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SAFE DRIVING AND SAFETY TIPS

The spring showers that bring our flowers and gardens to life can cause flash flooding. If you come to a low spot in the road covered with running water, do not try to cross it. Even a few inches of fast-moving water can sweep a motor vehicle into the river or creek. If your vehicle does become stuck in rising water, get out quickly and move to higher ground. Always heed signs that warn of flash flooding.

 

Winter is beautiful, but it can make traveling treacherous. Be aware of traffic patterns and be courteous to other drivers. Missouri traffic crash reports indicate the most common contributing circumstances of crashes are inattention, traveling too fast for conditions, failing to yield, and following too close. These actions are perfect examples of discourteous driving. When the roads are snow-covered or icy, the chance you’ll be in a traffic crash increases. Patience is a key to safe winter driving.  

 

Eleven people died in traffic crashes over the 2009 Christmas holiday. Eleven people who were important to their families, their co-workers, and their friends are not here to celebrate this holiday season. The Patrol urges drivers to buckle up and make sure everyone in their vehicle does the same.  The hardest part of a trooper’s job is notifying a family that a loved one has died in a traffic crash. Please drive safely.

 

When roads are snow-covered or icy, increase your following distance as you drive. Stopping quickly in these conditions is next to impossible. Leave five seconds between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Slow down and play it safe. Call Missouri's Road Condition Report at 1-800-222-6400 to help you plan your route. This number gives an automated listing of road conditions throughout the state. Making this call can help you plan the safest route in inclement weather.

 

Have you winterized your vehicle? Do you have an emergency kit in your car? Planning ahead could help you deal more effectively with an emergency.  Have a mechanic check your battery, heater, defroster, lights, brakes, oil, tires, wipers, and fluid levels before you travel Missouri's roads. Gather an ice scraper, tire chains, battery booster cables, blankets, flashlight, and a bag of sand. Put these items in your trunk, so you have them if needed. Taking care of your vehicle before you drive could decrease the chance of being involved in a traffic crash.

 

A methamphetamine laboratory can exist anywhere -- your neighbor’s house, garage, even the trunk of their car. If you notice a strong smell of ammonia or ether, there may be a methamphetamine laboratory nearby. These labs are dangerous and are treated as hazardous waste sites when being dismantled by law enforcement. If you suspect a methamphetamine lab in your area, don’t investigate!  Call the Highway Patrol at 1-888-823-METH(6384).

 

If your 2010 July Fourth celebration includes alcohol, please drink responsibly. Alcohol impairs your motor skills and attention. Designate a sober driver. You have a lot to lose by drinking before driving. Getting arrested could be the least of your concerns. There are court costs, medical bills, or perhaps jail time. If you kill or injure someone, you’ll pay a price for the rest of your life.  Enjoy this holiday weekend -- but be sober when you drive.

 

Your children might consider riding an ATV to be a fun, recreational activity. However, not all children are physically able to control such a vehicle, and Missouri law prohibits children from riding ATVs on streets or public property. If you own private property and are allowing children to drive ATVs, the Patrol strongly urges parents to have their children attend a certified ATV safety course.

 

Memorial Day weekend is the first long holiday of summer. People will be taking part in many of Missouri’s recreational opportunities. This search for summer fun will increase traffic on Missouri’s roads and highways as travelers make their way to their destination. Troopers will be out in full force, assisting drivers and enforcing the law. If you’re traveling this weekend, obey all traffic laws and buckle up.

 

Before you take off on vacation or a weekend trip, check to see where construction zones are located. Check work zone information before you travel at www.modot.mo.gov.  The traveler information map will inform you of long-term road construction taking place along your travel route. Knowing where construction is allows you to prepare--extra time and patience are good things to take with you into a construction zone.

 

Missouri law dictates that no person shall operate an ATV upon roads open to the public unless the ATV is owned and operated by the government for official use, or operated for agricultural use between the hours of sunrise and sunset. This also applies to dirt and gravel roads. Anyone operating an ATV on a highway must have a valid operator’s license. All ATVs must be operated at speeds less than 30 miles per hour.

 

When you’re driving on Missouri’s roadways you must turn on your headlights if you are using your windshield wipers. In addition, motorists are required to use their headlights during periods of fog, regardless of wiper use. A rainy or snowy day can result in decreased visibility. Turn on those headlights! It’s better to be seen than to be in a traffic crash.

 

Missouri law states motorists must proceed with caution and yield the right-of-way to stationary emergency vehicles displaying lighted red or red and blue lights. When you see law enforcement, medical personnel, or first responders helping others, give them room to work. Change lanes if possible and reduce your speed. Help keep emergency personnel safe while they protect and serve.

