Ways To Safe Driving

RESEARCH has indicated that passing a driving test is not sufficient for a driver to be safe for life.

Drivers’ attitude and behaviour are known to be major contributors to traffic collisions. Drivers hold distorted cognitions about their driving skills, believe they are less likely to be involved in an accident compared with their peers and may not consider they are at risk or need to change their driving attitude and behaviour.Driving instructors often know little about how to manage these human factors in driving.Gaining knowledge about the human factors in driving is desirable for driving instructors but being able to influence driver attitude and behaviour is even more crucial.Namibia needs a structure to address potential at-risk driver behaviour and an intervention that is tailored to the individual driver.We need to focus on raising awareness about risk and getting drivers’ abilities, personal strengths and weaknesses evaluated.Currently, Namibia’s public drivers do go for physical examination to enable them to get fitness certificates.While this is a necessity it is not sufficient without a mental ability test to cover the aspects of attitude and behaviour.I thus humbly call on all stakeholders, including the Roads Authority, Ministry of Works and Transport, Motor Vehicle Accident Fund and all companies who have drivers, to integrate the attitude and behavioural aspects of drivers in the fitness certificate.This aims to make sure that only those with sound mental abilities and risk management attitude can obtain public driving fitness.We can do it – let’s just do it.Aina-Nelago Iimbili Via e-mailDrivers hold distorted cognitions about their driving skills, believe they are less likely to be involved in an accident compared with their peers and may not consider they are at risk or need to change their driving attitude and behaviour.Driving instructors often know little about how to manage these human factors in driving.Gaining knowledge about the human factors in driving is desirable for driving instructors but being able to influence driver attitude and behaviour is even more crucial.Namibia needs a structure to address potential at-risk driver behaviour and an intervention that is tailored to the individual driver.We need to focus on raising awareness about risk and getting drivers’ abilities, personal strengths and weaknesses evaluated.Currently, Namibia’s public drivers do go for physical examination to enable them to get fitness certificates.While this is a necessity it is not sufficient without a mental ability test to cover the aspects of attitude and behaviour.I thus humbly call on all stakeholders, including the Roads Authority, Ministry of Works and Transport, Motor Vehicle Accident Fund and all companies who have drivers, to integrate the attitude and behavioural aspects of drivers in the fitness certificate.This aims to make sure that only those with sound mental abilities and risk management attitude can obtain public driving fitness.We can do it – let’s just do it.Aina-Nelago Iimbili Via e-mail