Texas Driver Safety and Training

Over the past year there have been several instances of drivers losing control of their vehicle and crashing into a pond or stream. Knowing how to deal with such a situation beforehand can help you survive. Of course, the first step in this process is to watch both your speed and the road ahead. Losing control of one's vehicle usually means that the driver is driving too fast for conditions and not paying attention to the road ahead. Prevention is the best defense against a crash of this type. However, should you find yourself driving into a body of water and your vehicle is submerged, here are the things you should know and do.

If your vehicle is thrown into the water:

• Stay CALM. Focusing on the situation is a necessary part of surviving a water crash.
• Unlock doors, roll down all windows and open any doors before you submerge. As the vehicle descends the option to open the door is unavailable.
• Turn your headlights on to help you see in the water and rescuers to locate the vehicle.

In most water crashes, a vehicle will float for a period of 3 or 4 minutes before the weight of the engine pulls the vehicle under. This precious time may allow you to unbuckle your seat belt, roll down your window and get out. Escaping through the trunk is another option. Make sure your vehicle has access from the back seat and you know the location of the trunk release.

If the vehicle is immediately pulled under water, you will need to wait until the water level inside the vehicle completely fills the vehicle. This will equalize the pressure and you will be able to open the door.

Many experts recommend that if you cannot immediately get out of the vehicle before it sinks; keep your seatbelt in the locked position.

• Break the driver or passenger's side windows. Apply force to the corner of the glass not the center.

The front and rear windshields are made of tempered glass and are very difficult to break. Have something in your vehicle that can break the window, an escape hammer or pointed tool available in the car. A spring-loaded center punch tool works above and below water. Whichever you decide, it must be attached securely to the dashboard or driver's side door where you can easily reach it.

After the window is broken the water will rush in. Keeping your seatbelt in the locked position will protect from the rush of water pushing against you and trapping you underneath the dashboard.

• Remove any heavy clothing or shoes.
• Unlock your seatbelt and that of any others.
• Take a deep breath and get yourself and any others out of the vehicle.
• Avoid kicking your feet and injuring others.
• Swim up to the surface in the direction of your air bubbles.

Be aware of your surroundings and be prepared for any currents. Look for obstacles in the water that you may hold on to as you gather strength. Only go back down to the vehicle if there is someone else still trapped inside. Make sure you have the physical ability and swimming skills to do so.

Preparation of what to do in advance and using the time wisely during the situation are critical to a successful recovery!

Here are some tips for Dealing with Flooded Roads from the National Safety Commission.

Labels: flooded roads, road hazards, vehicle crash, vehicle safety

When it comes to driving laws, there are a lot of laws that are easy to break and, indeed, are broken by millions of drivers each day. However, there are some laws that can’t be broken, no matter how hard one tries, and these are the laws that a lot of drivers tend to forget about or ignore. These unbreakable laws are, of course, the laws of physics; specifically, Newton's laws of motion. These laws play an important part in our driving experience and, when people forget about them, the results can be tragic.

How do these laws impact our driving? Newton's first law of motion says "An object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force." What that means is that, when a car hits a solid object such as a tree or another car and comes to a sudden halt, the occupants inside the car will keep traveling at whatever speed the car was traveling until they come in contact with the steering wheel, dash, or crash through the windshield. This law can't be broken but it can be overcome - by the simple use of a seat belt.

There are actually three separate crashes in a vehicle collision; all obeying Newton's laws of motion:

1. When the car strikes another object – The faster the car was traveling at the point of impact, the greater the collision forces.
2. When the unbelted bodies inside the car fly forward – The unbelted bodies inside the car will fly forward and, once they strike a solid object, will rebound or bounce off in another direction resulting in more than one impact point until all the energy is expended.
3. When the brain and the internal organs fly forward and strike the skull or rib cage – This final crash is where brain concussions and internal injuries occur.

The seatbelt is the primary lifesaving device in a motor vehicle but lots of people have excuses for not wearing seat belts:

• "They're uncomfortable." – So is flying through the windshield!
• "I'd rather be thrown clear in a crash." – This means you are flying out the window onto the concrete at 30 - 40 - 50 mph. No matter how bad the crash, you are always safer restrained within your vehicle.
• "I'm afraid of being trapped by the seatbelt." – This event is incredibly rare. The seatbelt latch mechanism is so simple that it is almost impossible for it to fail.
• "I don't need it because I have airbags." – Airbags are considered to be a secondary or supplemental restraint system (that "SRS" you see on your steering wheel) and they depend on the occupant being restrained by the seat belt to work properly. Also, airbags only deploy in a head-on collision so they won't deploy in every crash.
• "I can just brace myself." – Imagine a 150 lb man trying to stick out his arms to stop himself as he flies into a brick wall at 40 mph. His arms will just snap as they hit. The collision forces are tremendous. In fact, in just a 25 mph crash, an unbelted 100 lb girl will hit the dashboard with a force of 2,090 lbs.

Actually there is no good excuse for not wearing a seat belt. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that, in 2009, 12, 713 lives were saved by seat belts. An additional 3,688 lives could have been saved had the occupants been wearing seat belts. Seat belts won't always save you from injury or death (some crashes are just too horrendous) but they will increase your chances of surviving a collision by up to 55%.

The good news is that, according to NHTSA, seat belt use has increased up to 85%. The greater use of seatbelts is one of the primary reasons credited for the steady decline of traffic deaths on America's roads over the past several years. Remember, it's not just smart to wear a seat belt, it's the law.

Labels: air bags, airbags, driver safety, seat belt safety, seat belts, supplemental restraint system, vehicle crash, vehicle safety

Driving a vehicle is a huge responsibility. It is a serious activity that requires focus, skills, and a responsible mind behind the wheel. Brushing up on the rules of the road is as simple as always considering safety first.

When driving your car it is all about keeping the roads safe for you and for other motorists. Here are a few key things to remember when driving:

• Prepare yourself and prep your vehicle. Make sure your vehicle is in proper working condition, and put yourself in the right attitude towards driving: SAFETY. Just before you put the key into the ignition, remember to buckle up with a safety belt, and every time you start the ignition, remember stay calm and be courteous.
• Follow the speed limit and signs. Every driver, before getting their learner's permit is tested on these, but for many drivers if they had to take their Road Rules and Road Signs test again may fail. Test your knowledge on a free practice test to know if you need to brush up on the Road Rules and Signs again.
• Learn how to safely overtake a vehicle or truck. This maneuver is potentially the most dangers move to make in your vehicle. Here is a short video with a great description on how to safely pass another vehicle or truck.
• Eliminate distractions. Make a playlist for your music, eat and text/call your friends ALL BEFORE driving. It's important to remember that driving is about focusing on the road while operating a vehicle. Having other people in the vehicle can already be considered distracted driving. Lessen interaction with other people in the car when driving.
• Be alert. Before you leave the house, check the news for weather/traffic conditions. Be prepared, and make sure you know how to handle situations like slippery roads, or heavy rains in the streets.

If you really wanted to refresh your memory on driving you can complete a defensive driving course online. Remember: when a driver doesn't put safety first, they pay more for it in the end. Stay calm, be courteous and always be alert.

Labels: defensive driving, distracted driving, driver safety, free practice test, vehicle safety