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Keep a photo of a loved one in your car. Just a little something to remind you just how precious life is, and how much your safety matters to those closest to you.
Practice the 'golden rule.' Pay attention to the way people drive on your neighborhood streets. How does it make you feel when somebody zips by driving too fast, blasting loud music or hogging the road? Angry? Indignant? Outraged? Remember these feelings, and drive like you would in your neighborhood!
Before you drive, close your eyes and take a moment to meditate. Visualize the very real consequences of being involved in a speeding-related accident: injury, guilt, financial hardship, loss of driving privileges, prison time, and possibly even death. Simply being conscious of the potential repercussions is often the best deterrent to speeding.
Train yourself to remember to slow down upon exiting a freeway. You need to change your mindset to SLOW DOWN. Remember, the streets you are now on could have children playing on them.
Place a piece of colored tape (or taped paper) above the 25 mph indicator on your speedometer. While you should always be aware of local limits, especially near schools and hospitals, 25 mph is the residential speed limit in many U.S. towns and cities --- and a good general threshold for safe neighborhood driving. (If you have a digital speedometer, just write "25 M.P.H." on a Post-It and stick it next to the display.)
Make your car a soothing, pleasant environment. This will help you remain cool, calm and focused while on the road. Keep cell phone calls to an absolute minimum (and if you must use one, get a headset); avoid abrasive, incendiary talk radio; keep the stereo at a reasonable volume; maybe even record a "safe driving" tape or CD filled with soothing music that lifts your spirits, and your awareness level.
Reward yourself for driving safely! Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) can decrease fuel efficiency by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. So, by slowing down, you're effectively helping to save both lives and money. Make it a point to periodically reward yourself with the savings --- after all, you earned it. Go out to eat, buy some new clothes, catch a movie --- do something fun to reinforce your good driving habits.
Come up with a personal 'safe driving mantra.' Modern-day driving conditions can be overwhelming: rude, reckless drivers, crushing commutes, busy schedules, noise, pollution --- all of which can raise anxiety levels, and cause speedometer needles to climb. Avoid being consumed by 'road rage' by taking three slow, cleansing breaths and reciting a single evocative word, or 'mantra,' ten times. Your mantra can be a loved one's (or pet's) name, a childhood memory, a simple motto --- anything that inspires peace, happiness and harmony.
Put an apple under your car's tire and CAREFULLY drive over it. Examine the resultant "apple sauce" for an indication of the sheer destructive power of even a slow moving vehicle.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: DON'T FORGET TO PUT A "TAKE THE PLEDGE TO SLOW DOWN" STICKER ON YOUR CAR! After all, it would take a lot of nerve to tear through a neighborhood street when you're announcing "Slow Down" to the world. It's important to stick it somewhere where you'll see it when you get into the car … so it can serve as a good reminder for you, as well as for your road-mates. Take the Pledge! |
