Proceedure of safe driving in different situation

 

Learning Safe Driving: Managing Different Circumstances

Meta description: With our advice on how to handle various driving situations, you can learn to drive safely and responsibly. Drive safely at all times!

Introduction

Being a responsible driver starts with learning to drive safely. As you begin your journey into the globe of driving, you will come across a variety of situations that necessitate careful comprehension and adaptation to ensure your safety and the safety of others on the road. This article aims to offer tips and directions on how to handle various driving situations while emphasizing responsibility and safety.

Driving on hill

Driving on hilly roads is quite different from driving on plain roads. It’s not as easy but of course not rocket science either. Only some rules have to be kept in mind, the rules which aren’t so difficult to be taken care of but if not done so could have some serious consequences and can even be fatal. There are two different situations while driving on hilly roads. Either you are going up on a hill or downwards. Normally if you are new, you would be considering upward driving to be the tricky one but that is not the case, in fact, accidents on prevalence occur when the vehicles are in a downward position on a road. So we are going to focus a lot more on how to drive in a descending situation.

The first essential and very important rule is that the gear being used to go up should not be exceeded while going down. Since the car in most cases uses 1st or the 2nd gear to go up because it needs power to do so, we must do the same while declining. If not done so the car will accelerate fast due to gravity pulling it harder to itself and would not be able to break the same way as on plain roads, the reason being the same “gravity”. On shorter gears, the speed would be in control due engine’s own friction.

Remember that once you have stopped completely, pull up the emergency brake. Remove your foot off of the manual brake when you go to press the accelerator to keep your car from rolling backward until you start moving. Press on the accelerator (and remove your other foot from the clutch) just as you would normally. The car will soon feel like it wants to move forward. Feel that the car is just about to move forward, keep accelerating slowly while at the same time removing the emergency brake. By removing the brake at the right time, your car will already have the power it needs from the accelerator to move up the hill without the emergency brake needing to be on to keep it from rolling backward.

Press the clutch down just enough to allow the engine to return to normal idle speed. Keep your right toe on the brake pedal, and turn your right foot inward so that your right heel is on the gas. By tilting your right foot in this position, you can depress the accelerator with your right heel while keeping the brake pedal engaged with your toes. Watch as the light changes, then press on the gas with your right heel and slowly let the clutch out. Shortly after beginning this maneuver, remove your right toe from the brake pedal. 

The engine will rev, and the vehicle will begin to move forward. Once you have some forward momentum, move your right foot so that it is in a natural position on the gas pedal. You may need to press the clutch back in momentarily at this point. With some practice, you should be able to work all three pedals with just two feet, reduce engine revs to a minimum, and avoid jerking the clutch.

Method3

Expert for steep slope

1. Here is a no-panic method, that requires lots of practice.

2. Press both the clutch and the brake pedal.

3. Do not release the brakes. Release the clutch slowly and halfway until you feel vibrations (namely, until you feel like the car is trying to move forward). Observe the tachometer rev; it goes somewhere below 1000.

4. Hold the clutch in the same position. Release the brake pedal (the car does not move anywhere).

5. Press the accelerator pedal. Release the clutch gradually and you'll be off.

Parking on uphill

Uphill: When headed uphill at a curb, turn the front wheels away from the curb and let your vehicle roll backward slowly until the rear part of the front wheel rests against the curb using it as a block.

Downhill: When you stop your car headed downhill, turn your front wheels toward the curb. Let your vehicle roll slowly until the front tire rests against the curb using it as a block.

When headed uphill (or downhill) with no curb, always turn your front wheels to the right so that if your vehicle moves, it will roll off the highway, not into traffic.

Wet weather

· In wet weather, stopping distances will be at least double those required for stopping on dry roads. This is because your tires have less grip on the road. In wet weather:

· You should keep well back from the vehicle in front - this will increase your ability to see and plan ahead.

· If the steering becomes unresponsive, it probably means that water is preventing the tires from gripping the road - ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually.

· The rain and spray from vehicles may make it difficult to see and be seen.

· Be aware of the dangers of spilled diesel that will make the surface very slippery (see 'Vehicle maintenance, safety, and security).

· Take extra care around pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and horseriders.

