SAFETY TIPS: DRIVING ON A BENT OR CURVY ROADS

Whether it is located on rugged mountain terrain or on smoother surfaces, the fact is driving on bent or curve road can be challenging when you want to navigate it.

The primary action drivers can take when travelling along curving roadways is an obvious one: simply slow down and make sure to follow advisory speed limit signs on the road.

Every curve has what’s called the ‘critical speed of the curve.’ If you go too fast, it’s going to get to
a point where you’re going to lose control. You could over-steer or under-steer. So you have to drive with Caution.

Basic tips for driving carefully on a curvy road:

• Scan ahead as far as possible to ensure if there is any on-coming vehicle.
• Slow down and don't attempt to overtake when approaching a curve, especially a blind curve.
• Keep the vehicle centered and maintained your lane. 
• Slow down and be observant in areas inhabited by pedestrians or animals.
• Use high beams (I mean 'full-light') as much as possible when driving at night and/or in weather conditions that limit visibility (e.g during rainy weather).
• Drivers should particularly take weather into account in areas where it can be unpredictable, especially south-south region of Nigeria.

Tips for driving on a curvy and hilly roads:

• Slow down when ascending or descending the hill crest as the road might be wet due to the temperature nature of mountaintop.
• If your vehicle goes off the road in motion, avoid hitting the brakes or jerking the wheel back onto the road, instead ease off the accelerator pedal and gradually come back onto the road.
• If you’re driving behind a larger vehicle (e.g. tractor trailer) and there is no on-coming vehicle that may prevent you from overtaking; I will advise you to quickly overtake the truck especially when ascending a hilltop, there may be roll-back because trucks use gravity to build up momentum to climb a hill.

Other tips for driving on a curvy and straight roads:

As you are preparing for that long journey, another key to driving safely on both curvy and straight road is taking preventive measures to ensure the vehicle is in good condition. 

• Ensure your brakes, suspension, steering, and fluid levels are checked regularly. Also make sure the windshield and headlights are properly cleaned.
• Ensure your tires are properly inflated according to the recommended tire pressure.
• Ensure you have sufficient water that can be use to fill the radiator in case there is an overheating.
• Your trunk or boot is not meant for storing stuffs alone, ensure your jack, wheel spanner, fire-extinguisher and c-caution are in proper place.
• Above all, your seat-belt goes a long way keeping you in a stable position when navigating that curvy road, so ensure you check it regularly.

Curvy-road warning signs to watch out for when driving.

We have them on our roads just make sure you are vigilant and observant when driving.

                 Right Turn                                                                                                        Left Turn

 

              Left Reverse Turn                                                                                   Right Reverse Turn

     

                                   

             Left Reverse Curve                                                                              Right Reverse Turn

 

              

               270-degree Loop                                                                                      Hairpin Curve

                                           

          

           Double Curve                                                                                                 Roundabout

A careful driver is a safety driver, so drive safely!