Your New Year’s Resolution

  • Published
  • By Kevin Greene
  • 436th Airlift Wing Safety Office
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Each year a lot of us promise things at the start of the New Year. These promises range from losing weight to making more money. Here's a New Year's Resolution for you ... I promise to drive safer ... and here are some often overlooked safe driving tips from the Wing Safety office to help you keep your New Year's resolution.

First, increase the following distance. Consider this, most states, to include Delaware, have abandoned the two-second following distance recommendation. Two seconds leaves limited time to identify risks further ahead, around or behind drivers which can lead to hasty reactions and exposure to unnecessary risks.

The new recommended following distance from most accredited driving schools and safety institutions is 3 to 4 seconds.

Next, eliminate distractions. The National Safety Council has done numerous studies on driving, to include one of the most detailed studies of driving distractions. Results show distracted driving as one of the leading causal indicators of accidents today. Things such as adjusting onboard controls, chatting with passengers, and of course using the cell phone are the leading distractions.

Any time drivers take their hands off the steering wheel or take their eyes off the road they are putting themselves in harm's way and are increasing their chances of being involved in an accident by more than 20 fold.

Third, ensure headlights are functioning properly for maximum visibility. According to the AAA Foundation, an average of nine out of 10 cars on the road today have malfunctioning, dirty or yellowed headlights reducing vision and need to be replaced or cleaned. Night vision is reduced by almost 90 percent from dirty or yellowed headlights, and this is definitely not safe.

For your own safety and for the safety of those around you, have headlights looked at by a professional to ensure maximum visibility - who knows, you may even save a life!

And finally, clean windshields. Dirty or scratched windshields are a big safety risk. Studies from the Institute for Highway and Traffic Safety show dirty or scratched windshields will actually reflect light causing more glare and dangerously hinder vision.

It's a good idea to clean windshields every time you fill up with fuel. Also, if there is a large amount of glare caused from sunlight or oncoming cars, have a windshield repair or replacement expert from a reputable auto glass company look at the windshield for serviceability.

For more safe driving information, contact the Wing Safety office at 677- 3369.