Snow/Ice

One of the most important things to remember when driving in snow is this: It’s probably going to take you twice as long to get where you’re going, so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time. The last thing you want to be doing is speeding on icy roads to get to your destination on time!

• Test out your brakes.   Your car will perform differently in the snow than it would on a dry road. If you’re new to snow driving, it’s probably a good idea to practice braking in an empty parking lot so you can see how your car reacts to the amount of pressure you apply to the brake pedal.

• Take corners slowly. Give yourself plenty of time to slow down before turning. Taking a corner with too much speed can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

• Accelerate gradually. Your tires are likely to spin in place if you try to accelerate too quickly.

• Beware of black ice! Black ice – a thin layer of transparent ice on a roadway – can cause your car to spin out and you can quickly lose control. Watch the road ahead of you, and try to avoid driving over areas that look slick.

When driving in icy or snowy weather

• Drive with care, even if the roads have been treated

• Keep well back from the road user in front as stopping distances can be ten times greater than on dry roads

• Take care when overtaking vehicles spreading salt or other de-icer, particularly if you are riding a motorcycle or cycle

• Watch out for snow ploughs which may throw out snow on either side

• Do not overtake them unless the lane you intend to take has been cleared

• Be prepared for the road conditions to change over relatively short distances

• Listen to travel bulletins and take note of variable message signs that may provide information about weather, road, and traffic conditions ahead. Drive extremely carefully when the roads are icy. Avoid sudden distractions as these could cause loss of control.

• Drive at a slow speed in as high a gear as possible; accelerate and brake very gently.

• Drive particularly slowly on bends where the loss of control is more likely

• Brake progressively on the straight before you reach a bend - having slowed down, steer smoothly around the bend, avoiding sudden actions

• Check your grip on the road surface when there is snow or ice by choosing a safe place to brake gently - if the steering feels unresponsive this may indicate ice and your vehicle losing its grip on the road (when traveling on ice, tires make virtually no noise)

Windy weather

High-sided vehicles are most affected by windy weather, but strong gusts can also blow a car, cyclist, motorcyclist, or horse rider off course. This can happen on open stretches of road exposed to strong cross winds, or when passing bridges or gaps in the hedges.

In very windy weather your vehicle may be affected by turbulence created by large vehicles. Motorcyclists are particularly affected, so keep well back from them when they are overtaking a high-sided vehicle.

Fog

Dense fog is statistically known as the most dangerous condition to drive in because of how intensely it can impair a driver’s vision of the road. The safest way to handle fog is not to drive in it, if possible. But, if you must drive, keep the following in mind:

• Do NOT use your high-beam headlights! Doing so will reflect light off the fog ahead of you, making it even harder to see. Instead, turn on your regular headlights, or, your fog lights, if you have them.

• Use the white line on the right side of the road. This will help guide you and keep you in your lane. It will also prevent your vision from being impaired by the headlights of oncoming traffic.

• Maintain a significant distance between you and the car in front of you. Give yourself plenty of time to stop abruptly, if necessary.

• Use your turn signals early. Give cars behind you plenty of notice that you’ll be slowing down to make a turn. Before entering fog check your mirrors then slow down. If the word ‘Fog’ is shown on a roadside signal or overhead gantry but the road is clear, be prepared for a bank of fog or drifting patchy fog ahead. Even if it seems to be clearing, you can suddenly find yourself in a thick fog.

When driving in fog you should:

• Use your lights as required.

• Keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front - rear lights can give a false sense of security

• Be able to pull up well within the distance you can see clearly (this is particularly important on motorways and dual carriageways, as vehicles are traveling faster)

• Use your windscreen wipers and demisters

• Beware of other drivers not using headlights

• Do Not accelerate to get away from a vehicle that is too close behind you

• Check your mirrors before you slow down, then use your brakes so that your brake lights warn drivers behind you that you are slowing down

• Stop in the correct position at a junction with limited visibility and listen for traffic

• When you are sure it is safe to emerge do so positively - and do not hesitate in a position that puts you directly in the path of approaching vehicles

You must not use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rules 226), as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights - you must switch them off when visibility improves.

Driving Through Sand, Dust and Fog

Although the causes and implications of each type of storm are radically different, as are the geographies and conditions where they occur, the tips for navigating them safely are similar. If you are caught in a sand or dust storm or fog, take the following steps:

· Drive slowly, leaving enough distance between you and other cars. This means ensuring you have enough braking distance, given the speed at which you are traveling, to avoid any hazards should you need to stop unexpectedly.

