Safe Driving Tips

Buckle Up
Safety belts are the most effective means of reducing fatalities and serious injuries in traffic crashes. Among passenger vehicle occupants over 4 years old, safety belts saved an estimated 14,164 lives in 2002.
Details on seat belts and child safety restraints

Stay Alert
In Montana, inattentiveness, carelessness, and driving too fast accounted for over 50% of the crashes in the past 10 years. The inattentive drivers were more susceptible to fatal crashes than the other two categories. Some of the contributing factors of inattentiveness listed by the Highway Patrol include eating, smoking, talking on cell phones, adjusting controls, inserting tapes and CDs, looking at maps.

Don't Drink and Drive
Montana has the highest alcohol related fatality rate in the nation per vehicle mile traveled. Montana is also identified as one of 13 states by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a Strategic Evaluation State because of its high impaired driving rate.
  • For all emergencies, dial 911 (statewide)
  • According to Montana State Law, it is now mandatory that all
    passengers use seatbelts.
  • Think before you drink and arrange a ride home.
  • Don't ride with others who have been drinking.
  • Don't allow drinking friends to drive. Make arrangements to get them home safely.
  • Obey Montana's Open Container Law
  • Report drunk or erratic drivers to the Montana Highway Patrol - 800.525.5555