According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), when comparing a automobile to a motorcycle rider the motorcycle rider has a 35 percent greater chance of getting hurt or dying in a automobile accident compared to a driver in a automobile. When wearing a helmet it is less likely that the motorcyclists will receive a serious head injury and more likely to survive the accident according to the The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Safety helmets for motorcycle users are the law in many states, optional in others. Especially so if the helmet is rated for safety and is properly fit to the wearer. Safety is what it’s all about right.
When wearing a motorcycle helmet it will protect your head against the following, it protects your face, your ears and you are able to have an intercom system to talk to others. A helmet protects your head and your face from injuries. There are many different types of helmets ranging from helmets that have a face guard and helmets that have an open face so you can feel the wind on your face, helmets can be customized to your specifications. Looking for full face helmets can be a challenge. On helmets the face shield can retract by lifting up and down.
Because Motorcycles lack the protection of other vehicles, such as a car or truck, severe injury is much more likely. For comfort and protection they generally have fabric and foam interiors. Motorcycle helmets act as a protection device for your head.
When looking at helmets to purchase don’t let the price determine which helmet you will purchase, you will need to look at the protection factor it can provide and how it is rated. When manufacture design a helmet they look at many different factors, one of the factors is how much impact a helmet can receive without hurting the persons head, many helmet manufactures put padding and made the inner side soft while the outer shell is very hard and very difficult to penetrate.
Trying to find a helmet that fits is very important, when looking at helmets try them on and make sure they fit snug and the feel is comfortable. If you are buying a helmet for a child make sure the helmet fits snug and the child can see out of it and the helmet doesn’t turn around while wearing it, if you are buying a used helmet make sure there are no cracks, the padding is in the helmet and the strap still works.
Even if you don’t choose to wear a motorcycle helmet for safety reasons, there are other reasons. When looking for motorcycle helmets there are so many choices and many different designs, colors and visors. Some manufactures match the men’s helmet with the women’s helmet and other accessories.
Safety helmets successfully reduce the chances of head injury to a great extent. For instance, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated in a report that if you do not wear a helmet there is a 40% chance that the rider will suffer a head injury and a 15% chance of it being a fatal head injury.
David Marc Fishman is the owner of Priceriot. http://www.priceriot.com is an auction site where prices drop as people shop. http://www.tipsquad.com is an Ask an expert video site.
Many parents will buy their teenagers their first used car shortly after they turn sixteen. Once mom or dad has helped their teenage driver find a good and reliable used car it is time to find car insurance that won’t cost them an arm and a leg for their new driver. New drivers will typically have higher premiums than older drivers who have more driving experience.
Even though new drivers are considered inexperienced, the premium that you pay doesn’t have to empty your checking account. In fact, parents can save a little bit of money by using their existing insurance policy. Many companies will offer “multi” discounts. This means that if the policyholder has more than one car on their policy, then they will usually get a discount on the additional cars. Other insurance companies will offer auto and home insurance together and this can make paying your insurance even easier. If you are adding a new driver and car to the policy you may receive multi-driver and multi-car discounts.
If the new driver has had a driver education course such as Driver’s Ed in high school, then you may also be able to receive a discount. Many schools offer these courses and if they do not, you may find them available through private companies. You can also take the course and receive a discount for both you and your new driver. Many insurance companies offer these discounts and because many states are requiring that students take these courses, then the situation is even better for you.
Some insurance companies also offer a Good Student discount. These programs award students by offering discounts to students who make good grades in school. If a student also takes a defensive driving course voluntarily, you may also be able to save by sending the certificate to the insurance company, as most insurance companies offer defensive driving discounts as long as the course was not a requirement for a speeding ticket.
Teens have higher accident numbers than any other age of driver. As they progress from being 16 to 17 to 18, their driving gets better as they gain experience. This is why it is important to be prepared for teen car insurance to be more expensive when they first begin driving. They are a higher risk because they tend to be involved in many more accidents. As a parent, you will need to expect to pay that higher premium, but as the teen becomes more experience you can expect that premium to begin dropping on a yearly basis. To make car insurance more affordable for your teen, you should be prepared to budget in that amount when purchasing them a used car.
Car insurance is also a good opportunity for students to learn responsibility. They should be able to help parents pay the premium through summer or part time jobs. They should also learn the effect that a traffic ticket or accident will have on their premium. They will also be able to see how being a good student allows you and them to save money on their insurance.
