Safe Vehicle Driving Tips

• Adjust your seat so your arms are slightly bent at the elbows when gripping the wheel.

• Keep your hands at the ten o’clock and two o’clock or nine o’clock and three o’clock  positions on the steering wheel.

• Hold the wheel tightly enough so your palms do not slip off.

• Adjust side mirrors so you can either see the door handles or angled away to cover blind spots.

Adjusting Side Mirrors for Blind Spots

• Park car and have someone walk in both left and right blind spots.

• Set mirrors so person is in view.

• Check mirrors to see which areas remain invisible.

• Re-adjust and check again.

Safe Driving Tips – Merging

• Merging requires attention to many different factors.
• Traffic moving at posted speeds = use the acceleration lane to speed up and match traffic flow.
• Use your signal and look for an opening where   you can smoothly ease into traffic.
• If traffic is congested and moving slowly, proceed down the ramp slowly and look for an opening.
• Try to avoid stopping at the bottom of the ramp because it can disrupt traffic flow.

Safe Driving Tips – Intersections

• Do not closely follow a large vehicle through an intersection with stoplights. You can’t see if the light has changed.

• Leave enough space so you have a clear view of everything before proceeding.

• When making a left turn, slow down and yield if there is not a green arrow giving you the right-of-way.

• Don’t turn your wheels until you’re ready to move (if your vehicle is hit from behind, you could be pushed into oncoming traffic).

Safe Driving Tips – Four-Way Stop

• First car to arrive at an intersection with a four-way stop (whether sign or traffic light) should be first to go.

• When it’s unclear which vehicle arrived first, general rule is driver to the right has the right-of-way.

• Don’t count on other drivers; proceed with caution.

Vehicle Maintenance

• Neglecting maintenance can cause crashes.

• Monitor condition of and air pressure in your tires. Not doing so could cause blowout or a flat.

• Change wiper blades regularly.

• Check your owner’s manual for a maintenance schedule, and stick to it.

Vehicle Maintenance – Tires

• Check tire pressure regularly, including the spare (at least once a month).

• Inspect tires for:

  • Uneven wear patterns

  • Cracks

  • Foreign objects

  • Other signs of wear

•  Ensure tire valves have valve caps.

Vehicle Maintenance – Tires

• Check tire pressure before a long trip.

• Do not overload vehicle – check tire info   placard for maximum recommended load.

• If towing a trailer, remember that some weight of loaded trailer is transferred to vehicle.

• Try not to strike curb when parking.

Flat Tire/Blowout – Highway

           At the first sign of trouble:

• Firmly grip the steering wheel

• Do not slam on brakes

• Take foot off the gas pedal

• Work vehicle toward the shoulder or exit

• If changing lanes, use turn signals

• Steer as vehicle slows down

Flat Tire/Blowout – Highway

• Once off road, place reflective triangles

• Keep emergency flashers on

• Change tire, if you know how

• Keep away from traffic

• Call for professional help, if necessary

• Do not stand behind or next to vehicle

  Safe Driving Skills

• Keep your eyes constantly moving:

            – Look up and down the road

            – Look to the sides of the road
– Look into the rear view mirror

• Always leave yourself an out:

            – Try to find a place to head if a crash occurs

            – Think about other drivers’ blind spots

• Don’t linger while passing.

• Don’t follow too closely (“tailgate”).

• Avoid “packs” of vehicles.

Safe Driving Skills

• Ensure other drivers see you – keep headlights on both day and night.

• Always use turn signals well ahead of time.

• Never assume what other drivers will do.

• Maintain an average speed on highways; going too fast or too slow creates a hazard.

Safe Driving Skills

• Use average traffic speed when merging.

• Think ahead – avoid making sudden movements when exiting highways.

• Obey all traffic signs and signals.

• Keep your eyes on the road, not on a cell phone or music device.

• Watch for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists.

• Scan the road ahead for animals.

Safe Driving Skills

Stopping on Highways:

• Don’t be a stationary object or semi-stationary obstacle.

• Stopping at the end of an entrance ramp is dangerous; learn to time a safe merge.

• Avoid stopping on the shoulder of road; exit highway before stopping, if possible.

Safe Driving Tips – Sleepiness

Driving sleepy is driving impaired!

• Reaction time and vision deteriorate when you are tired.

• Pull over, take a short “cat nap”   or just close your eyes for a while.

• Sometimes taking a short walk  will work.

• Stop every two to three hours if driving long distances.

Safe Driving Tips – Familiarization

 Be familiar with your vehicle:

• Know what every button, switch and lever does.

• Know where the oil, brake fluid, engine coolant and window washer reservoirs are.

• Know how to fill those reservoirs.

• Know what every indicator light means.

• Know how to operate basic items, such as the defroster, wipers, radio and headlights.

Safe Driving Tips -Nighttime Driving

• Traffic deaths are three times greater at night than during the day (Source: National Safety Council).

