Car Maintenance Checklist

Eighty-four percent of vehicles on the road need parts or servicing, according to a 2014 Car Care Council survey. Performing routine maintenance checks on your car is the best way to avoid these issues and make sure you and your family stay safe on the road. Here is a checklist of some of the most important maintenance items you should maintain to keep your car safe.

1) Brakes

Maintaining your car’s braking system is the most vital part of keeping your vehicle safe, says Autos.com, which provides a comprehensive safety maintenance checklist. Bad brakes can cause you to slide into a car in front of you, into an intersection or off the road. You can do a simple check of your brakes by pumping them several times with the engine off until you feel the pedal become firm. You should be able to hold the pedal for 10 seconds without feeling movement. If you feel movement or softness, get your brakes checked.

2) Tires

Keeping your tires in good shape is vital to maintaining control of your vehicle on the road. Bad tires can cause you to skid or swerve, which can be especially dangerous in bad weather.

Begin your tire inspiration by checking the sidewalls for nicks or bulges. If your tires are worn, they need to be replaced. Finally, check the pressure with a gauge and inflate if necessary. Check your tires once a month or before you go on a long trip, and replace them at least once every 10 years.

3) Lights and Signals

Your lights and signals let other drivers know where you are and where you’re going. If these indicators are not working, another driver might not realize you’re about to turn, or they might miss you in the dark. A comprehensive check of your lights and signals should include your brake lights, front and rear blinkers, front and rear hazard flashers, rear reverse lights, side marker lights, and high and low beam headlights.

4) Fluids

Maintaining proper fluid levels will help you avoid mechanical problems. It will also keep you from getting stranded, which can become a safety issue in bad weather or driving in the desert. A general inspection of your fluid levels should cover your brake fluid, engine oil, engine coolant, transmission fluid and power steering fluid.

5) Electrical and Safety Systems

Checking your instrument panel can give you an early warning of issues such as engine problems. Check to make sure no warning lights are on, such as lights to check your engine or airbags. Make sure all dash and accessory lights work properly. You should also check safety features, which include your seatbelts and horn. If you have a small child, check the car seat.

6) Engine Issues and Other Items

The checklist covers the most essential safety maintenance items, but there are a number of other issues that come up periodically. For instance, if your engine isn’t running properly, you might need to pop the hood to give it a look. Items you can glance at include your radiator, belts, hoses and spark plug wires, among others.  Occasionally, engine valves may need maintenance. Most valves use nitrile-based seals. These can become brittle from long-term overheating, causing problems such as low lubrication or flooding. Eric the Car Guy demonstrates how you can do a compression test to check the condition of your valves. It’s a good way to get a baseline of the mechanical health of your engine.

Source: Ruth Ann Monti/Social Monsters. Ruth Ann provides copywriting and content development for all things webby. Her interests include content development and SEO topics and small business issues, including technologies that support them.

The statistics don’t lie. Teenage drivers are responsible for an inordinately high proportion of motor vehicle accidents in the United States. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that 15-24 year old drivers are responsible for about 30 percent of accidents, even though they represent only 14 percent of the overall population. That means they are almost twice as likely to be involved in an accident than other age groups.

It seems obvious that the most inexperienced group of drivers would account for the highest number of car crashes. While underestimating dangerous situations, following too closely and failing to account for inclement weather are some of the most common causes for accidents amongst teens, a lack of driving experience doesn’t tell the whole story.

Teenage drivers also make poor decisions before even starting the car. Here are three easily avoidable choices that every new driver needs to be aware of.

Failure to Inspect The Vehicle

Most young drivers share a car with parents or other siblings, which makes inspecting your vehicle before you drive even more important. Walk around the car and visually check the tire pressure lights. Driving-tests.org has acomplete checklist of external features that should be inspected before you drive. Once inside, pay special attention to side and rearview mirror adjustment. Every driver has a preference when it comes to mirror placement, and you should always assume that someone has repositioned the mirrors since the last time you drove the car. Pick a fixed object in your blindspot–like a telephone pole or a parked car–and adjust the mirror until this object comes into view. Failure to account for other cars in a blind spot is one of the most common causes of accidents among new drivers. Your mirrors are the first line of defense.

