EHS Moment

[ER-3682]

 

The importance of headlight and maintenance

 

 

Vehicles driven in the dark without lights, or “phantom vehicles,” are a serious safety risk. Some drivers think a lit-up dashboard means their lights are on, which may not be true. It’s also important to use proper lighting in bad weather.

 

Don’t put yourself and others at risk. Turn your headlights on when driving in the dark or in bad weather. Kindly note on the following:

- Automatic headlights only work if you set them on automatic

- A bright dashboard doesn’t always mean that your headlights and tail lights are on

- Daytime running lights don’t give you enough light to drive safely in the dark or in bad weather

 

Headlights should be a part of your regular maintenance checks. Here are some things to look out for:

- Always make sure your headlight casings are clean.

- Be aware, you may not notice a blown headlight. Usually you’ll notice a reduction in brightness first.

- Check brake lights and indicators too. This is easily done by going around the vehicle before driving off.

- If you're replacing bulbs, always do so in pairs. There’s a good chance the other one won’t be far behind. 

 

The Problem is because most Owners thought put the Lights Switch to "Auto" will use more Battery.

[Carbon82]

The Problem is because most Owners thought put the Lights Switch to "Auto" will use more Battery.

 

Nope. The REAL issue is people thought roads in Singapore are all well-lighted, what is the need to switch on headlight. In actual, one of the main reasons for switching on head (and tail) lights is to make the car more visible, under all lighting and weathering conditions!

 

Topic for today:

 

Remember to engage your parking brake

 

 

This incident looks a little like “Final Destination” only for cars, and with much less serious consequences. Not only did the SUV fall off the truck bed, but the tow truck itself began endangering other parked vehicles. Probably both do not engage the parking brake (handbrake).

 

Initially, the tow truck operator attempts to hold the SUV with his bare hands, a strategy that may have worked for somebody with superpowers, but regular folk don’t have that type of arm strength. The good news is that no other vehicles appear to have been damaged, which is lucky to say the least.

 

As soon as the tow truck found itself without a customer out back, it began moving forward ever so slowly, directly towards a parked panel van. Thankfully, the driver managed to catch up to it and apply the brakes with hardly any time to spare – quite the accomplishment, you know, aside from all those previous mistakes.

[Carbon82]

Never put your feet on the dash!

 

 

As sexy as it may seems, it is a big NO to rest your feet on the dash when the vehicle is moving. It is not just about smelly feet or hygiene issues, but SAFETY! An accident that is sever enough to trigger the deployment of front airbags might cause you your leg.   

 

Case Study - Audra Tatum

 

As soon as Audra Tatum would hop into the passenger seat of a car, the mother of three from Walker County, Georgia, would lean back and relax with her feet up on the dashboard.

 

Her husband warned her about the dangerous habit, but Tatum didn't care — it was comfortable.

 

"All my life I had my legs crossed and my foot on the dash," Tatum told CBS News. "My husband always told me, 'You're going to get in a wreck someday, and you're going to break your legs.'"

 

Tatum assured him he was wrong.

 

"I'll put my foot down in time," she would always reply.

 

But one day in 2015... ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

If there wasn't an airbag at all, Tatum predicts her injuries could have been even worse.

 

"It could have done so much more damage. It did make it break my nose (Audra Tatum’s leg flew back into her face breaking her ankle, nose and hip in four places), but I could've hit the dash a whole lot harder without that airbag," she said.

 

[Carbon82]

Safety tips for using GPS navigating devices

 

 

Using GPS device can be a great way to get you from point A to point B. Whether you use an app on your mobile phone or the built-in navigation system in your vehicle, there are certain safety tips that will help you arrive safely.

 

PROGRAM THE DESTINATION BEFORE YOU LEAVE

 

The first safety tip is to program your GPS device with the address before you leave. Any accidents are caused by distracted drivers who are attempting to punch in the address or dictate the address to their GPS device while driving. Spending just a minute before you start making sure that you have added the address correctly and know the general route is the first step to proper use of your GPS device.

 

USE VOICE

 

Whether you are using an app on your phone, or other portable / built-in device(s), if the application has voice directions it is a good idea to utilize that. The best GPS systems provide very good feedback to the driver giving the driver plenty of time to prepare for changes in lames and streets. Additionally, using the voice direction feature serves to prevent unnecessarily distraction by taking your eyes off of the road and looking at your GPS device.

