Drive Safely Drive Safely - Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control. However, proper driver education, seatbelts, following speed laws, obeying the rules of the road, and paying attention to the road and fellow drivers can help reduce the risk of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident. The California Highway Patrol reports the most frequent accident causes on California roads include unsafe speed, unsafe following, improper turns, and inattention to the road. Following posted speed limits on roads and highways and reducing excessive speed improves...

Cruise Control Driving Cruise control can be used to automatically control the speed in your vehicle (usually over 25-35 miles per hour) without keeping your foot on the accelerator. It is a great tool to prevent driver fatigue, speeding, and help with fuel economy during long trips on flat, straight roads and highways. Cruise control can cause accidents if you use it improperly or in hazardous road conditions such as city streets, heavy traffic, hills, winding roads, and wet, slippery roads. Controlling the speed of your car with your fingertips on cruise control lets you take your foot off the accelerator and...

Driving Distracted? Driving down the road is no longer a lonely, quiet experience. With cellular phones, two-way radios, and stereos, the interior of your vehicle no longer offers a quiet place to focus on driving. These days with everyone’s life so busy, paying attention while driving can be difficult. Have you ever been driving down the road and suddenly you notice you don’t remember the last three miles you traveled? Although your attention may only be diverted for a split second, the ever-changing variables of the road and other vehicles can make you instantly vulnerable to accidents. The following rules can help you concentrate...

Winter Driving - Slow Down! Winter driving can mean fog, rain, ice, snow, slippery roads, and poor visibility. It’s a time that can be dangerous for pedestrians, drivers, and other vehicle operators. There are some simple precautions you can take to minimize the risk of accidents and injuries. This winter season, before you get into a vehicle, take a little extra time to make sure everything in and about the vehicle is in good condition and operating correctly. Are the windshield and side windows clear? Do the windshield wipers work? Are the blades in good condition? Can you see in all the...

Seatbelt Safety - Wear Your Seatbelt Thousands of people, not wearing their seatbelt, apparently believing themselves immune to the laws of physics, die each day as a result of vehicle accidents be. According to the laws of physics, if a vehicle is traveling at 30 miles per hour, its contents and passengers are also moving at 30 miles per hour. The vehicle's sudden stop at 30 miles per hour can mean the difference of life or death to the passengers wearing seat belts. People are a vehicle's most valuable content and seat belts keep people in place. In a crash, unbelted passengers...

Driving Vehicles & Moving Equipment Safely Many workplace injuries and deaths involve driving vehicles and moving equipment, but sometimes this equipment is essential to the work operation. All vehicle and equipment operators should be trained, competent, and safety-minded to avoid costly accidents and injuries. Before operation, drivers should carefully read the operator's manual and observe the operating, maintenance, and safety instructions. Operators should be prepared for a safe day at the wheel, by getting enough rest and taking occasional breaks, especially on hot days, to reduce fatigue. Vehicle operation should be limited or avoided when drivers are ill or taking medications that...

AirBag Safety Vehicle air bags (including front, side and head curtains) rapidly inflate to cushion and protect drivers and passengers in traffic accidents. Air bags have deployed 3.8 million times since first used in the 1980’s and have saved 5,000 lives. Installed in 56 million vehicles, the air bag is a supplemental vehicle safety device; the first line of defense is the seatbelt. The risk of death in an accident is reduced by 65% with seat belts alone; seat belt use in combination with an air bag reduces risk by an additional 15%. Air bag benefits are proven, but most of us...

Aggressive Driving Every year, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reports approximately 500,000 collisions with 200,000 injuries and 4,000 fatalities as a result. Unsafe speed, improper turning, failure to yield the right of way, and obey traffic signals were the most frequent causes, which led the Department of Transportation (DOT) to estimate that two-thirds of traffic fatalities may be caused by aggressive driving. Aggressive driving can be caused by longer commutes, traffic congestion, and other drivers’ behaviors. It can also be caused by your own mood, reactions, and ability to deal with stress on and off the road. Aggressive driving is triggered by...