Driving in Severe Thunder and Lightning Storms
Written by Dave on July 20, 2010
- Tune in to your radio to stay informed of approaching storms.
- If you see a tornado or hear a tornado warning, don’t try to outrun it.
- Turn on your headlights (low beams) and slow down. Many states require the use of headlights during rain.
- Allow extra distance for braking.
- Do not drive unless necessary.
- Pull safely onto the shoulder of the road away from any trees that could fall on the vehicle.
- Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rains subside.
- A vehicle provides better insulation against lightning than being in the open.
- Avoid contact with any metal conducting surfaces either inside your vehicle or outside.
- Avoid flooded roadways.
- Avoid downed power lines.
- Check your windshield wipers and tires regularly to insure that they are ready for severe weather.
- Approach intersections with caution
- Treat traffic lights at intersections as stop signs.
- Slightly open windows to avoid fogging.
Posted in: Safety
Flash Flood Safety
Written by Dave on June 20, 2010
7 Things to Know about Flood Safety
Flooding can occur as streams and rivers overflow their banks, when dams or levees break, or any time there is rainfall with significant duration and intensity. Flash Floods come rapidly and unexpectedly.
Be cautious during storm seasons, or any time that flooding is common in your area.
1. You may not have warning that a flash flood is approaching.
2. Do not drive through flooded areas. If you see a flooded-out road ahead, turn around. Find another route to your destination.
3. If there is no other route, get to higher ground and wait for the waters to subside.
4. Even if the water appears shallow enough to cross, don’t try it. Water hides dips in the road. Worse yet, there may be no road at all under the water. Flooding can scour away the entire road surface and a significant amount of ground beneath.
5. If your vehicle stalls, abandon it immediately and climb to higher ground.
6. Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control or possible stalling.
7. One foot of water will float almost many vehicles.
Posted in: Safety
“Back to School” Driving Tips
Written by Dave on August 11, 2009
It’s back-to-school time! Over the next few weeks, children of all ages will be returning to school. Whether driving on the interstates to college or walking on side of the road and waiting for buses, expect to see a lot more people on the roads and more erratic driving behavior. What can you do to handle these unique driving challenges?
- 1. Plan your trips to give yourself a little extra time to handle the increased congestion that may occur during school hours, particularly around school zones. This will help ease potential frustration and keep you focused on your task at hand.
- 2. Watch for cars that are overloaded with gear, a good indication of someone returning to college. Likely this reveals a younger driver who may lack the experience of highway driving, may be driving for too long a period of time, and whose field of vision is impaired. In any case, expect the unexpected.
- 3. During local drive, be alert for children near school buildings, in areas where school buses are traveling or where there are signs for school zones or bus stops. Younger children are unpredictable and cannot judge the speed and distance of your vehicle. Always anticipate the chance that a small child may run in front of you by slowing down and preparing to brake.
- 4. It’s always a good idea to turn your headlights on in areas with children and pedestrians. AAA says that the use of headlights can reduce pedestrian accidents by about 25 percent.
- 5. Avoid honking your horn at pedestrians or bicyclists as the noise has the potential to startle the child and force them into further unpredictable behavior.
- 6. When driving around school buses, remember that if you are approaching a school bus from either the front or behind, and its yellow lights are flashing, the bus is preparing to stop. If the buses red lights are flashing, you must stop even if you are on the opposite side of a divided highway or on multiple lane roadways.
- 7. Obey posted speeds.
A little more preparation and vigilance on your part will help avoid the potential for disaster, even if you are not at fault.
Posted in: Safety
July Wellness Topic
Written by Dave on July 1, 2009
This month’s topic is Eye Injury Prevention. Stop by the clinic and peruse through materials on preventing eye injuries at work, safe use of eye cosmetics, and to get a baseline check of your distance vision.
Posted in: Safety
Get Ready for Roadcheck 2009
Written by Dave on April 29, 2009
During a 72-hour period during the first week of June, over 8,500 inspectors will be inspecting over 60,000 vehicles.
That’s a little more than 14 vehicles every minute.
Some facts to consider regarding last year’s Roadcheck event:
• A record 67,931 inspections were conducted.
• Of the vehicles inspected, 20.8% were placed out of service for mechanical problems (that’s about 14,130 vehicles).
• The driver out-of-service rate was 5.3%, mainly for hours of service violations (that’s approximately 3600 drivers).
Start preparing now.
Posted in: Safety
