Tips For Driving Safely
Taking a road trip? Here are some safety tips, based on information from Shell's driving safety booklets:
- Before you leave your home, make sure your vehicle is in proper running order. Check the tires for the proper inflation. Make sure the windshield, headlights and taillights are clean. Check all fluid levels, belts, hoses and clamps, refill or replace as necessary.
- Make sure your vehicle is properly stocked with items that will come in handy in the event of an accident. These include a fire extinguisher that has not expired and is securely stored; flares or reflective devices; jack and lug wrench; properly inflated spare tire; flashlight with extra batteries; jumper cables; empty, approved gasoline container; blankets, and umbrella, poncho or raincoats.
- If your battery goes dead, know how to jumpstart it safely:
- Position vehicle so jumper cables van reach, but vehicles aren't touching.
- Connect one end of the Red cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery, and the other to the positive terminal of the good battery.
- Connect one end of the Black cable to the negative terminal of the good battery and the other to an engine bolt head or other piece of non-moving metal.
- Make sure the jumper cables are away from moving engine parts.
- Start the engine with the good battery and run it at a moderate speed.
- Start the engine of the vehicle with the dead battery according to your owner's manual. Once it starts, reduce the engine speed to idle.
- Remove the jumper cables in reverse order, starting with the Black cables from the engine bolt or metal connection on the care with the dead battery.
- The engine needs to run for 20 minutes "which can include driving time" to start recharging the battery.
- Get out of a skid by taking your foot off the gas, and then turning the steering wheel in the direction you want the front of the car to go. This not only helps straighten the car out, but also can help regain traction.
- In case of a blowout, know what to expect. If the front tire blows, the vehicle will pull hard to the side of the blowout. Don't hit the brakes. Hang on to the wheel tightly with your hands in the 9:00 and 3:00 position, take your foot off the gas and concentrate on staying in your lane. Then slow down and pull off the road to a safe location. If the back tire blows, the rear of the car will weave back and forth. But you should handle it the same way.
- If you see an accident and want to stop and help, pass well beyond the wreck before signally and pulling off the road. This keeps you from blocking the view of emergency vehicles and gives emergency crew room to work. Also, turn on your emergency flashers and raise your hood to call attention to yourself.
- When traveling with children, keep in mind that the safest place for them is in the back seat. This keeps them far from the impact in a head-on collision and away from the passenger-side air bag. And always use seatbelts.
- Remember the 8-80 rule for kids: Children are usually big enough for seat belts when they are 8 years old and weigh 80 pounds. Otherwise, use child-safety seats.
- Semi-trucks need room to maneuver, so give them some space. Stay 100 to 250 feet behind the trailer. Don't pass on the right or cut in front of trucks, and stay out of their blind spots. If you cannot see the driver's face in the side mirrors, the truck driver cannot see you.
Drive Safely!
Information supplied by local police departments and printed in a community service column of the Sherburne County Citizen Newspaper.
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