Too Many Passengers

For teenagers, the ability to drive is synonymous with freedom, and that freedom typically includes picking up and transporting a carload of friends to school or the mall. However, the chance of an accident increases with each additional teenage passenger, according to the CDC. Every passenger is an opportunity for distraction and young passengers are far less likely to respect a driver’s need to focus on the road. During the first six months of driving, parents should limit the number of passengers to one. It’s the perfect number for getting your teen acclimated to driving with a controlled amount of distraction without them being overwhelmed by a car full of immature teens.

No Seat Belt

Teen drivers may not have a lot of experience driving, but they do have a lot of experience riding in a motor vehicle and wearing a seat belt. That’s why it’s so strange that teenagers have the lowest rate of seatbelt use. The CDC reports that in 2013, only 55 percent of high school students reported that they always put on a seatbelt when riding in car. In general, teenagers are more likely to take short trips, which can give them a false sense of security about their own safety. Make sure your new driver knows that a seat belt is for every trip, not just high-speed interstate travel. You are just as likely to get in an accident driving down the street as you are driving across the country. They should also have a zero tolerance policy for passengers who won’t wear a seat belt. In reality, no one is too cool for a little safety.

By Guest Author: Rachel Oliver

Driving at night can not only be bothersome, but also dangerous. It can be challenging as managing the wheel after dark is different from doing so in the day. Vision is reduced and it becomes difficult to spot vulnerable pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists and other motorists on the road. Apart from that, there is also the fear of the driver falling asleep behind the wheel and endangering several lives at once, including his own.

Most drivers think that it is extremely safe to drive at night, thanks to the reduced traffic. Owing to this misconception, these drivers tend to be unaware of the challenges of driving at night, not realizing that they’re probably sharing the road with those less responsible.

Here’s why driving at night is more dangerous than you think –

• Decrease in visibility, color recognition and depth perception are a few effects brought about by darkness. Apart from that, the peripheral vision is also compromised. Because of this, pedestrians, cyclists, bikers, and other vehicles often go undetected by motorists and vice versa.
• Several inexperienced and young drivers drive post sundown. They typically lack the skills and the level of concentration which come only with experience.
• We all know that the elderly tend to have a weak vision and need adequate light to be able to see properly. Driving in the dark can lead to a further decrease in the ability to judge speed and distance.
• Bars and pubs tend to be thronged with people at night, several of who return home late in their car or on foot and in an inebriated state.
• Going back home after a hard day of work and sharing the road with other fatigued drivers who may have travelled long distances can be risky.
• In certain areas, there is a risk of wildlife venturing on the roads in case of broken or removed fences.
• Criminals choose to step out in the open under the umbrella of darkness. They often victimize unsuspecting people by placing objects amidst the road to cause crashes and rob the passengers.

The best way to avoid the perils of night-time driving is by choosing not to drive once it becomes dark, and using more reliable modes of transport when partaking in long journeys. However, we do realize that it may not always be possible to put off late-night travels for daytime or better weather.

Mentioned ahead are a few tips on how to drive safely post sundown.

1. Prepare in Advance

Being prepared to deal with the situation can go a long way in ascertaining your safety. When gearing up for night driving, it is important that you clean your headlights, taillights, indicator lights, and all the mirrors. Apart from that, keep your windows clean on the inside and the outside. Make it a practice to do so once every week.

2. Of Horns and Headlights

Make sure the horn and the headlights of your car are in proper working condition. Honk whenever necessary to keep out of trouble. Avoid honking in silent-zones, though.

Care needs to be taken to see to it that your headlights are aimed properly. Misaligned headlights can blind other drivers and hamper your ability to see the road. It is best to keep your headlights on at all times when driving at night. This will help you see the road, as well as enable others to spot you from a distance, thereby avoiding collisions and mishaps.

When traveling through fog or driving behind another vehicle, keep your headlights on low. This will prevent your headlights from blinding the driver ahead of you. To eliminate glare from oncoming headlights, watch the right edge of the road and use it as a steering guide.

