Seat Belt Statistics:
Seat belt use saves more than 9,500 lives a year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Seat belts prevented 211,000 moderate-to-critical injuries in a recent 13-year period. Even so, nearly one-third of drivers don't use them. Buckle up, especially in an RV! And remember that heavier vehicles take longer to stop.

Hang up and Drive:
Those who use cell phones while driving have a collision rate equal to that of a drunk driver with a .10 blood alcohol level. Even phones with "hands free" features may not offer safety advantages for drivers. To protect yourself and others, please hang up and drive!

RV Caravan Tours:
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Five Easy Ways to Use Less Gasoline:
Whether you're making an environmental effort, or just watching your money, the following techniques can help you reduce the number of trips to the gas pump:

1. Lighten up. Don't carry unnecessary heavy items in your car or RV, and remove accessory racks when you're not using them.
2. Drive the speed limit. Many communities have stoplights timed to turn green for vehicles moving at the speed limit. Speeding puts you out of sync and you use more gas idling and accelerating from the lights.
3. Minimize passing. When you speed up to pass, only to slow down to fit back into traffic, you use more gas and you don't get there much quicker.
4. Check your tires. Fuel efficiency can be reduced if your tires aren't rotated, aligned, and properly inflated.
5. Shift gears appropriately. Generally, the higher the gear, the less fuel you use.

A Safe Driver is an Awake Driver:
Lack of sleep impairs your ability to think clearly and react promptly. Estimates suggest up to 30 percent of highway vehicle accidents are releated to driver fatigue and sleepiness. Warning signs include:

1. Difficulty keeping eyes open, focusing, or keeping your head up.
2. Tailgating or missing traffic signs.
3. Trouble maintaining a constant speed. (If you suspect you're too tired to drive, take the cruise control off and see how well you maintain speed.)
4. Wandering or disconnected thoughts.
5. Difficulty remembering the most recent minutes of your drive.
6. Drifting across lanes or off the road.
Falling asleep at the wheel for even a few seconds can kill you or someone else. An alert driver is a safe driver. - From the National Sleep Foundation.

Beware of Road Rage:
Almost two-thirds of all traffice fatalities are caused by behaviors classified as "aggressive driving," according to an estimate by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA considers the following actions aggressive:

1. Running red lights.
2. Right-side passing.
3. Excessive horn-honking.
4. Tailgating.
5. Headlight flashing.
6. Screaming or making obscene gestures.

If you are confronted with an aggressive driver, the NHTSA recommends you:
1. Do not challenge aggressive drivers by matching their behaviors.
2. Avoid making eye contact with aggressive drivers.
3. Ignore obscene gestures made by aggressive drivers.
4. Report aggressive driving to authorities, especially when it results in an accident.

Adjusting to Airline Travel in our Times:
Use these tips to make your airline travel experience more pleasant.

1. Make reservations early. Leisure travelers are apt to find fewer low-fare seats. Airlines have reduced their number of flights, and they can't make up the low fares with business travelers like they used to.
2. Fewer advertised sales. Airlines are selling more seats through off-price outlets, discounters, and Internet retailers. That way they can keep seats available to business travelers longer.
3. Please be patient. Airlines, airports, and governments are currently in a learning curve trying to figure out how best to improve security. Therefore delays due to security may become routine.
4. Take the train or drive. If you are traveling less than 600 miles round trip, take Amtrak or drive. It won't be any safer, but you'll have less hassle. - Adapted from Ed Perkins, Tribune Media Services.

Six Tips on RV Driving Safety from California Division of Motor Vehicles:
Especially helpful for those new to RVing or renting an RV. It's fun traveling with your home as you explore different regions of the country. However, it can be dangerous if you are not familiar with the differences that the weight, size, and visibility will demand of your RV driving. The transition from driving the family car to driving an RV is different, but not necessarily difficult. The points discussed below will help you to be a safe RV driver.

1. RV Heights: Most RVs are taller than passenger vehicles so you will need to learn quickly about road clearances, service station canopies, bridge heights, and to watch for low hanging obstacles such as trees branches. Your owner's manual, your RV dealer, or the RV manufacturer are the best sources for helping you determine the maximum road height of your RV. Once you know, post the height somewhere on the RV or in the tow vehicle so it will always be handy as a reference.

2. Maneuvering: The additional weight and size of an RV makes it less maneuverable than a passenger vehicle. A safe maneuver in your family car may be dangerous in the RV. Defensive driving in an RV requires making changes slowly, braking gradually, and being familiar with its handling characteristics.

3. Braking: Most RVs are heavier than passenger vehicles and require greater braking and following distances. You must allow more time for the vehicle to slow or stop. If you are towing an RV you must also worry about brake fade. Brake fade can happen when the brakes are overheated from prolonged use or the brakes are out of alignment. To help avoid brake fade on downgrades, use the lower gears to allow the engine to help slow the vehicle.

