Stay Alert. Stay Alive.
Fatigued driving is responsible for many accidents. About 1 in 25 adults report that they have fallen asleep while driving because they were driving late or were sleep-deprived.
Carpools can be a great way to lessen traffic on the road and prevent driving drowsy.
Distracted Driving
Distractions, however small, can be dangerous or even fatal when you are behind the wheel. They can be outside the car, inside the car, or simply in your head. In 2020, 3,142 people were killed because drivers got distracted.
Here are some simple tips to stay engaged while driving:
- Train your brain to focus just on driving
- Plan in advance by setting GPS, music, audiobook, or radio to proper settings before driving
- Save snacks for later; many accidents happen within seconds when someone reaches for a snack or phone
- Park your phone by turning it off, place it in driving mode, or mute it while driving
- Eliminate small obstructions by clearing out loose items, groceries, or objects hanging from the rear-view mirror
- Enlist help by asking passengers to help you stay focused while driving.
Winter Safety
Snow, sleet, or ice, winter weather can cause extremely hazardous for driving. Bad weather conditions greatly increase the risk of accidents.
Follow these tips for driving winter or stormy weather:
- Slow down. it’s easier to stop a vehicle on slick or snow-covered surfaces if you take drive slow. This will also allow plenty of distance between you and other drivers
- Keep tires inflated and in good condition; keep tires inflated at the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
- Keep the vehicle functioning properly. Conduct routine maintenance for the vehicle by checking lights, windshield wipers, cooling and heat systems, batteries, and oil quality.
- Stock your vehicle with emergency items in case you are stranded. Emergency items might include a snow shovel, broom, ice scraper, sand, jumper cables, flashlight, warning flares or emergency markers, blankets or jackets, cell phone and charger, water, food, and necessary medicine.
Reckless Driving
Driving can be stressful for anyone on the road and mistakes do happen. Staying calm behind the wheel will keep you and others safe. Aggressive or reckless driving is more than just speeding. Ignoring traffic signals, weaving through traffic, improper lane changes, honking, and rude behaviors are consider aggressive behaviors and should be avoided.
If you are confronted by an aggressive driver:
- Stay calm
- Safely get out of the way
- Avoid eye contact
- Ignore rude gestures
- Report the behavior to police if possible (pay attention to vehicle description, license plate number, and location)