Submitted for post by Kentucky Steve.
Vehicle Safety
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, motor vehicle accidents kill an average of 40,000 people in the U.S. each year.
To help ensure vehicle safety while on the road, the National Safety Council recommends performing the
following pre-start safety checks.
Every time you get in your car:
· Adjust your head rest. Correctly positioned head rests reduce whiplash injuries by 28 percent.
· Adjust side and rearview mirrors. This helps to eliminate blind spots and any unnecessary distractions while driving.
· Buckle seatbelts and make sure they're properly fastened. In the last 20 years, an estimated 157,500 lives have been saved by wearing seatbelts.
· Check your fuel level. In preparing for a trip—large or small—make sure you have enough gasoline in your tank to get there and back.
· Look for engine warning lights. Heed warning lights to lessen the chances of vehicle damage or a roadside breakdown.
· Secure loose objects. Loose items—from luggage to soda cans—are responsible for approximately 13,000 injuries in accidents each year.
· Turn off cell phones. In the last five years alone, nearly 300,000 drivers have been involved in crashes attributed to cell phone use.
On a weekly basis:
· Check fluid levels, especially oil and coolant. If you want to keep your engine running smoothly and in good shape, it’s essential to keep fluids fresh and at the proper levels.
· Check for leaks under the car. Spots or stains under your car can indicate gas, oil, water, power steering, or brake fluid leaks, and mean that you should seek service.
· Check for proper tire inflation and tread wear. Annually, more than 23,000 car crashes are attributed to blowouts or flat tires that could have been prevented by regular maintenance.
· Ensure windshield wipers work and have sufficient fluid. Check these items to ensure visibility during rain or snow.
· Test brake lights, directional signals, and head and tail lights. Confirm that signals are functioning properly, lights are visible and bulbs are burning brightly.
Safety is a money saver:
According to the Department of Energy, following pre-start safety procedures—such as proper tire inflation—can save five cents per gallon for each fill-up. Additionally, regularly checking your oil and replacing it with the correct grade during an oil change can improve gas mileage as much as two percent, a savings of up to three cents per gallon.
For more information, visit the National Safety Council at nsc.org/issues/drivsafe.htm.
