glyco®, Nüral® and Payen® engine products; MOOG® steering and suspension parts; and Ferodo®, Wagner®, Beral®, Necto®, Duron®, Jurid®, Stop® and Abex® brake products.
Federal-Mogul Powertrain designs and manufactures original equipment powertrain components and systems protection products for automotive, heavy-duty, industrial and marine applications.
Federal-Mogul was founded in Detroit in 1899 and maintains its worldwide headquarters in Southfield, Michigan. The company employs more than 45,000 people in 34 countries. For more information, please visit www.federalmogul.com.
*BERU is a registered trademark of BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH
###
CONTACT:
Rob Byrne, Twitter @TrafficSA