Drive safely to protect yourself, your family, others
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To drive safely, it is important for all of us to follow the following recommendations that are from the USA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time - Wearing your seat belt can save your life and reduce the risk of injuries if you're in a crash. Always place the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and away from your neck, and place the lap belt across your hips, not your stomach. You should never put the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm. Remember: Buckle up. Every Trip. Every time.
• Ensure Children Are in the Right Seat - It is so important to choose the right seat, install it correctly, use it every time your child is in the car, and know when it's time to transition to another type of car seat or seat belt. NHTSA can help you with child car seat recommendations based on your child's age and size. NHTSA also offers seat belt safety tips for teens. Remember that the back seat is the safest place for children under age 13.
• Drive Sober - Driving while impaired is a dangerous, deadly crime. In every state, it's illegal to drive impaired by any substance including alcohol or other drugs, whether legal or illegal. Being a responsible driver is simple. If you're impaired, do not drive. If you are hosting an event where alcohol will be served, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver and don't hesitate to stop someone from getting behind the wheel after drinking.
• Pay Attention to the Road, Obey Speed Limits, and Never Drive Drowsy - Distracted driving includes talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, adjusting your entertainment devices, your navigation system, and anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving. Texting or holding a cell phone to talk is illegal in many states. Remember that driving safely always requires your full attention. Obey speed limits because speeding puts you, your passengers, and all the people you share the road with in unnecessary danger. Never drive drowsy. Making sure you get enough sleep daily is the best way to protect yourself against the dangers of drowsy driving.
• Pay Attention to Flashing Lights - Whenever you see a vehicle moving with flashing lights on any road, you need to slow down, and perhaps even stop by the side of the road. All 50 states have Move Over laws to protect law enforcement officers, emergency responders and other roadside workers. Flashing lights also include watching out for school buses in neighborhoods and communities. If a school bus has its yellow lights flashing, you must slow down and prepare to stop. If the red lights on a bus are flashing and its stop-arm is extended, you must come to a full stop. You then need to wait until the flashing lights are turned off and the bus begins moving again. Even when a bus doesn't have flashing lights, whenever we are near a school bus, we all need to take extra care to look out for any children that may be near the bus.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Jim Surrell is the author of “The ABC’s For Success In All We Do” and the “SOS (Stop Only Sugar) Diet” books. Contact Dr. Surrell by email at sosdietdoc@gmail.com.