In a quick video clip, Dr. Bill Van Tassel, an AAA safety expert, goes through five of AAA's Rules of the Road:
No distracted driving. Looking away from the road for just two seconds can double the risk of a crash, according to AAA. When you power up the car, power down the phone.
No aggressive driving. People tend to bring their busy, fast-moving lives with them into the car, pushing ever faster behind the wheel, losing their cool, and in turn sacrificing safety. "Aggressive driving can lead to crashes, can cost you time; it can even cost you your life," says Van Tassel.
Obey traffic laws. Rolling through stop signs, running read lights, or failing to signal can all increase your chances of a crash.
Drive smoothly. Smooth driving is one of the key strategies to reduce your chances of an accident, and it might reduce the fuel you've used and the stress level of your passengers. "Passengers shouldn't even feel that you've applied the brakes," says Van Tassel. Between accelerating, braking and turning, "If you're rough with even one of these things, bad things can happen."
Both hands on the wheel. With one hand on the wheel, you'll be unable to react quickly enough in an emergency. Keep both hands on the wheel, at 9 and the 3, according to AAA.
For more information, go to AAA.com/RulesoftheRoad, or to the Travel Channel to see what's happened so far on the show.
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