· Remain alert – no distracted driving. Keep visual and other distractions to a minimum: turn off the radio, keep your hands off your phone, and limit conversations.

· Keep your headlights on, using low beams. Your high beams may scatter into the fog or storm, creating glare instead of illumination.

· Check the weather forecast and pay attention to any advisories.

· If visibility is in question, turn on your hazard lights to make your car more detectable.

· If the conditions worsen and it is possible to move well off the road, consider doing so to wait until visibility improves. Moving off the road, and not simply to the shoulder, means you are out of the flow of traffic in the event another driver loses control of their vehicle.

There is one additional risk with sand and dust storms that is not present with fog: the risk of physical harm if you are outside your vehicle when the storm occurs. Recall that sand is used as a scouring agent – that is because a sand or dust storm is filled with sharp particles traveling at high velocity. This means that any exposed areas of your body, especially vulnerable parts such as your eyes and ears, should be carefully protected in a dust or sand storm. If you live in an area where sand or dust storms are common, keep some form of protection in your car—such as a scarf, filter mask to assist breathing, and proper eyewear to shield your eyes from large quantities of airborne dust. Staying inside your vehicle is another way to shelter during a sand or dust storm.

When it comes to driving risks, impaired visibility due to weather is an important one to understand. And even though we can not control what Mother Nature throws at us, there are still things you can do to help improve your situation. Be prepared. Understand the conditions that may produce fog, sand, or dust storms and know the steps you can take to best deal with each of these weather events

Hot weather

Keep your vehicle well-ventilated to avoid drowsiness. Be aware that the road surface may become soft or, if it rains after a dry spell, it may become slippery. These conditions could affect your steering and braking. If you are dazzled by bright sunlight, slow down and if necessary stop.

Other causes of skidding

• Driving too fast on bumpy roads, or when crossing a road crown, railway tracks, or icy ruts. Driving on the edge of the road. If one wheel drops off the pavement onto the shoulder, a skid may result.

Driving In Bad Weather Conditions

No matter how much driving experience you have, or what kind of weather you’re driving in, you should always remember this simple rule of thumb: Never drive faster than what is safe for the current conditions of the road. Keeping that in mind, here are a few helpful hints for driving in less-than-desirable weather conditions.

Driving in the Rain

Rain affects your vehicle's stability. Rain acts as a lubricant, making road surfaces slippery. Heavy downpour brings floods, cause heavy traffic, and creates puddles on the road that requires proper controlling and maneuvering of motor vehicles. It makes windshields, headlights, mirrors, and taillights blurred and dirty.

Things to do while Driving in the Rain

1.  Turn your headlights when visibility is very poor.

2.  Slow down at the first sign of rain or drizzle on the roadway. This is when many road pavements are most slippery because oil and dust have not been washed away.

3.  Driving on flooded roads could lose your brakes. If this happens, test your brakes thoroughly to dry them out (do this if the engine has not drowned and once beyond the flooded stretch).

4.  Avoid instant stopping, turning, and starting the engine.

5.  Increase your “following” distance and allow extra space.

6. Clean your windshield, and washers, and check wiper blades if they are working. When driving in rain, good windshield wipers can be your best friend! If your windshield wipers are old and dull, they can really limit visibility, increasing your risk of getting into an accident.

• Give yourself plenty of time to stop. It takes longer to stop when driving in wet weather and the roads can be slick. You should also keep a good distance between you and the car in front of you – having to slam on your brakes can result in skidding.

• Turn on your headlights. They’ll not only help you see but will make sure you’re visible to other drivers.

• Drive in the middle lanes. Water is more likely to pool on the outer edges of the road.

• Try and avoid puddles. Driving over puddles of water can cause your car to hydroplane out of control. It’s helpful to drive in the tracks of the car in front of you.

