Category Back Seat Driver

Jul 22 2014

Driving with Diligence

Collision Prevention

hands on steering wheelsRoad safety starts with you, the driver. Here are a few defensive driving pointers to help you stay safe and sound while on the go.

Scan the road ahead looking for possible hazards so you have time to react to them. Also, regularly check your mirrors so you know at all times what potential obstacles surround your vehicle.  If your view is blocked by a hill or a curve proceed with caution.

Keep a space cushion of 3-seconds between you and the vehicle you are following. Sometimes you may need to add additional space, such as when following large trucks or motorcycles, and when the weather and/or road conditions are less than ideal. Also, keep a space cushion to the side and rear of your vehicle so that you have room to maneuver should an obstacle present itself.

Follow the basic speed law; don’t drive faster than the conditions of the road and weather allow. This may mean you need to drive slower than the posted speed limit. You must decide what the safest speed is under the current conditions.

Being a responsible driver includes being fully aware of all traffic laws, right-of-way rules, and street signs.  Many drivers make poor driving decisions because they don’t know the law.

Avoid distractions. A distraction can be anything that takes your mind off of the task of driving, whether it’s a cell phone, the radio, passengers, even food. Driving has to be the number one priority every time you are behind the wheel.

Last, but not least, don’t drive under the influence, whether it is alcohol or prescription drugs from your doctor. Even a small amount of drugs or alcohol can affect depth perception, speed perception, coordination, reaction time and vision, all of which are essential to driving.

Jun 24 2014

Give Big Rigs Their Due

Share the Road

share the roadSemitrailers operate a little differently than your car, so let’s take a moment for a few friendly reminders on sharing the road with large trucks.

Give them extra space in several ways. Don’t cut in front of a large truck. They are heavier and take longer to stop than the average car. You should see the front of the truck in your rearview mirror before moving into the lane. Also, when following a trailer truck the truck’s size can block your view; increase your following distance so that you have more reaction time and room to brake.

Stay out of the truck’s blind spots. Large trucks have large blind spots on all sides. If you can’t see the driver in truck’s side mirror, then the truck driver can’t see you. If you are going to pass a semi, do so quickly and on the left side. Lingering in a truck’s blind spot is dangerous.

Pay close attention to a trucks turn signals. Be aware that rigs need extra room to maneuver turns. They tend to swing wide to execute right turns. Don’t squeeze between the curb and the truck; you could end up getting crunched.

Keep these tips in mind next time you are on the road and remember in a collision with a big rig you’ll find you are the loser.

May 14 2014

Go Speed Racer… No!

Risky Business

In 2012 roughly 92 people died in motor vehicle crashes each day according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 30% of these deaths involved speed-related traffic crashes.

Speeding is generally viewed as dangerous driving behavior, but this doesn’t seem to keep 75% of drivers from speeding regularly. The most common forms of speeding are driving too fast for the conditions, driving above the posted speed limit and racing. For every 10 mph over 50 mph that a vehicle travels, the chance of death or serious injury doubles.Speeding Tickets

Most of the time, we are speeding to save time. The truth is we don’t save as much time as we would like to think. If you were traveling at 65 mph over 20 miles instead of 55 mph you would save only about three and a half minutes! And if speeding doesn’t lead to a collision, you may still end up with ticket which is a whole other set of problems to deal with.

So, next time you’re tempted to put the pedal to the medal, ask yourself… “Is it worth it?”

Feb 13 2014

The Golden Rule of Driving

Courtesy is Key

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You know that Golden Rule, “Treat others how you would like to be treated?”  Well, that applies to driving too.  Be a courteous driver just as you would like other drivers to be courteous to you.  When you lead by example with your patience and mindfulness, you can actually reduce your OWN frustration behind the wheel, as well as other drivers’ frustration.  Follow TrafficSchool.com’s tips to maintain the level of courtesy necessary to drive safely and not upset other drivers:   

  • STAY OFF YOUR PHONE!  Unless it is an emergency.
  • If you prefer to drive at a slower pace, move into the right lane.  If it’s a single lane road, look for a turnout where you can pull over so faster moving vehicles can pass you.
  • When traveling with kids, make sure you have plenty of items or toys to keep them occupied so you can focus on driving.
  • Don’t weave in and out of traffic lanes, and when you are changing lanes, always use your turn signal.
  • Avoid following other drivers too closely or “tailgating.”

Simple, right?  You don’t want to be part of a chain reaction of bad driving because you’re taking your frustration out on the road and on other drivers.  

Be the start of a courteous chain reaction instead; the Golden Rule is called “Golden” for a reason!  Go for gold!

Dec 26 2013

If You Must …

Inclement Winter Weather Driving

Dirt covered SUV on a muddy road

Increased risk for accidents is a given during inclement weather conditions.  That’s why the best advice when dealing with snow is to avoid driving altogether.  If you must drive in the snow, extra safety precautions are necessary.

If you live in an area that gets snowy weather, you should always carry chains in your vehicle and put them on your tires prior to driving in snow.  Also steer clear of the shoulder of the road.  Snow can build up the most here, and the shoulder is for emergency situations.

Heavy snow can make it difficult to see lane markings, so try to position your vehicle to stay in line with the tracks of other vehicles ahead of you.  Speed must be decreased and following distance should be doubled to at least eight to ten seconds.  Accelerate and brake very slowly.  Turn on your low beam headlights to make yourself more visible to other drivers.

If you are having difficulty with visibility, such as during a white out, pull into a safe parking area if possible.  Do NOT stop on the traveled portion of the road.

It’s true, blustery winter weather can be stressful.  To best cope, be prepared ahead of time, and stay alert, calm, and patient.

