Author: Roberta Forman

What’s your driving style?

Posted on by Roberta Forman

What’s your driving style?

Take our quiz and find out.

August 15, 2022 // 2 min

Ever wondered what kind of driver you are? Follow the chart below to see.

The Defensive Driver

You like being in control of situations and you know exactly how other drivers act. You’re cautious and focused on the single most important thing when behind the wheel: getting to your destination safely.

The Multi-Tasker

You feel like you can handle so many things at once, and maybe you have from time to time. Behind the wheel of a vehicle, however, could be fatal. Always keep your eyes on the road: that text message can wait.

The Student Driver

You may or may not be new to the game, but you’re trying to fit in. That might make you nervous behind the wheel, leading to mistakes in judgment. The best way to calm those nerves? Drive more defensively and keep on the right path to road safety.

The Speeder

You’ve got the need for speed. Except this isn’t a movie and your actions could have consequences. Speeding contributed to nearly one quarter of all fatal crashes in South Dakota in 2021. Speed limits exist for a reason and should be followed to keep all drivers on the road safe.

The Reaper

Death is always waiting for you to slip up – and if he pays a visit, that means you’re paying the piper. Keep the Reaper at bay by practicing safe driving habits behind the wheel.

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Watch for Walkers

Posted on by Roberta Forman

Watch for walkers

Pedestrian Safety Tips

July 22, 2022 // 2 Minutes

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a pedestrian was killed in a U.S. traffic crash every 81 minutes in 2020. That’s over 6,500 people in a single year. Pedestrian safety starts with you. Below are a few tips for keeping everyone safer—drivers and walkers alike.

MORE STATS

STAY ALERT

Always be on the lookout for pedestrians everywhere you drive. Pay extra attention around crosswalks. Slow down in advance and always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles visibility so they can stop too. Also, never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.

BE CAUTIOUS

Never assume pedestrians will only enter streets at designated areas. Always be alert for children playing on the side of the road. Watch out for walkers and joggers where there are no sidewalks. And use extra caution when backing up or driving in bad weather.

SLOW DOWN

Slower speeds save lives. When determining speed limits, a road’s size, surroundings and traffic are taken into account, including pedestrian traffic. Roads with more pedestrian traffic have lower speed limits to allow for increased driver reaction time. The chances of a pedestrian surviving a crash rapidly decrease when the vehicle speed is above 30 mph. Slow down for everyone’s sake.

NIGHT DANGERS

October is designated National Pedestrian Safety Month as a reminder to pay extra attention to pedestrians, especially as the days get shorter. According to NHTSA, 26% of pedestrian fatalities in 2020 occurred from 6 to 8:59 p.m. Danger increases with the darkness.

DO YOUR PART

The same precautions you use to prevent traffic crashes will help save pedestrian lives. Stay alert, slow down, keep your eyes on the road and never drink and drive. Driving safe means arriving safe…for everyone.

Move over

Posted on by Roberta Forman

Move over

It’s the law.

June 14, 2022 // 2 minutes

Law 32-31-6.1 is essentially the “move it or lose it” law.

In the state of South Dakota, you’re required to slow down and move over a lane when passing emergency vehicles. The purpose of this law is to give first responders and other vehicles displaying amber or yellow flashing lights the space they need to do their jobs. This Class 2 misdemeanor is punishable with up to 30 days in jail and/or a $270 fine.

Law enforcement, emergency response vehicles, service vehicles and those experiencing mechanical issues are the motorists protected by this law. People often forget that this law doesn’t just apply to law enforcement vehicles. Chances are—if the vehicle has flashing lights of red, blue or yellow—you should leave a lane.

Say you’re on an interstate with two or more lanes heading in the same direction. You see a car pulled over in the distance with their flashers on. Maybe they have a flat tire. They’re parked on the right shoulder of the road and a tow truck has come to help. In this situation you’re required to drive in the furthest lane to the left when passing. Proceed with caution and after passing, you can return to your original lane.

On highways with only two lanes, you should decrease your speed by 20 miles per hour at a minimum of three hundred feet before you meet the vehicle on the road. For instance, if the speed limit is 60 miles per hour, reduce your speed to 40 miles per hour roughly 300 feet before passing.

In case you are tempted, there are many reasons why you should leave a lane. First, it lessens the probability of you accidentally hitting a vehicle or pedestrian. Second, passing at a slower speed helps those on the shoulder avoid air turbulence—the act of their car shaking. Finally, you can avoid going to jail and paying a fine. Neither of which are very fun.

Remember to drive safe, wear a seat belt and move it or lose it!

Large vehicle? Leave space.

Posted on by Roberta Forman

Large vehicle? Leave space.

