Top 10 ...
Updated: May 8, 2012
We know you're busy. There's a lot going on these days! But is multitasking, skipping a step or taking your eyes off the road worth risking a life? Driving should be taken seriously - in recent years, traffic fatalities have accounted for more than 30,000 deaths per year in the U.S. Before you hit the gas, be sure to complete these ten steps to help keep you and your passengers safe. Your fellow drivers will thank you.
- How are you feeling? Think about that before getting behind the wheel. Are you tired or ill and feeling drowsy? Have you had a few drinks? If you have any indication that your driving may be impaired, think twice and find another ride.
- How is your car feeling? Cars need TLC, too. When was the last time you changed the oil, rotated the tires or filled up with gas? Keeping your car in top form will reduce your risks on the road.
- Don't ever text and drive. When you're driving, how can you resist the urge to respond to a text when it so persuasively beckons? Download and enable the free AT&T's DriveMode app - all incoming texts will receive a bounce back message you've customized to let your friends know you're behind the wheel.
- Check the weather. It's best to stay off the roads if there is a threat of flooding, snow, ice or heavy thunderstorms.
- Don't forget to pack. Make sure to equip your car with a first aid kit, flashlight, blanket, map and a roadside safety kit, especially if you're planning a long trip.
- Stay focused on driving. Is the radio too loud? Passengers too rowdy? Are you also trying to eat or apply makeup? Be sure to take care of these things before taking off.
- Buckle your seatbelt. We can't say it enough. Seatbelts save more than 13,000 lives each year.2
- Watch your speed. Now that you've taken off, obey the speed limits! The limits, along with the signs and signals that go with them, are set for your safety.
- Watch other drivers. Try to avoid other drivers' blind spots, watch for parked cars that might open a door and be cautious in major intersections.
- Keep your distance. Refrain from tailgating - staying back a few feet could protect in an accident. If someone is tailgating you, let them pass.
The materials on this page were provided by AT&T.
