High energy drinks such as Red Bull, Rockstar, and Monster have become wildly popular during the past decade with the greatest consumption by teens and young adults. While they have been touted as helping to increase athletic performance, they are primarily used by older teens and college students as a study aid and sleep substitute. Teens and young adults have very busy lives with classes, sports, after school activities, and jobs. This grinding schedule generally leaves little time for studying. As a result, this age group has turned more and more to the use of highly caffeinated drinks, usually in place of a good night's sleep.

As a result of several scientific studies, scientists have issued warnings about the use of highly caffeinated drinks and have gone so far as to recommend that the FDA require warning labels on cans of high energy drinks. The FDA currently regulates the amount of caffeine allowed in soft drinks to 71 mgs per 12 ounce can but since energy drinks are labeled as "dietary supplements", there is no legal limit to the amount of caffeine they can contain.

The energy drink No Fear contains 174 mg of caffeine and Monster and RockStar each have 160 mg. That means as little as two cans of each of these drinks (more than 250 mgs) can induce "caffeine intoxication" which, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, can cause restlessness, nervousness, excitement, insomnia, flushing of the face, increased urination, gastrointestinal disturbance, muscle twitching, a rambling flow of thought and speech, irritability, irregular or rapid heartbeat, and psychomotor agitation. Larger doses can cause mania, depression, lapses in judgment, disorientation, disinhibition, delusions, hallucinations, and psychosis. Large amounts of caffeine, in some cases, can induce anxiety severe enough to require medical attention. The British Journal of Addiction concluded that "caffeinism," although infrequently diagnosed, may afflict as many as one person in ten of the population.

There's not a whole lot of information on the risks of high energy drinks and driving but it doesn't take a huge stretch of the imagination to make a correlation between the symptoms listed above and the dangerous effect they can have on driving.
Moderate use of caffeine, say in one or two cups of coffee, has certainly been shown to have a beneficial effect in raising alertness and can be quite effective in keeping a driver awake and alert on the road. The problems occur when large amounts of caffeine cause a driver to become excited, irritable, nervous, and restless. It is well known that irritable, agitated drivers become aggressive drivers. Rambling thoughts and mental agitation can cause a driver to take chances that he or she might not otherwise take and loss of patience and anger can lead to poor decision making which can be deadly on the road.

The biggest problems occur when these high energy drinks are used as a substitution for sleep. Lack of sleep along with the large doses of caffeine can increase the level of agitation and, instead of raising the alertness level, can cause a driver to become disoriented. Studies show that approximately one hour after drinking a highly caffeinated and sugared drink, a sleep deprived person can experience lapses in concentration and tends to have slower reactions. The greatest danger comes when the effects of the caffeine wear off. At that point, a sleep deprived driver won't be able to fight the fatigue and can very quickly fall asleep at the wheel. It has long been recognized that sleepy drivers have the same reaction time and driving skills as someone who is legally drunk. Long term use of these high energy drinks can also lead to "caffeine induced sleep disorder" which disrupts the user's sleep patterns leading to even more sleep deprivation.

Large amounts of caffeine can also cause increased heart rate and blood pressure. Anyone with heart problems or a family history of heart problems should cut back on their consumption before it leads to a heart attack. For a person who normally ingests large amounts of caffeine, withdrawal can cause problems too. While it is obviously beneficial for people to cut back on their use of caffeine they should be aware that withdrawal symptoms can include severe headaches and difficulty concentrating. Driving should be avoided while you are trying to withdraw from caffeine.

Labels: caffeine, dangers, driving

Melting snow in the Midwest and torrential rains in parts of the southeast this spring are causing creeks and rivers to overflow their banks and create some very hazardous driving conditions. More than half of flash flood deaths are auto related. Before you go out in these conditions it's a good time to review the hazards of flooded roads and steps you should take to avoid them or, in the worst scenario, to escape from a flooding situation. Here are some important facts about to remember about flooding:

Every flood is dangerous to drivers. Even if the water running across the road appears shallow, what you can't see under the rushing water is the greatest hazard of all. The road could be washed out and the water may be much deeper than you realize. Even if it appears intact, the roadway could collapse under the weight of your vehicle.

Less than an inch of water can cause a driver to lose control.

As little as six inches of rushing water has enough force to push your car off the road.

Your car can float in as little as two feet of water and you could be washed away into a flooded stream or river.

In hilly or mountainous areas, flash floods can occur long after the rain has stopped and far away from the site of a rain storm.

The force of rushing water and debris can be strong enough to cause bridges to collapse.

Summer thunderstorms can dump one to two inches of rain in a very short time.

Flood waters can rise at a rapid rate.

What should you do to avoid flooded roadways?

If you live in mountainous, hilly, or flood prone areas, pay attention to weather reports. If there are warnings of flooding, take an alternate route if it is available. Better yet, stay home.

If the roadway is flooded, even a little, don't attempt to drive through the water. Turn around and take an alternate route.

Temporary barriers blocking flooded roadways are placed by emergency personnel for a reason; never drive around them into a flooded area.

If you find yourself stalled in rising flood waters, do not attempt to stay with the car. A floating car can be swept into deeper water and can easily roll over. Escape if possible and get to higher ground immediately. Many flood related fatalities occur when people try to stay with the vehicle.

If the rushing water is too deep and the current is too strong, you will have to make a judgment call about staying with the vehicle. Turn around before you get into that position.

Be especially cautious when driving at night when it is much more difficult to recognize flooding conditions.

Remember that emergency personnel will be overwhelmed and may not be able to get to you for some time.

Labels: driving, flooding, hazardous

View Full Post posted by NSC - Traffic Safety : 3:14 PM

The summer traveling season is fast approaching and with it the inevitable rise in the cost of gasoline.

