Safe Driving

Risky Business Week

Airbag Safety Tips

Did you know? Air bags come out of the dashboard at up to 200 mph!

That’s faster than a blink of an eye

Prevent air bag-related injuries by following these important safety tips

Air Bag Safety

Sit back at least 10 inches from the steering wheel or dashboard

Wear your seatbelts properly

Always seat children 12 years and under, including infants, in the back seat.

If you have small children and your car has back-seat airbags, check with your vehicle manufacturer to find out if the airbags have been activated

Air Bag Safety

Check your owner’s manual and car seat manual for car seat installation advice and warnings

If your steering wheel tilts, direct it toward your chest, not your head

If you are pregnant, place the lap belt low on your abdomen with the shoulder portion over the collarbone and tilt the steering wheel toward your chest

Defensive Driving Tips

Be aware and ready for whatever happens effectively manage visibility, time, and space to avoid crashes

Check out the eight tips to avoid crashes

Defensive Driving

1. Pay attention

Driving is the most dangerous thing most of us do and it deserves our full attention

Consciously analyze what you see while you drive. This will help you recognize hazards and avoid collisions

Avoid distracting yourself with your phone, food, radio, or passengers.

Don’t take your eyes off the road or break your concentration

Defensive Driving

2. Allow enough space ahead 30% of crashes involve rear end collisions

Allow 3-4 seconds between you and the car ahead of you.

At highway speeds, increase the gap to 4-5 seconds or more.

If driving in rain or poor weather conditions, increase the gap to 6 or more seconds.

Maintain safe space as cars around you change position

Defensive Driving

3. Look Ahead

Scan the road and surrounding area for potential road hazards, conditions, and information that can help you plan a clear route

4. Have an Escape Route

Check your mirrors every few seconds to see what is beside and behind you, so you can maneuver safely to a avoid a crash

Defensive Driving

5. Separate Risks

If faced with multiple risks, it’s necessary to address them by separating the risks.

Your task is to avoid having to cope with too many risk factors at the same time.

6. Communicate with Other Drivers-Use Turn signals

Neglecting to use turn signatures can have catastrophic consequences

Defensive Driving

7. Don’t Depend on Other Drivers

Be considerate of other drivers – but look out for yourself! You can’t always depend on other drivers to drive as expected

8. Keep a Positive Attitude

Aggressive, irresponsible driving puts lives in danger. Of you encounter aggressive drivers, don’t engage in behavior that will escalate the situation

Preparing for Road Trips

Summer and Winter Car Care

Check to make sure your car is properly maintained and ready for the road

You can inspect many items yourself

Other items should be inspected by a certified technician

Summer and Winter Car Care Checklist

Battery and charging system

A fully charged battery in good condition is required to start an engine in cold or hot weather

Battery cables and terminals

Make sure all connections are secure and remove any corrosion

Drive belts

Inspect for cracks or fraying Turn them over and check the grooved underside Replace if older than 5 years or 100,000 miles

Summer and Winter Car Care Checklist

Engine hoses

Visually inspect cooling system hoses for leaks, cracks, or loose clamps Squeeze the hoses to check for any that may be brittle or excessively spongy and in need of replacement

Replace if older than 5 years or 100,000 miles

Tire type and tread

Examine tires for uneven and excessive tread wear If less than 3/32-inches of tread, it should be replaced Uneven wear on tires can indicate alignment, suspension, or wheel balance problems

In winter weather, changing to snow tires on all four wheels provides the best traction

Summer and Winter Car Care Checklist

Tire pressure

Check tire pressure frequently in cold weather

Proper tire pressure levels can be found on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb or glove box

Don’t forget to check the spare

Air filter

Hold air filter up to a 60-watt light bulb If light can be seen through it, it is still clean enough to work effectively

Lights

Check all headlights, taillights, emergency flashers, turn signals, brake lights, backup lights

Replace any burnt out bulbs Clean the lenses and refinish or replace lenses if yellowed

Summer and Winter Car Care Checklist

Antifreeze/coolant levels

Check coolant level when the engine is cold Refill with 50/50 solution of coolant and water Check antifreeze level using a tester available at an auto parts store

Wiper blades

Blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe

Consider installing winter wiper blades in snowy conditions

Washer fluid

Fill with washer fluid that has antifreeze components for cold weather use

Summer and Winter Car Care Checklist

Brakes

Have a certified technician ensure all components are in good working order

Motor oil, transmission, brake and power steering fluid

Make sure all fluids are at or above minimum safe levels and conditions

If you plan to drive in extreme conditions, switch to a motor oil with higher viscosity

Check owner’s manual for specific oil and lubricant recommendations

Emergency Road Kit

Keep these items in your car : Flashlight with extra batteries Window washer solution Cloth or a roll of paper towels Jumper cables Warning devices (flares or triangles) Drinking water and non-perishable snacks First-aid kit with rubber gloves Basic toolkit (screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable

wrench)

Emergency Road Kit

In winter, add these items

Bag of abrasive material (sand, salt, cat litter) or traction mats

Snow shovel, ice scraper, and small broom to keep windows clear of snow

Tire chains or traction devices Gloves, hats, and extra clothing

In summer, add these items

umbrella sunblock

Before you hit the road

Give your itinerary to a family member or friend

Program your mobile phone with important numbers, including AAA Emergency Road Service

Make sure you have a mobile phone charger for your car

Check road conditions before you depart

Review tips for dealing with a breakdown so you are prepared and can stay safe in case of unexpected breakdown

Before you hit the road

Review tips for safe winter driving

Consider delaying trips if bad winter weather is expected

Take advantage of AAA maps, AAA TourBook guides, and AAA TripTiktravel program to create your adventure!

