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Hands-Free, Distracted Driving and Road Safety

Thu, 10 May 2012 03:29:39 +0200

Introduction to Distracted Driving and Hands-Free Devices

The safest way to drive is to have all your attention focused on the road ahead and with both hands on the wheel. In modern vehicles and with all the technology for communication there are many devices that may distract the driver while driving.

Driver distractions include more than just the threat from cellular phone discussions and texting while driving. Even conversations and arguments with passengers may be serious driver distractions.

International studies have revealed that distracted drivers experience inattention blindness. They are looking out the windshield, but do not process everything in the roadway environment necessary to effectively monitor their surroundings, seek and identify potential hazards, and to respond to unexpected situations. The danger of inattention blindness is that when a driver fails to notice events in the driving environment, either at all or too late, it’s impossible to execute a safe response such as a steering maneuver or braking to avoid a crash

Possible Preventative Measures to reduce Accident Risks

We would like to focus on some of the preventative measures offered by DistractedDriving.nsc.org:

Eliminating driver distraction due to cell phone use faces significant challenges, even beyond combating drivers’ desire to be connected and productive. Drivers can help avoid this by informing frequent callers that they will not participate in phone conversations while driving. When facing multiple demands for their cognitive attention, drivers may not be aware they are missing critical visual information, and they may not be aware of the full impact of that oversight. This lack of awareness of the distraction could prolong it. Widespread education is needed about the risks of hands-free devices, conversation and cognitive distraction.

Even when people are aware of the risks, they tend to believe they are more skilled than other drivers, and many still engage in driving behaviors they know are potentially dangerous.

Prevention strategies should consider how people behave in reality, not only how they should behave. We know from other traffic safety issues – impaired driving, safety belts, speeding – that consistent enforcement of laws is the single most important effective strategy in changing behavior.

Therefore, prevention strategies that may show the most promise are legislative and corporate policies, coupled with high-visibility enforcement and strict consequences.

Which Hands-Free devices could assist motorists to keep both hands on the steering wheel and away from the Cellular Phone?

SMAC is partnering in the further development of the Arrive Alive road safety website and especially in making more information available on Distracted Driving.

They also provided us with more information on some of the best devices available in the market today:

