Fitness to drive
By Sarah GandertonIt is the driver’s responsibility to make sure they are fit to drive. Fitness to drive can be effected by many permanent or temporary elements, which should all be taken into account when planning to drive:
Licence: You must hold the correct license to be able to drive the vehicle. If driving on a provisional licence before passing your driving test, you should be accompanied by an adult over the age of 21 with a full driving licence.
Illness: you must report to the driver and vehicle licensing agency (DVLA) any health condition likely to affect your driving. Contact them by phone on 0870 600 0301. Medicines: your doctor or pharmacist will inform you of any prescribed medicine that will affect your ability to drive: this is usally medicines that make you drowsy. You can be fined imprisoned or banned from driving for driving under the influence of drugs in the same way as drink driving. Illegal drugs: using these is highly dangerous. Never take them if you intend to drive; the effects are unpredictable, but can be even more severe than alcohol and may result in fatal or serious road crashes.
Tiredness: driving when you are tired greatly increases your risk of collision. Plan your journey to take sufficient breaks. If you feel at all sleepy, stop in a safe place. Do not stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway. Vision: you must be able to read a vehicle number plate, in good daylight, from a distance of 20 metres (or 20.5 metres where the old style number plate is used). If you need to wear glasses (or contact lenses) to do this, you must wear them at all times while driving.
Poor visibility: if you are dazzled by bright sunlight, or cannot see through heavey rain or snow, slow down, and if necessary stop, waiting until the way is clear
Alcohol: do not drink and drive as it will seriously affect your judgement and abilities. You must not drive with a breath alcohol level higher than 35 microgrammes/100 millilitres of breath or a blood alcohol level of more than 80 milligrammes/100 millilitres of blood.
The route: ensure you have planned your route and allowed sufficient time, checking for details of possible obstructions to the route such as congestion or road works. Clothing and footwear: ensure these do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner, and therefore affecting your ability to drive.
Familiarisation with the vehicle: check where all the controls are and how to use them before you need them. Not all vehicles are the same; do not wait until it is too late to find out. Adjust mirrors and seat correctly to ensure comfort, full control and maximum vision
Sufficient fuel: especially if the journey includes motorway driving, ensure the vehicle contains sufficient fuel to reach either its destination or the next refuelling station as it can be dangerous to lose power when driving in traffic.
Vehicle is legal and roadworthy: the vehicle should be taxed and insured before it can be driven on the road, and the driver should have the legal right to drive the vehicle: either as the owner or with permission from the owner. The vehicle should be fully operational including tyres lights, seatbelts, brakes and engine. Minimise distractions: switch off your mobile phone because it is illegal to hold this in your hand while driving. And try to control passengers especially children.
Vehicle towing: you must not tow more than your licence permits. If you passed a car test after 1 jan 1997 you are restricted on the weight of trailer you can tow Overloaded vehicle or trailer: you should not tow a weight greater than that recommended by the manufacturer of your vehicle, and the load must not stick out dangerously. Make sure any heavy or sharp objects and any animals are secured safely.
Seat belts: you must wear a seat belt in cars, vans and other goods vehicles if one is fitted as a driver or passenger of any age. You can be fined if not wearing a belt. Exemptions are allowed only for the holders of medical exemption certificates and those making deliveries or collections in goods vehicles when travelling less than 50 metres (approx 162 feet).
References
www.direct.gov.uk/en/motoring
www.roadsafetyni.gov.uk
www.brake.org.uk
www.nopenaltypoints.co.uk/driving-drugs.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seat_belt
For more infomation please call us on (0800) 6128724
The Coopers Driving School Team
