Safe and Responsible Driving Practices:

Top Tips for Safety

1. Watch the weather:

1. In any kind of stormy weather, the key to driving safely is to slow down.

• Fog:

 Avoid driving in fog. If you must drive in fog, set your headlights on dim (or low beam). If visibility becomes too poor, pull off the road as far as you can and stop.

• Rain:

 Keep your windows from fogging up by using the defroster or air conditioner (if necessary open the window slightly). Turn your lights on, day or night.

• Snow or ice:

Do not drive unless absolutely necessary. If you must drive, brake gently and early, turn cautiously, and increase the distance between your vehicle and those ahead of you. Be alert for changing road conditions such as patches of ice or compacted snow and ice.

2. Look both ways at intersections:

• Do not pull away from a sign or traffic light until you are sure other drivers are stopping or yielding. Wait a few seconds after a traffic light turns green before proceeding to protect yourself against drivers who might drive through the intersection against the red light.

3. Keep your distance:

• Drivers commonly follow other motorists too closely because they underestimate how much stopping distance they really need. In severe conditions, such as driving through rain or snow, at night, or on bad road surfaces, increase the amount of distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you.

4. Get a grip:

• Use both hands on the steering wheel. Do not drive one-handed. If you are hit unexpectedly with only one hand on the steering wheel, you can lose control of your vehicle. Place both hands in a comfortable position on opposite sides of the steering wheel. Positions comparable to the numbers 10 and 2, as seen on a clock face, are recommended. Look ahead. Anticipate obstacles you may need to avoid.

5. Stay awake:

1. Falling asleep at the wheel can occur at any time, but it is especially common late at night or early in the morning. If you find yourself getting sleepy at the wheel, try:

• Pulling over at a safe place and resting until you feel more alert.
• Sharing the driving with someone, especially on a long trip.

6. Do not talk on the phone:

• People who talk on cellular telephones while driving are much more likely to have accidents as a result of distraction. If you must use your cell phone when you drive, use a hands-free device. But if the conversation is complicated or emotional, pull off the road to a safe location to talk. In many jurisdictions, driving while using a cell phone without a “hands-free” device is against the law and the driver may be subject to a ticket and a fine.

7. Use the shoulder of the road only in a real emergency:

1. Many tragic accidents occur when drivers are stopped on the shoulder of the road and are hit by other vehicles. Do not stop on the shoulder of the road to talk on your cell phone, to rest, or to eat. But in case of emergency:

• Pull off the road as far as possible.
• Make sure you are visible to other drivers by turning on the emergency flashers, setting up a warning triangle, and using flares or portable warning lights.
• Get help right away if you need it. Call a tow truck or the police on your cell phone, raise your hood, and tie a white cloth on the mirror to signal for help, or put a sign in the back window.

8. Do not let the kids distract you

• Do not let your children distract you. Have a plan to deal with arguments in the car. If all else fails, pull off the road until things settle down.

9. Check your tires

• When was the last time you inspected your tires? Accidents caused by tire failure are frequently preventable. Keep an inexpensive tire gauge in your vehicle and check your tire pressure every time you get gas (the manufacturer’s recommended pressure is usually posted inside the door of your car or in your owner’s manual). Inspect your tires regularly for cracks, bulging, worn spots, or shallow tread.

10. Wear your seat belt correctly You may wear your seat belt regularly, but are you wearing it correctly? If not, it may not protect you in an accident. Fasten lap and shoulder belts snugly, wearing the lap belt on your hips, not your stomach. And wear your seat belt even if your car has an air bag. The air bag will not protect you from being thrown around or out of the car in an accident. Remember, wearing a seat belt is required by law. Drivers failing to wear a seat belt may be subject to a traffic stop and a fine.