Portable Bluetooth Hands-Free Kits
IMAGE	PRODUCT NAME	DESCRIPTION
	Parrot MINIKIT SLIM	The Parrot MINIKIT SLIM is a portable Bluetooth hands-free kit sporting a profiled, sleek design. Its space-saving design offers countless uses in the car, in the office and at home. Fixed to the vehicle sun visor or laid on a table, it adapts to every environment and can easily be carried around your pocket. Automatically downloading and synchronizing the Parrot MINIKIT SLIM phonebook with the contacts on your mobile phone and giving you quick access to entries via voice command and rotary encoder sets the Parrot MINIKIT SLIM apart from your average speakerphone. The phonebook on the MINIKIT SLIM is updated seamlessly whenever it connects. The entire phonebook is available at all times thanks to the voice synthesis of the names (Text-To-Speech function). The Parrot Minikit Slim is available from selective Fitment centres nationwide as well as the online store www.smac.co.za from R899 incl VAT.
	Parrot MINIKIT SMART	The Parrot MINIKIT Smart is a Bluetooth hands-free kit featuring a Smartphone holder. It can be attached to the windshield or dashboard, enabling you to access the navigation and Smartphone features while keeping your hands on the wheel at all times. You can use the MINIKIT Smart to recharge your Smartphone via a USB socket port. Its numerous metal components and chrome finishes combine robustness and elegance. The Parrot MINIKIT Smart can easily switch from portrait to landscape mode to suit any configuration. Using a Smartphone’s hands-free and navigation features in your car is now as easy as ever. The Parrot Minikit Smart is available from selected Fitment centres nationwide as well as online from R999 incl. VAT
INSTALLED BLUETOOTH HANDS-FREE KITS
	Parrot CK3000 Evolution	The Parrot CK 3000 Evolution hands-free Car Kit offers the convenience of voice recognition and outstanding sound quality by using your car’s sound system as a receiver. It takes less than an hour for your local mechanic to mount the Parrot CK 3000 EVOLUTION: the electronic box, microphone and keypad. There are no apparent wires. Once installed, just turn on the engine and you are immediately connected to your phone. even by leaving the mobile phone in his bag, with his Parrot CK 3000 EVOLUTION, the driver dictates a name and is immediately connected to his correspondent. The car’s speakers transmit the conversation with perfect quality of sound, regardless of the driving conditions. It features a discreet and extremely sober design and fits seamlessly inside the car. In the event of a call, the car radio automatically cuts out, so that the speakers can transmit the conversation, and the microphone clearly reproduces the sound of your voice. The Parrot CK 3000 Evolution is available from selected Fitment centres nationwide as well as online from R1 799 incl. VAT
	Parrot CK 3100 LCD	The Parrot CK3100 LCD is the most renowned hands-free car kit on the market. With the Parrot CK3100 LCD, you will be able to place and receive calls in comfort and safety, without ever touching your mobile phone. The wireless connection between the Parrot CK3100 LCD and the Bluetooth phone and its voice recognition system is enabled as long as the phone is turned on. At a time when legislation is tightening up to restrict the use of mobile phones in vehicles due to safety concerns, Parrot CK3100 LCD benefits are not just for the sake of convenience and comfort – they are fast becoming a real necessity. LCD screen displays standard mobile phone information, incoming calls, recent calls, missed calls, voice mail, directory, ect. Hands-free, unidirectional microphone provides voice recognition dialling of up to 150 names, while reducing background noise and ambient echo. Browser button allows users to scroll through menus and control the volume.
	Parrot MKi9000	The Parrot MKi9000 is a Bluetooth screenless hands-free system that blends in seamlessly inside any vehicle. A wireless remote control can be positioned on the steering wheel of dashboard and allows the driver to control all the functions of the MKi9000. In addition to conventional telephony functions – pick up, hang up, dual calls – the Parrot MKi9000 boasts cutting-edge telephony functions: automatic phonebook synchronisations, training-free multi-speaker voice recognition, speech synthesis of the names in the phonebook, contact management (up to 2000 per phone). No need for a screen – the Parrot MKi900 offers a voice menu for accessing its functions. To ensure optimal audio quality when on the phone, the Parrot MKi9000 combines double microphone technology with new signal processing software (DSP-3) that eliminates background and surrounding noise, including noise from inside the car. For maximum listening quality, conversations are reproduced over the vehicle’s speakers.
