If an oncoming vehicle is in your lane, act fast

Encountering an oncoming vehicle in your lane is a very dangerous experience.  If you ever find yourself in this situation, follow the steps below from What Every Driver Must Know.

• If there is time, tap the horn to warn the other driver.
• Brake hard, but do not lock the wheels if your vehicle does not have anti-lock brakes.
• Look for an escape route on the right edge of the road.
• Try not to go to the left since the other driver may see you and return to his or her proper lane.
• Try an emergency stop in your lane only if there is enough room and you cannot pull off the road.
• If you cannot stop before hitting another vehicle, try to steer around it. Do not turn more than needed to avoid a crash.

Never, ever drink & drive!

Drunk driving is dangerous and expensive. In 2016, 38.7 percent of Michigan traffic crash fatalities were alcohol-related. It is a crime for a driver to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .02 or greater if under age 21. However, drivers can be arrested at any BAC level if they exhibit signs of impairment while operating a motor vehicle.

If you are caught with alcohol in your system, you will face stiff penalties and fines. For drivers under the age of 21, a first offense may include a 30-day license restriction, 4 points on your driving record, up to a $250 fine, and up to 360 hours of community service. Alcohol convictions that involve driving remain on your record for life, and many employers, colleges and military recruiters take alcohol-related offenses into consideration when hiring or accepting applicants. Help stop impaired driving! If you drink, contact a trusted adult to come pick you up, call a taxi, or use SaferRide a free app from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that can help you get home safely.

Defensive driving is the key to safety. Expect the unexpected. Be aware of other vehicles and pedestrians and be prepared for their mistakes. Even though you follow the laws, realize that others may not. Watch for bicyclists, joggers, blind pedestrians, animals crossing the road, flying objects, gravel and slippery roads. Ruth Johnson Secretary of State

Teaching tip for parents

After becoming proficient in basic driving skills, teens can become overconfident and begin to drive faster, follow other cars more closely, brake abruptly, etc.

Gently and continuously remind your teen to stay three seconds back from other cars in normal conditions and always drive with caution.

Information excerpted from the Parent's Supervised Driving Guide, a helpful resource for families with young drivers

Man gets many years in prison for driving drunk

A 20-year-old Howell man has been sentenced to 19 1/2 to 50 years in prison for a drunk driving crash that resulted in the death of one of his teenage passengers.

The man was also sentenced for three other crimes in relation to the incident.

Read the Oakland Press story