For more Car buying tips visit Atlanta Used Cars at http://www.UsedCarsAtlanta.us and Dallas Used Cars at http://www.UsedCarsDallas.us.
Kevin Lloyd writes Car buying tips about Atlanta Used Cars at http://www.UsedCarsAtlanta.us and Dallas Used Cars at http://www.UsedCarsDallas.us.
Accidents can happen anytime, even if you are an extremely cautious and defensive driver! Most accidents actually occur within a 25 miles of the home, according to a Florida highway spokesman. Sometimes, they happen right in your own driveway. Just ask my sister-in-law who hit her friend’s car in her driveway while backing up! No matter where they occur there are a series of steps that should be followed after an accident.
The Consumer Protection Association of America continually develops a list of recommendations for drivers so that they’ll actually know what they need when a traffic accident occurs. This fine organization takes major steps to increase public awareness regarding traffic safety. Some of the steps are preventative and should be followed now before you’re involved in an accident.
One, have an emergency kit in your glove compartment or storage area. The kit should include a cell phone, pen, pad of paper, and a disposable camera (this is very important). With today most of us carry a cell phone, which takes pictures. As long as you insure that your cell phone is with you and carries a charge this should suffice for the cell phone and disposable camera in the kit. These items are for recording the key information regarding the accident and the scene. You should also have a card with information concerning any medical allergies or conditions you have that require special attention, as well as emergency contact information. It is also recommended by other agencies that you have a number list ed on your cell phone under ICE (in case of emergency), where the attending policeman or EMT can simply hit speed dial on your cell phone to reach your emergency contact. You should also have traffic cones, warning triangles and emergency flares in your trunk.
Two, you need to insure that safety is first! When you are involved in a minor accident and there are no serious injuries, make sure that the vehicles are moved to the side of the road. Do not stay on the road and become an obstacle to oncoming traffic. If you do this, it may result in the occurrence of more and more serious traffic accidents because of your vehicles creating an obstruction in the road. My wife was rear-ended by another woman on an exit ramp and they both left their vehicles on the ramp believing it to be safe and that it was important for the police to see the exact position of the vehicles. In spite of the fact that both vehicles were clearly visible for a minimum of 300 yards and they both had their flashers on, another drive came up and rear-ended the SUV that had originally struck my wife! My wife called me on the cell phone and told me what was going on and I told her to get those vehicles off of the road right away! If the car or cars is not movable, make sure that the other motorists are warned by turning on the hazard lights and setting out flares, traffic cones or orange triangles to divert traffic. If you cannot move the vehicle, do what you can to alert the traffic and then move away a safe distance in case of any further accidents.
When you are involved in an accident with serious injuries make sure that no one is in immediate danger (from fires, falling tress or telephone poles, etc). After you have made sure of this, attend to those hurt. It is important that you not move anyone that has been seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger. Further injury can occur from movement. It is always a good idea to let the emergency response teams attend to and moved the injured whenever possible to help prevent this.
Three, exchange all of the important information with the parties involved. You’ll need to obtain the other driver’s name, addresses, phone numbers (home and work), insurance company, car insurance policy number, driver’s license number, license’s plate number, and make sure to write down a description of each car, the year, make, model, color and any apparent damage. Also, write down what occurred during the accident as soon as possible. Pay special attention to the position of the vehicles, sequence of events and the cause of the damage.
I recommend that you write down all information readily available to you without the cooperation of the other driver such as the license plate number, make, model and color of the car, driver description and brief description of other occupants. Also, obtain any witness information at this time. As long as no one is hurt, most witnesses will soon depart the accident scene, and you want to make sure that you have their information. After obtaining this info, then approach the driver about their information like driver’s license number, insurance information and contact information. This makes sure that the other driver cannot bolt from the scene while you are distracted without obtaining information and it lets them know that you are all business.
Four, take photos of the accident scene and the cars involved. Use your disposable camera or cell phone to document the damage to all the vehicles and the scene of the accident. If there are important points to demonstrate such as long skid marks, hidden entrance/exit, etc. make sure to document these as well. Make sure that the vehicle photos illustrate the total context of the accident so that they will back up your claims. If there are witnesses, make sure to ask them for their name and phone number, and ask if they’ll help you in case of problems with the other driver disputing what actually happened.
