Safety Guidelines

Guidelines for Pedestrians

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Pedestrians must

• Where possible, avoid walking next to the kerb with your back to the traffic. If you have to step into the road, look both ways first.
• Wear or carry something light coloured, bright or fluorescent in poor daylight conditions. When it is dark, use reflective materials (e.g. armbands, sashes, waistcoats and jackets), which can be seen, by drivers using headlights, up to three times as far away as non-reflective materials.
• Young children should not be out alone on the pavement or road ( see Rule 7 ). When taking children out, walk between them and the traffic and hold their hands firmly. Strap very young children into push-chairs or use reins.
• Always walk on the footpath, they are meant for you. Where there is no footpath, walk in the right side margin of the road so that you can see the traffic coming in the opposite direction.
• Cross roads where there are pedestrian crossings. They have been painted at great cost for your convenience.
• Where there are no pedestrian crossings, watch the traffic on both sides and cross when it is safe.
• You MUST NOT walk on motorways or slip roads except in an emergency
• Never walk on the main carriageway, it could be fatal Do not read newspapers or look at hoardings while walking on the road.
• Do not greet friends on the road. Take them to the footpath or the side margin.
• Do not come on to the main road while waiting for a bus. Stay on the footpath at earmarked bus stoppage.
• Where there are barriers, cross the road only at the gaps provided for pedestrians. Do not climb over the barriers or walk between them and the road.
• Do not run after a moving bus. Follow safety rules on the road and live long.
• You MUST NOT get on to or hold on to a moving vehicle. Don't "Drink and Walk." If you've been drinking, take a cab or a bus, or let someone sober drive you home.
• When walking at night, wear retro-reflective outdoor clothing or shoes or lights to make you more visible. Avoid wearing dark clothing.
• At all crossings. When using any type of crossing you should always check that the traffic has stopped before you start to cross or push a pram onto a crossing . Always cross between the studs or over the zebra markings. Do not cross at the side of the crossing or on the zig-zag lines, as it can be dangerous. You MUST NOT loiter on zebra, pelican or puffin crossings.

We must follow the six-step crossing code whenever we have to cross the road

Situations needing extra care :

• Emergency vehicles : If an ambulance, fire engine, police or other emergency vehicle approaches using flashing blue lights, headlights and/or sirens, keep off the road.
• Buses : Get on or off a bus only when it has stopped to allow you to do so. Watch out for cyclists when you are getting off. Never cross the road directly behind or in front of a bus; wait until it has moved off and you can see clearly in both directions.
• Railway level crossings : Do not cross if the red lights show, an alarm is sounding or the barriers are being lowered. The tone of the alarm will change if another train is approaching. If there are no lights, alarms or barriers, stop, look both ways and listen before crossing.
• Street and pavement repairs : A pavement may be closed temporarily because it is not safe to use. Take extra care if you are directed to walk in or to cross the road.

Guidelines for Cyclists

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CYCLING ON ROADS

Before riding a cycle on roads see if you can

• Ride in a straight line for 10 meters.
• Stop suddenly without falling.
• Give signals with one hand while riding.
• Look back over your shoulders and take a right turn comfortably.

Before you go out on the road with your bicycle, ensure that;

• The bicycle is easily noticeable. It should be painted yellow, orange or white.
• Reflectors are provided on spokes of wheels, on the pedals and on the front / rear mudguard.
• Both the brakes are working properly
• The bell rings properly.
• The seat is so adjusted that your feet can touch the ground.

While on the road with your bicycle

a. You should wear:

• A cycle helmet made of light thermocol.
• Appropriate clothes for cycling. Avoid clothes which may get tangled in the chain, or in a wheel or may obscure your lights.
• Light-coloured or fluorescent clothing which helps other road users to see you even in dark and poorly lit roads.
• Reflective clothing and/or accessories (belt, arm or ankle bands) in the dark.

b. You should also follow these rules:

• Never ride with just one hand on the handle bar except when giving a signal.
• Keep both feet on the pedals.
• Do not ride more than two abreast.
• Use the cycle lane, whereever provided.
• Never follow any vehicle closely. Maintain safe distance.
• Do not carry anything which may affect your balance or may get tangled up with your cycle wheels or chain.
• Avoid big and busy roads with fast moving traffic.
• Stop before you enter moving traffic from a driveway, a parking lot, a minor road, or from behind a parked car or bus. Go ahead only when the way is clear.
• Ride on the left of the road, with other traffic.
• If you are passing a stopped car be careful, a door may suddenly open.
• Obey stop signs and traffic lights, like the rest of the traffic.
• Before turning right at a crossing, look back over your shoulder, and give way to the traffic coming from behind.
• Never stop your cycle on a pedestrian crossing.
• Never ride your cycle on a footpath.
• Never try to overtake- if you must, do it only if the driver of the vehicle in your front has permitted or signaled you to overtake.
• Never try to overtake a vehicle, which is in the process of taking a turn.
• Always follow the light signals wherever you notice them. Any violation of the same is not only against the law but also dangerous to your life.
• Do not enter a street where you see the "No Entry" sign.
• Slow down at the zebra crossing- better stop if you see people crossing the road.
• You should learn and understand the language of signals given by the other road users and the signal you are expected to give while riding your cycle on the road.
• Never stop suddenly without showing a signal. Watchfully move towards the left while slowing down, but signal your intentions to the traffic following you.
• Under no circumstances should you ride on the wrong side of the road or cross the road abruptly.

