Safety Belt Use

Tailgating

Falling Asleep Behind the Wheel

Follow the Four Steps of Child Passenger Safety

We can all make the roads safer by following these simple, but important suggestions.

1) When behind the wheel, safe driving is always your first responsibility.

2) Dial your phone only when your car is not in motion.

3) Always use a hands-free device when driving and talking. Take advantage of voice-activated dialing if your phone has this feature. When you turn your phone on, make sure your hands-free device is on and working.

4) Pre-program important and frequently dialed numbers so you can dial them by pressing only a few buttons.

5) Never take notes or write down phone numbers while driving. Rather, pull off the road to a safe spot or leave yourself a message on your voice mail system.

6) If traffic conditions warrant your undivided attention, turn your phone off, and let calls go to voice mail or activate call forwarding.

Safety Belt Use

Traffic crashes are the #1 killer of people under the age of 32 and take more young lives than all types of crime combined. In 1996 more than 1,500 persons lost their lives from traffic crashes on Michigan roadways, and nearly 60% of those who died were not wearing safety belts!

Buckling up is such a simple thing to do - it only takes two seconds to buckle up, and no other single action has as much life-saving potential. And if more adults were inclined to wear their safety belts, their kids would too. Besides, it's the law.

The following are some safety facts to remember: Always place infants in rear-facing child restraints in the back seat and secure with a safety belt. A rear-facing restraint shall NOT be used in the front seat. When children outgrow rear-facing infant restraints, they should graduate to forward-facing child restraints or booster seats. Like infant restraints, these should be placed in the back seat and secured with a safety belt. Children 12 and under are always safest in the back seat, regardless of their size; kids riding in back are 26% less likely to be killed.

Generally, only one group of drivers is at serious risk of airbag inflation injuries. These are drivers who sit very closely to the steering wheel. The closer they are, the greater the risk. These drivers can reduce their risk by always wearing their safety belts and by moving at least 10 inches back from the center of the steering wheel. Most drivers, even short ones, can get 10 inches back from the center of the steering wheel and still reach the pedals. The problem often is that drivers too close to the wheel are leaning forward instead of sitting back in the seat. They need only to sit back. The few who cannot get far enough away from the wheel may consider pedal extenders.

Tailgating

Drivers who don't think ahead may find themselves bumper to bumper with the car in front of them. To law enforcement officers, it's called "not being able to stop within the assured clear distance," also known as a violation of the basic speed law. Most of us call it tailgating. It is the most common cause of traffic crashes. To avoid becoming another traffic crash statistic, always leave adequate following distance.

Stopping your car safely requires being alert, having a good reaction time, and knowing the mechanical limitations of your vehicle. Always plan ahead. Allow no less than 3 seconds between vehicles during the normal-driving daytime, 4 seconds at night, and 4 or more seconds during inclement weather such as during rain, snow, or icy conditions. Be especially cautious when approaching stop lights, intersections, and when changing lanes.

Anticipate potentially hazardous situations that could cause the driver in front of you to stop suddenly. If you do need to stop quickly, don't slam on the brakes; instead, use firm, even pressure. If your brakes lock, release the pedal and use a pumping action. However, if your car is equipped with an ABS braking system, never pump the brakes. Remember, too, that alcohol, some types of prescription drugs, fatigue, and your emotional state will affect your reaction time and could lengthen your stopping distance.

Falling asleep behind the wheel happens even to the best drivers--drivers who always wear their safety belts, would never consider drinking and driving, and generally obey all traffic laws. In fact, some studies across the nation have shown that falling asleep at the wheel is responsible for as many as 50% of all crashes! Falling asleep behind the wheel of a moving car is deadly! Prepare for your trip and drive when you are most alert.

Here are some tips for staying alert behind the wheel: Never drive more than 100 miles at a time. Switch drivers even if you do not feel tired! Know the signs of driving fatigue. Take regular breaks from driving. Talk with a passenger, or listen to talk radio or talking books. Eat light meals, and use stimulating beverages like coffee, tea, or other caffeinated drinks.

Follow the Four Steps of Child Passenger Safety:

Step 1: When to use a rear-facing child safety seat: from birth to at least 20 pounds and at least one year of age. The harness straps should be at or below shoulder level. For babies who are under one year and over 20 pounds, be sure they ride in a safety seat approved for heavier babies and continue to ride rear-facing until at least one year of age.

Step 2: When to use a forward-facing seat: If a child is at least 20 pounds and at least one year old to about 40 pounds and about age four. The harness straps should be at or above shoulder level. Most convertible, forward-facing seats require use of the top slot for forward-facing seats.

Step 3: When to use a booster seat: If the child is over 40 pounds up to 80 pounds and under four feet, nine inches tall. Belt-positioning booster seats must be used with both lap and shoulder belts. Never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. Make sure the lap belt fits low and tight to avoid abdominal injuries.

Step 4: When to buckle up a child in an adult seat belt: If a child is over 80 pounds and at least four feet, nine inches tall. If a child can sit with their back straight against the vehicle seat back cushion, with their knees bent over the vehicle's seat edge without slouching, they can be moved out of the booster seat into the regular back seat.

Please Note:

• Have your child safety seats inspected by a certified child safety seat technician. To find an inspection location or a certified child passenger safety technician near you, visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov and click on the "Child Safety Seat Inspections" link. Or call 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
• Never place a child in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with an air bag. All children age 12 and under should sit properly restrained in the back seat.
• Old or used child safety seats should not be used unless you are certain they have never been in a crash. If you are reusing a seat, make sure it less than six years old, make sure you have all the pieces (including instructions) and make sure the seat has been checked for recalls.
• Always read carefully both the vehicle owner's manual and the instructions that come with the child safety seat.

Website last updated on November 14, 2007
Copyright © 2008 Michigan Resource Center for Health and Safety, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED