Seatbelt Safety

Click it or Ticket. 

Nationwide safety program that has focused on wearing your seatbelt.  We are all guilty, or have been in the past, of just running down the road so you don't wear your seatbelt.  I have to be honest as much as I think about the importance of wearing my seatbelt it often takes that annoying "beep" to remind me to put it on.

The click it or ticket campaign gave out over THREE million tickets over the last five years.  That is a ticket every other second.  (NHTSA)

 

Seat Belts: Your Single Most Effective Safety Step (Taken directly from the National Safety Council):

"Seat belts are the single most effective traffic safety device for preventing death and injury, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of crash injuries by 50 percent. They save lives:

• Seat belts saved more than 75,000 lives from 2004 to 2008.
• Forty-two percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2007 were unbelted. A 2009 NHTSA study estimates more than 1,600 lives could be saved and 22,000 injuries prevented if seat belt use was 90 percent in every state.

The good news is, in 2009, seat belt use averaged 88 percent nationally, compared with 69 percent in 1998. NHTSA attributes this increase to the "Click It or Ticket" campaign, originally created by the National Safety Council as part of its Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign.

Nationwide, seat belt use is higher than ever. Yet seat belt use remains lowest among young drivers. NHTSA also reports that, in 2007:

• Seat belt use was lower among blacks than any other race.
• Seat belt use was higher among females than males.
• Seat belt use was lower among drivers who drove alone than drivers with passengers." 

If you want to know what the laws are about seatbelts or child restraints in your state click here.

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Common myth about cars: Part 3

Myth No. 3: Change your oil every 3,000 miles.





Not only are gas prices rising....but now they want us to get an oil change "service" every 3,000 miles.  It would cost less to quit your job and stay home than it does to drive your car anymore. 

I have to admit.....I have fallen for this one.  I never went more than 3,500 miles before an oil change...and it never failed every time I went in I needed a new air filter, oil filter, etc. and I fell for it.  (I think they took my air filter and ran it in leaves before they showed me)  Honestly, pound the stuff out, run a hose through it and it's clean....but no, I fell for it and paid (too much) for it.

Even though changing your oil every 3,000 miles won't hurt your vehicle....it will hurt your pocketbook.  Modern vehicles generally recommend an oil change every 7,000-8,000 miles. 

There are some synthetic oil that claim you can go 15,000 miles between oil changes (I couldn't do that...I would start to panic around 10,000 miles).

What should you do?  Follow your vehicle's manual for the recommended miles for an oil change.  (who thought that book in the glove box had so much information).

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Common Myth about cars: Part 2

Vehicles that require regular fuel benefit from a tank of premium gasoline once in a while.

With gas prices today do we really need Premium gas?  Jim Williams, senior manager at the American Petroleum Institute, says you have to experiment with your car to see if there is any improved performance.  Many premium grade "improvements" are just marketing gimmicks so make sure you do your homework.  It is recommended that you stick with your vehicle's recommended octane level.  If placing the wrong octane level in your car (going to premium when your manual recommends 89) you may mask a serious problem. 

The EPA (Environment Protection Agency) requires detergents in every grade so do what is best for your car.  It's not like it was years ago where the "cheapest" gas was really the cheapest gas and it could harm your car.

Want to know:  Next time you need a full tank of gas, pay a few cents more per gallon and track your mileage and performance.  If it helps than keep using it.  I tried this and didn't get any better gas mileage...in fact my mileage went down.

Do your homework, test your vehicle and decide for yourself.

No matter what your decision is on what type of gas to put into your car, please drive safe.

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Common Myths about cars: Part 1

Wiping your dashboard and tires with protective compounds.


You see people doing it all the time....cleaning their cars.  Cleaning them is one thing but when you go to the extreme of putting protective compounds; Armor All, etc. you can actually be risking your safety.  Shiny compounds on the dash can cause a glare while driving and on the tires can cause a slick surface during the wet seasons.

There are some experts that say that too much can cause deterioration of the dash or tires.  Okay, your dash gets cracks, no big deal but if your tires do...it can lead to your tires going bad sooner.  This can lead to an accident or costly replacements sooner than needed.

So what do you do?  Mild soap and water with a brush to the tires and a wet cloth to the dash of your car will work just fine.

Keep your car looking nice longer and keep yourself safe on the road.

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Share the road...watch for motorcycles

The facts of motorcycle crashes:  Provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation:  (2010)

• 51% of all motorcycle fatalities collied with another type of motor vehicle.
• 1,999 of the two vehicle fatal crashes involved motorcycles and another type of motor vehicle.
• In 770 of these fatal crashes the other type of vehicle was turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing or overtaking another vehicle.
• In 446 of these crashes both the motorcycle and the other vehicle were going straight.

