Basic Safety Tips
Beware of wet conditions. Rainfall can decrease visibility and cause hydroplaning. Make sure your windshield wipers are in good working condition. If driving on a road with excess water, slow down and avoid sudden movements with the steering wheel or brake pedal. If you feel like you're floating, steer straight and gently release the gas pedal until you feel the tires make contact with the road surface. In an especially heavy downpour you may want to pull off the road until it's safe to continue.
In inclement weather, leave yourself more time to get places, and give yourself more space between cars to react safely to situations without suddenly braking or skidding.
Prepare your vehicle for rain and snow by replacing your windshield wipers at least once a year. Don't drive faster than your wipers can clear water from the windshield.
Equip your car with emergency supplies, such as blankets, food, water, spare fuses, a flashlight with batteries, an ice scraper, flares and a first-aid kit. (See Chapter Six for more on preparing your emergency roadside kit.)
Keep your sunglasses handy for daytime driving. The glare can cause reflections off car windows and hoods and decrease your visibility. A good pair of sunglasses can counter daytime glare while protecting your eyes.
Don't wear sunglasses or tinted glasses at night, dusk or dawn unless prescribed by an eye doctor. They can reduce visibility.
Make sure your windshield and windows (inside and out), headlamps and taillights are clean at all times and your mirrors are adjusted.
Have a mechanic check to see if your headlamps are properly adjusted so they light the road properly and don't cause glare for other drivers.
Be cautious when driving at night, since more accidents are more likely to occur in the dark.
If you can, avoid nighttime driving.
If you do drive at night, consider wearing glasses with anti-reflective coating to reduce glare.
Drive slower and avoid looking directly into headlamps of approaching vehicles; instead, look slightly to the right.
Stay in areas and on roads that are well-lit.
Parking Tips
While accidents in parking lots are typically minor and less likely than road accidents to result in serious injuries or fatalities, they can damage your car and-if you're at fault-may raise your insurance premiums. In one study, 14 percent of vehicles brought to insurance drive-in claim centers in major metropolitan areas involved parking lot collisions.
Here are five tips to help keep you, your car and your wallet damage-free in the parking lot.
Slow down. On busy shopping days and in crowded parking lots, it's best to assume that many drivers aren't paying full attention. If you slow down, driving no faster than 10 miles per hour-or slower, if it's crowded-you should have plenty of time to react to unexpected hazards and other drivers' negligence, helping you avoid a costly collision.
Stay calm. Try to be patient and stay calm when waiting in a clogged parking lot or trying to find a parking spot. Take a few deep breaths.
Be strategic about where you park. By parking in a space that is farther away from your destination, you may feel your car is safer, get some exercise, avoid possible altercations with agitated shoppers and even prevent dings from other drivers' doors. You may also be able to choose a spot with more room to navigate when backing up or parking.
Be an aware pedestrian. When walking in a crowded parking lot, be aware of your surroundings. Take note of people getting into their cars, signage and busy intersections. Put away your phone to make sure you're paying attention.
Scan your surroundings before pulling out of your parking space. As you are walking to your car, take note of what-and who-is around. If you do a full scan around the outside of your vehicle before getting into it, you'll feel more confident backing out in a crowded lot. Once you're in the driver's seat, turn around fully before reversing your vehicle-don't rely on your mirrors. Be sure to look for young children, who are more difficult to spot.
Road Trip Tips
Road trips are fun and cost effective, but road rules and driving conditions are always changing. Here is some advice for drivers who enjoy taking long drives.
Before you go
Some basic preparations can help ensure you and your vehicle are both in top form for your road trip. First, take care of yourself by making sure you're well rested, up-to-date on all medications, and have addressed any health concerns that could affect your driving ability.
Next, take a look at your vehicle. Have your car serviced and inspected for safety, or do it yourself. Perform routine maintenance like changing the oil (if your car is due for an oil change) and checking all fluid levels. Check tire inflation and tread wear, make sure windshield wipers are in good condition and clean all windows and headlights.
Finally, make sure you have basic emergency tools like jumper cables, a jack and spare tire and emergency flares. Also, be sure you have a first-aid kit and, in the winter, blankets. (You'll find a section on emergency road kits in Chapter Six.)
Get up-to-date maps, or update your GPS device. You'll save yourself the frustration-and the cost of extra gas-of getting lost. Put your GPS front and center-but not obstructing your vision-inside the car. Plug in your destination before you begin driving.
When packing for a trip, don't exceed your car's payload capacity. Your owner's manual has information about the maximum weight of all cargo and passengers your vehicle can safely carry.
To be safe, share your travel itinerary with friends and family who aren't going with you, and plan to check in with them periodically.
While on the road
Once you're on the road, take steps to ensure you stay rested and focused. Take frequent and regular rest stops that allow you enough time for a bathroom break and to walk around a bit. Walking and gentle stretching can help ease stiff joints and muscles that may tighten up from inactivity. Planning your trip to take in some sights along the way is a great way to break up the journey. Check out online resources like travel websites and mapping apps for suggestions of tourist attractions and roadside diners where you can stop along the way.