Obviously the best way to save gas is to buy a fuel efficient vehicle such as a hybrid but, in the current economic conditions, that isn't an option for most people. Regardless of the type of vehicle you have there are always ways to save on the cost of gas and, no matter how old your car, you can still increase your gas mileage by following a few simple tips.

Know your gas mileage - It is hard to know if your gas mileage is improving if you don’t know how what your current average mile per gallon (mpg). When you fill your tank, set your trip odometer or record your mileage. The next time you fill your tank, divide the mileage driven between fill-ups by the amount of gas it took to fill your tank. After several tanks, determine what your average mpg is for all the different types of driving that you do. Once you see your mpg start to increase, it will be easier to stick to your gas saving measures.

Maintain your engine - Making sure your engine is tuned and your oil changes are conducted on a regular basis will make your engine run more efficiently.

Proper tire inflation – Underinflated tires create drag and over-inflated tires don’t maintain the proper contact with the road. Consult your owner’s manual for the proper inflation level and check the air volume regularly.

Air conditioning - Your air conditioner can be the largest single drag on your gas consumption. If you live in the south you have probably come to see the air conditioner not as a luxury option but as a necessity however, knowing when to use the air conditioner can save gas. Modern cars are designed to be aero-dynamic. That means that, at high speeds, the car will run more efficiently with the windows closed. At interstate speeds the trade-off between running the air conditioner and the drag created by opening the windows is negligible so when you are driving at highway speeds go ahead and use the air conditioner. If the temperature permits, driving with the windows open at lower speeds in city traffic can keep you cool and save you a tremendous amount of gas.

If you can't slow down, at least do the speed limit - Stepping on the gas to maintain a higher speed obviously uses more gas; the higher the speed, the more gas that is used. If everyone did the speed limit, not only would traffic flow more smoothly, millions of barrels of oil could be saved.

Accelerate more slowly - It takes a lot of gas to move a heavy car from a standing stop up to speed. If you have an automatic transmission, before stepping on the gas, after stopping for a traffic light, pause for a second or two between taking your foot off the brake and stepping on the gas. Once the brakes are released, a car with an automatic transmission will normally start rolling on its own. It’s a lot easier to speed up a car that is already moving than one from a full stop; waiting one or two seconds before stepping on the accelerator will save gas. Are you the type of driver that is prone to jack-rabbit starts? Accelerating quickly compared to a gradual smooth start wastes gas.

Brake sooner - Keeping your foot on the gas for longer periods uses gas. When you see traffic slow or the light ahead change to red, take your foot off the gas and allow the car to slow down gradually before applying the brakes.

Use your cruise control - Drivers are pretty erratic when it comes to maintaining a constant speed. Constantly stepping on the gas or allowing your speed to increase through inattention not only wastes gas but can result in a speeding ticket. Your cruise control maintains a constant speed automatically and saves you gas at the same time. Learn how to use your cruise control properly. If you need to adjust the speed, you can do it more smoothly by using the acceleration and deceleration features on the cruise control. You can use the acceleration button on your cruise control to make minor adjustments of as little as a 1/4 mph. When braking, use your deceleration button to de-activate the cruise control and gradually slow down. Cruise controls can be used at speeds as low as 25 mph. By learning to use the cruise control all the time, you not only can save a lot of gas but you can also avoid getting a speeding ticket.

Keep your car aero-dynamic -Removing items like ski and bicycle racks when they are not in use will eliminate unnecessary drag on your vehicle and increase your mpg.

Following these few simple tips can increase your gas mileage by up to 35%. That is a significant savings and, in these hard economic times, every little bit helps.

Labels: driving, efficient, fuel, gas, mileage

View Full Post posted by DriverSchool : 11:02 AM

An interesting study conducted at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) was recently published showing that, compared to moderate or social drinkers, binge drinkers seem to have a disconnect that prevents them from realizing when they have had too much to drink and, more dangerously, keeps them from realizing that it isn't safe to drive.

When the term binge drinking comes up, the image of an alcoholic going on a binge of non-stop drinking over several days is what usually comes to mind. The modern definition of binge drinking refers to the behavior of so many who nowadays drink with the goal of getting drunk as quickly as possible. This behavior is seen most often among young people. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 90% of alcohol consumed by those under the age of 21 is in the form of binge drinking. While this is a major problem with underage and college age drinkers, binge drinking isn’t limited to those age groups.

The NKU study looked at 20 male and 20 female college students between the ages of 21 – 29. Of the participants, 24 identified themselves as binge drinkers and 16 were identified as non-binge drinkers. The participants attended two sessions in which they were given a moderate amount of alcohol or a placebo. Those who were consumed alcohol were given an amount that would take their blood alcohol content (BAC) to 0.08%, the amount considered to be legally intoxicated. After drinking, their performance was evaluated while performing simulated driving tasks. While all the participants who were given alcohol performed poorly in the driving tests, when each group was asked to evaluate their own performance, the binge drinkers rated their driving ability as greater than the non-binge drinkers. In other words, the binge drinkers felt they still had the ability to drive safely while the non-binge drinkers realized that they were in no condition to drive.

The study's authors feel that the binge drinkers suffer from some sort of disconnect or lack "an internal sedation cue" that prevents them from accurately assessing their intoxication level and their ability to drive. Binge drinkers who drink with the goal of getting drunk do a very bad job of determining just how intoxicated they really are.

It is felt that prevention programs where drinkers are given a breathalyzer exam upon leaving a bar may help in teaching a drinker just what 0.08% BAC feels like. Other alternatives to consider are lowering the legal BAC level for driving. Quite a few European countries have lowered the legal intoxication limit to 0.05% BAC.

