The sound of ‘gbaaaaam’ and the crackling of metals woke the entire neighbourhood from their early morning sleep. With sleepy eyes, people rushed toward the direction of the sound. An accident had just happened, and five people were dead, with several others injured.
The driver of the 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus was caught between the seat and the dash board; his legs were tightly wedged in between the brake and clutch pedals. The villagers tried to pull him out of his seat, but he remained glued; and after all attempts to free him failed, they decided to employ the use of axes to destroy the engine of the vehicle in order to free his legs.
While some concentrated their energy on breaking the vehicle’s engine, others tried to revive the few passengers who still had hope of survival. The dead bodies were separated and kept by the corner of the bush. Eventually they were able to free the driver’s legs, and he was rushed to the nearby hospital along with the other injured passengers.
One more passenger, a young man, died on their way to the hospital from his multiple injuries. They finally got to the accident and emergency ward and were received by a well prepared medical team. The nurses ran around cleaning and suturing wounds, and the doctors concentrated on carrying out surgery on two persons (the driver and one other passenger) whose cases were critical.
Eventually, they were able to repair the passenger’s abdominal wall that had been penetrated by a piece of glass. However, the driver was not that lucky as he had his two legs amputated because they were badly damaged. Though his broken collar bone was successfully repaired, he would have to live on a wheel chair for the rest of his life.
What actually went wrong?
The driver admitted driving under the influence of alcohol on that fateful day of the incidence. He also admitted he had resorted to the use of alcohol since he lost his wife two years earlier, as a way of consoling himself. Eventually he had become hooked on alcohol; so on that fateful day, he had taken about three shots of local gin (ogogoro or kaikai) at the motor park before embarking on the ill-fated journey.
He had driven at top speed all night until he got to that bend and suddenly saw a broken down trailer. He tried to avoid the trailer, but swerved into the bush where he collided with a palm tree. And now he has to live on a wheel chair for the rest of his life.
It is not a good idea to drive under the influence of alcohol; and it is also not the best to console oneself with alcohol, because one could become addicted to it and suffer more harms than the original problems he was trying to escape from. Alcohol can directly or indirectly destroy your life. Run away from it; it has nothing good to offer you.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Defensive Driving: 7 Rules You Must Not Neglect
Defensive driving is simply driving in such a way as to prevent accidents in spite of the actions of others, or the presence of adverse road conditions. It all involves having to drive in a way to save lives, time and money.
To be able to drive defensively, you need to be familiar with some rules and also be willing to obey these rules.
1.Be safety conscious: You have to think of your safety and that of others
a.Avoid the tendency to over speed, because it puts everyone’s life in danger, including yours.
b.Put on your seat belt always: This reduces the danger of hitting your chest on the steering wheel should there be an accident.
c.Make sure your doors are locked, to avoid being forcefully thrown out of the car incase of an accident.
d.Maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, there should be at least 2-3 seconds gap between the two of you.
2.See the hazard ahead: You should not assume everything is going to be alright. Think about what is likely to happen the next second.
a.Reduce your speed in residential areas: It should be between 30-40km/hr or slower.
b.Watch out for drivers that may wander into your lane and avoid them.
c.Use your mirror to see if any driver behind you is driving in an unsafe or aggressive manner. Pull out of the road to avoid such driver.
d.Watch very well before crossing the traffic light, even though you have been by the green light, because some drivers may disobey or refuse to stop at the junction even when the red light is on.
3.Understand the defense: Specific situation require specific ways to take care of them. Be aware of the unusual conditions that you may come across, and think of how to overcome them when there is need.
a.Reduce your speed if it starts to rain, because it takes twice the normal stopping distance to stop with safety on a wet road.
b.Your safe distance to follow the vehicle in front of you should then be twice the normal rule of 2 or 3 seconds; increase it to 4 or 6 seconds.
c.To avoid broadside skid, take your foot off the accelerator and turn into the skid.
d.If your foot brake fails while descending a hill, change to a lower gear and if necessary, apply your hand brake to stop your car from gaining speed.
e.When you approach a slippery surface, sharp bend, cross roads, or any other hazard, you should check your rear view mirror and give the slowing down signal. Reduce your speed, change to a lower gear, sound the horn if necessary or stop, until it is safe to proceed.
4.Avoid distractions: You should remain focused, and don’t allow anything to distract your attention. Your safety and safety of others should be the only thing that should occupy your mind.
a.Don’t argue or talk with passengers while you are on the steering.
b.Don’t make or take calls while you drive, it could distract you.
c.Don’t let the music in your car to be too noisy; excessive noise makes you lose concentration.
d.Don’t focus your attention on people by the side of the road, or on other side attractions.
e.Remai focused on the road, vehicles ahead, and watch out for anyone who may want to cross the road.
f.Don’t eat or drink while you are on the steering; park your car and eat, or eat at the end of your journey.
g. Don’t quarrel with anybody while you drive; this could make you angry and lose concentration.