3. No Drinking and/or Smoking

Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or certain medications which warn against operation vehicles after consumption is to be strictly avoided. The rule of thumb is simple – don’t drink and drive. Even one drink can prove to be hazardous as it may make you drowsy.

Having said that, be alert when driving at night on weekends as that is when most people visit pubs and go to parties and consume alcohol.

Further, avoid smoking when you drive. The nicotine and carbon monoxide from the smoke can not only make you cough, it can also hamper night vision, thereby increasing the likelihood of being involved in a mishap.

4. Mind Your Speed

When driving at night, it is important to keep your speed low and maintain a considerable following distance to avoid an accident.

In some areas, wildlife wanders on to the streets at night. Certain animals such as deer travel in herds, which can prove to be hazardous. If you happen to come across one animal, reduce the speed of your vehicle immediately as there’s a high chance that more are around.

5. Keep Your Distance

It is difficult to estimate distances at night. Hence, you need to maintain a considerable distance from the vehicle ahead of you. As already mentioned, switch to low beams to avoid blinding the driver, and look towards the right edge of the road to avoid glare. This cannot be emphasized enough.

Look out for oncoming traffic and pay attention to headlight flashes when approaching hills or steep curves.

6. Pull Over When Necessary

Do not hesitate in pulling over to the side of the road and making frequent stops to eat light snacks and stretch your limbs. This will only make you more alert when on a long road trip.

Additionally, pull off as far away as possible from the road if you experience car trouble. Turn on your vehicle’s indicators, emergency lights and the inner dome light. Stay in the car until help arrives.

7. Have Your Eyes Examined

Most drivers experience eye fatigue due to long hours of driving, but choose to ignore it. Doing so, however, isn’t prudent. It is important to stop and rest or take a nap every few hours in between long drives.

It is best to visit your optometrist and have your eyes examined once a year. If you have vision problems only at night, a pair of simple glasses with anti-reflective lenses can be helpful.

Conclusion

Driving at night can be a necessary evil at times. It should be avoided as far as possible, but when it just cannot be evaded, keep the above tips in mind when hitting into the road. They should prepare you and your vehicle for the journey ahead, as well as enable you to steer clear of obvious troubles.

Author Bio: Rachel Oliver specializes in laws dealing with traffic defense and related niches. Updated with the latest happenings in the legal world, she shares her experiences and anecdotes through her write-ups on various websites. Interact with her through her Google+

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Few things are scarier than being in your car knowing that you lack the ability to help yourself in the case of an accident. Taking extra safety measures is imperative in today’s era of modern vehicles and frequent high-speed travel. Newer car models have safety features like side-impact airbags and sensors that let you know when your air pressure is too low, but there is other safety equipment that could help if you ended up in a dangerous situation on the road.

Satellite Phones

It’s critical to be able to phone emergency services if your car is disabled. Imagine that you blow out a tire and go careening into a ditch in the middle of the night. Your smartphone could be destroyed in the collision, or you may not be able to get a signal. In this case, satellite phones go beyond the limitations of basic wireless phones because they work through satellites instead of cell towers, meaning they can work in remote locations. The devices tether your vehicle to emergency services via a global-positioning link, and you are a guaranteed signal to make a call. In a story for CNET, Daniel Terdiman explains that satellite phones provide a crystal clear signal, even in a remote desert location.

Roadside Emergency Kits

Preparing an emergency kit to stash in the trunk of your vehicle could make a huge difference should you ever face the daunting situation of being stuck, especially in an unfamiliar or remote area.

According to Consumer Reports, you’ll need a tire gauge, jack and lug wrench, jumper cables, flares, a flashlight and a first-aid kit. These items can “aid you in getting help, signaling your car’s presence to other motorists, and tackling simple challenges.” The article suggests additional items for long-distance driving such as extra clothes, food and water, and different supplies for winter driving such as a blanket, small shovel and cat litter for slick surfaces. Also, a cell phone or satellite phone is atop the list because even if you have roadside assistance, you will need a phone to contact any sort of help.

