| Every year in America over 10,000 new and | | | | you could be following too close. Please note that |
| inexperienced drivers become licensed. Distracting | | | | certain weather conditions may warrant additional |
| technologies such as text messaging, cellular | | | | space. |
| telephones, GPS navigation systems and as crazy as | | | | Scan The Area Ahead of You |
| it sounds, on-board DVD players added to the mix | | | | Do not fixate yourself on the car in front of you. It is |
| further hinders drivers ability to remain vigilant and safe. | | | | good practice to look ahead, as far as 15 seconds to |
| Add some adverse weather conditions and you could | | | | see on-coming hazards. Reduce the chance that you |
| potentially have a recipe for disaster. | | | | will have to slam on your brakes by using this |
| I am so glad that the hands-free cellular phone law | | | | technique. Fixating on the car in front of you is a |
| went in to effect here in California. I can recall | | | | dangerous habit. If the car in front of you isn't paying |
| countless incidents where someone would make a | | | | attention and needs to stop suddenly, so will you. If you |
| mistake on the road and sure enough when I pass | | | | look ahead of that car, you will know ahead of time if |
| them they are interacting with their cell-phone. | | | | there are cars stopped in front. Also practice looking |
| Furthermore, ladies put your make-up on before or | | | | through the windows of the car in front of you to |
| after you get out of the car. I used to drive my | | | | enable yourself to see in front of that car. |
| mothers car when I was a teenager and I could never | | | | Blind-Spots and Lane Changing on Multi-Lane Roads |
| figure out why every time I got in the car, the | | | | & Highways |
| rear-view mirror was pointed directly at my face. Was | | | | Many people rely on rear view and spot mirrors alone |
| there something I missed in driving school? Of course | | | | to change lanes. This is a dangerous habit because |
| with age and wisdom, and hindsight, I can now say for | | | | simply checking the lane next to yours prior to a lane |
| sure she was doing her face, endangering herself and | | | | change does not guarantee that the coast is clear. If |
| others. | | | | someone from the second lane over in the direction |
| I will proceed to list out a few tips to help you cope | | | | you wish to change lanes to is signaling and negotiating |
| with all the hazards out there on today's highways and | | | | a lane change there is a good chance that you both |
| roads. I can't guarantee that after reading this list you | | | | may simultaneously attempt to move into the same |
| will be a safer driver, but I can tell you that if you follow | | | | space. So always check your blind-spot. |
| these tips you will significantly reduce your chances for | | | | Never change lanes in to someones blind-spot. When |
| an accident. | | | | changing lanes into a lane, parallel to another vehicle in |
| 3 Second Rule | | | | the next lane over, be sure to make the lane change |
| To determine a safe following distance between you | | | | when you are in the drivers view. This is the tactic that |
| and the car in front of you, use the 3 second rule. Note | | | | should be employed by the opposite driver of the |
| an object that the car in front of you passes, such as | | | | situation in the previous paragraph. |
| a sign or tree. If you can count to three before you | | | | Please return for more articles on driver safety. I will |
| pass that same object, then you are at a safe | | | | continue to add personal tips that I use to keep my |
| following distance. Any less than three seconds and | | | | family and myself safe out on the roads. |