4. Speed: RVs are naturally slower than passenger vehicles. It takes longer to climb a hill in an RV because it's heavier than a passenger vehicle. Keep this in mind, practice good manners, and observe the law by using turnouts when there are five or more vehicles behind you that wish to pass. The drivers behind you will be able to see ahead more easily if you try not to drive next to the center of the lane. If you are traveling with other RV owners in a caravan, be sure to leave enough space between your RV and the RV in front of you for other drivers to enter when they want to pass.

5. Safety Belts: Always wear your safety belt when driving. Even though many motorhomes accommodate passengers in places where safety belts are not required by federal law (i.e., dining table), if the area has a safety belt, wear it. Riding in a place which is not equipped with a safety belt increases the danger of injury in case of an accident. In addition to safety belts, defensive driving can minimize the risk of accidents.

6. Weather Conditions: Bad weather conditions including winds, fog, snow, and ice, are hazards to all drivers. A motorhome driver has an advantage over other passenger vehicles because of the added weight over the drive wheels. This gives the vehicle better traction in bad weather. However, its added weight can also make it more difficult to move if it gets stuck. Schedule your trips to avoid bad weather conditions as much as possible.

Six RV Fire Safety Tips:
Your home on the road needs to be as fire-safe as any stationary home! Follow these tips to sleep better at night:

1. Know what propane smells like. If you smell propane, do not turn on any lights, be careful of static electricity on the carpets, and get out immediately. Alert your immediate neighbors, and find a phone 50 yards or more away. Call 9-1-1 and do not return to your RV until a fire fighter has given their approval for re-occupancy. Here's a link to a Propane Safety Tip.
2. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Preferably ones with their own battery power source. Check detectors monthly, and replace batteries at least once a year.
3. Close doors while sleeping. Open doors allow fire and smoke to spread more quickly.
4. Have a plan. Know the escape routes and location where you will meet with the other occupants.
5. Identify two escape routes from each room. Make sure visitors, especially children, know the plan.
6. Follow the plan. Teach children to follow the escape routes without stopping for valuables or returning to a burning RV or home. Here are two more links on RV Fire Safety and Fire Escapes.

Seven Traveler Safety Tips:
No matter where you camp, these tips can help you to feel at home on the road.

1. Verify visitors. Don't answer the door without verifying who it is. If the person claims to be an employee of the campground or RV park, use your cell phone to call the camp host or manager to verify the visitor's identity, and the reason for their visit.
2. Be observant. When returning to your RV late in the evening, use the main entrance to the campground or RV park. Be observant and look around before exiting your vehicle or the camp restroom.
3. Secure doors. Close the door securely when you are in your RV, and use the lock. Do not leave the door open for air circulation in hot weather. Lock sliding glass windows, especially when vacating your RV.
4. Be invisible. Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry.
5. Be careful. Don't invite strangers into your RV.
6. Be sensible. Don't leave valuables in your vehicles.
7. Be a good neighbor. If you see any suspicious activity, please report your observations to the camp host or management.

20 Leave No Trace Techniques:

20 Tips to Become a Low-Impact Global Citizen:
Reduce, re-use, recycle! Did you know recycling aluminum uses 96% less energy than is used to produce the same amount of aluminum from raw materials. Recycling paper uses 60% less energy in manufacturing paper than when using virgin timber. Recycling just one glass jar saves enough energy to light a 100 watt lightbulb for 4 hours. Here's how you can help!

At Work:
1. Use the backs of scrap paper for informal notes or messages.
2. Buy recycled paper for your printer, copy and fax machine.
3. Route in-coming faxes to the computer and read them without printing when possible.
4. Re-use copier or printer paper on the backside when possible.
5. Post memos & communications, or route a single copy instead of making multiple copies.
6. Re-use manila envelopes & folders.
7. Start an office recycling program for paper, cardboard, aluminum, etc.
8. Ride a bike to work, car pool, or take public transportation.
9. Turn off your computer when you take a break or during lunch.

At Home:
10. Turn off lights and heat or air conditioning when you leave a room. Do this at hotels too.
11. Recycle everything you can; newspapers, cans, glass, aluminum, plastic, motor oil, etc.
12. Buy food in bulk to avoid excess packaging. Use reusable containers to store food.
13. Wash and re-use the resealable ziplock bags some foods are packaged in.
14.Write to companies that send unwanted junkmail and catalogs, and ask them to take you off their mailing list. The price of a few stamps could save several trees, as companies share mailing lists and the volume of junk mail only increases.
15. Look for recycled products and packaging when you shop. Re-use your grocery bags.
16. Install a water-saving shower head.
17. Use phosphate-free laundry detergent and soap.
18. Avoid the use of lawn and garden pesticides. Soapy water works well on aphids. Have you ever wondered why there are so few butterflies now, compared to when you were a child?
19. Insulate your hot water heater and your house, including under the floors.
20. Put on a sweater and turn down the heat.