How To Be A Responsible Passenger In A Disabled Driver’s Vehicle

When traveling in a vehicle, the most important thing is to stay safe to avoid accidents, injury, and death. Road travel can be inherently risky – because when it comes down to it, vehicles are large metal objects moving at high speeds, which of course involves an element of danger. Driving a vehicle is a big responsibility, because your own life and the lives of other road users are essentially in your hands.

It is not only the responsibility of drivers to ensure that road travel is undertaken safely. Vehicle passengers are also responsible for road safety. If you are a passenger in a disabled driver’s vehicle, it is crucial to behave appropriately and responsibly. Being a responsible passenger in a disabled person’s vehicle will help to ensure that you and your companion arrive at your destination safely.

How To Be A Safe Passenger In A Car

It is important to understand how to be a safe passenger in a car. Passengers have a large influence on drivers, and they need to behave in an appropriate manner. If passengers behave inappropriately they can easily cause a traffic accident.

Every year thousands of Americans die in road accidents caused by irresponsible passenger behavior. As a passenger in a disabled driver’s vehicle, you need to always maintain a high level of awareness and employ responsible passenger etiquette. Your life, and the lives of other road users, depend on you knowing how to be a responsible passenger.

disabled driver and passenger in vehicle — *Image by* *StockSnap* on *Pixabay: What are your responsibilities as a passenger?*

How Can I Be A Good Passenger In A Car?

Wondering “How can I be a responsible passenger in a vehicle?” There are several key ways to be a good passenger in a car. Some are quite obvious and others less obvious, but all of the ways you can be a good passenger are very important. It is easy to distract a driver and cause a road accident if you are not aware of how to be a responsible vehicle passenger.

What Are Your Responsibilities As A Passenger In A Disabled Driver’s Vehicle?

As a passenger in a disabled driver’s vehicle, you have several responsibilities. You must employ good passenger etiquette. You must not distract the driver. And you must provide any assistance that the driver needs in order to get to your destination safely.

What Actions Can You Take As A Passenger To Assist The Driver?

The actions you can take as a passenger to assist the driver will depend on what the specific driver needs and prefers. Some will require assistance, whether physically or with directions. Other drivers will just want you to be quiet and relaxed, and to not distract them.

Here are our top tips on how to be a responsible passenger in a disabled driver’s vehicle.

Always Wear Your Seatbelt

It is essential that you always wear your seatbelt when traveling as a passenger. Put on your seatbelt before the vehicle starts moving. Not wearing your seatbelt is extremely dangerous, as is putting it on while the vehicle is moving, because this can distract the driver.

Don’t Be Loud Or Distracting

Being loud or distracting a driver is very irresponsible when you are traveling in a vehicle. Distracted drivers may easily cause an accident. So while you are a passenger in a disabled person’s vehicle, always speak calmly and quietly and do not play overly loud music.

Help With Navigation

As a responsible vehicle passenger, you should always be attentive and ready to help out with navigation if necessary. It can be risky for a driver to attempt to navigate with a phone or read a map while driving, so it is safer for a responsible passenger to perform any complex navigation.

Resist Temptation To Be A Backseat Driver

Most backseat driving is irritating and distracting. Avoid the urge to give driving advice while you are a passenger in a disabled person’s vehicle. Unless it is extremely urgent, give any advice and recommendations when the journey is over and the driver can give you their full attention.

responsible passenger in a vehicle — *Image by* *Free-Photos* on *Pixabay: How can I be a good passenger in a car?*

Don’t Point Out Distractions In The Environment

No matter how beautiful that mountain range off to the left is, do not point it out to the driver, because this type of distraction can easily cause an accident. Avoid drawing the driver’s attention away from the road to look at things in the road’s surroundings.

Encourage Safe Driving

Never hurry the driver and always encourage safe driving. Reward responsible and safe driving with praise and encouragement.

Help The Driver To Stay Alert

If the driver is tired, you can help them to stay alert. Do this by encouraging them to stop for a coffee or to take a rest. You can help them stay focused by chatting to them.

How Do You Get A Disabled Parking Permit?

