Lifestyle
Safety Tips from Harris County Constable Precinct 4
November 23 2022
This time of the year many of us will be traveling to see family and friends. Constable Mark Herman’s office would like to offer safety tips for you to consider before heading out on your trip.
MAKE SURE THE VEHICLE IS READY FOR THE TRIP
Most of the driving safety tips below are going to be about following common sense and driving as safely as possible. However, the condition of your car itself plays a contributing role to your safety on the road, so we can’t ignore that. You should test out or check the following aspects of your car’s performance before heading out:
- Are the fluid levels right?
- Do the lights work?
- Do the wipers work?
- Are the tires in good condition and have a good pressure?
- Are the brakes responsive and do the brake pads make any weird noises?
- Are there any leaks?
- Does the car make any odd noises or movements when steering?
To be on the safe side, you should schedule a check-up with your local mechanic before heading out, too.
AVOID SLEEPINESS ON THE ROADWAY
Drowsy driving is a serious risk. Driving while fighting sleep can put you in as much danger as driving under the influence, yet it’s not a risk that’s talked about as often. With longer drives, such a road trips, drowsy driving is even more of a danger.
SIGNS YOU SHOULD PULLOVER:
- You’re having difficulty focusing
- Your eyelids are growing heavy
- You’re having trouble keeping your head up
- You’re daydreaming a lot
BRING AN EMERGENCY KIT WITH YOU
Even if you’re driving as safely as possible, it’s always wise to be prepared for the event of something going wrong. This is a severely underrated road safety tip. First of all, a subscription to any roadside assistance plan is critical when going on longer drives. After all, you can end up out in the middle of nowhere and find yourself needing help.
Otherwise, your emergency kit should include:
-
Water
- Blankets
- Spare clothes
- Flashlight
- First-aid kit
- A fully charged phone and a list of essential numbers
- Jumper cables
- Tire-changing tools
- High visibility cones and jackets
ALWAYS OBEY THE SPEED LIMIT
It might sound like common sense to some. To others it might sound like one of our road safety tips you don’t always necessarily need to follow. Many drivers think that pushing over the speed limit a little is perfectly acceptable to shave a few minutes off the length of the journey. Speeding, even when it seems relatively safe, is always a danger.
PRACTICE DEFENSIVE DRIVING
Defensive driving is an excellent road safety trip that could keep you from a collision.
WHAT IS DEFENSIVE DRIVING?
Effectively, defensive driving is all about being aware of what other drivers on the road are doing and being prepared for the potential of an accident or collision at all times.
KEEP ENOUGH DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER VEHICLES
Another of our road safety tips to do with safe driving practices is to make sure that you always have a cushion of space between you and the vehicle in front of you. This is also frequently called the “second rule”. You might have heard of the “three second rule”, which means you should slow and count to three to get enough space behind another driver. This can be enough to give you space and time to react and safely evade hazards on the road. You should take into account different vehicles and driving conditions when you’re creating space. For instance, large trucks and other big vehicles with severe blind spots behind them necessitates a four second rule.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE AND REST STOPS BEFORE YOUR TRIP
On longer trips on the road, you should be aware of the risks of long periods of uninterrupted driving. As we mentioned in one of the earlier road safety tips, drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence. It also puts your vehicle under greater pressure, meaning that malfunctions and wear and tear are more likely to rear their ugly heads. By using these safety tips, we hope to make your travels much safer for your families!
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