Drive to Live another day. Use courtesy and respect for the

Keep Yours Eyes GNIVOM MOVING

Scan the traffic, road and area around you. PRACTICE ‘till it’s automatic.
Sweep rear-view and side MIRRORS in a 360 degree circle, every 10 seconds. This is as important as looking ahead.
REMAIN ALERT to the changing conditions which surround you. Regularly check your SPEED and adjust your POSITION.

GET THE BIG PICTURE

Search the whole scene, not just your part of it. ASSESS any elements that might pose a risk.
LOOK at vehicular interaction. Watch for oncoming cars approaching intersections and changing lanes. Check their speed and proximity. Be ALERT around work areas and exit & entry ramps. Note all STATIONARY OBJECTS, from farthest away to closest. BE AWARE of your environment: traffic control devices, road markings and how other vehicles respond to them.

Make your INTENTIONS CLEAR.
Driving with LOW-BEAM headlights on – even during daylight – DOUBLES your visibility to oncoming traffic.
SIGNAL TURNS well in advance – especially at sharp turns. TAP your brake lights as a signal to followers that you are slowing down.

LEAVE YOURSELF A MARGIN OF SAFETY

Keep a three-second DISTANCE between vehicles IN FRONT and BEHIND.
Maintain a SAFETY BUFFER of space around you. Predict potential actions that could INCREASE RISK. Decide what actions to take 4-5 seconds ahead to control and reduce risk. When another car CUTS YOU OFF or BRAKES in front, use your safety buffer to change lanes and maintain speed. Plan your ESCAPE PATH, especially at merges. Leave room for EVASIVE MANEUVERS, especially near bicyclists and pedestrians.

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1. SEARCH the road and off-road area 20-30 seconds ahead. That’s 2 city blocks at 25 mph or ½ mile on the highway. Look for information to help plan your path of travel.

2. IDENTIFY objects and conditions 12-15 seconds ahead that could interfere with your planned path of travel.

3. PREDICT potential actions or changes in those conditions that could increase risk.

4. DECIDE what action(s) to take 4-5 seconds ahead to control and reduce risk.

5. EXECUTE your decision.

HORN
Use it sparingly to warn drivers, cyclists and pedestrians of their mistakes, your presence or a HAZARD. Use heavy honks for imminent danger. Use light taps for thanks and courtesies. Horns are not a tool for expressing anger.

GLASS
Clear windshield, rear and side glass for 360 degrees of unobstructed vision. Before driving, use the defroster to remove interior condensation. While driving, use wipers to remove dirt, rain, and incoming splashes.

MIRRORS
Adjust all mirrors before driving. Maintain a continuous sweep of rearview, left-then right side mirrors every 10 seconds. After glancing in mirrors before changing lanes or backing up, turn and glance behind. Attach wide angle and convex mirrors for enhanced views of backseat and driver’s side exterior. Beware of distortions and know your blind spots.

ABS
ABS = Anti-lock Brake System, an electronic braking system with four wheel sensors. ABS allows you to apply maximum brake pressure without losing control of the steering.
The “ABS” symbol on the dash of new cars illuminates upon ignition and trouble. DO NOT PUMP! Apply strong, consistent pressure. The vehicle will shudder loudly and the brake pedal will pulsate. Steer car in direction you wish to travel. Practice in a parking lot and work on your steering precision.

LIGHTS
Low beams double your visibility to oncoming traffic in daylight and reduce glare in fog. Always drive with low beams on, no matter what time of day. Use high beams to increase night vision. Flash them to alert oncoming traffic to hazards or mistakes.

http://www.abs-education.org

MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD SET THE TONE

Review your close calls and you’ll see why inattentive drivers cause a million crashes every year.

Busy lifestyles, complex car design, techno-gadgets, cell phones, music, food, smoking, and chatty passengers all distract attention from the road.

Select music or pre-tune radio settings. Review MAPS and DIRECTIONS and keep them accessible. SECURE children and organize THEIR needs. MINIMIZE eating, drinking, phone conversations and all non-driving related tasks.