The only good news stated by the study's author is that, while a small percentage of binge drinkers will go on to develop serious drinking problems, most will outgrow the desire to binge drink.

Labels: binge driving, driving

An automobile's cruise control is a valuable piece of technology. Along with saving gas, the benefit of cruise control is its ability to prevent a driver from exceeding the speed limit. A driver who sets the cruise control at the posted speed limit can pass police officers and cruise through radar sites without having to worry about whether or not they are speeding. Cruise control can save drivers a lot of money in gas and speeding tickets but cruise control can have a down side too. Someone who relies on cruise control too much may find themselves on "auto-pilot" and neglect to pay full attention to their driving. A driver still needs to devote full attention to the road and have a "seat-of-the-pants" feel for their vehicle. This is especially true when driving in the rain.

Rain presents two distinct dangers to a driver; both with essentially the same end result. After a dry spell of any period, accumulated oil, grease, and dirt on the road can create extremely slippery conditions. The roads are most dangerous just after it starts to rain when a light sheen of water is standing on the road. The oil, grease etc. rise up in a layer on top of the water creating conditions similar to ice on the road. It creates such a problem during the summer thunderstorm period in the southeast that it is referred to as "Florida ice." After a period of heavy rain, the oil and grease will wash off the road and the slippery conditions diminish.

Heavy rain however creates a separate and equally dangerous situation. When water stands on the road, it can become deep enough that the tires can’t squeeze the water through the tread fast enough. When this happens, the tires can actually rise up on top of the water and ride across the water like water skis creating a condition known as "hydroplaning." Hydroplaning can start at speeds as low as 35 mph and becomes especially dangerous at speeds above 55 mph. The higher the speed, the greater the chance of hydroplaning.

In either situation, the first step a driver should take to counteract skidding is to take his/her foot off the gas pedal in order to slow the car's speed. Unless you have anti-lock brakes, you shouldn't apply the brakes until you have the car under control and the speed is reduced. Applying the brakes in a car without anti-lock brakes only adds to the problem. Grasp the steering wheel in both hands, steer toward the direction of the skid and then steer to keep your car centered in your lane.

This is where cruise control presents a problem. Cruise control will want to keep your vehicle going at a constant speed and speed only adds to the problem. Cruise control is disabled when you step on the brakes but that is exactly what you don’t want to do in a skidding situation unless your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes. The safest thing to do when it starts to rain is to disengage the cruise control and lower your speed. Driving in the rain really requires heightened awareness and that seat-of-the-pants feel for the car. Save your cruise control for fair weather.

Labels: cruise control, driving, hazardous

Night time driving (between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM) only accounts for 23% of all vehicle miles traveled yet it accounts for more than 50% of all fatalities for vehicle occupants age 16 and older.

The limitations and thus the dangers of driving at night may seem obvious but, with a death rate that high, reviewing some of the obvious and less obvious reasons for such a high fatality rate might be in order.

Night vision – During daylight, your eye's iris closes, allowing a very small opening to let in the bright light. This narrowly focuses the light entering the eye through the pupil to the center of the lens hitting a narrow spot of the retina at the back of the eye. At night, the iris opens wide to allow in more light and that has the effect of focusing the light on a much larger area of the lens preventing the light from focusing on that narrow point. This has the odd effect of slightly improving your peripheral (side) vision but makes it more difficult to focus on objects further out to the front.

The opening and closing of the iris becomes a problem when traveling from well lit streets to dark roads. When you pass from darkness through a brightly lit area and back to darkness again, it can take up to 30 minutes for your eyes to fully adapt and your night vision to be restored.

Over-driving headlights – On a dark country road it is impossible to see what is coming around the next curve or over the next hill. One of the most common causes of crashes on these types of roads is failing to negotiate a curve because the driver didn't see it coming and was driving too fast to keep the car on the road. Another common problem on these types of roads is animals, primarily deer, crossing the road. The combination of speed, average reaction time and the time it takes to bring a car to a full stop means that it is often too late, once you see an object on a dark road, to stop in time to avoid hitting it. On the dim setting, headlights only provide light out to a distance of 160 feet in front of the vehicle. In ideal conditions, a car traveling at 40 mph needs a total of 189 feet to come to a full stop; a difference of 29 feet. Adjusting your speed depending on light conditions, will ensure your car can stop within the distance seen in the headlights.

Seat belts – For some reason, seat belt use seems to decline among those who drive at night. Two thirds of the fatalities at night involved vehicle occupants who weren't wearing seat belts.

Driving drowsy – The hours between midnight and 3:00 AM see the highest fatality rate of the day. Drivers who are tired don’t react as fast and they don’t make good driving decisions. Drivers who are sleepy are a crash waiting to happen. If you are not normally awake during these hours, avoid driving.

Distractions – At the time of night when it is most critical to keep your eyes on the road, distractions that take your eyes off the road can be deadly. Dialing and talking on cell phones, eating, loading a CD all take your eyes off the road. At 40 mph, you will travel almost 180 feet in just three seconds. Studies show that almost 80 percent of crashes involve driver inattention within three seconds of the crash.

Labels: driving, night, seat belt safety

Parents could potenitally be placing their children at risk while driving. A study conducted in 2002 by State Farm Insurance and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia added weight to previous studies showing that 83% of children are graduating from child safety seats to adult seat belts too early.

