Helping People Live Safer, More Secure Lives Since 1912

Thank you for considering Liberty Mutual for your

insurance needs. As one of the leading providers of auto,
home and life insurance in the United States, we are able
to offer you a wide range of personal insurance products
and services. And, with our strong financial ratings and
our ranking in the top 150 of the Fortune 500 list of
largest U.S. corporations, youll be secure in knowing
that when you need us, well be there for you.

20 Tips for Safe Driving

For more information about Liberty Mutual and our

personal insurance products, stop by one of our more
than 300 local offices in the U.S., call us at 1-800-526-1547,
(hearing-impaired customers who use a TTY device
can contact us at 1-800-243-9801), or visit us online at
www.libertymutualinsurance.com.

Auto and home insurance products are offered by Liberty

Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliates, 175 Berkeley
Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Liberty Mutual is an Equal
Housing Insurer. Life insurance products are issued by
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston, a member of
the Liberty Mutual Group.

2005 Liberty Mutual Insurance Group

PR-11 R1

12/04 ART

www.libertymutualinsurance.com

20 Tips for Auto Safety

Liberty Mutual

tip #19 Select a designated driver before you

Whats Your Driving Skill Level?

As you can see, this national survey1 found that drivers rated

and your companions start drinking.

Dont wait until you arrive at your destination to decide who will
drive home.

themselves highly.The tendency of people to exaggerate their

driving ability can lead to misplaced confidencewhich can
contribute to crashes.

My driving skills are much better or better than average

74%
My driving skills are average
25%
My driving skills are below average

tip #20 Watch out for road rage. If you see a

driver exhibiting aggressive behavior, back off. Often

a driver becomes violent over what seems to be a trivial situation.While you cant control the actions of other drivers, you can
control your own. First, be courteous... its contagious. Second,
dont engage in aggressive actions that could provoke road rage,
such as tailgating, blocking the passing lane, failing to use turn
signals, beeping the horn excessively or using high beams to
punish other drivers.

1%

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, December 2002.

Watch Our
Decision Driving Video
For a copy of our safe driving video, Decision Driving, call
1-800-4-LIBERTY. If you would like a Liberty Mutual representative to present our video to a school or community group, you
may contact us at 1-800-526-1547.

For more information about

Liberty Mutuals auto, home and
other personal insurance products
and services, visit one of our
branch offices, call us at
1-800-526-1547 or visit us online at
www.libertymutualinsurance.com.

Liberty Mutual

More Tips for Safe Driving

Here are four additional tips to help keep you and
your family safe on the road.

tip #17 Watch your speed. Speeding is one of

the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic

crashes, according to the NHTSA. In 2001, speeding was a
contributing factor in 30% of all fatal crashes, resulting in 12,850
lost lives.

tip #18 Check your tire pressure and treads

at least once a month. Cooler outdoor

temperatures can cause tires to become underinflated. Also, worn
tires and improper pressure can affect the steering and handling
of your car, putting you at risk for a crash. Buy a tire gauge, and
use it to check pressure on the same day each month.

Hint #1: For the automobile manufacturers suggested tire pressure levels, check the placard located on the
inside of your drivers side door. For a more accurate
pressure reading, check your tire pressure within one
mile of leaving your home.
Hint #2: To check treadwear, insert a penny upside
down in the groove of the tread on each tire. Look at the
distance between the top of Lincolns image and the
edge of the penny. See the top of Lincolns head? Time
to purchase new tires (1/16 of an inch is the minimum
acceptable tread depth).

Road Safety Begins at Home

People tend to view themselves as being good drivers,
capable of controlling what happens to them on the road.
However, in 2001 there were 42,116 fatalities in the estimated
6.3 million motor vehicle crashes in the United States.
Assessing how you drive and how you react to others on
the road, understanding the limitations of your vehicle and
maintaining your car so that it performs well are all critical
factors in crash and injury prevention.
Liberty Mutual has created 20 driving tips to help keep you
and your family safe on the road.The following tips, grouped
by common accident, can help you avoid car crashes. Many
of the tips apply to multiple accident types. Our goal is to
help you become a safer driver.
As one of the largest auto and home insurers in the country,
Liberty Mutual is in the business of helping people protect
the things they own and cherish. For more than 90 years, our
continuing mission has been to help people live safer, more
secure lives.

