Seat Belt

Seat Belts: Your Single Most Effective Safety Step
Seat belts are the single most effective traffic safety device for preventing death and injury, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of crash injuries 

by 50 percent. They save lives: 
Seat belts saved more than 75,000 lives from 2004 to 2008. 
Forty-two percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2007 were unbelted. A 2009 NHTSA study estimates more than 1,600 lives could be saved and 22,000 injuries prevented if seat belt use was 90 percent in every state.

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How does a laser speed gun work to measure a car's speed?

If you have read the article entitled How Radar Works, then you know how normal radar works. A normal radar set sends out a radio pulse and waits for the reflection. Then it measures the doppler shift in the signal and uses the shift to determine the speed.

Laser (or lidar, for light detection and ranging) speed guns use a more direct method that relies on the reflection time of light rather than doppler shift. You have probably experienced the reflection time of sound waves in the form of an echo. For example, if you shout down a well or across a canyon, the sound takes a noticeable amount of time to reach the bottom of the well and travel back to your ear. Sound travels at something like 1,000 feet (300 meters) per second, so a deep well or a wide canyon creates a very apparent round-trip time for the sound.

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What PSI should I keep on my 31x10.5x15 tires?

Correct tire pressure is absolutely determined by the year/make/model of vehicle AND tire size and yes, the more air you put in a tire the greater the load it can carry (up to its maximum).

Take your 31x10.50R15 LT 109S tires for example. According to the Rubber Manufacturer Associations Tire Load and Inflation Tables (the inudstry standard) at 30 psi this tire supports a load of 1,595 pounds, at 35 psi that increases to 1,765 pounds, at 40 psi it is 1,945 pounds (compared to a standard S10's P235/75R15 105S sized tires 1,940 pounds at the factory recommended 32 psi) and it maxes out at 2,270 pounds at 50 psi. It is this last number: 2,270 pounds at 50 psi that you will find on the sidewall of the tire, indicating both the tires maximum load and maximum inflation capacity. This is not a RECOMMENDATION, just a safety warning.

So JBF was correct, when you change tire size you need to change inflation pressure to compensate for the change in load capacity. You can see from those figures how overloaded your tires would be if you used the same inflation pressure as the tire size that was put on the truck at the factory.

Source(s):

Data collected from the RMA, Tire Industry Association (TIA) and Bridgestone/Firestone's Tire Resource Manual

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5 Keys Smith System Safety Driving

The Five Keys are:

1. Aim High in Steering - Avoid Collisions by seeing, evaluating, and acting upon all information available.

2. Get the Big Picture - Fewer mistakes are made when you have the complete traffic picture.

3. Keep Your Eyes Moving - Proper scanning techniques separate safe drivers from people who make
costly errors.

4. Leave Yourself an Out - All that separates drivers from a collision is space. Use it to your advantage.

5. Make Sure They See You - Seek eye contact and use your warning devices at the same time

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Night Driving Safety

 Dangers of Night Driving

Traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day. Yet many of us are unaware of the special hazards of night driving.

Why is night driving so dangerous? One obvious answer is darkness. The primary component of a driver's reaction is vision, and night vision is severely limiting. Depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised when driving at night.


Older drivers have even greater difficulties with night vision. As we age, we need more light to see as well as we could in our younger years.

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Winter Driving Safety

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Safety Features

Must Haves for Driving Safely

Two Principal Safety Categories

Manufacturers design various safety features to avoid crashes and/or protect you and your passengers if a crash occurs. While most vehicles on the road today have equipment such as anti-lock brakes designed to help you avoid a crash, a variety of new, high-tech devices are in various stages of development and testing.

Size Matters

Millions of crashes involving tens of thousands of deaths occur every year – so it’s critical to select one of the vehicles that are most likely to protect you from death or injury if you should be involved in an accident.

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Traveling with Pets

Pet Car Seats Help Keep Small Dogs Safe

Dog Travel

Small dogs often prefer to curl up on someone's lap – and if that lap belongs to the driver you have an unsafe situation. Dog car seats and other supplies are available through catalogs and in pet shops. Used with a back seat safety belt and a harness (never a collar!) on the dog, these dog car seats keep pets in place, are soft and comfortable, and enable little critters to see out the windows – keeping everyone happy!
In addition to dog car seats, there is a wide range of travel harnesses designed for dogs of all sizes. These buckle into most standard seat belts to secure the dog safely. Some dogs may be more comfortable in a travel crate – and if that's true for your pooch, just be sure the crate is secured.

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Young Passengers

Little Ones Are Especially Vulnerable To Injury In Traffic Accidents

Use Proper Restraints to Prevent Head Injury

Laws are very strict concerning car seats and other safety devices for children, and with good reason. Because their heads are heavier than adults’ in relation to their bodies, unrestrained young children are likely to be thrown forward headfirst in collisions – and head injuries are usually very serious. Child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (less than 1 year old) and by 54 percent for toddlers (1 to 4 years old) in passenger cars (NHTSA, 2008).

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Distracted Driving Statistics and Lethal Dangers

Number of Fatal Crashes Rising Due to Distracted Driving

Whether you're talking on a cell phone, texting, using your laptop or any other device not related to driving, you will be distracted from the task at hand – safe driving. State traffic laws are beginning to catch up with the common use of electronic devices, often banning their use to reduce distracted driving. 

In 2008, 5,870 people lost their lives and an estimated 515,000 people were injured in police-reported crashes in which at least one form of driver distraction was reported on the crash report. While these distracted driving statistics are significant, they may not state the true size of the problem, since the identification of distraction and its role in the crash by law enforcement can be very difficult

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Defensive Driving

Prepare Yourself to Protect Yourself

For decades people of all ages have participated in defensive driving classes in classroom settings across America, and it’s possible that at some time in your life you’ve taken such a class. If you did, chances are you learned some valuable tips – but if it’s been a while since you took a class some of the knowledge may have slipped your mind. Now – while you’re considering how you can prepare to drive for a lifetime – may be the perfect time to sign up for a refresher. 

Where to Find a Defensive Driving Class

A variety of organizations offer defensive driving classes. Defensive driving classes cover age-related changes that can affect driving, such as changes to vision, strength and reflexes.
You'll also learn valuable information on how medications can affect your ability to drive. These classes are also a great way to refresh your knowledge on state laws and get some practical tips on driving safely in today's environment. If you haven't had a refresher since you were first licensed to drive this is a great way to become more informed and safer. Many classes are offered in person in a classroom but online courses are becoming increasingly popular.

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You Have To Check Before Driving

you have to check before driving a vehicle for safety. 
 
1. Your vehicle is registered.
2. Registration number is displayed prominently in front and rear of your vehicle in the prescribed manner.
3. Your vehicle is insured to cover liability in respect of any third party risk.
4. You are not under the influence of drinks/drugs.
5. You have a valid driving license for the type of vehicle you are driving.
6. You are physically and mentally fit to drive. 


7. Your vehicle is in roadworthy condition. A vehicle which is not roadworthy is a risk to your own life and of others.

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