Tag Archives: slow down

General Safety Issues

EASIEST WAYS TO DRIVE SAFELY (GUEST POST)

Don Elfrink is our resident auto expert and the owner and operator of AutoMatStore.com, a company selling auto mats throughout the nation. Before AutoMatStore, Elfrink was the operator of an automotive production site. AutoMatStore focuses on logo, carpeted, molded and all weather floor mats. 

Easiest Ways to Drive Safely

Safety on the road is an enormously important topic for drivers of all ages. While many people think that young drivers are the most dangerous (and studies show they are the most likely to have accidents), there are plenty of older drivers who need to take a second look at what they’re doing behind the wheel. Some of the most innocuous seeming habits can be hugely detrimental when it comes to safety. Here are some of the most important things to stop doing right now.

Texting While Driving

It’s difficult to think of a topic that’s more in the news lately than texting while driving. It’s become a global cause of concern, and rightly so. Texting while driving is incredibly dangerous – it takes your focus completely off the road. It’s been linked to tens of thousands of accidents and fatalities, and numerous studies have pointed out that texting while you’re behind the wheel is actually more dangerous than drinking and driving. Thankfully, law enforcement is stepping up their efforts to curb this dangerous, negligent behavior (another good reason to put down the phone and concentrate on driving).

Talking on the Phone

While most people think that texting on the phone is dangerous, but talking on the phone is fine, that’s actually untrue. When you’re having a conversation on the phone, you’re splitting your concentration between two tasks. Even if you’re not one of those people who have to talk with their hands, you’ll find that having conversations while driving is very dangerous. Put the phone down and concentrate on what you’re doing – invest in a hands-free system if you have to use the phone while driving. Many newer vehicles are now coming with built-in Bluetooth systems that connect your phone directly to your vehicle’s audio system for easier communication with less danger.

Eating While Driving

Are you one of those people who routinely cram down a fast food burger while traveling 70 miles per hour down the interstate? If so, it’s time to put down the burger and put both hands on the wheel. Many people think that eating while driving is less dangerous than talking on the phone or texting, but that’s really not the case. It can be all too easy to become distracted while eating – spilling condiments, slipping buns and spilled drinks can all add up to disaster. While eating on the go is often a necessity these days, do yourself and everyone else you’ll meet while on the road a favor and pull over to eat.

Slow Down and Remain Vigilant

Too often, drivers become desensitized to the danger they’re in every time they get on the road. Familiarity breeds contempt, after all. However, you have to remember that you are operating a dangerous vehicle, and that there are other people around you. Slow down and pay attention to what you’re doing and where you’re going. Don’t let the banality of the daily commute inure you to the danger posed by operating an automobile – more people die every year in car wrecks than any other way combined.

Cultivate a Sense of Caution

Perhaps the most important tip for driving safely is to cultivate a sense of caution when you’re on the road. Think about it – you’re driving a vehicle that weighs a ton or more at high speeds in close proximity to other vehicles. The potential for danger, accidents and even death is bigh enough even without adding in dangerous habits like texting or eating while driving.

Driving with safety and care while avoiding bad habits like texting behind the wheel can help save your life as well as the lives of other drivers.

General Safety Issues

CANADIAN SPEED CONTROL!

Canadian Speed Control!

Speed control being used in Canada ..

How’s this for effective speed control?

 
 
I don’t know about you, but

this would certainly slow me down!

People slow down and actually

try to “straddle” the hole.

This is an actual speed control

device that is currently in use.

It is MUCH cheaper than speed

cameras, radar guns, police officers, etc.

Pretty clever — especially

when they move them

around every day.

Isn’t Art Wonderful?

Note: This is an email I received, and I don’t know if this is really done or not, but thought it is a great idea, and fun to see!

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
General Safety Issues

ONE MEANING OF THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL – SLOW DOWN!