	Parrot MKi91000	The Parrot MKi9100 is a Bluetooth hands-free system with an OLED screen. A wireless control can be positioned on the steering wheel or dashboard and allows the driver to control all the functions of the MKi9100. In addition to conventional telephony functions – pick up, hang up, dual calls – the Parrot MKi9000 boasts cutting-edge telephony functions: automatic phonebook synchronisations, training-free multi-speaker voice recognition, speech synthesis of the names in the phonebook, contact management (up to 2000 per phone). Its OLED screen displays the phonebook, caller ID, phone information and user settings. The menus and phonebook are also audible for easier, more intuitive use. To ensure optimal audio quality when on the phone, the Parrot MKi9000 combines double microphone technology with new signal processing software (DSP-3) that eliminates background and surrounding noise, including noise from inside the car. For maximum listening quality, conversations are reproduced over the vehicle’s speakers.
	Parrot MKi9200	The Parrot MKi9200 is a Bluetooth hands-free system with a 2.4 inch high-resolution TFT colour screen. A wireless control can be positioned on the steering wheel or dashboard and allows the driver to control all the functions of the MKi9200. Its colour screen displays the phonebook, caller ID and photo, phone information and user settings. The menus and phonebook are also audible for easier, more intuitive use. The MKi9200 can be used with up to 10 paired devices and is capable of storing up to 8000 contacts, it has automatic phonebook synchronization and a wireless remote to control the functions of the car kit. It is compatible with virtually all cellphones via Bluetooth and has speaker independent voice recognition. You are also able to connect your music from multiple sources like your iPod/iPhone or any other MP3 player through an Auxillary input. To ensure optimal audio quality when on the phone, the Parrot MKi9000 combines double microphone technology with new signal processing software (DSP-3) that eliminates background and surrounding noise, including noise from inside the car. For maximum listening quality, conversations are reproduced over the vehicle’s speakers.
	Parrot MULTICAN	The Parrot MULTICAN uses the existing steering wheel mounted commands to control your Parrot Bluetooth hands-free kit. There is no additional visible part to install; the Parrot MULTICAN only uses the existing car’s steering wheel control buttons and they will be used both for the car receiver and the Parrot car kit without any interference. The Parrot MULTICAN operates with all kinds of steering wheel controls and is currently compatible with 15 car brands. The list of brands and models is updated constantly, so please check with an approved installer, or call us to ensure your car is compatible. With the Parrot MULTICAN interface, keep controlling the auto-radio from the steering wheel. And if the steering wheel doesn’t have enough buttons, the Parrot MULTICAN uses specific combinations of buttons to compensate. The Controller Area Network (CAN) technology is a serial bus standard, originally developed in the 1980’s by Robert Bosch GmbH, for connecting and interfacing electronic control units. CAN was specifically designed to be robust in electromagnetically tough environments’ (i.e. cars) Although initially created for automotive environment, the CAN bus is nowadays used in many embedded control applications that requires strong protection against magnetic fields.
	Parrot MULTICOMM	The Parrot MULTICOMM uses the existing steering wheel mounted commands to control your Parrot Bluetooth hands-free kit. There is no additional visible part to install; the Parrot MULTICOMM only uses the existing car’s steering wheel control buttons and they will be used both for the car receiver and the Parrot car kit without any interference. The Parrot MULTICOMM operates with all kinds of steering wheel controls and is currently compatible with 15 car brands. The list of brands and models is updated constantly, so please check with an approved installer, or call us to ensure your car is compatible. The Parrot MULTICOMM operates with all kinds of steering wheel controls and is currently compatible with 15 car brands. The list of brands and models is updated constantly, so please check with an approved installer, or call us to ensure your car is compatible. The R-Ladder protocol is the equivalent of the CAN Bus protocol for car but with resistive transmission bus. This technology is especially dedicated to the automotive environment, using different protective methods against noise and interferences. Created to connect and interface all control units, the R-Ladder protocol offers a strong resistance to magnetic fields and other car disturbances.
	Parrot UNIKA	The Parrot UNIKA is an installable interface that connects your vehicle’s steering wheel controls to any hands-free system in the Parrot MKi and RKi series putting all the features of your Parrot hands-free system within easy reach, whatever the circumstances. Integrated – the Parrot UNIKA solution is invisible inside the vehicle Intelligent – compatible with all steering wheel controls Universal – fits most vehicles on the market* Simple - quick and easy to fit. The interface’s universal cable connects to your Parrot hands-free system and your vehicle’s electrical system before you can say Parrot UNIKA. An LED tells you whether the Psrrot UNIKA interface has been correctly fitted when connecting. The Parrot UNIKA interface works with all CAN-bus vehicle communication protocols and resistor ladders.

