Car Safety

For the highest level of safety as a driver on the road, you must be sure the vehicle you drive is up to standard. Before getting in your car and turning the ignition, be sure you have done the following:

1. Change the oil in your engine every 3,000-5,000 miles, or every three months, whichever comes first. Be aware of your oil level, as consistently low levels of motor oil could indicate a leak.
2. Check your transmission fluid level if you experience problems shifting gears. Make sure your car is running and in "Park" when you check.
3. Keep your radiator coolant, a mixture of antifreeze and water, at the correct levels.
4. Always keep a spare tire in your vehicle, as well as a car jack in case of a flat. Keep your tires inflated to prevent excess wear on the tires and to maintain fuel efficiency.
5. Make sure your car's battery is free of corrosion at all times in order to get the longest life out of it, usually three years or so.
6. Pay attention to your brakes; if they begin to whine, screech, grind, pull or you feel a softness when you press down the pedal, you may need to get your brakes or brake pads replaced.
7. Always have an emergency kit in your trunk in case of emergencies. Your kits should contain jumper cables, motor oil, de-icer fluid, a flashlight, emergency flares, a distress flag, first-aid kit, pocket knife, water, snacks, blankets, gloves, a hat, a cell phone, an ice scraper, shovel, a tow chain or rope and a jack.

1. Don't tailgate. Following the car in front of you too closely could cause an accident if that first driver has to stop short. You should follow fellow drivers leaving at least a car length between you. Double this length in bad weather conditions.
2. Use turn signals to indicate which way you are going. By doing so, you let the drivers around you know your intentions so they do not turn into you. Failing to use turn signals contributes to many accidents, especially those involving motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians as well.
3. Drive at the speed of traffic. Driving too slow or too fast pose dangers on the roadway. Too slow and you run the risk of faster motorists hitting you; too fast and you run the risk of hitting other motorists.
4. Plan ahead and use your mirrors. Monitoring your mirrors allows you to anticipate when you need to brake or make lane changes. You can also keep track of the cars around you and react to any actions they take.

Infants and toddlers: Use a rear-facing car safety seat until the age of two, or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the car safety seat manufacturer. The three types of rear-facing car safety seats are infant-only seats, convertible seats and 3-in-1 seats.

Preschoolers: Use a convertible seat (which converts from rear-facing to forward-facing) or a forward-facing seat with a harness for children two years of age or older that have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit.

School-aged children: Use a belt-positioning booster seat when your child is above the weight and height limits for their safety seat, until the vehicle's seat belt fit properly; this is typically when the child reaches 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between eight and 12 years of age.

Older children: Use the vehicle's lap and shoulder seat belts. Note that children under the age of 13 should be restrained in the rear seats of the vehicle for optimal protection.

Adults: Wear your lap and shoulder seatbelt at all times when driving or a passenger in a vehicle.

Regardless of your own preparation, accidents happen. 

1. Don't do unto others. If another motorist cuts you off, it is not a good idea to cut him off as payback. Retaliating on the roadway is the perfect recipe for an accident.
2. Stay out of the way. Give aggressive drivers the room they need to get around you. If others want to drive like maniacs, your best recourse is avoidance, usually by driving slow. 
3. Yield. Even if you have the right of way by law or plain common sense, when another motorist moves ahead of you, yield anyway to avoid further problems.
4. Be aware of your surroundings. Keep an eye out for others and their potentially bad habits to avoid accidents.
5. Rest and refresh. Considering that over 56,000 car crashes occur every year as a result of drowsy drivers, make sure that if you are driving and begin to drift off, pull your vehicle off the road and take a nap.