Safe Teen Driving Blog

Spring break is an exciting annual event for many young people. They look forward to taking time off from the rigors of schoolwork to spend time with friends having fun in an exotic setting.

But this can also be a dangerous time for young people, especially when they drive to their destination, often accompanied by distractions such as passengers and loud music. Driving requires attention and awareness, along with the ability to make complex decisions and act on them quickly. For someone driving in an unfamiliar setting, this awareness is particularly important. Drivers in an unfamiliar setting can get distracted by:

perplexing roads, signs, and signals

getting lost or confused

looking at maps or driving directions

looking at the scenery

In this article, we will address the issue of how to handle roadside distractions when driving in an unfamiliar setting.

"Roadside distractions" refers to any aspect of the environment that draws a motorist's attention away from the task of driving. For example, a driver who is spending spring break in a beach town may face roadside distractions such as:

Heavy pedestrian traffic with pedestrians who may:

• Dart in and out of traffic
  
• Be over-excited or intoxicated
  
• Be skimpily dressed
  
• Include large groups of children
  
• Be carrying several items, such as beach towels and toys
  

Other drivers who:

• exceed the low speed limit
  
• run red lights and stop signs
  
• weave in and out of traffic
  
• play loud music
  
• call out from their vehicles

Other road users who are riding motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles and skateboards

Narrow roadways, closed roads, and detours

Noise and bright lights from nearby hotels, restaurants, bars and amusement parks

Drivers who are faced with this bewildering array of lights, sound and movement must continually refocus their attention on their driving. This is particularly important for inexperienced drivers whose control of the vehicle may be somewhat tenuous; a crash could occur very quickly. The following tips will help:

Minimize distractions inside the vehicle:

• Turn the stereo off
  
• Ask passengers to quiet down
  
• Don't eat, drink or smoke
  
• Turn your cell phone off
  
• Ask a passenger to act as a navigator instead of looking at the map or directions yourself

Avoid stopping or turning suddenly:

• Drive at or below the posted speed limit
  
• Maintain an adequate following distance
  
• Use your turn signal
  
• Keep driving normally and turn around in a safe place if you miss your turn

Scan the road ahead and your mirrors for trouble:

• Watch the road ahead while taking quick glances further ahead and in your mirrors
  
• Don't let yourself be distracted from scanning - while you're staring at one thing, another hazard could develop outside of your range of vision

Ask yourself "What if...?"

• What if that pedestrian steps into the street?
  
• What if that bicyclist falls?
  
• What if that traffic light changes suddenly?
  
• What if that weaving driver is drunk?

Avoid careless, reckless, aggressive drivers and drivers who may be intoxicated:

• Keep a safe distance from these vehicles
  
• Avoid challenging these drivers with your vehicle, eye contact, or gestures
  

Remember, driving safely helps ensure a safe, relaxing spring break!

Labels: distractions, roadside, teen driving, tips for teens

Vehicle breakdowns are stressful and can even be frightening, depending on the circumstances. If your vehicle won't start in a parking lot, you have the advantage of being stopped in a safe place, but if the breakdown occurs while you are driving, you must take immediate action to ensure the safety of you and your passengers.

First, don't panic. Panicking may cause you to make the situation even more dangerous. Stay calm and follow a logical progression to get your vehicle safely off the highway.

Your first action should be to slow down. You should also look for a safe place to pull over, but you must have slowed your vehicle sufficiently to use the space you locate. Remember that if you pull off the pavement, your vehicle will lose traction; if you haven't slowed down enough, your vehicle could skid.

Once you have located a safe place to pull off the road, try to park where the disabled vehicle can be seen for at least 200 feet in each direction. Avoid pulling off in a curve or near a hill. Move the vehicle so all four wheels are off the pavement or traveled portion of the roadway.

In addition to making your vehicle visible, you must make it obvious that the vehicle is stopped. This is particularly important:

at night or in bad weather such as rain or fog, when drivers may be using the lights of other vehicles to guide them

considering drivers who may be sleepy or even under the influence of alcohol or drugs

on the highway, where drivers may be suffering from "highway hypnosis," a condition that sometimes occurs for people on a long trip

Turn on your emergency flashers, tie a white cloth to the left door handle or antenna, and raise the hood to indicate that your vehicle is stopped and disabled.

Be careful when exiting the vehicle. When the way is clear, exit carefully but quickly and close the driver-side door behind you. Walk to the passenger side of your vehicle. Passengers should exit the vehicle on the side away from traffic.

Labels: highway, roadside, safety, vehicle

posted by NSC - Traffic Safety  # 9:02 AM

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