Roadrunner paint and body defensive driving
Here is some of RoadRunner's best advice for avoiding accidents
Driving in rain can be dangerous. The most important thing for drivers to remember is to SLOW DOWN! In rainy conditions pedestrians, livestock, and wildlife are extremely hard to spot and even harder to avoid. It takes longer to stop or adjust speed in wet weather.
The following are tips for safe driving in the rain.
• Before it starts to rain, replace old or brittle wiper blades.
• Stay toward the middle lanes—water tends to pool in outside lanes.
• Maintain proper following distance (3 second rule). This needs to be increased in wet weather.
• Drive in the tracks of a vehicle ahead of you.
• Don’t follow large trucks or busses too closely, because the spray created by their large tires can reduce vision.
• Be more alert watching for brake lights in front of you.
• Avoid using your brakes; if possible, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.
• Turn your headlights on in a light rain and in gloomy, foggy, or overcast conditions to help you see the road and help other drivers see you.
• Avoid off-road driving; it’s hard to judge the actual depth of puddles and standing water where you can easily become stuck.
• Never drive beyond the limits of visibility. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on the windshield, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increasing driver fatigue.
• Never drive through moving water if you can’t see the ground through it; your vehicle could be swept off the road.
• Avoid driving through deep water, because it can cause serious damage to a modern vehicle’s electrical system.
• If possible, stay off the road during heavy thunderstorms. Large flashes of lightning can temporarily blind and disorient drivers, and the accompanying high winds and heavy rain can create deadly driving conditions.
• When you need to stop or slow, do not brake hard or lock the wheels and risk a skid. Maintain mild pressure on the brake pedal.
• Watch the contours not only of the road, but also the fences, trees, hedges, and buildings at the side of the road ahead. If they appear to be unnaturally low, slow down at once, because the road is probably flooded.
• Watch out for places where floodwater collects, particularly low-lying roads adjacent to streams, and dips under rail or highway bridges.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning happens when the water in front of the tires builds up faster than the vehicle’s weight can push out of the way. The water pressure causes the vehicle to rise up and slide in a thin layer of water between the tires and the road. At this point, the vehicle can be completely out of contact with the road, and in danger of skidding or drifting out of the lane.
If you find yourself hydroplaning or skidding:
• do not brake or turn suddenly;
• ease your foot off the gas until the vehicle slows and you can feel traction on the road again;
• Turn your steering wheel in the direction of the skid. As you recover control, gently straighten the wheels; and
• if you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping action. Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, then brake normally. Because the vehicle’s computer will mimic a pumping action.
There are three main factors that contribute to hydroplaning:
• Vehicle speed. As speed increases, wet traction is considerably reduced. Since hydroplaning can result in a complete loss of traction and vehicle control, you should always reduce speed when driving in wet weather.
• Tire tread depth. Maintaining adequate treading on tires and replacing them when necessary can help prevent hydroplaning. Tire experts can measure tread depth with a specially designed tread depth gauge and recommend checking tire treads depth every 2-3 months.
• Water depth. The deeper the water, the sooner you will lose traction, although even thin water layers can cause a loss of traction, including at low speeds.
What to do if you stall in deep water
If stalled in deep water, if possible, have someone pull your vehicle out using a towrope or cable winch. It may be possible to drive a manual transmission vehicle out using the starter motor. You can make the job easier by removing your sparkplugs, thereby lowering your compression and making your starter turn more easily. Take great care not to let water enter the cylinders, as it will hydro-lock your engine, ruining it. This is a last resort for rescuing a flooded vehicle and is not recommended.
Check your brakes
If you successfully pass through a deep-water hazard, test your brakes. They may be saturated, and only driving very slowly and braking lightly at the same time will generate enough heat to dry them out. Be sure they are pulling evenly on all wheels before building up speed again.
Remember to practice safety. Don’t learn it by accident.
When driving is part of your job duties, whether you are behind the wheel of a rental vehicle, a van, a company car, or an eighteen-wheeler, you are a professional driver. Most drivers can drive around the block without incident, but it takes a dedicated professional to drive perfectly for thousands of miles. When professional drivers are at the controls of any vehicle they should always remember that defensive driving is a full-time job. They take the time to complete pre-trip checklists and perform inspections that familiarize the driver with the vehicle and identifies unsafe mechanical conditions that may need repair.
