Long Beach Grand Prix (and 10 Safe Driving Tips)

This past weekend was the Long Beach Grand Prix, probably the biggest weekend annually in Long Beach and by far one of my favorites. We went on Saturday and enjoyed a perfect day of sun, fast cars, thundering loud sound and jam-packed bars.  I’m not necessarily a race fan, but if you ever get a chance to check out a live race and get up front in the action, you won’t be disappointed. The speed and noise of these IndyCars give me the chills every time I see them.

Check out this short clip I filmed track-side.  This was Saturday’s IndyCar qualifying for the main race on Sunday. Cars are flying by at 160-170 mph at this point on the track:

With the theme of fast cars and driving, take a moment to browse over these 10 safe driving tips:

Top 10 Safe Driving Tips

1. Don’t Drive Drunk – More than 30 percent of all auto accident fatalities in the United States involve drivers impaired by alcohol. It’s easy to avoid driving drunk. If you’ve been drinking, ask a sober friend for a ride or call a cab. If you’re planning to drink, make sure you have a designated driver. The mild inconvenience of taking a cab home is nothing compared to the disastrous consequences of driving drunk.
2. Don’t Speed – Research has shown that for every mile per hour you drive, the likelihood of your being in an accident increases by four to five percent
3. Avoid Distractions – One researcher compared the reaction time of a 20-year-old driver talking on a cell phone to that of a 70-year-old driver. What’s more, working a cell phone behind the wheel can delay reaction times by as much as 20 percent.
4. Don’t Drive Drowsy – A study conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech reported that 20 percent of all accidents have sleepiness as a contributing factor
5. Wear Your Seat Belt– NHTSA statistics reveal that more than half of all accident fatalities were people who weren’t using seat belts
6. Be Extra Careful in Bad Weather
7. Don’t Follow Too Closely – The three-second rule is simple. Find a stationary object on the side of the road. When the car ahead of you passes it, start counting seconds. At least three seconds should pass before your car passes the same object
8. Watch Out for the Other Guy – One good rule of thumb to use is, “Assume everyone else on the road is an idiot.”
9. Practice Defensive Driving – Defensive driving is not only safer, it can save you money. Many insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who complete defensive driving courses.
10. Keep Your Vehicle Safe– One of the most common maintenance problems that can lead to a crash is improper tire pressure. Uneven tire pressure, or pressure that is too high or low, can impact performance or lead to a blowout — especially in high-performance cars or heavy vehicles like SUVs

For these tips and more, visit www.howstuffworks.com

-JK