Ready?

1. True or False: It is not an NJ State law that you must yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk.

2. Who in the car must legally wear a seat belt? a) the driver b) the front seat passenger c) back seat passengers d) all of the above

3. True or False: When driving in the rain or snow, you should leave more space between your car and the car in front of you than you usually would.

4. What is the speed limit for a residential school zone? a) 5mph  b) 25mph  c) 50mph  d) What’s a school zone?

5. Which of the following is a distraction while driving? a) smoking  b) talking on the phone  c) sending a text  d) all of the above

Hope you’ve been reading because each of my loyal fans who emails their answers to kmm@kmm.org will receive a small gift!

Good Luck!

Time to catch up with friends, BBQ’s, swimming, picnics and trips to the beach. Now, more than ever, it’s important to remember that while summer means you can relax from school work, you can’t relax behind the wheel.

Also keep in mind this weekend, that holiday weekend coupled with picture perfect weather always means more traffic so drive safely as you head out this weekend!

Leave early to avoid rushing, wear your seatbelt, and make smart decisions behind the wheel.

Have a great weekend and Happy Memorial Day!

However most people overlook that cute furry distraction that is present in the cars of 1 in 5 pet-owning Americans. Sure a floppy eared dog with his cute little head out the window is adorable, but also very dangerous for both the passengers and the dog himself.

Having an unrestrained pet in the car can be a bigger distraction than a cell phone or other inanimate object, because a pet has a mind of its own and if it’s not restrained, it can roam freely in the car.

While it isn’t a law in New Jersey yet, driving with pets is pretty common and statistics say that 31% of drivers who transported a pet said it was a distraction no matter where it was in the car.

So the next time you take Spot to the beach, “buckle” him up, because seat belts save lives-even of puppies.

The new red light cameras, which are usually stationed on the same pole as the traffic light, are automatic digital cameras that take pictures as the light turns red to catch those who try to beat the change.  One to two months later, the violator will receive an $85 fine along with a photo souvenir of the event.

At first, I was pretty annoyed and nervous about these so-called tattle tales, until I realized what a great idea they are. Drivers who ran a red light cause 22% of traffic accidents. Since the red light cameras have been implemented, the rate of these accidents has been reduced by 24%.

So avoid the $85 fine and possible accidents by simply slowing down at yellow lights. Traffic lights aren’t a suggestion, it’s the law!

It gets me thinking…

Are the five to ten minutes you save worth the possible injuries you can get or that you can inflict on others?

So leave five minutes early so you can avoid rushing.

Always ride with traffic when you’re on the road, and don’t try to swerve around and through groups of people when you’re not.

And as always, safety first!

Nearly 20% percent of car accidents occur in parking lots.  Not in high speed road rage or bust intersections, but in the 5-10MPH parking lot.  It is an obstacle course of carts, strollers, unaware pedestrians, distracted drivers, speeding cars, road rage, and parking spot showdowns.

So when you’re out shopping or going out to eat this weekend, remember to:

Follow the rules of the road. This means that you can’t drive diagonally across the lot just because there aren’t any cars.

Drive slowly and alertly. Not all drivers frequently check behind themselves when they pull out of a spot.

Pull out of and into parking spots with caution.  Back out slowly constantly checking for those hazardous speeders or distracted pedestrians.

Just because you are driving slower doesn’t mean you can check your cell phone, adjust your iPod or text.

*Photo courtesy of CarInsurnance.com

My moral of the story?

Even the coolest, most experienced, confident bikers fall sometimes. Biking takes a lot of balance, coordination, and focus. And that’s just to stay upright! Next, you have to switch your attention to the road.  Between the Sunday strollers, longboarders, and passing cars, you really have to be ready for anything.

So remember these safety tips on your next ride to class:

• First and foremost, wear a helmet.  I was too concerned with great hair to have one on.  This time I was lucky.  Next time, I may not be.
• Don’t ride with headphones in.  You need to listen for cars coming up behind you or warnings from those around you.
• Don’t ride against traffic.  Not only is it unsafe for you and passing cars, but it’s against the law.
• Follow the rules of the road just like you would in a car.  Stop at stop signs, cross at crosswalks and intersections, because bikes are vehicles too.

Well, not for some!

Unused directionals are the most annoying thing to encounter while driving, not to mention extremely dangerous!   It may seem obvious to the driver that their lane is ending and they need to merge, but the person in the next lane behind you may not see this.  The simple switch of the blinker is a kind way to warn them that you are merging over.

Personally, I know when a driver puts on their blinker in any situation, I am more likely to slow down to let them over.  I think most would agree that they are less considerate to people who appear to be cutting them off, often times purposely not letting them over which in the end can lead to accidents and road rage.

So follow the golden rule:

Use blinkers for others, as you would want blinkers used for you!

Anticipation.

You have to anticipate which base to throw to if the ball comes to you.  You have to anticipate where the next pass will go in order to steal the ball.  You have to anticipate being the continue cut if the first cutter gets the disc.

Driving is no different. You have to anticipate cars driving down and off ramp will need to merge into your lane.  You need to expect mistakes to happen, and know how to avoid dangerous situations.  If you’re crawling down the highway behind a car that constantly speeds up and brakes suddenly, recognize this pattern and give yourself more stopping distance or avoid the driver and switch over to a different lane.

Anticipating mistakes and being prepared to deal with them is the best defense in the unpredictability of driving.  Be Alert. Be Safe!

Talking on the phone while driving is dangerous.  It removes one hand from the wheel, and takes away the drivers focus.  We all know this. We’ve been told time and again by our parents, lawmakers, and police.  There’s another activity that also removes one hand from the wheel and requires a good deal of the drivers focus but isn’t as infamous, SMOKING.

In this case, not only is the driver distracted and one-handed, the other hand is holding a lit cigarette! Imagine dropping that burning stick either onto your lap, or seat or floor. Would that not be as distracting if not more distracting than a Bluetooth or cellphone? A study showed that on average smoking distracts a driver for 12 seconds, compared to the 10.5 seconds of distraction while on the phone.

It just gets me thinking, eating, smoking, and putting on makeup are legal, but dangerous activities that most drivers don’t think twice about.

Be we have to remember, just because it isn’t against the law, doesn’t mean it’s safe.