Liberty Mutual

Tips to Reduce Rear-Impact

Crashes
In 2001, rear-impact crashes accounted for 22%
of passenger vehicle crashes and 4% of the
fatalities.1 Here are five tips to help you avoid a
rear-impact crash.

Dont tailgateit wont get you to

tip #1 your destination any faster. Use an

adequate following distance between your
vehicle and the one in front. When the vehicle in
front of you passes a stationary object, begin counting.Your car
shouldnt reach that same object until you count 1,001, 1,002.
Thats the minimum distance you should follow a vehicle in
good weather (thats about three car lengths when traveling at
20 mph or nine when traveling at 60 mph).

20 Tips for Auto Safety

A Tip to Reduce Rollovers

In 2001, rollover accidents accounted for 32% of
all vehicle occupant fatalities but only 3% of motor
vehicle crashes. And fatalities, in single-vehicle
rollovers increased by 22%, with pickup trucks
accounting for the biggest gain.

tip #15 Be aware that driving a sports utility

vehicle (SUV) isnt like driving a car.

SUVs have a higher center of gravity and are therefore more prone
to roll over. So avoid sudden lane changes, be careful on curves
and drive your SUV with the flow of trafficnot faster than the
flow. Also keep in mind that an SUV occupant is three times
more likely to die as a result of a rollover than an occupant of a
passenger car. Because of the increased risk of a rollover, it is
especially important that everyone in an SUV wear seat belts.
Unfortunately, teenagers, as a group, use seat belts less frequently
than those in other age groups.This has led to an epidemic of
teens being thrown from their vehicles in SUV crashes.You, your
teens and all other passengers need to buckle up!

A Tip to Reduce Car-Truck

Crashes

tip #2 Make it a habit to signal early.

In
normal driving conditions, turn your signals on 5 to 8
seconds before you turn or change lanes to give drivers behind
you adequate time to react. Be sure to turn off your signal after
youve completed the action.

tip #3 Size up the whole scene. Dont just look

directly in front of you; instead, look 10 to 12 seconds

down the road to where potential trouble spots begin.This will
allow you to stop carefully, which will not only help you maintain better control of your vehicle, but will save on fuel economy and prolong the life of your brakes.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

(NHTSA), 2002.

In 2001, 5,082 people were killed and 131,000 were

injured in crashes involving large trucks.1 A 2002
research study prepared for the AAA Foundation
for Traffic Safety found that automobile drivers
contribute more to crashes involving large trucks
than do commercial vehicle operators. Seventy-five
percent of all driver errors were attributed to car
drivers compared to 25% for truck drivers.1

tip #16 Know how to drive around large

trucks. They cant stop or swerve as quickly as

automobilesdont force them to brake or swerve suddenly.
Large trucks have blind spots, or no-zones, around the front,
back and sides of the truck.These no-zones make it difficult for
the driver of the truck to see vehicles that are very close to
them. So dont linger alongside a truck. Remember, if you cant
see the driver in the trucks mirror, the truck driver cant see
you.While passing a truck, avoid pulling back in front of it until
you can see the entire truck in your inside rearview mirror. For
more information, visit www.sharetheroadsafely.org.
1

Source: NHTSA, 2002.

20 Tips for Auto Safety

Liberty Mutual

Tips to Reduce Side-Impact

Crashes

Tips to Reduce Front-Impact

Crashes

In 2001, 29% of passenger-vehicle crashes were

side-impact and they accounted for 24% of
fatalities.1 Consider these two tips to help avoid
a side-impact crash.

In 2001, 46% of the passenger-vehicle crashes

were front-impact crashes, and they accounted for
the greatest percentage of fatalities39%.1 Follow
these seven tips to help avoid a front-impact crash.

tip #6 Green does mean GO...but first

make sure the intersection is clear!

A good rule of thumb: Count 1,001, 1,002, then look left, right
and left again and proceed if no other cars are in the intersection. Many side-impact accidents occur as a result of people not
stopping for red lights.

