Remaining Safe While in Your Automobile

Even if you live in a state with no official seat belt law, by now, you know that buckling up can save your life. But fastening up is not the only proactive way you to keep you and your family safe in your automobile.

1. Properly engage your airbags: If your car has air bags, make sure they are properly armed. If they have been activated before, you’ll need to have them reset.
2. Use seat belts correctly: There is a reason why seat belts stretch across our chest and not just our lap. These chest straps keep us from striking the dashboard, the seat in front of us, or getting a severe case of whiplash. Make sure to wear your seatbelt as it was intended so you can get a full range of security. 
3. Practice proper and timely vehicle maintenance: Transmission problems can cause your car to seize up in the middle of the road; improperly filled tires can compromise your brake system—there’s no end to the potential accidents that car maintenance issues can cause. Bring your car to the mechanic regularly so he or she can check for these issues before they help cause an accident.
4. Practice airbag safety: Airbags have saved many lives, but they can also be hazardous in some situations. Children under the age of twelve should never sit in a front seat that has driver’s side airbags. If they must, they should be properly fastened in, with the seat set as far away from the dashboard as possible, since airbags can harm anyone who is 2-3 inches from the point of inflation. Because the driver’s airbag is inside the steering wheel, he or she can also be hurt. Try measuring your standard seating position when you drive and make sure that you are positioned at least 10 inches away from the center of your steering wheel.
5. Use rear facing car seats: Airbags are not the only threat to a child’s safety in a car. Children less than one year of age or less than 20 pounds should always be fastened into rear-facing child’s seats in the back seat of the car. Children shorter than 4’9” should also use booster seats when riding in the car. This prevents seat belt injuries in the event of an accident.
6. Adjust your mirrors: It’s easy to get into your car after another driver has used it and forget to readjust your mirrors. This can lead to blind spots that allow you to back into something or change lanes without seeing a nearby driver. Always be sure that your mirrors are appropriately adjusted and that you check your blind spots before making any moves in traffic.

Observing these simple auto safety measures will give you peace of mind and could one day even save a life. Make sure you have the best rate for your Chicago Auto Insurance with Oxford Auto Insurance today!