Chapter I - Introduction to preventive conduct and the main factors

Preventive conduct represents the behaviour of the traffic participant whose purpose is to avoid the occurrence of road accidents by adapting the mode of travel to unfavourable weather, road, visibility conditions and the intensity of the flow of vehicles. But also limiting the consequences of accidents if these are imminent.

Before setting off on the road based on preventive conduct the driver must take into account the following elements:

• rest: a very important thing, especially when a long road must be travelled or at night;
• to get information about the weather conditions and to be prepared for any kind of atmospheric conditions that could be encountered: rain, snow, frost;
• to plan a main route but also a backup one;
• the physical and mental condition to be good.

In order to eliminate traffic accidents, preventive conduct is characterised by:

• anticipating situations that may generate possible dangers both for you and for the other participants in traffic;
• avoiding accidents about to occur;
• choosing the best option to get out of an accident that could not be avoided with minimal consequences;
• adapting the mode of travel to road, traffic, visibility and weather conditions.

The main factors of preventive conduct:

• theoretical and practical knowledge;
• skill;
• vigilance;
• foresight (intuition);
• judgement.

Theoretical and practical knowledge

Through this is assumed good training in the field and the way in which drivers acquire the knowledge of the provisions of the normative acts that regulate traffic on public roads, as well as the knowledge and abilities related to driving the motor vehicle.

Skill

Represents the capacity of the driver to execute easily, correctly and quickly all the driving manoeuvres of the motor vehicle.

This is formed over time, after executing the manoeuvres and operations in traffic as many times as possible. Once formed as automatisms they will be able to constitute premises for safe driving.

The lack of skill in correctly executing manoeuvres leads to the occurrence of unpleasant events both for the driver of the motor vehicle and for the other traffic participants. For example: stopping the engine, blocking the traffic, etc.

Vigilance

Represents the capacity of the driver to observe carefully everything that happens around him during the driving of a motor vehicle and to be prepared to act immediately to avoid the occurrence of an accident

The attention of the driver must be constantly increased to everything that happens and occurs on the road, to the way his own vehicle works but also to the other circumstantial elements that can be encountered in traffic.

Maintaining the state of vigilance must not be manifested as a state of tension, as a fear of not making a mistake, because this leads to the accumulation of fatigue and stress.

All the senses of a driver (sight, hearing, sense of smell, sense of touch) are required by vigilance.

The decrease of vigilance is determined by:

• fatigue;
• alcohol consumption;
• consumption of narcotic substances;
• mental state;
• high speed;
• mobile phone conversations;
• food consumption while driving;
• smoking while driving;
• discussions and gestures of the passengers in the motor vehicle;
• handling musical equipment.

Foresight

Represents the capacity of the driver to anticipate traffic situations and the way they unfold.

This capacity assumes the intuition of the mistakes of the other traffic participants and the application of the best solutions to avoid road events.

Foresight can be:

- immediate: when it refers to the events that occur during the driving of the car.

For example:

• to turn on the dipped-beam headlights whenever necessary in order to be well seen by the other traffic participants;
• engaging in overtaking only when the driver of the motor vehicle is sure that the manoeuvre can be executed safely;
• reducing the travel speed to be able to avoid in time the situations appearing in traffic or when necessary to stop.

-  remote: refers to the driver's reasoning before setting off on the road regarding the possibility of the occurrence of events in order to prevent their occurrence. It is recommended to prepare the car and the driver depending on the route to be travelled.

For example:

• establishing in advance the route to be travelled, the driver must document himself about the road condition and the climatic conditions in the respective areas;
• to make sure that the motor vehicle works within optimal parameters, the wipers work, the signalling works, the oil level in the oil pan is appropriate, the condition of the tyres is appropriate, the headlights are adjusted and illuminate appropriately.

Judgement

Represents the capacity of the driver to think logically in order to be able to choose the best option to get out of a dangerous situation appearing in traffic.

Judgement must be:

• prompt: when the reaction appears without delay when the driver has noticed the danger;
• selective: choosing the best solutions to avoid the danger;
• correct: when following the decisions taken the chosen solution proved to be the best, the accident was avoided or had minimal consequences.

The accident

The accident represents the unforeseen event that interrupts the normal flow of road traffic causing damage, injury or death.

The behaviour through which a traffic participant prevents and avoids the occurrence of an accident following the violation of road traffic rules by the other traffic participants (both pedestrians and drivers of vehicles) constitutes the basis of preventive conduct.

Preventive conduct regarding a road accident is defined as follows:

• anticipating situations that could lead to the occurrence of accidents;
• avoiding accidents about to occur;
• choosing the best solution to get out of a road accident that could no longer be avoided with minimum consequences.