As the summer approaches, there is an increasing number of motorcycles on the road. Motorcyclists have as much right as any other road user to remain safe while traveling. Unfortunately, accidents involving motorcycles can occur and it is usually the motorcyclists who face the most severe injuries. Recognizing the most common causes of motorcycle accidents could increase safety awareness. Here are two types of motorcycle accidents that occur frequently. 1. Left-turn incidents The reality is that the small and narrow stature of motorcycles makes them difficult to spot, particularly in the blind ..read more

Car keys. They symbolize freedom, independence and the ability to get things done. But for aging parents, there comes a time when those same keys might pose a safety risk. Having “the talk” about giving up driving can be a delicate conversation, but addressing it before an accident occurs is crucial. Before asking your parents to give up driving, you should look out for signs that it might be time for them to transition to alternative transportation options. Declining cognitive abilities Driving requires sharp mental focus. As people age, cognitive decline can impact their ability to make quic ..read more

Keeping a safe following distance while driving is one of the essential safety measures for drivers. It’s recommended that drivers observe the three-second rule. This means if a lead vehicle passes an object, such as a road sign or a tree, it should take the following vehicle three seconds to pass the same object. The following driver doesn’t need to check their watch now and then. At a steady rate, they can say, “ONE (thousand), TWO (thousand), THREE (thousand).” If they pass the object before they finish counting, the driver should slow down, as this may prove they are following too closely ..read more

You may be breathing a big sigh of relief now that the snows have finally stopped and the roads are free of ice – but hold on: Spring brings its own unique driving hazards. Since spring is also when a lot of folks plan mini-vacations and take some long-awaited road trips following the winter lull, here are a few quick reminders that may help you be proactive about your safety: 1. Beware rapidly changing weather conditions Spring is notorious for fluctuating weather patterns, where you can have clear skies one minute and high winds and rain the next. The unpredictable weather conditions can sig ..read more

Most drivers do their best to give the bicyclists who share the road with them plenty of room. Everyone knows that vehicle vs. bike collisions can end catastrophically for the cyclist. Not all cyclists, however, are always as careful as they should be. They can become distracted just like drivers can. Some cyclists get complacent and even careless. That can be especially true when they’re in a bicycle-friendly area where there are bike lanes or shared vehicle/bike lanes marked by sharrows.  Cyclists riding in groups can be more focused on keeping up with their buddies than with what’s goi ..read more

The weather has been unseasonably warm in Indiana this year, along with much of the Midwest. The temperatures in Indianapolis have gotten so high, for example, that they have reached record levels not seen since the 1940s. It is certainly one of the warmest springs in recent memory, with higher temperatures and more sunny days. What this weather means is that motorcyclists may be a bit quicker to get their bikes back out this year than they would have been in the past. Most riders will put their bikes away in the fall, as the weather starts to turn because riding is so hazardous in the winter ..read more

As spring approaches, resulting in longer days and more opportunities for teens to be out and about, parents face the important task of ensuring that their young drivers are prepared to navigate the roads safely.  This transition season between the extremes of winter cold and summer heat is an ideal time for parents to reinforce safe driving habits, especially as teens may be eager to hit the road free from the limitations imposed by winter conditions. If you’re the parent of a teen, employing any/all of the strategies below can help you to keep your teen safer as winter winds down.  ..read more

American roadways are notoriously busy. People use vehicles to travel to work, vacation and many other destinations. If you’ve ever driven through Kokomo, Indiana, via US Highway 31, you know that it can be quite congested. When you are moving at a fast pace next to other vehicles, there is no time for anxiety. Yet, driving alongside semitrucks can be nerve-racking for some car drivers due to their sheer size and the bulk of the trucks. Although a car cannot compete with a semitruck in an accident, both types of vehicles may coexist safely on the road if drivers use caution and abide by traffi ..read more

When you see a wrong-way driver on a city street, there are many potential reasons. Maybe the driver just got confused. Maybe it is a young person without much experience or an older driver who is experiencing cognitive decline. Maybe the person is just lost and unfamiliar with the area. But on the interstate, at 70 miles an hour, a wrong-way driver is much more dangerous. This is why the system is designed to prevent it. A driver would have to take entirely the wrong ramp to get on the interstate going the wrong direction, and they would have to drive past numerous signs informing them of the ..read more

Driving on black ice can be very dangerous and unexpected. This ice is not actually black, of course. It is clear, thin and exceptionally smooth. This makes it appear black to drivers because it blends into the pavement. As such, part of the hazard of driving on black ice is that you may not know it’s coming until you hit it. So how should you react? You don’t want to lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident. Here are some things to keep in mind. Don’t hit the brakes First and foremost, many people react by slamming on the brakes. But this is just going to cause your car to slide or ..read more