The problem lies in the different ways that seat belts fit around an adult’s body compared to the way they fit around a child. When properly belted in, the seat belt should fit low over a vehicle occupant’s hips. In a crash, the belt will provide restraint by pushing back against the relatively hard surface of the occupant’s hip bones. If the belt were to sit higher across the soft tissue of the occupant’s abdomen, it could cause significant damage to internal organs and could, in severe crashes, actually cut into the occupant’s abdomen. Seat belts on children, with their small frames, tend to ride high over the child’s abdomen. The 2002 study refers to this as the “Seat Belt Syndrome” in children. The seat belt syndrome has contributed to abdominal and spinal injuries in children. The studies found that children between the ages of 3 and 9 were at greatest risk of seat belt syndrome. The problem is compounded by the way shoulder harnesses fit over children. Instead of sitting properly over a child’s shoulder, the shoulder harness tends to ride across their neck and rub against their face causing many to place the shoulder harness behind them.

The answer to this problem is quite simple but, for some reason, the word isn’t getting around. The studies show that once children outgrow their child safety seats, they should graduate to a booster seat. Booster seats raise the child’s body to a position that allows the seat belt to ride low over their hips the way they are designed. Booster seats can also help to properly position the shoulder harness so that it provides maximum protection. The American Academy of Pediatrics published guidelines that say children should remain in booster seats until they are 4’9” in height or, on average, from 9 to 11 years of age. Their website also has guidelines on the proper use of child restraints from infants to teens.

In spite of campaigns by the insurance industry and guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), only 13 states and the District of Columbia have passed booster seat laws that comply with federal guidelines. There are modified booster seat laws in 25 states and 12 states have no child restraint seat laws at all for children beyond 4 or 5 years of age.

When considering a booster seat for your child, remember that all booster seats are not created equally. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted crash tests and published a list of the best and worst booster seats that are currently on the market. The IIHS website also has pictures showing how lap belts and shoulder harnesses should fit to provide maximum protection. The best seats provide proper height adjustment for the lap belt and keep the shoulder harness away from the abdomen and over the shoulder where they belong. The IIHS also has a list of state laws regarding child restraints.

It is critically important to remember that keeping a child restrained in an adult seat belt is better than no restraint at all. The word about booster seats is slowly getting around and more and more parents are using them every year but the percentage of children in booster seats is still far too low. You may get some push back from your school aged child about having to sit in a booster seat but, once there, they will find that their view out the window is improved and their complaints will be short lived.

Labels: children, driving, safety, seat belt safety

How bad of a problem are distracted drivers? A landmark study for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in 2006 found that nearly 80 % of crashes and 65% of near crashes involved some sort of driver inattention within 3 seconds of the event. The majority of the incidents involved drivers who took their eyes off of the road ahead for more than two seconds. Two seconds might not seem like a long time until you consider that a car traveling at 40 mph will travel more than 117 feet during that time.

Distracted driving has become so problematic that two states, Connecticut and New Hampshire along with the District of Columbia, have passed laws making distracted/negligent driving a traffic offense. Other states are considering similar legislation. Maine’s legislature is considering a bill outlawing the use of electronic devices, applying cosmetics, performing personal grooming or any other distractions as determined by local law enforcement. Six states have now banned the use of hand-held cell phones and 19 states have totally banned the use of cell phones for teenage drivers. The Governors Highway Safety Association is calling on all states to pass legislation prohibiting certain distracting activities along with pushing for increased awareness and education on the issue.

New technology designed to improve driving safety and to prevent collisions may be of some help. Some of the new technologies include:

• Adaptive Cruise Control that uses forward looking radar to determine the distance from the car ahead, automatically slowing the vehicle when the distance narrows and regaining speed when traffic conditions are safe.


• Collision Avoidance with Brake Support sounds an alarm, activates a warning light and pre-charges the brakes assist system in case the driver needs to slam on the brakes.


• Adaptive Headlamps that pivot in the direction of travel allowing better vision on curves.


• Lane Departure Warning Systems that alert a driver if they are veering out of their lane.


• Blind Spot Detection Systems that warn of other vehicles in your blind spot.

Other technology being developed uses in car cameras that can detect when a driver's eyes are off the road too long or if the driver is becoming drowsy. This system warns the driver and suggests taking a break from driving.

All of this technology is great but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety warns that some of these new technologies may make a driver feel as if the car is on auto-pilot allowing them to become more complacent or to feel that they can take even greater risks.

Brain scan studies show that our brains really aren't adapted to multi-tasking especially when we are driving. So what is the best crash avoidance strategy? Multiple studies show that driver attention on the road ahead is the key to safe driving. Getting plenty of rest before driving, not using cell phones or other wireless devices, keeping both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road are the key. Driving is really a very complex task and the bottom line is that, in spite of all the new technology, driver error is and will continue to be the primary reason for traffic crashes.

Labels: collisions, distracted driving, driving, traffic safety

Software Aims to Curb Teens’ Biggest Driving Distraction

Textecution is a new cell phone application that prevents the user from texting while driving by completely disabling the text feature while the car is in motion. Targeted at texting teens, it taps the Google G1's Global Positioning System (GPS), and if a teen driver is traveling more than 10MPH, it prevents text messaging. To get permission to text when driving - or being a passenger – the device will call an administrator number (i.e. their parents) to temporarily bypass the block.

National statistics prove that drivers who are text while operating their vehicle cause a substantial increase in vehicle accidents. According to Students Against Destructive Decisions and Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, instant and text messaging while driving leads the list as the biggest distraction while driving. Texting while driving now rivals driving and drinking in terms of danger and prevalence. Nearly 50 percent of teens admit to text messaging while driving.

Textecution was created to decrease the number of accidents that are caused by drivers who are reckless or distracted because they are reading or typing text messages while operating their vehicle.