TALKING HEADS

SPOT THAT TALKER

DISTRACTED TALKERS

Recognize the signs of distracted talkers so you can anticipate their mistakes and safely avoid them:
Don’t signal turns or lane changes;
Speed, tailgate and swerve erratically;
Are less aware of cars, pedestrians and conditions around them;
Are slow to respond to conditions around them, like sudden stops;
Appear to be intoxicated or respond inappropriately.

Cell phone pedestrians should take care that their conversations do not interfere with their awareness of the environment. When cell-talking, refrain from crossing streets. Try to sit or stand beside the flow of sidewalk traffic. Never cell-talk while on a bike or skateboard.

“Cell phones pose the same risk to driving performance as driving with a .10 BAC. Those who talk on the phone while driving are four times more likely to crash than their silent counterparts.”
- New England Journal of Medicine. 2/1997

“Cell phone use while driving increases the risk of a crash, and the increasing use of cell phones will likely increase the number of crashes.”
- NHTSA

1. Purchasing a cell phone with a hands-free speaker-phone option, with the microphone installed in the sun visor directly above the driver’s line of vision.

2. Place the handset for the driver’s maximum comfort and convenience: easily accessible, so you can drive without removing eyes from the road.

3. Insist on a dealer demonstration of the mobile phone before and during the test drive.

4. Know your phone. Use the memory to minimize dialing while driving and automatic speed dial so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road.

The National Safety Council publishes additional safety tips for purchasing and using cell phones safely.

http://www.nsc.org

1. Assess traffic before placing or receiving calls, and avoid distractions. Check mirrors frequently. Monitor your speed and surrounding traffic.

2. Dial phone numbers when stopped, or from the side of the road.

3. Pay attention to the road: don’t take notes or look up phone numbers; use the voice mail feature.

4. Drive in the slow traffic lane to minimize lane changes, and in case you decide to pull over to complete the call.

5. Let callers know that you are driving. Continue essential calls only. Suspend conversations during hazardous driving conditions or situations, which require your attention.

6. Do not engage in distracting or complex conversations. Disconnect and complete stressful or emotional conversations from your destination.

7. Use your phone to call for help. Dial 911 to report a fire, traffic accident, road hazard, medical emergency or aggressive drivers.

8. Know restrictions localities place on cell phone use while driving.

Be Cell Safe

Set The Tone

http://www.wow-com.com

DRIVER INTERVENTIONS AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

When things don’t go well, don’t panic. Deal with trouble and emergency contingencies with a cool head.

KNOW WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY

If your car becomes disabled, make all safe attempts to pull off to the side of the road. If you can’t, do not attempt to make repairs until you have properly protected your position and alerted other traffic to your condition. Place lights or flares behind your car and turn on your emergency flashing lights. Raise the hood to signal car trouble. If you have a cell phone, use it to call for help.

NOW, PREPARE

In addition to your emergency kit, equip your car with a standard Red Cross first aid kit.
Also keep on hand water, a blanket and high energy or protein snacks and crackers.

A good passenger contributes to a better driver. Here’s your cue for a best supporting role:

*NEVER PICK UP HITCHHIKERS!
*Don’t enter an unsafe car.
*Don’t drive with an unsafe driver:
drunk, high, tired, poor reflexes, incompetent,
inexperienced, aggressive, distracted or disrespectful of laws and safety.
*Avoid distracting conversations.
*Help driver navigate and concentrate during hazardous conditions.
*Alert driver to impending dangers he/she might not perceive.
*Stay awake to help the driver stay awake.

HIGHWAYS and EXPRESSWAYS are divided roadways with two or more lanes travelling in each direction, which you enter and exit using ramps. The speed limit is usually 55 or 65 mph. In a freeway exchange, both through-traffic and exiting traffic have right-of-way over traffic entering the freeway.

