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Vehicle Safety Tips

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"it is better to be late than be Late Mr...."

As the phrase aptly puts it - "it is better to be late than be Late Mr..." Road accidents are more a rule than an exception today. The reasons are many. Underage drivers, reckless, drunken driving, no regards for safety of self and others... It is up to each one of us, all of us who use the roads (and everyone does), to be aware of all safety rules, and follow them. For example, how many of us use seat belts, even though we know we should, how many of us speed through red lights, knowing that we might collide with an oncoming vehicle. These are exactly the things we should avoid.

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Contents

[edit] Car Safety Information

While driving keep your eyes straight ahead on the road.

Because cars play such an important role in our day to day life, car safety is one area where we cannot afford to look over. There are tens and tens of millions of cars on the road, and that number gets bigger every day. It’s inevitable that there will be some accidents and fatalities, but the problem is much bigger than it should be.

There’s no reason why we can’t greatly reduce the number of car accidents. Every year over 40,000 people are killed in car accidents in the US alone and over 3 million are injured, many of them seriously.

Much of the problem is due to drinking and driving. In fact, USA Today recently featured a front page story about the movement to increase car safety by passing a law that requires all news cars sold in this country to be equipped with breathalyzers – devices that test the driver for alcohol before being started, and preventing ignition if alcohol is detected. Some experts say it would greatly reduce the number of car accidents, while others say it’s overkill and wouldn’t do that much good. Either way, the fact that this is even being considered says a lot about just how big the problem of car safety is.

Fortunately, there are things that you can do to greatly reduce you chances of being in a car wreck, and we’ll discuss them in detail. You may not be able to change the world, but you can make your own time spent in cars much safer and better protect your family by following some simple guidelines.

Collisions aren’t the only thing to worry about when it comes to car safety. Cars are dangerous in more ways than one, and not only when traveling down the highway at high rates of speed. We’ll discuss many things you can do to increase safety that have nothing to do with car wrecks. Cars can be dangerous even when they’re not moving, they’re broken down, or they're parked on the street. And it’s not just other drivers you have to worry about when it comes to car safety – weather and road conditions are big hazards, too. We’ll talk about them and tell you how to handle them. So let’s jump right in, and we’ll show you how you can be safer when it comes to cars.

[edit] Motor Vehicle Safety

[edit] Fasten your seat belts

Car crashes are a leading cause of death. Aside from always following traffic signs and obeying the rules of the road, buckling up your safety belt may be the single most dramatic move you can make to reduce your health risks. The deaths and injuries that occur every year due to car accidents could be reduced by about half if both drivers and passengers used their safety belts. Make sure that everyone in your vehicle is strapped in, and that small children are secured in safety seats before you take off. It can save your life, and it's

[edit] Never, Ever Drink and Drive

Young people in particular are at high risk for auto accidents. Adding alcohol to the situation is sheer insanity. Alcohol is the major cause of fatal car crashes caused by human error. People are killed on the road every day because they or others had alcohol-impaired judgment or reflexes. If death doesn't scare you, how about disability? Drunk driving results in hundreds of thousands of injuries including lifetime disability from brain damage, paralysis, blindness, or amputated or deformed limbs.

[edit] New Air Bag Guidelines

To help prevent injuries in the event your car's air bag deploys : Properly restrain all infants and children in safety seats, or lap and shoulder belts, whenever they ride in a motor vehicle. Never use rear-facing child safety seats in the front seat of a vehicle. A rapidly inflating air bag can strike the rear-facing seat, seriously injuring or killing the child. Infants should ride in a rear-facing safety seat - placed in the rear seat of the vehicle - until they are about one year old. Have children ride in the rear seat whenever possible. When a child rides in the front seat, make sure the seat is pushed back as far as possible - away from the air bag. (Kids often sit close to the dashboard so they can see better. This minimum clearance can be a problem if the air bag ever deploys.) Source: CDC

[edit] Hot Cars

On a warm day, the temperature inside a car can shoot up in minutes - even if the windows are partially open.. Even if it is not so hot outside, the danger of overheating exists - especially if you have a dark-colored car. Don't leave pets or children unattended.