Textecution has developed an override function into the application. For example, if a passenger wishes to text while the car is in motion, he or she must choose the "Request Permission" option, and a text message will be sent to the administrator (i.e. parents) who installed Textecution on the mobile device. If the administrator or parent responds "Allow," the texting feature will become available again for a designated period of time.

Textecution is available for a one-time fee of $9.95. For more information, visit www.textecution.com.

Is your teen a safe driver? The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has developed a new Teen Injury Prevention course to emphasize driving safety for teenagers. For more information, including a Driver Education a Driver Education Book for Parents, visit http://www.safedriver.com/.

Labels: driving, safety, teens, texting

U.S. Drivers Log 100 Billion Fewer Miles Last Year

Despite a drop gas prices, drivers recorded 9 billion fewer miles on the nation's roads in October, suggesting the driving downturn that began a year ago is caused by more than just energy costs.

Recently released Federal Highway Administration data reveals the number of miles driven dropped 3.5 percent in October compared with the same month in 2007. Between November 2007, when the driving decline commenced, and October, U.S. drivers logged 100 billion fewer miles. The nation has never experienced a larger continuous decline in driving.

According to the Energy Information Administration, gas prices averaged $3.15 a gallon in October, down from a high of $4.09 in July.

Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said, "The fact that the trend persists even as gas prices are dropping confirms that America's travel habits are fundamentally changing."

The data show that a block of eight states and Washington, D.C. - the South Atlantic - experienced the largest decline in October of any region, 5 percent fewer vehicle miles. The 8.4 percent driving decline in Montana was the largest of any state, followed by Utah with 7.4 percent, and South Carolina with 6.7 percent.

The driving data is collected by highway administration from more than 4,000 automatic traffic recorders operated around-the-clock by state highway agencies.

Subways, buses, commuter rail and light-rail systems have reported record increases in ridership since the driving decline began. The nation's intercity passenger railroad, Amtrak, said it transported the highest number of passengers and brought in the most revenue during fiscal 2008 in its 37-year history.

David Goldberg, a spokesman for Transportation for America, a coalition of groups pressing for more alternatives to driving, said the economic crisis is likely an important factor in the driving decline.

"We regularly see fewer trips being made in economic downturns," Goldberg said. "I think when we probe these numbers we'll find that a lot of people have figured out how to telework or how to go into the office fewer days. And having experienced that and made that work, I think they'll continue to save the money and the time and effort and reduce some of those trips."

Peters expressed concern that the decline in driving is creating a gap between federal gas tax revenues and the government's commitments to fund state and local highway construction and repair projects. To cover an expected shortfall in the fund, Congress made an emergency infusion of $8 billion earlier this year from the general treasury.

"As driving decreases and vehicle fuel efficiency continues to improve, the long-term viability of the Highway Trust Fund grows weaker," Peters said.

According to federal safety officials, auto fatalities dropped almost 10 percent in 2008 through October, a trend that is no doubt influenced by the driving decline.

Along with motor vehicle safety, driver education helps ensure the safety of Americans. Whether you're getting your Commercial Drivers License, your Learner's Permit, or your Motorcycle License, America's Driver's License Headquarters is TestQuestionsandAnswers.com.

Labels: auto fatalities, driving, traffic safety

While doing some research on aggressive driving, I was struck by the tendency, by some, to use the term aggressive driving and road rage interchangeably as if they were the same thing. While one can lead to the other, they are definitely different and I think it is important, for your safety and mine, to understand the distinction between the two.

We all can recognize an aggressive driver. They are the ones who speed, tailgate, weave in and out of traffic, pass in no-passing zones, and run red lights; sometimes doing two or more of these acts at the same time. Most aggressive drivers drive aggressively as a matter of habit, either ignoring or unmindful of the possible consequences. Most feel that they are excellent drivers who have complete control over their vehicles and everyone else is just getting in the way. While they are aggressive, they would never actually want to hurt anyone.

Road rage comes about when a driver is pushed over a psychological tipping point, loses control, and becomes so enraged that he or she tries to take out their anger on another driver. Even a normally law abiding driver can, under certain circumstances, be pushed over that edge. A typical road rage incident starts out with one driver cutting off another or forcing him to take evasive action. That leads to retribution of some sort and very quickly a traffic game begins with each driver trying to “teach the other a lesson.” Too often the game of retribution escalates to the point where the drivers try to confront each other directly and the situation turns violent and deadly.

Road rage has become so prevalent in American society that all you have to do is type “road rage” into the search field of Google news and you can easily find a recent example. I just did that and read an article from this morning about two drivers who began cutting each other off until one blocked the other at an exit ramp and both got out of their vehicles to confront each other. Unfortunately one reached for a machete and attacked the other. He was subsequently arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. Another situation from two days ago led to two drivers attacking each other with metal batons and bats. A little over a month ago, a driver in my community was shot while driving on the interstate in a road rage incident

This is the first of a series of articles on aggressive drivers and road rage. In following articles, we will examine how to recognize whether or not you may be guilty of some aggressive driving tendencies and we will look at the psychological make up of different types of aggressive drivers and we will see how a driver can be pushed over the edge into a fit of rage. We will also look at steps you can take to prevent becoming a victim of a road rage incident.

To learn more about driver safety and education please visit our Driver Safety Alerts at http://www.nationalsafetycommission.com.

Be careful out there and drive safe.

Labels: aggressive driving, driving, road rage, safety

It’s Christmas shopping time again and that means thieves and predators will be out in force so this is a good time to remind you of a few simple safety tips to keep your shopping experience safe and enjoyable.

• Try to do all your shopping during daytime hours, if possible.

