411 PAIN - Safe Driving Near Motorcycles

Motorcycles have the same right to use public roads as any other vehicle. Thus it is necessary to use the same safety measures with them as you would with any other vehicle. Some safety tips when driving near a motorcycle include:

· Leave a little extra following distance when driving behind a motorcycle, as they can brake quicker than a car.

· Do not brake suddenly when a motorcycle is behind you. A rear end collision can be deadly when between a motorcycle and a car.

· Pay extra attention to motorcyclists nearby and use caution when changing lanes. Always use your mirrors and check your blind spots carefully. Motorcycles are smaller and harder to notice.

. Anticipate a motorcyclist's maneuver: Obstructions that are trivial to a car may be deadly for a motorcyclist.

. Look for motorcycles at intersections, when they may be making a left turn, and also on the highway when they may be changing lanes. Use your signals to let them know your intentions.

411 PAIN, the leader in road safety awareness, reminds you that paying close attention to the road and always looking twice can prevent being involved in an accident with a motorcycle.

411 Pain - Do not Text And Drive

There is increasing alarming evidence that texting and driving can be as bad as drinking and driving.
Texting is just one example of distracted driving, but is easily acknowledged as the most dangerous of them all. Distracted driving is any activity that diverts your attention from where it should be - with your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel. Some examples of distracted driving include any use of a cellphone, eating/drinking, reading - including maps, watching tv/video, using your gps, grooming, adjusting the radio/cd/mp3 player and even talking to another passenger in the car. Because texting requires visual, manual and cognitive attention all at once, it is by far the worst of distractions.
411 Pain According to a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI)

• Of all cell phone related tasks - including talking, dialing, or reaching for the phone - texting while driving is the most dangerous.
• One-fifth of experienced adult drivers in the United States send text messages while driving.
• Texting while driving is about 6 times more likely to result in an accident than driving while intoxicated.
• Studies have found that texting while driving causes a 400% increase in time spent with eyes off the road.
• For every 6 seconds of drive time, a driver sending or receiving a text message spends 4.6 of those seconds with their eyes off the road. This makes texting the most distracting of all cell phone related tasks.

Answering a text takes about 5 seconds - enough time to drive the length of a football field. That is enough time to be fatal.
In 2010, there were more than 3,000 fatalities and 400,000 injuries involving a distracted driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
If reading or sending a text is urgent, pull off the road in a safe spot. Your life is worth it!
411 PAIN - the leader in road safety awareness, urges you to PLEASE - DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE!

411 Pain - November is Fall Car Care Month

411 Pain wants to remind you that November is Fall Car Care Month!

Driving safety not only involves being alert and cautious on the road, but also involves taking steps to make sure your vehicle is in prime condition at all times. There's no better time than now to make sure your car is ready to help keep you safe this fall and beyond.
Here is a list of some basic car maintenance that 411 Pain recommends for everyone:

• Replace windshield wiper blades.
• Whether you take your car to your local mechanic, your car dealer or decide to do it yourself and save money (make sure the blades are the right ones for your car!), this is an inexpensive yet very important part of car maintenance.
• In rain, fog, snow or extreme humidity, good wipers are essential for optimum visibility.
• Also don't forget to check/top off your wiper fluid as well! If you live in a colder climate, be sure to use wiper fluid for cold weather.
• And be sure to check/top off your anti freeze and brake fluid.
• Check tire pressure. For every 10 degree drop in temperature, you lose one PSI (pound per square inch) in tire pressure. You can use the air pump at the gas station to check, or buy a small tire pump to keep in your car. Also, make sure your spare tire is properly inflated!
• Change your air filter. This should be done twice a year. Making sure your air filter is clean will maximize your car's fuel economy and performance.
• Check your battery. It's easy to take your battery for granted because it usually lasts for about 5 years, but you don't want to be stuck out on the road in the cold because you forgot when you last replaced it! Make sure the connectors are not corroded or loose.
• Check your lights. If you do most of your driving during the day, you may not notice that one of your headlights is out until you're driving at night and it's too late!
• And of course don't forget your oil change! 

411 PAIN wants you to be safe on the road this fall!
So please - buckle up, don't drink and drive, don't text and drive and remember to give your car a check up! 411 Pain