Motor Vehicle Safety (Print Version)

Also called: Also called: Automobile safety, Car safety, Vehicle safety

About every twelve minutes, someone in the U.S. dies from a motor vehicle crash. Trying to prevent these crashes is one part of motor vehicle safety. Here are some things you can do to be safer on the road:

Avoid distractions
Don't drive after drinking alcohol or doing drugs
Don't drive when you are tired
Don't speed
Make sure your vehicle is safe and in working order
Use car seats for children
Wear your seat belt

Some medicines and medical conditions, like seizure disorders, make it harder for you to drive safely. If you have one of these conditions or think that your medicine impairs your driving, talk to your doctor.

Overviews

Buying a Safer Car 2008(Dept. of Transportation) - Large PDF file - http://www.safercar.gov/staticfiles/DOT/safercar/pdf/BASC2008.pdf
safercar.gov(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - http://www.safercar.gov/
Traffic Safety(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.5928da45f99592381601031046108a0c/

Latest News

Traffic Deaths Spike on Election Day(09/30/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69887.html
Keep Kids Safe on the Road - Every Trip, Every Time(09/22/2008, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/PassengerSafety/
Sleepy Drivers Are Dangerous Drivers(08/30/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68735.html
Bunion Surgery Patients Need 6 Weeks Before Driving(08/28/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68667.html
More News on Motor Vehicle Safety http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_m.html#motorvehiclesafety

Coping

Post-Traumatic Stress After a Traffic Accident(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/anxiety/449.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/mentalhealth/anxiety/449.printerview.html

Specific Conditions

Air Bag Safety(American College of Emergency Physicians) - http://www.acep.org/practres.aspx?id=26100
Turn Around, Don't Drown(National Weather Service) - Links to PDF - http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tadd/images/tadd_brochure_srh.pdf
What Is Drowsy Driving?(National Sleep Foundation) - http://www.drowsydriving.org/site/c.lqLPIROCKtF/b.3468651/k.7145/What_is_Drowsy_Driving.htm

Related Issues

Adapting Motor Vehicles for People with Disabilities(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/adaptive/brochure/brochure.html
Aggressive Driving(American College of Emergency Physicians) - http://www3.acep.org/patients.aspx?id=26098
Driving in the Rain(National Safety Council) - http://www.nsc.org/resources/Factsheets/road/rain_driving.aspx
Driving When You Have Sleep Apnea(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/olddrive/Sleep%20Apnea/images/Apnea2005.pdf
Drugged Driving(National Institute on Drug Abuse) - http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/driving.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/driving-Sp.html
How to Handle Glare for Safer Driving at Night(AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety) - Links to PDF - http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/HeadlightGlareBrochure.pdf
Jump Starting a Car Battery(Prevent Blindness America) - http://www.preventblindness.org/safety/battery.html
Motorcycle Safety: Cruisin’ without Bruisin’(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/609CruisinWeb/index2.htm
Off-Road Motorcycling and ATV Safety(American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine) - Links to PDF - http://www.sportsmed.org/secure/reveal/admin/uploads/documents/ST%20Motorcycle%20and%20ATV%2008.pdf
Over the Edge and Back: What to Do If You Drive Off the Pavement Edge(AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety) - Links to PDF - http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/PEDO_brochure.pdf
Pay Attention!(AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety) - Links to PDF - http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/DistractedDrivingBrochure.pdf
Pedestrian Safety(American College of Emergency Physicians) - http://www3.acep.org/patients.aspx?id=26166
Preventing Backovers in America’s Driveways(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/ped/BackoversTry2/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/ped/BackoversTry2/BackoverSpan/index.htm
Reduce Your Risk of Becoming a Carjacking Victim(National Safety Council) - http://www.nsc.org/resources/factsheets/road/car_jacking.aspx
Riding Lawnmowers(Consumer Product Safety Commission) - http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/588.html
Rollovers(AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety) - http://www.aaafoundation.org/resources/index.cfm?button=rollovers
Speed(American College of Emergency Physicians) - http://www3.acep.org/patients.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&id=26102&fid=1348&Mo=No&acepTitle=Speed
What To Do If You Have a Blowout on the Highway(National Safety Council) - http://www.nsc.org/resources/factsheets/road/blowout.aspx
What You Need to Know about Air Bags(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/airbags/airbags03/airbags1.html
Winter, Your Car, and You(National Safety Council) - http://www.nsc.org/resources/factsheets/road/winter_driving.aspx

