Davis-Moore Blog

March is Safety Sales Event month at Davis-Moore, which means that every week we’ll be highlighting a different vehicle safety tip. This week we’re going to focus on something taught when you FIRST learn to drive, but something that many of us let slip as we get a bit older and a bit more comfortable behind the wheel: Defensive Driving. The National Safety Council’s Defensive Driving Course states Defensive Driving as “driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others.” Defensive Driving goes beyond the rules of the road and mastery of the mechanics of driving-it focuses on anticipating and avoiding dangerous situations. Here are a few tips to becoming a better Defensive Driver:

DO NOT do unto others.
There will unfortunately always be crazy people on the road, swerving in and out of lanes and cutting others off in their haste to get to their desired destination. Don’t play their game by trying to cut them off to get ahead of them, resort to blaring your horn, or hand gestures-these only make the situation worse, and even more dangerously, they distract you from the road! When you find yourself on the road with someone driving dangerously, step up your awareness of what is going on around you and stay out of the way. Give aggressive drivers plenty of room to get around you.

NEVER insist on your right of way if another driver is challenging you.
Just because you follow the rules of the road and there are laws to ensure that our roads are safe-not everyone abides by these rules as they should. Even if the right of way is yours by law, custom or common courtesy, always remember that the number one objective is to get to your destination safely. When someone plows ahead of you, make sure to keep your ego in check and yield anyway.

Overcome overconfidence behind the wheel.
How many of us have been known to say “I’m a great driver, it’s everyone else on the road that is dangerous!” We all think that we are good drivers, but make sure that if you make that kind of claim that you can back it up by your actions. Slow down, obey traffic laws and always wear your seat belt. If everyone on our roadways followed those easy tips and treated each other with courtesy, our streets would be much safer for everyone.

Be aware of your surroundings!
Distracted driving can be as blatant as texting or applying make-up, or can be as unintended as letting your mind wander on the five o’clock drive home. As a driver, you should always be scanning the road for the unexpected and keeping an eye on those around you. Watch out for pedestrians, and those on motorcycles and bikes that can easily be lost in your blind spot. You can’t afford to be distracted for a second!

Take a refresher course in driving.
The skills being taught to our children to be safe drivers are long forgotten by many of us who have been on the road for several years. Do you sometimes drive or turn using only one hand instead of two? Do you sometimes come to a “rolling stop” (which isn’t a stop at all and could merit a ticket if there is a police officer in the area), or maybe not fasten your seat belt for those short trips? All of these are driving basics, and no matter how comfortable you are driving, should ALWAYS be followed.

Be aware of yourself and your surroundings, and set a good example for others who may be passengers in your vehicle. Remember that the road is no place for ego-the objective, no matter what, is to arrive safely at your final destination. So relax, and enjoy the drive. Slow down-and remember to always buckle up!

The 2010 Mercury Milan is the most fuel efficient mid-sized sedan- getting up to 41 mpg city and 36 mpg on the highway. The Mercury Milan features a standard 2.5L 16 Duratec 1-4 engine or available 3.0L Duratec 24-valve V6 engine. All models of the Milan provide tons of space and storage and are available with all the latest technology such as voice-activated Navigation System, Sirius Travel Link, Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert, Climate Control, SYNC In-Car Connectivity System and much more! The 2010 Mercury Milan received a Five-Star Safety rating and offers a SOS Post Crash Alert System. If you are in the Wichita or Kansas area, car-shopping for a Wichita Mercury Milan or Kansas Mercury Milan, stop by Davis-Moore and test drive a new 2010 Mercury Milan today!

What: Car Seat Check
Where: Davis-Moore Chevrolet - 8200 W. Kellogg
When: Saturday, March 20th
Time: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Each car seat check will take 20-30 minutes, so get there early and plan to be there for a bit. We will start the last checks around noon. Brett Harris from B-98 FM will be broadcasting live from the Chevy dealership at 9am on Saturday! GM is a proud partner of Safe Kids Buckle Up and the safety checks are done in conjunction with the Safe Kids Campaign through Via Christi.

A subtle line of chrome along the belt line, fog light bezels, and front and rear fascias highlight the 2010 Lincoln MKS confident and fluid exterior lines. The split wing grille is a nod to Lincoln’s heritage but evokes a modern and inviting feel, while the available 20 inch wheels help ensure this sedan looks as good going as does coming. Exquisite materials fill the interior of the Lincoln MKS from the precisely cut and handcrafted stitching of the nearly seamless dash and center console to the selection of the ornately grained genuine olive ash or fine-line ebony wood trim. Every interior surface is created with harmony of style in mind. Details. It’s what sets the Lincoln MKS apart. There’s standard interior ambient lighting with seven colors to choose from. A standard rear window power sunshade helps shield your passengers from the sun’s rays on the hottest summer day. If you are in the Wichita or Kansas area, car shopping for a Wichita Lincoln MKS or Kansas Lincoln MKS, stop by your Davis-Moore Lincoln Dealership and test drive a new 2010 Lincoln MKS today!

Davis-Moore is celebrating it’s 10th Annual Safety Sales Event by giving away a NEW CAR!!! You may register to win the new car with each test drive during the month of March. Ten finalists will be drawn at the end of the month and the winner will be drawn from those finalists and announced April 3, 2010. And, if you buy a car during the month of March and end up winning the free one- we’ll write you a check for the value of the car we’re giving away!

*Note: Car to be given away will have value of $12,000 or less, plus tax, tag, title and license fees. Davis-Moore employees, affiliates and relatives of employees are not eligible to participate. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Must be 18 years or older, have a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. Finalists must be present at April 3, 2010 drawing to be eligible to win. See dealer for complete details.