Do Not Overtake On Turns

I know that it’s very annoying driving behind a truck going 1-10 km/h but crossing it on turns is not worth it. Since the visibility on upcoming traffic is nil at that time, don’t take the risk. Always have patience, and after every 2 or 3 minutes you are going to find a road where upcoming traffic from a little far end could be seen and then make a suitable decision. Then there are pick-ups or small-engine cars, which are sometimes slow when going up and sometimes fast when declining. Since the drivers on them are locals and lived all their lives on these roads, know about every turn and how aggressive the turn is going to be, they get pretty fast while declining. The trick is to never overtake them while declining. Since the road declines and goes upward after every few meters, always overtake them when going up. They are going to get pretty much slow in that position and it would be easy for us to overtake them.

• One very common mistake among almost every driver driving an automatic shift is that they keep their car to D2 or L when going up. It seems pretty much logical that since the car needs power it should be kept to D2 but don’t do that. It will harm your engine. Always keep it to D when going up since every automatic shift car has sensors installed on it. When those sensors sense that the car needs some power, it automatically shifts to lower gear without even pressing the acceleration paddle more. There are times while going up that the car can safely use 3rd or 4th gear. It keeps the engine a bit calm and safe. The same rule applies to manual drivers. When they feel the car can go to 50 or 55 safely or maybe even more they should go 3rd or 4th gears, but of course when the car is going straight or up. Lastly always check your tires, suspension, and engine’s status before starting your journey. Driving on hilly roads is fun with beautiful natural sites. Do enjoy them but safely.

• Changing to lower gear at too fast a speed. The sudden deceleration caused by the compression of your motor may throw you into a skid.

HOW TO RECOVER FROM A SKID

In case your vehicle does go into a skid, learn how to recover from it.

• keep calm and keep control of yourself, but act promptly.

• if the skid was caused by slamming on the brakes, ease off the brakes and steer in the direction in which the rear end is skidding. Do not oversteer.

•   if the skid was caused by accelerating too fast, ease up on the gas pedal and steer in the direction of the skid.

•  when the skid is caused by driving too fast over a bumpy road surface or icy ruts, take your foot off the gas pedal, but do not apply brakes, and steer gently but firmly.

•  if the skid was caused by gearing down at too fast a speed, shift back into high gear, steering in the direction of the skid at the same time.

•  when the skid occurs at slow speeds due to improper braking or steering, moderate acceleration may aid in recovering from it. This should be resorted to only if all else fails.

•  if your tire blows out, make sure that you have a firm grip on the steering wheel. Do not drive with one hand.

Usually, you stop when your body (and head) hits the pavement or a roadside object. A motorcycle helmet aims to reduce the risk of serious head and brain injuries by spreading crash forces and reducing their impact on the head. It protects the brain until the head and body come to a stop.

Night Driving

Adjusting your driving to the weather and time. Do not try to drive the same speed at night that you do by day you should slow down. You see less at night and so do other drivers. Be sure that you can see clearly in your headlights. Be extra alert to pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles.

Things to Remember when Driving at Night

1. It is best to turn your headlight on at sunset. Do not blind other drivers with your headlights. Use your high beams only in open country when other cars are not near.

2. Dim your lights by switching the low beams as a vehicle comes toward you. If you are following another vehicle, switch to low beams when you get closer.

3. Night driving is difficult. Try to slow your speed while driving.

4. Give enough room and space to vehicles ahead of you.

5. Drive as far as possible if a vehicle with one light comes toward you.

6. When driving in a brightly lit place, drive slowly until your eyes adjust to the darkness. Avoid looking directly into the glare of incoming headlights. Watch the right edges of your lane, noting the position of the incoming vehicle out of the corner of your eye.

7. Do not wear sunglasses when driving at night.

8. When in the act of overtaking or passing at night, switch to high beam then back to low, warning the driver you wish to pass.

On long drives, keep awake and alert. Do not drive if you are tired or sleepy. Stopping often, fresh air, and singing or conversation can help avoid drowsiness. If you get too sleepy, park at the shoulder of the road and take a few minutes nap.

Proper use of headlight

Good functional headlights are necessary for safe driving during night and low visibility conditions. Through proper use of headlights, accidents can be prevented and road safety can be increased. Conversely, improper use of headlights might increase the chances of accidents. Hence, it is imperative to understand proper use of headlight i.e. when to use high and low beams.

Low Beams

Low beams are the default setting for vehicles. Low beams should be used most of the time while driving. These can illuminate a distance in front of the car ranging from 90m to 150m depending upon the headlight type. This is the illuminated distance above the road surface, however, the illuminated road surface distance is around 50m. In rain, fog, or dusty conditions, these illuminated distances are reduced considerably.

