FHP, the Florida Highway Patrol has issued some safety tips when it comes to spring break safety. The focus, as with all spring breaks before it, is to help drivers prevent themselves from driving impaired. The FHP makes it absolutely clear though: they are not against having fun or spring breaks --- they only plead that drivers be sober and safe when on the road.

The Tips:

• Plan ahead. Always designate a sober driver before any drinking begins, or take a taxi or public transportation if you plan to drink alcohol. A taxi or bus ride is much cheaper than a DUI citation.


• Take the keys. Do not let a friend drive impaired.


• Heed the warning labels on prescription medicine bottles because even legal drugs can affect your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.


• Dial *FHP (*347) on your cell phone to report an impaired driver.

The Consequences:

• Drivers under the age of 21 caught with a blood alcohol level of .02 or higher will have their licenses suspended for a period of 6 months. A second offense results in license suspension for 12 months.


• The first offense for refusing to submit to testing automatically results in a license suspension for a period of 12 months, while a second offense results in an 18-month suspension.

Like most states, Florida only hopes that drivers take care of themselves not only for their own safety, but also for the people around them. Spring break is a great time to be out and about, but what's even better is doing it safely.

Additional Spring Break Pedestrian Safety Tips

Labels: alcohol, blood alcohol level, driver attitude, driver safety tips, drunk driving, dui, FHP, Florida Highway Patrol, suspended license

Are you distracted when driving in your car? Maybe you are not on the phone or texting someone, so you think you are just fine. But are you preoccupied with thoughts of the day ahead of you? Do you have lots going on at work or do you think you will be late for a class or late for work? Do you have an errand to run, like stopping quickly at the bank, or maybe you need some milk or baby food and then you look back and see your child has fallen asleep. What do you do? Wake up the child or let them sleep peacefully and run into a store for just a minute. Or, do you arrive at your destination and never look back? Always keep in mind, - Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle.

In areas where you have warm weather most of the year, as well as northern areas where it is hot only several months out of the year, children should never be left alone in a vehicle. The statistics for children dying in a hot car seem to be increasing each year.

The car can be considered a metal box and the hot sun can increase its temperature to be equivalent to an oven.

When the temperature outside is 93 degrees, after 20 minutes the car will be 125 degrees, and after 40 minutes it can be about 140 degrees.

A car parked in direct sunlight can reach as high as 170 degrees even after 15 minutes. At that temperature it takes only a few minutes for children to die or suffer brain, liver and kidney damage.

When caregivers or parents become pre-occupied are in a hurry and have already dropped several children at school or day care and a child falls asleep while sitting in the back in the car seat, they can be forgotten. Try to use something as a reminder to prevent this from ever happening.

Some suggestions include:

• Set your cell phone or blackberry reminder.


• Have your day care call you if your child does not arrive by a set time each day.


• Use a daily checklist that lists everything you need to do, especially when transporting children.

If you are a bus driver or van driver, check the vehicle from end to end. Perhaps use an object that at pick up time you put it in the back of the vehicle, and at drop off, you bring it with you to the front while checking every seat as well as under the seats.

Additional child safety tips include:

• Teach children not to play in or around cars.


• Always make sure all passengers have left your car when you park.


• Make sure to check the temperature of the car seat surface and safety belt buckles before restraining a child.


• Keep car keys away from children and always lock your car, so that children do not look to sneak into the car or trunk to hide or to play.


• If you see children alone in a locked car, try to find the parents, if you cannot locate anyone in a short period of time call 9-1-1.

Although every state has different laws regarding this, many can charge you with a crime that involves a trial, and possible prison time.

Don't be a statistic. Don't get distracted. Concentrate and Focus.
KEEP YOUR CHILDREN SAFE.

Additional Articles:
Summer Heat Warning - Never Leave Children Alone in Cars
Preparing Your Vehicle for Summer Heat

Labels: child safety, driver safety tips, summer car care, summer driving

Independence Day is a day that celebrates freedom, but not freedom from the law. If you're feeling particularly patriotic, then you'd be driving with the family to see a local parade or fireworks display. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driving during the fourth of July weekend is even more dangerous than driving during the winter months.

