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| Vehicle Safety |
Your vehicle may be your salvation in today’s society. You need it to get to work, shop, transport the kids; all
vital to your everyday activities.
A person can take a lot for granted and be unaware of the potential hazards of operating the vehicle if they are not
aware of things they can do to prevent themselves from becoming a victim.
Consider the following safety tips when operating your vehicle:
Safety Tips:
- Drive with all of the vehicles doors locked. Keep windows rolled up when ever possible. For ventilation, remember
that the driver’s side window can be rolled up more quickly if you should need to do so.
- Keep your wallet, purse and other valuables out of sight while driving. Do not leave them on the seat next to you.
- Never pick up hitchhikers.
- If you see another motorist in trouble, do not stop. As you drive by, signal to the motorist that you are
going to get them help Call law enforcement to report the stranded motorist.
- If you feel you are being followed by another vehicle, drive to nearest fire station or law enforcement agency
and honk your horn. Or drive to an open active gas station or business where you can safely call for help, or
use your cell phone.
- If no "safe areas" are near, honk your horn in rapid short blasts and turn on your emergency flashers. DO
NOT drive to your home, or pull over to the side of the roadway. You could be trapped. Maintain your speed and
stop at the first safe area you see.
- If the vehicle following you appears to be a law enforcement’s "Unmarked Unit" and the "officer" wants you to
stop, especially at night, turn on your inside lights, wave to the "officer" that you know he or she is behind
you, do not speed up to get away. Pull into the first well-lighted AND active area, such as a convenient store
or opened business with people around. If the officer is a real law enforcement officer they will be behind you.
If it is a "fake", they will drive off. REPORT this fake officer immediately.
CARJACKING
Imagine having someone walk up to you while sitting in your vehicle, obeying the traffic signal, and having them
thrust a gun in your face and taking your vehicle from you.
Or having your vehicle stolen while you are parked (even in your own driveway) or getting gas.
This is called "Carjacking" It can happen anywhere, not just in traditional "high crime" areas and it is just as
likely to occur during daylight as it is after dark.
Parked vehicles, especially luxury models, equipped with sophisticated, built in alarm systems and theft deterrence
devices are becoming harder to steal.
Car thieves find it mush easier to steal a car or truck while to owner is in it or near by, with the keys, than it
is to break into a locked vehicle.
Safety Tips:
- Before you enter your vehicle, be alert to any activity near the vehicle. Pay attention to your surroundings.
- Have your keys ready when approaching the vehicle.
- If there is someone loitering around your vehicle, turn around, go back inside and ask for an escort to the
vehicle.
- Stay out of "high crime" areas after dark whenever possible.
- When stopped in traffic, make sure all doors and windows area secure.
- Leave your self and "out" in the event of trouble. Be able to drive out of your lane of traffic- up over
the curb is necessary- to get away from someone trying to enter your vehicle. Blow the horn and draw attention
to your situation.
CHILD SAFETY SEATS REQUIREMENTS - see the CHILD SAFETY Section
PARKING YOUR VEHICLE
Safety Tips:
- Always park in areas that are well lighted and will still be lighted when you return.
- Always lock the doors, no matter how soon you plan to return. When you return, have your keys in your hand.
Do not spend time fumbling in your purse or pocket for the keys.
- Look inside the front AND rear of the vehicle before opening it. Once inside, lock all doors.
- If you are experiencing vehicle trouble, drive to a safe, well lighted and well traveled area.
- Put on your emergency flashers and your parking brake. Raise your hood. Wait inside the vehicle with the
doors locked and the windows roiled up until law enforcement or someone they or you have called arrives to assist
you.
- If a motorist stops and offers to help, do not get out of the vehicle. Roll down the window slightly and ask
them to call law enforcement to your location.
ROAD RAGE
You’ve seen them; swerving in and out of traffic lanes, ignoring rules of the road and engaging in other rude and
"dangerous" behavior. Or maybe you are that bad driver?
Compare yourself with a group of 30 drivers recently surveyed from a large city who collectively had been involved
in 84 accidents over the past three years and received 49 speeding tickets, 39 moving violations and 92 parking
tickets.
Take a look at these questions to find out if you fit the profile.
- When you reach a stop sign and no one is coming from another direction, do you roll through instead of
stopping? (an overwhelming majority said they would not stop)
- Do you talk on a cell phone while driving instead of pulling off and stopping to talk? (77% said they would
not pull over while talking)
- Do you take your coffee and muffin or other food and drink on the road with you, using one hand to drive and
one to eat? (60% said they do eat and drive at the same time)
- If you’re out shopping in a crowded area, and are looking for a parking space, do you become focused on your
search that you lose sight of the cars and pedestrians around you? (More than half said they do)
- Do you hate driving behind SUVs or other large vehicles that obstruct your view? (more than half said they
are frustrated because the SUVs are wide and tall. Some said SUVs should have their own traffic lane)
- Does your driving change when you see a police vehicle near by? (nearly all said they drive more carefully
when a police car is in the area)
- Do you find yourself in confrontations on the road, either through verbal arguments or hand gestures, because
of either your own driving habits or the habits of others? (While 87% of the drivers questions consider themselves
at least somewhat courteous drivers, if not very courteous, at least half also admit making obscene or rude
gestures or comments to other drivers. Particularly those who cut in front of them on the highway. However,
they appreciate a thank-you gesture for letting another driver into their lane, and often give a wave of thanks
themselves when they cut into traffic)
The chances of you becoming the victim of a Road Rage attack are extremely remote, especially if you follow this
simple advice. The following points will help you to cope with the stresses and strains that some people perceive to
be present in modern driving.
By choosing to adopt the appropriate behavior and taking the correct actions, you will find that driving can be
stress-free and enjoyable.
- Try to see the other driver’s point of view. The vehicle that has just "cut you off" may well be driven by a
fool who doesn’t deserve a driver’s license. However, it might just be that the driver is rushing to see a
dying relative, or to witness the birth of his first child. These are not excuses, but when your mind is
somewhere else, you cannot fully concentrate on you driving.
- If you make a mistake, hold a hand up to apologize; this often relieves tension for everyone concerned.
After all, we all make mistakes.
- Avoid eye contact with other road users who seem to be challenging or aggressive.
- Leave room between your vehicle and the one in front, so you can drive away from a dangerous situation if
someone approaches with criminal intent.
- Keep your doors locked and windows rolled up while driving.
- Remember, a driver’s license is a PRIVILEDGE, not a RIGHT!
YOUR VEHICLE KEYS
Safety Tips:
- Always take your keys with you when you park and lock up your vehicle. Do not "hide" them inside the vehicle.
- Do not put any personal identification or home keys on the key ring.
- Be able to separate your vehicle keys from your home or business keys. You can purchase a detachable ring
for this purpose.
- Leave only your vehicle key with vehicle when it has to be valet parked, serviced or repaired.
VEHICLE IDENTIFCATION NUMBER ETCHING - VIN ETCHING
Vehicle owners can have their vehicle’s identification numbers etched on all windows of their vehicle to help prevent
theft. For a car theft, to replace all windows in a stolen vehicle can be very expensive, so they would rather steal
one that is not "etched"
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