Be road trıp savvy
SAFE DRIVING TIPS
FOR SUMMER
WITH THE ARRIVAL
of spring and summer,
millions of Americans are looking forward
to well-earned vacations. If you and your
family plan to travel by road, I hope you
will consider these driving safety tips from
the National Highway Tra;c Safety Administration (NHTSA; nhtsa.gov).
Perform a basic safety check. Routine
maintenance (oil changes, battery test-
ing, tire rotations, etc.) is important and
can help prevent breakdowns on the road.
vehicle identi;cation
number look-up
tool (
nhtsa.gov/
recalls) lets you
check and see
if your vehicle
has any open
recalls. If you
have an open
recall, call your
dealer and make
an appointment for
a free ;x as soon as pos-
sible. This could save a life.
Protect your passengers. Everyone in
the car—driver and passengers—should
wear a seat belt. If you’re traveling with
children, it’s safest for them to ride in a
car seat designed for their size and age. All
children ;; years and younger should
ride in the back seat. If you’re having
trouble ;nding the right car seat for your
child’s age and size, visit
safercar.gov/parents
for helpful tips.
Stay focused
on driving.
Distracted driving
has become a
leading cause of
accidents on the
road each year.
NHTSA esti-
mates that more
than ;,;;; deaths and
approximately ;;;,;;;
injuries occur annually due to distracted
driving. If you need to use your smart-
phone, pull over at a rest area. Get direc-
tions to your destination before you start.
Share the road and stay alert. Warmer
weather attracts di;erent types of road-
way users, including motorcyclists, bicy-
clists and pedestrians. Without the
protection of a car or truck, other users
are more vulnerable. So put a safe dis-
tance—three or four seconds’
worth—between you and
motorcyclists, and always
be mindful of pedestrians
and bicyclists.
During long trips,
it’s important to take a
break. Plan ahead and
build in times to stop,
stretch, enjoy a meal
and relax into your
traveling schedule.
Consider stopping and
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BY ELAINE CHAO
United States Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao is, as one
might expect, concerned about the safety of everybody traveling
the nation’s vast highway system. Here, she offers some tips and
advice to Costco members who are gearing up for automobile
travel.—T. Foster Jones
U.
S.
D
OT
But if you’re traveling long distances, take it one step further
by checking your vehicle’s
tire pressure, wiper blades,
fluid levels, lights and air
conditioning.
Check for recalls. Even
the most well-informed
vehicle owners may not be
aware that their car is on a
recall list and in need of some
repair. NHTSA’s free, easy-to-use CONTINUED ON PAGE 54
OUR DIGITAL EDITIONS
Click here for a video on the importance
of your VIN. (See page 12 for details.)