Though the fourth is still on Sunday, AAA suggests that motorists be extra-careful starting today until Monday, as most folks extend their weekend celebrations, and there is a high possibility of roads being heavily congested as early as Thursday.

Here are a couple of driving safety tips for you and your family to enjoy this great holiday:

Plan ahead, be patient. - Decide where you want to go this weekend, map out routes and alternate routes to experience less time on the road. Chances are, other people are going to be traveling too. So places like parks, beaches and other summer spots are bound to be packed. The best way to get to any of them is spending less time on the road driving.

Know the schedule of events in your area. - Find out if your local community has plans for gatherings in your area, plan your driving schedule around them to avoid driving and finding yourself stuck until a street parade/party is over.

Park in covered areas. - If you're planning on attending any parades or fireworks displays, park in a covered area. Firework debris falling from the sky may damage your vehicle and cause harm to your family.

Consider having a barbeque at home and invite friends instead. - A great idea of celebrating the fourth of July is having a barbeque or picnic in the backyard and inviting your friends instead.

Read More: Safety Summer Driving Tips for the Fourth of July.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Impaired Driving Prevention Campaign (June 20 - July 4, 2010)

Labels: driver safety, driver safety tips, fourth of july

According to the NHSA, Florida's Interstate-95 is the most dangerous road in America today. Which is a paradox when you compare that data with public transportation, namely buses and trains to Florida.

Which tells us two things:

1.) accidents on these Florida roads are most likely caused by people who aren't familiar with the road, namely, tourists, and
2.) summer is a key factor to these accidents, as most happen during summertime, when thousands of tourists are going on roadtrips to Florida, driving in unfamiliar roads and being potential risks to traffic safety.

Here are three of the most dangerous roads in Florida today, some facts about them and how to keep safe while driving on them.

Interstate-95 – Being the longest north-south Interstate Highway in America, I-95 passes through 15 states in its length. It connects to several states such as Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Parts of the road carries at least 250,000 cars every day, on a normal day. Imagine if tourists were added to that number. The problem lies in not knowing the proper merging areas and exits on this road. A car might try to back down from the wrong exit and that might cause accidents. Also, there are parts of this road that are long stretches to drive on, making some new drivers feel comfortable in trying to speed through them. There are speed limits to this road, and following them will keep a driver safe. Also, mapping out on a GPS exactly which exits to take can make for a safer ride through I-95.

Interstate-4 – I-4, the way to most of Florida's theme parks, including Disney World and Universal Studios is the one bound to be the most accident-prone for tourists. As residents drive too fast, tourists are driving too slow, trying to figure out how to get to where they are going. Hotspots here to consider are the Maui curve, where drivers drive too fast and flip over and Kirkman road, where tourists usually can't figure out which way to go (right or left).

Interstate-75 – With major constructions currently ongoing on I-75, every turn has the potential for danger. The kicker is, lane shutdowns also happen after accidents. I-75 provides routes to Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Alabama and Georgia, among other places, and potholes on the road may go by unseen and cause accidents. Having full attention to the road while driving on the I-75 may provide increased safety.

Thousands of drivers go through these roads on a daily basis and each come home without an accident. Knowing the way to go and exits is a big plus, while maintaining full attention to driving and speed limits adds to safety.

Have a fun summer, and be careful of these roads!

Other related articles: Driver safety tips for a Safe Fourth of July weekend.

Labels: crash avoidance, driver safety, driver safety tips, highway, Highway Safety, safety, safety tips, vehicle crash, vehicle safety

The Yellow Dot program is being implemented in counties across the country. The relatively simple idea has proven to be an effective way to relay information to the emergency response teams in the event of an accident. Participants in the Yellow Dot program place a yellow sticker on the bottom left corner of their vehicle’s rear window. This sticker lets emergency response crews know to check the vehicle’s glove compartment for important medical information regarding the vehicle’s driver.

