ARLINGTON, Va., July 2 ATA-summer-drive-tips
America's Road Team Captains Give Important Safety Tips
ARLINGTON, Va., July 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As motorists prepare for July 4th vacation travel, a team of million mile accident-free drivers are helping to make our roads safer. America's Road Team Captains, elite professional truck drivers chosen by the American Trucking Associations, are offering advice on how to safely navigate through highway traffic and congestion this summer and, at the same time, save costly fuel.
America's Road Team Captains agree that the first step toward a safe trip begins in the driveway.
- Prepare your vehicle for long distance travel- Check your wipers and fluids. Have your radiator and cooling system serviced. Simple maintenance can prevent many of the problems that strand motorists on the side of the road before you leave your home.
- Properly inflate your tires - Properly inflated tires can save up to 4 percent in fuel mileage, while over inflation can lead to tire failure. Keep your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently by routinely checking your tire pressure.
- Drive the speed limit - Lower speeds not only save money at the pump, they make you safer on the road. By maintaining a constant moderate speed, drivers can save up to 30 percent on fuel and are better able to react to road conditions and other drivers - so slow down!
- Large Trucks Have Blindspots - Be aware that tractor-trailers have large areas around their trucks where cars are not visible.
Hidden List
If you can't see the truck driver in his or her mirrors, then the truck driver can't see you.
- Keep extra water in your vehicle - Just as you keep a winter driving kit in your vehicle, it is important to be prepared when driving during the summer months. Keep plenty of extra water, sunscreen and non-perishable snacks in car in case you are stranded.
-
Hidden List
Wait until parked to use cell phones - Driver inattentiveness is a major cause of traffic accidents. Even just two seconds of distraction time doubles the chances of an accident.
- Do not cut in front of large trucks - Remember that trucks are heavier and take longer to make a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them.
"Traffic increases during the summer months as families head out for vacations," said America's Road Team Captain
Steve Fields. "Even with gas prices what they are, I'm seeing many additional cars on the road. This means safe driving habits become all the more important and everyone should slow down and follow the rules of the road."
The America's Road Team would like to remind the motoring public that from driveway to highway, safety requires patience and dedication.
The America's Road Team, sponsored by Volvo Trucks North America, is a national public outreach program led by a small group of professional truck drivers who share superior driving skills, remarkable safety records and a strong desire to spread the word about safety on the highway.
www.americasroadteam.com
The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in
the United States.
The American Trucking Associations has led the campaign for rigorous safety laws that affect every driver on the nation's highways. ATA's overall safety agenda includes greater education on sharing the road with large trucks, increased traffic enforcement for all vehicles that operate unsafely around large trucks, the adoption of primary safety belt laws in all states, and reinstatement of a national maximum speed limit of 65 mph for all vehicles. ATA also supports limiting truck speeds at the time of manufacture.
www.truckline.com
Contact:
Eric Reller
(703) 838-1896
SOURCE American Trucking Associations