Avoid reviewing maps or your GPS directions while you're driving, as they can become distracting, and distracted driving is dangerous driving. Instead, review directions before you start driving, rely on your GPS voice commands, or designate a navigator who will monitor directions and read them aloud to you.
As mentioned, more accidents occur when it's dark, so if possible, minimize nighttime driving. If you must drive at night, use extra caution, and remember to park in well-lit areas. Avoid driving during bad weather. Remember, you're on vacation, not on a schedule; you can spare the time to pull over rather than drive in a snowstorm.
Spring Driving Tips
While winter snow and ice generally cause more dangerous road conditions, spring also presents a variety of challenges that can affect your travel.
Spring showers bring May flowers-and wet driving conditions. Slow down on slick roads, and increase your following distance even when mist begins to fall. Keep in mind that even a small amount of water can mix with oil and road dust to create slippery conditions.
Avoid driving through large puddles. They can impair your brakes, cloud your vision or cause you to hydroplane and lose control of your vehicle. If you can't avoid a puddle and find your vehicle hydroplaning, gently ease your foot off of the accelerator-do not brake.
Share the road. Warm weather brings motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians out on the roads. The more pedestrians text, talk on phones and listen to music, the more they're unaware of the traffic around them. Be extra cautious around intersections and in residential communities.
Go around potholes where possible. Potholes-an after-effect of winter weather-can hurt your tires or throw your car's front end out of alignment. If you can't avoid a pothole, try to slow down before you drive over it.
Keep your tires properly inflated. Doing so can reduce damage from potholes and uneven pavement caused by the change in seasons.
Steering with Sniffles: 5 Tips for Driving with Allergies
The transition from winter to spring can bring many joyous things, like a burst of new foliage, a lighter wardrobe and a little more daylight to enjoy. But warmer weather isn't all daffodils and sunshine-especially for allergy sufferers.
One in five Americans suffers from an allergy, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Not only can they limit your outdoor activities and affect your mood; allergies can have a dangerous impact on your driving. Although your car may be insulated, it's not safe from allergens; driving with distracting allergy symptoms such as runny eyes, frequent sneezing, congestion and exhaustion can be dangerous. What can you do?
Read the warning labels on your allergy medications. When you can barely breathe and your eyes won't stop watering, it is natural to want to alleviate the symptoms by taking an allergy medication. But be careful; many over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications contain ingredients that can make you drowsy. If you plan to drive, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to make sure your allergy medications won't make you tired.
Clean and change your air filters regularly. Modern cars are equipped with air filters so advanced that they can filter out dust, pollen and other allergens. Make sure that your car has pollen filters installed, and clean them often. Check your owner's manual to find out how frequently to change your vehicle's filter. This simple repair costs up to $35, but it can pay off quickly by increasing the efficiency of your car, improving your breathing environment and preventing an accident from distracting sneezing and sniffling.
Check the forecast. Before hitting the road, check your local weather to see if you are at a higher risk of suffering from an allergy attack. Most weather reporting websites and broadcasters provide daily pollen counts and will warn you of high-risk days for hay fever. If the risk is unusually high, consider postponing your trip until the pollen count is lower.
Spring clean your car. Keeping your car clean is important to staying allergy-free. Start by removing all trash and vacuuming everywhere-especially the floor mats. Your shoes carry moisture to the mats, making them a great habitat for mold spores and other allergens. Consider using washable, plastic mats that are easier to clean and retain less moisture than cloth ones. You should also vacuum your seats, dust the dashboard and wipe down the exterior of your car to remove excess pollen that can infiltrate your air filters.
Insulate your car as much as possible. Not surprisingly, limiting the amount of pollen-ridden air in your car is the best way to keep it allergy-free. During allergy season, drive with your windows rolled up and the air conditioning on. When running the air conditioning, put it on the recirculating setting to minimize the amount of air coming in from outside. Additionally, check to make sure the weather stripping on your car is intact and fully seals your windows.
Summer Driving Tips
Summer usually means vacation time and hot weather conditions. To keep yourself safe and cool, and save money on repairs and maintenance, follow these top summer driving safety tips:
Check that your air-conditioning system is functioning properly. The summer sun can create dangerously hot temperatures in your vehicle.
Never leave a child in an unattended vehicle. Never-even if you think you'll be gone for just a few minutes, have the windows open and keep the air conditioning on. Cracking the windows does very little to reduce the temperature inside a vehicle.
Ditto for pets: Never leave them in an unattended vehicle. Dogs do not have sweat glands-their only way to cool off is panting. In many states, leaving an animal in a vehicle on a summer day is considered animal cruelty.
Make sure your tires are properly inflated. In hot summer months, for every 10-degree Fahrenheit increase in air temperature, tire pressure increases approximately one pound.
