INDIANA – Fall means the return of football season – Friday night lights, cheering on the team, and the joys of tailgating. But with fall’s arrival, it’s important to remember that there is a good kind of tailgating with grilling and cornhole, and a bad kind of tailgating — following people too closely in your car.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), rear-end collisions are responsible for approximately 950,000 injuries and 2,000 deaths every year, and they are often caused by drivers who are following too close and not paying attention. It’s important to remain safe on the road this fall, and experts from SafeAuto have tips to help you avoid a major fumble behind the wheel:
- Kick-off your drive by putting your phone in the back seat, to avoid the temptation of using it behind the wheel.
- Pass on following too closely by remembering to leave at least a car’s distance between you and the car in front of you while driving.
- Train yourself to keep your eyes on the road at all times, and avoid distractions from others in the car, your radio, etc.
- Drive defensively and don’t fall victim to road rage or any kind of anger-driven actions behind the wheel.
- Possession of insurance is key – don’t get behind the wheel until you make sure you’re covered.
- Handoff the keys to a sober friend if you’ve been drinking before the game. Don’t ruin a good tailgate by driving home drunk.
