Car Breakdown Safety
If you are in an accident or your car breaks down, your first concern must be your safety and the safety of your passengers. Getting out on the spot to change a tire or check damage from a fender bender is probably one of the worst things you can do. The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) recommends the following precautions when your car breaks down:
Never get out of the vehicle to make a repair or examine the damage on the spot. Get the vehicle to a safe place before getting out.
If you can't drive the vehicle, it may still be safer to stay in the vehicle and wait for help or use a cell phone to summon help. Standing outside the vehicle in the flow of traffic, under most circumstances, is a bad idea.
Carry flares or triangles for use to mark your location once you get to the side of the road. Marking your vehicle's location to give other drivers advance warning of your location can be critical. Remember to put on your hazard lights!
In the case of a blowout or a flat tire, move the vehicle to a safer place before attempting a repair-even if it means destroying the wheel getting there. The cost of a tire, rim or wheel is relatively minor compared to a fatal injury.
Roadside tragedies remind us of the importance of having wide shoulders or safe places immediately available for motorists to use when they need them. When safe places are not readily available, motorists should move their vehicles to the nearest safe pull-off area.


Airbag & Car Seat Safety
The Insurance Information Institute advises that drivers should have all children sit in the backseat wearing a safety belt. Infants should be placed in rear-facing car seats and put in the backseat. Small adults should move the seat back so that their breastbone is at least 10 inches from the air bag cover. If these tips can not be performed, air bag switches can be installed so that the vehicle owner has the option of turning the bag off or on, depending on the situation. In January 1998, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) allowed auto dealers and repair shops to begin installing air bag cut-off switches. Before the switch can be installed, vehicle owners must complete a four-step process:
1.Obtain an information brochure and request form from NHTSA, dealerships or repair shops.
2.Return the form to NHTSA.
3.Receive authorization from NHTSA after it reviews the case.
4.Take the vehicle to the service shop along with the authorization from NHTSA which certifies that the owner has read the brochure and met one of the four eligibility classifications
a.rear-facing infant seat must be in the front (necessary if the vehicle has no back-seat)
b.driver's seat can not be adjusted to keep more than 10 inches between the driver and the steering wheel
c.putting a child 12 or under in the front seat can not be avoided
d.having a medical condition that puts them at risk of injury when an air bag deploy
For more information contact state DOI. You can also call NHSTA directly at 202-366-9550 or access their website at www.nhtsa.gov.


Successful Winter Driving
1. Winterize your car before winter arrives by checking the following:
a. Antifreeze - Keep engine coolant at the proper levels as this protects against freezing and corrosion. Change the coolant as recommended by the car's manufacturer.
b. Battery - Test to make sure it is in good working condition to provide ample power for cold winter starts.
c. Brakes - Worn brakes require longer stopping distances and can pull the car to one side when stopping. A mechanic can check your brakes and make necessary repairs.
d. Emergency Supplies - At a minimum, your car should be equipped with a flashlight, blanket, sand or salt and a snow/ice scraper.
e. Exhaust System - Fumes from a leaky exhaust system can quickly become fatal. Remember, never run the motor in your garage.
f. Heater and Defroster - In proper working condition, these will keep passengers comfortable and the windshield free of ice and condensation.
g. Oil - Change your oil using a winter grade oil for easier starting.
h. Tires - Worn tires lose their grip on slippery roads. Make sure your tires are properly inflated and have sufficient tread. All-weather tires or snow tires are recommended for most areas.
i. Wipers and Windshield Fluid - Ensure good visibility by replacing worn wiper blades or installing winter blades. Keep washer reservoir filled with specially formulated antifreeze solution for windshields.
2. Keep your car clean. Chemicals, salt and gravel used for de-icing roads can be extremely corrosive to your car. Clean regularly with plain water to reduce the harmful effects of these agents.
3. Allow extra time to reach your destination when driving on slick winter roads. Slow down and avoid making sudden moves - no fast turns, no quick acceleration and no hard breaking. If you don't have time to slow down, when will you have time for an accident?
4. Bridges and overpasses freeze before road surfaces. Freezing air circulating above and below the bridge causes ice to form more rapidly than on a surface that has freezing air above and warmer ground below.
5. Allow additional stopping distance on any road that is not dry by doubling the Four-Second Rule. This rule teaches new drivers safe driving distances - when the rear bumper of the car ahead passes any designated spot, make sure you reach the same spot in four seconds or more. Doubling or even tripling this safety measure is especially wise during winter driving but can be practiced throughout the year.
6. Visibility is an important factor for safe driving during a winter storm. Keep your lights on and clear the windshield of accumulations of ice and snow if necessary.
7. Know what to do if you skid on ice or get stuck in snow. Counter steer to regain control in a skid. Steer the car in the same direction that the rear wheels are sliding. If the rear wheels slide to the right, turn the front wheels right and vice versa. Do not spin your wheels when stuck on ice or in snow. Instead, remove snow from the area around the tire, if necessary, and spread sand or salt under the drive wheel to regain traction.
Safe winter driving can be achieved by using plain common sense. However, there are occasions when the best driving decision is to not drive. If you are uneasy about your ability to drive on slick winter roads or your car's ability to handle them, stay home!