 

USE YOUR PASSENGER

 

Another safety tip is to put your passenger in charge of the directions. If you do not have voice directions, have your passenger look at your GPS device and give you instructions -so you can keep your eyes on the road. A great number of unnecessary car accidents occur simply because the driver was paying attention to something other than the roadway ahead.

 

DO OVER RELY ON GPS, IT IS ONLY A TOOL

 

GPS systems are not infallible. Paying attention to the direction traveled and having looked at the destination and route before starting your trip can help you stay on course. Always obey traffic signs and anticipate there may be changes not reflected on your GPS information. It all boils down to paying attention to the roadway and not your device. Depending on the device, the maps may not be updated for the latest highway you are on.

 

KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR GPS BEFORE YOU START

 

Know how to operate your GPS device and take advantage of it safety features such as voice control. If you do not know how to use your application or the building GPS navigation in your vehicle go to YouTube and you can find a video that will walk you through the steps to understand how to use your specific GPS.

 

EYES ON THE ROAD

 

The basic rule of safety and using the GPS device is always keep your eyes on the road and not on the device. If you must reset or change your destination in your device pull off the road where you can safely and re-program your GPS before you start your trip again.

[Carbon82]

Safety with lithium-ion batteries

 

 

 

For full video of the program, do check out Talking Point, Channel News Asia

[Ct3833]

Safety with lithium-ion batteries

 

 

 

For full video of the program, do check out Talking Point, Channel News Asia

It is also why airlines do not allow lithium ion batteries or any devices with a lithium battery to be checked in with luggage, when a fire erupts in the cargo compartment, the consequences will be disastrous.     So please remind everyone of our friends and relatives not to check in their batteries , bring the batteries along with them in their hand carry luggage for the safety of everyone onboard.  

[Carbon82]

Don't Forget to Clean Your Steering Wheel

 

 

A study from CarRentals.com found that there are about 700 strains of bacteria in the average vehicle, and the steering wheel is the nastiest part of the whole thing. Eating in your car is the way to get the bacteria machine rolling even faster than it already does, the study said, and, apparently, eating in a car is more likely to make you sick than eating off of a toilet seat.

 

The steering wheel is the dirtiest place in a car, according to the study, ahead of the cupholder, seat belt, inside door handle, shifter and volume knob. The study found that the wheel is twice as dirty as the buttons on an elevator, four times as gross as a toilet seat, and six times nastier than a smartphone screen. (Data from a study is just that, remember. Other studies have found that public toilets are cleaner than phone screens, but this one found toilets dirtier.)

 

And you might ask: Where did all these bacteria came from??

- Food and drink

- Cough / sneeze, sickness

- Gold digging and scratching of ahem area...

- Unused items / junks kept in the car

- Groceries (especially meat and other perishable products) 

- From other surface / external area

- And even one's clothing

[inlinesix]

Use hand sanitizer to wipe steering lo.

[Fuelsaver]

My contribution
 

[Carbon82]

Beware of Falling Hazard from Vehicle with Improperly Secured Load

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/falling-hazards-endanger-highway-drivers-27719262

Some safety tips:

- Avoid driving too close to vehicle(s) carrying large object, such as construction material and machinery

- Watch out for vehicle(s) carrying loose objects, such as carton boxes and furniture

- Large object and loose objects has higher risk of falling off the vehicle when turning, as such, please keep away from them when navigating sharp turns

[Sdf4786k]

On 7/29/2019 at 6:30 PM, Carbon82 said:

Don't Forget to Clean Your Steering Wheel

 

 

A study from CarRentals.com found that there are about 700 strains of bacteria in the average vehicle, and the steering wheel is the nastiest part of the whole thing. Eating in your car is the way to get the bacteria machine rolling even faster than it already does, the study said, and, apparently, eating in a car is more likely to make you sick than eating off of a toilet seat.

 

The steering wheel is the dirtiest place in a car, according to the study, ahead of the cupholder, seat belt, inside door handle, shifter and volume knob. The study found that the wheel is twice as dirty as the buttons on an elevator, four times as gross as a toilet seat, and six times nastier than a smartphone screen. (Data from a study is just that, remember. Other studies have found that public toilets are cleaner than phone screens, but this one found toilets dirtier.)

