For Safe Routes Around the World

Be a Donation Detective Before You Give

Deciding you’re going to donate to a charity is one thing, but choosing a charity that is reputable and trustworthy is where the hard work comes into play. While it is usually safe to assume that most charities, because they are in the non-profit business of donating to those in need, are legitimate, it’s still important to be aware of the specifics when considering a contribution.

Before you choose a charity, examine the following tips:

Research the charity’s website and other sites that rate charities. There are a number of institutes that evaluate the legitimacy of various charities.
Visit the charity’s main office, introduce yourself, and be completely open about your plans for donating. You will get an immediate feel from the staff, either good or bad, about their sincerity. For example, if they are quick to talk about the money aspect, the charity might not have the best of intentions.
Ask the secretary or desk clerk to see the charity’s Form 990, which details what the charity has submitted to the government for the previous year. You can pay the office for a copy of the form to take home with you.
Examine the document. It will list how much money the charity was given and how much of that went to benefit those in need versus how much stayed with the organization.

Even if a charity is trustworthy and legitimate, you still might not be impressed with the percentage of money that goes to the needy. Charities such as Kars 4 Kids ensure that the bulk of their profit from selling donated cars goes directly to children and families that need the assistance.

Filed Under: General, Safety Tagged With: Charitable organization, Donation, Non-profit organization

School Bus Stop Traffic Laws

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When driving near a school bus stop it is important to be mindful of the children, the bus, and other drivers. There are different laws in place for different jurisdictions, and the laws are to dictate what a motorist must do when driving past a bus stop which is being used by any sort of school vehicle.

School bust stop laws are in place to protect children (and others) who are using school transportation. The safety of those using the service is of the utmost importance. Most jurisdictions in the United States and Canada specify that drivers must stop and wait when a school bus is loading or unloading passengers.

A stopped school bus with red flashing lights indicates to drivers who are following that they need to stop and wait for the bus to move again. This also applies to traffic that is approaching the school bus.

Most jurisdictions do not require vehicles to stop if on a divided highway with the following exceptions; West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, New York State, American Samoa, Guam, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories, and Nanavut. Those in Washington state are not required to stop on any highway with three or more lanes when travelling in the opposite direction.

There are penalties for a person in a vehicle caught illegally passing a stopped school bus (or other vehicle). These penalties range from fines, demerit points, and even suspension of license. Violations of school bust stop laws are noted to be quite common, and law enforcement officials are trying to deter such acts with increased enforcement and heavier penalties.

Filed Under: Child Safety Tagged With: Bus stop, School bus, United States

Importance Of Safety Features In A Car

As the world f technology ahs advanced, people have become more conscious about the accessories they own. For example, they are very concerned about the safety features their cars have to offer them. They find it difficult to accept a car which offers them low safety features or which has very low security features in it.

Safety features are very important from a car owner’s point of view. Be it a car, a bus or any other form of transport, safety and security are the two main concerns which should be given due importance and care. This is so that the people who travel in the vehicle and the person operating it remains safe in the vehicle and can handle themselves when the time arises.

The common safety features you can find in the cars available today are the seatbelts, which has become indispensible and a part of the traffic law as well, and the air bags. There are many other features related to safety and security but these two are the ones which mainly concerns the people riding in the cars. These are given a lot of importance.

The seatbelt can protect you from a lot of accidents. In fact when you take the history of various accidents you may find that it is simply because of the ignorance of the importance of the seatbelts by the victims that might have caused the tragedy. Hence it is quite important that you wear your seatbelts and remain safe and secure in your cars.

The air bag is something which has equal importance. When you crash or hit another crash, the impact would send you forward and the airbag would protect you from it. Hence it is another important safety feature in the cars. With basic knowledge you can be safe and secure.

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tagged With: Airbag, Seat belt, Security

Car Seats And Comfort

It is quite a magical moment when you first receive the keys of your new car and it is waiting for you to take it home. But there are some features you must be aware of before buying a car. The safety and security features are of course an important factor in the selection of a car, but apart from that you must look at the seats of the car.

The car seats determine the comfort with which you can travel in it. It may seem to be a very minor feature as far as the owner is concerned. In fact when you buy a branded car like that from the BMW or the Mercedes herds, the seats are something you would rarely look at. You just buy the car, which would raise your status to a very high position indeed.

