Road Safety Archives - Page 4 of 4

If you have been following the news at all the last few months, then like us, you may have noticed an alarming trend. We read the news in the morning or turn on the television and almost weekly we hear about a deadly car crash that happened overnight. In many of these cases there are factors of driving impaired, or drowsy driving that helped cause the accident. But, sometimes simply the fact that it was night can be the underlying reason the crash occurred.

15 Tips for Driving Safely at Night

Risk Factors

According to research done by the National Safety Council, vehicle death rates at night are three times higher than during the day. The most likely factors that make driving at night more dangerous than any other time throughout the day are poor night vision, the absence of light, impaired drivers, rush hour, and fatigue.

Poor Night Vision

A persons’ ability to see well in conditions where there is low-light is considered night vision. As people get older, our ability to see well at night becomes compromised. Drivers that are under the age of 50 only need about half as much light to see well compared to drivers aged 50 and older. According to the American Optometric Association(AOA), at age 60 and older, driving (especially at night) can become even more difficult. The AOA goes on to state that some drivers may also have compromised vision due to cataracts and degenerative eye diseases, both of which do not combine well with low-light driving conditions.

The Fact That it is Dark

Depth perception, peripheral vision and color recognition are all compromise when it gets dark outside. On top of this, the glare from the headlights of oncoming vehicles can literally leave a driver blind for a small period of time. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), typical low beams illuminate the road from 160 to 250 feet in front of your car, and normal high beams shine from about 350 to 500 feet. At 60 mph it takes more than 200 feet to stop. So even with your high beams on, there’s not a lot of room for error.

Impaired Drivers

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone dies every 51 minutes in crashes that involve drunk drivers. If you take into account all of the drivers that are under the influence of drugs or prescription medicines, that number will increase quite a bit. Drivers that are under the influence tend to be on the road more after dark, mainly on weekends and between the hours of midnight and 3AM.

Rush Hour

Due to the roadway being crowded with impatient drivers’ eager to get home from work, evening rush hour (between 4 and 7 p.m. weekdays) is among the most dangerous times to drive. During the winter season, it gets dark during rush hour making an already dangerous driving situation worse.

Driving Drowsy

According to the National Sleep Foundation, 60 percent of adults have driven while they were tired, and another 37 percent have admitted to falling asleep at the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that 100,000 police-reported crashes are a result of driver fatigue. You can learn more about the dangers of driving drowsy here.

Animals and Pedestrians

Arizona is a large state with many rural areas. Many of these areas have wild as well as domesticated animals that may be roaming around the streets causing a potential hazard, especially at night when they are harder to see. From cats and dogs to coyotes and deer to cattle, they are all our there. And, speaking of cattle, many of them are black or dark brown in color making them exceptionally difficult to see.

Pedestrians can be difficult to see when they are riding bikes or walking down the street at night, especially if they are not wearing or using the proper safety night gear and attire. Having a pedestrian or animal suddenly appear in your vision at night could easily cause an accident should you swerve or over correct to avoid striking them. Stay alert and on the lookout for them at all times.

15 Tips for Driving Safely at Night

Driving between the hours of midnight and 6am are the most dangerous times to be on the road. Luckily, there are some things you can do to improve your safety when driving at night:

Aim your headlights low so that they do not blind oncoming drivers
Clean your mirrors and windows. Smudged mirrors and windows are more difficult to see out of at night, especially when it comes to glare from other drivers
Dim your dashboard lights
Have your eyes checked regularly, and if you wear glasses, make sure they are anti-reflective
Switch your rearview mirror to the night position
Make sure all of your vehicles lights are working correctly
Switch your headlights on at twilight, though you may not need them to help you see yet, they make you more visible to other drivers
To avoid being blinded by oncoming headlights, especially if they are on high-beam, advert your eyes to the left side of the road
To compensate for limited visibility and reduced stopping time, slow down and keep a further distance between yourself and other vehicles
Minimize distractions when driving at night, like talking to passengers or on a cell phone or even eating
Check with your doctor about side effects of any medication you are on, especially how they may affect your driving
Be honest about your ability to drive after dark and limit driving to daytime hours if necessary
Stay Alert! Even if it is a route you travel all of the time, do not go on autopilot
Beware of drivers that don’t stay in their lane and keep your distance
If you are feeling drowsy, pull over and get some rest

By taking these extra precautions, we can keep not only ourselves safe, but the other drivers on the road safe as well.

Spring Break is among us, and for many Arizonan’s this means a road trip is in their near future. In order to make sure that you are reaching your destinations confidently and safely this break, we have compiled a list of things that you should do to prepare for the road ahead.

Road Trip Safety Tips in Time for Spring Break

Make Sure Your Vehicle is in Top Working Order

The key to a safe road trip is to be driving a safe vehicle. Chances are if you are taking a certain vehicle on your trip it is because you trust the shape that it is in. However, it is still safest to perform basic maintenance on your vehicle, or schedule a check-up before you hit the road.

• Check your fluids. Though it may seem like no big deal, fluids actually play a crucial role in the overall health of your car. Make sure you are at your vehicles recommended fluid levels for coolant, engine oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and even windshield washer fluid. You can find your recommended levels in your owner’s manual. Finding and correcting a low fluid before your trip is highly preferred to ending up stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.

• Check your tires. Tires are probably one of the most common problems on a long road trip. Look your tires over or have them looked over by a professional before you leave. Check your air pressure, refer to your owner’s manual or on your driver side door for your recommended PSI (pounds per square inch). Remember to only do this when the tires are cool -meaning you haven’t driven on them recently- so you get an accurate reading. Perform the quarter or penny test on your tread. If you pass then you are probably fine, if not you may want to replace before you hit the road. You will also want to inspect the sidewall for any bulges or tears. Don’t forget to check your spare!