Many things go through our minds when school starts – for parents and children, it’s the beginning of a whole new school year – and it carries different meanings for everyone.  For the kids, it’s a brand new start – a chance to do better, strive to make better grades, and have fun!  For parents, it’s a rushed time to  prepare their lunches, or be sure they have lunch money, get them all to school on time,  and ensure that they arrive safely.    Parents should set the alarm a little earlier than usual, allowing for interruptions that might cause their child to be late to school, resulting in tardiness at work for them, as well.  For the rest of us, whose children are grown-ups, it’s a time for us to slow down – literally! 

Too many accidents happen because someone is in a big hurry.  We’re used to driving down the street that the school building is on at a speed that’s a little faster than the limit during school hours.  In many states, cell phones are banned in school zones, so put that cell phone away until you are safely away from the school zone.  Remember to watch for little ones.  This applies to parents, teens, and all other motorists.  One mistake caused by careless or hurried driving could change many lives, so slow down.  Regardless of how children are going to get to school, they must understand safety precautions.  Before school starts, if your child is going to walk to school, take a few practice walks with him/her.  Be sure they know to stop and look both ways, and never  dart out in front of a car.  If they want to ride their bikes, be sure they wear their helmets, and that they understand the rules of the road.  If a school bus is to be their mode of transportation, go to the bus stop with them the first few times to be sure they know how to get on and off the bus, and that they always stand six feet away from the curb.  Motorists must stop for school buses that have stopped to load or unload passengers. 

According to the National Safety Council, in 2009, over 230,000 children visited hospital emergency rooms because of playground injuries – many could have been prevented.  Children should use playgrounds with a soft surface.  Playgrounds with concrete, grass and dirt surfaces are too hard.  Monkey bars are unsafe and should not be used by children of any age.  Those under the age of four should not use climbing equipment. 

Last, but certainly not least,  an age-old problem in schools is bullying.  It’s sad but true  that there is some child that is going to pick on another child and make their day miserable.  Parents are responsible to teach their children that this is not acceptable; if theirs is the bully, and they are aware of it, they must put a stop to it.  If your child is the victim, encourage him/her to stay with a group of friends who will stand up for him.  All children should be taught to treat everyone the way they want to be treated, and this rule can be learned at a very young age.

Teachers should not tolerate bullying behavior and inform parents about what is going on so they can correct it.  Times are different than back in the “good old days”, when there was a certain amount of picking on or teasing someone, but it seems that it has reached a new level, and become even life-threatening in older teens on some occasions, such as online cyber-bullying.    

Hopefully this will be a happy and safe 2012 – 2013 school year for all.  Parents, cherish these times because they go by all too fast!  Support your kids in their extracurricular activities and studies, and take the time to ask them about how their school life is going.  They need to know you are interested.  Again, have a good school year, and keep our kids safe by driving slowly in school zones and paying close attention to their safety.

General Safety Issues

TEN DANGERS TEEN DRIVERS POSE TO THEMSELVES DURING SUMMER (GUEST POST)

This article was sent to us courtesy of  Don Elfrink,  the owner and operator of AutoMatStore, an auto flooring company based out of Columbia, Missouri. Before AutoMatStore, Elfrink was the operator of a automotive production site. AutoMatStore focuses on all-weather, logo, carpeted and molded car mats.  Thank you, for this good advice for teens, as well as adults, who should set the example for their kids’s driving by avoiding the same distractions. pb

Summertime should be carefree – a time to relax and unwind after the long school year. However, for teens getting behind the wheel, summer can be fraught with danger. In addition to heat-related dangers to their automobile, there are some very significant dangers that teens can pose to themselves. Before you get behind the wheel this summer, make sure you know what those dangers are.

1. Texting

Texting while driving has made national headlines – the number of deaths resulting from this horrible habit has skyrocketed, and many of those (the majority, in fact) are teens. Don’t text while driving. If you absolutely have to make a call, use a hands-free headset and leave the texts until you arrive at your destination.

2. Friends in the Car

You and your friends will be out of school and hopefully have the chance to enjoy some downtime together. However, driving with your friends in the car can be very dangerous. It can be very easy to become distracted – make sure your entire focus is on the road and not on other people in your car.