Devices to Cut Glass and Seat Belts

After many accidents the doors are unable to open, and you might have to break free. However, doing so could injure you further. Devices like resqme can help motorists avoid this problem.

Resqme is a portable device that attaches to your keychain, and “pulls double duty as both a seat-belt cutter and window breaker,” according to Cars.com. It retails for less than $15 so it’s an easy purchase.

GPS Technology

These days, there’s no excuse to not be hands-free in the car. Fumbling with your phone for a navigation app or playing with your in-dash system can lead to a sudden accident on the road. Portable GPS devices are very useful for most vehicular travel, and range from $128 to $330, based on the desired features, says Top Ten Reviews. This type of technology can help you find the nearest gas station, avoid being needlessly lost in unfamiliar places and prevent you from getting stranded.

WRITTEN BY SOCIAL MONSTERS

By Guest Author: Paul Colley

Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death of people between the ages of 15 to 20 years in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents cause 36 percent of “all deaths in this age group

A study conducted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance in April 2011 analyzed over 800 crashes that involved teen drivers. It found that 75 percent of accidents were caused by teen driver error.

Teens & Car Accidents: Causes & Consequences

The following three common errors account for almost half of these crashes:

• Teens failed to survey the road ahead to detect and/or respond to hazards
• Driving too fast
• They were distracted by items inside and outside of the car

It is no surprise that parents often hesitate to hand over the car keys to their teenagers. If you are letting your teenager drive, make sure they are aware of and follow safe driving techniques to keep themselves safe on the road. Every teen driver can be subject to legal proceedings for driving or speeding carelessly. The situation gets worse if it is a case of driving under the influence

U.S. laws related to driving under the influence are strict and many state laws have zero tolerance for minors and alcohol. For example, driving under the influence in Texas will delay your teen’s driving privileges for 180 days (minor offense) and up to 2 years in the case of second or subsequent offenses. In addition to the suspended driving privileges, there are significant fines and classes that must be taken in order to get back your driving privileges.

The punishment is more severe with second or subsequent offenses and would likely include additional fines, court costs, and legal fees. That would be the best case, because more often than not, if a third party is involved and has sustained an injury on the account of an inebriated teen’s reckless driving behavior, there will be the added headache of fighting a skilled Austin personal injury attorney who will be fighting hard to secure the rights and privileges of the victim in the case.

Safety Measures: Let Technology Save the Day

The good news is parents can now monitor how their teen is driving thanks to technological developments. You can prevent your teens from speeding, encourage them to ignore the distractions on the road, and better protect them from a car crash. There are many safety gadgets available today that can provide a safer experience for your teens behind the wheel, helping them avoid car crashes.

Here are a few gadgets worth considering.

Hyundai’s Blue Link System

The 2012 Hyundai Sonata, Veloster and Sonata Hybrid come with the Blue Link telematic system. It automatically calls for help if there is a crash. Better yet, Hyundai’s Blue Link System alerts parents if their teens engage in unsafe behavior when driving. It also allows parents to better control the movement of their teens. For example, the Geo-Fence feature allows you to set boundaries beyond which your teen driver cannot go with the car. You can also set exclusionary boundaries for areas you do want your teen driver to go.

Another feature highly touted by parents is the curfew alerts feature. You can set the alert if you don’t want your teenaged son/daughter to drive the car after 11 P.M or even midnight. If they do, you will be immediately notified by text message, a phone call or email. Last but not least, the Blue Link system allows you to set speed alerts. If your teen driver crosses a particular speed limit, the system will contact you.

This system reduces the chances of your teens engaging in risky behavior behind the wheel.

Ford’s MyKey System

Ford’s MyKey system is standard on most Lincoln and Ford models. Using a programmable key, this system allows parents to control the way their teenage son or daughter drives. You can use this key to set a speed limit as well as limit the stereo volume. Better yet, there is an option that allows you to keep the sound system from turning on unless everyone inside the car has fastened their seatbelts. A sound also chimes as soon as the car speed reaches 45, 55 and 65 mph.