Preventing Drowsy Driving

Did you know?

Driver fatigue cases more than 100,000 crashes each year!

and 71,000 injuries

and 1,500 deaths

Warning signs that you are experiencing drowsiness

Inability to recall the last few miles traveled

Having disconnected or wandering thoughts

Having difficulty focusing or keeping your eyes open

Feeling as though your head is very heavy

Warning signs that you are experiencing drowsiness

and . . .

Drifting out of your driving lane

Yawning repeatedly

Accidentally tailgating other vehicles

Missing traffic signs

Avoiding drowsy driving

Get a good night’s sleepExperts recommend 7-9 hours per night

Plan to drive on long trips with a companionCompanions can watch for signs of driver fatigue

Switching drivers may be helpful

Take regular breaksRest every 100 miles or 2 hours even if you don’t feel tired

Avoiding drowsy driving

Avoid alcohol and medications

Check if your medicines cause drowsiness, if they do, avoid taking them before driving

Alcohol increases fatigue

If you are already tired, even a small amount of alcohol increases your fatigue even if you are well below the legal limit.

Driving while fatigued

Driving while fatigued puts you and others at risk

Recognize the signs that you are fatigued

Take the steps to avoid fatigued driving!

Winter Driving

Winter brings a variety of inclement driving conditions to the roadways

Make sure you are prepared and know how to drive in winter conditions

Winter Driving

Drive at a speed that matches the prevailing visibility, traffic and road conditions

Be prepared for challenging situations

Keep your gas tank full. Fill up when approaching mountain passes. You may need to change routes, idle, or turn back

Winter Driving

Turn on headlights for extra visibility

Stop periodically during a long trip to clean headlights of mud and dirt

Steering in snowy or icy conditions requires smooth, careful movements

Anticipate lane changes, turns and curves. Slow down in advance

Braking on slippery surfaces requires more distance

Increase your following distance and allow for long slow and steady stops

Driving in Rain

Reduce speed to a speed appropriate for the conditions

Drive in middle lanes to avoid pools of water

Increase the distance between you and the car in front of you

After driving through standing water, lightly apply breaks to dry them

Driving in Rain

Don’t speed up when driving through standing water, it can cause tires to lose contact with the road (hydroplane)

If you are following another car, drive in its tracks

If it is raining so hard you can’t see the road or the car in front of you, pull over and wait it out

Front Tire Skid

Front Tire Skid: Your vehicle pushes wide through the turn and tends

to run off the outside of the turn

Continue to look and steer toward your intended path of travel

Smoothly ease up on the accelerator. Lifting off the accelerator too quickly in a skid may cause the rear of the vehicle to slide sideways.

You may need to smoothly apply the brakes a bit to regain traction to turn toward your intended path of travel

Rear Tire Skid

Rear Tire Skid: The rear of your vehicle begins to slide sideways; the front

of the vehicle may deviate from your intended path of travel

If you do not take corrective action, the vehicle may spin around completely.

Continue to look and steer toward your intended path of travel

Avoid using the brakes

As the rear tire regain traction, continue steering toward your intended path of travel

If you get stuck

Apply power slowly. Do not spin your wheels – it makes it worse

Turn your front wheels side to side a few times to clear the snow

Then, keep wheels pointed straight ahead while trying to move

Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car

Pour sand, kitty litter, or salt in the path of the wheels to help get traction

Shift from forward to reverse, and back again trying to move a little more each time

Tips for Handling a Vehicle Breakdown

Safety FirstStay in your car as much as possibleUse caution when interacting with others who offer assistance

Get NoticedAlert passerby's that you need help by lifting your hood, turning on your hazard lights, and/or using flares and reflective triangles

Seek HelpIf you don’t have a phone with you, when someone does stop, ask them to contact local authorities and AAALook for a callbox, but don’t roam too far to find one

Tips for Handling a Vehicle Breakdown

Know Your AreaOnce you reach AAA or local authorities, tell as much as you can about your surroundings, where you came from, where you are headed, and nearby landmarks or road signs

Move to the RightIf you are in a left lane, signal and begin moving to the right if it’s safe. Make slow and deliberate motions to alert other drivers

Keep Away From TrafficIf you can’t move your vehicle off the road, exit the car when it’s safe and stand away from traffic

Tips for Handling a Vehicle Breakdown

Send Text MessagesEven if you are out of cell phone range, sometimes a text will still go through.

Let Others Know Your RouteTell a friend or family member your planned route and the general time you should arrive. Have an agreed upon plan if they don’t hear from you

Carry Water

Most importantly…

Stay Safe!

Congratulations!! You have increased your risk awareness.