• Check your brakes. It is imperative that you have properly functioning brakes before you go on a road trip. Before heading out have a mechanic look at your brakes to make sure they are in good condition. While driving you should not hear squeaking or grinding when you brake. If you are hearing these noises, then it is most likely time for new brake pads and maybe rotors. While on your trip, avoid riding your brakes too hard (especially on steep, mountainous roads) as this causes damage that could leave you stranded on the side of the road needing assistance.

• Check your battery. Make sure the cables are tight to the battery, and check the battery terminals to make sure that they are free from corrosion.

• Check your air filter. Changing the air filter if it needs it will help get you better gas mileage on your trip. If you pull it out, and it’s visibly dirty and black then it’s time for a new filter. If it has been over 12 months or 12,000 miles since you have last had your air filter inspected, then it is really important not to skip this step.

• Check your wipers and electrics. You want to make sure that you can see, and that you are being seen while on the road. Make sure all of your lights are working properly. Also check your wiper blades and fluid so that you can keep your windshield clean to reduce glare from oncoming traffic.

Plan Ahead and Be Prepared

Taking simple preparation steps before a road trip can help eliminate a lot of stress on the road.

• Know your route. Program your destinations into your GPS ahead of time should you have one. If you are using a map, make sure it is up to date and have a passenger help you navigate. You can plan your route ahead of time with highlighters. (Even if you are planning on using a GPS of some sort, it is still wise to keep an up to date map on hand so you are not stranded if there are any technical difficulties.) Planning your route beforehand will help you make sure you’ll have food, lodging options, and rest-stops to choose from when the need arises.

• Pack an emergency kit. You should always have some sort of emergency kit on hand, but for a road trip you may want to look it over and make sure it is stocked properly to accommodate you as well as all of your passengers. We have an emergency kit check list you can use here. If anyone has asthma or allergies or another condition that may need special medication, you may want to include extra in your kit just in case.

• Prepare your phone. Make sure your phone has all of your important emergency contacts in it and that it is charged! Don’t forget to bring a car charger with you. You may want to keep a written list of your important contacts in your emergency kit as well, just in case you have an issue with your cell and you don’t have all of the numbers memorized.

• Join an auto club. Simply having roadside assistance like AAA on a road trip can be a real life saver. They are especially great if you are amongst a group of people that are not too car savvy. Auto clubs are there for you whether you have a flat, over heat, get lost, or crash your car. Even if you don’t end up using them on your trip, it is a comfort knowing that if something should have happened, you had somewhere to get help quickly.

• Check the weather. You want to make sure your car can handle what you are about to put it through, so check to see if there is rain or other unfavorable weather on your trip so that you can make your car ready. This will also help you know what to wear and pack.

• Let someone know where you are going and your estimated time of arrival. Making sure people are aware of your destinations and when you should be reaching them is important. If something happens and you don’t make it there, having someone who knows your route and plans can be a life saver. They can get in touch with the proper authorities and send help should you need it.

• Bring plenty of food and water. Having some snacks and water on hand will give your body the fuel it needs to stay awake and healthy on the road. Becoming overly hungry or dehydrated while driving can be dangerous. Crackers and peanut butter are great energy boosters that are filling, too.

• Have all of your paper work. While on a road trip it is important to keep these papers on hand: driver’s license, proof of car insurance, vehicle registration, owner’s manual, warranty information, road side assistance contact number, medical insurance card.

Use Safe Driving Practices

Driving safely is as important as making sure your vehicle is functioning properly. It is important to remember to always be respectful of other travelers and follow the rules of the road.

• Buckle up. Any time you enter a vehicle the first thing you should do is put on your seat belt. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 53 percent of drivers and passengers killed in car crashes in 2009 were not wearing restraints. The CDC goes on to say that seat belts saved almost 13,000 lives in 2009, and that if all drivers and passengers had worn seat belts that year, almost 4,000 more people would be alive today. Seat belts are there to prevent needless injury and/or death, so no matter how uncomfortable they may be, put it on.

• Be well rested and take frequent breaks. Avoid driving drowsy at all costs. If you must keep going, see if a passenger can take the wheel for a while if you find yourself getting tired. After a certain amount of time, driving when you are tired could be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. You can read about the dangers of drowsy driving and how to prevent it here.

• Don’t Speed. Obeying the speed limit not only conserves fuel, but it also helps prevent speeding tickets and deadly crashes.

• Avoid distractions. Stay off of your phone when driving, don’t wear headphones, don’t eat a big meal and drive (handful of shelled nuts = good, giant burger that requires two hands = bad), if you have a pet with you make sure it is secure in the back seat and not climbing all over you. Avoid as many distractions as possible as they cause accidents. Have a passenger answer your text if you must answer it, or have a passenger drive while you eat.

• Don’t drive impaired. Do not consume alcohol or take any drugs, recreational or doctor prescribed that will affect you driving in any way. If you are on the road with multiple people, assign someone as a designated driver. Take turns if you like. Just don’t let anyone behind the wheel when they are under the influence.

• To avoid collision don’t follow other cars too closely. Remember the three second rule. Watch the car in front of you. Look for something like a speed limit sign and once they pass it count one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi. If you pass it before you reach three Mississippi, then you are too close. In adverse driving conditions like rain, or snow then you should increase the count to six.

• Make sure you are seen. Turn on your lights at dusk or when it is raining so that other cars are sure to see you.

Spring break is meant to be a time for having fun and enjoying life. Help ensure your safety and the safety of others by following the advice provided above.