[edit] Do's & Don'ts of driving

[edit] Before you Drive

[edit] Have a clear head

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

[edit] Limit driving alone when tired

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

[edit] Read the labels

If you are taking any medications, be sure to read and obey the warning labels. If the label says the medication causes drowsiness or not to drive--heed the warning and don't drive. The warnings are there for a reason. Consult with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or to ask about medications for your condition that don't cause drowsiness

[edit] Plan ahead

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

[edit] Research Safety features

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.

[edit] While in the driver's seat

[edit] Relax

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.

[edit] Be alert to signs of Fatigue

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.

[edit] Essentials for an Emergency

Carry these items in your vehicle in case of an emergency:

[edit] Respect other Drivers

[edit] Anti-theft tips

This is important for both your personal safety and the protection of your automobile and its contents.

Carry your vehicle registration with you.

Criminals have also found it profitable to steal equipment and accessories. Engraving tools are available to mark equipment and accessories such as batteries, stereos and hubcaps.

[edit] Tips for night-time driving

Turn your headlights on while driving at night. Being seen is as important as seeing.

Traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day, yet many of us are unaware of night driving's special hazards or don't know effective ways to deal with them.

Driving at night is more dangerous than during the day. One of the obvious reasons is darkness. Ninety percent of a driver's reaction depends on vision, and vision is severely limited at night. Depth perception, color recognition and peripheral vision are compromised after sundown.

Fatigue also adds to the danger of night driving. Drowsiness makes driving more difficult by dulling concentration and slowing reaction time.

Alcohol is the single most significant factor in fatal traffic crashes, playing a part in more than half of all motor vehicle-related deaths. That makes weekend nights more dangerous. More fatal crashes take place on Friday and Saturday nights than at any other time in the week.

Effective measures to minimize these after-dark dangers can be taken by preparing your car and following special guidelines while you drive:

  1. Prepare your car for night-time driving.
  2. Clean headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows once a week, more often if necessary.
  3. Aim your headlights properly.
  4. Misaimed headlights blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.
  5. Don't drink and drive. Not only does alcohol severely impair your driving ability, but it also acts as a depressant. Just one drink can induce fatigue.
  6. Avoid smoking when you drive. Smoke's nicotine and carbon monoxide hamper night vision.
  7. Turn your headlights on if there are any doubts. Lights will not help you see better in early twilight, but they'll make it easier for other drivers to see you. Being seen is as important as seeing.
  8. Reduce your speed and increase your following distances. It is more difficult to judge other vehicle's speeds and distances at night.
  9. Don't overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area. If you're not, you are creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle.
  10. Keep your headlights on low beams when following another vehicle so you don't blind the driver ahead of you.
  11. If an oncoming vehicle doesn't lower beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the right edge of the road and using it as a steering guide.
  12. Make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise. If you're too tired to drive, stop and get rest.
  13. If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible. Warn approaching traffic at once by setting up flares or reflecting triangles near your vehicle and 300 feet behind it. Turn on flashers and the dome light.
  14. Observe night driving safety as soon as the sun goes down. As your eyes are adapting to the constant change in amount of light, twilight is one of the most difficult times to drive.
Two-wheelers r more popular in Asia as a way to travel

[edit] Two Wheeler Safety Tips

Whether u call them two-wheelers, bi-peds, motorcycles, scooters, bikes, electric bikes etc... Follow the guidelines below for a trouble-free ride.

[edit] The Crash Helmet

[edit] Facts about Helmets:

  1. It should not obstruct vision.
  2. It should not impair with hearing.
  3. It should be light weight.
  4. It should not cause fatigue which causes crashes.
  5. It should not cause skin diseases.
  6. It should not increase the probability of neck injuries.

[edit] Types of Helmets:

It should have a thick padding of thermocole- at least 20 mm- which must extend to the sides of the head. A full face helmet is safer by all means.

[edit] Parts of the Helmet and it's Uses:

Always wear a helmet when driving a motorcycle.

[edit] The Shell :

The shell of a helmet is an injection molded thermoplastic or a pressure molded thermoset that is reinforced with glass fibers or made of fiber glass.

[edit] The foam liner :

[edit] Proper strapping system :

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