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Before you drive... |
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HAVE A CLEAR HEAD |
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Make sure you always have a clear head before deciding
to operate a motor vehicle. Alcohol and certain drugs, both illegal and legal,
can severely impair your driving skills. Many prescription and over-the-counter
medications can cause dangerous drowsiness. Get a good night's rest and don't
drive for long stretches without a break. If you are tired, don't risk the
safety of yourself and others on the highway by trying to drive. Just as with
alcohol--designate a driver or choose another means of transportation such as
taxi cab or public transportation.
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LIMIT DRIVING ALONE WHEN TIRED |
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Driving with someone else in your vehicle can increase
your overall alertness. It is well recognized that when driving alone,
especially when sleep deprived and at night, your chances of a crash are
dramatically increased.
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PLAN AHEAD |
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Allow yourself plenty of extra time to reach your
destination and allow for emergencies or traffic jams. In today's busy world
most of us are in a hurry to get where we are going. By allowing extra time we
can be more relaxed when operating our vehicles and thereby cut down on the
incidences of road rage, such as excessive speeding, tailgating and weaving in
and out between cars. |
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RESEARCH SAFETY FEATURES |
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Safety should always be a top priority when shopping for
a vehicle. Research the safety performance of any vehicle you are considering
buying including how the vehicle performs in crash tests. Both driver and
passenger side air bags are now mandatory in all new cars. Look for side impact
bags in many new models as well. When buying a used vehicle, look for one with
air bags. Research what type of safety systems are in the car and choose the
safest to protect you and your loved ones in the event of a collision. |
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While in the driver's seat : |
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RELAX |
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Avoid aggressive driving by relaxing and having
patience. By not being in such a rush to reach your destination you will be a
calmer person and won't need to speed and run red lights. A yellow light means
slow down, not speed up. Always stop at red lights.
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BE ALERT TO SIGNS OF FATIGUE |
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If you start to feel tired when driving pull over in a
safe area and let someone else drive. If you are alone, pull into a safe
location such as a well lit rest stop and take a short nap or get out of the
car and walk around for a few minutes. Stop as often as necessary. When
traveling on long trips, eat light. Large, heavy meals can make you drowsy. |
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PRACTICE COMMON SENSE SAFETY
RULES |
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Always wear your safety belt and make sure all your
passengers are buckled properly, even on short trips. If traveling with
children, educate yourself on the many kinds of child safety seats and
restraints. Choose which system is best for your child and always follow the
directions. Make sure children ages 12 and under are always buckled up in the
back seat, the safest place to ride.
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KEEPS YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD |
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Avoid taking your eyes off the road by eliminating any
possible distractions ahead of time. Before setting out on a drive, be sure
that important items are within easy reach, i.e. directions and maps,
sunglasses, etc. Reduce to a minimum possibly dangerous diversions of your
attention from the tasks of safe driving such as changing tapes or compact
discs and always pull over to a safe place to use your cellular telephone. |
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