3. More Traffic

Teens are often inexperienced with driving in heavy traffic, and it’s difficult to find a time of year when there are more cars on the road than during the summer months. More cars equals more threats to your safety – make sure you are focused, paying attention and alert to possible threats from those around you.

4. Leaving the Pool

Hitting the pool to cool off is one of the best things about the summer months. However, if you’re leaving the pool wearing wet flip-flops, it might be best to think again. Flip-flops aren’t particularly safe footwear for driving anyway, and water only increases the chance that your foot will slip at a critical moment.

5. Share the Road

In addition to more automobile traffic, you’ll find that the warm summer months bring out bike and motorcycle drivers by the droves. Make sure you can share the road with others and pay attention. Bikes and motorcycles are easy to overlook, and taking the time to look twice will save lives.

6. Dangerous Driving

Teen drivers are responsible for more auto accidents than any other demographic in the world, including seniors. Many of these accidents are the result of dangerous driving habits, including speeding. Getting where you’re going is not so important that you have to put your life and the lives of others in danger by driving too fast.

7. Eating behind the Wheel

Drive-thrus have revolutionized fast food and made it possible to grab a bite even if you’re in the middle of a road trip. However, eating behind the wheel is never a good idea. Before you unwrap that burger or start downing that hotdog, find somewhere to park and eat in safety.

8. Drinking and Driving

Summer is the time for parties, and teens attend their fair share. However, if there is alcohol available and you consume any, stay out from behind the wheel. It’s better to call for a ride than to risk your life and the lives of other people because of impaired abilities due to alcohol consumption.

9. Wear Your Seatbelt

“Seatbelts aren’t cool,” is something that many adults remember from their own teenage days. That hasn’t changed – teens always suffer from the delusion of “it can’t happen to me”. If you get behind the wheel, buckle up. Living is far cooler than dying.

10. Avoid Night Driving

Driving at night can be trying for even experienced adults, much less for inexperienced teen drivers. Unless you absolutely have to, stay off the roads after nightfall.

General Safety Issues

A SPECIAL SAFETY MESSAGE FOR MAY 1ST, 2012

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May 1st marks the sixth annual “Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 – A Call to Action” campaign.  Speeding and running stop signs in residential neighborhoods represent the single greatest complaints to police departments and city council representatives throughout the United States.  Most of these speeders live in your neighborhood.  Some have been clocked at 40 or 50 mph in 25 mph zones.  This type of driving is a special threat to our children.  Running stop signs causes 200 pedestrian deaths and 17,000 injuries per year. 

The mission of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25  is to change the way we drive on neighborhood streets and beyond.  Their goal is to put an end to deaths and injuries caused by speeding and distracted driving on our nation’s roads.  No one wants to be behind the wheel and hit someone.  Observing the speed limit is a great way to significantly reduce crashes, injuries and deaths.  Citizens should be engaged in a common commitment to create safer streets for the benefit of all, starting in our own neighborhood.  

Here are some Fast Facts from KKAD that may inspire us to slow down:

  • 500 children under 14 years were killed while walking in what should be their safe haven – their neighborhood. (NHTSA)
  • The death rate on residential streets is over twice that of highways – measured per miles driven. (NHTSA)
  • A pedestrian hit in a 30 mph speed zone is three times more likely to die than one hit in a 25 mph zone. (General Estimates Database of Police Reported Accidents – NHTSA)
  • If you hit a pedestrian: At 20 mph, 5% will die.  At 30 mph, 45% will die.  At 40 mph, 85% will die.
  • The distance necessary to stop a vehicle is extended by speeding:  At 20 mph, the total stopping distance needed is 69’.  At 30 mph, the distance needed is 123’.  At 40 mph, the distance needed is 189’, which may not be enough distance and time for you to avoid hitting an object or person on the road. (USDOT, NHSTA)
  • Speeding triples the odds of crashing. (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety) 

Here are five reasons you shouldn’t speed –  from the Governor’s Highway Safety Association:  

