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What Causes Aggressive Driving

• Crowded roads
• Being in a hurry
• Road work
• Stress from other areas of life
• Dangerous driving attitudes
• Selfishness

Help prevent aggressive driving

• Report incidents of aggressive driving to the Police
• Set an example for younger passengers

How To Avoid Becoming An Aggressive Driver

• Plan ahead
• Obey the speed limit
• Identify alternative routes
• Just be late
• Be a courteous and patient driver

How to protect yourself from aggressive drivers

• Get out of the way and let an aggressive driver pass
• Don't challenge them
• Avoid eye contact
• Always be a courteous driver

Spot Impaired Drivers

• Making wide turns
• Weaving, swerving, drifting, or straddling the center line
• Driving on the wrong side of the road
• Speeding up and slowing down inconsistently
• Braking erratically
• Slow response at traffic signals
• Turning abruptly or illegally
• Driving with their headlights off after dark
• If you are in front of an impaired driver, turn right at the nearest intersection and let them pass you.
• If the impaired driver is in front of you, stay a safe distance behind.

Be A Responsible Host

• Collect your guests' keys at the door when they first arrive as a precaution.
• Plan ahead for the timing of alcohol consumption. Serve foods throughout your gathering that help absorb alcohol from the bloodstream. Put the alcohol away at some point to give your guests time to allow the alcohol to work its way out of the bloodstream.
• Remember that coffee and cold showers will not work to remove the affects on alcohol on the body. Time is the only answer. A person can get rid of 1 drink per hour.
• Appoint designated drivers to drive your guests home who are not in shape to drive.
• Offer non-alcoholic beverages to your guests as an alternative.
• Never offer drinks to anyone under 21 years of age at your gathering.

Distracted Driving

• Using vehicle controls
• Cell phone use
• Eating, drinking and smoking
• Reading
• Domestic issues
• Loud music
• Conversation
• Daydreaming

Cell Phone Use Recommendations

• Avoid talking on the phone while driving
• Use the voice mail option on your cell phone, as the majority of crashes involving cell phones are related to receiving incoming calls
• Let a passenger make and answer a call for you
• Whenever possible, pick a safe place, well off the road (parking lot or rest area) to make and receive calls where you can devote your full attention to your call
• Plan your conversation and keep it short

Signs Of Driver Fatigue

• Difficulties in focusing
• Drifting to either side of the road
• Taking longer than normal to react to a dangerous driving situation
• Failing to scan the roadway and mirrors
• Dropping off to sleep, even for an instant
• Failing to remember the previous few miles of the trip

How To Avoid Driver Fatigue

• Plan ahead to drive during daylight hours
• Avoid steady driving around your usual bedtime
• Eat small meals while traveling
• Stop frequently (at least every two hours) and walk around
• Don't focus your eyes on one spot
• Don't expect fatigue to be relieved by caffeine

Winter Survival Kit 10-Point Checklist

Be Mentally Prepared

• Leave earlier for your destination
• Use main roads or arteries whenever possible
• Use your knowledge of the area to your advantage
• Expect traffic to travel at a slower pace

Skidding

• Avoid using cruise control in wet weather driving conditions
• Look farther ahead and pay particular attention to "hot spots": bridges, culverts, on and off ramps and elevated highways. Be alert for "Black Ice."
• Avoid unusual driving maneuvers that could induce a skid
• If you find yourself beginning to skid, ease up on the accelerator, keep a firm grip on the wheel, and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.

Remain Calm

• Don't let your emotions affect your driving
• Realize that traffic moves at a slower pace during inclement weather

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Visibility Is The Key

• Clear off snow and ice from your vehicle before starting out
• At intersections, pull up farther to increase visibility
• Switch headlights on low beam to avoid glare

Increase Your Following Distance

• Slow down and increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you
• Add more space as conditions worsen
• Don't be afraid to shift into a lower gear to reduce speed
• Observe other vehicles to determine existing road conditions

Common Sense Is The Key

• Ask yourself the following questions
• Is this trip really necessary?
• Is my vehicle ready for this trip?
• Am I mentally and physically prepared to make this trip?

Air Bag Tips

• Sit back at least 10 inches for the steering wheel and dashboard
• Always wear your seat belt properly
• Always seat children aged 12 and under in the back seat even if there isn't an air bag in front. The back seat is the safest in most crash situations
• Never install a rear facing infant safety seat in the front seat of a car equipped with a passenger side air bag
• If your steering wheel tilts, direct it toward your chest, not your head
• If you are pregnant, place the lap belt below your abdomen with the shoulder portion over your collar bone.

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Seat Belt Tips

• The lap belt should be adjusted so it is low across the hips and pelvis, never across the stomach. Adjust the belt so it is snug.
• The shoulder belt should cross the chest and collarbone and be snug.
• Your safety belts cannot work properly if you have the seat back in a reclined position or if you are slouched in your seat. The shoulder belt will not be against your chest and the lap belt could ride up over your stomach. For the best protection, keep the seat upright and sit back in the seat.
• Do not put the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arms. Your head and chest could strike the steering wheel, the dashboard, or the back of the front seat. You could break ribs and be seriously hurt.
• Restrain infants and children in age and size appropriate child safety seats. Safety belt do not provide the best protection for children. The best place for children is in the back seat whether or not the vehicle has air bags.
• Never place a child safety seat in the front seat of a car equipped with air bags.