If you have a disability that entitles you to get a disabled parking permit, the best way to apply is through the Dr. Handicap online clinic. On Dr. Handicap, you will have a telemedicine consultation with a medical professional who will verify your disability and complete, sign, and email your DMV application form. It is a quick and easy process.

Featured image by Bertsz on Pixabay

6 Good Driving Habits That Every Driver Should Develop

How can you stay safe on the road? To drive safely, it helps to develop good driving habits each time you get behind the wheel. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to get into bad habits while driving – but this can put the safety of yourself, your passengers, and other drivers at risk.

So what are good driving habits, exactly? Simply, these are actions, thoughts, or procedures that you follow each time you drive a car, with the aim of making your driving safe. It’s generally thought that new habits take about a month to form, so if you make an effort to practice good driving habits each day, they’ll soon become second nature.

Read on for six good driving habits that every driver should develop – plus a few that you should always avoid.

1. Focus on the Road

Wondering “How can I make my driving better?” Well, our most important driving tip is to always stay highly focused on the road. Distracted driving is the number one cause of car accidents, due to drivers paying attention to something else other than the road and what’s happening on it.

Always remain focused when behind the wheel. This means never texting or making calls while driving, listening to the radio at an appropriate volume, and keeping an eye on your mirrors and rear window, so you have a full picture of your surroundings.

If passengers, children, or pets are fussing or making noise in the car, pull over and handle the situation – but never try to calm your children or animals while still driving.

man sitting in car — *Image by Fortune Vieyra on Unsplash: Checking your mirrors frequently is a good driving habit to pick up.*

2. Check Your Mirrors

Your rearview and side mirrors are there to help you drive safely, so use them to your advantage. Whenever you get into the car, check your mirrors to see if their positioning is correct; they can easily get bumped, and you don’t want to have to adjust them while driving.

When you’re driving, especially when switching lanes, always check your mirrors first to make sure it’s safe. Keep in mind that all cars have a blind spot (an area you can’t see in your mirrors), so turn your head as well to make sure it’s absolutely safe before turning or merging.

3. Look After Your Car

Your car is a complex and expensive machine, so make sure it’s always running its best with regular serving and oil changes.

You might want to learn some driving basics to make things easier in an emergency. So what basic skills should all drivers have? To start, it can be helpful to know how to change a tire, how to set up flares, and how to call for help in an emergency. Otherwise, always make sure you have a roadside assistance membership so you can call for help at any time.

4. Take Frequent Breaks

Heading out on a long road trip? If so, remember to take frequent breaks. Driving when tired can lead to accidents, so stay fresh by stopping for a stretch and some fresh air every two hours or so.

Breaks can be a good opportunity to look at your map, work out where you’re going, and think about the parking situation at your destination. If you qualify for a disabled parking permit, make sure you always have it with you so it’s easy to access parking.

5. Use Your Turn Signals

It seems obvious, but many drivers neglect to use their turn signals. If you don’t use your signals before turning left or right or changing lanes, other drivers on the road don’t know what you’re planning.

This can be incredibly dangerous, so always get into the habit of indicating well before you plan to turn.

6. Slow Down

Speed can be a killer on the roads. Even if you’re running late, always drive the speed limit. If the roads are wet or visibility is poor, it’s a good idea to slow down even more.

Going the speed limit means you’ll not only avoid getting a ticket, but you’ll arrive safely at your destination.

man showing bad driving habits using phone while driving — *Image by Alexandre Boucher on Unsplash: What are some bad driving habits? Texting and driving is one of the worst.*

Bad Habits to Avoid

Now that you know how to drive safely, what are some bad driving habits to avoid? Firstly, to stay safe, never text or browse on your phone while driving – it can quickly cause a crash.

You’ll also want to avoid driving while angry. If you’re already feeling mad or upset, you’re not likely to concentrate on your driving, and you might even experience aggression known as road rage. Road rage can make it easy to do something you’ll regret, such as acting negatively towards another driver or making reckless choices behind the wheel.

When driving, always avoid using alcohol, drugs, or prescription medication that you know will make you tired or groggy. If you’re in a position where you’re no longer able to drive, call a cab or rideshare service, ask a friend for a ride, or wait a few hours until it’s safe to drive.

