Safety Tips For Drivers

Before you drive your vehicle you must….

....................... .......................	HAVE A CLEAR HEAD
	Make sure you always have a clear head before deciding to operate a motor vehicle. Alcohol and certain drugs, both illegal and legal, can severely impair your driving skills. Many prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause dangerous drowsiness. Get a good night's rest and don't drive for long stretches without a break. If you are tired, don't risk the safety of yourself and others on the highway by trying to drive. Just as with alcohol--designate a driver or choose another means of transportation such as taxi cab or public transportation.
.....................	LIMIT DRIVING ALONE WHEN TIRED
	Driving with someone else in your vehicle can increase your overall alertness. It is well recognized that when driving alone, especially when sleep deprived and at night, your chances of a crash are dramatically increased.
	READ YOUR MEDICATION LABELS
	If you are taking any medications, be sure to read and obey the warning labels. If the label says the medication causes drowsiness or not to drive--heed the warning and don't drive. The warnings are there for a reason. Consult with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or to ask about medications for your condition that don't cause drowsiness.
	PLAN AHEAD
	Allow yourself plenty of extra time to reach your destination and allow for emergencies or traffic jams. In today's busy world most of us are in a hurry to get where we are going. By allowing extra time we can be more relaxed when operating our vehicles and thereby cut down on the incidences of road rage, such as excessive speeding, tailgating and weaving in and out between cars.

While you are in the drivers seat do….

	RELAX
	Avoid aggressive driving by relaxing and having patience. By not being in such a rush to reach your destination you will be a calmer person and won't need to speed and run red lights. A yellow light means slow down, not speed up. Always stop at red lights.
.....................	BE ALERT TO SIGNS OF FATIGUE
	If you start to feel tired when driving pull over in a safe area and let someone else drive. If you are alone, pull into a safe location such as a well lit rest stop and take a short nap or get out of the car and walk around for a few minutes. Stop as often as necessary. When traveling on long trips, eat light. Large, heavy meals can make you drowsy.
	PRACTICE COMMON SENSE SAFETY RULES
	Always wear your safety belt and make sure all your passengers are buckled properly, even on short trips. If traveling with children, educate yourself on the many kinds of child safety seats and restraints. Choose which system is best for your child and always follow the directions. Make sure children ages 12 and under are always buckled up in the back seat, the safest place to ride.
	KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD
	Avoid taking your eyes off the road by eliminating any possible distractions ahead of time. Before setting out on a drive, be sure that important items are within easy reach, i.e. directions and maps, sunglasses, etc. Reduce to a minimum possibly dangerous diversions of your attention from the tasks of safe driving such as changing tapes or compact discs and always pull over to a safe place to use your cellular telephone.

DO'S & DON'TS

for Safe Driving

Here are some tips for behind the wheel behavior that might save you from getting a ticket or getting in an accident.

THE DO's..

DO always wear your seat belt.

DO keep children in tested and approved car seats, no matter how much they beg or plead to get out. If you need, take frequent breaks so that little ones can stretch their legs.

DO review the official rules of the road for your jurisdiction periodically, and follow them always.

DO follow the speed limits.

DO pay attention when you are driving, even if you are familiar with the area. A surprising number of accidents happen only blocks from home!

DO be courteous toward other drivers.

DO give pedestrians the right-of-way in crosswalks.

DO make room for bicycles.

DO pay for your parking tickets or traffic tickets on time, unless you plan to contest them.

DO keep a emergency roadside kit in your car for bad weather conditions and accidents. A good emergency roadside kit should contain the following items:

• 12-foot jumper cables
• Four 15-minute roadside flares
• Two quarts of oil
• Gallon of antifreeze
• First aid kit (including an assortment of bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, antiseptic cream, instant ice and heat compresses, scissors and aspirin)
• Blanket
• Extra fuses
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Flat head screwdrivers
• Phillips head screwdrivers
• Pliers
• Vise Grips
• Adjustable wrench
• Tire inflator (such as a Fix-A-Flat)
• Tire pressure gauge
• Rags
• Roll of paper towels
• Roll of duct tape
• Spray bottle with washer fluid
• Pocketknife
• Disposable Camera
• Ice scraper
• Pen and paper
• Help sign
• Granola or energy bars
• Bottled water
• Heavy-duty nylon bag to carry it all in
• and a printed Auto Accident Procedure Guide by Assured Towing, Inc.

DO make sure that your spare tire is in your car and that you have a working jack.

DO make time for routine preventative maintenance on your car. Breakdowns can be dangerous and costly.

DO plan your route out in advance for long car trips and keep a map or atlas in the car in case you get lost.

THE DON'Ts..

DON'T drink and drive, and don't get in a car with a driver who has been drinking or using drugs.

DON'T make assumptions about what other drivers are going to do. Just because someone has their turn signal on does not mean they are actually going to turn. They may be like the rest of us, and have forgotten that it is on!

DON'T assume that other cars know what you are doing, either. Make sure that you use your turn signals and give yourself, and the cars around you, plenty of room to maneuver.

DON'T tailgate other cars, pass on shoulders, fail to yield, run stoplights or stop signs (even if no one else seems to be around), or break any other rules of the road on purpose. If you act like you are above the law when you operate a car, you will sooner, rather than later, find out that you are not.

DON'T play your car stereo so loudly that you are disruptive to others, or so loudly that you are unable to hear train signals or emergency vehicle sirens.

DON'T talk on your cell phone and drive at the same time. If you need to make or answer a telephone call while you are driving, pull over at a safe place, use the phone, and then resume your journey.

DON'T engage in other activities, while driving, that distract your attention or reduce your reaction time. Eating, changing clothes, or putting on makeup while driving is dangerous. In some states, if you are caught doing these things while driving you can be cited for "driver inattention" and given a ticket.

DON'T treat a car like it is a toy. It is not. Don't use your car to play chicken, race, or give another car a friendly "tap."

DON'T let your emotions and frustrations get the best of you. Don't engage in road rage, no matter how irritating another driver might be to you.

DON'T leave valuables in your car, especially in places where they can be seen, no matter where you are parked.