• Prepare car for nighttime driving: clean headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows (at least weekly).

• Have vehicle headlights properly aimed.

• Don’t drink and drive!

• Reduce speed and increase following distances.

• Don’t overdrive headlights – should be able to stop inside illuminated area.

Safe Driving Tips – Nighttime Driving

• When following a vehicle, keep your headlights on low beam.

• If oncoming vehicle doesn’t turn high beams down, look to the right side of road.

• If tired, stop and rest.

• If you have car problems, pull to the side of the road and place reflective devices; turn on emergency flashers.

Safe Driving Tips –             Seasonal Changes

• Winter driving = slippery roads, visibility issues, cold, etc.

• Spring = rain can cause slippery roads.

• Summer = high temperatures can cause vehicle problems; there’s more traffic on roads.

• Fall = wet leaves on road can make it slippery.

• Daylight saving’s time = sun’s position in sky changes causing darkness and glare.

Safe Driving Tips – Rain

• Drive slowly and carefully – especially on curves.

• Steer and brake with a light touch.

• When slowing/stopping, do not brake hard or lock the wheels – could cause skidding.

• Maintain mild pressure on the brake pedal.

• Adjust your speed to the wet road conditions.

Safe Driving Tips – Skids

• Remain calm.

• Ease your foot off the gas.

• Steer in the direction you want the front of   the vehicle to go (“steering into the skid”).

• If vehicle has ABS (anti-lock brakes), avoid slamming on the brakes, brake firmly while steering into skid.

Safe Driving Tips – Hydroplaning

• Occurs when water in front of tires builds     up faster than vehicle’s weight can push it   out of the way.

• Water pressure causes vehicle to rise up     and slide on thin layer of water between    tires and road.

• Can cause skidding, drifting out of lane, leaving roadway.

• To avoid: keep tires properly inflated, maintain good tread, slow down, avoid  puddles.

Safe Driving Tips – Hydroplaning

• If hydroplaning, do not brake or turn suddenly.

• Ease foot off gas until vehicle slows down and you can feel the road again.

• If you need to brake, do so gently, with light pumping actions.

• If vehicle has anti-lock brakes, brake normally.

Safe Driving Tips – Winter

• Ensure vehicle wiper blades are in good condition and washer fluid is filled.

• Ensure vehicle battery is in good condition  and appropriately charged.

• Clear snow/ice from all windows, lights, hood, trunk and top of vehicle before driving.

• Adjust your speed accordingly.

• Check tire pressure regularly.

• Dress warmly with layered clothing that is loose-fitting and lightweight.

Safe Driving Tips – Winter

  If in vehicle and stranded due to road conditions:

• Stay in vehicle.

• Display trouble sign (ex: brightly-colored cloth on antenna).

• Occasionally run engine with heater on t0 keep warm.

• Keep exhaust pipe free of snow and open a window to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

Safe Driving Tips – Winter

 If in vehicle and stranded due to road conditions:

• Do minor exercises to keep up circulation.

• Clap hands and move arms and legs frequently.

• Try not to stay in one position for too long.

• Use newspapers, maps, mats, etc., for warmth.

• Avoid drinking fluids containing caffeine or alcohol: can quicken effects of cold.

Safe Driving Tips – Winter

Stopping Distances and Wet/Snowpack/Icy Roads:

• Vehicle may travel 4x the stopping distance than on dry road.

• Dry pavement vehicle traveling 70 mph requires 600 feet to stop; wet road requires 800 feet.

• Snowpacked road requires approximately 1300 feet stopping distance @ 70 mph.

• Icy road requires 2,500 feet @ 70 mph.

Safe Driving Tips – Winter

Winterizing Vehicles:

•  Ensure ice scraper and windshield de-icer  are on board.
•  Carry spare set of wiper blades.
•  Carry kitty litter, oil dry or sand for traction.
•  Carry blankets, flashlight, road flares.
•  Have lock de-icer available.

Safe Driving Tips – Vehicle Fires

• Get yourself and all others out of and away from       the vehicle.

• Move a safe distance from the vehicle and call fire department.

• Do not stand near vehicle bumpers.

• Remain away from vehicle; do not attempt to get    back into burning vehicle.

• If trained, are comfortable and fire is small, use appropriate fire extinguisher.

• If you suspect fire under hood or in trunk, do not open.

Preventing Road Rage

• Don’t offend, don’t engage.

• Adjust your attitude (stay calm).

• Avoid cutting people off.

• Don’t tailgate or follow closely.

• Don’t make obscene/questionable gestures.

• Avoid eye contact.

• Don’t start a fight – give angry drivers lots    of room.

Summary

• Operating a motor vehicle is dangerous, but     it can also be a pleasant experience.

• Use common sense, obey speed limits, drive defensively and observe “road safety rules.”

• Distracted driving can be just as dangerous     as alcohol-impaired driving.

• Be careful, alert, courteous and safe.

• Have a safe trip!

Source: http://www.usd.edu