August 8th, 2005
For many high school students, the summer meant freedom from homework, freedom from rigid schedules and freedom from relying on their parents for transportation. Now, equipped with newly acquired driver’s licenses, these same high school students will head back to school behind the wheel of a car.
Driving is a lot of responsibility and teens tend to overlook safety. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), crashes involving drivers ages 16 through 20 rose 1.3 percent in 2003. Teenage drivers have twice as many fatal car accidents than drivers overall.
The increase in teen car accidents can be attributed to the number of teens actually on the road. The Federal Highway Administration reported that the U.S. had 9.3 million fully licensed drivers age 16 to 19 in 2003. Efforts are currently underway to help teen drivers increase driver safety and awareness.
Among them is the “Safety Rules” campaign sponsored by College Bound Teen magazine and Precision Tune Auto Care. Pass this information on to your students so they can take the “Safety Rules” survey to see what your driving safety knowledge level is!
Make safe driving a way of life by following these twelve tips compiled by the “Safety Rules” campaign!
Operate the windshield washer system before driving. The windshield wipers should clear the windshield in one full cycle.
Don’t talk and drive. Having a cell phone is an important safety tool in case of an accident, but talking and driving don’t mix. Drivers need to be fully alert and focused on the road.
Get to know your vehicle. Information on y0ur vehicle is found in the owner’s manual. Read it before you drive.
Relax…and enjoy the ride. Remember, fast, aggressive driving, on average, saves only 30 to 40 seconds.
Make sure your lights are working. Once a month perform an inspection of all external lighting. The ignition must be turned to the “ON” position to check lighting such as the blinkers.
Tire safety. Get into the habit of walking around your vehicle prior to getting in. Look at the tires’ inflation level, do they all look the same? Proper tire inflation specifications are located on the door jam, gas cap door or trunk deck lid. Learn the proper procedure for changing a tire.
Check the engine oil. The vehicle should be on a flat level surface wit the engine stopped. Wait 3 to 5 minutes before checking the oil.
Check the engine coolant. Do not raise the hood if steam is visible. If the radiator cap must be removed, the vehicle should be cold. Remember engine coolant can be very hot.
Regularly check the clutch master cylinder fluid. Clutch fluid can usually be seen through a clear reservoir. Most clutch fluid reservoirs have a Min. and Max. mark. If the clutch fluid level is not visible, the vehicle may not shift into gear easily.
Adjust your mirrors. The rear view mirror should be adjusted and checked both in the day and night position. Side mirrors should be adjusted such that your vehicle is almost not visible. This helps to reduce what is called the “blind spot.”
Keep safety items on hand. Your safety kit should include a first aid kit, flashlight, blanket, flares, water, ice scraper, emergency phone numbers and equipment to change a flat tire.
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