Are you ready to improve your driving? If so, make an effort to develop good driving habits, starting with the tips outlined above. They can help you become a more confident and responsible driver, keeping you and your passengers safe, happy, and secure while on the road.

Featured image by Jan Baborak on Unsplash

Driving And Cellphones: The Dangers And The Solutions

Driving and cellphones are a troublesome combination. Only twenty years ago, cellphones were extremely rare and comically cumbersome machines. But these days, if you do not have a cellphone, you are in a vanishingly rare minority. They’re everywhere, and most people spend a good chunk of their waking hours staring at their cellphone screen.

Cellphones have brought a lot of good to the world. They benefit people’s lives in many ways; today, most details of a person’s life are monitored and organized by their phone. But they do have their detractors. People say that cellphone usage has become so constant in the lives of most people that in-person social interactions have dried up and people have become more isolated and lonely. Cellphones becoming so ubiquitous has its pros and cons, but the value or harm that a person’s cellphone usage brings to their lives surely depends on how they use their phone.

One way that cellphone usage can cause enormous harm is if they use their phone while driving. Using a cellphone while driving can have disastrous, tragic consequences for the cellphone user and other road users that come into contact with them. Read on for all you need to know about driving and cellphones, and why they can be such a dangerous combination.

Dr Handicap - vehicle accident — *Image by* *PublicDomainPictures* on *Pixabay: What are the dangers of using a cellphone while driving?*

What Are The Dangers Of Using A Cellphone While Driving?

Using a cellphone while driving disrupts a driver’s concentration and focus. The resulting distracted driving makes having a crash considerably more likely. Studies have shown that using a cellphone while driving increase the likelihood of getting into a crash by an enormous 400%!

On average, nine people are killed and 1,000 are injured on American roads every day due to distracted driving. A large amount of this distraction is caused by using a cellphone while behind the wheel.

What Are The Risks Of Using A Cellphone For Disabled Drivers?

Disabled drivers face all the same risks if they use a cellphone while driving. For some disabled drivers who have a lot of adaptive driving equipment installed in their vehicle that they need to operate and monitor, distraction from a cellphone may even be more problematic.

Can I Answer My Phone While Driving?

It is very dangerous to answer a handheld cellphone while driving. The vast majority of US states have banned handheld cellphone usage while driving. Texting while driving is also illegal in almost every state, and even in the tiny minority of states that have not yet made handheld cellphone usage while driving illegal, we strongly advise that you do not do it.

You can answer your phone while driving if it is connected to a hands-free device and you are over 18.

Solutions To Stop Cellphone Use While Driving

Here are some suggestions for avoiding cellphone use entirely while driving.

Use apps that detect when your vehicle is moving and prevent your phone from receiving calls and texts, such as AT&T DriveMode
Use settings that block your cellphone’s function while in the car
Set your phone to drive mode if it is available
Put your cellphone on silent mode
Put your cellphone out of reach while driving
Turn your cellphone off while driving
Use a separate GPS device so you don’t have to use your cellphone for navigation

Cellphone Safety Tips While Driving

Here are some suggestions for using a cellphone safely while driving.

Use a hands-free device
Only use hands-free when in situations where a conversation won’t cause a dangerous distraction

Disabled Parking - car conversion — *Image by* *StockSnap* on *Pixabay: What are the solutions to stop cellphone use while driving?*

How To Get A Disabled Parking Permit

Getting a disabled parking permit can bring huge improvements to a disabled driver’s quality of life. The qualifying conditions for a disabled permit vary slightly state by state, but the most common qualifying conditions are:

Not being able to walk 200 feet without needing to stop to rest
Any condition that impairs mobility to the extent that the use of a walking aid such as a wheelchair, brace, or cane is required.
Lung disease
Heart disease
Legal blindness
An orthopedic, neurological, or arthritic condition that impairs mobility

The best way to apply for a permit is to arrange an online consultation with a medical professional through Dr. Handicap. Once your condition has been verified, your DMV application form will be filled out by the medical professional, and you’ll be on your way to accessing more convenient parking wherever you go.

