Save Five Lives this Drive Safer Sunday: Tips to Prevent Dangerous Driving

Drive Safer Sunday falls on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel days of the year. And as millions of drivers make their way home from holiday gatherings and back to school, the observance serves as a reminder to take extra precautions during this hectic time.

To keep travels safe, fun and full of great memories, Road Safe America and GMAC Insurance encourage drivers to follow simple safety measures: Buckle up, slow down and stay alert. Whats more, theyve compiled some of the most dangerous driving behaviors with easy-to-follow tips to avoid them.

Do your part to save five lives this Drive Safer Sunday, and pass these tips along to friends and loved ones to urge them to stay safe not just this holiday season, but every day of the year.

Dangerous Driving Behaviors

1. Fatigue

• Driving Tip: Take a Break to Stay Awake. Approximately 130 million Americans admit they would drive more than seven hours in one day without significant breaks, according to a recent GMAC Insurance survey. Be sure to plan ahead before trips, be fully rested and take breaks often to stay alert.

2. Distraction

• Driving Tip: When You Turn the Car On, Turn the Gadgets Off.

Many people treat driving as the new down time, according to results from the 2006 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. No matter how busy your day is, when youre on the road, focus only on driving.

3. Failure to Fasten Seatbelts

• Driving Tip: Restrain Yourself. More than half (55%) of passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2006 were unrestrained, according to the 2006 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Annual Assessment of MotorVehicle Crashes. Always wear your seatbelt and make sure any children in the vehicle are properly restrained for their age, height and weight requirements.

4. Speeding

• Driving Tip: Put Safety Before Speed. According to NHTSA, the percentage of speeding-related fatalities among overall fatalities increased in 2006 for the first time after remaining unchanged for three years. Remember when driving this holiday season: its more important to get there safely than to get there quickly.

5. Tailgating

• Driving Tip: Count One Thousand One, One Thousand Two. Leave a two-second cushion between you and the vehicle ahead it could save your bumper and your life. When following a tractor-trailer, allow even more time to pass.