 

And you might ask: Where did all these bacteria came from??

- Food and drink

- Cough / sneeze, sickness

- Gold digging and scratching of ahem area...

- Unused items / junks kept in the car

- Groceries (especially meat and other perishable products) 

- From other surface / external area

- And even one's clothing

actually the keyboard is one of the worst..  

[Carbon82]

On 5/14/2019 at 6:28 PM, Carbon82 said:

Driving while under influence of drugs

- Taking certain common over the counter flu / fever relief tablets can seriously affect a driver, in the same way alcohol does, and yet many drivers are unaware of the dangers of dosing up on these seemingly harmless treatments to ease their running noses or itchy eyes before taking to the wheel.

- Drowsiness, feeling lethargic, reduced concentration levels and blurry vision are some common side effects of consuming such medication, which could impair the driver's ability to gain proper control of his/her vehicle 

- Under Section 67 of the Road Traffic Act, it is an offence to drive or attempt to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, under the influence of drink or of a drug or an intoxicating substance to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of such vehicle

- Person guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine of not less than $3,000 and not more than $10,000 and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months

- Under Section 68 of the Road Traffic Act, it is also an offence for being in charge of motor vehicle which is on a road or other public place but not driving the vehicle, when a person is unfit to drive in that he is under the influence of drink or of a drug or an intoxicating substance to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of a vehicle

- Person guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000 and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months

Cabby on girlfriend's medication lost control of vehicle, crashed into motorcyclist who died

SINGAPORE: A taxi driver who took his girlfriend's pills and some cough syrup for a headache drove dangerously and lost control of his vehicle, mounting a divider and crashing into a motorcycle and lorry.

The lorry mounted a pavement and trapped the motorcyclist, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Taxi driver Desmond Tan Tat Siong, 34, pleaded guilty on Thursday (Dec 12) to one charge of causing the death of the 57-year-old motorcyclist, with another charge of injuring the lorry driver taken into consideration.

The court heard that Tan had a severe headache at about 3pm on Sep 19 last year and decided to drive his cab to his girlfriend's home to sleep.

He took two Anarex pills, which had been prescribed to his girlfriend from Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic, as well as cough syrup that he had been prescribed by another clinic.

Anarex is used to treat a variety of conditions including headaches, joint pain and fever, and contains active ingredients orphenadrine citrate and paracetamol.

Reported side effects of orphenadrine include dizziness, restlessness, blurred vision and slight euphoria, and those who experience these side effects are advised not to drive or operate machinery.

Less than an hour later, at about 3.50pm, Tan drove his cab along Sungei Kadut Avenue towards Sungei Kadut Drive.

He came to a hump along a stretch of road that has several indications for motorists to reduce their speed, including signs alerting them to the strips and hump ahead.

Tan did not slow down as he approached a bend after the hump, going quicker than the speed limit of 60kmh, and lost control of his taxi.

He swerved left, then sharply to the right, and the cab mounted the centre divider and crossed over into the other side, crashing into a motorcycle and lorry travelling in the opposite direction.

MOTORCYCLIST PINNED UNDER LORRY

The motorcyclist Chong Ah Hee was riding slightly in front of lorry driver Tawrad Sharafod Ali, 28.

On impact, Mr Chong was flung upwards and onto the front of the lorry, which veered left as the motorcyclist landed on the pavement. The lorry mounted the pavement, pinning the motorcyclist underneath.

Mr Chong was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering multiple injuries. 

The lorry driver suffered a bruise to his knee and a strained back, while Tan had a minor head injury and abrasions on his hands.

A doctor who examined Tan said he did not find any signs that Tan had blacked out before the crash, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Yen Seow.

DRUGS FROM MEDICATION FOUND IN TAN'S BLOOD

A toxicology report found several drugs in Tan's bloodstream due to the medication he had taken before the incident.

These include codeine, a cough suppressant that causes drowsiness, confusion and double vision as possible side effects, and dihyrocodeine, which may cause sleepiness and impair a person's cognitive functions.

The drugs found in his blood are also commonly reported to produce side effects such as a fast heart rate, dizziness, and blurred vision.

Those who suffer such side effects are not recommended to drive or operate machinery.

The prosecutor pushed for at least 11 months' jail, saying that Tan "had no business behind the wheel in his drug-intoxicated state".

