Page 12 - AAA Schuylkill County – AAA Now! July/August 2015

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
Motorcycle Safety: A Shared Responsibility
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 4,500 motorcyclists were killed on the nation’s roads and highways in 2013. As the weather warms and more motorcyclists take to the roads, drivers and motorcyclists share responsibilities for the safety of all.
FOR MOTORCYCLISTS:
• Assume drivers in cars don’t see you.
• Position yourself in the lane where you will be
most visible to other drivers.
• Obey traffic laws and wear DOT-compliant helmets and other protective gear.
• Make yourself highly visible by keeping your lights on, wearing bright colors and using reflective tape, even in daytime.
• Use turn signals for every turn or lane change. Combine hand signals and turn signals to make your intentions even more clear.
• “Lane-splitting” is illegal in all states except California.
FOR DRIVERS:
• Keep an eye out for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections.
• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.
• Even when signaling, allow enough time to determine the motorcyclist’s intention before you proceed.
• Road conditions that are minor annoyances to motorists can pose major hazards to motorcyclists. This means motorcycle riders may need to change speed or adjust position suddenly within a lane.
• Increase following distance behind a motorcycle, providing enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.
Choose the Right Car to Protect Your Teen Driver
AAA Schuylkill County Offers Suggestions for Parents
“Fun,” “stylish” and “powerful” may be how teens would describe their ideal cars, but very different attributes may be what’s best for them when it comes to safety – and parents’ piece of mind.
Teenagers are the riskiest drivers on the road. In fact, teen drivers have the highest death rates of any age group. Nearly 2,000 teen drivers died in motor vehicle crashes in 2013, and many more were left severely injured.
While getting a driver’s license is still an important rite of passage for many teens, it can cause parents to lose sleep. However, AAA Schuylkill County says concerned parents can help protect their teens who are car shopping by ensuring they choose a safe car.
“A teen driver’s safety is a team effort,” said Sue Smyrl, Insurance Agency Manager. “Teens need to understand their responsibilities behind the wheel and parents need to understand
their role in working with their teen to choose
a safe car.”
• Steer away from vehicles that encourage reckless driving. Teen drivers lack road experience. Sports cars – and other high-performance vehicles with a lot of horsepower – may encourage speeding and reckless driving.
• Pick a vehicle that has the right safety features. Teens should drive vehicles that offer sufficient protection. While new cars are likely to be equipped with the latest in safety gear, if you’re considering an older car, check for features such as anti-lock brakes, air bags and electronic stability control.
• Don’t let your teen drive an unstable vehicle. Sport utility vehicles, especially smaller ones, tend to
be less stable than cars because of their higher centers of gravity. Rapid steering maneuvers
– the kind that can occur when a driver over- corrects to avoid an obstacle – can cause rollovers in less stable vehicles. A car with a lower center
of gravity has a better chance of handling such a maneuver as well.
• Check safety ratings of vehicles. Before you buy, check out online safety ratings of cars you are considering for your teen.
Insurance for teens can be more expensive because they don’t have a track record of safe driving. Check with your insurance agent to make sure you are taking advantage of insurance discounts, or go to AAA.com to find an agent and get a quote.
12
JULY/AUGUST 2015