The driving conditions of today’s roads and highways demand a higher level of skill, knowledge, and decision-making ability. A defensive driver is someone who looks out for the mistakes of other drivers; not merely a person who has had the good fortune to avoid accidents.
Safety-conscious drivers:
• develop good habits and practice them continually;
• are prepared mentally and physically every time they are behind the wheel;
• comply with all traffic laws and are courteous to others;
• remember that speed, whether too slow or too fast, kills;
• condition their driving to the current driving conditions;
• maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of them-one vehicle length for each 10 mph; and
• are aware of the vehicle’s limitations.
Defensive drivers:
• have foresight that gives them the ability to size up traffic situations on the road ahead;
• start slowing down sooner and apply the brakes the instant they see a hazard developing;
• apply the brakes gradually so they don’t spin or grind to a stop so quickly that they risk a rear-end collision; and
• anticipate the incorrect actions of other drivers in time to take the actions necessary to prevent the accident.
Professional drivers:
• practice defensive driving to prevent accidents, in spite of the incorrect actions of other drivers or adverse weather conditions;
• anticipate driving hazards and know how to protect themselves from roadway dangers;
• remain alert and focus their attention on driving by keeping their minds free of distractions;
• watch for and instantly recognize accident-causing factors;
• anticipate traffic problems that may develop and decide whether these developments could be dangerous.
In other words, defensive drivers must learn to maintain and operate their vehicles in a manner that avoids contributing to an accident or being involved in a preventable accident. Remember to drive defensively and practice safety; don’t learn it by accident.
Weather can be very dangerous at times, especially when you drive a car, truck, bus, airplane or boat for a living. Fog creates dangerous driving conditions and has been the cause of a high number of accidents and fatalities.
Fog is a cloud form at the surface of the earth made of tiny water droplets suspended in the air. The greatest problem with fog is visibility. Heavy fog is defined as visibility below one quarter of a mile. A Dense Fog Advisory means that dense fog has reduced visibility to 1/4 mile or less within the advisory area.
If you must drive in fog, follow these safety tips:
• Slow down and do not drive faster than your vision.
• Be cautious, fog can become thicker without warning and without being noticed until it is too late to react.
• Increase following distance to ensure enough reaction time and stopping distance.
• Turn on all your lights-including your hazard lights. Use low beam headlights and fog lights. Do not use high beams.
• Turn on your 4-way flashers to give vehicles approaching from behind a better opportunity to see and notice your vehicle.
• Use windshield wipers and defroster as necessary to maximize visibility.
• Be ready for emergency stops by other vehicles.
• If possible, drive in a “pocket” where no other vehicles are around you.
• Turn off your cruise control so you are in control of your vehicle.
• Use the right edge of the road or roadside reflectors as a guide.
• Listen for traffic you can’t see.
• Do not change lanes or pass other vehicles, unless absolutely necessary.
• Remember that other drivers have limited sight distance and that fog makes the road wet.
• Signal early, and when you use your brakes, don’t stomp on them.
• Watch out for slow-moving and parked vehicles.
• If you cannot see, pull completely off the road preferably at a rest area or truck stop.
• If you pull off the road, turn on your hazard flashers immediately.
Remember to practice safety. Don’t learn it by accident.
Eliminating Distractions
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that driver distractions are responsible for 25 to 30 percent of police-reported crashes ― an estimated 1.2 million crashes per year. Distractions while driving can include changing the radio station, inserting a tape or CD, reaching into the glove compartment, talking to a passenger, or focusing on the needs of an infant or small child. Professional drivers should eliminate distractions from their driving habits and know how to identify other drivers who may be distracted while driving.
Professional drivers can use the following steps to avoid being distracted while driving.
• Get adequate sleep before any trip because fatigue can decrease attention and reaction time.
• Don’t drink alcohol before driving.
• Avoid taking medication that causes drowsiness, either before the trip or while driving.
• Pre-program radio stations.
