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Tribute
Drive Alive co-founder
Ralph Taylor
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Important things teens
should remember
 New drivers, as well as experienced drivers, can prevent collisions by
reducing driver distractions and maintaining control of their vehicles.
The
following list will help all kinds of drivers with varying levels of
experience drive safely. First of all – buckle-up. And, be sure all of your
passengers are buckled up.
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Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel! Driver
distraction is reaching epidemic proportions in drivers of all ages, but
especially in young, inexperienced drivers. Consider all the things in a
vehicle that can occupy a driver's attention: cell phones, radios and CD
players, sophisticated vehicle controls, fast food and other drive-through
conveniences, laptop computers and on board navigation devices, not to
mention passengers. Driving is not a multi-functional task. It requires the
driver's full attention.
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Check mirrors and seat position as soon as you get into the car, not as
you are driving. Fasten your safety belt and adjust your mirrors, the radio
or CD player and the climate control settings. Keep music at a low level so
you can hear a horn or siren. Make sure everyone else in your vehicle is
buckled up and that all objects are securely stowed.
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Do not talk on a cell phone while driving. Don’t make calls while
driving. Let your voicemail pick up incoming calls. Return calls later when
the car is safely parked in a parking lot.
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Know the type of braking system that your vehicle uses. If your vehicle
uses an anti-locking braking system (ABS), keep your foot firmly on the
pedal if you stop suddenly. Do not pump the brakes in an emergency
situation. This will provide false information to your braking system,
preventing it from operating correctly. If your vehicle is not equipped with
anti-lock brakes, press the brake pedal firmly, just short of locking the
wheels. If your wheels lock, indicating a skid, let up slightly on the brake
pressure. Then, reapply pressure to the brake. Continue this squeezing
action until the vehicle stops.
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Reduce speed and keep a safe following distance. Slow down in bad weather
or other poor driving conditions, such as rain, fog, snow, ice, and heavy
traffic. If you are uncomfortable with the speed limit, for whatever reason,
slow down.
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Don’t speed. Speeding will not get you to your destination faster. Speed
influences a crash in four ways:
■ It increases the
distance your vehicle travels from the time you recognize an emergency until you can react.
■ It increases the
distance it takes to stop your vehicle. The faster you go, the more distance
it takes to stop your vehicle.
■
It increases the
crash severity. For example, if your speed increases from 40 to 60 miles an
hour, your speed increases 50 percent while the energy released in a crash
more than doubles.
■ Higher speeds
reduce the ability of seatbelts, air bags, guard rails and barriers to
protect vehicle occupants in a crash.
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Avoid jerky movements or overcorrecting. A sudden response or
overcorrection, such as jerking the steering wheel to the right or left or
slamming on the brakes can cause the vehicle to skid, swerve into oncoming
traffic or veer off the roadway. You can avoid sudden surprises that lead to
reactive moves by watching the traffic and roadway ahead, behind and around
you.
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Don’t drink and drive, and never be a passenger with a drinker.
Learn how to be a Defensive Driver.
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