Traffic Signs

TRAFFIC SIGNS

Traffic Signs are their to

Guide you
• Warn you
• And inform you

Of potentially dangerous situations on the road ahead .All traffic signs found in St.Lucia are international signs. They enable us to travel to any part of the world and safely drive a motor vehicle; they are the language of the road.

Knowledge and obedience of traffic are important for all road users, generally

Triangular traffic signs warn you of potentially dangerous situations ahead where you might come into conflict with other road users for example junctions, bends, pedestrian crossings .

Red circler traffic signs give you a negative instruction they tell you what you must Not do for example No Entry, No Left turn, No U Turn.

Blue circler traffic signs give you a positive instruction you must do exactly what the blue signs tell you foe example One Way Street ,Keep Left ,Direction of traffic flow at a round a roundabout.

As road users we must learn and obey all traffic signs. Traffic signs are not part time signs; you can be charged and taken to court for disregarding any traffic sign.

Be socially responsible, vandalism of traffic signs could cause an innocent road user their life.

We would like to remind you that it is a criminal offence to damage, deface, or remove any traffic sign.

The pros and cons of Overtaking

OVERTAKING

Do not overtake unless you can do so safely; make sure the road is clear ahead and behind you.

Do not get too close to the vehicle you intend to overtake; it will obscure your view of the road ahead

Use your mirrors to check the speed and position of vehicles coming up from behind you.

Signal before you start to move out, remember other drivers cannot read your mind only your signal.

Read the road ahead and anticipate that the vehicle you are overtaking might move to the right without warning to avoid an obstruction.

Take extra care at night and in conditions of poor visibility when it is harder to judge speed and distances.

REMEMBER THE GOLDEN RULES OF OVERTAKING

• Mirrors first to check on what is happening behind and to your sides , to see how your actions will affect others

• Signal to inform other road users of your intension to overtake ,

REMEMBER other road users can only read your signal NOT YOUR MIND

• Manoeuvre Once you have started to overtake quickly move pass the vehicle you are overtaking, leaving it plenty of room.

• Then move back to the left as soon as you can not forgetting to check the left mirror do not cut in.
  
  When overtaking motorcyclists, pedal cyclists, horse riders give them just as much room as you would give a car.
  
  Remember that cyclists may be unable to ride in a straight line, especially when it is windy or if there are potholes on the road surface
  
  Normally we overtake on the right only. But there are two occasion when you can overtake on the left they are:
  
  (1) When the vehicle in front is signalling and has positioned to make a right turn, if there is space to his left you can pass on the left.
  
  (2) When traffic is moving slowly in queues and vehicles in a lane in the right are moving more slowly than you are. But do not change to the left just to overtake.
  
  Do not increase your speed when you are being overtaken by other road users, slow down if necessary to let the overtaking vehicle pass you and pull in safely.
  
  Give way to vehicle coming towards you before passing parked vehicles or other obstructions On your side of the road.
  
  
  
  
  YOU MUST NOT OVERTAKE:
  
• Where you cannot see far enough ahead to be sure it is safe, for example when you are Approaching or at
  
  • A corner or bend in the road
  
  • A hump back bridge
  
  The brow of a hill.
  
  YOU MUST NOT overtake
  
  
  Where you might come into conflict with other road users, for example:
  
  • Approaching or at a road junction on either side of the road
  
  • Where the road narrows
  
  • When approaching a school crossing
  
  • Where traffic is queuing at junctions or road works
  
  • Where you would force oncoming vehicles to swerve or slow down.
  
  Do not overtake:
  
  If you would have to cross or straddle double white lines with an unbroken line closest to you.
  
  Do not overtake
  
  • On approach to a pedestrian crossing
  
  • After a no overtaking sign
  
  REMEMBER THE GOLDEN RULE: IF IN DOUBT--- DO NOT OVERTAKE
  
  
  

PROPER USE OF THE HORN

Use of the Horn

Have you ever driven into a blind bend in the road and found another vehicle that you were not aware of coming in the opposite direction ,and found that driver badly positioned in the bend or even on your side of the road.

And you quickly realized that if either one of you had been a few seconds earlier or later into the bend their could have been a nasty accident.

You can easily avoid this situation by blowing your horn on approach to every blind bend and anticipate meeting another vehicle.

Blow your horn early and loud enough to give the other driver those vital few seconds advance warning of your presence.

Remember the other driver will hear your horn long before he can see you, so if he is in a bad position coming into the bend he will have time to correct his position.

Those few seconds advance warning help both of you.

IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE


Use your horn before overtaking, to bring that drivers attention to you.


Whenever you approach any traffic hazard you must consider the use of the horn as an advance warning of your presence,

Remember that using the horn does not give you the right of way in any traffic situation nor does it relieve of your responsibility to drive your vehicle in a safe courteous manner on our roads.

There are certain legal restrictions on the use of the horn at night in built up areas. So get into the habit “beep beep” on every blind bend you come across.

The two second rule (what is it?)

TIPS FOR BETTER DRIVING (1)


Hello and welcome to Tips for better driving, the aim of this road safety message
is

• Is to help drivers improve their standard of driving by giving information on up to date modern techniques in practical Defensive Driving methods.

• To develop road safety skills and knowledge of he High Way code.
  

More traffic and faster vehicles mean that however safe and reliable a car may be its driver has to have much more driving skills than ever before.

Today’s drivers cannot escape their own direct and personal responsibility for the accidents that that occur on our roads every year.

The Two Second Rule

So there you are driving along behind the vehicle in front, now how can you be certain that you are the correct separation distance behind him? Just suppose that driver in front of you had to do an emergency stop (for example a pedestrian might have stepped into the road in front of him) would you be able to stop in time or would you crash into the back of him.

One-way of making sure this never happens to you is to keep at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front. Here’s how to check.

When travelling behind the vehicle in front look ahead and pick an object at the side of the road, the object could be for example an electricity pole, a tree, a parked car, anything that is not going to move for the next two seconds, this will be your fixed reference point.

When the back of the vehicle in front passes this point say to yourself this poem ‘’ only a fool breaks the two second rule “this takes about two seconds to say.

If you did not pass the reference point before you finished the poem then your separation distance is good


If you passed the reference point before you finished the poem than you are driving much to close, drop back and try the test again.

Remember two seconds is the minimum distance you should be behind the vehicle in front of you on a dry road.

When it is raining or the road is wet your tyres will have less grip on the road surface, if you have to brake hard your vehicle could get into a skid.

Under these conditions being only two seconds behind the vehicle in front is much too close.

Drop back to four seconds (say the poem twice,) this will give you more time to react and bring your vehicle to a safe stop on wet roads. Try it, it really works.

Remember the poem now “Only a Fool Breaks the Two Second Rule” It could save your life or damage to your expensive motor vehicle one day.

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE