The risks when driving during the days of lockdown are already enough, and we should protect ourselves more when the measures are fully lifted and in particular the restrictions on movement from County to County and from Region to Region are fully lifted.
According to the official data of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (Road Accident Unit), from November 2020 to January 2021, road accidents may have decreased by 25% but on the other hand, fatal road accidents showed only a small drop of about 20% compared to the 2019 data. Therefore, in any case the percentage of road fatalities during the current Lockdown cannot leave any of us unmoved and we must all try to give our best!
Being careful on the roads is especially important. But what will happen when during the lifting of the Lockdown there will be more things that can put us at risk when we drive, which we have not thought about and do not calculate?
There are many dangers, therefore, either from the inside of the car or from that of the road.
Find out here how many recorded road fatalities occurred in the first Lockdown in spring 2020 (See how much the first Lockdown in Greece affected driving).
The point here, of course, is not to scare or be afraid, but to learn to protect ourselves from every condition and at any time.
In today's article you will discover the dangers in driving that you should keep in mind from now on every day and especially as soon as travel is allowed again throughout Greece.
The most common risks in driving after the end of lockdown
In 2019 we had at least 10,800 serious road accidents in Greece with at least 700 dead! This is because each of us needs to improve our driving education and, by extension, our driving behavior!
Let's look at the most common dangers when driving especially after the end of lockdown, as well as of course how to protect ourselves from them:
1. Speeding
2. Priority Violation
3. Distraction
4. Driving under the influence of alcohol
5. Red light violation
6. Irregular overtaking
7. Oncoming traffic
For the above reasons we must be armed with patience and constantly vigilant, and of course have our attention tense on driving.
Below you can read when speeding saves lives and when it becomes dangerous ( The truths about speeding are many and are not always the ones we think we know.).
Dangers when driving at night after the end of lockdown
Night-time car accidents statistically have the most injuries and deaths. This is despite the fact that at night there are statistically far fewer vehicles in circulation than in the day. The dangers in driving are many even when there is light and it is day, let alone when darkness falls.
Let's find out below about the most serious dangers during night driving and how we can avoid them:
1. Reduced Visibility
Reduced visibility plays a major role in road accidents that occur during the night.
As the light diminishes, the dangers in driving increase, as we cannot see with the same comfort the rest of the cars, pedestrians or animals especially if we drive on roads that are little or no illuminated something that we find more often on country roads ( See here which Serious Dangers lurk on country roads).
2. Speed Limits
Speed limits are very important to observe either during the day or at night, but especially during the night, it is imperative to drive within reasonable limits and not to exceed the speed limits of each road.
When the light of day falls, our reflexes are slower and we may find it difficult to see a pedestrian or an animal that "jumps" suddenly in front of us.
Many drivers, during night driving, defy speed limits, as there are fewer cars on the roads and feel more comfortable driving at an increased speed. But this is a big mistake, as the risks in driving are already many, and with this behavior they increase sharply.
3. Use of Alcohol
The risks of driving increase at night, as we mentioned above, anyway. However, alcohol use is definitely something that makes things even worse. Alcohol "dazzles" the mind and makes us slower to drive. It reduces our reflexes and often brings us extra drowsiness, making driving at night even more dangerous.
Something you probably didn't know is that alcohol use, combined with priority violation and increased speed, are the world's three main causes of road accidents at night.
In addition, you should be aware that the Penal Code has changed and the penalties have become very severe in case you are involved in a road accident with a fatal result under the influence of alcohol.
Learn now 5 Truths about drinking alcohol that will make you think again before you drive (Alcohol and driving see here what you can do).
4. Increased Fatigue and Drowsiness
Drowsiness and increased fatigue during night driving are two of the main causes of increased accidents and accidents when sunlight falls. Fatigue during the day due to work or other factors definitely increases during the night hours, making driving more dangerous.
In any case, the risks of driving at night increase when we are very tired, and there are traffic accidents that, due to the use of alcohol, have happened because the drivers literally slept at the wheel.
5. Some different risks to keep in mind
Overall, after the end of lockdown the risks in driving will be many, and especially at night we should be especially careful.
In addition to the four hazards mentioned above, we should also take into account other dangers that lurk, such as the "very dirty windshield", which can reduce visibility by at least 70%, the wrongly adjusted lights that can reduce the light beam of the car up to 50%, and the wipers in case of rain, which should work properly.
I would like us to improve our driving behavior together and that's why I remind you of the triptych of survival:
• Always wear the BELT or the protective safety helmet.
• We NEVER DRIVE DRUNK FOR OUR OWN GOOD AND THAT OF OTHERS.
• WE RESPECT speed limits and do not make illegal overtakings.
Learn now everything you need to know about the new "vehicle" on Greek roads (Electric Skateboard: Why and How it is worth getting into your Life).
