(Message from the Better Business Bureau)                                        

 

 

Chicago, IL  – With Labor Day weekend upon us, and millions of drivers taking to the road, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises drivers to practice safe driving to avoid potential accidents.

 

AAA, a BBB Accredited Business, forecasts 31.5 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Labor Day holiday weekend, a 2.4 percent decrease from the 32.3 million people who traveled one year ago.

 

The National Safety Council has released traffic fatality information for the upcoming Labor Day weekend, estimating across the country 400 traffic fatalities will occur and another 38,800 injuries requiring medical attention will be sustained from motor vehicle collisions.

“To avoid troubles on the road, it’s important for travelers to plan ahead,” said Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Illinois. “We all look forward to celebrating with family and friends but remember to ensure safe, effective travel when planning your special events.”

The BBB provides the following safety tips when traveling:

 

Before You Go:

• Create a car safety kit. Bad weather can lead to accidents, car troubles, long delays and road closures. Basics for the kit include a blanket, flashlight with extra batteries, radio, first aid kit, jumper cables, non-perishable foods like granola bars and nuts, bottled water, family medicine and emergency telephone numbers.
• Take the car in for a checkup. If your car is due for a checkup, take it in before making that long haul. At the very least, check the car’s fluid levels, wipers and tire pressure. Check the condition of your tires and make sure they are properly inflated.
• Know the weather. Check local websites for traveling information for states you may be traveling through to allow extra time for bad weather.
• Charge your cell phone and make sure your GPS is running properly.
• Be well rested before traveling. Tired drivers are a hazard to themselves, those in their vehicle and often fatal or devastating mistakes can be made to other drivers on the road.

 

On The Road:

• Make sure everyone is properly buckled up and especially that children are in age appropriate safety seats, and are properly secured.
• Don’t tailgate and remember the three-second rule when following vehicles. Don’t rely just on mirrors when changing lanes; turn around to check your blind spot.
• Obey all traffic signals and speed limits. Law enforcement will be out to ensure everyone is obeying all speed limits and laws.
• Don’t drink and drive.
• Don’t text and drive. When behind the wheel, pull over if you have to do anything that would take your full concentration off of driving.
• When you see an emergency vehicle’s lights flashing, slow down and pull over. If you want to help, it would be best to call 911 and report the accident. 
• Allow plenty of travel time to avoid frustration and allow for extra stops.
• Drive defensively and exercise caution, especially during inclement weather.
• Keep the BBB with you on the road. The BBB has a free app for iPhones on iTunes. Look for “bbbsearch” to receive this free service in the App Store. For those who do not have this app, visit www.bbb.org

 

Get The Most From Your Gas:

 

• Stay within posted speed limits. Gas mileage decreases at speeds above 60 miles per hour.
• Improve your mileage up to 5% by avoiding quick starts and stops.
• Avoid unnecessary idling. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a wait.
• Use overdrive gears or cruise control when appropriate to improve highway fuel economy.
• Remove items from your trunk; an extra 100 pounds can reduce fuel economy by up to 2%.
• Remove items on top of your car; wind resistance reduces fuel economy by 5%.

For more information on keeping yourself and others safe, visit www.bbb.org