Safe Driving in a School Zone

No doubt, you already know the difference between safe driving and unsafe driving. You can feel the difference - at high speeds, your heart might start pumping, your hands might become sweaty or your stomach might drop, as if you were on the top of a roller-coaster. As a passenger, you need to speak up at these moments. When you recognize unsafe driving, take control of the situation by keeping the driver in check:
Always Wear Your Seatbelt. Seat belts save lives. It's dumb not to wear one.
Don't Speed or Race. If your friend cuts the wheel too hard at high speeds, the car could flip. SUVs in particular handle much more sensitively at high speeds.
Don't Tailgate. What do you have to prove here? Following someone too closely is a recipe for disaster.
Pay Attention. Seems obvious doesn't it? A driver's first priority should always be driving.
Check Your Tire Pressure. If you own a car, you should know how to take care of it. This includes making sure that your tires are properly inflated.
Ride Your SUV Right. SUVs ride much differently than regular cars, so make sure you know how to drive and maintain your SUV. For example, did you know that properly loading and distributing the cargo in your SUV will improve handling and control? Or that keeping the tires on your SUV inflated can help reduce your chance of a rollover? For more information about mastering your SUV, check out .
SUV Safety
SUVs, especially older SUVs built on light truck chassis and before the implementation of stabilizing systems starting in 2003, had increased rollover risk due to a higher center of gravity.
Wear safety belts at all times to avoid being thrown from the SUV in a rollover. There is an increased rollover danger at handling limits.
Drive within your personal skill limits and road conditions to avoid loss of control and minimize risk in emergency avoidance situations. Consciously choose to drive slower and leave more room between themselves and other cars, especially in conditions which could require emergency avoidance maneuvers such as freeways, two lane highways or poor weather conditions.
Overloading with passengers and cargo increases risk of rollover. Vehicle loading should be within manufacturer recommendations regarding weight and weight distribution (including roof rack).
Know where to find the payload/tire pressure limitations and how to comply with them; (c) The risk of rollover is increased in the case of tire failure. Maintain your tires consistent with the manufacturer's recommendations.
Tire Safety
Everything Rides On It
Protection against avoidable breakdowns and crashes. Improved vehicle handling. Better fuel economy. Increased tire life. Just a few of the reasons to take five minutes every month to check your tires. Simply use the handy checklist below, and see the reverse side for more information on tire safety.
Safety Checklist
Check tire pressure regularly (at least once a month), including the spare.
Inspect tires for uneven wear patterns on the tread, cracks, foreign objects, or other signs of wear or trauma. Remove bits of glass and other foreign objects wedged in the tread.
Make sure your tire valves have valve caps.
Check tire pressure before going on a long trip.
Do not overload your vehicle. Check the tire information placard or owner's manual for the maximum recommended load for the vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer, remember that some of the weight of the loaded trailer is transferred to the towing vehicle.
Safety Tips
Slow down if you have to go over a pothole or other object in the road.
Do not run over curbs, and try not to strike the curb when parking.
Remember to check your tires once a month!
There's Safety In Numbers
You can find the numbers for recommended tire pressure and vehicle load limit on the tire information placard and in the vehicle owner's manual. Tire placards are permanent labels attached to the vehicle door edge, doorpost, glove-box door, or inside of the trunk lid. Once you've located this information, use it to check your tire pressure and to make sure your vehicle is not overloaded-especially when you head out for vacation.
Checking Tire Pressure
Because tires may naturally lose air over time, it is important to check your tire pressure at least once a month. For convenience, purchase a tire pressure gauge to keep in your vehicle. Gauges can be purchased at tire dealerships, auto supply stores, and other retail outlets. Remember, the tire inflation number that vehicle manufacturers provide reflects the proper pounds per square inch (psi) when a tire is cold. To get an accurate tire pressure reading, measure tire pressure when the car has been unused for at least three hours.
Step 1: Locate the correct tire pressure on the tire information placard or in the owner's manual.
Step 2: Record the tire pressure of all tires.
Step 3: If the tire pressure is too high in any of the tires, slowly release air by gently pressing on the tire valve with the edge of your tire gauge until you get to the correct pressure.
Step 4: If the tire pressure is too low, note the difference between the measured tire pressure and the correct tire pressure. These "missing" pounds of pressure are what you will need to add.
Step 5: At a service station, add the missing pounds of air pressure to each tire that is underinflated.
Step 6: Check all the tires to make sure they have the same air pressure (except in cases in which the front and rear tires are supposed to have different amounts of pressure).
Checking Tire Tread
Tires have built-in treadwear indicators that let you know when it is time to replace your tires. These indicators are raised sections spaced intermittently in the bottom of the tread grooves. When they appear even with the outside of the tread, it is time to replace your tires. You can also test your tread with a Lincoln penny. Simply turn the penny so Lincoln's head is pointing down and insert it into the tread. If the tread doesn't cover Lincoln's head, it's time to replace your tires.