Driver Safety Tips from Voice on the Go – Summary for Sept / Oct

Voice on the Go recently started its weekly "Voice on the Go Safety tip Tuesday" on Twitter; every Tuesday, we tweet a new safety tip reminding users to stay safe on the road. Whether it is Tuesday or not, we certainly believe it is important to drive safely every day of the week. Here is a short summary of tips from our recent months.

1. Back to school time! Be extra alert when driving in school zones and exercise caution near school buses.
Late August and early September is the time of year in North America where most children are heading back to school. Over 800,000 children are driven in school buses each school day. Always stop for a school bus that has its upper red lights flashing, and be alert for children at crosswalks. If you witness a car passing a stopped bus with its lights up, report the details of the situation to a police station as soon as possible. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation also provides a resource guide for improving school bus safety.

2. Don't disregard the seat belt, always have it on. You'd be surprised how many people still forget.
While this may seem like one of the most basic rules, a number of individuals still forget or do not bother to buckle up. This is not only against the law in several countries, but greatly increases the chance of injury in crashes. Reminder chimes and lights can be a great help in keeping your seat belt on for every ride. The few seconds it takes to put on a seat belt could possibly save your life.

3. Always check your blind spot when driving!
As well, checking your blind spot can greatly prevent careless mistakes and accidents. Adjust your mirrors accordingly, and look over your shoulder when making lane changes. When backing up, make sure to check behind you for others that might be nearby.

4. By planning your driving route in advance, you can prevent accidents and erratic behaviour.
A lot of times, unplanned or unfamiliar routes could lead to making random and sudden decisions, in turn causing greater likelihood of accidents. When taking a new route for your first time, map out your journey and keep the directions handy. Look over the steps again to better familiarize yourself with the route. Lots of GPS apps are now available to help with this. If you make a wrong turn, pull into a parking area / driveway where you can easily turn back, or check for ongoing traffic and surroundings while making a U-turn (and make sure it is legal to make a U-turn in this area).

5. Driving while stressed can cause a lack of focus. Take a breather before you take off.
It's important to have your mind clear and stress-free while driving. Increased stress may cause road rage or aggressive driving behaviour, and also contributes to distracted driving. If you feel that you are unable to focus on the road, slow down or go for a rest stop. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

6. Keep a clear view when driving; large objects (such as in the back seats) could obstruct your view.
This is also important for checking your blind spot - if you have large objects in the front/back of your seat that may block your mirrors, try fitting it into your trunk or find other alternatives to transport materials.

7. Never use a child's safety seat for your pet; there are other solutions:
Child safety and booster seats are designed specifically for babies and children, and thus should not be used for anyone or anything else. Depending on the pet, there are several travel products to protect your pet, including their own seat belts, restraint systems, and traveling barriers. Pet Auto Safety has a wide variety of products to keep your pet safe and secure on the road.

8. Keep long distance driving in moderation; stop every two hours and rest if you're growing exhausted.
It's important to keep your eyes on the road, but difficult to keep your eyes on the road non-stop, especially during road trips. Driving great distances and for long periods of time can increase fatigue and eventually make you lose focus, causing greater risk or danger for yourself and others. If another driver is in the car, consider taking turns driving every two hours. Otherwise, take a rest stop when necessary.

Don't forget that Voice on the Go can also help you stay safe and greatly reduce the number of accidents on the road - try it now!

Follow Voice on the Go on Twitter for more tips, news and updates. If you have driver safety tips you would like to share, let us know via @Voiceonthego or #VoiceOnTheGo .