Support Services Division: Traffic
Safety tips and other useful information

Safe Driving | Safe Cycling |  Useful Links

A frequent cause of collisions is stopping too close to the car in front of you. When stopped, make sure that you can see the entire rear wheels of the car in front of you. This will prevent the typical fender bender/chain reaction type of collision. Also it will leave enough room for maneuverability or escape if someone appraoches your vehicle on foot.

A frequent cause of collisions is following too closely behind the car in front of you. It's the three second rule. So as the vehicle ahead of you passes a landmark, you show be able to count to 3 and just be passing it yourself. If you count to 1 or 2 then you are following too close.

Yellow lights at intersection signals is a caution that tells you to prepare to stop --NOT to speed up through the intersection. Traffic approaching from other directions is expecting you to stop and they may "jump the green" light. Safety is the most important point here--don't risk trying to "beat the red light".

Use your seat belt. The impact from a collision at 30 miles per hour without being restrained by a seat belt is the same as falling from a three story building.

Inattention and distracted driving has become a frequent cause of collisions. Both hands belong on the steering wheel, not a cup of coffee or a cell phone.

Useful website links:

California Highway Patrol
NHTSA - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
CHP I-580 truck corridor safety task force
UC Berkeley Traffic Safety Center
Office of Traffic Safety rankings explanation
California Department of Motor Vehicles
Motorcycle Rider Training
California Codes