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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Winter Driving and Safety Tips


MCC Public Safety Crime Prevention Tip of the Month:

February

With the winter season upon us, driving in adverse conditions places extra stress and strain upon us all. As a result, the MCC Public Safety Department wishes to offer you the following tips and techniques regarding motor vehicle safety, on and off the campus.

Motor Vehicle Safety

-- Park in well lit areas where you and your vehicle can be easily seen. Avoid parking in corner spaces or next to vans or delivery trucks.

-- Place all items in the trunk or glovebox if possible. Never leave valuables where others can see them from outside the vehicle.

-- Keep your vehicle locked at all times, especially when you are driving.

-- Consider installing an alarm system or utilizing a steering wheel locking system such as “The Club.”

-- When leaving your vehicle at the repair shop or utilizing a valet parking service, only give the operator of the vehicle the vehicle key; never provide your entire ring of keys to the valet or service technician.

-- Prior to walking to your vehicle, always have your keys in your hand and ready to use. Prior to entering your vehicle, check around, inside, and glance under your vehicle for anything suspicious.

-- Report any suspicious persons or conditions to Police or Security as soon as possible. On the MCC Brighton Campus, call 292-2911 from your cellular telephone or use one of the campus-wide Blue Light Emergency Telephones.

Safety Tips when Driving

-- Carry a fully charged cellular telephone.

-- Never operate your cell phone or send text messages while driving.

-- Always travel on main roads and map out the most commonly used route to get to places you’re not familiar with. Avoid back roads and shortcuts.

-- Allow for proper spacing between your vehicle and other vehicles while driving or waiting in traffic. Lock your doors while within the vehicle and never allow your vehicle to fall below ¼ of a tank of fuel.

-- Scan your rear view mirrors frequently and always be aware of your surroundings. Keep the radio and conversation volumes reasonable so to be able to hear what is happening around you and to allow you to hear and respond to emergency vehicles.

-- In the event of a breakdown, open your hood, activate your emergency flashers, and return to the vehicle, lock it, and wait for help to arrive. If your vehicle is approached by a stranger, do not unlock the doors or roll down the window. You can still ask that person to call for help without placing yourself in a dangerous position.

-- If you get lost, do not stop your vehicle until you find a well lit area where you can safely stop and seek directions. Carry a map with you and remain in the locked vehicle while you review the map for directions.

-- If you are being followed, do not stop and engage the person(s) following you. Drive to a well lit and populated area and contact the Police by calling 911.

-- Always carry an emergency kit consisting of blankets, water, snacks, first aid supplies, flares, flashlights, and cellular telephone.

-- Beware of people who honk or yell at you while you are driving. If you believe that you were “bumped” or “struck” from behind intentionally, do not unlock the door or roll down the window. Ask the person to follow you to a well lit area where you can call 911 for assistance or travel directly to the nearest Police Station.

-- If a person brandishes a weapon and demands your vehicle, give them your vehicle. Remove yourself and your passengers from the threat and contact the Police after the aggressor has left the area. You can replace a vehicle much easier than you can replace yours or a loved one’s life.

Avoiding and Responding to Incidents of Road Rage

-- Always pay attention to the road; never pay attention to the aggressor.

-- Do not make eye contact, provoke, or respond to the aggressor.

-- Distance yourself from aggressive drivers; remove yourself from the danger zone.

-- Never respond to or make obscene gestures to other drivers.

-- Do not tailgate, use high beam headlamps if not necessary, abruptly change lanes, change lanes without signaling, or become distracted by the radio, cd player, or cellular telephone operation. Observe and follow the acceptable rules of the road.

-- Always be polite and courteous, even if others around you are not.

-- Always allow plenty of time for the trip. Doing so lessens the stress levels of having to get there in a hurry.

-- If you are followed or accosted by an aggressive driver, contact 911 or drive to the nearest Police Station for assistance. Never engage the aggressor or respond to their display or acts of violence.

-- Lastly, ask yourself if responding to an aggressive driver is the right thing to do. Is it worth risking physical and/or property damage/injury? Is it worth being charged with a criminal offense and possibly going to jail? Is it worth losing your or another persons’ life?

A courtesy of your MCC Crime Prevention Team

Lee Struble
Public Safety
02/13/2009