CHECK ONCOMING TRAFFIC in both directions twice when entering any road: look left, right, left then right again.
Unless there is a stop light, yield sign or car stopped in front of you, use the entrance ramp to accelerate to the expressway speed when entering. SIGNAL, glance over your shoulder for approaching traffic and, when safe, accelerate quickly to blend into the flow. When waiting in line to enter a highway, make sure that the car ahead actually entered before you move – SO YOU WON’T RAM HIM IF HE CHANGES HIS MIND. When possible avoid coming to a full stop before entering a highway. It’s easier to accelerate while moving. Once on the highway, move out of the right lane to leave room for other merging traffic.

WHEN EXITING, DRIVE SLOWLY ENOUGH TO READ THE SIGNS. Move into the proper lane well in advance of the exit and slow down as you enter the ramp.

IF YOU PASS YOUR EXIT, DO NOT STOP ABRUPTLY OR TRY TO BACK UP ONTO THE HIGHWAY. Take the next exit and make your way back.

ONCE OFF THE HIGHWAY, reduce your speed, since local speeds are usually lower.

Consider the road, weather and traffic conditions. Use directional signals at least 100 feet before making you lane change. Accelerate to at least 10 mph faster than the vehicle you intend to pass but do not exceed the posted speed limit to pass. Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk for pedestrians.

Check the road ahead and your mirrors behind for oncoming traffic, or traffic intending to enter the lane you wish to enter. When the lane is clear, signal your intent to move left, turn and glance briefly for cars in your blind spot, accelerate gently and pull completely into the left lane. Once past the car, check your rearview mirror, glance briefly over your shoulder, make sure you see both headlights of the car you passed, then signal and return gradually to the right lane.

On highways, the LEFT lane is intended for passing, so keep to the RIGHT. Be aware of traffic around you, regularly checking rear and side-view mirrors. When a car intends to pass you, either move into the right lane or, on a single lane road, slow down slightly and keep to the right. To signal your intention to let the car pass by, use you right directional. Once the car is well ahead, resume your speed. Sometimes a car will decide at the last moment NOT to pass and wish to drop back behind you, so increase your speed to give it room to return to the lane behind you.

Your lane has a solid yellow centerline; You cannot return safely to the right lane before reaching a solid yellow centerline; You cannot safely return to the right lane within 200 feet of an oncoming vehicle; You are within 100 feet of a railroad crossing, bridge, or tunnel on a two-way road; If the driver you’re attempting to pass accelerates; You are on a two-lane road with roads or driveways to the left; You are approaching the peak of a blind or steep hill.

You may pass a vehicle on the right if:

The vehicle ahead is turning right;
You are driving on a one-way road that is marked for two or more lanes or is wide enough for two or more lanes and passing is not restricted by signs.
Be alert for pedestrians and cyclists on the right side of the road and for traffic entering from the right. Make sure on-coming cars are not preparing to turn left into your path.

If you feel uneasy riding alongside a truck, here’s a few tips:

Trucks have 4 primary blind spots called the NO ZONE. Avoid these areas:

In the NO ZONE, the driver can’t see you in any rear-view or side-view mirror. So when following a truck, allow a following distance of 4 seconds. When passing a truck or large vehicle do not linger alongside; Pass quickly – never pass on the right! When returning to the right lane after passing in front of the truck, don’t cut too close. The road immediately in front is yet another blind spot and the truck’s large size requires more time for braking.

http://www.trucksafety.org
http://www.cvsa.org

Know state school bus laws and watch for flashing lights on school buses.
Yellow flashing lights: the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children.
SLOW DOWN AND PREPARE TO STOP.
Red flashing lights and extended arms: the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off.
STOP AND WAIT until lights stop flashing, the extended arm or sign is withdrawn and the bus begins moving.

Never pass on the right side of the bus, where children enter and exit.

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

When SNEEZING, you CLOSE your EYES for A SECOND. At 55 m.p.h. that’s 81 FEET. It takes ¾ of A SECOND to move your foot from the GAS to the BRAKE. By then you’ve TRAVELED another 60 FEET. On a dry road, it will take 190 FEET to STOP your car, or another 2.5 SECONDS. On a wet road, it takes an additional 250 FEET to stop. The space you allow for your ahead, behind and beside is the space you will use to avoid collision in dense highway traffic. Maintain a 3-second distance between the car in front and the car behind. That’s the time that you need to EXECUTE AN EVASIVE MANEUVER.

