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Knowing the Safety Features of Your Car

Back 50 years ago, cars did not have the safety features that they have now. There were no seat belts, car seats, or the structural protection that exists today. Here are some features that you should know about.

Seat Belts

Seat belts are very important to the safety of the passengers in your car. You should make it a habit to check that everyone is buckled in before turning on your car and require that passengers in your car, including other adults, have seat belts. Your friends will learn quickly that it’s a rule. This safety feature is essential to keeping passengers safe in the event of an accident, so it shouldn’t be ignored.

Airbags

A newer safety feature is airbags. In the event of an accident, the airbag deploys to help keep you from hitting the dash, steering wheel, or window. Some vehicles have more airbags than others, including airbags in front of both the driver’s seat and passenger’s seat as well as on the sides. Some even deploy from the roof. They can cause injuries, but these injuries are less severe than if you didn’t have them. Make sure if you are in an accident in Chicago to contact a Chicago accident attorney to handle your case.

Hazard Lights

In case you are in an accident, or need to pull over to the side of the road for any reason, hazard lights can alert other drivers of your presence to increase your chances of not being hit. Although a small thing, hazard lights are essential to your safety.

Safety features in cars are getting better and better all the time.

Filed Under: Precautions, Travel Tagged With: , , , ,

Entrapment by Vehicle!

It’s not a funny issue, but, seriously, the title of this article could appear on many headstones for some drivers who ended up trapped in their cars after an accident. You’d be surprised at the shocking statistics in this day and age of the important seat belt standard and how many would definitely NOT like to be catapulted through the windshield during a head-on collision–but read on:

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ 2001 publication stated that 500 of 42,000 crash fatalities resulted due to the endangered driving being trapped (that’s right, TRAPPED) inside his or her vehicle. Can you imagine the unfortunate circumstance? Thinking if only someone could break open the door, a life could be saved? The only reason these people didn’t survive a car crash was because they couldn’t even get out of their car AFTER the crash! It’s pretty terrifying.

There are two devices available to prevent this problem: one is called the LifeHammer(R); and the other is known as the “Original Escape Tool”, the ResQMe(TM).

What the LifeHammer(R) is, essentially, is a device that utilizes razor-sharp blades, sharp enough to bust through windows with ease and slash seat belts. Ideal for use with upturned, submerged or immobilized vehicles. The second device, the ResQMe(TM), takes its cue from the LifeHammer(R) but with the convenience of a key chain size–basically something you can keep in your pocket. Its center punch-style cutters can practically drag cut lines on windows to make it easy for a trapped occupant to punch through as well as, of course, cut tight seat belts off. These two devices dramatically decrease the chances of getting trapped inside your car resulting from ANY accident. The LifeHammer(R) has a retail cost of $14.95 to $19.95; and the ResQMe(TM) costs $9.95 to $14.95.

Make no mistake, though; these devices can’t guarantee safety. Only you can. So be safe and try to avoid accidents. Thanks so much for reading.

Filed Under: Road Trips, Safety Tagged With: , ,

Ten Tips for Teen Drivers

Wow! You finally have your driver’s license. You have new mobility and new freedom. The quickest way to lose that freedom and mobility is to acquire traffic tickets or get into an accident. Here are some tips to be sure that you stay free and mobile.

Before You Drive
1. Clear windshield (front, back, and sides) of water, ice, and snow.
2. Make sure that everyone has their seat belt on. (Everyone in the car must have and use a seatbelt. If you have too many people and not enough seatbelts, then your group will need to take two cars.)

Eliminate Distractions
3. Turn down the radio. Now is not the time to blast the music. You need to be able to hear what is going on around you.
4. Do not talk on the phone, text, eat, apply makeup, or adjust your MP3 player while driving. Whatever it is you need to do can wait until you are at a stop sign or a traffic signal.

On The Road
5. Avoid potholes and debris in the road. Always check your mirrors and visually look over your shoulder before changing lanes. Remember to signal your lane change.
6. Avoid making left hand turns at busy intersections that don’t have a traffic signal. It’s faster and safer to drive a few blocks further and turn with a traffic signal.

Bad Weather
7. Turn on headlights so that others can see you.
8. Brake softly. Anticipate your stop well in advance and begin breaking early.
9. Triple the space you leave between you and other cars. This allows you more breaking time particularly if someone spins out in front of you.
10. Use extra caution on bridges and overpasses.

Driving is a life-long privilege that we have to earn every day by driving safely and continually developing our driving skills. Welcome to the roads.

Filed Under: Road Trips, Safety Tagged With: , ,