Helpful Driving Information

BEING IN SHAPE TO DRIVE

Driving requires a lot of skills. To name a few, you have to maintain constant attention, exercise good judgment, and know how to control your vehicle. All of these skills can be affected by your condition. You have to be both physically and mentally fit to drive safely.

BEING IN SHAPE TO DRIVE

Some personal health conditions (e.g., poor vision, heart problems, diabetes) may affect your driving. Some people have loss or inadequate strength of limbs. Drivers who are limited by these conditions may compensate for them and/or use special devices that help them to drive safely.
Discuss your condition with your physician and follow his or her advice. Let your DMV (or your state licensing agency) know about any health problems that might affect your driving.

VISION

Good vision is essential for driving. Most of what you do behind the wheel is based on what you see. You need to be able to see "out of the corner of your eye." This lets you spot cars approaching on either side of you while watching the road ahead.

VISION

It is important to know that many who are able to see clearly during the day have trouble seeing clearly at night; some see poorly in dim light and others may have trouble seeing around the glare of headlights.

VISION

You are required to pass a vision test when you apply for your drivers license.
It is important to have your eyes checked every year or two. You may not know that you have poor peripheral vision or poor distance judgment unless your eyes are checked.
Wear your glasses or corrective contact lenses if you are required to do so.

HEARING

Hearing is more important to driving than many people realize. Your hearing can warn you of danger—the sound of horns, a siren, or screeching tires. Sometimes you can hear a car that you cannot see because it is in your blind spot.
Even people with good hearing cannot hear well if the stereo is blaring. Keep it turned down, and keep at least one window partly open if you are listening to it.

HEARING

Hearing problems, like bad eyesight, can come on so slowly that you do not notice them.
Drivers who know they are deaf or hearing-impaired can adjust. They can learn to rely more on their seeing habits. A right hand rearview mirror on the vehicle can also help.

FATIGUE

When you are tired, you are less alert. The body naturally becomes fatigued at the end of the day, and this increases as the night continues. You may not see hazards or react as quickly, so the chance of a collision is greater. If you are drowsy, the only safe choice is to get off the road and get some sleep. If you don't, you risk your life and the lives of others.

FATIGUE
TIPS FOR DRIVING ON A TRIP:

• Get a lot of rest before you start—at least a normal night's sleep.
• Don't take any drugs that can make you drowsy—even the night before you start.
• Don't drive long hours. Driving "straight through" can be dangerous if you are tired and sleepy.
• Try not to drive late at night. Your body is used to going to sleep at that time.
• Change drivers at regular intervals.

FATIGUE

• Keep your eyes moving.
• Roll your window down and get some fresh air.
• Stop at a rest area and do some stretching exercises.
• If you notice any sign of fatigue, the safest course of action is to stop and sleep. If no motels, rest areas or truck stops are nearby, pull off the road in a safe, well-lit area, lock your doors and take a nap. Even 30 minutes of sleep can refresh you enough to keep going until you reach a safe rest area.

EMOTIONS

Whether you are calm, nervous, or hot-tempered, your personality affects the way you drive. Don't let your emotions interfere with safe driving. Use all the good judgment, common sense, courtesy, and safe driving rules that you can.

EMOTIONS

Extreme emotions of any kind, whether positive or negative, increase the chance that the driver is not paying close attention to the driving scene and the cars around. It only takes a second to miss a warning sign or to miss a glimpse of danger out of the corner of your eye.
As a result of your mood, you may also take more driving risks than you normally would when you’re calm, relaxed, and alert.

EMOTIONS

Stress, fear, anxiety, and other emotional states of mind can and will impair your driving ability.
Distraction—not paying attention—is the number one cause of car collisions. Stress and fatigue are major sources of distractions. Remember, the importance of attention and alertness to the driving environment cannot be over-emphasized.