Tips FOR Safe Driving

“Driving safely, defensive driving, & planning for the unexpected”

“The best ways to protect yourself, your passengers, & your vehicle are to be prepared for

anything and everything.”

I have been driving for over thirty years and have learned a lot of safe driving tips that today help keep me from having any severe accidents.  Several are tips passed on to me from my own Father who was a great driver, and others are tips I’ve figured out through my own experiences.  Following are several tips I’d like to pass on in hopes that what I have learned may help some else stay safe while they are on the road.

Winter Driving Suggestions:

•  In the winter they suggest leaving a one cars length for every 10 mph you are driving, but that is hardly adequate.  Rather leave at least 3 car lengths for every 10 mph you are driving.   It serves no purpose to stay right on someone’s tail, especially on slippery roads in the winter time.

• During winter months be sure the keep your gas tank filled up so you don’t risk water condensation build up.  Plus, if you get stranded somewhere, you don’t want to be stuck with a tank on low, because you’ll want to be able to run your car to stay warm.

• During winter months leave your tires slightly under-inflated to allow more surface area to connect with the road, thus giving you a more stable ride.

• Give yourself extra time to get to your destination.  Being in a rush on slippery roads and been the downfall of many drivers.

• If you’re new to winter driving you might go to an empty parking area where you can practice.  For example: deliberately turning your car sharp to induce a slide, so you can practice turning into the slide, and thus maintain control.  It’s better to know how to handle your vehicle in such conditions so if and when it happens on the main road you’ll know how to respond.

• When driving down a steep hill that’s covered with snow and ice, shift your vehicle into neutral.  This takes the push out of the wheels and still allows perfect control with your steering and brakes

Summer Driving Suggestions: (These still apply for winter driving)

• During the summer months have your tires slightly overinflated to reduce the surface area of the tire with the road, thus giving you better gas mileage.

• Look to your left when you first pull up to a corner.  The person coming on your right is not likely the one you will crash into if you pull out too fast.

• Look to see if the person who’s pulled up to a corner in-front of you is looking at you.  Make eye contact if at all possible.  If you don’t think they see you, give your horn a toot, just to get their attention.  Especially, if you are driving motorcycle!  I don’t know how many times I had drivers pull right out in front of me, and then apologize saying, “I didn’t see you!”  Make the other driver see you and save yourself from being in an accident.

• At night when vehicles are coming towards you and their lights are blinding, look down towards the right side of the road.  This allows you to still see straight ahead without being directly blinded.

• Watch your mirrors regularly to be aware of who is around you at all times.  Being aware of what is going on around you is essential to driving safely and keeping your family safe.

• Listen for sirens of approaching Emergency Vehicles as well as other vehicles that are giving out a warning with their horns.  Once while waiting to make a left hand turn into a gas station I heard the squealing sound of tires sliding.  I looked in my mirror and saw a motorcycle skidding down the road behind me as he was attempting to stop.  I simply pulled over into the oncoming lane that was void of traffic at the time allowing him room to stop right next to me.  He was relieved to get stopped without a crash being involved.  I nodded to him and made my turn into the store  parking lot.

• If you feel yourself getting tired, roll the windows down, turn the radio up, and if that doesn’t help, pull over and sprint up and down the road twenty or thirty yards to get your blood pumping.  If that still doesn’t do it, pull off the road in a parking area and get some sleep.

• Allow yourself extra time to arrive at your destination so you won’t have risk developing “Road Rage.”

• Always watch out for deer by looking specifically for deer.  I find when I’m out looking for deer I’m less likely to be surprised by one jumping out in front of me.

• During extreme fog, turn your headlights off, and just drive with you yellow parking lights.  They will still laminate the road for you because most of the time they are set lower on the front and tend to shoot under the fog.

• To Save Gas, don’t gun your engine to get started from a stop; but, rather take off slowly until you reach the rate of speed you desire.  Basically, don’t be in such a hurry.

A Personal Note:

I remember when my nephew was growing up and learning how to drive I asked him, “Do you know how you’ll be able to tell when you are finally a man?”  He said, “How?”  I told him, “When you no longer have to prove it, to yourself, or anyone else.  You’ll just know.”

Every time I hear someone spinning their tires as they peal out from a street corner I think to myself, “There goes another little boy trying to prove he’s a man!”  It’s foolish to waste $50 worth of rubber trying to prove something don’t you think?