Oct 31 2013

Halloween Safety

How Drivers Can Prepare

casper3All motorists need to be EXTRA alert today.  Halloween ranks the highest for the amount of child pedestrian deaths and reports some of the highest holiday- related DUIs and pedestrian deaths overall.  National Safety Council and Trafficschool.com have some quick safety tips for motorists:

Keep an eye out for children who may be darting out from between parked cars and walking on roadways, medians and curbs.  Children can move in unpredictable ways, especially when you add in the excitement of trick-or-treating and overflowing amounts of candy.  Sometimes they are wearing dark clothing or costumes that make them even more difficult to spot later in the evening when it’s darker outside, so drive cautiously.  Always enter and exit driveways and alleys with extra care, and never use your cell phone when you are operating a vehicle.  It’s also a good idea for teens simply not to drive on Halloween night, because there are too many hazards and distractions for inexperienced drivers.  And if you are going to be consuming alcohol, make sure you have a designated driver before you even go out.  Jot down a cab company’s phone number too, and bring it with you, just in case.

Being prepared and informed will help ensure your Halloween is full of fun and not regrets.  So take note, and be sure to remind all your friends and family on how they can have a safe and happy Halloween!

Oct 8 2013

Extend the Life of Your Car

Regular Maintenance is Key

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Keeping your vehicle well-maintained is important to preserve its longevity, and you don’t have to splurge on a new car every few year to do so either. By following these simple tips, you’ll keep you car running as if it was new.

Change Filters
It’s a given that you should get your car’s oil changed on a regular basis, but a lot of drivers often forget about the other fluids and filters, such as the air filter which helps the engine last longer.

Check Cooling Systems
Maintaining the proper coolant level is extremely important. A failed cooling system and/or hoses could result in a futile engine.

Pressure Check
Most people don’t pay much attention to their tires. But, the wrong pressure not only ruins your tires, which is bad for the vehicle all together, but it could also affect your fuel economy and present major safety issues.

Pay Attention To The Gauges
As discussed in a previous blog, most drivers ignore warning signs. They are your indicators when something is wrong with your oil pressure, cooling system or in newer vehicles, your tire pressure.

Get Regular Checkups
Find a repair shop and a good mechanic you trust! It’s important that your car gets regular checkups to maintain its overall makeup and to prevent future problems from occurring.

Sep 17 2013

Dangers of the Road

Dealing With an Aggressive Driver

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Aggressive drivers! We’ve all dealt with them at least one time in our lives, if not on a daily basis. They’re the ones belligerently weaving in and out of traffic, beeping the horn like mad men and women, and screaming obscenities at the motorists who are actually doing the posted speed limit. Unfortunately, aggressive drivers are everywhere, so how do you deal with them?

Simple. Do your best to stay out of their way. An aggressive driver is a dangerous driver. The last thing you want to do is outsmart them by mimicking the same erratic behavior they are displaying. Not only is that jeopardizing your well-being, but egging on an aggressive driver could anger them even further, making the driver even more of a road hazard than he or she already is, and possibly resulting in a fatal accident.

Because these kinds of drivers have the potential to create major havoc for you and surrounding motorists, reporting an aggressive driver is extremely important. When you’re parked and in a position where you can safely dial 9-1-1…do so! Calling the police is one of the best things you can do to keep the roads safe when dealing with aggressive drivers. Who knows, one simple phone call could possibly save that aggressive driver’s life as well.

Aug 13 2013

Stop Blinking at Me

Dashboard Confusion

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Most drivers tend to ignore those pesky little warning lights on the dashboard gleaming back at them and continue to drive anyway, waiting on average almost two weeks before getting it checked out. Why? Simply because they don’t fully understand what those lights mean. Even the most common ones, like the tire pressure, engine emission and fog-light indicators often go unattended to for lack of understanding. According to a survey conducted by a British automotive breakdown service, almost half of the participants involved could not identify their brake warning light, and more than 35 percent didn’t recognize their airbag warning. Not knowing these signs could potentially create a dangerous situation.

Another reason why there is an increase in drivers who are confused when it comes to their dashboard is partly due to the fact that newer vehicles are now equipped with more buzzers and lights than ever before. “As in-car technology becomes more advanced, there are now more and more in-car gadgets with symbols that support everything from the car’s satellite navigation system to its heating and cooling options,” said a spokesman for the survey.

It was concluded that of the 99 different dashboard lights identified in the study, just 12 of the lights were common across all vehicle models.

Jul 23 2013

The Up Side to Traffic Tickets

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Nobody wants to be on the receiving end of a traffic ticket. Not only are they expensive, but one ticket alone could significantly increase your insurance premium. But as much as you may gripe about it, on the positive side, a traffic ticket could very well be what saves your life!

According to a study published in a British medical journal, a driver’s risk of being involved in a fatal accident fell by 35% the month after receiving a ticket for a moving violation. Drivers who were caught by automatic speed-enforcement cameras claimed the biggest reduction in risk.

Additionally, the study concluded that when the number of traffic tickets was down, the number of fatal accidents were up the following month. But, when the number of traffic tickets issued increased, the number of fatal accidents went down.

One Ohio teenager credits a traffic citation with saving her life. Eighteen-year-old Taylor Newland started wearing her seatbelt after she received a ticket just one week before she crashed her SUV. Initially, Newland was pulled over for speeding, but because she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, was then issued a ticket for not buckling up. “That $30 seatbelt ticket saved my life. And honestly, if I didn’t get pulled over that day, I don’t know if I’d be here,” proclaimed Newland. I guess now many of you might rethink the purpose of a traffic ticket.