It's not just the young ones who are hurt in motorcycle crashes.  Inexperience plays a factor but some to not start riding until later in life. 

borrowed from http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/Motorcycles

• The average age of motorcycle rider fatalities is 42.
• The 40+ age group makes up 39% of motorcycle fatalities.

This age group are MOTHERS, FATHERS, SONS, DAUGHTERS, AUNTS, UNCLES!!!  This age group has MANY people in their lives that need them to come home safely and it is up to everyone to do their part in making this happen!

Yes there are other factors in motorcycle crashes and fatalities such as speeding, alcohol and, yes the rider was, not wearing a helmet.  These factors are out of YOUR control.  What is in YOUR control is always looking out for motorcycles when you are behind the wheel.  As drivers it is OUR responsibility to drive safe and protect ourselves and everyone else on the road.  We cannot control all factors but we do have the ability to control what WE do and how WE drive.

Please drive safe and watch for motorcycles.

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Just how important is your car handbrake?

I have to be honest.....I don't think about my handbrake, I don't use my handbrake and, to be perfectly honest, had to go look to see where it was in my car.


In doing research for this topic I learned one thing about myself.....ooops.  I watched a video that a car rolled forward into a hotel because the handbrake failed.  (I am not attaching it to this because it just rolled toward the hotel and two guys were able to stop it...so this video doesn't give the "punch" that is needed for this subject....but keep reading..there is a video that does send the message).

I have been told that you need to check your handbrake a minimum of once a month..and like checking your tires it takes just a few seconds.

1. Find an ISOLATED place (video will explain why I capitalized and bolded the word isolated) and park your car on an incline. 
2. Lift on the handbrake.  The handbrake should engage within a few clicks.  (If you do not know what "clicks" are....welcome to my world).
3. If the handbrake takes too long then you need to get the cable and rear calipers checked by a mechanic.

It's that simple....so the next time you find yourself near an incline, with no possible chance of hurting anyone (or yourself....this video will explain that comment) test your handbrake.  The video is pretty boring for the first minute so if you need to forward it...the excitement happens about one minute 20 seconds into the video.)

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Understanding tires and how they can keep you safe

Tire tread....it is what will keep you safe while driving.



According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration):

Tire Tread
"The tire tread provides the gripping action and traction that prevent your vehicle from slipping or sliding, especially when the road is wet or icy. In general, tires are not safe and should be replaced when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch. Tires have built-in treadwear indicators that let you know when it is time to replace your tires. These indicators are raised sections spaced intermittently in the bottom of the tread grooves. When they appear "even" with the outside of the tread, it is time to replace your tires. Another method for checking tread depth is to place a penny in the tread with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, you are ready for new tires."

Tire Rotation
"Rotating tires from front to back and from side to side can reduce irregular wear (for vehicles that have tires that are all the same size). Look in your owner's manual for information on how frequently the tires on your vehicle should be rotated and the best pattern for rotation."

A Tire Rotation Example
For maximum mileage, rotate your tires every 5,000 miles. Follow correct rotation patterns. 

Picture provided by the NHTSA website

I understand the trouble it takes and the time it takes to check your tires....a whole 30 seconds on each one....allowing 15 seconds to move to the next one.....THREE whole minutes and a penny. This reminds me of "I don't want to wrinkle my clothes so I don't wear my seat belt" reasoning. Imagine how wrinkled your clothes get from a car accident...or worse yet how damaged they get if the First Responders have to cut them off you.

Bad  tires can cause injuries that will take longer than THREE seconds to recover from.  Let's imagine you check your tires once a month for the entire life you drive.  Starting at age 16 and going to the age of 80.  This is 64 years of driving at 36 minutes a YEAR of precautionary measures is ONLY 2304 minutes which is LESS than TWO days of your driving life.  Now, if car accident injuries only lasted two days I would say, "ah, not worth it."  BUT THEY DON'T!!!  Car accident injuries can last a lifetime of recovery, pain and suffering....not to mention the emotional distress that can be caused if a life is lost in this accident. You and everyone on the road deserves to be safe....and for less than two days in your driving life you can help this happen.

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Why tire pressure is important

Each vehicle is different and the pressure required for your tires will be as different.  The only thing that remains the same is how essential it is to know what your tire pressure should be for the vehicle you are driving. 