The car seats are very crucial in deciding whether you would have a comfortable journey or not. For example, if you have to go for a long journey of say about four to five hours, and the car seats are anything but comfortable then you are bound to end up with cramps in your muscles. It would be very difficult for you to cope up later on.

Look for seats which a bit slanting, rather than upright which would make you sit in a very uncomfortable position. Most small cars have comfortable seats because they are slanting. Keep this in mind and also take seat covers which are comfortable life smooth synthetic leather. This way you would feel very cozy and relaxed when you go for a long journey in your car. Both of them go together.

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tagged With: BMW, Car seat, Seat belt

Use Seat Belts To Avoid Any Disaster

Many of us are not aware of the fact that seat belts that are meant for safety can prove very dear if you neglect. Seat belts can save your life. Many of us just take it casually and believe that nothing could happen to us while driving. You never know when an accident is waiting to happen. There is no point in these times. It is always advised to wear the seat belts while driving. It is not just for people who are driving but also for those who are in the same vehicle.

The reason why doctors advise to wear the seat belts is because at the point of impact your body doesn’t collide with the vehicle in front or with your own vehicle. Many a times it is observed that at the time of accident the bodies inside are thrown out and the people sustain serious head injuries and fractures due to this reason. All this can be avoided by following simple things in life. Just by wearing a seat belt you can ensure that a major disaster is avoided. By doing this simple thing you can save your own life as well as your loved ones. It is more precious that you could imagine.

Many of us enjoy driving fast but not really sure about how we manage when there is an accident waiting in the next corner. The seat belts are meant to avert such incidents and you need to be sure that such a tragedy should be avoided with the help of these safety devices. It can be worth trying. Government has made it compulsory to wear seat belts.

Filed Under: Child Safety Tagged With: Driving, Seat belt, Vehicle

Take Proper Care of Your Children

Children beautiful like flowers in this world. Every married couple wants children in their life. According to the psychologists, a child can reduce the distance between a husband and his wife. It is really a pleasant experience to play with children. They are innocent and simple. Most of the women want to become mother of beautiful children. Parents can achieve a priceless feeling when their children take birth in this world. Side by side it is their duty to keep children safe from any kind of danger and harm.

Every parent should be careful about the health of their children. Most of the children get attacked by various kind of infection easily. As a parent it is your duty to take all the essential precautions so that your children cannot fall ill frequently. You should not compromise anything when your children’s health is concerned. Parents have to tolerate and sacrifice many things when they take proper care of their sweet children. It is always recommended to go to a child specialist in case of any physical problem of your children. A doctor is best to guide you properly. Consult with your doctor about the precautions you should take for children.

When a child grows, most of the parents want to teach him how to talk, how to walk and how to eat. Children start to learn all these things from their parents. They start to talk slowly in his or her language. As a parent it is your duty to think about proper education of your children. There are many schools around us where your children can learn some basic knowledge. Primary education is the first stage for every child so this should be proper.

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tagged With: Child, Marriage, Parent

Keep Your Children Safe From any Harm

Most of you love children. They are like flowers in this world. They are simple and innocent. No complexities are there in their mind. Most of the married couple wants a sweet child in their life. It is said that a child can reduce the distance between a husband and wife. It is really an outstanding feeling for every couple when a child comes in their life. Parents have to be ready to take many responsibilities for their children. When a child takes birth in this earth he is unknown about everything. He or she cannot do anything on their own. Under the shade of parents he or she starts to grow.

It is not an easy job to become a responsible parent. They have to be ready to sacrifice or tolerate many things to take care of their children. It is very important to keep your children safe from any kind of infection. They get attacked with many types of diseases frequently. So, it is your duty to take proper precautions for your children. It is best to consult with a good child specialist if your kid suffers from any disease. A doctor can give you the proper information about the precautions you should take.

You should not give any medicine to your children on your own because wrong medicine can create many problems for them. When a child grows they start to learn his or her own language from their parents and surrounded people. As a responsible parent you should take proper care to provide basic education to your children. Primary education is the initial stage for every child. In this stage they learn about the manners, behavior , discipline and civic sense.