• Pre-load favorite CDs or cassette tapes.
• Clear the vehicle of unnecessary objects.
• Review and become familiar with all safety and usage features on any in-vehicle electronics.
• Review maps and plan travel route before starting the vehicle.
• Fasten safety belts before starting the vehicle.
• Check that all passengers are wearing safety belts and that children are in an approved child passenger restraint system or safety belt.
• Adjust all mirrors for best all-around visibility before starting the vehicle.
• Don’t read or write while driving.
• Avoid smoking, eating, and drinking while driving.
• Don’t engage in stressful or emotional conversations with passengers in the vehicle.
• Pull off the road in a safe and legal place to deal with unruly passengers, children, or pets.
• Always keep cool when in stressful driving situations.
Preventive Measures
Professional drivers can identify other drivers who may be distracted while driving and take measures to insure safety.
• Beware of drivers who are drifting over the centerline or out of their lane.
• Watch out for drivers who are preoccupied with reading, eating, smoking, talking on a cell phone, etc.
• Be cautious of drivers who appear to be involved in conversations with their passengers.
• Never try to pass a driver who appears to be distracted.
• Remember that the distracted driver may not be aware of the vehicles around them.
• Give a distracted driver plenty of room and maintain a safe following distance.
• Do not respond to another driver’s erratic driving by driving aggressively or becoming angry.
• Always wear safety belts.
With the increase in new technologies (cell phones, DVD players, VCRs, computers, satellite communication systems, etc.) that can be used or included in vehicles, it is important for professional drivers to learn how to manage normal distractions and technological distractions.
• When possible, pull off the road in a safe and legal place when making or receiving a call on a cell phone.
• Load favorite DVDs or videos as well as CDs or cassette tapes into player before driving.
• If possible, turn off cell phone until destination is reached or use caller identification feature to track calls while driving.
• Pre-program frequently called numbers into cell phone.
• Purchase and install a hands-free device so both hands remain on the steering wheel.
• Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations even if using a hands-free device.
• Suspend all conversations when approaching locations with heavy traffic, road construction, heavy pedestrian traffic, or when driving in severe weather conditions.
• Do not try to type or read messages on a computer or satellite communication system while driving.
By learning how to manage everyday distractions, technological distractions, and others drivers who may be distracted, professional drivers become safer drivers.
Jump Starting a Battery
Most people think they know how to jump-start a car’s battery, but you’d be amazed how many people do it the wrong way. Follow these suggestions when getting your car back on the road.
• Step #1: Clamp one cable to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery. Don’t let the positive cable touch anything metal other than the battery terminal.
• Step #2: Connect the other end of the positive cable to the positive terminal of the good battery.
• Step #3: Connect one end of the negative (-) cable to the negative terminal of the good battery.
• Step #4: Connect the other end of the negative cable to metal on the engine block on the car with the dead battery. Don’t connect it to the dead battery, carburetor, fuel lines or moving parts.
• Step #5: Start the car with the good battery.
• Step #6: Start the stalled car.
• Step #7: Remove the cables in reverse order.
Wear a pair of splash-proof, polycarbonate goggles with the designation Z-87 on the frame. This certifies that your goggles are meant for activities such as automotive repair.
Batteries contain sulfuric acid, which gives off flammable and explosive gas when a battery is charged or jump-started. Never smoke or operate anything that may cause a spark when working on a battery.
Whenever you change the oil, take time to check your battery for damage such as cracks, corrosive materials and loose wires.
Make sure you have a pair of jumper cables that are free of rust and corrosion and have no exposed wires. (Never use electrical tape to cover exposed wires.)
Make sure you buy a battery that is recommended in your car owner’s manual.
Never throw an automobile battery in a garbage dumpster or leave it in a parking lot, especially if it is cracked or damaged. Take it to a service station and have it disposed of properly.
Never jump-start your battery if your car’s fluids are frozen.
When buying a new battery, make sure that its terminals are sturdy and large enough to allow the clamps of a pair of jumper cables to attach easily when jump-starting.
Always call a professional if you think there might be trouble you can’t handle, or you can’t remember how to jump-start a vehicle.