Because tires are designed to be used on more than one type of vehicle, tire manufacturers list the "maximum permissible inflation pressure" on the tire sidewall. This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever be put in the tire under normal driving conditions. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

 According to the NHTSA:  It is important to check your vehicle's tire pressure at least once a month for the following reasons:

1. Most tires may naturally lose air over time.
2. Tires can lose air suddenly if you drive over a pothole or other object or if you strike the curb when parking.
3. With radial tires, it is usually not possible to determine underinflation by visual inspection.

For convenience, purchase a tire pressure gauge to keep in your vehicle. Gauges can be purchased at tire dealerships, auto supply stores, and other retail outlets.

The recommended tire inflation pressure that vehicle manufacturers provide reflects the proper psi when a tire is cold. The term cold does not relate to the outside temperature. Rather, a cold tire is one that has not been driven on for at least three hours. When you drive, your tires get warmer, causing the air pressure within them to increase. Therefore, to get an accurate tire pressure reading, you must measure tire pressure when the tires are cold or compensate for the extra pressure in warm tires.

If you don't think that it can happen to you watch this video....even if you know it can happen this video is a great lesson learned.

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Checking your brakes to keep you safe

Properly operating brakes keep you safe!

What can the "average" person do to stay safe behind the wheel when it comes to your breaks?  The answer reminds me of what we learned when we were younger.....you have two ears for a reason.....the best thing you can do is LISTEN!



I have had this happen (before I knew what it meant), you are driving and you push the break and you here a squeal.  I have even had guys tell me "hey your brakes are squealing you better get them checked.  A squeal could mean your brake pads are thinning out and if they aren't taken care of you can get yourself in to serious trouble.  Serious trouble (meaning expensive and possibly deadly) is the "grinding" sound you hear.  When this happens your brake pads have worn completely down and now you have metal rubbing on metal.  When this happens it requires IMMEDIATE attention.

Now going further than "listening" you need to pay attention to how the FEEL.  You should not have to put the pedal to the metal when you are braking.  If you find yourself having to push the brake harder and further to stop than you need to have your brake fluid looked at or the brake line for any leaks. Earlier we talked about the grinding sound...this involves the rotors.  If you are braking and your brake pedal starts to shake or if you feel a vibration in the pedal it could mean your rotors need to be replaced.

Your braking system is ESSENTIAL to YOUR SAFETY and, in all honesty, everyone else on the road.  This video can show you what can happen if your brakes fail.  This was an accident in Moscow so you cannot understand what is being said....but if pictures are worth a thousand words than this video is worth a million.

Please drive safe!  Have your brakes checked every 10,000 miles OR every year, whichever comes first.

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Back to School. Getting them ready and keeping them safe.

It is that time already.  
School Supplies
School Clothes

This time of year always comes with mixed emotions...Parents are happy that routines get back to normal but cringe at all the school supplies that they are required to purchase for their children.

I don't know about you but I do know that when I go into WalMart and see all the list of supplies that each grade must have I wonder how it got this way.  I may be dating myself but when I went to school we needed a notebook, pencil, rule, glue and occasionally we would need poster board for science.  I don't know how parent's afford their children going to public schools when they have more than one child.  Many of my friends who have 2+ children in school all say the same thing, "with the cost of supplies it's difficult to buy school clothes."  Many of my friends will not purchase some items on the list because of the cost.  I understand that the budget is down for schools and I have the utmost respect for teachers but how do parents do it?

The response from children about going back to school is usually dread....until that first day.  The dread comes from having to wake up early and function before 8:00 am.

Now is the time to start getting your child(ren) ready for this.

• Start having them have that dreaded "bedtime" again and start making it earlier and closer to the time they will have when school starts.
• Start having them wake up earlier and gradually work towards the time they will need to wake up when school starts.
• If your child hasn't done much "school work" or "thinking" this summer get them back on track now.  Reading is a great way to get them prepared.
• Talk to your children about safety going to and from schools whether they ride the bus or not.  The bus stops, puts out the stop sign for cars to stop but let's be honest....none of us are "used" to that so start talking to your child(ren) now about safety of getting on and off the bus.
• If your child walks to and from school you can never talk to them enough about strangers approaching them.  Have a "code word" that only you, your child and anyone who would be allowed to pick them up would know. Here is the link to the Pueblo County Sexual Offender list.  Put your school and your home address in to see how many are in your neighborhood.  Want to see all of them in a nutshell go to this website.

Colorado Car Wreck | The Auto Injury Clinic is urging all drivers to please watch out for children in the upcoming months.  They will be walking, riding their bikes, getting on and off the bus.  Start today by watching for school zones and slowing down so when school starts the "lack of doing it" doesn't cause a child to by injured.  Let's make this a safe year going back to school.