5.Maintain clarity of mind
a.Don’t drink alcohol if you must drive; its reduces your sense of judgment.
b.Don’t drive under the influence of any substance.
c.Don’t use some prescribed or over-the-counter drugs because they make you drowsy or reduce your reaction time.
d.Don’t drive after receiving a very bad news .e.g. the news of the death of a close friend or spouse.
6.Understand static hazards: Static hazards are conditions of the road or traffic that are always there e.g. round about, junction, bend, dead ground, hill, bridge etc.
a.Give way to the vehicle on your left when you get to a round about.
b.On getting to a road junction, slow down, stop and allow the vehicle on the straight road to pass first, if you are on the road that intercepts the minor one.
c.Never overtake on a bend, because you may not see any oncoming vehicle
d.Never overtake on a hill, bridge or major road junctions.
7.Back safely: You should not endanger the lives of others while trying to back, because backing could be difficult sometimes.
a.You may get out of the car and inspect the area you want to back into.
b.You may also have someone outside, that should guide you into position
c.Sound the horn several times if your vehicle does not have reverse alarm
d.Check side mirrors, and back slowly: keep checking your mirror as you back.
To be able to drive defensively, you need to be familiar with some rules and also be willing to obey these rules.
1.Be safety conscious: You have to think of your safety and that of others
a.Avoid the tendency to over speed, because it puts everyone’s life in danger, including yours.
b.Put on your seat belt always: This reduces the danger of hitting your chest on the steering wheel should there be an accident.
c.Make sure your doors are locked, to avoid being forcefully thrown out of the car incase of an accident.
d.Maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, there should be at least 2-3 seconds gap between the two of you.
2.See the hazard ahead: You should not assume everything is going to be alright. Think about what is likely to happen the next second.
a.Reduce your speed in residential areas: It should be between 30-40km/hr or slower.
b.Watch out for drivers that may wander into your lane and avoid them.
c.Use your mirror to see if any driver behind you is driving in an unsafe or aggressive manner. Pull out of the road to avoid such driver.
d.Watch very well before crossing the traffic light, even though you have been by the green light, because some drivers may disobey or refuse to stop at the junction even when the red light is on.
3.Understand the defense: Specific situation require specific ways to take care of them. Be aware of the unusual conditions that you may come across, and think of how to overcome them when there is need.
a.Reduce your speed if it starts to rain, because it takes twice the normal stopping distance to stop with safety on a wet road.
b.Your safe distance to follow the vehicle in front of you should then be twice the normal rule of 2 or 3 seconds; increase it to 4 or 6 seconds.
c.To avoid broadside skid, take your foot off the accelerator and turn into the skid.
d.If your foot brake fails while descending a hill, change to a lower gear and if necessary, apply your hand brake to stop your car from gaining speed.
e.When you approach a slippery surface, sharp bend, cross roads, or any other hazard, you should check your rear view mirror and give the slowing down signal. Reduce your speed, change to a lower gear, sound the horn if necessary or stop, until it is safe to proceed.
4.Avoid distractions: You should remain focused, and don’t allow anything to distract your attention. Your safety and safety of others should be the only thing that should occupy your mind.
a.Don’t argue or talk with passengers while you are on the steering.
b.Don’t make or take calls while you drive, it could distract you.
c.Don’t let the music in your car to be too noisy; excessive noise makes you lose concentration.
d.Don’t focus your attention on people by the side of the road, or on other side attractions.
e.Remai focused on the road, vehicles ahead, and watch out for anyone who may want to cross the road.
f.Don’t eat or drink while you are on the steering; park your car and eat, or eat at the end of your journey.
g. Don’t quarrel with anybody while you drive; this could make you angry and lose concentration.
5.Maintain clarity of mind
a.Don’t drink alcohol if you must drive; its reduces your sense of judgment.
b.Don’t drive under the influence of any substance.
c.Don’t use some prescribed or over-the-counter drugs because they make you drowsy or reduce your reaction time.
d.Don’t drive after receiving a very bad news .e.g. the news of the death of a close friend or spouse.
6.Understand static hazards: Static hazards are conditions of the road or traffic that are always there e.g. round about, junction, bend, dead ground, hill, bridge etc.
a.Give way to the vehicle on your left when you get to a round about.
b.On getting to a road junction, slow down, stop and allow the vehicle on the straight road to pass first, if you are on the road that intercepts the minor one.
c.Never overtake on a bend, because you may not see any oncoming vehicle
d.Never overtake on a hill, bridge or major road junctions.