Click on the links below for more information about each product:

Buckle Up Road Safety Campaign focuses on Seatbelt Safety

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:58:03 +0200

Background

Western Cape Association for Persons with Disabilities has a proud 75 year history of assisting persons with disabilities to reach their maximum level of independence and integration into the community.

Why the Buckle Up Road Safety Campaign?

Spinal cord injury is one of the more devastating types of serious personal injury. A part of the vertebrate nervous system, the spinal cord is responsible for regulating the body's flow of nerve activity below the head. A spinal cord injury is capable of shutting down this nerve flow, leaving those with a spinal cord injury physically impaired.

A spinal cord injury affects much more than the mobility of the person; in physical terms, the person’s bowel, bladder, sexual and respiratory functions are impaired. In social terms, people battle to gain access to education and training, employment, and finance, and very often become dependent on their families for financial support. The lack of accessibility of public transport and public buildings often means that quadriplegics and paraplegics become socially isolated.

It is known that the majority of spinal cord injuries in South Africa (and globally) result from motor vehicle accidents. More than 250 people sustain a spinal cord injury through road accidents per annum in South Africa, many due to not wearing their seatbelts.

What is the Buckle Up Road Safety Campaign?

One of the Association for Persons with Disabilities’ strategic objectives is the prevention of disability. To this end, we have joined the QuadPara Association of South Africa in this campaign where we educate the public about the dangers of sustaining a spinal cord injury in a motor vehicle accident, which can be prevented by the simple action of wearing a seat belt. Our slogan is “Buckle Up – We Don’t Want New Members!”

During the busiest road use times i.e. Christmas, Easter and June/July holidays - APD clients are deployed at petrol stations on 5 major holiday routes in the Western Cape. Our clients talk to motorists about the importance of wearing seat belts and request motorists to sign a pledge to “Buckle-Up” for road safety. In return the motorist receives a BUCKLE UP license disk sticker.

This dynamic project employs approximately 35 people, 60% of whom have disabilities, on each day of the 8-day campaign, not only allowing each person to give back to their community, but affording them a small income in doing so.

TEN REASONS TO ACT ON ROAD DEATHS:

1.3 million people are killed on the world’s roads each year:
Road crashes kill more people than Malaria
50 million people are injured, many disabled as a result.
90% of these casualties occur in developing countries
Annual deaths are forecast to rise to 1.9 million by 2020
It is the No.1 cause of death for young people worldwide
By 2015 it will be the leading health burden for children over the age of five in developing countries
The economic cost to developing countries is at least $100 billion a year
Injuries place immense burdens on hospitals and health systems
Road crashes are preventable.

Monitoring and Evaluation

One of the ways in which our campaign could be monitored is by the number of pledges received at our various contact points. During the history of this campaign, we have seen a marked improvement in driver sensitivity pertaining to road safety. In 2009, 1 128 drivers signed our Pledge but just two years later in 2011, 3 929 drivers signed up – an increase of 62%. This indicates a willingness, on the part of the driver, to become involved and to take the necessary action to prevent serious bodily harm to either himself or his passengers.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation released the death toll figures for the Easter 2011 period as obtained from the South African Police Services (SAPS), which stood at 203 fatal crashes. The Western Cape ranked lowest of the Provinces at 7 deaths – a substantial decrease from 2010’s over 200 deaths! While this is not solely due to our own efforts, we would like to think that this Campaign has helped somewhat to curtail the incidence of death and disability in this province.

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Road Safety Tips Easter 2012

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:23:48 +0200

Obey the rules of the road and carry your driver’s license with you.
Plan the route to your holiday destination and give yourself enough time to reach the destination
Make sure that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before departure. All lights and indicators, windscreen wipers, brakes, steering, exhaust system and tyres should be carefully examined for faults.
Do not overload.
Try to avoid driving after dark if possible.
Have a good rest before you embark on your journey and have an energy drink by your side.
Take safety breaks/ rest stops every 2 hours or 200km
Do not drink and drive!!
Try to recognize potentially dangerous drivers on and pedestrians alongside the road and keep well clear of them
Be visible – drive with your lights on!!
Headlights should be dipped well before an approaching vehicle is within range of the main beam.
Always wear your seat belt and check to see that everyone in the car is wearing theirs.
Drive defensively with a focus on safety for all road users.
Stay within the speed limit at all times
Only overtake when it is absolutely safe to do so
Avoid distractions while driving –Remain focused and alert at all times!
Maintain at least a 2 second following distance - this distance should be increased at night, in foggy or rainy conditions and when the road is wet.
Expect others not to be as obedient to the law as yourself
Be courteous towards fellow road users - keep your temper and resist the temptation to retaliate
Be alert to changing road and weather conditions

Share these suggestions with your family and friends – And may you and your family have a happy and safe festive season!!

[Advice from www.arrivealive.co.za and all our Road Safety Partners]

Click to download the Road Safety Easter Tips 2012 PDF

History to the K53 Driving Test

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:38:21 +0200

The word K53 is a much discussed and debated term and has often lead to much frustration for young drivers. But what is the history to the K53? This is not something that many drivers are aware of and we decided to approach Pat Allen from the South African Institute of Driver Instructors to share some insight on this.