It should be kept in mind that under ideal conditions i.e. fast driver reaction time, dry road with a high coefficient of friction, and good brakes, 90m illuminated distance corresponds to a safe speed of 80kph, and 150m corresponds to 110kph. In most cases, the posted road speed limits are good for daylight driving conditions but above safe driving speed with low beams at night. Hence, while driving this should be kept in mind and the speed of the car should be kept within the safe braking speed.

High Beams

High beams should only be used when the road is dark and there are no on-coming vehicles or no vehicles in front. High beams can illuminate the road surface ranging from a distance of 90m to 150m, and illuminate a distance in front of the car ranging from 150m to 500m. For approaching vehicles, high beams should not be used within a distance of 150m. While following closely behind another vehicle, high beams should not be used within a distance of 60m from the vehicle in front. These precautions are necessary so as not to "blind" the other drivers and be a cause of accidents for others.

As a general rule high beams should be used as sparingly as possible and as a common courtesy for other passing drivers, should be switched to low beams. The high beam should also not be used in fog or snow as it reflects off the water vapors in front of you more than the low beam and can reduce visibility.

Daytime Headlight Use

When daytime visibility reduces due to fog, rain, or dust, it is recommended to use headlights so that drivers and pedestrians can easily see other vehicles. It is also recommended to use headlights in tunnels and long underpasses. On a clear day, headlights should be switched on within 30 minutes after dusk and should remain on till 30 minutes before dawn. Parking light should be switched on at dusk and not switched off before dawn.

Several of the new car models have automatic or full-time day lights which is a safety feature to make the vehicle more visible in glare or bad weather. This feature may become mandatory shortly to increase safety.

Flashing the Headlights:

No discussion on headlight usage can be complete unless "Flashing" of headlights is not mentioned. Flashing of headlights can mean many things depending on the norms being followed by the people of different areas. Flashing of headlights can mean any of the following:

1.                  For overtaking slower vehicles.

2.                  Trying to establish Right of Way i.e. saying that "I want to go first".

3.                  Signaling oncoming vehicles to turn the beam from high to low.

4.                  Informing the signaling vehicle that "my beam is already low".

5.                During daytime, signaling an on-coming vehicle that his headlights are "unnecessarily" on.

6.                  Signaling displeasure to swirling or rashly driven vehicle in front.

However, these are not universally established meanings and signals, therefore these should be used and understood with caution. If you do not understand why someone is flashing, you should stay alert and drive with caution.

Hope this article was illuminating for you. Have a safe and enlightened driving experience. Car lights and headlights: what they are and when to use them. Admit it, you’ve never used your fog lights. Would you even know where to find them on the dashboard?

Don’t worry, a lot of us need reminding about what our various lights do and when to use them. Here’s our helpful guide to explain everything you need to know about car lights.

What are the different types of lights?

There are several lights on our cars: indicators that double up as hazard lights, tail lights that sit next to brake lights, and headlights that we can set to different modes. Read on to find out what lights you’ll find on your vehicle and what they do.

Dipped headlights

Dipped headlights are the most commonly used headlights; brighter than sidelights, but not as bright as full beam headlights. They get their name as they are angled downwards, towards the road. The switch to turn them on is usually found on a dashboard dial or twisted indicator stalk, although many newer cars have running lights that work without input from the driver.

When to use dipped headlights

The highway code says, "You must use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced", with ‘seriously reduced’ defined as when you can see less than 100m in front of you.

Full beam headlights

This means they should be turned on at night-time and during bad weather. Full-beam headlights are the brightest type of headlight on normal vehicles. They are angled higher than dipped headlights, allowing you to see more of the road, and are sometimes known as high beams. The switch to turn them on is usually found near the switch for dipped headlights and they may use a different set of bulbs.

When to use high beams

You should only use full-beam headlights on unlit stretches of road at night. When meeting oncoming traffic (including cyclists or pedestrians), following another vehicle, or driving on left-turning bends, you must turn off full-beam headlights as they can often be dazzling and may cause accidents.

