FINDLAY, Ohio (Oct. 20, 2015) — Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is teaming up with 19-year-old Mazda factory race car driver Tristan Nunez to share safety tips during National Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 18-24.
Mr. Nunez is a full-time professional driver in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series and a distracted driving prevention advocate, the Findlay-based tire manufacturer said. He launched the Dnt txt n drV Foundation in 2014 and makes numerous appearances at high schools and driving safety forums to discuss distracted driving prevention.
On behalf of Cooper, Mr. Nunez will proactively address safety issues during National Teen Driver Safety Week, sharing tips that both he and Cooper hope all drivers — especially young ones — will put into action every day.
“As a professional race car driver, safety is a top priority, but I am actually more concerned about it when driving on city streets than on the race track,” Mr. Nunez said.
“There are so many drivers who seem to be thinking about everything but safety when they are behind the wheel. We all have places to go, and we're all busy, but we can't forget that making it to our destination safely is the top priority.”
Mr. Nunez's safe driving tips include:
- Remove a key distraction by turning off your phone.
- Don't eat, apply makeup or engage in other activities that take your hands off the wheel and your eyes off the road.
- Don't text or use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other social media while driving. If traveling with friends, appoint one who is not driving as your “designated texter.”
- Don't text family or friends when you know they are driving.
- Speak up. Call out parents, siblings, friends and others who are engaged in distracted driving. Tell them that they must stop. Most of the time, they will. If not, make the choice not to ride with them and be clear about why.
In addition, Mr. Nunez and Cooper listed the following as key tire safety tips:
- Tire pressure: Drivers are advised to check their tire pressure when tires are cool — at least three hours after the last time a vehicle has been driven — and to be sure they know the proper tire pressure for their vehicle.
- Tread depth: Proper tread depth helps tires maintain traction, improve handling and prevent hydroplaning on wet roads. Drivers can check tread depth with a common U.S. penny or a tread depth indicator.
- Tire condition: It's important that tires are routinely checked for cuts, cracks, splits, punctures and bulges, which could cause tire failure. Cooper advises drivers to check the condition of their tires before every lengthy road trip and at least monthly.
For more information, visit Cooper Tire's website. For more information about Tristan Nunez and distracted driving prevention, visit www.dnttxtndrvfoundation.org/.