We decided, even though this includes some personal insights, it is well worth sharing with our readers and will also add some info on the history of driver training:

K53 and insights from Pat Allen

I do not claim to know all the details about the history of the K53 test, but this is what I do know, according to my own experience.

The History of the K53 Test, from my angle of knowledge:

The driving licence test immediately prior to the inception of the K53 test was known as the K52 test. It was just a number. The two tests I know about before that did not follow that sequence.

Before I started my career as a driving instructor, in an effort to ensure that my own standard of instruction was as high as it should be, I voluntarily submitted myself, on Vivienne Westray’s advice, (when she was the National President of SAIDI), to taking the advanced driving course in 1979, for which I am eternally grateful, because there was no other training for driving instructors. There is still no training for instructors, except my own training courses, which is why I am passionate about changing this urgently.

After being told “I was a bloody idiot who had learnt every bad habit in the country and didn’t deserve to teach anybody to drive”, and after making a supreme effort to correct all my mistakes and bad driving habits, I was astounded to win the first title as “Woman Driver of the Year” for the IAM (Institute from Advanced Motorists). Nobody was more surprised than I was.

It was nerve-wracking, because after that, I was not able to put a foot wrong ever. I felt I was being watched by everybody. It is a strange thing to be featured in newspapers, so that one is recognised by strangers.

Naturally, since I opened my first driving school at that stage, I taught every one of my students the same standard, but, conflict arose at some local DLTC’s when the advanced driving standards clashed with individual examiners pet preferences when testing applicants for their driving licence tests.

Every examiner seemed to think up some new way to catch the students out. I was not happy when students were failed for using advanced driving techniques. In fact, they were failed for checking blind spots, and if they did not cross their arms when turning!

This was just not acceptable! As a SAIDI member, I reported my experiences to my National President. Perhaps I was not alone in my experience.

Vivienne was involved with the National Road Safety Department at that stage, as well as with many other authorities in setting up a new standard of driving, and a new test.

They / we felt that it was essential to standardise the test right across the country to stop the examiners from all demanding different standards. At that stage, we had to say to clients, “If you get Mr So-and So, you must do this, but Mr So-and So wants that,” before we could get a student through the test.

It was also necessary to be quite clear on exactly what was required of each applicant in order to qualify for a driving licence. We were all heartily sick of unfair tests!

The Original K53

The original K53 manual was written in roughly 1979 to 1981, I think. It consisted of about 58 different modules for code 08 (now known as code “B”), (about 8 being for automatic vehicles), laying out the terms and conditions required in clear details. It has been upgraded a couple of times, and is well overdue for another upgrade, but I suspect from what I have seen so far, that it is a down-grade, which distresses me horribly!

We want to improve the standard of driving in South Africa to save lives, while correcting certain aspects of the test which we have all recognised as being incorrect, but even more importantly, we want to stop all the nonsense we are still experiencing from examiners who do not comply with the prescribed test, and driving instructors who teach the K53 standard incorrectly, giving the impression that it is a stupid standard, and that one must simply pay lip-service to get a licence. This is totally unacceptable to me!

Examining officers were sent from all over South Africa to the 5 Traffic Training Colleges at that stage, back in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. I was told that a couple of them actually confessed that they were ashamed to admit they had unfairly failed my pupils who were driving to a higher standard than they had known before undergoing K53 training. Of course the poor applicants suffered tremendous financial expense and inconvenience and loss due to their incorrect testing standards, and continue to do so today.

Way back in the beginning:

These advanced standards as taught by the IAM (Institute for Advanced Motorists), were according to their very stringent standards at that stage, back then when they were a non-profit making organisation, which originated in England at a place called Hendon Police College in London.

Historically, racing car drivers in England had devised a certain way of approaching the more dangerous points of the racetracks, such as corners and bends.

For example, it would obviously have been extremely dangerous to drive at top speed into these “hazards”, so a set number of actions were carried out in a certain order, which helped racing drivers to negotiate these dangerous places safely, without losing too much speed. This was known as the “System of Vehicle Control”, and consisted of 6 actions, namely, COURSE; MIRRORS; SIGNAL; BRAKE; GEARS; ACCELERATE.

