General Driving Tips:

1. •Check your tire pressure at least monthly. You have to use a gauge for this; you can’t eyeball it. Overinflated tires have less traction and give you a bouncy ride. Under-inflated tires can cause tire damage and reduce your fuel mileage. To find the proper pressure for your tires, check the doorjamb on the driver’s door or your owner’s manual. Do not use the pressure listed on the tire. That is the maximum pressure the tire can hold, and they should never be inflated to that.
   

2. •While checking your tire pressure, check your fluids. This means your oil, coolant, windshield washer fluid, brake, power steering, and transmission fluids. In almost all cars these days, you check the coolant level in the plastic reservoir, not by opening the radiator cap.
   

3. •If you need to add coolant, you should normally add a 50/50 ratio of coolant and water.
   

4. •Some warning lights are just that, warnings. You can continue driving home or to the nearest mechanic. But if your oil pressure or temperature lights come on, pull over as soon as you safely can. Both of these situations can cause serious damage to your car if you keep driving.
   

5. •If you need to pull over, get as far from the traffic lanes as you can and turn your emergency flashers on. Only pull over when it is safe to do so. Being in an accident from pulling over in an unsafe area will generally cause a lot more damage to your car than whatever made you pull over in the first place.
   

6. •If you notice your car starting to overheat, turn on your heater. This might make you and your passengers uncomfortable, but it will cool down the engine.
   

7. •If it is raining, turn on your headlights. You want to make sure other drivers can see you.
   

8. •If you feel your car hydroplaning, lift off the accelerator; do not apply the brake unless necessary.
   

9. •Don’t drive through water. Just 1 foot of moving water can be enough to carry away your car. And if you get water in your engine, you can cause major damage.
   

10. •If you do drive through water, test your brakes when you’re on clear road. Wet brakes can greatly affect your stopping distance.
    

Tips to Improve Your Fuel Economy:

1. •Don’t accelerate too rapidly.
   

2. •Anticipate your stops and, if possible, allow the car to coast some before braking.
   

3. •Use your cruise control when you’re able. No matter how steady your foot, your cruise is steadier.
   

4. •Keep your tires properly inflated.
   

5. •If you’re going to be idling more than 30 seconds or so, turn off your car. You get 0 mpg when you’re not moving.
   

Winter Driving Tips:

1. •Slow down. On snow and ice, you have much less traction.  This means less control over what your car does and where it goes.
   

2. •Increase your following distance.
   

3. •Keep a snow brush and ice scrapper in your car all winter long. You may want to keep a bag of sand or kitty litter and a small shovel in your car in case you get stuck.
   

4. •If you have snow on your car, clear it off completely before you drive. When roads are bad you need all the visibility you can get, not just a little peephole in your windshield. Ideally, you should brush the snow off your hood, roof, and trunk.  Snow in these areas can slide down and cover your windows or fly off and cover the windows of the car behind you. Take the time to clear your side mirrors, headlights, taillights too.
   

5. •Keep your windshield washer fluid full.  Road salt and slush can splash on your windshield and make it very difficult to see.
   

6. •Use a de-icing windshield washer fluid. In really cold weather, cheap washer fluid can freeze to your windshield and make your visibility worse.
   

7. •Keep your gas tank close to full. If you get stuck, you’re going to need your car running to keep you warm. No gas=no heat.
   

8. •If you end up in a snow pile, make sure your tailpipe is clear. You don’t want carbon monoxide backing up into the cabin.
   

9. •If you have antilock brakes, do not pump them when your stopping. The car does this for you automatically.
   

What to Do if You Are in an Accident:

1. •Make sure you and your passengers are okay.
   

2. •Pull out of traffic if you are able.
   

3. •Turn on your emergency flashers.
   

4. •Call the police to report the accident.
   

5. •Get information from the other drivers involved. You should get their names, addresses, phone numbers, license numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance information.
   

6. •Don’t discuss fault, even if you think you were are at fault.
   

7. •Take pictures of the damage, the cars involved, and any factors that may have contributed to the accident (like road conditions).
   

8. •Contact your insurance company when you are reasonably able to do so.
   

You’ve Heard These Before, But They Are Some of the Most Important Things You Can Do:

1. •Wear your seatbelt. If you are in an accident, your seatbelt keeps you from flying forward and hitting the steering, the dash, or even being ejected from the vehicle. Even in the backseat your seatbelt not only protects you, it keeps you from flying into the people in front of you. Around 60% of all teenagers who die in traffic accidents were not wearing their seatbelts.

2. •Don’t drive drunk or high. It’s obvious, everyone always says it, yet people still do it. If you don’t have a designated driver, call a cab. The taxi fare is a lot cheaper than the damage you could do to your car or someone else’s or even the lives that you might take.

3. •Minimize distractions. When going 65mph, you travel the length of a football field every 3 seconds. So while you’re texting your friend, programming your GPS, scrolling through your IPod, or fixing your makeup, the 3000 pounds of your car is speeding along practically unattended.

4. •Don’t talk on your cell phone while driving. At the least, don’t use it in hazardous conditions like driving through a construction zone, in heavy traffic or during bad weather.