BOISE – As the summer winds down, AAA is sharing 7 keys to safe driving for the cold and gloomy months ahead.
“Just 4 in 10 Americans report having good driving habits that classified them in the ‘Safe Drivers’ category for our research,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. “While these keys are very important to share with teens and novice drivers, they are timeless reminders for everyone who gets behind the wheel.”
7 keys to safe driving
- Drive Attentively. Avoid texting, emailing, and inputting navigational directions while driving. Avoid grooming and messy foods that can take your eyes off the road.
- Drive Sober. Celebrate responsibly, and make arrangements for you and everyone in your group to make it safely home.
- Drive Alert. Get the recommended seven hours of sleep, and trade off driving with another person every couple of hours on longer road trips. Stop when you’re tired – in the long run, caffeine, music, and cold air can’t overcome fatigue.
- Drive at Safe Speeds – avoid aggressive speeds, tailgating, and weaving in traffic. Observe suggested speed limits on curves and hills, and keep freeway speeds off of surface streets.
- Buckle Up. Despite your best efforts, some crashes are unavoidable. Seat belts dramatically increase the chance of avoiding death and serious injury.
- Prepare for Wet and Icy Roads. When the weather gets bad, double or triple your normal following distance. Use good judgment and avoid going out in bad weather if possible.
- Watch for Wildlife. Actively scan the road, particularly at dawn and dusk.