Five, file an accident report as soon as possible and obtain a copy of it as soon as it is made available. In some areas law enforcement officials do not respond to traffic accidents unless injuries are present. You should always call the police and request that an officer come to the scene to right up the police report. They will obtain the information from the other drive, if they are uncooperative with sharing the information with you, and they will write down their observations of the scene of the accident, which will further support your claims. If you cannot get a policeman to the scene where your accident occurs, find out how you go about filing an accident report and do so right away. You may have to go to the local police station or you may be able to download accident report forms on-line depending on your locale. A police report usually helps speed up the claims process.
Six, understand your insurance coverage before an accident. The more you know about your insurance coverage the easier the claims process and procedure will go. Does your policy cover towing or a replacement rental car fee? If yours does not and the accident was the other driver’s fault immediately make a claim for this with their insurance company.
The question everyone is typically concerned with is “Who is going to pay for this?” If it is the other driver’s fault you should insist that they pay for the damage. If they agree, get them to acknowledge this in writing if possible. The other drive may be agreeable to pay for the damage now, but after a little time goes by and they are not in your immediate presence they may have a change of heart and decide to try and stiff you (this is why you need witnesses, documentation, etc.).
I recommend calling someone if available to assist you in the accident management process. They will be much calmer and more objective in seeing that everything is carried out. I arrived prior to the police at my wife’s previously mentioned accident when our van was rear-ended. I checked and made sure that everyone was okay. Then I made sure that the vehicles were a safe distance from the road. Next, I obtained all of the vehicle information (make, model, color, license plate number), photographed the vehicles and the accident scene. I then obtained the driver information from the other two drivers involved. After I obtained the car insurance information, I immediately contacted the other driver’s car insurance company and had them open a claim for the damage that had been done to our van. I did all of this before the policeman completed writing his report. I then talked to the police officer and obtained his name and learned the content of his report. When I determined that I was satisfied the content accurately portrayed what my wife indicated had happened, I asked him for the report number so I could obtain a copy as soon as possible. My doing this streamlined the whole process for our claim and it moved through like clockwork.
If you drive a Jeep and you need some replacement parts, you can get them for low prices at Xtreme Terrain Concepts, which specializes in Jeep items. They can be found at www.xtremeterrain.com
In his spare time, Al likes to learn more about Jeeps and auto isuues. When he is working, Al is a marketing manager for one of the leading on-line retailers of aftermarket Jeep parts and accessories, Xtreme Terrain Concepts. They can be found at http://www.xtremeterrain.com
Drivers of modified cars are finding it more and more difficult to show off their artistic masterpieces on streets all across the US. California may have led the way in cracking down on what the state terms as traffic offenses, but other states are following suit. No one can argue that the modifications in these modified cars have gone way beyond what was being done to the original hot rods, but should these modifications really be illegal? Are they really hurting anybody?
While it is true that some enthusiasts have juiced up their engines using illegal means, it is also true that most of those modified cars that have been singled out were not initially pulled over for speeding infractions. In fact, the crackdown on modified cars seems to stem more from an aesthetic problem than anything else.
Many of the violators have been ticketed for exceeding the noise pollution laws. Drivers of modified cars counter that they are being singled out because of unfair comparisons to the drivers in such movies as The Fast and Furious. They claim that the portrayal of modified car enthusiasts in that movie series has caused a backlash against real life owners.
The police forces of not only California, but various other states deny that charge, however. They say that the new breed of modified cars presents a safety risk at high speeds whether it involves racing or not. They point to the increased level of accidents involving modified cars sporting darkly tinted windows, custom rims and wheels, and exhaust pipes. California has, of course, long been the center of the hot rod and modified car universe in America, but the crackdown is spreading all across the country.
But owners of modified cars don’t appear ready to roll over and play dead. In addition to flooding the internet to increase support for their side of the argument via blogs, forums and web sites, they are also attacking the problem via America’s greatest legacy: dissent.
For instance, modified car owners are attacking the crackdown in the state of Virginia with an online petition. The petition identifies the problem as stemming from the vague terminology in Virginia’s laws for modifying exhaust systems and suspension.
Modified cars have been targeted by law enforcement officers for decades. And it is certainly true that drivers of modified cars may be more tempted to engage in high speed racing than the rest of us.
The debate is sure to rage for some time as owners of modified cars feel unfairly singled out and as law enforcement officials feel compelled to make the streets as safe as possible for everyone. The divide between car enthusiasts and the police is likely to grow wider, however, as new and more exciting modifications are discovered.
Author: June Mala © 2006 http://www.us-herald.org
Defensive driving courses generally help an individual to hone up his driving skills even if he has had his license before and is an experienced driver. The basic concept behind such a course is to make an individual trained so that he could react to the mistakes made by other drivers on the road and avoid an accident.
