Safety belts and the law of momentum

When a vehicle crashes or comes to a violent standstill, and the passengers are not wearing seat belts, they continue to move inside the car at the same speed, ejected into the dashboard or windshield. The momentum with which they crash is equal to the product of their kilograms multiplied by the speed at the moment of impact.

Seat belts significantly reduce the risk of death or serious injury. A further point which needs to be underlined is the necessity of using seat belts in the back seats. Specifically, studies show that if rear passengers do not wear a seat belt in head-on collisions, they are ejected forward, thus crushing the front passengers and increasing almost 5-fold the risk of death for the front passengers who wear seat belts.

Reminder light and warning buzzer

Since the early 1970s, a seat belt reminder system for front passengers has been fitted to all cars in North America. This system consists of a red light on the instrument panel that lights up for as long as the belt does not click, and a buzzer which emits a strong sound for several minutes. In Europe and other continents, this system was introduced in the 1990s and is now part of most new models.

We always wear seat belts both as drivers and as co-drivers, regardless of the distance we drive and regardless of whether we feel a bit like… Michael Schumacher today.

Motorcyclists and Helmet

Do not go anywhere without a helmet.
It is statistically proven that most accidents occur within the city, on short distances.
Helmets not only absorb, but also dissipate and reduce the undesirable impact of negative G force to our head and brain during collisions.

In addition, please note: THE WRONG HELMET CAN KILL YOU

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING A HELMET

Purchasing a helmet is as important as buying the motorcycle itself.

Style matters

If you don’t like it, you won’t wear it, and if you won’t wear it, it can’t protect you. Pick a helmet that matches your taste, your motorcycle or your preferences. Remember that bright colors are more visible, both day and night, thus improving our safety.

Size and Fit

When a helmet is not correctly sized or properly fitted, it might cause discomfort and distract you from driving. Take your time to pick the right size for you. Try on the helmet, fasten it and try shaking your head to see if it moves. If it slides on your head and feels loose, try a smaller size.

Visor

The helmet’s visor or face shield must be kept clean, free from scratches or visible defects, made to fit the helmet’s curvature perfectly. Its release and replacement mechanism must be silent and easy to change. Optimal visors have “glass” clear
quality and visibility, and stand out from the “dull” plastic ones that are easily scratched.

Helmet ventilation

Poor or no ventilation can turn a helmet into an oven. Check that the vents work properly and pay attention to the height and shape of the airways. The more prominent they are, the more noise they will produce. Good airflow is necessary at the visor’s bottom to prevent fogging and facilitate breathing, and at the top of the head to help cool the scalp.

The right price

Act smart and do not compromize your safety or risk your life by buying a cheap helmet that is barely up to standard, just to avoid getting a fine. Buy the best helmet available. You can save money by opting for a less fancy design.

Safety standards

Show the utmost care for your safety by purchasing helmets that meet EU standards (the latest version is ECE 2204). Helmets that meet minimum EU requirements carry a special label provided by the organization that issued the certification. Do not buy a helmet which is not labelled up to date, i.e. ECE 2204.

Speeding

Speeding is the main cause for one third of all road accidents, fatal or not, according to a recent survey by the OECD. As a result, speed limits are directly linked to road fatality and serious road injuries.

Urban traffic network

According to an OECD recent survey, drivers are under the false impression that by increasing their speed a bit, they will reduce driving time as a result. Even if we do increase the car’s speed, we still won’t reduce driving time in the city, due to frequent stops in traffic lights and intersections. Moreover, speed limits on motorways fall under 70 km/h in urban areas.

Highway network

Road accidents that occur on the highway network present the highest rate of fatalities due to increased speed limits. In Greece, about one third of the fatalities in road accidents are attributed to accidents on the National Highway Network.

Always observe the speed limits when driving.

In addition, you should reduce speed way below speed limits in the following cases:

● If there are road works;
● If there are pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists;
● If weather conditions are adverse;
● If lighting is poor;

Drinking and driving

A single drink can seriously impair your ability to drive. It is estimated that a glass of beer or a serving of any alcoholic beverage increases blood alcohol content which doubles the risk of fatality in road accidents. Alcohol is not the only factor that compromises road safety. Combining other factors with just a low dose of alcohol may reduce performance even further and increase the risk of an accident even if the blood alcohol content is within legal limits.

Drinking and sleep deprivation

Research has shown that sleep-deprived people drive very poorly after having 2 drinks, for a span of 2 hours afterwards. They overestimate their ability to drive, thereby putting themselves and others at risk. Sleep deprivation combined with alcohol consumption and night driving can lead to road fatalities.

Drinking and medications

Alcohol may interact with sedatives, analgesics, or antihistamines. Mixing medications with 1-2 drinks can cause drowsiness, thereby increasing the risk of a fatal accident. Alcohol causes slower reaction times, impairs motor coordination, influences judgment and compromises making sound decisions. In a complex process such as driving that requires skills and quick decision making, a single drink in combination with certain medications can impair a driver’s vision, their concentration and vigilance as regards other vehicles or pedestrians, perception of speed, ability to park or respond in a timely and correct manner.

Statistics

Statistics from the US show that 40% of all road fatalities are the result of drunk driving. This means that approximately 17,000 people die every year in the US while driving under the influence of alcohol. Next time you are out with friends, assign a designated driver and encourage them to stay sober. Do not get into a car whose driver is not sober. Otherwise, just call a taxi. Working together to prevent death, injuries and disabilities caused by road accidents is of critical importance and a major concern for us all.