Use caution around road-construction projects. With warm weather comes an increase in road construction work. Safely navigate through construction zones, obey all signs and watch for pedestrians and work vehicles.
When parked, use a sun shield beneath the windshield. A shield will keep the car's interior heat to a minimum and protect your vehicle's interior surfaces.
Keep your sunglasses handy. You'll want to counter daytime glare and protect your eyes.
Fall Driving Tips
Fall driving can be unpredictable because of weather changes and the end of daylight saving time. To be safe and aware on the roads this fall, and save money, follow these tips:
Watch out for leaves. Once leaves become wet, they can present slippery and dangerous driving conditions. Be sure to watch for patches of wet leaves on the road or on road lines. Dry leaves can also present a problem to your vehicle. Avoid parking your vehicle near leaf piles to prevent fires that could start from your vehicle's catalytic converter.
Brace yourself for shorter days. The end of daylight saving time means reduced visibility on the roads. Even on familiar roads, it's important that motorists use additional caution and adjust their driving habits to watch for pedestrians, cyclists and other roadway users who will be less visible, especially during the first week of the change.
Check your tires. With frequent weather and temperature changes, tires can expand and contract, causing them to lose air pressure. Make sure tires are properly inflated and have plenty of tread.
Avoid sun glare. With the change in time, you may need to adjust to the different morning or late afternoon glare from the sun. As it can in summer, the glare can reflect off car windows and hoods and decrease your visibility. Keep those sunglasses handy.
Back-to-School Safety
As summer draws to a close, out come the school buses, rambunctious students and one of the many challenges of being a driver: keeping the roads safe for children.
For millions of students nationwide, the school day begins and ends with a trip on a school bus. But for these students, the greatest risk isn't actually riding the bus-it's approaching or leaving the bus. More school-age children have been killed between the hours of 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. than any other time of day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And boys between the ages of 5 and 9-the group most likely to dart out into the street unexpectedly-are involved in more crashes than any other group, according to Federal Highway Administration data.
Here are some tips to help get you into the back to school driving routine and avoid an accident:
Know (and respect) the law. The speed limit in school zones is never more than 25 miles per hour, and it is often as low as 15 miles per hour. Remember that you must stop for school buses that are loading or unloading students, even in the opposite direction, unless the lanes are separated by a median.
Understand the signals on a school bus. Flashing yellow lights on a school bus indicate that it is preparing to stop to load or unload children. In this case, you need to slow down and be prepared to stop. Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign at the front of the bus indicates that you must stop driving, no matter which side of the bus you are approaching. Wait for the sign to be withdrawn and for the lights to stop flashing before driving again.
Stay alert. A child's peripheral vision is not as well developed as an adult's. And to make things worse, many children fail to look both ways before crossing the street. As a driver, it's your job to watch out for children walking, running, riding bikes or standing between parked cars.
Plan ahead to give yourself time. As you adjust to the school-year driving routine, give yourself a few extra minutes each morning. And remember, speeding only saves you a couple of minutes over a long distance, but makes it much more difficult to stop quickly enough to avoid hitting an unexpected child on the road. If mornings are particularly stressful for you, it may be worthwhile to modify your route to avoid school zones, where speed limits are slower.
Eliminate distractions. This can't be stressed enough. Talking on your cellphone, sipping coffee or reaching for your sweater in the back seat can all wait until the car is parked safely. Trying to do several tasks at once makes it harder to focus on any one task-and glancing away from the road for even one or two seconds is dangerous, especially where children are involved.
Winter Driving Tips
No matter how many years of driving experience you may have, winter weather never fails to present driving challenges. Snow, ice, fog and early nightfall are a few of the dangerous conditions you'll have to prepare for in the winter months.
Understanding how to drive safely in harsh weather conditions can protect you, your passengers and your vehicle.
Winterize your vehicle to make sure your brakes, wipers, defroster, headlights and heater are all working properly.
When roads are icy, stop gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
When it's snowing, turn on your headlights to increase your visibility to other motorists, and keep your lights clean and free of ice or debris.
Give yourself more time to stop on icy roads. Reduce your speed and increase the distance between your car and the one in front of you.
Before driving, clear all snow and ice from your vehicle's hood, windows and roof.
Use snow or all-season tires or, where appropriate, chains for better traction and smoother slowing. Even with snow tires, you should use extra caution while driving in inclement weather-no tires allow you to drive on snow or ice at normal speeds.
Watch for ice. Take extra precautions on bridges, overpasses and shaded areas, which can freeze first and remain icy longer than other roadways. A road on which ice and snow are completely frozen is slippery, even though it provides more traction than a road with melting ice.
In snowy driving conditions, do not drive faster than the windshield wipers can clear snow from the windshield. Make sure your wiper blades are in good shape.
Be extra cautious during the winter holidays around shopping malls, especially on Black Friday and in the weeks that follow.
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