Big vehicles have big differences

June 14, 2022

Take a second to look at everything around you. Nearly 70% of what you just saw was transported via the U.S. Trucking Industry. Commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) fuel our economy, transport people and move the products we need to live. CMVs you might see on the road include semi-trucks, box trucks, busses and travel trailers. But what many people don’t know is the skill it takes to drive one of these puppies.

So, why should you care about CMVs? Because sharing the road safely with them could help you avoid a serious crash. CMVs are tricky to maneuver and require lots of space on the road, and we often forget that. The same rules you use with passenger cars cannot be applied to large vehicles carrying upwards of 80,000 lbs.

Save some space.

It takes the average car about 300 feet to stop when traveling 65 mph. As for a CMV carrying hundreds of pounds, more than 600 feet is needed (FMCSA). That’s just shy of two football fields. When you enter a lane in front of a large vehicle, make sure you give them plenty of room. Also, leave the left lane open when CMVs are turning right. Wide loads require wide turns.

Beware of blind spots

A CMV can be anywhere from 35 to 70 feet long and nearly 14 feet tall. When you take up that much space, it’s hard to see everything around you. Commercial motor vehicles have many blind spots, and it’s important that you’re aware of them. Avoid driving directly in front of the vehicle, directly behind the vehicle and beside the rearview mirrors. If you need to pass, use the left lane and do so as quickly as the speed limit will allow—the less time you spend in a blind spot, the better.

Pass with patience

A little patience can go a long way. When a large vehicle is hauling people or heavy products, acceleration takes longer. CMVs also need to travel around corners and ramps at slower speeds because their center of gravity is higher. It may feel frustrating to wait for them, but it’s a lot easier than dealing with a crash or rollover.

Commercial motor vehicles are doing their best to accommodate you on the road, so let’s do the same for them. Buckle up and learn more about safe driving around CMVs.

Not Worth $178.50

Posted on by Roberta Forman

Not Worth $178.50

Don’t drive distracted

May 3, 2022 // 3 min

You’ve been breaking the law for almost two years.

Maybe you didn’t even know it. Maybe you did. But you have been. What law you ask? Texting while driving.

A South Dakota state law went into effect on July 1, 2020, making it a Class 2 misdemeanor to use a cell phone while operating a vehicle. The only exceptions are for emergency purposes and using a GPS app—that means no taking photos, using the internet, posting to social media, reading emails or using phone applications while driving.

Texting while driving is a primary offense, meaning drivers can be pulled over for only using a cell phone. Not only do you have to weather the disapproving looks of cars passing by, but the offense carries a $178.50 fine. There’s also a high probability that your car insurance will increase with a ticket.

The good news? There are lots of ways to avoid this hefty fine.

Put the phone away

 

If your phone is a distraction, place it in the back seat, the trunk, the glove box or any other place where it’s out of reach. If you can’t reach the phone, you won’t break the law.

Silence the distraction

Constant cellphone rings and notifications are likely to grab your attention when you’re driving. Try silencing your phone or turning it off while you drive.

Airplane mode and do not disturb

Airplane mode and do not disturb will be your best friend. Most, if not all, devices have the option to place your phone into airplane mode. This function turns off data and silences any notifications you may get. But not to worry, they’ll all show up when your data is turned back on.

Pro Tip: Some devices like iPhone have a do not disturb while driving option that will automatically turn on when you enter your vehicle.

Pull over and park

Sometimes we’re waiting for an important text or call—maybe from the doctor, or your boss, maybe a call about your children or something else time sensitive. If you need to answer, just pull over. Spending the five minutes parked to respond to a text is better than getting hurt or even killed in a crash.

Be a role model and speak up

Chances are if you make it a priority not to text and drive, your family and friends will too. When you see someone driving distracted, speak up. It can be a kind “can I help answer the text for you?” or a short “can it wait?”

Texting while driving is not worth the ticket or the fine. Try these techniques to see which one works best for you and share them with a friend. Together we can make the roads safer and avoid distractions while driving.

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Don’t Fall for Tunnel Vision’s Game

Posted on by Roberta Forman

The more you speed

The less you see

May 3, 2022 // 3 min

Don’t Fall for Tunnel Vision’s Game

Imagine a scenario to which we can all relate: being late to work. The ear-deafening alarm clock goes off, and you decide to press snooze. Later, you roll over and see that 20 minutes have gone by—oh no! You quickly get up, rush to get ready and grab a handful of cereal for breakfast. You live roughly 15 minutes from work, and it’s 7:50. You think you can make up the five minutes by driving faster. What you don’t realize is that you are not saving any time. Instead, you are creating tunnel vision while you drive and risking the lives of others on the road. Let us explain.