It’s plain to see why the Yellow Dot program is beneficial in the unfortunate case of a serious, life threatening accident where the victim is unable to speak to the emergency workers. But, it can also be a vital tool in less serious accidents. Sometimes, people are in shock after an accident and they find it difficult to remember specific information. It would lower the risk of error in treatment is the emergency workers had immediate access to important medical information.

The first Yellow Dot program was initiated in Connecticut in 2002. To date, several counties across eight states have developed Yellow Dot programs of their own. Most of the programs have qualities that set them apart from other yellow dot programs; however the premise is the same.

For example, in Connecticut, the Yellow Dot decal indicates that emergency workers should look for an envelop containing a card with important medical information on it. In Colbert County, Alabama the yellow dot directs emergency workers o the glove compartment to look for a folder containing important medical information as well as a picture of the person the information pertains to. Obviously, including the picture will allow the emergency response team to quickly determine if they are looking at the individual the information pertains to.

In Alabama, the Yellow Dot program is available to drivers of all ages. However, a version of the program implemented in Kansas is geared toward seniors aged 55 and over. Again, the decal on the back window directs first responders to important medical and emergency contact information stored in the glove compartment.

Learn more about driver safety and defensive driving through the National Safety Commission Alerts by signing up for our newsfeed today.

Labels: driver education, driver safety, driver safety tips, emergency, emergency vehicle, first responders, traffic safety

Hyperthermia is Leading Cause of Non-crash Child Vehicle Deaths

Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warned parents that the risk of a serious injury or death during hot weather is greater for children left alone in vehicles. Recently released research shows that hyperthermia (heat-stroke) is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle deaths for children.

"Even with the windows rolled down two inches, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of a vehicle to reach deadly temperatures on a hot summer day," said Ronald Medford, Acting Deputy Administrator of NHTSA. "Children should never be left alone in or around a motor vehicle, not even for a quick errand. Any number of things can go critically wrong in the blink of an eye."

According to a new NHTSA study, 262 children under the age of 14 are killed and 115,000 are injured in non-crash incidents on private roads, driveways and in parking lots each year. Of that number, 44 fatalities and 105,000 injuries are the results of non-crash incidents such hyperthermia, strangulation by power windows, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Many of the remaining deaths and injuries in non-crash incidents are the result of a child being backed over by a vehicle where the driver did not see the child.

The NHTSA's safety tips to prevent hyperthermia include:

• Never leave a child alone in a vehicle.

• Do not let your children play in an unattended vehicle. Make sure they understand that a vehicle is not a play area.

• Never leave infants or children in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are partially open or if the engine is running and the air conditioning is on.

• Always inspect the front and back seats of the vehicle before locking the door and walking away.

• If your spouse or partner is taking your child to daycare, and normally it's your responsibility, call your spouse or partner to make sure everything went according to plan.

• Ask your childcare provider to phone you immediately if your child does not show up for childcare. To remind yourself that a child is in the vehicle:

—Write a note and put it on the steering wheel or anywhere you will see it when you leave the vehicle.
—Place your purse, briefcase or something else you need in the back seat so that you will have to check the back seat when you leave the vehicle.
—Keep an object in the car seat, such as a stuffed toy, to remind you that a child is in the vehicle. When the child is buckled in, place the object where you will see it when exiting the vehicle.

• Always lock vehicle doors and trunks and keep keys out of the reach of children. If a child is missing, inspect your vehicle first, including the trunk.

• Call 911 if you see a child alone in a hot vehicle. Get them out as quickly as possible if they are in distress due from the heat. Cool the child as quickly as possible.

Labels: car seats, child safety, driver education, driver safety, driver safety tips, seat belt safety, summer driving, summer vacation, vehicle safety

Summer vacation can be a time to relax and recharge, but can also be very hectic. Americans tend to try to pack as much into a short time as possible. If you are driving on your vacation this summer and packing in a lot of all-day activities, you could find yourself guilty of DWD (Driving While Drowsy).