In England, this system was introduced after the first World War, and before the second World War. It was taught to Police drivers who were at that stage, driving the shiny black Police cars, wearing smart uniforms, with silver stars on their chests and caps and carrying loaded revolvers. Typically, many became puffed up with pride, which caused them to become arrogant.

Pride-filled attitudes:

We see this phenomenon all over the world and it is truly a dangerous aspect of driving. In fact, we are presently experiencing it in the JMPD, the Blue Light Brigade and many other Police Departments as well as in the Public in general where some young men, who in some cases, are overwhelmed with themselves when they are equipped with uniforms, guns and fast marked cars. It is not surprising that it can sometimes go straight to their heads!

Few men are able to remain humble and consider themselves subject to the law - even more so than the public, simply because, as Police, they are called to lead the public by example.

Hendon College:

The young Police drivers in began to abuse their authority, lording it over the public, knowing full-well that they were doing wrong, because they immediately ticketed the public when they copied their actions on the roads. The public were furious and immediately reported their actions to the Police Driver Trainer at Hendon.

After repeated complaints, he was obliged to take action.

Note: He did not deny his responsibility to correct the situation. He did take effective action, which is the mark of a true leader.

He called a meeting of all the Police drivers, and read the riot act!

He reminded them that they were responsible to be exemplary drivers, (setting a good example), but instead, they were driving like cowboys and showing off on the roads!

He said it was going to stop and very soon. He arranged that the most famous racing driver in England, Malcolm Campbell, who won 9 land speed records for England, and was every man and boy’s hero in England, after the first World War, should visit the College. Apparently, according to some reports, they gave him their best driver to evaluate, and he pronounced him to be an acceptable driver. However, other racing drivers were called in to assist with re-training the Police Drivers. Clearly their leader knew what their weaknesses were, and also selected excellent role-models.

This programme proved to be so outstandingly successful that the training was extended to the British Isles (England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales). At last the Police Drivers were worthy of the respect of the British public, and they soon gained a wonderful reputation due to their really excellent driving.

The second World War took place a bit later on. Many men’s lives were lost, and many were injured physically and mentally. As the war ended in 1949, the men who survived, gradually returned to their homeland. The soldiers were awarded 75 Pounds, as back-payment for time they had sacrificed fighting for their country. That was quite a lot of money in those days. Most young men were ready to have some fun! Many invested in cars. - I can understand that. They had marched for miles in heavy boots, with blisters on their heels, and they were understandably very tired of walking.

However, there was no place to do driving licence tests after the war for a period of about 18 months, I believe. The war had abruptly ended the normal functioning of the country’s services it generally provided to the citizens. The public was permitted to simply pay for a licence to drive without doing a test.

Sadly, in a short while thousands of young soldiers died on British roads!

It must have been heartbreaking for their families, girlfriends and young wives who had waited anxiously for them to return safely from the war.

The carnage continued daily due to the combination of bad weather, early designs of vehicles with sometimes unreliable brakes, especially on ice and snow, but the biggest problem was the attitude of the young soldiers.

They were excited to be home. In many cases, despite the terrible effects of the war, and tragic deaths of their friends, and horrific injuries, some felt fit and good-looking, tanned from serving in places like Egypt and Italy, and they were popular!

Proportions of males to females was completely unbalanced. Every man had his pick from a dozen or more girls. Every man was sought-after. All this hero-worship must have gone straight to their heads. I picture them driving wildly, relishing their freedom and the adulation of the girls who were tired of the grey sadness of the war. They wanted to live! They wanted excitement, music, colour and life! They wanted to fall in love and marry and have babies. They needed security. Thousands found death before they had time to know why they had been born, or where they were going so fast.

Eventually someone, or possibly, a group of people, suggested that the training which had fixed the Police driving standard should be made available to the public, although it would be a voluntary course, not compulsory.

Since the Police were the ones who investigated the crashes, and witnessed first-hand the blood and suffering, they soon agreed. An office was opened up as the Institute for Advanced Motorists.

