When you're in an accident and not seriously hurt, you need to act to prevent further damage or injury. The basic steps to be taken at any accident are to: protect the area, notify authorities, and care for the injured.

For safety you should: watch gauges for signs of trouble, use your senses to check for problems (look, listen, smell, feel), and check critical items when you stop.

Identify, Predict, Decide, and Execute (IPDE) is the step-by-step process behind the principles of defensive driving and complexities of visual perception in traffic.

What you should do is make a lane change or slow down to prevent a crash if the car suddenly cuts in front of you, and you should not honk or stay close behind the car.

Correct shifting of gears is important. If you can't get your vehicle into the right gear while driving, you will have less control.

Hauling liquids in tanks requires special skills because of the high center of gravity and liquid movement.

Poor weight balance can make vehicle handling unsafe. The cargo should be loaded so that it is balanced in the cargo area.

Skids caused by acceleration usually happen on ice or snow. Taking your foot off the accelerator can easily stop them. If it is very slippery, push the clutch in. Otherwise, the engine can keep the wheels from rolling freely and regaining traction.

Hydroplaning is more likely if tire pressure is low, or the tread is worn. The grooves in a tire carry away the water; if they aren't deep, they don't work well.

Rough acceleration can cause mechanical damage. When pulling a trailer, rough acceleration can damage the coupling.

Loose cargo that falls off a vehicle can cause traffic problems and others could be hurt or killed. Loose cargo could hurt or kill you during a quick stop or crash. Your vehicle could be damaged by an overload.

Inspect the cargo and its securing devices within the first 50 miles after beginning a trip. Make any adjustments needed.

If possible, avoid using the brakes until your speed has dropped to about 20 mph, and gently return to the road.

Cargo should have at least one tie-down for each ten feet of cargo. Make sure you have enough tiedowns to meet this need.

Re-check the cargo and securing devices as often as necessary during a trip to keep the load secure. You need to inspect again: after you have driven for 3 hours or 150 miles, and after every break you take during driving.

Accident statistics show that the chance of a crash is much greater for drivers who have been drinking than for drivers who have not.

When people are working on the road, it is a hazard. There may be narrower lanes, sharp turns, or uneven surfaces.

During bad weather or in mountains, it may not be safe to operate at legal maximum weights. Take this into account before driving.

I It will take longer to stop, and it will be harder to turn without skidding, when the road is slippery. Wet roads can double stopping distance at any speed, reduce speed, and slow down gradually on a wet road.

A DOT physical exam is valid for up to 24 months. The medical examiner may also issue a medical examiner's certificate for less than 24 months when it is desirable to monitor a condition, such as high blood pressure.

The first step is to get the vehicle off the road and stop. In doing so: park in an open area, away from buildings, trees, brush, other vehicles, or anything that might catch fire. Don't pull into a service station!

The height of the vehicle's center of gravity is very important for safe handling. A high center of gravity means you are more likely to tip over. It is most dangerous in curves, or if you have to swerve to avoid a hazard.

Water can be used on wood, paper, or cloth, but don't use water on an electrical fire or a gasoline fire. A burning tire must be cooled. Lots of water may be required.

Accident statistics show that the chance of a crash is much greater for drivers who have been drinking than for drivers who have not.

Strong winds make it difficult to stay in your lane. The problem is usually worse for lighter vehicles. This problem can be especially bad coming out of tunnels.

Use either the tachometer or the speedometer and upshift/downshift at the right rpm or road speed.

Escape ramps are made to stop runaway vehicles safely without injuring drivers and passengers.

When the engine is at operating rpms, the air pressure should build from 85 to 100 psi within 45 seconds in dual air systems.

A burning tire must be cooled. Lots of water may be required.

If the shoulder is clear, going right may be best. No one is likely to be driving on the shoulder, but someone may be passing you on the left. You will know if you have been using your mirrors. If you are blocked on both sides, a move to the right may be best. At least you won't force anyone into an opposing traffic lane and a possible head-on collision.

Because you cannot see everything behind your vehicle, backing is always dangerous. Avoid backing whenever you can. When you have to back, here are a few simple safety rules: Start in the proper position, look at your path, use mirrors on both sides, back slowly, back and turn toward the driver's side whenever possible, and use a helper with clear hand signals whenever possible.

When the system won't build up pressure here are some things you can do: downshift, pump the Brakes, use the parking brake, and find an Escape Route.

Going with the flow of traffic is safer and easier.

If you are drowsy, the only safe cure is to get off the road and get some sleep. If you don't, you risk your life and the lives of others.

Make sure the parking brake is set, turn off the engine, and take the key with you when you are not in the cab during your vehicle inspection.

One good rule says you need at least one second for each 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds below 40 mph. At greater speeds, you must add 1 second for safety.

It's natural to want to brake in an emergency, however, braking when a tire has failed could cause loss of control. Once the vehicle has slowed down brake very gently, pull off the road, and stop.

If you find anything unsafe during the Vehicle inspection, get it fixed, or use a different vehicle. Federal and state laws forbid operating an unsafe vehicle.

Don't over steer, over accelerate, or over brake by adjusting to conditions while driving. These include traction, curves, visibility, traffic and hills.

Do not turn any more than needed to clear whatever is in your way. The more sharply you turn, the greater the chances of a skid or rollover.