Driver Safety Basics
What is "defensive driving"?
Defensive driving is basically watching out for the other guy. In fact, I can remember when I was growing up, they had public service announcements that said "Watch out for the other guy." That's what you're basically doing. You can be doing everything right, you could be obeying every traffic law, but what about the other guy? He might not be obeying the traffic laws. So what you're doing is scanning the roadway from side to side. You're looking about 12 seconds ahead to see what's going on up in front. You're keeping your eyes moving constantly, not fixed in one place. You're checking the rear view mirrors every five to seven seconds. This is defensive driving; being aware of everything that's going on around your vehicle.
What is a "DUI" or "DWI"?
DUI means driving under the influence. DWI means driving while intoxicated. Some states use the acronym driving while impaired, DWI, also. Some states use driving while ability impaired, DWAI. Basically it means the same thing: driving under the influence of alcohol or another substance.
What is "car crash compatibility"?
Not all cars are car crash compatible. When you get in a car crash, it's not always a fair fight. You have cars versus SUV's and crossover vehicles, and if you think about it for a second, the bumper on your car may be at one level, and the bumper on the SUV you collide with may be much higher, and it's not a fair fight. So not all cars are created equal when it comes to crashes so not all cars are car crash compatible, and the severity of the crash could be more intense for you than it could be for the other person. And that's another good reason to avoid being in crashes and to drive safely.
What is the "crumple zone" of a car?
The crumple zone of the automobile is the thing that keeps the passengers safe inside the passenger compartment of the automobile, because around your car, the fenders and certain portions of the car have been designed by automobile manufactures to crumple, to collapse, to absorb the crash forces during the collision. The car won't make out so well, but you'll survive the crash.
What are "ABS" brakes?
"ABS" brakes stands for "anti-lock braking system," and it's one of the greatest things to come along in automobiles because it will help you stop your car safely, smoothly. In the past, if you wanted to stop quickly without spinning out of control, you had to pump the brakes. ABS does that for you. If you want to stop quickly, just smash your foot on the brake pedal and hold it down. You'll feel a slight vibration, but the ABS will pump the brakes by itself and bring the car to a complete, safe stop without swerving out of control. Most newer cars have ABS or anti-lock brakes; not all new cars have ABS or anti-lock brakes. If you have that option available to you when you buy your new car, you should have ABS added because anti-lock brakes is a great safety feature on all cars.
What is an "airbag" or "SRS"?
SRS means supplemental restraint system, and airbags fall into that category. So when you get in the new car and you see the letters “SRS“ on your steering wheel, that's what it means. It means you have airbags in the car. Could be front impact airbags that just come out of your steering wheel in the dashboard on the passenger side. Newer cars have airbags throughout the car. Side curtain airbags, thorax airbags, front airbags, back airbags. Pretty soon the car's going to be one big airbag. Just going to roll down the street like a beach ball.
What is a "curtain airbag"?
Side curtain airbags come out next to the driver's head, next to the passenger's head, because even though you might have front airbags which will protect you pretty well, there's always a possibility in a collision that your head will be thrown against the roof pillar or the window of the car. Side curtain airbags will prevent that.
What are "passive restraints"?
Everybody's familiar with some of the restraint systems in cars, like traditional seatbelts, but some cars, and I don't know why they did it, automatically wrapped around you when you closed the door. I was almost decapitated by such a restraint system in a rental car, trying to find out where the gas tank was. But these restraint systems wrap around you. The part of the restraint system that wraps around you is basically the shoulder belt. You still have to be responsible for buckling the lap belt, because unless you wear the whole passenger restraint system, the whole seatbelt, it will not protect you.
Why should I wear a seat belt or "passive restraint"?
One of the greatest safety features ever invented and ever added on automobiles was the seat belt, also known as a passive restraint. A seat belt keeps the driver and passengers in place, and in the event of a collision, that's where you want to be. You don't want to be thrown around in the car because in a collision, there are actually three impacts possible: the car hitting whatever it's going to hit, your body hitting whatever it's going to hit, and then your internal organs hitting whatever they're going to hit. So, by wearing your seat belt properly, it will save your life. You have to wear a seat belt, even if you're just going down the street.
How do seat belts work?
Seat belts are a restraint system in your car designed to hold you and your passengers in place in the event of a collision or sudden stop. If you are involved in a collision, certain portions of the car will collapse around you. That's known as a crumple zone. The seat belts will hold you within the passenger compartment and keep you safe. So, the car may not do so well, but you will be fine because of the seatbelt. You have to wear your seat belts each and every time you drive, whether you are going on a long trip or a short trip. Wear a seatbelt on even a short trip, because most car collisions happen within 25 miles of your home. I mentioned that to one person, he said he was going to move -- I don't know if that will help.
Do I have to wear my seat belt?
Most, if not all states right now have some sort of seat belt law requiring the driver and front seat passenger to be restrained. Not all states require rear seat passengers to be restrained, but as a safe driver, what do you want to do? You want to have everybody in your car buckled in from the front seat, rear seat. Therefore make everybody wear a seatbelt.
Do I need to use child seats?
Regarding children and child safety seats, the laws can about wearing child seats varies from state to state. A good rule of thumb is to always make sure your children are in a good quality car seat. Make sure they're in a car seat designed to fit a child their size. Some people try to cram their babies into car seats that are too small, or put their children into car seats that are actually too large and will not protect them in the event of a crash. So, make sure you have the right car seat. Make sure the child seat is secured properly in the car, either with a seat belt or on newer cars, the latch system that's installed. Make sure that you never use a car seat that's either used and has been given to you by someone else, one that you've possibly been offered at a garage sale or discount store having been used by another family. Finally, after a collision, always make sure to replace the child seat because there could be tears, dents, breaks or cracks you can't see with the naked eye, and therefore your child won't be safe in that seat.