In addition, the MyKey system comes with optional hands-free control for cell phones. It can even read text messages automatically to the driver or block them altogether.

SafeCell

This is a very useful Android and iPhone app that helps you keep your teen driver safe behind the wheel. Using the GPS of the driver’s phone, this app determines the prevailing local text message and hands-free laws, and also alerts your teen drivers so they can comply. The best part of this app is that it not only reminds your teen drivers not to text, but also rewards them for following safe driving techniques.

Your teen driver can start earning rewards after 500 miles of safe driving. Rewards are given in forms of points, which can be translated into $5 worth of gift cards at various leading retailers such as Macy’s and Amazon.

Mercedes-Benz mbrace2

This system from Mercedes-Benz is available in all 2013 model-year cars. Common features include speeding alerts and geo-fencing to give parents better control of the way their teens drive. It also comes with a “breadcrumbs” feature known as a Driving Journal. It tracks the records of where and how your car has been driven.

Mercedes-Benz mbrace2 allows you to generate a travel history that appears on an online map. Using the geo-fencing feature, parents can set up 15 geographical locations where their teens are not allowed to take the car.

Conclusion

These safety gadgets come in handy in the time of need. Teen drivers are prone to accidents and gifting your son or daughter a safety device can help him or her stay safe. Installing a safety device or an app is not enough; you also need to set rules and work collaboratively with your teens. Working with your teen and using the necessary safety gadgets will go a long way in helping him or her become a safer driver.

Author Bio:

Paul Colley is an attorney at Colley & Colley, LLP based in Austin, Texas. With his expertise in handling personal injury cases, Paul has recovered more than $50 million for clients and helped personal injury victims fight for their rights.

We’re constantly reminded of the dangers we face every time we get in the car. We pass accidents on the way to work, we hear about fatal collisions on the news at night and, from time to time, we read articles on the Internet that link to scary articles telling us that auto accidents are the number one cause of death for teenagers in the United States. We don’t need to be told the importance of safe driving.

We do need to know what being safe actually means. There’s more to safe driving than just knowing the universal language of lights and signs. Knowing what to do in potentially dangerous situations is vital, but it’s also hard to practice. Keep the following things in mind when you’re on the road and they might just help keep you in one piece.

Don’t Overreact When I Tell You This, But…

Overcorrection often turns relatively minor situations into seriously bad accidents. Even the best of us lose focus from time to time. Rumble strips exist for a reason. It’s not always easy to stay calm when dangerous situations arise, but doing so could save your life.

In an analysis of 478 real-life rollover accidents, the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine found that overcorrection contributed to 22% of the cases. This means that more than one in five may have been prevented by a controlled response as opposed to a panicked reaction.

If your vehicle is leaning over the edge, just ease your foot off the gas and gently nudge it back into the lane. If you’re presented with a sudden obstacle, be it a stalled car or a frightened moose, a quick lane change is generally better than jerking the wheel in a random direction.

Having an awareness of the traffic around you is important for this very reason – you’ll know if changing lanes is an option. If it’s not, you can always just…

Hit the Brakes!

While it’s far better to underestimate the stopping power of your vehicle, many people don’t know its true potential, either. That may sound odd, but when was the last time you slammed the brake through the floor? If you’re headed straight for an obstacle and there are cars on either side of you – an inadvisable position in the first place – the ABS system is your best bet.

The ABS system won’t just help you stop as quickly as possible without skidding; it’s made to let you turn the wheel as you brake. As the vehicles next to you pass by, holding a slight turn can maneuver you around the obstacle. Keep the above advice in mind, though – overreaction has consequences in these situations as well.

This is all assuming that your tyres are in good condition. We all know that having a good set will improve the handling of your car – especially in adverse conditions – but research conducted by Goodyear Tire and the NHTSA found that tread depth also has a significant effect on stopping distance.

And speaking of tyres…

Know Your Way through Snow and Rain

Having high-quality tyres and wheels is of the utmost importance when driving through adverse road conditions. That’s not all there is to safe driving in these conditions, though, and even if you live in the driest of deserts, chances are good you’ll face them at some point in your life.