TIP – Measure your distance by counting as the car in front passes a stationary object;
One-second-one two-seconds-two three-seconds-three
1-x-1 2-x-2 3-x-3

TAILGATING: ANTICIPATE THE NEED TO BRAKE.
IF THE GUY IN FRONT IS TAILGATING. > KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.
IF THE GUY BEHIND IS TAILGATING. > LET HIM PASS.

High-Risk Behaviors – Moving Violations that Threaten the Safety of Others.
These include: speeding, running red lights and stop signs, tailgating, frequent and unsafe lane changes and angry or threatening behavior towards other motorists.

Aggressive drivers have low regard for others, and use their cars to express their anger and frustration.

How to Handle Them:

Steer clear of aggressive drivers.
Don’t look at or challenge aggressive drivers.
Let them pass you and, if necessary, phone 911 to report them to police.

How Not to Become Aggressive:

There are over 25 million people over 70 in the U.S. – the fastest growing segment of the population, [THAT MEANS WE ARE ALL GETTING OLD AND FAST]. Although we would like to, we cannot discount the impact aging has on our driving abilities! Older drivers crash more during daylight hours and have most difficulty in left-turn and other right-of-way situations.
So the aging process affects driving skills because age affects vision,
night vision,
hearing,
reaction time
and judging speed and distance.
Exhaustion from stress, constant attention and unfamiliarity with new regulations and car technology all contribute to the problem.

Equip your family and yourself to live a long and healthy life. New drivers can learn from a variety of training sources, from public school systems to commercial driving schools. Check your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) accreditation standards to make sure schools are accredited regularly and currently licensed. Most courses provide 30 hours of classroom instruction and at least 6 hours each of in-car instruction and observation. Select a school that provides:
1. Experienced, licensed instructors with advanced professional development training.
2. A sufficient and coordinated classroom and in-car lesson plan.
3. State of the art teaching aids: such as driving simulators, interactive videos, CD ROM applications, instructional materials, including your state’s DMV manual.
4. In-car instruction and observation in late-model vehicles in all types of driving environments.

http://www.aarp.org/55alive
http://www.autosafety.org

Most novice drivers crash within the first 10 months of receiving their license. The best way to reduce this likelihood is to gradually phase in driving privileges, so the novice can develop confidence through supervised experience until safely passing this window of danger.

Car crashes are the leading killer of 15 – 20 years old. Teens crash more because: they are inexperienced drivers; are immature; have less understanding of danger; take more risks; experiment with drugs and alcohol; and pattern their behavioral for social acceptance and conformity. Teens are less apt to wear safety belts than children and adults and are more apt to speed. In a crash, they are usually at fault. They suffer higher fatality rates when driving with their peers.

Basic restrictions include:
Time of day when teens may drive,
Number of teen passengers,
Mandatory on-the-road experience,
With/without parental supervision.

Graduated Licensing Programs typically involves a two or three step process that introduces teens to full driving privileges.

Most states require minimal in car training and experience Apart from responsible parental involvement in their teen’s learning process, the single-most effective tool in reducing teen death is graduated licensing (GDL). Consisting of mandatory driver education, behind-the-wheel demonstrations and parent involvement, graduated licensing programs are designed to reduce risk exposure while enabling new drivers to develop proficiency. In the states where they are in practice, GDL programs have significantly reduced crash-related teen deaths and injuries.

These steps permit new drivers to develop their judgment and skills over a greater period of time. They permit greater in-car training during daytime and night time and provide ample motivation for teens to develop and practice safe driving habits. Upon demonstrating responsible driving behavior, restrictions are gradually suspended, however they may be reinstated if teens are convicted of serious offenses. This way, teens achieve more maturity before gaining a full and unrestricted license.

http://www.saddonline.com
http://adtsea.iup.edu/nssp