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Please share any tips you have for getting ready for back to school

What is Road Rage?

We have all gotten angry while driving.  We have all either honked, or wanted to honk, at someone who has cut us off.  Some of us have actually given a few "gestures" while passing someone who has angered us on the road.

Matthew Joint, Head of Behavioral Analysis, states that in 1995 tailgating was the most common form of "road rage" followed closely flashing your headlights at someone.

Statistics show that 250,000 people have died in traffic since 1990. It is believed that two-thirds of these deaths are at least partially caused by aggressive driving, although only 218 were found to be a direct cause of angry drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 66 percent of all annual traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving actions, such as passing on the right, running red lights and tailgating. In addition to fatalities, there have been an estimated 20 million injuries; 12,610 caused by aggressive driving. These numbers show that there has been a 51 percent increase in aggressive driving incidents since 1990. Of these incidents, 37 percent involved the use of a firearm, 28 percent involved other weapons, and 35 percent involved the use of a car as a weapon. Related to this increase in aggressive driving incidents may be the fact that the number of drivers on the road is increasing; as of 1990, 91 percent of people drove to work.

This video is a minor incident of road rage but it's these minor incidents that, if they happen with the wrong person, could lead to car accident injuries or death.

In this video it was very fortunate that no one was injured or killed by this person who displayed extreme road rage.

Dr. John A. Larson, author of Steering Clear of Highway Madness, groups aggressive drivers into five categories: Speeders, passive aggressors, narcissists, vigilantes, and competitors. Several characteristics are related to the most typical aggressive driver: being under 35, single, no education and a mid-level income. Furthermore, although women are more likely to confess to angry driving, men are more likely to participate in true “road rage”, in which an angry driver intentionally harms another driver. Whether or not an aggressive driver takes physical action depends on the degree of anger he or she feels. “If someone pulls out in front of you or cuts you off, you may be justified at four or five on a scale of 10…if you’re up to seven to 10, though, that’s an exaggerated response,” says Larson.
Redford Williams, M.D., at Duke University, points to a hostile personality type as an indicator of someone who is more likely to get angry quicker. “They are also four to seven times more likely to die of other health problems by age 50 than are even-tempered people,” said Williams. For example, people with long drives to work are found to have higher blood pressure than people who take shorter routes to work. One frustrated commuter states, “it feels unnatural to forget about the jerk riding my tail or ducking in front of me to save half a second and some drivers—not me, of course – respond to overaggressive road behavior as if piloting a car were a contest. They drive to ‘win’ rather than simply to get to their destination.”

If you are an aggressive driver pay close attention to what Dr. John A. Larson says:  there is a reason you are an aggressive driver and it could be because of other issues in your life that could lead to health problems.

If you are a victim caught in the crosswinds of an aggressive driver remain calm and get away from the driver.  Never pull over in a deserted area.  Get the license plate of the aggressive driver and if you have a cell phone call 911.

Remember, no one's life is worth a little anger.  No death is acceptable under these conditions.  Please drive safe.

Colorado Car Wreck | The Auto Injury Clinic is there to help you if you are the victim of an aggressive driver.

Little accident can mean BIG injuries

Some of the "smallest" accidents can cause the biggest injuries.  It doesn't take a semi truck to hit you head on to cause serious injuries.




How many times have you heard of a car that was totaled and the driver walked away without any injuries?  When this happens you say, "someone was very lucky."

How many times have you heard of a "fender-bender" and the driver sustained many serious injuries?  I know, when you hear of these you say, "Ya right, this person is milking the system."

Honestly, some of the "smallest" accidents can cause the biggest injuries. About my car accident...it was a little one....for the car that is.  For me....yes I was "looked at" as if I wasn't really hurt.... it wasn't until additional tests that were run that it was discovered I really was hurt (imagine that).

What is important to know when you are involved in a car accident is that NO MATTER how LITTLE the accident was go see a DOCTOR.

If you do require emergency care....make sure YOU or someone you trust knows what is going on and what treatment you are being provided.  Emergency Room Doctors are NOT specialists...they are there to SAVE YOUR LIFE.  It is essential that YOU or someone you trust knows what is going on.

If you are in Colorado and you or someone you know is involved in a car accident, no matter how small I highly recommend Colorado Car Wreck | The Auto Injury Clinic.  I wish I would have known about them when I had my car accident.

If you have been hurt in a car accident and treated by Colorado Car Wreck please share your story and experience in the comment section.