Drive Safe This Winter

People all over the country are being affected by winter weather. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that motorists take extra precautions to ensure safety while on the road. Below are some tips to prevent a breakdown and tips on what to do if your vehicle does suffer mechanical issues while out and about.

• Visit your mechanic for a periodic safety inspection and to address routine vehicle maintenance. Have your vehicle checked thoroughly for fluid leaks and any other needed parts, repairs, or replacements.
• Have your starting system battery checked for sufficient voltage. When the temperature drops, so does battery power. Be aware that it takes more cranking power to start your vehicle in cold weather. Also, be sure the connections are properly tightened and free of corrosion. If necessary, clean them with a solution of baking soda and water.
• Make sure you have enough coolant in your vehicle and that it's designed to withstand the winter temperatures you might experience in your area. A 50/50 mix of coolant to water is sufficient for most regions of the country. See your vehicle owner's manual for specific recommendations.
• If your engine cooling system hasn't been flushed (draining the system and replacing the coolant) for several years, have it done now. Over time, the rust inhibitors in antifreeze break down and become ineffective. Coolant also needs to be refreshed periodically to remove dirt and rust particles that can clog the cooling system and cause it to fail.
• Make sure your windshield wipers and defrosters are working properly. Refill the windshield washer reservoir as needed with high-quality, "no-freeze" washer fluid.
• Before you drive, remove snow and ice from all of your vehicle's windows and mirrors and keep them clean to maintain the best visibility. Also, be sure to clear snow and ice from your vehicle's roof and hood to ensure good visibility for both you and following motorists.
• Check tire pressure and make sure each tire is filled to the vehicle manufacturer's recommended inflation pressure, which is listed in your owner's manual and on a placard located on the driver's side doorjamb (called the "B-pillar"). If a vehicle does not have a B-pillar, then the placard is placed on the rear edge of the driver's door. Tire pressure drops as the temperature drops. Properly inflated tires ensure optimum tire performance and optimum vehicle driving range.
• Keep a tire pressure gauge in your vehicle at all times and check pressure when tires are "cold" - meaning they haven't been driven on for at least three hours.
• Check your tire tread depth and make sure you are using a tire appropriate for the winter driving conditions you may encounter. If the winter season means sleet, slush and snow-covered roads in your area or where you're traveling to, consider replacing tires when they reach approximately 5/32" of remaining tread depth. If you regularly encounter severe winter driving conditions, you may consider a dedicated winter/snow tire for optimum traction.
• Stock your vehicle with essentials in the event of an emergency including a snow shovel, broom, ice scraper, jumper cables, flashlight, warning devices (flares, reflective markers, etc.) and blankets for protection from the cold. A mobile phone, water, food, and any necessary medicines may prove useful if you become stranded.
• If road conditions are hazardous, wait until road and weather conditions improve before venturing out in your vehicle.
• If you do become stranded, don't run your car for long periods with the windows up or in an enclosed space to avoid asphyxiation from carbon monoxide poisoning. If you must run your vehicle, clear the exhaust pipe of any snow and run it only sporadically - just long enough to stay warm.

For more driving safety tips, visit www.nhtsa.gov.

Be a Good Passenger

We've all heard about being a safe driver, but sometimes we're not behind the wheel controlling the situation. Despite this, there are still things passengers can follow to contribute to a safer journey.

1. Don't distract the driver - either by showing them something on your phone, pointing something out in the area, or suddenly yelling at them.
2. Always wear your seat belt the way it's intended. This ensures that if an accident were to occur, you would have the best protection available.
3. Never get into a car with an intoxicated driver. Call a cab.

4. Do not steer the car for the driver from the passenger seat, even for a few seconds. This greatly lowers the reflexes of the driver and may result in an accident or worse. This also puts the passenger in a dangerous position should the car's airbags deploy.

5. Do not eat in the car. This one is not just to keep the interiors clean, but also supports the driver to not do the same. Numerous accidents occur every year due to food related crashes.

6. Do not wear headphones in the car. While you may not be driving, being constantly aware of your surroundings is important. This way, you'll be able to warn the driver if he or she overlooks anything.

7. On long drives or road trips, stay awake and talk to the driver to keep them talkative and active. This helps the driver stem off being sleepy. Swap places with them if they are not comfortable enough to drive. Never risk it.

Drive Safe!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in the United States for people ages 5-34. With summer at its peak, and back to school around the corner there are a few things to keep in mind while on the roadways. Most traffic collisions are avoidable if the proper precautions are followed. Road traffic collisions account for the majority of personal injury claims. The CDC has classified motor vehicle accidents as a “serious public health matter.”

Next to distracted driving, especially due to cell phone use, young drivers may be a potential risk on the road because of lack of driving experience. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one leading cause of death among teens in the U.S. The most at-risk teen drivers include; males, newly licensed teens, and teen drivers with teen passengers. Distracted driving, lack of experience, and recklessness all play a role in the rate of teen accidents. Parents need to speak with their children about safe driving practices.

Another tip for staying safe on the road includes making sure younger children and infants are properly secured in motor vehicles. Safely securing infants in the proper car seat reduces the risk of death by 71% and 54% for toddlers. Children are too little to brace the impact of an accident, thus needing a safety restraint. Also, never let a child ride in the front seat of a car, ride in a car without a seat belt, car seat, or booster seat, or be in the car without adult supervision.

Driving irresponsibly is not worth taking a life or getting injured. So practice safe driving. Often accidents can be prevented, but for those hazards that cause accidents that deem inevitable, being prepared and having the proper car seat, etc. may broaden the chances of survival upon impact. And remember to keep teen drivers aware of the dangers of distracted driving.

Stay Safe During Summer Road Trips

With summer approaching, people will be hitting the road for family road trips. It’s an age old tradition for families across America to jump in the car and see this great country of ours. Since the advent of the automobile and the highway, we have been a nomadic people; longing to see the country that we call home.

Before you head out to see Aunt Sue in Ohio, or Grandpa Albert in New Mexico, take a few things into account to make sure you and your friends and loved ones have a safe and happy road trip.

We all know the dangers of drunk driving and should look out for, and report anyone doing it, however other dangers exist the results of which can be equally fatal. With technology advancing at a rapid rate, we become more and more dependent on our hand-held devices; to get us places, communicate, document, etc. While these gadgets and gizmos have enhanced our lives and made them much more convenient, they have also taken away a great deal of our attention. As a result, automobile crashes caused by distractions are rivaling those caused by drunk driving. In many cases, texting can inhibit your senses and response time as much as a few cocktails.

Almost everyone’s phone is a portable entertainment center, office, library, message center and more. Just because it’s small, it doesn't mean it won’t consume as much of your attention as if you actually had a copy machine in your car along with a desktop computer, a couple of photo albums, a stack of mail, and a movie playing on a plasma screen all at the same time.

Once the “task of driving” takes a back seat to your cell phone, everyone on the road is in danger. Failing to follow the safe driving rules of the road needlessly endangers everyone including you and those in your car.

The solution? Follow basic safety rules. Make your phone inaccessible while driving. If you must take a call, use a hands-free device. (Although more and more studies are showing that to be just as distractive as well). Otherwise, turn it off and enjoy the ride. You have a responsibility as a motorist to yourself, your passengers, and those you share the road with to be safe and not to needlessly endanger anyone.