The very best way to handle skidding on a slippery road is to avoid skidding entirely. The speed limit goes out the window when there’s a chance the roads aren’t dry. Go as slow as you need to maintain control. Even just a little rain can bring oil to the surface, and the effects of snow and ice on even the best of tyres is always detrimental.

While having electronic stability control and all-wheel drive on board does wonders in inclement weather, everyone should know how to catch a skid. It takes practice, but practice can be as fun as finding your local go-kart facility featuring a “slick track”. It may just be a go-kart, but the skills translate directly to the real thing.

While careful driving and acute attention to the road – and the laws of said road – are vital to the safe operation of an automobile, situations like the ones described above are sometimes simply unavoidable. Keeping a clear head and following the advice you’ve just read can mean the difference between a day at the beach and a trip to the hospital.

Make the right choices at the right times and you’ll hit the beach every time.

By Guest Author: Matt Milstead

Written by Social Monsters

When you hop into the driver’s seat and prepare to start up the engine, chances are you buckle up before departure. You adjust your mirrors to make sure you can see what’s behind you and generally make sure everything is safe. While these precautions can save lives on the roadway, there are a host of other safety features worth considering if you’re in the market for a new-to-you car.

Automatic Braking

You’re cruising down the highway, and the cars in front of you come to a screeching halt. The forward sensors in your vehicle sound off immediately, but you’re unable to pump the brakes. That’s when an automatic braking system helps you avoid a collision. This system works by using lasers, radar or video data to determine whether there is an object present in front of the vehicle and how fast that object moves relative to the speed you’re driving. If you are going to hit the object, then the system automatically activates the brakes to try to avoid the accident.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

In the event you’re forced to over or under steer due to extreme road conditions, ESC attempts to stabilize the vehicle. It works by applying the brakes to just one wheel to keep the vehicle steady and avoid collisions with curbs, soft shoulders and guard rails. However, if you’re traveling at a high rate of speed or limited traction is available, the likelihood of being involved in a collision is much greater.

Air Bags

Air bags have become a must-have in new vehicles because they prevent you from colliding with your steering wheel and dashboard or from being ejected through the glass. But, it’s imperative you buckle up so as not to be injured by the air bag.

Sensors

Thanks to forward-looking, backup and side-view sensors, your vehicle now can alert you when you are in close proximity to an object or structure in your blind spot.

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)

Have you ever slammed on the brakes, only to have your wheels lock up? With ABS, you can avoid this problem and maintain greater control of the vehicle. But, it is less effective if you’re traveling at a high rate of speed or steering with extreme movements.

Backup Camera

If you’re tired of stretching your neck to reverse your vehicle, you can use a backup camera and sensors to inform you of your surroundings. This also cuts down on accidents with any blind spots behind you.

Parking Assist

This futuristic feature guides you in the right direction when attempting to parallel park and even takes the wheel to finish up the job. This means you are less likely to scrape the cars next to you when parking.

Car Size

Crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reveal that smaller cars don’t fare as well in collisions. Because sedans and compact cars are smaller and lighter, they usually do not do as well against larger and heavier cars in an accident. So, buying a larger vehicle might be one of the greatest safety factors.

Dealers like DriveTime provide detailed reports on car safety features and tests, so be sure to thoroughly analyze the contents and request clarification on any unfamiliar items.

Safest Models

Some of the vehicles that made the IIHS’s Top Safety picks for 2015 include:

• 2015 Mazda 3
• 2015 Toyota Prius
• 2015 Chrysler 200
• 2015 Nissan Altima
• 2015 Toyota Camry
• 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander
• 2015 Toyota Highlander

These vehicles are judged based on how well they protect occupants in a crash.

Written by Social Monsters

You’ve seen the videos, billboards and advertisements urging you to refrain from texting and driving. Yet, you continue to do it. You’re convinced you’ve got it all under control and those unfortunate occurrences won’t ever happen to you. You are invincible.

The problem is, you’re not. Each time you take your eyes off the road, you’re taking a huge risk.