Defensive driving courses in a way assume that even if you drive carefully there are always those rash drivers who will either jump the red light or would take a sudden u-turn without making any signal, and you need to be ready when they do.
Most people enroll themselves for a defensive driving courses because having completed such a course not only makes his drive home safer, but it also entitles him to certain privileges. He gets a discount on his insurance premium, his points on his driving record get reduced, and to cap it all, some states even dismiss tickets issued against a person who has completed his defensive driving course.
Defensive driving courses can be attended either in a driving school or one can enroll for such a course online. Whatever mode he chooses, he should first clarify what courses satisfy his state’s requirements.
There are a lot of rules that a driver is taught to follow in a defensive driving course. The first and foremost thing that one needs to remember is to pay attention. The commonest explanation after an accident is that they had not seen the other man approaching. The only way out is to be alert, always. Another important rule to follow is not to trust any driver on the road.
It is always better to maintain a safe distance from a car in front. One should also remember that even if he follows the traffic lights someone else might not. It is also advised that under no circumstances should one not wear his seat belt. Many an accident injury could be averted if the people inside the car strapped themselves up properly.
A defensive driving course also emphasizes that a person should drive only if he is sober. Even if he is feeling sleepy it is advised that he should stay away from the wheel. It is also instructed that speed limits be followed strictly. A driver is advised to avoid all sorts of distractions while driving such as listening to the radio or talking on the phone.
One should also slow down in case of rain or snow. It is recommended that an eye should also be kept on the pedestrians and their pets so that nothing untoward happens if they stray on to the driveway. In fact one is also given tips regarding riding a bike, for example it is suggested that one wear a protective head gear while riding.
The list of such laws goes on. One needs to go through them thoroughly and put them to practice on the road. One becomes a much safer and secure driver and at the same time also gets to enjoy a few privileges for being so – this is the best part of such defensive driving courses.
Author: June Mala © 2006 http://www.nkpk.com
Defensive driving gives you the essentials on road safety measurements. All the drivers must know this simple driving fact that you can control your action(s) on most of the on-road occasions, but you cannot control or can’t even know what is happening with other drivers on the road. So, defensive driving provides ample information and knowledge to all those people who are looking for comprehensive and lifetime solutions against accidents and other on-road mishaps.
Defensive driving is also known as advanced driving. This is one sophisticated and next level type of training that automobile driver can undertake and learn to master the basic mechanics of driving. They can indeed master all the rules of roads. The aim of the training is to minimize the risk of driving by proactively and spontaneously avoiding dangerous situations despite incorrect actions or adverse conditions on the road. All these and much more can be accomplished via commitment to specific rules as the constant practice of particular driving techniques.
Well, considering the true essence and aspect of defensive driving, you would find out that it is a style of driving wherein you need to take every possible precaution to prevent any mishap from happening. Defensive driving is a brilliant way of keeping you and your family safe while driving.
So, let us take a look at some of the rules relating to defensive driving.
The first and the foremost aspect, is to become fully prepared before taking on your vehicle on the road. You need to check and ensure certain important aspects like water levels, gas, and oil and tire pressures of your vehicle. You also need to check seats, mirrors and ensure important documentations like insurance before hitting the roads.
The second aspect related to defensive driving is that you should never react to road rage and neither display it. This ensures that you don’t break traffic rules recklessly and arrive to any condition which causes harm to you or others.
It is advisable that you purchase bright colored cars. Car colors like yellow, orange or red can make your car easily visible and prominent on the roads. On an average basis, bright colored cars are less likely to be involved in an accident rather than light colored cars.
Usage of headlights is an important aspect related to defensive driving. It ensures that others can see you coming and you can also see clearly during night driving. While you drive, you need to ensure that you apply the three second rule. This rule states that you should at least maintain a driving time of 3 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you. You should maintain this driving time all of the times. However, if the car condition or environmental conditions are bad, you should increase this driving time to 5 seconds.
While driving you should avoid the cars that reflect signs of being damaged down or are broken down. Researches and studies have shown that these cars are prominently driven by bad drivers.
Follow defensive driving and have a happy and safe driving!
Author: June Mala © 2006 http://www.HomeWebPage.net
Every car commercial tells you that their car has a five-star safety rating. Does this score really mean anything? What tests are being performed and who does the measuring?
The Organizations
In the United States, there are two organizations that score cars on safety ratings, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The NHTSA is run by the Department of Transportation and is sometimes called the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) or the government five star rating.