 

Fifteen people died in traffic crashes over the 2008 Christmas holiday. Fifteen people who were important to their families, their co-workers, and their friends are not here to celebrate this holiday season. The Patrol urges drivers to buckle up and make sure everyone in their vehicle does the same. If you choose to celebrate the holiday with alcohol, choose to use a designated driver. The hardest part of a trooper’s job is notifying a family that a loved one has died in a traffic crash.

 

When roads are snow-covered or icy, increase your following distance as you drive. Stopping quickly in these conditions is next to impossible. Leave five seconds between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Slow down and play it safe. Call Missouri's Road Condition Report at 1-800-222-6400 to help you plan your route. This number gives an automated listing of road conditions throughout the state. Making this call can help you plan the safest route in inclement weather.

 

Halloween should be a fun holiday for children. Make sure your trick-or-treaters keep safety in mind! They should approach only houses they are familiar with and that have turned on outside lights. Emphasize to your children that they should never enter a stranger’s house or car for any reason. Parents are encouraged to accompany small children on their Halloween adventure. Make sure older children stay with a group when collecting treats.

 

It’s Crime Prevention Month! Take time to talk with your children. They should know how to use the telephone properly in an emergency. Children should know their full name, address, phone number, and a parent’s work number. Teach them to walk and play with friends, not alone. Children should be reminded to NEVER accept rides or gifts from people they don’t know well. Tell your children they should not answer the door if they are home alone.

 

Farming plays a major role in Missouri’s economy. It is also an important part of Missouri’s history. Unfortunately, farming can be dangerous. During the harvest season, remember to pay special attention to slow-moving equipment. If you drive up behind a tractor when you’re traveling, please slow down and be patient. Only pass when it is safe to do so. Never pass on a hill or a curve.

 

National Child Passenger Safety Week is a good opportunity to show your child you care. Use an appropriate child passenger restraint system every time you put your child into a vehicle. Missouri law requires children less than four years old to use an appropriate child passenger restraint system. Whether that is an infant seat, convertible seat, or booster seat, buckle them in every time you travel!

 

Following other vehicles at a safe distance is one way to avoid rear-end traffic crashes. Remember the three-second rule: Make sure you don’t pass a landmark sooner than three seconds after the car ahead of you. Paying attention when you’re driving could also help you avoid a traffic crash. Inattention is one of the most common contributing factors of crashes. Stay alert to changing traffic patterns and remember to wear your seat belt.

 

Last year, nine people were killed and 473 were injured in traffic crashes over the Labor Day holiday. During that same period of time, there were 1,026 traffic crashes in Missouri. Statistics show the most common contributing factors of crashes in Missouri are inattention, speeding, and failing to yield the right-of-way. You can change these statistics. Pay attention ... follow Missouri’s traffic laws ... and buckle up. Arrive alive. 

 

Do you text your friends while driving? If so, your eyes are on your phone, instead of where they should be! Last year, 17 people were killed in crashes where cell phone use was a contributing factor. Being able to do two things at once is considered multi-tasking ... except when you’re driving. Help make our roadways safer by not talking or texting on your cellular device when you drive. 

 

Have plans this weekend? Social activities often include alcohol. A little drinking can lead to a lot of trouble. Accept your responsibility to prevent traffic crashes. Give a sober thought to safe driving. If your plans include alcohol, take a cab or have a sober driver take you home. A drunk driving arrest would definitely ruin your social life.

 

Here’s a sobering reminder: You have a lot to lose by drinking too much and driving. Getting arrested could be the least of your concerns. There are court costs, medical bills, or perhaps jail time. If you kill or injure someone, you’ll pay a price for the rest of your life. The highway is no place for a driver who has been drinking. Alcohol impairs your motor skills and attention. Respect the lives of others. Stay off the highways if you’ve been drinking.

 

Every year, people die in Missouri because another person chooses to drink and drive. 262 people were killed and 4,511 were injured in drinking-related traffic crashes in 2008. Instead of choosing to drink and drive, choose a designated driver. Driving is a responsibility, not a right. Take responsibility ... The life you save could be yours.

 

Nice weather and the extended July 4th holiday weekend will bring an increase in the number of travelers on Missouri’s roadways. Stay alert and drive courteously!

 

Seat belt laws save lives. You never know when another driver will make a careless mistake. Always buckle your seat belt and the seat belts of those you love.

 

Biking is a healthy and fun way to enjoy Missouri. The same traffic rules apply to bicyclists as to drivers of a motor vehicle.

 

Summer is coming! Memorial Day weekend will kickoff the season of fun in the sun. If you’re traveling during this holiday weekend, remember to plan ahead. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order.

 

It takes only a second to turn on your vehicle’s headlights. But, that second could make you more visible to other drivers and prevent a traffic crash. Missouri law states if you’re using your windshield wipers, your headlights must be turned on.