Road and Traffic Safety Consultant Özgür Şener, noting that 17 people died every day in traffic accidents in 2023, pointed to the effectiveness of the measures taken in traffic during the past holiday period, warning, “Measures against traffic accidents should be taken throughout the year.”
Emphasizing the importance of resting with at least 8 hours of sleep before setting off on return journeys from holidays, Özgür Şener stated that drivers taking breaks every 2 hours during the trip and wearing seatbelts in both front and rear seats are vitally important.
Lecturer at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Occupational Health and Safety Department, Road and Traffic Safety Consultant Özgür Şener, provided important information about measures to be taken against traffic accidents and issues to be aware of.
The impact of measures taken in traffic during the holiday…
Özgür Şener, drew attention to the perception that traffic accidents increase during holiday periods, emphasizing the importance of measures taken in traffic before and during the Eid al-Adha holiday.
Özgür Şener, stating that everyone was talking about traffic accidents during the holiday and that there were 36 deaths in the first 5 days of the 9-day holiday, noted the following:
On average, we lost 7 people in one day. But in 2023, we lost 17 people every day in traffic accidents. In fact, the effect of the inspections carried out during the holiday is evident. We have saved almost 10 lives, because our police and gendarmerie forces are all on duty, everyone's interest and awareness are highly focused on traffic. What I mean is, if we were to continue these efforts throughout the year and say 'traffic is a very important issue, we don't want to experience losses,' it would largely be possible to prevent accidents. Measures against traffic accidents should be taken throughout the year.”
Resting with at least 8 hours of sleep before setting off is important…
Özgür Şener, stating that potential accidents can be prevented on long holiday returns, said that those who go to holiday resorts usually experience sleep changes due to night activities and entertainment, which disrupts their normal daily life rhythm and causes more fatigue instead of rest during the holiday.
Therefore, Şener noted that awareness of sleeplessness and fatigue should be present on return from holidays, stating, “If you are traveling the next day, you should avoid driving while tired or sleepless. Especially on the last day, it is important to make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep before setting off. This is because a large portion of vehicle control loss cases stem from fatigue and sleeplessness.”
Breaks should be taken every 2 hours!
Özgür Şener also noted that travel planning should be done, and made the following warnings and suggestions:
“In the literature, all drives exceeding 2 hours and 200 km are considered long-distance drives. If a driver has an 8-hour journey, they should definitely divide the drive into 2-hour segments. They should set 2-hour goals for themselves and absolutely, without fail, take a break at the end of each 2 hours. They can walk around their car, wash their face. They should change their blood flow. Because driving is monotonous. We definitely want them to take this break. If they feel sleepy, I want to say that they must sleep. Let's call it a 20-minute power nap. If you feel sleepy, please do not fight sleep.”
Seatbelts must be worn in both front and rear seats!
Reminding that seatbelts are life-saving, Özgür Şener concluded his words as follows:
“The most important safety equipment in the vehicle is the seatbelt. When does it protect us? In fact, it protects us when we are involved in an accident. We only need that seatbelt once. And that's when an accident happens… Therefore, in the front and rear seats of the vehicle, but on every drive, if you are getting into your vehicle, you must wear your seatbelt as standard. Because there is no other equipment to protect you inside the vehicle in case of an accident. You will move inside the vehicle if you hit a hard object or in head-on collisions. You must wear your seatbelts in the front and rear seats of vehicles, just like in public transport, buses, and airplanes. Because there is no other equipment inside the vehicle that will keep you safely in your seat.”