They began to tackle the low driving standard of driving in England, one driver at a time, addressing bad and dangerous driving habits, and especially instilling a responsible attitude in drivers.

- Imagine that on a huge scale, for every driver in the country!

When I qualified as an advanced instructor in 1989, that the companies which signed into the programme for their whole fleet, soon benefitted by a 96% reduction in running costs. The programme gained in popularity and spread to most Commonwealth Countries.

Wherever it was taught, it brought immediate improvement to the standard of driving of any driver who was willing to make huge changes to every aspect of his driving by swallowing his pride, and learning new techniques. There are those who struggle with pride, who feel entitled to slate the K53 test standard, claiming they know better. I have never yet met anyone who has undergone excellent training who can genuinely say they did not benefit by it. In fact, it is truly the minimum level of safety for every driver, according to a poster in the entrance the first day I went for my own training.

K53 drew the best from the Hendon Police College’s standard, then adapted it to suit South African conditions. I note that the world famous “System of Vehicle Control” is not included in the K53 manual, yet it is the heart and soul of the K53 standard.

I have driven and trained my learner drivers for 33 years, and also I am now training people with disabilities. They describe what caused their injuries. I believe techniques taught in the K53 standard addresses all the reasons for crashes that we have encountered so far.

I have never yet had a student who has not improved radically when correctly trained to the K53 standard, but I have seen that almost every driving instructor is unsure of how to train their students correctly, because they have not had the benefit of the same standard that I was truly blessed to have learnt.

Conclusion

That is why I long to help every one of them to reach not only that standard, but still much higher. Together we can turn the death rate in South Africa around. We have to do it!

We simply cannot continue to put money in our pockets for training, then look away while our pupils die on our roads. This is too tragic to bear! As the driving instructors of South Africa we are entirely responsible for the quality of drivers joining the road transport systems in t he country. Of course, we need the authorities to recognise our contribution and to back us strongly. We will reward them richly.

I am not alone. Colleagues agree. The K53 test is an excellent test standard provided the driving instructors understand it correctly and teach it diligently.

Best Regards,

Pat Allen

National President: SAIDI

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Brandhouse Number One Taxi Driver Campaign 2012

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:34:01 +0200

The Brandhouse Number One Taxi Driver campaign, the first public-private sector partnership of its kind in the industry, was created in 2004 by Brandhouse. What started off in 14 taxi ranks and 4 provinces is now extended to 451 urban and rural taxi ranks throughout South Africa. The campaign exists solely for the benefit of the taxi industry, promoting road safety and providing valuable skills to taxi drivers.

Thousands of drivers have been trained since the inception of the campaign and this year we aim to reach 3500 – 5000 drivers. The 2012-campaign kicked-off on 6 December 2011, with promoters travelling around the country distributing entry forms and signing up drivers. Within the first two weeks, 15 000 entries were already received.

The programme goes hand in hand with government’s efforts to reduce road fatalities and changing driver behaviour. It covers peak periods such as the festive holidays and Easter when road safety is fundamental.

As one of South Africa’s leading alcohol beverage companies, brandhouse is committed to promoting responsible alcohol consumption. This year’s programme will see thousands of drivers being trained in road safety and responsible driving techniques, including a commitment to never drink and drive. Taxi drivers who participate in the training will compete to win one of four Toyota Sesfikile Quantums.

The programme will be delivered to taxi ranks nationwide with Toyota SA providing the Toyota Advanced Driving Academy that carries out the testing phases of this initiative. With the endorsement of the Department of Transport, the programme has in turn been linked to regional municipalities and taxi associations.

A new partner includes Caltex and other key stakeholders consist of the Department of Transport, Toyota, South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), National Taxi Alliance (NTA), Arrive Alive and the International Decade of Action.

This year’s campaign will be executed in different phases. The first phase, which runs till end February will be a call-to-action for drivers, followed by the second phase which involves theory and practical testing (March till May 2012). The last phase will see all regional finalists gather in June to participate in a 4-day advanced and defensive driving course at the Gerotek Testing Facility in Hartebeespoort, Gauteng. The driver who outperforms the rest will be crowned the “National Brandhouse Number One Taxi Driver”.

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