  • Save lives – Slowing down increases the likelihood of surviving a crash.  Over 12,000 persons died in speed-related crashes in 2008.  Don’t become a statistic.
  • Save money – Speeding reduces fuel efficiency, causing you to buy gas more often.  With today’s high fuel prices, slowing down will pay dividends in savings, as well as safety.
  • Save the environment – Ford Motor Company research shows that driving a vehicle at 65 mph consumes about 15% more fuel than driving the same vehicle at 55 mph.  More fuel consumed means more CO2 released into the atmosphere.
  • Save yourself a ticket – Highway safety agencies and law enforcement are cracking down on speeders.  Obey the sign or pay the fine!
  • Save your license – A speeding ticket could lead to points on your driving record.  Too many points and you could lose your license and your insurance premiums could go up. 

Also, this from Keep Kids Alive Drive 25: Seat belts are FASTENATING!, an initiative to educate drivers and passsengers about the benefits of wearing seat belts.  Focus on all the good that comes from using seat belts, especially when it comes to relationships with family and friends.  Also, please don’t text and drive. You may be driving slower in neighborhoods, but a child could run out into the street for a ball, or on a bicycle, and that split second could cost their lives.  The driver and family alike would never rebound from those kind of circumstances.  Watch out for our kids!

With only a few more weeks of school remaining, we need to think about keeping our kids safe as they play near the streets in their neighborhoods.  Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 is a friendly reminder to slow down in our fast-paced world and take personal responsibility for our driving behavior.

General Safety Issues

TIME TO WARN DRIVERS TO WATCH FOR DEER!

Last year, we posted an article “Don’t Veer for Deer!” and it’s time again to remind you to be watchful for our four-legged friends.  Apart from humans, these beautiful creatures are the mostly deadly animals in the U.S.   According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, there are approximately 1.5 million car-deer collisions in the U.S. annually, causing around $1 billion in losses.  These accidents cause around 10,000 persons to suffer personal injury, averaging 150 fatalities each year. 

It’s not the fault of the deer; urban sprawl is taking over their habitat in many parts of the country.  Combining hunting season with deer breeding season increases the number of deer moving about.  State Transportation Agencies post deer crossing signs in heavy populated deer environments.  High fences are another deterrent for deer; however, these prove to be very expensive.   Deer are spooked by the sound of their hooves on pavement, become blinded by car lights, and cannot judge the speed or distance of vehicles.  They are very nocturnal animals, and are busy foraging for food. 

Here’s some helpful reminders for all of us during this season, as we travel down the highways or country roads:

  • Slow down and be attentive.
  • Remember, dawn and dusk are prevalent times of day when deer are active.
  • Don’t rely on deer whistles; they have been proven to not be efective.
  • If you see a deer approaching your lane, do not swerve; many deaths  have occurred when vehicles veered into other cars, or flipped out of control.
  • Again, brake and hold the wheel straight!
  • Avoid rural roads as much as possible.
  • Ask your passenger to help you watch for them.
  •  Keep your lights on high beam in order to be able to see the side of the road better.
  • If you injure a deer, do not attempt to help it.  Pull over, and call he police or highway patrol.  Animals that are hurt may hurt you!

No one wants to kill an animal with their car; however, it is better that the animal is killed or injured, rather than humans.   The number of collisions with deer has grown 21% in the last five years, according to a report from State Farm Insurance.  Deer populations in the suburbs are growing, where hunting is prohibited, thus offering a safe haven to deer. 

A friend told me that she loved deer until she got a job that required her to travel around 90 miles round trip every day in deer country.  She swears that they hit her, and others have told me the same thing.  So, be watchful when you are traveling in their habitat.  Fall is deer mating season, so they aren’t too concerned with traffic.  A collision with a large deer can be dangerous for everyone in the vehicle. 

(I still love deer, and hope one never hits me!)  October through December are the months with the highest number of deer-car collisions.  Then it begins to taper off through January and February.  Please drive with care.