Adjust your mirrors to reduce that

tip #7 blind spot next to your car. Make sure

that the mirrors are properly adjusted for youespecially when
you share your car. Eliminating the blind spot is especially
important when you drive on a multilane highway.
Three Easy Steps for Adjusting Your Cars Mirrors
1.Adjust the interior mirror so that the rear window is framed.
2. Before you start your car, sit in your normal driving position
and put your head against the drivers side window. Look in
your left sideview mirror and adjust it so that you see as little
of the left side of your car as possible.
3. From your position in the drivers seat, place your head along
the centerline of the car. Look in your right sideview mirror
and adjust it so that you see as little of the right side of your
car as possible.

tip #8 Stay focused at the wheel. Many accidents

occur when drivers let their eyes and minds wander.

Distractions are a factor in 25% to 50% of all vehicle crashes,
according to the NHTSA.1 One study found that the three most
common distractions are: outside distractions (e.g., accidents,
vehicles stopped by police, construction and aggressive drivers), adjusting music controls, and other occupants in the car
(people or pets).2

tip #9 Driving is a full-time jobavoid

using your cell phone. Instead, pull safely

off the road and out of traffic before making a call. Studies have
found that drivers are four times more likely to be involved in
a crash when using a cell phone.3 So, if you use your cell phone
while driving just 15% of the time, you are 45% more likely to
be involved in a crash than someone who doesnt use a cell
phone while driving. Using a hands-free device is not the solution for avoiding a crashphone conversations take your mind
off the road and off the important task of driving. If you want to
be a safe driver, you cant spend a lot of time talking on the
phone.

tip #10

Avoid solar glare. Each day the sun rises and

the sun sets; so there are two times when you will
encounter intense solar glare. Have sunglasses handykeep an
extra pair within arms reach so that you are always prepared.

Source: NHTSA, 2002.

Source: AAA Foundation for Safety, 2001.
3
Source: New England Journal of Medicine, Feb. 13, 1997.
2

Liberty Mutual

tip #11 Turn on your headlights when you

use your wipers. It will help increase your

visibility and will also help other drivers see you. In many states,
its the law!

tip #12

Keep your car windows clear. Clean

the outside and inside of your windows, and fill

your windshield washer reservoir on a regular basistry
choosing a specific day each month to perform routine maintenance on your car. Sun or headlights reflecting off a dirty
windshield can cause momentary blindness, preventing you
from seeing whats in front of you. And remember to clear snow
and ice off your entire car so that it doesnt slide off your roof
and cover the windshield as youre slowing down, or fly off onto
someone elses windshield, causing that driver to lose control.

20 Tips for Auto Safety

tip #4 If your car has adjustable headrests,

properly adjust and lock them

into place. A correctly positioned headrest can reduce your
chances of head or neck injury in a collision. Although youll also
need to initially adjust an active headrest for proper fit, it may
protect you better than a passive restraint.Thats because an active
headrest is designed to move into position if youre involved in a
rear-end collision.To find out the rating of your vehicles headrest
and for cars equipped with active head restraints, visit our Web
site at www.libertymutual.com/lm/headrestraints.

tip #5

Know how to use your antilock brakes.

In an emergency, stomp hard on the brakes and keep

your foot firmly on the pedaldo not pump the brakes. Antilock
brakes keep your wheels from locking up and allow you to maintain control of your car.

Dont use cruise control when the

tip #13 roads are wet. An activated cruise control

system continually applies power and keeps your wheels

spinning. However, in snow, ice, slush or rain you need to reduce
power and wheel spin to maintain control of your vehicle. For
more information on your cars cruise control system, consult
your owners manual.

tip #14 Buckle up every trip...every time.

And make sure your passengers do, too. Every 15

seconds, someone is injured in a car crash; every 13 minutes,
someone is killed. Seat belts are the most effective means of
reducing serious injuries and fatalities and are estimated to save
more than 11,000 lives each year. For more information, visit
www.buckleupamerica.org.

Hint: Be aware that a four-wheel-drive vehicle

doesnt stop any quicker. In fact, it may take longer
to stop because many of these vehicles are heavier
than other vehicles.

be aware