As a society we are sleep-deprived. There seem to be too many things to do in a day, and we often sacrifice sleep to meet other demands. But sacrificing as little as one to two hours of sleep can affect the ability to stay awake during the day. Traffic safety experts have recognized that driving while sleepy is just as great a threat as driving under the influence:

•Studies show that 37% of drivers report having nodded off or fallen asleep while driving; 29% report that they have experienced this problem in the last year, and 10% in the last month. That means about 75 million drivers have nodded off in the last month.

•More than one-third (35%) of drivers who nodded off while driving within the past six months say their last experience occurred between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. An additional 17% report they nodded off between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

•Slightly more than one in five (22%) drivers who recently experienced a drowsy driving episode report having been on the road driving for five or more hours; nearly half (47%) were driving for an hour or less.

•National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows that, over the past few years, there have been about 56,000 crashes annually in which driver fatigue or drowsiness was cited by police as the cause. Those crashes caused approximately 40,000 non-fatal injuries and 1,550 fatal injuries per year.

If you are packing in a full day at a theme park or a beach, you should be aware that all the activity under a hot sun will dehydrate, weaken, and tire you. Planning to hit the road for a long trip after a full day's activities could set you up for disaster. Nodding off at the wheel for only a very short time, which sleep experts refer to as microsleep, is extremely dangerous. Microsleep is an episode in which someone who is sleep-deprived nods off from a fraction of a second up to thirty seconds. If you are traveling at highway speeds of up to 70 mph, your car will travel 102 feet in just one second. Dozing off for only a second or two is long enough for your vehicle to leave the road or veer into the path of another vehicle.

Are you at risk for driving while drowsy? Before you drive, check to see if you are:

•Sleep-deprived or fatigued (6 hours of sleep or less triples your risk)
•Suffering from sleep loss (insomnia), poor quality sleep, or a sleep debt
•Driving long distances without proper rest breaks
•Driving through the night, in mid-afternoon, or when you would normally be asleep
•Taking sedating medications (antidepressants, cold tablets, antihistamines)
•Drinking even small amounts of alcohol
•Driving alone or on a long, rural, dark or boring road

Many motorists try to drive late at night to avoid traffic congestion on long trips. If you are planning a long trip, don't make the mistake of planning to drive at a time other than your normal waking hours. Don’t drive long distances after a full day of vacation activities.

When you are driving, these are the signs that you should pull off the road and rest:

•Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids
•Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts
•Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs
•Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
•Trouble keeping your head up
•Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip
•Feeling restless and irritable

The National Sleep Foundation offers the following tips for drivers before hitting the road:

•Get a good night's sleep. While this varies from individual to individual, sleep experts recommend between 7-9 hours of sleep per night for adults and 8 1/2-9 1/2 for teens.
•Plan to drive long trips with a companion. Passengers can help look for early warning signs of fatigue or switch drivers when needed. Passengers should stay awake to talk to the driver.
•Schedule regular stops every 100 miles or every two hours.
•Avoid alcohol and medications (over-the-counter or prescribed) that may impair performance. Alcohol interacts with fatigue, increasing its effects - just like drinking on an empty stomach.

Once you are on the road, follow these guidelines to avoid driving while drowsy:

•Take a 15 to 20-minute nap. More than a 20-minute nap can make you groggy for at least five minutes after awakening.
•Consume the equivalent of two cups of coffee. Caffeine is available in various forms (e.g. soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, tea, chewing gum, and tablets) and amounts; but remember that caffeine takes about 30 minutes to enter the bloodstream and will not greatly affect those who regularly consume it. Try taking caffeine and then a short nap to get the benefits of both.
•If you are sleep-deprived, don't rely on heavily caffeinated drinks to keep you awake. Once the caffeine wears off, your body will demand sleep.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer vacation.

Labels: driver safety tips, driving tips, drowsy driving, sleep, summer driving, summer vacation, thanksgiving traffic safety