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    Drive Safe With Uncle Bob 

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    Robert Schaller
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    70 Rules of Defensive Driving

    It's not something we happy-go-lucky roadtrippers like to dwell upon, but about 50,000 people die each year in collisions on the roadways of the United States. By most estimates, over twenty-two million are injured. The costs associated with such collisions are staggering -- often quoted at more than $80 billion. This carnage is unnecessary since nearly all collisions are preventable. How? Glad you asked! RoadTrip America's contributing expert Robert Schaller has the answers. In this collection, "70 Rules of Defensive Driving," he shares wisdom gained from nearly fifteen years of teaching defensive driving and traffic law in his home state of Arizona.
    ...
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    Defensive Driving Rule #1: Pay Attention 

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    Robert Schaller
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    "I never saw him!" is the most common excuse heard after a collision. Was the other vehicle invisible? Virtually all collisions involve inattention on the part of one or both drivers. Inattention ...
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    Defensive Driving Rule #2: Don't Trust NOBODY! 

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    Robert Schaller
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    We have met the enemy and he is us. You can never rely on what the other driver will do. Think back to all the mistakes you've made while driving over the years. Think ahead to the ones you know you will make in the future. All the other drivers are just like ...
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    Defensive Driving Rule #3: Yield Anyway! 

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    Robert Schaller
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    "Nobody ever yielded their way into a collision." Think about it. If you are in doubt about who has the right of way, give it away. The other guy may be wrong, but you can end up hurt or dead. We often say no one HAS the right-of-way until it is ...
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    Defensive Driving Rule #4: Don't Speed! 

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    Robert Schaller
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    Driving at a higher than reasonable speed increases your risk in two ways: it cuts your reaction time and results in more "stored" energy (that must be dissipated in any collision). You should consider if the risks ...
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    Defensive Driving Rule #5: Don't Drive Impaired 

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    Robert Schaller
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    First, let's define "impairment." Webster's New World Dictionary defines impairment as "making something worse, less, weaker, or damaged." Applied to driving, impairment means there is a factor present that decreases your ability to operate your vehicle ...
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    Defensive Driving Rule #6: Wear Your Seat Belt! 

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    Robert Schaller
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    Without a doubt, seat belts are the most significant safety device ever invented. Seat belts do several things for you. They provide impact protection, they absorb crash forces, and they keep you from being thrown out of the vehicle. Modern vehicles are built with "crumple zones," ...
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    Defensive Driving Rule #7: Buy and Use Safety Devices 

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    Robert Schaller
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    In addition to seat belts, we also recommend size-appropriate child safety restraints, ABS brakes, and air bags.

    Child Safety Seats: As a defensive driving practice, children under age five should be restrained in approved child ...
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    Defensive Driving Rule #9: Don't Run Red! 

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    Robert Schaller
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    In my home town, drivers reportedly run red lights 120,000+ times each day!

    First, there are two basic types of red light runners—there's the daydreamer or ...
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    • On the Road
  • 70 Rules of Defensive Driving

     1. Pay Attention  2. Don't Trust NOBODY!  3. Yield Anyway!  4. Don't Speed!
     5. Don't Drive Impaired  6. Wear Your Seat Belt!  7. Buy and Use Safety Devices  8. Motorcyclist, Protect Thyself!
     9. Don't Run Red! 10. Drive Precisely 11. Chill Out! 12. Look Down the Road!
    13. Create Space 14. Drive to Communicate 15. Drive Predictably 16. Always Signal Your Intentions!
    17. Know Your Blind Spots! 18. Avoid Distractions 19. Avoid Backing Up 20. Beware of Intersections
    21. Be A Freeway Pro 22. Know How To Stop 23. Know When To Use Your Headlights 24. Slow Down in Rain or Snow
    25. Maintain Your Tires 26. Take Care of Your Vehicle 27. Get Rid of Tailgaters 28. Maintain an Even, Measured Pace
    29. Check for Hydroplaning 30. Know How To Recover From A Skid 31. Avoid Head-On Collisions 32. Be A Safe Passer
    33. Avoid One-Vehicle Collisions 34. Deal with Light Glare 35. Never Play Chicken With a Train 36. Beware of Stopped Vehicles
    37. Practice Animal Avoidance! 38. Don't Prevent Others from Passing 39. Drive Your Van Safely 40. Practice Smart Bicycling
    41. Share the Road With Bicyclists 42. Exercise Prudent Courtesy 43. Recognize the Futility of Rushing 44.Allow for Your Physical Limitations
    45. Start Rested--Keep Fresh! 46. Share the Road With Trucks 47. Make Space for Parked Vehicles 48. Give Way on Mountain Roads
    49. Make Safe & Sane Left Turns 50. Connect Your Mind To Your Eyes! 51. Make Defensive Stops! 52. Slow Approaching Intersections!
    53. Beware of Traffic Holes! 54. Turn Right, LOOK Right! 55. Don't Change Lanes in Intersections 56. Don't Abuse 2-Way Left Turn Lanes
    57. Avoid "Reverse Traffic" Lanes 58. Move Right Nearing Intersections 59. Beware of Vehicles at Crosswalks 60. Use the Center Lane for Safety
    61. Never Stop on a Freeway! 62. Don't Cross a Freeway Median! 63. Seat Belts and Air Bags Go Together! 64. Avoid Head Injuries
    65. Don't Ride in Pick-Up Beds! 66. Secure Loose Objects! 67. Keep Your Child Safe in the Center 68. Don't "Pump" ABS Brakes!
    69. Choose Your Route for Safety! 70. Use Uncle Bob's Defensive Driving System


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