Health Check Tools

Sleeping and Driving Don't Mix: Sleep Quiz(AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety) - http://www.aaafoundation.org/quizzes/index.cfm?button=drowsyquiz

Videos

Car Seat Safety(Healthy Roads Media) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org/english/Files/flv/engcarseat.htm

Research

Improving Traffic Safety Culture in the United States: Summary and Synthesis(AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety) - Links to PDF - http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/SafetyCultureSummaryAndSynthesis.pdf

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Dementia severity and on-road assessment: briefly revisited. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18713176&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: A model for preventing serious traffic injury in teens: or... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18580276&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: The seat belt sign: a word of caution regarding seat... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18540548&tool=MedlinePlus
Motor Vehicle Safety -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(automobile+driving[majr]+AND+accidents,+traffic/prevention+and+control[majr])+OR+(automobiles[majr]+AND+(safety[mh]+OR+air+bags[mh]+OR+seat+belts[mh]))+NOT+alcohol+drinking[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Dictionaries/Glossaries

NHTSA Dictionary of Child Safety Seat Terms(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.9f8c7d6359e0e9bbbf30811060008a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=4670b93a0b088a006bc1d6b760008a0c_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_4670b93a0b088a006bc1d6b760008a0c_viewID=detail_view&itemID=279c5a6b35cdff00VgnVCM1000002c567798RCRD&overrideViewName=Article

Directories

National Safety Council Training Center Directory(National Safety Council) - http://www.nsc.org/training/
Recall Campaigns Database(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallsearch.cfm

Organizations

Dept. of Transportation - http://www.dot.gov/
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

Law and Policy

Motorcycle Helmet Use Laws(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles//DOT/NHTSA/Communication%20&%20Consumer%20Information/Articles/Associated%20Files/810887.pdf
Strengthening Child Passenger Safety Laws(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles//DOT/NHTSA/Communication%20&%20Consumer%20Information/Articles/Associated%20Files/810889.pdf
Strengthening Seat Belt Use Laws(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles//DOT/NHTSA/Communication%20&%20Consumer%20Information/Articles/Associated%20Files/810890.pdf

Statistics

Differences in Driver Alcohol Involvement Age Group and Vehicle Type(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810754.PDF
Driver Electronic Device Use in 2007(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810963.PDF
Fatalities and Fatality Rates in Alcohol-Impaired Crashes by State, 2005-2006(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810920.PDF
Impaired Driving(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/drving.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/drving-sp.htm
Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2007 - Overall Results(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810840.PDF
Seat Belt Use in 2007 - Demographic Results(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810932.PDF
Seat Belt Use in Rear Seats in 2007(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810933.PDF
State Estimates of Persons 18 or Older Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Illicit Drugs(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/stateDUI/stateDUI.htm
State Estimates of Persons Aged 18 or Older Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Illicit Drugs(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/stateDUI/stateDUI.htm
Teen Drivers(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/teenmvh.htm
Traffic Safety Facts(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810809.PDF

Children

Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families 2008(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm
Child Passenger Safety Program(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.9f8c7d6359e0e9bbbf30811060008a0c/
Choosing Car Seats for Children with Special Needs(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZU8WF0S7C&sub_cat=104
Lawn Mower Safety(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZJUE9VP5D&sub_cat=366
Staying Safe in the Car and on the Bus(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/car_safety.html

Teenagers

Awake at the Wheel(National Center on Sleep Disorders Research) - Links to PDF - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/aaw/brochure.pdf
Bad-Weather Driving(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/driving/driving_conditions.html
Driving toward Disaster? Steer Your Teen Away from Marijuana(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.family.samhsa.gov/teach/driving.aspx
Graduated Driver Licensing(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/NewDriver/GraduatedDriverLicense/index.htm
Keys to Defensive Driving(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/driving/driving_safety.html
Rules of the Road for Teen Drivers(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/travel/road_rules.html
Texting on the Move(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/driving/texting.html
What to Do After a Car Accident(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/driving/post_crash.html

Women

Pregnancy: Should I Use a Seat Belt?(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/basics/824.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/women/pregnancy/basics/824.printerview.html

Seniors

Drivers 55 Plus: Self-Rating Form(AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety) - http://www.aaafoundation.org/quizzes/index.cfm?button=driver55
Older Adult Drivers(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/older.htm
Older Drivers(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/drivers.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol/Publicaciones/conductores.htm
Traffic Safety Issues for Older Drivers(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) - http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.31176b9b03647a189ca8e410dba046a0/

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Safety Issues - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/safetyissues.html

Motor Vehicle Safety - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/motorvehiclesafety.html