7.Back safely: You should not endanger the lives of others while trying to back, because backing could be difficult sometimes.
a.You may get out of the car and inspect the area you want to back into.
b.You may also have someone outside, that should guide you into position
c.Sound the horn several times if your vehicle does not have reverse alarm
d.Check side mirrors, and back slowly: keep checking your mirror as you back.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Cigarette Smoking; Is It Worth The Risk?
Jackson soon became a chronic cigarette smoker and refused to heed the advice of his friends to quit the dangerous practice. He felt he was enjoying, and above all he saw his friends as people who were not sociable. He concluded he had the right to do whatever pleased him, and to take whatever gave him satisfaction.
Jackson was a promising Youngman; he was the only son of his parents (he had six sisters), and so he was over pampered, and he got whatever he wanted. Being the only male child, his parents felt he should not be deprived of anything that gave him happiness; he exploited this privilege to his own detriment.
He was academically brilliant, sociable and studious, but he was stubborn and spoilt child. He loved sports (especially football and swimming), and he joined his local football team at a very tender age as a striker. He even played for his secondary school team, where he captained them to win the principal’s cup.
Soon Jackson began to associate with bad friends and started to smoke different brands of cigarette. He started with one or two sticks a day; but later graduated to smoking several sticks to several packets a day. His friends tried to advise him to stop, noting that nicotine would harm his health. But he refused to take their advice: he gave several excuses as to why he would not be able to quit. He even said he could not eat well, go to toilet, feel relaxed, concentrate to read or even think straight without it.
He continued to smoke and nothing happened to him; but in his second year in the university, he suddenly discovered he could no longer breathe very well each time he played football. Initially he had mistaken it for the effect of the dry weather; but things soon began to get worse. He got tired with little exertion and also began to cough slightly. Within a short time, he had started coughing seriously, producing mucopurulent sputum. He began also to feel a sharp pain in the thoracic region. His appetite depreciated and, he began to lose weight. He could no longer play football, his popular game.
His parents eventually took him to see the doctor, and after some tests were conducted and x-ray taken, the doctor broke the sad news to his parents. “I am afraid, your son has got cancer of the lungs”, the doctor told his parents. They were devastated by the news. The mother collapsed and was rushed into the emergency ward where she was revived. Jackson had only few months to live; he died six months after the diagnosis. His dreams of becoming a professional footballer and a medical doctor all died with him.
He was his parents’ hope, the only male child that should sustain the family name. The parents could not bear the heart break; the mother’s blood pressure soon began to rise because of the mental and psychological trauma she went through. Two years after Jackson’s death, his mother also died.
Cigarette smoking could destroy one’s dream and vision. It could shorten one’s life and bring pains to one’s family and friends. Is the risk you take with your life really worth it? You must abstain from it and resist the temptation to smoke, because once you give in to it, you may be hooked for life.
Jackson was a promising Youngman; he was the only son of his parents (he had six sisters), and so he was over pampered, and he got whatever he wanted. Being the only male child, his parents felt he should not be deprived of anything that gave him happiness; he exploited this privilege to his own detriment.
He was academically brilliant, sociable and studious, but he was stubborn and spoilt child. He loved sports (especially football and swimming), and he joined his local football team at a very tender age as a striker. He even played for his secondary school team, where he captained them to win the principal’s cup.
Soon Jackson began to associate with bad friends and started to smoke different brands of cigarette. He started with one or two sticks a day; but later graduated to smoking several sticks to several packets a day. His friends tried to advise him to stop, noting that nicotine would harm his health. But he refused to take their advice: he gave several excuses as to why he would not be able to quit. He even said he could not eat well, go to toilet, feel relaxed, concentrate to read or even think straight without it.
He continued to smoke and nothing happened to him; but in his second year in the university, he suddenly discovered he could no longer breathe very well each time he played football. Initially he had mistaken it for the effect of the dry weather; but things soon began to get worse. He got tired with little exertion and also began to cough slightly. Within a short time, he had started coughing seriously, producing mucopurulent sputum. He began also to feel a sharp pain in the thoracic region. His appetite depreciated and, he began to lose weight. He could no longer play football, his popular game.
His parents eventually took him to see the doctor, and after some tests were conducted and x-ray taken, the doctor broke the sad news to his parents. “I am afraid, your son has got cancer of the lungs”, the doctor told his parents. They were devastated by the news. The mother collapsed and was rushed into the emergency ward where she was revived. Jackson had only few months to live; he died six months after the diagnosis. His dreams of becoming a professional footballer and a medical doctor all died with him.
He was his parents’ hope, the only male child that should sustain the family name. The parents could not bear the heart break; the mother’s blood pressure soon began to rise because of the mental and psychological trauma she went through. Two years after Jackson’s death, his mother also died.
Cigarette smoking could destroy one’s dream and vision. It could shorten one’s life and bring pains to one’s family and friends. Is the risk you take with your life really worth it? You must abstain from it and resist the temptation to smoke, because once you give in to it, you may be hooked for life.
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