Being in a caravan doesn’t increase your safety on the road and can actually increase your risk. Here are some of the dos and don’ts…
Keep a safe interval, depending on conditions, without lagging behind. (Recommended distance is 3 seconds) Remember, you have
a line of cars that will have to rush to catch up when the leader picks up the pace. This causes an unsafe “whiplash” effect.
Let a metal car pass and/or get in line when they have a need to. Other cars on the road can be very discouraged or challenged by a long caravan and we can’t control other drivers.
Don’t “follow the leader” if conditions don’t lend themselves to a safe move for you. Instead, wait until it is safe to follow; remember, you can always get back into a caravan further up…we’ll let you in!
Although we enjoy “pedal to the metal” when traveling alone; remember, a string of Corvettes makes a great target and the sheer number of cars might dictate a slower speed. This is especially true in congested areas/towns.
When appropriate, we’ll “play”, especially on squiggly roads, but you should drive at your comfort level keeping interval in mind.
It is courteous to change positions in a caravan from time to time. It is much easier to be right behind the leader than at the end of the line, so give everyone a turn.
Help the caboose; they have a huge responsibility to keep the caravan safe. The tighter a caravan rides, remembering safe intervals, the less difficult it is to keep everyone together.
When we come in towns and have a 4-lane road with stoplights, it is helpful to take both lanes. After the light, merge back into one line.
When the leader indicates they are going to change lanes and you are near the back of the caravan, move over when it is safe; this makes it easier for all the cars in front of you to change lanes.
If you need/want to leave the caravan for any reason, notify the leader and caboose first…perhaps it’s time for everyone to take a break. We won’t worry if we know why you left.
Keep your radio handy for directions and safety warnings; it can be a lifeline.
Asbestos where? Could be in your car…
Check out http://www.asbestos.com/automotive/ when you get a minute…it may prevent harmful exposure to asbestos that may be in your car.“For many decades, asbestos has been used by the auto industry in brake pads and linings, clutch facings, and gaskets. Millions of these products still remain on vehicles currently in use today, which poses a severe risk of asbestos exposure to current and former auto mechanics…”“Nonprofessional and home auto mechanics that repair or replace their own brakes or clutches are also in danger of exposure to asbestos and asbestos related illnesses. Rarely do people working on cars at their home take the proper precautions…”“Asbestos is known to cause Asbestosis, Lung Cancer, and Pleural Mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer that attacks the lung lining. Mechanics do not develop these diseases until 15 to 50 years after their initial exposure to asbestos, so they may not realize the extent of the damage to their health.”Robert Rule of The Asbestos and MesotheliomaCenter sent this information to NSCC via our website. Since asbestos was very common in cars in years past and is still in use today in some cars, this may be a “word to the wise” for all auto enthusiasts!
It was 7:00 am on a beautiful Sunday morning, a perfect time for a relaxing ride. I pulled off the road in a parking lot and set up my
GPS for a route through beautiful Wisconsin roads.
I stopped at a traffic light that was just turning red on Rt. 45 and Buffalo Grove Road, a brand new, wide, well marked intersection, checking my rear view mirror as I stopped…not a car in sight!
Then I looked down at my GPS and BAM! I was hit from the rear! I was pushed 25 ft. into the middle of the intersection where I came to
a stop. Where did he come from? Why didn’t he see me? Maybe the real question should be…what could I have done to avoid this accident?
If only…I had watched around me, and checked my rear view mirror to see the car approaching too fast instead of checking the GPS…I could have easily moved forward into the empty intersection and prevented the entire incident.
The moral of the story? STAY ALERT!
Emergency planning… Are you ready??
Are you ready for an Emergency? What about a flood? A fire? A tornado? An extended loss of power? What would you take with you if you needed to evacuate your home within minutes without ever having the ability to go home again? Here are some suggestions… 1.Inventory Your Life – Make a list of all your possessions and important personal documents. Have photos of items, receipts and copies of other essential information to document what you own. Store this information in a secure location away from your home. 2.Records – Gather important personal papers such as bank accounts, tax returns, prescriptions, family records, insurance policies and other critical documents. Store them in a fire-proof box that can be readily moved in case of an evacuation. 3.Family Plan – If you need to evacuate, where would you go? You may not always be able to meet at the same location due to changing conditions, so have alternative locations. Be sure all family members know where to gather. 4.Supplies – Prepare boxes that you can grab as you evacuate. Include your life inventory, important personal documents, baby supplies, pet supplies, medications and other essential items for immediate use. Other items may include a computer hard-drive, batteries, food, water, portable lighting and a first aid kit. 5.Test it – Planning is not good unless it is tested. Take 10 minutes to “evacuate” your home. Afterwards, decide if you took the right things and if everyone knew what to do. You can then refine your plan as necessary.
Many cities and suburban towns are installing Automated Traffic Enforcement Cameras, otherwise known as Red Light Ticket Cameras, at busy intersections. It is important that you know how they can affect your driving safety. Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications web site states “Red-light camera enforcement programs are designed to improve safety and positively change driver behavior…” As documented by members of the National Motorists Assoc., Chicago has set their yellow light interval to three seconds, the federally recommended minimum. It does not allow for other factors such as:
driver reaction time
weather
vehicle size
traffic
driver’s age
pedestrians
etc...
If your vehicle crosses the stop line by as little as 1/10th of a second after the yellow changes to red, this is a violation. You need to be very careful as you approach intersections and be aware of the dangers of slamming on your brakes and risking being rear-ended, as well as running the red light. This can be a delicate balance. In addition, cross traffic may “run the red light” due to the short yellow, making it even more important to make sure the intersection is clear before you take off on the green. As with all driving, the most significant factor for safety is staying alert and being aware of your surroundings at all times which prepares you for the unexpected.
(Information from “Speeding Up to Stop” by Barnet Fagel)