1.You Could Easily Pull Over.

Unless you’re driving on an extremely narrow roadway with shoulder, or where there is no parking lots or driveways in sight, you should be able to pull over and respond to that urgent text message. If not, it’s much more dangerous to take your eyes off the roadway, even if it’s just for a few seconds, than it is to keep driving until you find a safe place to bring your vehicle to a halt.

2. You Might Wreck.

If you’re texting while driving, you’re 23 percent more likely to be involved in an accident, notes Driving-Tests.org. Not only do you not want to be injured or killed, but you also want to keep that pretty little ride of yours, don’t you?

3. Safety of Others is at Stake.

You care about your passengers, don’t you? So why would you put their lives at risk by responding to a text message? How about all the other pedestrians and drivers on the road? Don’t risk injuring them and having to live with the guilt on your conscience?

4. You’re Breaking the Law.

Depending on your state of residence, it may be illegal to text and drive. And for a good cause, since focusing on the road, and not the messages appearing on the screen of your smartphone, may save your life. sr22insurance.net offers a comprehensive list of states that ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving.

5. Your Insurance Company Doesn’t Like Excuses.

The greater risk you pose to your insurance provider, the higher your premiums. After all, why should they cut you slack when you’re putting it all on the line each time you whip out that phone. And once law enforcement steps in and issues you a citation, rest assured your insurance provider won’t be too happy about it..

6. Your Reaction Time is Slower.

You’re not as sharp as you think when texting and driving. A University of Utah Study revealed it drastically impairs reaction time. David Strayer, a University of Utah psychology professor and principal author of the study, added:

“If you put a 20-year-old driver behind the wheel with a cell phone, [his] reaction times are the same as a 70-year-old driver who is not using a cell phone.”

7. You Run the Risk of AutoCorrect.

We’ve all had our own terrifying experiences with AutoCorrect. Eliminate the risk.

8. You May Extend Your Trip.

If you’re in unfamiliar territory, you need to pay close attention to the road so you don’t miss an important turn or exit. If your eyes are fixated on your smartphone’s keyboard, don’t be disgruntled if being inattentive tacks on additional time and U-turns to your trip.

9. You’re Acting as a Bad Example.

Assuming there are others that ride in the car with you who do not yet have their licenses, you may be communicating that it’s OK to engage in this risky behavior.

10. It Can Wait.

The world won’t end if you don’t type out your message and hit submit while driving.

Transmitting a message isn’t worth receiving a citation, getting in a collision or putting the lives of others and your own at stake. If you’re not yet convinced, check out the statistics on Don’t Text & Drive. Put down the smartphones and pay attention when you’re behind the wheel to make the roadway a safer place for drivers.

Writting by Robert May, Indiana State Police (Detective)

Robert May - Mary Kay Kidwell - Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht

The Indiana State Police Underwater Search and Recovery team along with the Indianapolis Fire Department and Gordon Giesbrecht, Ph.D. of the University of Manitoba filmed a segment with Good Morning America this winter on cold water immersions. Doctor Giesbrecht is a world renowned expert on surviving the cold. He has teamed up with the Indiana State Police and the Indianapolis Fire Department in the past. When ABC came to him requesting his expertise in their winter survival series he asked to do with ISP and IFD. The segment was filmed at Geist Reservoir in January. Garner’s wrecker Service donated a car for the dive team to drive onto to the ice. ABC Correspondent Matt Gutman drove the car onto to the ice where it broke through and he demonstrates how to escape. ABC flew producers Robert Zepeda in from Miami and Gary Wynn in from New York to produce the segment.


Master Diver Robert May says if you slide off the road into any type of water whether it is frozen or open water the method to survival is the same. Open your windows, undue your seatbelt, get out the window to the top of the car. Once out of the car you can decide to wait for help or make it to shore. If you have children in the car get the oldest out first. Do not use your cell phone while you are in the car to call 911. The time you waste talking to a dispatcher or a friend is the time you need to get out of the car.

Gordon Giesbrecht, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (External Relations)
Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
102 Frank Kennedy Bldg.
University of Manitoba