Americans are born commuters. Nearly 115 million cars hit the road every day, usually with people riding alone. The average commute time depends on where you live, and how far away you live from your job. Most people commute around 30 minutes per day. The more often you commute, the more likely you are to be involved in an accident. Over 5.25 million Americans are involved in an accident each year. If you commute to work, here are some tips to keep you and your family safe during the commute.
Commuting with Kids
Many parents drop their children off at daycare or at school on their way to work. If you are concerned about commuting with your children, there are some steps you can take to keep them safe. First, make sure they are in the appropriate car seat for their age and weight. Next, make sure they have car seat safety head support. That way, you’ll be protecting their heads and necks in a crash. Third, double-check to make sure you are driving as safely as possible. Leave enough room (two car lengths) between your car and the car in front of you. Leave four or more car lengths between you and a semi-truck. During rainy or snowy weather, watch your speed and gently apply the brakes when you need to.
Commuting to College
You may have a college student in your home who is commuting to school, or you may be a commuter to college while you’re working. Either way, the college commute presents special challenges. Be sure that you are parking in a safe area, as many people take night classes and have to walk to their cars after class at night. Second, be sure you lock your car doors before you leave the area. If you have possessions in your car, be sure you keep them hidden from view of any potential thieves. When you are out of your car, and walking to campus, be sure that you are visible to other cars. You also need to be careful of pedestrians when you are driving, because they are not always aware of oncoming cars.
Commuting on Neighborhood Roads
If you are lucky, your commute won’t be on major highways or interstates. Instead, your time is spent in neighborhood commutes. If you are on a neighborhood road, there are steps you can take to stay safe while driving. One of the most important reminders you need to keep in mind is not to drive when you are distracted. Distracted driving–which usually means driving while you are on your cell phone–accounts for as many as one in four accidents. Keep your cell phone in your pocket or in your purse while you are driving. If you are tempted to look at your phone in traffic or at a stoplight, put your cell phone in your glove compartment so that you can’t reach it.
You also need to be careful of young children if you are driving on neighborhood streets. Children can be hit by cars when they dart out in front of a car on a bicycle, on skates, or chasing pets, balls, or other kids. Be sure that you are driving the speed limit on neighborhood streets. Also, because you’re driving on neighborhood roads, you need to double-check for signals from early morning or afternoon buses. In every state, you have to stop for school buses when you see the lights on and the bus arm or stop sign extended.
Commuting on Rural Roads
Most people think that accidents happen most frequently when you are driving on a highway or an interstate. However, more accidents occur on rural roads than interstate roads. There are many reasons a lot of accidents happen on rural roads. First, people tend to speed on rural roads, usually because they are familiar. Be sure that you watch your speed when you’re driving. Also, you’ll need to make sure that your speed matches the condition of the road if the weather is bad. Slow down and watch carefully for downed trees, power lines, and excess water in the roadways. If there’s a lot of fog, drive with your low lights on and drive slowly, as it is much more difficult to see objects on a road in the dark.
No matter what kind of commute you are making, there are always tips you can use to stay safe to get from one destination to the next one. It is much easier to be cautious while you are driving than after you have had an accident. Stay safe, and drive carefully!
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