1. Always wear a safety belt. Safety belts save lives and help reduce the risk of serious injury in the event of a crash. Every passenger should wear a safety belt for every car ride, no exceptions.
2. Only use hands-free mobile devices. This year, vow not to call, text, sort music or otherwise play with your mobile device while behind the wheel. If you must talk on the phone while driving, use a hands-free headset or pull over to a safe location first. In 2009, 36 percent of crashes were caused by distracted drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Enforce the rule with young drivers in your house too. Fifty percent of teens admit to texting while driving, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
3. Keep your cool. Let go of road rage. That means taking a deep breath when someone cuts you off rather than honking your horn or tailgating. It also means slowing down and steering clear if you see a driver acting erratically. The risks are real: Up to 56 percent of fatal crashes are caused by aggressive driving behavior according to the AAA Foundation.
4. Follow the speed limit. You may be in a hurry to save some time, but slowing down could save your life. According to NHTSA, speeding is a contributing factor in 31 percent of fatal crashes. Male drivers age 15 to 24 are particularly at risk—37 to 39 percent involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
5. Stay grounded in a skid. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) applies anti-lock brakes (ABS) to individual tires to help keep your car going straight in a slide. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires all 2012 vehicles to include ESC, an improvement estimated to save up to 9,600 lives and prevent up to 238,000 injuries each year. If your car does not have ABS, tap your brakes to avoid locking your wheels and going into a slide.
2. Only use hands-free mobile devices. This year, vow not to call, text, sort music or otherwise play with your mobile device while behind the wheel. If you must talk on the phone while driving, use a hands-free headset or pull over to a safe location first. In 2009, 36 percent of crashes were caused by distracted drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Enforce the rule with young drivers in your house too. Fifty percent of teens admit to texting while driving, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
3. Keep your cool. Let go of road rage. That means taking a deep breath when someone cuts you off rather than honking your horn or tailgating. It also means slowing down and steering clear if you see a driver acting erratically. The risks are real: Up to 56 percent of fatal crashes are caused by aggressive driving behavior according to the AAA Foundation.
4. Follow the speed limit. You may be in a hurry to save some time, but slowing down could save your life. According to NHTSA, speeding is a contributing factor in 31 percent of fatal crashes. Male drivers age 15 to 24 are particularly at risk—37 to 39 percent involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
5. Stay grounded in a skid. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) applies anti-lock brakes (ABS) to individual tires to help keep your car going straight in a slide. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires all 2012 vehicles to include ESC, an improvement estimated to save up to 9,600 lives and prevent up to 238,000 injuries each year. If your car does not have ABS, tap your brakes to avoid locking your wheels and going into a slide.
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