Staying Safe While Traveling

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Did you know that?

Every 45 minutes, on average, someone is killed by an alcohol-impaired driver, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

In 2009, 5,474 people were killed on U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving (FARS and GES).

Of those people killed in distracted-driving-related crashes, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes).
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Of those injured in distracted-driving-related crashes, 24,000 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (5% of injured people in distraction-related crashes).

Sixteen percent of fatal crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving.

Twenty percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving.

These facts reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are just a brief look at what is happening each year on our U.S roadways, and should be enough to spark an interest in driving as safely as possible. After all, while most drivers would say that they pay attention and follow traffic regulations this doesnt guarantee that one person is as responsible as the next.

Whether you have been driving for years or just getting started, there are a number of things to keep in mind when you head out to the open road. Here are some basic actions to take (or not) to help you stay safe while traveling:

Pay attention! If you feel yourself getting tired, pull over at a safe location and take a break; of course, if you are traveling with another licensed driver, it may be a good time to let them drive while you rest!

Make it a habit to scan the roads for any situations that could be harmful.

Use your vehicles mirrors often to check behind you.

Always look as far down the road as possible. Dont just pay attention to the vehicle in front of you, but to the one 2 car lengths away. Looking ahead will help you anticipate slow-downs, stops, crashes or other emergencies that affect traffic and can lessen the chances of an accident.

Dont be caught with tunnel vision! This is easy to develop if you are traveling down a long stretch of highway with minimal activity to keep you alert. Making it a point to frequently scan the road and along the shoulders will help reduce in tunnel vision occurring.
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If you are involved in a property damage collision, in an area where you are unfamiliar with the neighborhood or in a potentially unsafe location, stay in your vehicle and use a cell phone to contact law enforcement/ emergency personnel. If you dont have a cell phone, motion the other driver to follow you to a safe location where there are other people and lights and then exchange information.

If a driver attempts to force you off the road, do not stop! Slow to a safe speed and then drive to a safe location. If possible, get the license plate number and a description of the other vehicle and its occupants(s).

So what can you do to stay safe while traveling? There are many steps you can take, but the experts agree that the single-most important safety tip is: Devote your full time and attention to driving! If each person does their part to being a safe driver, perhaps the number of accidents and fatalities can begin to go down and more lives will be saved and safe!

by: Patrick Boswell

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