MOST DANGEROUS THINGS TO DO IN YOUR CAR _ According to auto accident statistics, these are the most dangerous thing we’re doing in our cars.
1. Eat and drink. Our biggest distraction. We love to eat when we drive, which is why self-driving cars will probably be a hit.
2. Rely on caffeine, sweets, or energy drinks. 17 percent of all fatal accidents involve drowsy driving. Which is why it’s dangerous to think 3 cups of coffee and 2 Red Bulls will keep us awake — ’cause they won’t.
3. Let your hound ride shotgun. Yep, pets really cause quite a few accidents. In one study one-third of dog owners reported being distracted by their pet while driving.
4. Text, tweet, etc. This one is hammered into our brains all the time. Too bad it’s not working.
5. Make calls. Good, old-fashioned phone calls seem safe but they’re really about as distracting as texting.
6. Read billboards. Highway signs are designed to be rapidly readable, with the same size letters, same font. That can’t be said about billboards, which vary in size, shape and color.
7. Get too comfortable. Resist the temptation to prop your feet up on the seat, recline your seat way back, or even slip your shoes off. Yes, it’s a recipe for drowsiness, but there are other reasons; if you are in a crash, you might not be in the proper place to take the best advantage of your car’s airbags and safety systems.
DEATH IS CLOSER IF YOU CAN’T DO THIS _ Here’s a simple test to find out if death is in your near future. Sit on the floor and then stand up. How much support did you need to stand up? If you could snap up using just one hand, or better yet, no hands, then your risk of death is 5 to 6 times lower than those who needed aids such as their hands and knees.
TRUE OR FALSE? _ Quiz time.
• Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.
• People do not get sick from cold weather; it’s from being indoors a lot more.
• Only seven percent of the population are lefties.
• Babies are born without knee caps.
• Your feet are bigger in the afternoon than the rest of the day.
… All are TRUE.
