Better Health & Living: Article: Be a Better Driver (Yes, You!)

Issue: April 2007

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Be a Better Driver (Yes, You!)

by Ellen Michaud

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Last year, 43,443 drivers, passengers, and pedestrians died in car crashes—the highest number since 1990. A quarter of those deaths were alcohol related. Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for ages 4 through 34. Back in 1995, when my son Ryan and I started our teendriving.com Web site, there wasn’t much online help for new or experienced drivers. Fortunately, these days, there are many good online resources for drivers of all ages and driving skills. Before you slide into the driver’s seat again, take a spin on the Information Highway to raise your driving IQ.

Safe Driving Web Sites

www.safercar.gov is the consumer site of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). You can download its brochure on tire safety, which includes information on how to properly care for your tires to prevent accidents, improve fuel economy, and extend the life of your tires. This site also provides rollover ratings for all vehicles (rollover crashes account for a third of all vehicle fatalities). NHTSA’s database also allows you to search for any recall notices for your car or truck.

www.nhtsa.dot.gov is the official NHTSA site. Here you can review the latest government publications, news, and research reports on a variety of topics, including aggressive driving, drowsy and to Handle Glare for Safe Driving at Night” and “The Older and Wiser Driver.”

www.drowsydriving.org provides tips from the National Sleep Foundation on how to avoid driving while drowsy. There are lists of red-flag fatigue symptoms and remedies and some interesting sleep facts. Did you know that being awake for 18 hours straight impairs a driver as much as having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08? That’s the standard for being legally drunk and greatly increases your risk of having an accident.

www.iihs.org is the Web site of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the group that brings us the often-alarming crash test ratings. If your vehicle is one of the flunkees, you can download a helpful brochure with tips for shopping for a safer car, including a list of top safety picks for each category. Click on “Laws and Legislation” to find out if your state restricts cell phone use in the car or issues graduated licenses for new drivers.

Vehicle and Tire Maintenance

www.gmgoodwrench.com sponsored by General Motors, includes a host of driving and car maintenance information. Browse the tips section for help in maintaining your car in the best condition and diagnosing problems. One entry, for example, suggests that you should change the grade of your oil in severe cold weather or extreme heat. You can also learn how to put your nose to work sniffing out problems, using odors to pinpoint the cause of common car symptoms. For example, a sweet odor and steam coming from under the hood could mean an antifreeze or coolant leak.

www.tiresafety.com is a project of the Bridgestone Firestone tire company, with a video narrated by Mario Andretti. Learn why and when you need to rotate your tires and the importance of proper inflation.

www.edmunds.com/safety.html provides everything from vehicle recall information to a maintenance database. You can also learn how to buy, install, and use child safety seats. This is also a great place to research new and used cars before you buy; you can check safety records as well as cost.

Tips for Safe Driving

Stay up-to-date on your state’s driving laws. Each year, states add new laws or modify their current ones. For example, many states are implementing graduated licensing programs for new drivers and putting limits on the use of cell phones while driving.
Parents, model the safe driving behaviors you would like your teens to practice.
Obey all traffic laws and speed limits and pass only in passing zones.
Always use your seat belt and make sure all passengers are buckled up before driving.
Don’t drive if you have been drinking or using drugs. Don’t be a passenger in a car with a drunk or impaired driver. Check the labels of prescription and over-the-counter drugs you’re taking; if they cause drowsiness, don’t take them before driving.
Maintain your vehicle according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Check your car company’s Web site or safercar.gov for recalls. Some car manufacturers let you register for automatic e-mails alerting you to recalls and giving you maintenance reminders.
Keep your tires properly inflated and replace them when treads are low.