"He should not have run the risk of endangering the lives of other road users," said the prosecutor, adding that it was "wholly fortuitous" that more people were not injured as the taxi spun out of control.

"The accused was driving in a highly dangerous and rash manner. He was a clear road hazard as he maintained his high speed of at least 60kmh at a bend, despite having gone through a hump and speed regulating strips," said the prosecutor.

He added that some of the drugs found in Tan's blood were active ingredients in prescription-only medicines.

Such medication can be sold only by a registered medical practitioner, but Tan had taken his girlfriend's pills without a doctor's prescription, said the prosecutor.

Driving while under the influence of drugs is a criminal offence. Tan had chosen to drive in an intoxicated state in what the prosecution described as "an act of complete selfish disregard for the safety of other fellow road users".

Tan will return to court for sentencing on Dec 27.

[Sdf4786k]

This is a rare occurrence, but see if you can spot what happen on my other old ride..

 

 

The wheel lug sheared off in half. While its a none maintenance part, the air gun torque sort of broke it in half.

Thankfully the other half was still long enough for a clamp and grip to unwind it off the hub.

The other 4 was still reasonably good. But I decided to replaced the rest of the other wheels as well for good measure. Overkill yes. But I dont want to appear in @RadX dream too soon.

Edited December 14, 2019 by Sdf4786k

[Carbon82]

Car Explodes After Driver Uses Too Much Air Freshner and Lights A Cigarette

A bizarre incident occurred over the weekend as a SEAT driver accidentally turned their hatchback into a makeshift car bomb.

According to the BBC, the unnamed driver used an “excessive” amount of air freshener from an aerosol can. The driver then thought this would be a good time to have a cigarette.

This was horrible decision as the cigarette apparently ignited the aerosol spray and caused an explosion. A witness at a nearby bar described it as an “enormous bang” and that’s likely an understatement looking at the damage.

As you can see in the pictures, all of the windows were blown out of the car. The doors, roof and hatch were also mangled in the blast. The car wasn’t the only thing that was damaged as the BBC says the explosion also destroyed windows at nearby businesses.

Despite the intensity of the blast, the driver only suffered minor injuries and was apparently able to free themselves from the car. The man is incredibly lucky and authorities noted the situation could have been much worse.

Of course, this isn’t the first time that an aerosol can has wrecked havoc on a car. Back in September, a heat wave caused can of dry shampoo to explode in a rocket-like fashion in the center console of a Honda Civic. The can blasted through the sunroof and reportedly landed 50 feet (15 meters) away.

A more serious incident occurred two years ago when a Kia Sorento owner packed up their barbecue grille and forget to shut off the propane tank. This caused propane to fill the cabin and it was eventually ignited when someone lit a cigarette.

[Sdf4786k]

20 hours ago, Carbon82 said:

Car Explodes After Driver Uses Too Much Air Freshner and Lights A Cigarette

 

A bizarre incident occurred over the weekend as a SEAT driver accidentally turned their hatchback into a makeshift car bomb.

According to the BBC, the unnamed driver used an “excessive” amount of air freshener from an aerosol can. The driver then thought this would be a good time to have a cigarette.

This was horrible decision as the cigarette apparently ignited the aerosol spray and caused an explosion. A witness at a nearby bar described it as an “enormous bang” and that’s likely an understatement looking at the damage.

As you can see in the pictures, all of the windows were blown out of the car. The doors, roof and hatch were also mangled in the blast. The car wasn’t the only thing that was damaged as the BBC says the explosion also destroyed windows at nearby businesses.

Despite the intensity of the blast, the driver only suffered minor injuries and was apparently able to free themselves from the car. The man is incredibly lucky and authorities noted the situation could have been much worse.

Of course, this isn’t the first time that an aerosol can has wrecked havoc on a car. Back in September, a heat wave caused can of dry shampoo to explode in a rocket-like fashion in the center console of a Honda Civic. The can blasted through the sunroof and reportedly landed 50 feet (15 meters) away.

A more serious incident occurred two years ago when a Kia Sorento owner packed up their barbecue grille and forget to shut off the propane tank. This caused propane to fill the cabin and it was eventually ignited when someone lit a cigarette.

I suppose too much BO and poor hygiene led to over compensating with car air refresher.