Fog lights

Fog lights are designed to cut through fog and mist, unlike full-beam lights that are reflected by fog. They usually come in two sets, front and back, with the switches colored coded: amber for rear fog lights and green for front fog lights. In most cars, you’ll need to turn your dipped headlights on before pressing or twisting the fog light switch.

When to use fog lights

You should only use your fog lights when visibility is below 100 meters. To use a classic British measurement putting it in perspective: that’s roughly the length of a football pitch. It’s important not to use your fog lights when visibility is better than that, as you risk dazzling other drivers.

Hazard warning lights

Your hazard lights can be seen at all corners of your car - they’re the lights usually used as your indicators. The blinking amber lights are used to warn other drivers of danger or obstructions on the road, and the dashboard button is indicated with a triangle shape as shown above.

When to use hazard warning lights

You should only use your hazard lights if your vehicle is stationary, to warn others that you’re causing a temporary obstruction. This may happen when you’ve had an accident, broken down, or been forced to stop by an obstruction. You may also use your hazard lights if you are on a motorway and there is an obstruction up ahead that you need to warn other drivers about.

Why do we need to wear a helmet?

• Non-helmeted motorcycle users are three times more likely to sustain head injuries in a crash compared to those wearing a firmly strapped helmet.

• Wearing a helmet has been shown to decrease the risk and severity of injuries among motorcyclists by about 70%, the likelihood of death by almost 40%, and to substantially reduce the costs of health care associated with such crashes.

• Head injuries are the most widespread cause of death in motorcycle accidents. In most cases, the rider was without a motorcycle helmet. Death or serious injury could have been prevented with the use of a motorcycle helmet that absorbs the impact of a crash or fall.

• With the growing popularity of motorcycles because of their ability to plot a route through traffic faster than other types of vehicles, also comes an increase in the number of motorcycle accidents. The size of the motorcycle makes it vulnerable to high-speed driving that often causes a crash. To protect the rider from a fatal head injury, wearing a reliable motorcycle helmet is crucial.

What happens in a motorcycle crash?

When you travel on a motorcycle, your body is traveling at the same speed and in the same direction as the motorcycle. If the motorcycle is involved in a sudden harsh braking event or a crash, the motorcycle will stop, but you and any other person using the motorcycle will keep moving at the same speed until something causes you to stop.

Usually, you stop when your body (and head) hits the pavement or a roadside object.

A motorcycle helmet aims to reduce the risk of serious head and brain injuries by spreading crash forces and reducing their impact on the head. It protects the brain until the head and body come to a stop. Traumatic brain injury can result in permanent disability. Your life and the lives of every member of your family will change forever.

Why is traumatic head/brain injury so serious?

How does a helmet work?

A helmet reduces the deceleration of the skull, and hence the brain movement, by managing the impact. The soft material incorporated in the helmet absorbs some of the impact and therefore the head comes to a halt more slowly. This means that the brain does not hit the skull with such great force. It spreads the forces of the impact over a greater surface area so that they are not concentrated on particular areas of the skull. It prevents direct contact between the skull and the impacting object by acting as a mechanical barrier between the head and the object. These three functions are achieved by combining the properties of four basic components of the helmet that are described below:

Four layers of head protection

1.  The rigid outer shell

This is the strong outer surface of the helmet that distributes the impact over a large surface area and therefore lessens the force before it reaches the head. Although the shell is tough, it is designed to compress when it hits anything hard. It provides protection against penetration by small, sharp, and high-speed objects and it also protects the padding inside the helmet from abrasions and knocks during daily use. These requirements mean that the shell must be hard, usually with a smooth exterior finish.

2.  The impact-absorbing liner

This is made of a soft, crushable padded material – usually expanded polystyrene, commonly called Styrofoam. This dense layer cushions and absorbs the shock as the helmet stops and the head tries to continue moving.

3.  The comfort padding

This is the soft foam-and-cloth layer that sits next to the head. It helps keep the head comfortable and the helmet fitting snugly.

4.  The retention system, or chin strap

This is the mechanism that keeps the helmet on the head in a crash. A strap is connected to each side of the shell. Chin and neck straps, which are specifically designed to keep the helmet on during an impact, must be correctly used for the helmet to function as it is designed to. If the helmet is not firmly strapped it will detach from the head during the crash or sudden harsh braking and will not provide any protection.