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tagged With: Child, Family, Parent

Traveling Safely

Most families today are finding it necessary to travel on vacations utilizing their car. It is not only more budget conscious, but it can be fun to drive through several different areas that your family has never visited before.

While traveling of any kind can be an exhausting process, there are some tips to keep in mind to travel safely and to make any trip more enjoyable.

First and foremost would be to travel your route. By taking the time to track your destination either using maps, online mapping services or a GPS system you will take less time finding your way. These resources are usually available free of charge, and GPS systems range from between fifty-nine dollars and up, making searching for directions pretty simple.

By planning your route, you also have a better idea of how much time it will realistically take you to get where you’d like to go, and ensure that you have adequate time for rests and meals, which will be extremely important if you are traveling with small children in tow.

Secondly, you will want to take with you all of your insurance documents and any roadside assistance information in the car with you just in case you find yourself in a position to need to call them. Having this information in an easy to reach place, like your glove compartment is essential.

Make sure you have jumper cables, a first aid kit, and lots of snacks to hold you over while you are traveling, again, especially with kids. These simple items aren’t too large to carry and shouldn’t take up any excess room in your trunk. Snacks will help ward off children that start to become hungry and ensure that you won’t have to stop more than necessary for fuel and meals, making traveling easier.

Filed Under: Safety, Travel Tagged With: Breakdown cover, Global Positioning System, Travel

What to Keep in your Car

It’s pretty safe to say that every family has at least one vehicle that they utilize for transportation. Usually one of these is the family car, or mom’s car, while father’s usually drive a separate vehicle.

It is a wise idea to keep specific items in the car in the event of an emergency, no matter how big or small.

1. A first aid kit. In the event that someone does get hurt in the car, a first aid kit can help with almost any ailment that doesn’t require calling an ambulance.

2. Jumper cables. No one wants to be stranded in their vehicle, and keeping jumper cables can at least prepare you for this adventure.

3. Items to fix a flat tire. While having roadside assistance is great, sometimes they will have you waiting for a decent amount of time. Having supplies in a time of need will help quicken your wait time. Most cars come with a jack and spare tire.

4. Pick for the window. In the event that your vehicle did get submerged in water, or the doors stuck, you could use a glass pick to break the window and get out of your vehicle. While this might seem like an unnecessary expense, it would be a great measure of safety in the event of an unexpected emergency.

5. Calling card or emergency phone. How many times have you accidentally left your phone on the kitchen table? You certainly wouldn’t want this to be the day you got in an accident or truly needed to reach someone. Having an extra supply would be helpful.

6. Have all of your insurance information and car registration handy in the event that you would need it.

7. Cash – have some extra money in your car for emergencies, or in the event that you lose your wallet. Having the money could help you make a phone call, get gas, or even a ride.

Filed Under: Safety Tagged With: First aid kit, Spare tire, Vehicle

Looking for a Used Car

Need a ride, but aren’t looking to spend the amount of money required to purchase a new car? Many people are making this same decision with the recent downturn in the economy, especially since new cars depreciate so much once the cars are driven off of the lot anyway. Purchasing a used car can be a great financial investment as well as provide valuable service if you purchase the right car.

Things to consider when looking for a used car. First and foremost, make sure that the car has had a recent inspection to ensure that you do not get a lemon. Some states have lemon laws in effect, but it is always smart to go ahead and really investigate the car before you make any final purchase. If the seller is unwilling to share details about the car, simply walk away. This usually means they’re not telling you something that would be important for your knowledge prior to a purchase.

You might consider approaching dealerships about vehicles that were under lease. Often people sign leases for just a few years, and some of these vehicles upon return still have a warranty, or the dealership can provide you with a limited or even extended warranty on the vehicle. You can have a mechanic still check out the car. While a car dealership might try to charge you more for a vehicle, they are more negotiable with leased cars.

Check to see what service has been completed on the car. You will want to know if there has been excessive maintenance required on the vehicle and to what extent. You will also want to know if the vehicle was in any car accidents, especially if there was damage involved, and what amount of body work was completed to bring the car into working order.

Shopping for a used car can be rewarding as your drive off in your new vehicle.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Car dealership, Used car, Vehicle