Summer is in full swing and the summer driving season is in full swing. Law enforcement and Department of Transportation personnel across Iowa are working diligently to ensure your summer driving season is safe. Below are some simple steps you can take to keep yourself and your family safe.
These tips are provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and can be found on the NHTSA website.
• Don’t drink and drive — In 2022, 13,524 people were killed in alcohol-related car crashes in the United States. That means that every 39 minutes, someone dies in an alcohol-related car crash. Be responsible: Don’t drink and drive. If you plan on drinking, choose a sober driver before you get out.
• Check your tires for air pressure, tread wear, and spare tire — Make sure each tire is filled to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure, which is listed in your owner’s manual and on a placard on the driver’s door jamb or door frame; and don’t forget to check your spare tire if your vehicle has one.
• Keep children safe in and around your vehicle — Make sure car seats and booster seats are properly installed and that children traveling with you are in the car seat or booster seat that is best suited to protect them. There are other dangers to children in and around cars that you should be aware of. One of these dangers is hyperthermia, or heat stroke, which can occur when left unattended in a hot vehicle.
• Fasten your seat belt. Every trip. Every time. — Everyone in your vehicle must agree to wear their seat belt every time they travel or drive in your vehicle. Wearing a seat belt is the best defense against an accident.
I am often asked why police departments place such a high priority on seat belt use and enforcement. The answer is simple: seat belts save lives. Over the course of my career in law enforcement, I have heard many arguments as to why people do not need to wear seat belts. Here are some of the most common excuses and my counter-arguments to justify seat belt use.
• I only drive to the city center or to the grocery store.
This is the best time to wear a seat belt since 80% of fatal car crashes occur within 25 miles of your home and at speeds below 40 mph.
• I won’t have an accident. I’m a good driver.
You may be a good driver and this can help you avoid some accidents. However, even good drivers can’t always avoid the bad driver who hits them.
• I’m afraid the seat belt will trap me in my car.
In the event of a car accident, the best place to be is inside your vehicle. You are 25 times more likely to die if you are thrown from your vehicle in an accident. A very small percentage of accidents involve car fires or immersion in water requiring rapid egress from your vehicle.
• The seat belts are uncomfortable.
Modern seat belts are actually designed to provide more comfort to the user. Most of them allow you to move around and some belts are equipped with comfort clips that hold the belt in a slightly relaxed position. If the belt does not fit your size, belt extenders can be purchased.
• I don’t need a seat belt. I have an airbag.
Airbags are designed to work in conjunction with seat belts. Airbags alone only reduce deaths by 12%. They increase the effectiveness of seat belts by 40%. They also do not protect you from side impacts.
It only takes three seconds to buckle up. Choosing to wear your seat belt could be the best decision you make today and could mean the difference between life and death.
Avoid risky behaviors
You know the rules: don’t text, don’t drive distracted, and obey posted speed limits.
Following these quick and easy tips will go a long way in keeping you and your loved ones safe this summer driving season. Have a great summer in Marshalltown!
For additional safety tips from NHTSA, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/summer-driving-tips.
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Mike Tupper is the head of the
Marshalltown Police Department.