Frontal Collision Ratings
The NHTSA gets its data by running a car directly into a wall at 35 mph. The IIHS does a different test, where the impact is offset, and not directly in the middle. The IIHS test does a better job of mimicking real-life accidents. While most cars do well in directly head-on collisions, most real-life collisions are offset.
The NHTSA scores with five stars. Five stars means that there is ten percent or less chance of injury. Injury is defined as something life-threatening or for which you will need immediate hospitalization. Four stars is between eleven and twenty percent chance of injury. Three stars is between twenty-one and thirty-five percent chance.
The IIHS score is not in a five star format. They rate a vehicle as Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor.
The NHTSA and the IIHS scores should be looked at in conjunction with one another. Remember, both these scores only rate what would happen if you collide with another vehicle the same size as yours. However, many crashes involve only one-vehicle, so these tests are useful.
Side-Impact Ratings
Again, the NHTSA and IIHS uses different side-impact tests. The NTSA crashes a giant beam into the side of a car and measures the shock on two male-sized dummies. They then make a star rating based on the chance of chest injury to the dummies. Five stars means less than 5% chance of injury, four stars is 6%-10%, and 3 stars is 11%-20%. They don’t gage the damage to the head in this star rating, but if they think that it is excessively dangerous, they will add a safety note to their report.
The IIHS uses dummies that represent adolescents or small-statured women. This helps assess the safety of people other than men in the car. They also use a larger beam. They score their rating based on injury to the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and femur. This is arguably a more comprehensive test than the NHTSA test.
Rollover Ratings
The NHTSA is the only company that does Rollover ratings. Rollovers are often the most fatal type of accident. The NHTSA measures the chance of a car rolling with no external catalyst, and the chance of it happening for a reason (hitting a shallow ditch, hitting the curb, going onto the shoulder). 95% of rollovers are “tripped,” and have some external element.
Recent NHTSA testing has proven what we know about SUVs being much more likely to rollover than sedans or other cars.
Low-Impact Bumper Test
The IIHS performs a low-impact bumper test to see how much repairs would cost you if you gently hit something by accident. They rate the cars accordingly. Although this is not necessarily a safety rating, it will tell you what you can expect for possible repairs for your car and is something to keep in mind while purchasing a car.
When you shop
Considering the safety ratings of cars is important. But it is also important to know how these ratings are measured so that you can make the most informed decision about your purchase. Maybe you want your car to be cool, or to be functional, but most of all you want it to be safe.
Andrew Dillan is the editor of http://www.theguideto-carloans.com, The Guide to Car Loans. If you are looking for a new car, find the best way to finance your purchase by checking out this informative site!
If you’re a driver who is aging, it doesn’t mean you are a driver who is facing a lack of automotive insurance. Quite the contrary, if you are a driver who is aging, you could very well be facing discounts in automotive insurance.
Depending on the automotive insurance company through which you are insured, you may be eligible for various discounts. For example, many insurance companies that specialize in more than one kind of insurance will offer discounts to policyholders who purchase more than one insurance policy from them. Many people choose to purchase both their automotive insurance policies and their homeowner’s insurance policies through the same insurance company, which results in a discount in premiums.
Some insurance companies also offer discounts to aging drivers who have good driving records, and for various reasons. Drivers certain ages, usually 50 years of age and older, who have been driving for many years, are viewed as being less of a risk than new drivers – especially if they have good driving records. Aging drivers are seen as more responsible. Plus, aging drivers are less likely to go “joy riding” like younger drivers are, which puts them at less risk for traffic accidents and violations.
Aging drivers who are looking for discounts should follow the same tips as any other driver. Drive a safe car, park it in a safe location, and make sure it has anti-theft safety components. Keep traffic violations and accidents to a minimum, if not nonexistent, and try not to drive a significant number of miles more than necessary a year.
Some automotive insurance companies even offer discounts for aging drivers who participate in driving programs that the insurance companies provide, or participate in with another company. These driving programs are designed to refresh and sharpen driving skills, as well as restore defensive driving tactics.
So, the next time you worry about automotive insurance because you’re an aging driver, stop!
I live in Detroit: one of the cities with the highest rates of auto theft in the nation. Here are some tips from an expert on how to avoid getting your car (or any of the contents of your car) stolen.
Be a Smart Parker
Remember to always park your car in well-light areas. Having your car in a high traffic area is also a good idea. You might even consider getting assigned parking at a lot with an attendant if you are concerned about your car.