Featured image by Pexels on Pixabay

Why Is Driving So Tiring? How To Avoid Getting Sleepy Behind The Wheel

You’re cruising down the highway, with a long drive ahead of you. You slowly notice that your eyes are starting to close, and before you know it you’re veering into the lane next to you. So why is driving so tiring? And what can you do to stay alert behind the wheel?

All drivers quickly learn that driving can be both mentally and physically tiring, especially at night. This can often be due to a combination of factors, including driver fatigue, lack of sleep, or even certain medications. Research has even shown that the low-frequency vibrations of our cars can make us tired, inducing sleepiness – if you’ve ever lulled a baby to sleep in a car, you can relate!

Wondering “How can I stop being so tired while driving?” Here are a few tips on how to avoid getting sleepy behind the wheel, helping you stay safe and in control.

Know the warning signs of driver fatigue

Why does driving make you so tired? Often, it’s because you were already tired when you got in the car. To avoid getting too tired while you drive, make sure you’re familiar with the signs of driver fatigue. It’s most frequently experienced on long road trips, as sitting in the car for hours on end can be exhausting.

If you notice yourself yawning, feeling stiff or cramped, or your eyes feel sore, these are signs that you need a break. Or you might notice that your reaction times have slowed down, you’re daydreaming and not focused on the road, or you’re having trouble keeping your head up – these can also indicate that it’s time to pull over.

Dr Handicap - man behind wheel — *Image by rezasaad on Unsplash: Avoid driving at night, as it’s when you’re most likely to feel fatigued.*

Sleep well the night before

One of the best ways to prevent driver fatigue is by sleeping well the night before. Get a solid eight hours, at least, and try to avoid alcohol or stimulants, as these can impact your sleep quality. If you’ve had too much alcohol the night before, you can still read over the legal limit the next morning, so this is the last thing you want to do before a long drive.

It’s best to start road trips in the morning, when you feel fresh. Don’t start off on a long drive in the afternoon, after an eight-hour shift – you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Take regular breaks

On long drives, it’s helpful to take breaks about every two hours. Pull over, get out of the car, stretch, and give your eyes and mind a break from the concentration of driving.

This gives you a much-needed break and you should feel more refreshed when you start driving again. Some drivers might find it tempting to stock up on coffee and sweet treats when they take breaks, but healthier snacks are always better; the inevitable sugar crash a few hours later can leave you feeling tired and groggy.

Most drivers find that around 8–10 hours of driving is more than enough – if you need to drive more than that, it’s best to stop overnight halfway.

Share the driving

A great way to avoid fatigue is to share long drives with someone else. Is driving mentally exhausting? Yes – many drivers find that the repetitive nature of highway driving, the constant focus, and the mental energy it requires leaves them worn out at the end of the day.

If you can share the driving with a friend, it allows you to rest, take a nap, or just give your eyes and brain a break. Having company in the car can also help you stay awake, since you’ll have someone to talk to and pass the time. Even better, you can split the cost of gas!

Try not to drive at night

If all possible, try to avoid driving at night. You’re likely to be tired from a long day, and decreased visibility makes it harder to stay safe on the road.

The night skies also attract lots of wildlife to the road, so in rural areas, nighttime driving can increase your risk of an accident.

Dr Handicap - driving with passenger — *Image by Orkun Azap on Unsplash: How can I stop being so tired while driving? Sometimes, bringing a friend along to share the drive can help.*

Talk to your doctor

If you’re doing all the right things, but you still feel exhausted by driving, you might want to talk to your doctor to learn more. Sometimes, fatigue can be a side effect of medication or a health condition, so medical care can allow you to manage it safely.

A medical checkup can help you learn more, working out what might be causing you to feel so tired behind the wheel. Even if you have a chronic health condition, like breathing difficulties, it’s still possible to enjoy the fun of driving. Your doctor can talk to you about special considerations or alterations you can make to the way you drive that it can make it safer and easier for you.

