Safe2Drive Blog

As someone who lives five hours away from their family, I spend a decent amount of time on the road every year. The drive from Indianapolis to Cleveland isn’t a difficult one, but it’s certainly not the most exciting trip. It’s pretty much just hundreds of miles of highway and cornfields. One of the ways to make the trip feel a little less tiring is making good use of driver assistance features. Imagine just setting your speed using adaptive cruise control, then leaning back and letting your car do all the work. It almost sounds too easy to be true, right?

In reality, sitting back and letting your car do the driving isn’t exactly safe. Sure, the adaptive cruise control setting will apply the brakes if you get too close to the vehicle ahead of you, and it will get back up to speed on its own when there’s enough space to do so, but there’s more to driving than that.

On one of my trips, I was using the lane keeping assist feature to help make sure I was staying in the center of my lane. When you start to drift from the lane, your car automatically adjusts for you, keeping you where you need to be. It’s a super handy feature--when it works. In my case, a storm earlier in the trip had blocked off the sensors, disabling some driver assistance features. I didn’t realize that the sensors were blocked until I caught myself drifting to the right of my lane. When the car didn’t self-correct, I realized there was a problem and that I needed to be more mindful of my lane position. If I hadn’t paid attention and just relied on the car to do the work, I could have easily drifted into oncoming traffic without realizing it.

It’s important to remember that driver assistance features are just that: assistants. They’re designed to make our driving experiences safer and easier, but they’re not fool-proof. As technology advances, these features will undoubtably advance as well, but we’re far from a point where we can hop in a car and ask it to drive us to our destination itself.

You may have heard of recent events involving Tesla, which serves as a pretty convincing example of the risks involved with these types of features. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has linked Tesla’s Autopilot system to hundreds of incidents and 14 fatalities, raising concerns about driver inattention and inadequate safety measures. This has caused NHTSA to take a very close look at Tesla’s efforts to fix the software responsible for these incidents and whether it’s possible to prevent future crashes. Despite its name, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system doesn’t make a car fully autonomous and still requires drivers to pay attention to the road.

Another example of this type of emerging technology is Ford’s BlueCruise system. Ford claims it operates on 97% of controlled-access highways across the U.S. and Canada. The system deploys features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic lane change and a driver-monitoring system to allow for hands-free driving. A driver-facing camera is supposed to alert drivers if they stop paying attention to the road, even if for only a few seconds, according to Ford’s website.

Now, I’m certainly not saying we shouldn’t be using driver assistance features--I think they can be super helpful and in some cases, life-saving. Personally, on that recent drive from Indianapolis to Cleveland, I learned an important lesson. I’m grateful for the technology that makes my long trips less tiring, but it’s even more clear to me now that these features aren’t a substitute for defensive driving. Technology provides tools that we can use to enhance our driving experience, but ultimately, the driver is the one responsible for keeping themselves and those around them safe on the road, not the car.

Are you interested in learning more about traffic safety?

Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?

Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.

As someone who lives five hours away from their family, I spend a decent amount of time on the road every year. The drive from Indianapolis to Cleveland isn’t a difficult one, but it’s certainly not the most exciting trip. It’s pretty much just hundreds of miles of highway and cornfields. One of the ways to make the trip feel a little less tiring is making good use of driver assistance features. Imagine just setting your speed using adaptive cruise control, then leaning back and letting your car do all the work. It almost sounds too easy to be true, right?

As the school year wraps up, little ones are spending more time outdoors. In my neighborhood, you’d have a hard time making it to the end of the street without seeing a group of kids on bikes or playing basketball in their driveway. While we want kids to have a great time outdoors, we also want to make sure they’re safe, especially when it comes to navigating the road as little pedestrians. Let’s take a look at some tips and tricks to keep kiddos safe and sound outside during summer break!

1. Be a good example.

Kids are basically little sponges. They learn best by watching and imitating us, so show them the ropes of pedestrian safety. Hold hands, look both ways, and always use crosswalks.

2. Use the buddy system.

Encourage your kids to walk with a buddy or in small groups. Older siblings are a great resource as well!

3. Unplug and stay alert.

Technology can be a powerful tool for parents to keep an eye on their children’s whereabouts, and that’s great! But technology can be a big distraction. Teach kids to put away their devices and focus on their surroundings.

4. Dress smartly!

Bright or reflective clothing can help drivers see your little ones easier than if they were to wear darker clothing. It’s super important for kids (and all pedestrians, for that matter) to be visible!

5. Stop, look, and listen!

This was drilled into our heads as little kids, and it works! Emphasize the importance of making eye contact with drivers at intersections and checking for traffic from both directions before crossing the street.

Summer is a time for kids to make fun memories and enjoy the great outdoors. By teaching our little ones the importance of pedestrian safety, we can make sure that they have a fun and safe summer break.

Are you interested in learning more about traffic safety?

Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?

Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.

As the school year wraps up, little ones are spending more time outdoors. In my neighborhood, you’d have a hard time making it to the end of the street without seeing a group of kids on bikes or playing basketball in their driveway. While we want kids to have a great time outdoors, we also want to make sure they’re safe, especially when it comes to navigating the road as little pedestrians. Let’s take a look at some tips and tricks to keep kiddos safe and sound outside during summer break!

As we head into the warmer month of May, it’s no surprise that we see more motorcyclists on the roads. These riders embody a spirit of adventure and passion, but they also face unique challenges that we should be aware of. Because May is National Motorcycle Awareness Month, let’s go over some key tips for sharing the road with motorcyclists.

1. Give motorcyclists the full lane.

Motorcycles aren’t bicycles. Don’t try to squeeze in beside them in the lane. Treat them like any other motor vehicle and give them their own space.

2. Pass carefully.

When overtaking a motorcycle, treat it just like passing a car. Avoid passing too closely or too quickly, as this can create wind gusts for the rider, making it more difficult for them to control the motorcycle.

3. Use your turn signals!

Always use your turn signals to let those around you know what you’re about to do, and watch out for motorcyclists in oncoming traffic when turning left at intersections.

4. Keep your distance.

Give motorcyclists extra space when following behind them. This buffer zone will give them the time and space they need in order to maneuver around hazards.

5. Check your blind spots.

Before changing lanes or turning, thoroughly check your blind spots for motorcyclists. Their smaller size can make them hard to see.

6. Anticipate hazards.

Motorcyclists adjust their position within a lane to respond to upcoming traffic conditions quite often. Most collisions occur at intersections, so wait until a rider’s intentions are super clear before moving into their path.

7. Keep an eye on the weather.

Motorcyclists face increased risks in adverse weather, such as rain, wet roads, ice, and heavy wind. It’s harder for them to maneuver, so adjust your driving accordingly and give them lots of room.

8. Be careful at night.

A motorcycle’s single taillight can easily blend in with other car lights. When you see that single light, dim your headlights, just like you would for any other vehicle.

The bottom line? Stay alert and share the road! By working together and following these tips, we can make this National Motorcycle Awareness Month a success!

Interested in learning more about traffic safety?

Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?

Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.

As we head into the warmer month of May, it’s no surprise that we see more motorcyclists on the roads. These riders embody a spirit of adventure and passion, but they also face unique challenges that we should be aware of. Because May is National Motorcycle Awareness Month, let’s go over some key tips for sharing the road with motorcyclists.

Buying a new car is a big decision. There are so many things to consider: price, features, and aesthetic among them. The most important thing to consider is safety. The safety rating system in the US helps consumers understand how well a car will protect them in the event of a collision. But, you may be wondering, how does that system work? Let’s take a look!

Who Rates Car Safety?

Here in the US, there are two main organizations that are in charge of awarding safety ratings to vehicles:

1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): NHTSA runs frontal, side barrier, side pole, and rollover crash tests and reports they are the only organization that rates rollover resistance in addition to other crashworthiness tests.
2. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS): IIHS runs moderate overlap frontal, small overlap frontal, side impact, and roof strength crash tests and evaluates how well the vehicle protects occupants in a collision, and how effective the vehicle crash avoidance and mitigation technology works.

You can usually find safety ratings on the car manufacturer’s website as well.

How Does the Vehicle Rating System Work?

These organizations use different rating systems:

1. NHTSA uses a 5-star rating system. One star is the lowest rating, and 5 stars is the highest rating.
2. IIHS uses a four-tier rating system of Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor.

Limitations of Vehicle Safety Rating Systems

One criticism of the current vehicle safety rating systems in the US is the lack of diversity in crash test dummies. NHTSA uses either an "average-size adult male" dummy or a "small size adult female" dummy in their tests. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) suggests that without a diverse range of dummies (e.g., body size, age, etc.), the safety rating isn’t necessarily accurate for everyone. The GAO recommended NHTSA address the limitations provided by the dummies, and NHTSA agreed and has stated that they are planning to address this in the future.

How to Check a Vehicle’s Safety Rating

It’s a good idea to check the safety rating from both organizations. NHTSA is a great place to start. Look for vehicles with 4-or-5-star ratings. Once you’ve found a vehicle you like with a high NHTSA safety rating, check the IIHS website to see how it ranks there. Look for vehicles with Good ratings in all categories.

When it’s time to buy your next car, keep safety at the top of your mind. The coolest-looking car out there isn’t always the safest one.

Interested in learning more about traffic safety?

Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?

Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.

Buying a new car is a big decision. There are so many things to consider: price, features, and aesthetic among them. The most important thing to consider is safety. The safety rating system in the US helps consumers understand how well a car will protect them in the event of a collision. But, you may be wondering, how does that system work? Let’s take a look!