• If possible, don’t go shopping alone; take a friend or relative along. It may take a bit longer but there is safety in numbers.

• Even if it takes a bit longer, try to find a parking place as close to the store or mall as possible.

• If you can’t park close to the store or mall, pick a well lit space to park.

• Make sure you always lock your car.

• Don’t leave any purchases in plain view in your car. Place them in the trunk or, if you don’t have a trunk, cover them with a blanket or something similar.

• Don’t carry too many packages at once. That makes you an easy target. Before you accumulate too many packages, return them to your car and lock them up securely.

• Save your most expensive purchases for the end of your shopping trip.

• If possible, don’t carry a purse. If you must carry a purse, loop it over your head and under your arm to make it more difficult to snatch. Always keep your purse close to your body, never in a shopping cart and never leave it open.

• Men should carry their wallet in a front pocket to make it harder to steal.

• Watch for people who may bump into you or try to distract you in some other way. They may be setting you up for pick-pocketing.

• Never use a video arcade, toy store, or a movie theater as a baby sitter. Predators are on the prowl looking for unattended kids at this time of year. If you must take a child shopping with you, use the following tips:
o Make sure the child is well rested and fed.
o Once inside the store or mall, remove jackets, gloves, etc. that can make the child uncomfortable inside a warm building.
o Always keep your child in sight.
o Take some snacks and a toy along to keep the child occupied and satisfied.

• If you are parked away from the store, ask a store employee or mall security guard to escort you to your car.

• When you leave the store, especially at night, have your keys ready in your hand. Jumbling packages and fumbling through a purse for keys makes you an easy target. Keep an alarm or a can of mace on your key chain for self protection.

• If you have a key-less entry system, don’t unlock your car until you are next to it. The chirping noise and flashing lights could alert a potential thief when you are most vulnerable. For the same reason, don’t use your key-less system to locate your car. If necessary, write down your parking location before you leave the car.

• Once you arrive at your car, enter it as quickly as possible, lock the doors, and start the engine.

• Don’t put your packages in the front seat. Packages sliding forward onto the floor when you hit the brakes can be a major distraction. Taking your eyes off the road, even for just a second, can lead to catastrophe.

• Don’t pile your packages so high in the back that seat you have trouble seeing through your rear view mirror. The trunk is the best place for your packages.

For more articles on holiday safety visit our website at http://www.nationalsafetycommission.com.

Have a safe and happy holiday season.

Labels: driving, holiday, safety, shopping

The holiday season is here again and the holidays present us with some unique driving situations. To have a safe and happy holiday season, some of these tips are worth remembering.

The festive nature of the holiday season provides us with some temptations that could lead to a dangerous driving situation. The obvious problem is alcohol consumption. That after-work party with a bit of spiked punch sounds innocent enough until you consider that, even if you are just slightly buzzed, you are still impaired. Alcohol takes time to metabolize out of the system and the daily commute is hazardous enough without adding alcohol to the problem. Remember that, even if you aren’t at fault in a collision, if the officer suspects that you have been drinking, you will be presumed to have contributed to the collision or to have been at fault. You could be charged with DUI and the insurance won’t pay a penny.

If you attend an evening party, it may be OK to have a small drink at the beginning of the evening so long as you know you will be there long enough for the alcohol to metabolize out of your system before you leave. If your plans include drinking during the party, make sure you have a designated driver or an alternative means of getting home.

If you are hosting a party where alcohol will be served you need to be aware that you can be sued if someone leaves your place and is involved in an alcohol related collision. To protect yourself, you need to ensure that all your guests have a designated driver to drive them home or that they call a cab. To be a really good host, you could consider not drinking anything yourself and offering your services as a designated driver to get your friends home. Also you should ensure that there are plenty of non-alcoholic drinks available for your guests. There are a lot of options; just make sure you choose the ones that are safest for your guests and that protect you as a homeowner.

If you don’t plan to attend any parties on New Year’s Eve, stay off the roads. There are just too many drunks out on the road on that night and that makes it dangerous for even the safest driver.

Remember these facts about alcohol:

• Alcohol is the same, no matter what form it takes. A 12 oz. can of beer has roughly the same amount of alcohol as a 6 oz. glass of wine and a 1.5 oz. shot of whiskey.
• Alcohol takes time to metabolize out of your system. Drinking coffee won’t speed up that time one bit.
• Be aware that drinking on an empty stomach will allow the alcohol to enter your bloodstream much faster.
• Know what you are drinking. If you don’t know exactly what is contained in that holiday punch, you could be consuming much more alcohol than you imagined.

Keep your holidays safe and festive. Don’t allow a poor choice to ruin the holidays for you.

For more articles on holiday safety visit our website at http://www.nationalsafetycommission.com.

Here’s wishing you a safe and happy holiday season.

Labels: alcohol, blood alcohol level, buzzed driving, drinking, driving, drunk driving, dui, holidays, safety

It is such a shame when a soldier, sailor, marine, or airman returns safely from a deployment overseas only to die shortly after returning home in an incident that was so easily preventable. You've made it safely through your deployment by keeping your head on a swivel and paying attention to every possible threat. Unfortunately too many service members forget that a different set of survival skills are required while reorienting themselves to the home-front.

As a retired Chief Petty Officer, I certainly understand the emotions involved in returning home after a long deployment. During your deployment, your actions and freedoms were severely restricted and you are no doubt looking forward to quickly regaining those freedoms. Specifically the freedom to get on a motorcycle or behind the wheel of a car to go anywhere you want, for as long as you want.

That return to freedom has resulted in some shockingly high fatality rates due to motor vehicle collisions. Note that I say collision and not accidents. Accidents are something you have no control over. Motor vehicle (MV) collisions result from someone making a poor choice that sets in motion a chain of events that lead to a collision. MV collisions are preventable.