Driving is one of the best ways to get around town, and for many people, it gives them a strong sense of independence and freedom. However, for your own sake and for the drivers around you, always take care to avoid driver fatigue. You want to stay alert and focused so that you can safely enjoy driving for many years to come.

Featured image by Andy Art on Unsplash

7 Tips On How To Avoid Driving Distracted

Knowing how to avoid driving distracted is extremely important. In fact, it is crucial, because distracted driving is a major cause of serious injury and death on the road.

Distracted driving causes thousands of car accidents every day on American roads. And sadly, many Americans have ended up permanently disabled because either they or another road user were driving distracted.

A vehicle is a lethal weapon in the hands of a distracted driver. A car, van, truck, or motorcycle becomes capable of wreaking destruction when it is not under the control of a responsible, skilled driver.

The right to drive on public roads should never be taken for granted. Each road user bears a huge responsibility to drive safely and to protect themselves and other drivers. Driving is an art that requires skill and concentration to perform well.

Unfortunately, some drivers on American roads do not take driving as seriously as they should. What they may not realize is that all it takes is a microsecond of inattention for serious accidents to eventuate.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving means driving when you are not fully and completely concentrating on the act of driving, and/or the environment and surroundings that are relevant to safety while driving.

What Causes Distracted Driving?

Any number of things can cause distracted driving. There are many possible external distractions in the environment, both inside and outside the vehicle. These include cellphones, music, passengers, eating or drinking, reading road signs, and looking at the landscape.

It is also very possible to be distracted internally by thoughts, emotional states, illness, tiredness, or intoxication.

What Is The Main Cause Of Distracted Driving?

You might be wondering, “What is the number one cause of distracted driving?”. Well, by quite some distance, the most common cause of distraction while driving is phone usage.

This comes as little surprise, because practically everybody now seems to be at least somewhat addicted to their cellphone. It is illegal to use a cellphone while driving, but unfortunately, too many drivers still flout this law.

Why Is Distracted Driving Dangerous?

Distracted driving is dangerous because it is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents. Distracted driving causes serious injury and death to thousands of Americans every year.

How Can We Prevent Distracted Driving?

Thankfully, there are plenty of effective ways to manage distractions while driving. Read on for some tips on how to avoid distraction and stay focused at all times while driving.

1. Don’t Use Your Phone While Driving

As we mentioned, cellphone usage is the number one cause of distracted driving. Cellphone usage while driving kills. You must resist the urge to use your cellphone in any way while driving, because all it takes is one moment of distraction for tragedy to ensue. No text message is worth that!

2. Prepare Before Getting Behind The Wheel

A major cause of distraction while driving is putting on a seatbelt, or adjusting the seatbelt or seat, while the vehicle is in motion. This is dangerous and can easily lead to a crash. Always prepare to drive before you start driving, and don’t get onto the road until you’re settled and ready.

3. Don’t Drive While Drowsy

Tiredness and drowsiness are major causes of distracted driving. To avoid distracted driving due to fatigue, always pull over for a break, nap, coffee, or fresh air when you are feeling drowsy behind the wheel.

4. Don’t Eat While Driving

Eating while driving can be very distracting. Whether you’re trying to unwrap food or worrying about spills and crumbs, it can take your all-important attention away from the road and your surroundings. Avoid eating while driving; if you need a snack, pull over.

Dr Handicap - using phone while driving — *Image by* *StockSnap* on *Pixabay: Never use your cellphone while driving.*

5. Avoid Loud Conversation, Music, Podcasts, And Backseat Drivers

Conversation with other people in the car, listening to backseat drivers, getting lost in loud music or a podcast… All of these can result in distracted driving. To avoid distraction, make sure that no sound going on inside your vehicle is taking your attention away from the road.

6. Don’t Drive With Too Many Passengers

An overcrowded car can be very distracting. To avoid the dangers of driving while distracted, do not ever allow your car to have too many passengers, and ensure the passengers you do have are respectful and quiet.

7. Make Sure Your Vehicle Is Well Maintained

Driving a vehicle that has technical issues can be very distracting and dangerous. Always make sure that your vehicle is well-maintained and in great working order.

Featured image by Free-Photos on Pixabay