Car Alarm Fallacies
Car alarms might sound like a great safety feature, but they might just be one more of the bells and whistles. You can put a sticker on your car that says that it has a car alarm without actually including the car alarm. You will save money this way. You will also save yourself (and others) headaches when people accidentally brush against your car.
Lock it Up
Almost half of all car thefts are performed when an owner leaves the car unlocked. This could mean that they forget to lock their car once, or it could also mean that they leave their car running while they just run in to do an errand. Turn your car off, take your keys, and lock your car whenever you leave it. It is also better for the environment if you turn your car off instead of idling it. You should also consider locking your garage door if you are using a garage. This brings me to another point: always park in a garage when possible.
Make it Less Attractive
Take away all of your belongings with you when you leave your car. This means that you should move any bags to the trunk, and make sure that there are no valuable visible from outside the car. If you can remove your car stereo, place it in the glove compartment or a similar out-of-sight place. Even something that seems as harmless as a glasses case could cause a thief to choose your car instead of another car, so be cautious when you leave your car.
Invest in some Safety
Having a steering wheel lock (such as the club) might not make it that much more difficult for a thief to steal your car, but it might also make them think twice. You don’t even have to lock your steering wheel lock if you find it too cumbersome to use.
Vehicle Identification Numbers are numbers that are etched into cars at various places, including on the windows and major parts. Thieves will be know where to look for vehicle identification numbers, and might avoid stealing a car with VIN etching because the parts will be harder to use, and the car will be easier for police to trace.
Ignition-kill switches and fuel-kill switches are other anti-theft devices that you can consider for you car.
Sometimes getting anti-theft devices can lower your insurance premiums, and so will be a good investment for the future. You might even end up saving money and gaining a peace of mind with them!
Think of the tow-away
Sometimes cars are not stolen by hotwiring, but rather, by being towed away. If you park with your tires facing the curb, it will make it more difficult for a thief to tow your car away. Using your emergency brake will also prevent being towed.
Car theft is not a pretty thought. Cars are large investments and you want to protect your investment. Thinking ahead can prevent some unpleasant reactions.
Get a new or used car of your dreams, and finance it all by visiting http://www.theguideto-carloans.com/, a site that will tell you what you need to know about paying for your car.
The carjacking of parked vehicles or those on the road which come to a stop depends on the car owner being inattentive to their surroundings. Carjackers, like street robbers, prefer the element of surprise. Most victims say they never saw the carjacker until they appeared at their car door.
There are some recommendations to reduce your risk of being carjacked; we have listed some of those common sense recommendations below:
• Always park in well-lighted areas, if you plan to arrive/leave after dark.
• Don’t park in isolated or visually obstructed areas near walls or heavy foliage.
• Use valet parking or an attended garage, especially if you’re a woman driving alone.
• As you walk to your car be alert to suspicious persons sitting in cars.
• Ask for a security escort if you are alone at a shopping center. Do not be too shy to make the request.
• Watch out for young males loitering in the area (handing out flyers, etc.)
• If someone tries to approach, change direction or run to a busy store.
• Follow your instincts if they tell you to walk/run away to a busy place.
• As you approach your vehicle, look under, around, and inside your car.
• If safe, open the door, enter quickly, and lock the doors.
• Don’t be a target by turning your back while loading packages into the car.
• Make it your habit to always start your car and drive away immediately. Don’t hang a round using your cell phone etc, leave as soon as you get into your car.
• Teach and practice with your children to enter and exit the car quickly.
• In the city, always drive with your car doors locked and windows rolled up.
• When stopped in traffic leave enough room to maneuver and escape if necessary.
• If you are bumped in traffic, by young males, be suspicious of the accident.
• Wave to follow, and drive to a gas station or busy place before getting out.
• If you are ever confronted by an armed carjacker don’t resist.
• Give up your keys or money if demanded without resistance.
• Don’t argue, fight or chase the robber. You can be seriously injured.
• Never agree to be kidnapped. Drop the cars keys and run and scream for help.
• If you are forced to drive, consider crashing your car near a busy intersection so bystanders can come to your aid and call the police.
• Call the police immediately to report the crime and provide detailed information.
Do these recommendations sound too hard to put into effect everyday? You are correct if you answer “no”. The alternative could be both dangerous and costly. Take action today.
Bill Wallmuller, the founder of Merokee Enterprises, is pleased to be involved in the “war on crime”. You can visit the defense product Website at: http://www.personal-defense-technology.com