Safety Tips

[ks8829]

1) drive with your head lights on so other cars can see you even in the daytime.
2) don't walk across the street talking on the cell phone or text messaging and get distracted and not see the cars crossing the road.
3) don't drive a car with head sets on or your Ipod with ear plugs so you can not hear the fire truck or emergency vehicle.
4) Don't drive in the middle lane of a 4 lane road to prevent head on collisions.
5) don't drive next to a large truck on the freeway to prevent accidents with such a large vehicle almost 3-10 times your car weight.

share any of your safety tips

[EquipmentJunkie]

3) don't drive a car with head sets on or your Ipod with ear plugs so you can not hear the fire truck or emergency vehicle.

Not only is avoiding the above a safety tip, it's illegal in most states. Speaking of emergency vehicles, when you see us behind you with lights and siren on, get out of our way please...a cop on his way to a injured child or one of his fellow officers in trouble does not care if you run a stop sign or pass the limit line on the red light to get out of his way, neither does a firemen on his way to a fire. 15-30 seconds delay is life or death.

If you think you've had to much to drink, you have end of story. Slow down when it rains or snows, stay multiple car lengths behind the other vehicle. If you get into a vehicle accident please get off the roadway safely, too many people continue to block the roadway so they can show the cops how they crashed, you cause a major traffic jam and risk putting more vehicles in danger.

[Stacey_E]

Use the 2 second following rule so you don't rear-end other cars. It works at any speed. You are ALWAYS at fault in the eyes of the law if you rear-end a car.

When the car in front of you passes a point (road sign, crack in the road, whatever) count "1 one-thousand, 2 one - thousand". If you pass that point before 2 seconds, you are too damn close to the car in front of you. It works at 30 mph or 100 mph.

[ks8829]

Use the 2 second following rule so you don't rear-end other cars. It works at any speed. You are ALWAYS at fault in the eyes of the law if you rear-end a car.

good suggestion, but I think its the 3 second rule.

also don't change your flat tire on the freeway, even on the side of the road on the freeway because other vehicles can hit you!

[MI Rob]

Yeah I think its the 3 second rule too. I hate when people are driving with their ipods on, listen to the radio if you really need something to listen to.

[ks8829]

Some roads without barriers for on comming traffics can be dangerous, so I always drive off to the side, for example the Golden Gate Bridge currently only has plastic cones to separate on comming traffic and unfortunately there are head on collisions on the bridge. They are considering movable barriers in the near future but nothing yet.

Believe it or not, but there is a sign on the Golden Gate Bridge that states no "U" turns.

[Stacey_E]

Speaking of emergency vehicles, when you see us behind you with lights and siren on, get out of our way please....

They made that a law in our state a couple years ago. There are severe fines for someone not following that law (it's in the hundreds of dollars, but the specific number I can't remember). The only problem is, how do you inforce that? An officer on his way to an emergency isn't going to stop just to ticket the guy that didn't pull over and get out of his way.

BTW I was taught the 2 second rule. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-second_rule_(road) But truely you guys are right, 3 would be better. In fact, the road conditions should dictate the amount you follow I suppose. http://www.driveandstayalive.com/inf...-distances.htm

[Ben]

I drive with my iPod headphones all the time. However, I am very mindful of traffic and the people around me. The volume is rarely very loud. And when I do spot a cop or ambulance I'll always pop them out real quick.

I used to be a real maniac driver too. Racing along the freeway, weaving in and out of traffic. In my old age I've settled down. I rarely find myself going faster than 75 now. Where before I'd rarely be going slower than 85.

[MI Rob]

Have you ever tried any of the iPod adapters that you plug your ipod into, and put the tape in or plug it in.
Or tried an iTrip?
I think these ways are just safer, IMO.

[ks8829]

I repect the sirens and turn down the music and open my sun roof is listen to hear what direction the emergency vehicle is comming from so that I can prepare to get out of their way.

I also like to look in my rear view mirrors about 80% of the time so that I can anticipate fast moving vehicles behind me wanting to pass and also to know where the cars are around me, I have don't this so often that it becomes second nature.

I also look left and right before I go through an intersection, even though the light is green for me, many years ago, I did this and a armour car ran a red light from my left side and would of ran me over in my car if I did not look before going through the intersection, again even with the green light in my favor.

[JaY_B]

1)

Never really thought this was necessary, surely cars would be visible enough during the day, unless of course there were visibility issues such as bad weather/low light?

I suppose one safety tip I would give is to always be aware of what is happening around you, you must know what every child is doing at the side of the road, whether that car in the drive way 100 yards ahead is thinking of reversing out, basically anything that could be a hazard you must be aware of, this includes hazards behind and to the sides of your car, not just in front of.

[michaeljames92]

Never really thought this was necessary, surely cars would be visible enough during the day, unless of course there were visibility issues such as bad weather/low light?

For darker coloured cars they can be harder to spot on the roads. This is especially if some drivers don't slow down enough at give way signs or don't check for long enough if the road is clear before they pull out. The lights help with the visibility.

I must say that I have never seen anyone wearing earphones for their mp3 player while in the car. Do many people do this in the US?

[MI Rob]

For darker coloured cars they can be harder to spot on the roads. This is especially if some drivers don't slow down enough at give way signs or don't check for long enough if the road is clear before they pull out. The lights help with the visibility.

I don't see alot of people here driving with headphones in, but when they are they arent driving very well.

[Stacey_E]

Cellphones are enough of a distraction to drivers. One thing even more distracting is texting while driving. Like cellphones, texting takes one hand off the wheel and your mind off the task at hand. Add to that the fact that you have to take your eyes off the road as well. That's a recipe for disaster. I will not say that I've never done it though.

[iacas]

good suggestion, but I think its the 3 second rule.

Heck, I learned it as the FOUR second rule.

[ks8829]

I read somewhere that text messaging will be illegal as of January 1st. But what the heck, it dangerous to even considering text messaging while you are driving. I commented to my son who was in the car when I heard this that soon they will make using you lap top computer while driving illegal.

you need to have your headlight on whenever you use your windshield wipers , its actually the law in California as of January 2008.

[ks8829]

Be very careful deep frying turkey's in oil! you can easily start a fire and burn your house down or even worse hurt yourself or your family.

[ks8829]

Don't let you kids out on the street side of your car, have them get out of the car on the sidewalk side for their safety and yours.

don't let kids sit in the front seat of your car. My son is 14 years old, 5'6" and I always have him sit in back for his safety. its safer to sit in the backseat.

don't let small kids sit in the front seat, its dangerous because of the airbags can hurt the child, read below....

http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/car_safety.html

small kids and booster chairs for the car are a must! read above article..........