Guidelines for Bus Commuters

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Commuters should observe the following guidelines when traveling on the bus :

• Commuters should not distract the bus driver while the bus in motion. All queries and requests are to be directed to the bus driver prior to travel or at the end of the journey.
• Commuters should conduct themselves in a respectable and responsible manner at all times ensuring that their behaviour does not endanger the comfort and safety of their fellow passengers or the bus driver.
• The bus driver should not make any unscheduled stops in the course of travel.
• Commuters who breach these guidelines or who in the opinion of the bus driver have not acted in a responsible or respectable manner may be refused travel in the future.
• All commuters must hand over to the bus driver a valid pre-purchased ticket on entering the bus.
• Any commuter who does not hand over a valid pre-purchased ticket will be refused travel by the bus driver.

Guidelines for Motorcyclists

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We can avoid accidents by following guidelines:

• While driving always carry your driving license and important documents such as your vehicle registration certificate, insurance certificate, road tax and P.U.C certificate
• MUST NOT carry more than one pillion rider and he/she MUST sit astride the machine on a proper seat and should keep both feet on the footrests.
• Make yourself as visible as possible from the sides as well as the front and rear. You could wear a white or brightly coloured helmet. Wear fluorescent clothing or strips. Dipped headlights, even in good daylight, may also make you more conspicuous.
• You should be aware of what is behind and in the sides before maneuvering. Look behind you; use mirrors if they are fitted.
• Wear reflective clothing or strips to improve your chances of being seen in the dark.
• Never Drink while driving
• Follow the traffic signals, lights and signs
• Avoid using the cell phone when driving. If urgent move to left, stop and then take the call
• Do not ride at high speeds. You may lose control and your life in the bargain
• Always use a helmet
• Do not ride or wheel your vehicle on to the footpath
• Use your lights when riding at night
• Understand the signals given by other road users and use the same when riding
• Never stop abruptly in traffic. Move to the left and slow down
  When passing a stationery vehicle allow sufficient clearance for the car doors which may open suddenly
• Do not try and weave your way through stationery or slow moving traffic. It may cause accidents
• Slow down at zebra crossing and if needs be stop
• Always ride with both hands on the handlebar except when signaling
• Don't sit children on fuel tanks or stand them in front of the rider
• Avoid using brakes at turns. If needed, ensure both brakes are applied gently
• MUST wear a protective helmet. Helmets MUST comply with the Regulations and they MUST be fastened securely.

Facts about Helmet :

• It should not obstruct vision.
• It should not impair with hearing.
• It should be light weight.
• It should not cause fatigue which causes crashes.
• It should not cause skin diseases.
• It should not increase the probability of neck injuries.

Kinds of helmets to be used :

It should have a thick padding of thermocole- at least 20 mm- which must extend to the sides of the head. A full face helmet is safer by all means.

Components of the helmet and their roles :

The Shell : The shell of a helmet is an injection molded thermoplastic or a pressure molded thermoset that is reinforced with glass fibers or made of fiber glass.

• It absorbs energy in an impact:- The shell bends when the helmet is impacted and the underlying foam deforms. At moderate speeds the shell can take one-third of the impact energy.
• It distributes local forces from an impact:- Rigid objects like stone or a projecting beam can cause a skull fracture at low forces, the shell acts to distribute the force of such impact eliminating the risk of penetration.
• It allows sliding on road surfaces:- The shell being rigid and having a convex shape allows the helmet to slide along a road surface without there being an excessive force.
• It protects the face and temples:- Full-face helmet is beneficial in protecting the face and jaw. The chin bar of such helmets contain rigid foam to absorb energy for direct blows on the chin, prevent facial bone fractures and prevent the lower part of the forehead and temple being struck.

The foam liner :This is a molding of polystyrene beads or polyurethane foam. It provides a stopping distance for the head. The foam can compress by 90% during an impact, although it recovers partially afterwards. But this helps increase the stopping distance thus reducing the peak deceleration of the head. It also protects as much as possible of the head.
Proper strapping system : It is essential to wear a well-fitting helmet for the effective working of chinstrap system. To test if the helmet fits your head properly, tightly fasten the chinstrap and then pull helmet off forward by gripping the rear and then pulling. The strap must be threaded correctly so that the buckle locks the strap when it is pulled from the chin side. The strap must be pulled as tight as is bearable under the chin.

Guidelines for Car Drivers

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Driving in fatigue enhances the probability of an accident. To minimise this risk you must follow these rules:

• Make sure you are fit to drive. Do not undertake a long journey (longer than an hour) if you feel tired.
• Avoid undertaking long journeys between midnight and early morning hours, when natural alertness is at its worst.
• Plan your journey in breaks. A minimum break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving is recommended.
• If you feel sleepy, stop at a safe place. Do not stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway
• The most effective ways to counter sleepiness are to take a short nap (up to 15 minutes) or drink, for example, two cups of strong coffee. Fresh air, exercise or turning up the radio may help for a short time, but are not as effective.

Children in cars: Drivers who are carrying children in cars should ensure that :

• Children do not sit behind the rear seats in an estate car or hatchback, unless a special child seat has been fitted.
• The child safety door locks, where fitted, are used when children are in the car.
• Children are kept under control.
• A rear-facing baby seat is never fitted into a seat protected by an AIRBAG.

Guidelines for Bus and Truck Drivers

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Guidelines for Bus and Truck Drivers regarding towing and loading :

• You must not tow more than your license permits you to.
• You must not overload your vehicle or trailer. You should not tow a weight greater than that recommended by the manufacturer of your vehicle.
• You must secure your load and it must not stick out dangerously.
• You should properly distribute the weight in your caravan or trailer with heavy items mainly over the axle(s) and ensure a downward load on the tow ball. This should avoid the possibility of swerving or snaking and going out of control. If this does happen, ease off the accelerator and reduce speed gently to regain control.

Guidelines for Foreigners Visiting Delhi