All of the military services have experienced a major increase in traffic fatalities since the beginning of the Iraq war. From FY 02 to FY08, the Navy and Marines have lost a combined total of 857 members in Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) collisions. In just the last three fiscal years, the Army has lost a total of 370 soldiers. More than half of these deaths were on motorcycles. The majority happened at night and on weekends. More than one third involved speed or alcohol. In more than half of the fatal collisions, seat belts were not used.

You probably had some training sessions with blood and guts videos before the end of your deployment to remind you to be careful when you return to driving. However a lot of those training sessions neglect to remind you of the behaviors you need for safe driving. Before returning home, it is important to stop and think about those driving behaviors that could get you into some real trouble. With that in mind, lets look at some of the tools you will need to survive at home.

For all those long months you have lived a daily existence in a high stress, adrenaline rush environment. It takes time to readjust to the “laid back” civilian environment. Those of you who have deployed before can probably relate to the odd feeling of being in a combat or shipboard environment one day and a safe, comfortable home environment the next. While it is a good kind of stress, the return home puts us in a different kind of stressful environment. Remember that “good stress” is still stress and that stress takes a toll on our bodies. Depending on the environment you left behind, it could take days, weeks, or months to decompress from your deployment. The adrenaline rush you have lived on combined with the adrenaline rush of returning home can lead to impulsive behaviors or cause you to be easily distracted from the important task of concentrating on driving. Becoming aware of that fact is the first step in overcoming it. It may not be possible, at first, for you to get down from that adrenaline rush and relax enough to concentrate on your driving, so, even though it may not square with your take charge personality, it may be wise to let your significant other take the wheel for a while.

During your deployment you probably encountered the fight or flight response on a regular basis. That life saving reflex allows us to respond to an emergency situation by redirecting blood flow to the large muscles and giving us a big boost of adrenaline to either fight or run away. After the emergency was over that you probably shook like a leaf. That wasn’t fear but rather the excess adrenaline in your body having no where else to go. Driving on an American expressway is nothing compared to driving in Baghdad, but you still have to make emergency decisions and, when you do, the body’s fight or flight response automatically kicks in. All these little adrenaline rushes can quickly lead to fatigue and that can lead to a case of Driving While Drowsy. If you are going on a long trip, remember to take rest breaks at least every two hours or every 100 miles.

For those of you who drove in Iraq, you stayed alive by driving very fast down the center of the road and looking for every suspicious object that could disguise an IED. That way of driving became a reflex action. In other words, you did it without thinking about it. That reflex action is not an easy thing to turn off when you get home and it may take you a while to realize that the piece of trash next to the curb is just that; a piece of trash and not an IED. Those very important reflexes that kept you alive in Iraq could lead to a collision here at home. Again, let someone else drive until you can learn to relax and feel safe again.

Obviously alcohol is a major contributor to MV collisions and fatalities. When you get home, relax, have a few drinks. You deserve it. Just make sure you use a designated driver or have an alternate means of transportation.

Remember that the freedom from all the restrictions doesn’t mean freedom from the need to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle or a seat belt in your car.

To learn more about driver safety and education please visit our Driver Safety Alerts at http://www.nationalsafetycommission.com.

Welcome home. We are grateful for your service and we don’t want to lose you now; especially when it can be so easily prevented.

Labels: driving, military, post deployment, safety

One of the many things I have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving is that, after changing jobs last year, I won’t have to drive by the local mall during my daily commute this Christmas season. If traffic wasn’t bad enough during my commute, the Christmas shopping season turned it into an absolute nightmare. If I had one Christmas wish each year, I would wish that drivers would gain a little common sense and understand what the real meaning of the season is all about. Since that probably isn’t going to happen, I thought a few reminders might be in order to get us safely through the holiday season.

Planning - One benefit of the recent spike in gasoline prices is that it taught us that we need to consolidate trips to save gas. Trying to consolidate all your holiday shopping into one or two trips can help save your sanity and some money.
• Before going out, create a shopping list for all the folks on your gift giving list.
• Use the internet, newspaper ads and mail flyers to find who has the best bargains.
• If you can, devote a single day or two to get all your shopping done.
• Shop early. With the economy so bad this year, retailers aren’t waiting until the end of the season to start their sales.
• Map out your trip and go in a clockwise direction to all your stops. Doing that will ensure you are making more right hand turns rather than waiting for left turn lights.

Dealing with Other Drivers – The frantic pace of the holiday shopping season can bring out the worst in drivers. This is where you really have to keep your cool. When another driver cuts us off, steals "our" parking space or blocks an intersection, we just feel like we have to do something about it. That usually means honking horns, flashing lights, creative sign language, or, worst of all, verbal exchanges. Doing something like that can lead, and has led, to pushing another driver over the edge into a road rage situation. Road rage isn’t aggressive driving. Road rage comes about when one driver, who feels he or she has been pushed just too hard, uses his or her car or some other type of weapon to physically attack an offending driver. You don’t want to be the person who pushes that person over the edge. When you feel like another driver has been rude or dangerous, remember the F.I.D.O. principle. Forget It and Drive On. There is nothing you can do to change that other driver’s behavior. Just let it go and keep out of their way.

