Cinco de Mayo has become a big night out for many people, particularly young adults. Whether meeting a few friends after work or attending a Cinco de Mayo party, those celebrating this year should be sure to take some key steps for safety.

If you are planning to drink on Cinco de Mayo:

• Plan ahead to designate a sober driver before going out to celebrate
• Eat during the evening by enjoying your favorite Mexican foods during the evening
• If you can’t plan ahead, ask a sober friend for a ride home or call a cab or friend or family member to come and get you
• Use mass transit if available
• Take the keys...

Around the United States, the percentage of people that commute to work on bicycles has risen exponentially. Unfortunately, so too have bicycle deaths.

According to a new study from the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people that now commute to work on bicycles has risen by over 60 percent in the last decade. That is good for the environment, it helps alleviate congestion, and it leads to a healthier populace.

There is a significant downside though.

With the number of people riding bikes increasing, so too has the number of people killed in motorist vehicle accidents involving cyclists. And that...

Drivers today are more distracted than ever. From texting to eating to settling sibling disputes in the back seat, there are countless distractions that can fatefully take your focus off the road. It’s no wonder that in 2013 as many as 424,000 people were involved in accidents relating to distracted driving.

National Distracted Driving Awareness has been celebrated every April since 2009. As such, many organizations and public personalities have launched road safety campaigns and initiatives to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.

Calls Kill

The National Safety Council (NSC) launched...

Together We Can Make a Difference.

This article is also in Spanish. Click here for the Spanish version.

Millions of people worldwide do it. Many say “What’s the harm, I got home safely and no one was hurt?” Just because you made it home safely to your bed does not mean that you’re making a right decision. When putting those keys in the ignition and driving away after drinking you are not only putting your life at risk but you are risking the lives of all those you come across while driving.

Poor Decision Making

Alcohol affects you in a way that changes your judgement, depth perception as well...

Due to their sheer size and the fact that they interact almost exclusively with children, school buses are considered by many to be some of the most dangerous vehicles on the road today. This doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the driver of the bus itself, but with other vehicles that may choose to ignore flashing lights and other warning signs when children are entering or exiting the bus. A number of states have gone as far as to allow the use of a backup camera system for school buses that will record other drivers as they "fly by" or "pass by" a stopped bus so that the appropriate...

Feb 16, 2015 | LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Red Cross) –The American Red Cross reminds Arkansans to continue safe practices during this round of winter weather.

'The Red Cross Tornado App has great information that's useful during winter weather,' stated American Red Cross Communications Director, Brigette Williams. 'The best time to familiarize yourself with what do is before you lose power or find yourself stuck on a highway.'

In addition to power outages tips on what to do before, during and after loss of electricity, the Tornado app provides users with links to Arkansas' major utility company's emergency...

This year, you might want to think about making some New Year’s Resolutions that concern your car. It’s there for you day in and day out, but how much love do you really show it? Here are six ways you can do more for your trusty technological steed.

Wear Your Safety Belt

Always wear your seatbelt. This is the law in many states anyway. But, if you happen to live in a state where this isn’t the law, do it anyway. Seatbelts are important safety devices that help slow you down in a car accident and prevent you from rocketing through the windshield.

You’re a safe driver? That’s great. Other people...

While dash cams have been in use by law enforcement in the United States for decades, other businesses and private individuals are finding benefits of installing the devices. Historically a vehicle dash camera or a backup camera have been very expensive after-market add-ons.  With the advent of lower cost, high quality digital cameras, the expense of adding a system to your personal or commercial vehicle has dropped dramatically.

Why Have Dash Cams?

• Employee protection. Dash cams with dual cameras will not only record the events in front of the vehicle, but will also record what happens inside...

Using a rear-facing car seat until a child is two years old reduces risk of serious injury but close to one-quarter of parents in the US turn the seat around before their child is even a year old, shows a survey.

In March 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its guidelines for child passenger safety, extending the recommendation for rear-facing car seat use from one year of age and 20 pounds in weight to a minimum of two years of age.

In 2013, 24 percent of parents of one- to four-year-old children made the switch at or before 12 months. Only 23 percent reported waiting until the...

Your son or daughter has been looking forward to this day for years, yet you have a hard time believing it has come. Like it or not, your baby is learning how to drive. To your teenager this signals a sign of fun and a move toward adulthood, but feels to you like a terrifying, daunting idea. You understand the dangers of the road and worry that you won’t be able to protect your child. You find yourself pushing an imaginary brake even as you ride alongside him or her in the passenger seat. Just the idea of driving with your teen again makes you break into a sweat. What can you do? How do you make...

Getting stuck on the side of the road due to a vehicle malfunction can be a major inconvenience and can keep you from achieving your goals for the day. For a person with a disability driving an adaptive or wheelchair accessible vehicle, this inconvenience can quickly become a big problem.

If you purchase your vehicle from a NMEDA dealer and you vehicle is under warranty, you will be covered. All NMEDA dealers offer 24-hour emergency service and you won’t have to worry about other options. If you choose another route, purchasing roadside assistance services can help you get back on your way as soon...

New research released earlier this week by the AAA showed that rear view back-up cameras found in many new vehicles increased visibility of the rear blind-zone area by an average of 46 percent. Tests conducted by the group indicated that these systems, intended to improve driver awareness of the area immediately behind the vehicle in order to reduce back-over fatalities, can save lives.

“As Halloween approaches, we know that neighborhoods will be filled with small trick-or-treaters that could easily be missed when the driver turns his head to look behind the vehicle,” John Nielsen, AAA’s managing...

As hard as winter is on us, it’s even harder on our cars. Freezing temperatures, snow and ice can cause all sorts of emergencies, from mechanical failures to car accidents. Being aware of the road safety concerns, as well as how to manage them is key to prevention. Learn how to winterize your vehicle the right way so that you, your family, and your car stay safe on the road this winter!

Check Fluid Levels

You should be monitoring fluid levels year-round, but it’s doubly important going into winter. Look at not only engine oil and antifreeze, but also transmission fluid, brake fluid and power steering...

Halloween: it’s the scariest time of year to be on the road. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ranks October 31 as one of the three deadliest days of the year for pedestrians, and the top deadliest day of the year for pedestrians between the ages of 5 and 14. Leave the thrills and chills to the trick-or-treaters and costumed partygoers with these safe driving tips!

Be Mindful of the Trick-or-Treaters

In the days leading up to Halloween, children will be out trick-or-treating all over the United States. If you have to travel during peak trick-or-treat times (between...

Get There! Your Guide to Traffic Safety isn't like
most safety brochures. Think of it as a “Cliff’s Notes”
guide to traffic safety! It’s a quick source of info on
important traffic safety topics. It’s designed to help
you get where you’re going – without a traffic ticket
and all in one piece!

Driving safer and smarter means less stress, fewer
crashes, lower insurance rates, and – here’s the big
one – preventing injuries and saving lives.

To read the full Guide to Traffic Safety please click here.

Source: The Auto Club Group and Minnesota Safety Council (https://autoclubsouth.aaa.com/assets/PDFs/Get-There-Your-Guide-to-Traffic-Safety.pdf...

The Walk This Way program offers the following tips for back-to-school safety:

• Teach your child to look and listen every time they cross the street.
• Teach by doing. Be a good role model by walking with your children to school and demonstrating safe pedestrian practices – crossing only at intersections, stop signs and crosswalks.
• Always cross with younger children. Children under the age of nine lack the developmental skills to cross the street on their own and should be accompanied either by an adult or by responsible older children.
• Reduce your driving speed. The higher the speed, the...