Nowadays, motorists must frequently have car troubles while on the road, necessitating a safe stop so they can change a tire or top off their gas. Your car may occasionally have those unpleasant interruptions right there on the bustling interstate or lonely suburban lane.
Stopping an automobile in the middle of a high-speed route is exceedingly perilous and dangerous, regardless of the reason.
Anything can happen with your car on the road, especially when it enters the hard-access paths.
Therefore, you must quickly arm yourself with a car early warning system to manage these circumstances. However, not every motorist is aware of this emergency support device's existence, let alone knows how to use it or can afford to buy a good one.
So what is an early warning device? And how to properly apply the device in needed circumstances to meet the safety and operating requirements? Let's find out with Philtoyota.com right away!
New drivers should know that the early warning device (EWD) is a safety tool used when you make an emergency car stop. According to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) of the Philippines, it can be seen as the safety net with neon-light visibility that can signal other drivers joining transportation.
The outlook of the typical warning device
Early warning devices appear in a pair of plastic triangular that can light up thanks to the reflective plastic materials. Moreover, they always go in pairs: one yellow comes with one red.
Placing the EWD's red triangle around six meters from the car to warn of danger—you pulling over or being a fixed vehicle—will assure maximum visibility. To specifically alert other drivers to impending hazards, the other yellow should be positioned roughly 6 meters from the red one.
Given that cars frequently travel faster when they have a wider field of view, the space between the EWD's red and yellow lit triangles should be extended on the highway. Additionally, you must position your EWDs 5 to 10 degrees perpendicular to the road's surface further back. By doing this, the EWDs will be better able to receive light from other automobiles at their reflectorized sides.
Remember not to place the two side by side; otherwise, you will purely destroy the purpose of EWD of having different colors.
An EWD in an emergency can not only warn other drivers that your car is unintentionally considered as an unexpected peril on the road but also prevents the risks of causing other accidents by hazardous objects that you have bypassed. These dangerous objects can be a giant dead animal, a collision or a landslide, etc.
Moreover, carrying and placing an EWD is the responsibility of drivers as according to the LTO, it is an essential and required safety car equipment for all Filippino drivers.
>>> Further references: Complete List of LTO Fines and Penalties in the Philippines
You must have an EWD installed in your vehicle, according to notices from the Land Transportation Office of the Philippines.
If you are caught driving without a set of EWD, you will initially receive a PHP 500 fine. Your license will be taken away a second time until you can demonstrate that you have an EWD in your possession. Last but not least, if the police seized your car but found no EWDs, you won't be able to get it back until you provide the officers a pair of EWD.
You must have seen many careless drivers who persist in using their damaged EWD or don't follow the EWDs requirement. Some even utilize useless things such as rocks or tree branches, which cannot provide visibility.
According to guidelines released by the LTO, the qualified early warning device must follow these specs:
The EWD should be seen even in adverse weather
>>> More LTO's updated Traffic rules and regulations notices in the Philippines!
In the market, an EWD is quite affordable and also easy to find in any car accessory or hardware store. We will now give you the overall early warning device price and some advice on top products that you may be interested in!
Price: PHP 125
The EWD coming from Bose Car Accessories owns a unique design. It shines in yellow and comes in 45.5cm H x 43cm L x 5cm W, including its stand.
Early Warning Device Reflective Triangle Signage High Degree in Visibility
Price: PHP 199
The DEFLECTOR EWD has received tons of positive feedback from customers thanks to its affordability and efficiency. The device also illuminates satisfaction with high visibility during both day-time and night-time.
DEFLECTOR Early Warning Device
Price: PHP 450
This high-quality EWD comes with an LTO required sticker. The device comes in 45.5 cm H x 43cm L x 5cm W, including a stand.
Early Warning Device (Heavy-duty) with sticker
Price: PHP 539
This EWD comes equipped with super bright LEDs that can serve not only for cars but also for outdoor activities like camping. The device consists of a charging port and can illuminate up to 500 lumens.
Multi-Function Work Light Car Early Warning Device Triangle Sign
5. Early Warning Device Reflectorized Triangles with Unique Exclamation Point
Price: PHP 770
This is a high-quality EWD with an exclusive and sleek design. However, it's quite expensive compared with other devices.
Early Warning Device Reflectorized Triangles with Unique Exclamation Point
As you know, the early warning device is crucial for any car, and it is not even time-consuming and costly to get one EWD for your own. So, spend a little time finding and buying an EWD, as well as following the guidelines and fixed rules when placing an EWD on the road to ensure the full-safety for you and other drivers.
We hope that our in-depth guide of early warning devices for cars is helpful for you to some extent. Stay tuned, drive safely, and see you in our next article!
>>> Don't forget to bookmark our Toyota Stories to get more helpful car equipment tips and updated LTO/car news.
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