Intersections – Trying to get through busy intersections is probably the biggest headache holiday drivers face. My biggest pet peeve is those drivers who, when traffic ahead is backed up to the intersection, pull into the intersection instead of waiting at the stop line until traffic ahead clears. The usual result of that is, when my light turns green, I am stuck because of the other driver blocking the intersection. When that happens, I sometimes fantasize that, if I were prone to road rage and had a gun …… Well, you get the picture. Believe it or not, traffic would flow much more smoothly if everyone would obey the traffic signs and drive at the speed limit. At intersections, remember the following rules:
• When traffic is backed up to the intersection, resist that temptation to pull up. Wait at the stop line. It only costs you a just a couple of minutes to wait for the next light. Doing that will keep you safe and keep you from getting a ticket for blocking the intersection.
• Trying to make it through a yellow light at the last second often results in actually running a red light. Yellow lights mean prepare to stop. I can’t tell you the number of times I have had to wait through a green light for other drivers who are running the red light. Their excuse to the police will be that the light was yellow and they didn’t have time to stop but the police aren’t going to buy it. You can get a ticket for running a yellow light if the officer felt you had time to stop.
• Don’t assume that the car ahead will continue moving and try to stay on his tail to get through the light. Assume that he may stop for no apparent reason and keep your distance.
• Remember that you can’t take the right-of-way. You can only give it up to someone else. If there is a conflict over who has the right-of-way, give it to the other driver.

Pedestrians – There is probably no time of year where we encounter more pedestrians. Remember that pedestrians in a crosswalk, whether marked or not, always have the right-of-way. Pedestrians can’t move as fast as a car can especially when they are burdened down with packages, so don’t expect them to jump out of your way. Remember also that pedestrians may not hear you coming. Their minds are occupied just like yours. Their ears may be wrapped in a muffler or a hat or the pedestrian could be totally deaf.

Stay Off Your Cell Phone – Driving, especially at this time of year, requires your full attention. If you must make a call, pull off the road.

Following these simple rules will allow you to keep your hard earned money to buy Christmas presents instead of paying for traffic fines, court costs, or auto body repairs.

To learn more about driver safety and education please visit our Driver Safety Alerts at http://www.nationalsafetycommission.com.

Here’s wishing you a safe and happy holiday period.

Labels: driving, holiday, safety

It’s holiday travel season again and many of us will be traveling to what was once very familiar territory but, which now, may be totally foreign to us. This holiday season, I’ll be driving through my home town of Atlanta, a city that is no longer familiar to me. Atlanta is changing so rapidly that I can no longer count on past knowledge to find my way around. The Atlanta of my youth was easy to get around in and the natives took great pride in their courtesy to other drivers. That city was replaced by an alien world that more closely resembles a crowded NASCAR track.

When I leave Florida, I will be leaving a driving environment made up of relatively flat straight roads and warm weather for an environment made up of hilly, curving roads and temperatures low enough to cause bridges to ice over.

If you are driving back “home” to a different driving environment, you may want to take a few moments to consider the differences in the driving environment and preparations are needed. You can start by asking yourself some simple questions:

• Will the weather be different where I am going?
If you are driving from warm to cold, you may want to pack blankets, extra food, and heavy jackets in case the roads close, a bad collision brings traffic to a halt, or you experience a break down or flat tire. Do you have experience driving in snow and ice? If not, you will want to be extra careful and slow down. Review your skid procedures and remember, always turn the wheel in the direction of the skid, keep your foot off the brake until you have recovered, and then slow down gently.

• Will the driving environment be different?
If you are going from mountainous and curvy to straight and flat, you need to be aware of “driver’s hypnosis” caused by driving on long, straight, boring roads. You can easily fall asleep if you don’t take frequent rest periods and take action to keep your mind alert. Just make sure the actions you take to stay alert don’t take your mind off the important task of watching the road.
If you are going from flat to mountainous, remember that you can’t drive at the same speeds you are used to. Anticipate an obstruction around the next curve or hill; on two-lane roads, watch for cars that may pass illegally. If you are going slower than other traffic, pull over to let them pass; if you are going faster, maybe they know something you don’t know. Slow down!

• Am I driving from a small town to a big city (or vice versa)?
If, you are driving through a large city, prepare for an intense driving environment. Take a rest stop on the outskirts of the city, study a map to familiarize yourself with your route and be prepared to drive straight through.
If you are driving to a small town, don’t take your big city driving behaviors with you. Rural environments are more laid back and drivers may not be in a hurry. Be patient when you are stuck behind a slower driver. Remember, you may encounter slow moving farm equipment and even animal drawn vehicles which have the same right to the road that you do.

• Have there been many changes since my last visit?
Construction zones may be frequent. That old familiar exit may have been remodeled or closed. You can go on-line to the state department of transportation to check for any changes, construction zones, and road closures on your route. Pay attention to signs. The speed limit on your old road may have changed; a new traffic light may have been added since your last visit.

• Is the car ready?
Is your coolant going to be able to handle the changes in temperature? Does your windshield wiper have alcohol based fluid? Are your tires in good shape and properly inflated? Get an oil change and have all your fluids checked before you leave. Will you need tire chains in case of snow? Does your defroster work? Make sure you have an ice scraper and don’t drive with any ice or snow covering any part of your windows or mirrors. Make sure you have a fully charged cell phone and pay attention to mileage markers in case you need to call for help.

• Am I giving myself enough time?
Be sure to drive during the time you would normally be awake to avoid Driving While Drowsy. Take a break every two hours or 100 miles. Remember that speed kills and doesn’t really get you there that much faster. Speeding can also be expensive (a speeding ticket in Virginia, for instance can cost more than $1,000.) Remember that congested roads create frustrated drivers who tend to make more mistakes.

• And the biggest safety tip of all?
Make sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts.

To learn more about driver safety and education please visit our Driver Safety Alerts at http://www.nationalsafetycommission.com.

Here’s wishing you a safe and happy holiday period.

Labels: driving, holiday, safe, travel