When you decide to drive over the speed limit, you forfeit your best vision. The faster you go the smaller your view is of the road. Here are some visual references to show this decrease in road visibility.

15-25 MPH

At 15-25 MPH you have the best chances of seeing things in your surroundings. You can distinguish things out of the corner of your eye. You’re less likely to hit pedestrians or animals that run out into the street. The chance of someone you hit surviving is 95%. You have enough time to brake and avoid crashes.

25-35 MPH

At 25-35 MPH you have lost some visual acuity. You can no longer see things in the corner of your eye. You’re able to see surroundings starting 10-ft in front of your car. You have less reaction time if someone or something hops out in front of your vehicle. If you were to hit a person at this speed, there is only a 60% chance they’d survive.

35-45 MPH

At 35-45 MPH your vision is severely diminished. Your peripheral vision can track large objects in the distance but not small ones. You no longer have a reactionary gap large enough to account for pedestrians and animals that might present themselves. Only 20% of the people hit by vehicles going this speed survive.

45+ MPH

When you drive over 45 MPH, your tunnel vision is at its worst. Your vision can only focus on the pavement in front of you. You are not able to track any objects passing you while safely focusing on your driving. And we won’t even tell you the survival rate of those hit at this speed.

Remember, the more you speed, the less you see. If the risk of getting a ticket or the fact that you won’t save time isn’t enough to slow you down, the problem of tunnel vision should do it. Think about it this way, if your kid was crossing the street, what speed would you hope vehicles were going?

Join the List

Subscribe to our emails to stay up to date on safe driving tips, news and giveaways from the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety. Form from Campaign Monitor.

Make a Mocktail

Posted on by Roberta Forman

MAKE A MOCKTAIL

May 3, 2022 // 2 min

Long day at work? Your turn to be the DD? Just don’t want to drink? Never fear, OHS is here. We have listed four of our favorite alcohol-free drinks, the ingredients you’ll need and how to make them. And don’t forget, you can order non-alcoholic drinks at the bar too

Tequila-less Sunrise

Here’s what you’ll need to make this drink:

  • 3/4 cup pulp free orange juice
  • 1/2 cup peach juice
  • 3 tbsp lemon-lime soda
  • 3 tbsp grenadine
  • Ice

First fill your highball glass in this order: ice, orange juice, peach juice and lemon soda. Then add the three tbsp of grenadine syrup to create a pink ombre at the bottom of your glass. Top the drink off with an orange slice or a cherry. And like magic, you’ve got a delicious mocktail and the ability to drive safely.

Strawberry No-jito

Here’s what you’ll need to make this drink:

  • 2 tbs sugar
  • 3 strawberries, hulled and quartered
  • 8 mint leaves
  • 1 lime, quartered into wedges
  • 6 oz lime sparkling water

This one is for the strawberry lovers. First things first, put your sugar, two strawberries and six mint leaves in the glass. Next, add the juice of three lime wedges (pro tip: make sure you don’t have any paper cuts, or it might sting!). Muddle these ingredients until your sugar is dissolved. Now fill your glass with ice, pour in the sparkling water and stir. After you garnish with strawberries, mint leaves and lime wedges, you’ll be golden.

Piña Car-ladas

Here’s what you’ll need to make this drink:

  • 3 cups frozen pineapple
  • 15 oz can of light coconut milk
  • 1/2 cup pineapple juice
  • Maraschino cherries

This drink is easy-peasy. Get out your handy dandy blender and blend all your ingredients together until smooth. Finally (yeah, you’re already almost done) grab a chilled glass from your freezer, poor in your drink and garnish with a pineapple slice. Cue the after sip ahh.

Cinnamon Pineapple Margari-DD-a

Here’s what you’ll need to make this drink for 8:

  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 10-11 lime wedges
  • 3 cups orange juice
  • 2-3 cups ginger ale
  • 1 and 1/2 cups lime juice
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 cups pineapple juice

 

We saved the best for last. First mix your cinnamon and sugar together. Rub the rims of eight glasses with your lime and dip them into your cinnamon-sugar mixture. Next, pull out your biggest pitcher and add in the orange juice, ginger ale, lime juice, and powdered sugar. Don’t forget to stir until your sugar is dissolved. Now you’ll want to add in your pineapple juice and pop it in the fridge to chill. When you are ready to get your party started, add ice to your sugar-rimmed glasses, pour your delicious, chilled mocktail and garnish.

We hope you enjoy trying these mocktails. The South Dakota Office of Highway Safety is on a mission to end drunk driving in the state, and you can help! Share this with your friends and promise not to turn a blind eye to drunk driving.

Join the List

Subscribe to our emails to stay up to date on safe driving tips, news and giveaways from the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety. Form from Campaign Monitor.