Car Safety Procedures
According to the National Highway Safety Administration, there were 37,261 traffic fatalities in the U.S. in 2008. Those statistics could be decreased dramatically, however, if drivers would educate themselves with a few safety tips when maintaining and operating a vehicle.
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Car Maintenance
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Change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, and check the levels in between via the dipstick while the engine is still warm. Check your transmission fluid regularly by making sure your car is running and in Park before inspecting the reservoir, looking out for a burn smell or a brackish-brown color. Check your coolant levels after the car has cooled down (to avoid burns); be sure to flush the radiator every two years or so and make sure that it's free of corrosion. Check your tire pressure every couple of weeks with a handheld tester, and check the tread for threads and bare spots. Have the tires rotated and balanced every year or two, depending upon use. Keep your battery and connecting cables free of corrosion by disconnecting the battery first, then scrubbing it down with a stiff wire brush and baking-soda-and-water mixture. Check your brake fluid levels regularly. Repair windshield wipers as they wear out.
General Safe-Driving Tips
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Although these tips may seem like common sense, all too often drivers develop bad habits or get in a hurry, taking unnecessary risks. One of the most basic tips is not to tailgate, and use the three-second rule by watching as the vehicle in front of you passes a fixed object and counting one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand. If you reach the object before the three count, you're following too closely (allow six seconds in bad weather). Always use turn signals. Yield to faster-moving traffic, pass cars on the left and check your blind spots before switching lanes.
You should always maintainin an appropriate speed, not only by obeying the posted speed limit but slowing down in bad weather or on twisting roads or roads with blind curves. Scan far down the road to avoid possible stopped traffic or other hazards. For maximum accident prevention, don't eat, smoke, drink, text, use a cell phone, read, play music too loudly, or drive while tired. And always, always use your seat belt.
Driving in Bad Weather
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For driving in snow and ice, make sure you have tires with at least 6/32-inch-deep tread. Replace windshield wiper blades, and ensure that your windshield washer system works and is full of an anti-icing fluid. Make sure your headlights are clear, and always turn them on. For braking with ABS, use the stomp-start-steer method (stomp on the pedal as if trying to snap it off, stay hard on the pedal, steer around the obstacle); for braking with non-ABS brakes, push the pedal hard until the wheels stop rolling, then release the brake enough to allow the wheels to turn again, repeating in rapid sequence. Beware of "black ice." Remember that bridges, intersections and areas with standing water are the first to ice over. Don't oversteer in a skid; that can actually make the situation worse.
For driving in rain, observe the six-second rule above. Know that after a dry period, engine oil and grease build up on the road, making it more slippery. Brake earlier and with less force. Stay toward the middle of the road/lane to avoid ponding on the edges and shoulders. Don't use cruise control. If you start to hydroplane, don't brake suddenly or turn the wheel as you might skid; instead, release the gas pedal slowly and steer straight until you feel traction again. And never attempt to drive through running water in a car.
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