Safe2Drive Blog

The holidays are a time to gather with family, and families come in many different forms. In the wise words of Harry Styles, "You can throw a party full of everyone you know." Whether you’re flying home to see your parents for Thanksgiving, or driving to the next town over for Friendsgiving with your chosen family, here are five tips for safe holiday travels.

1. Secure your side dish.

Ask the host of the gathering if they would like you to bring anything to contribute to the meal. Whether you’re in charge of the mashed potatoes or only trusted to pick up a store-bought pumpkin pie, you’ll want to make sure your dish and your car arrive in one piece!

Here are a few ideas for safe food transport:

• Place your dish on a flat surface.
• Get lids that lock.
• Place something under the dish (e.g., a towel) in case of spills.
• Use insulated bags or coolers to keep food at a safe temperature.

These tips will also work if you’re bringing home leftovers!

2. Plan for busy roads by leaving earlier than usual.

The TSA expects the 2023 holiday season to be the busiest travel season ever. This means more people on the road, especially if you’re traveling near airports. Allow yourself some extra time to travel

3. Plan your route ahead of time.

Piggybacking off the last tip, don’t wait until you’re on the road to figure out how to get to your destination! Do some research and decide what route makes the most sense. Even if you’ve driven there many times, an uptick in holiday traffic may warrant finding an alternative route.

4. Avoid distractions.

Avoiding distractions is always a must for drivers. The holidays can bring out more distractions than usual: you may be receiving calls about changing plans, or maybe the kids in the backseat are extra rambunctious. Don’t let the stress of traveling distract you. Give the kids something to hold their attention, and ask a passenger to answer your phone. You could also set up an auto-reply letting callers know you’re driving and can’t answer the phone right now.

5. Designate a sober driver.

Our last tip is one of the most important things to do this holiday season: if there’s a possibility that you will be partaking in some holiday cheer that will leave you impaired, decide how you’re getting home ahead of time. Do not make the decision on the fly—poor judgment is a result of many substances.

Designate a sober driver, even if you’re not sure if you’ll need one. You could also call a rideshare service, or plan to stay at the host’s house until the next day.

We hope you have a happy and safe holiday season!

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.

The holidays are a time to gather with family, and families come in many different forms. In the wise words of Harry Styles, "You can throw a party full of everyone you know." Whether you’re flying home to see your parents for Thanksgiving, or driving to the next town over for Friendsgiving with your chosen family, here are five tips for safe holiday travels.

The cost of car insurance has been rising in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue. In 2023, the average annual cost of car insurance in the United States is nearly $1,700, up 17% from the previous year--the highest number since 1973.

Why is the cost of car insurance on the rise? Here are a few theories.

The cost of new and used cars has been rising sharply in recent years. This is because of a number of factors, including supply chain disruptions and chip shortages. When the prices of vehicles increase, insurance companies have to charge higher premiums.

The cost of repairing cars has also been going up. This is because of number of factors, including the increasing price of parts and labor.

Inflation is also contributing to the rising cost of car insurance. As the cost of goods and services rise, insurance companies have to pay more to run their own business. This means they have to charge higher premiums to make a profit.

How Do You Get a Good Price on Car Insurance?

So, what can you do about the cost of your car insurance?

1. Shop around.

Insurance prices vary from company to company, so take your time shopping around to find the best price you can.

2. Bundle your home and auto insurance.

Some insurance companies offer discounts when you purchase an auto insurance policy along with a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. If you can bundle for a better price, consider it!

3. Take an insurance discount course.

One of the best ways to save on car insurance is to take an online Insurance Discount course! Safe2Drive’s Insurance Discount courses are a fun and convenient way to save money on your car insurance. Check with your insurance company to see how much of a discount you can receive from completing one of our courses.

Even though insurance costs are on the rise, there are some options for saving on your insurance premiums. We hope these tips help you get the best price possible!

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.

The cost of car insurance has been rising in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue. In 2023, the average annual cost of car insurance in the United States is nearly $1,700, up 17% from the previous year--the highest number since 1973.

Daylight Savings Time (DST) began on November 5th this year. When we lose an hour of sleep, we are more likely to make mistakes in our day-to-day lives. This is especially true for drivers. A lack of sleep makes it harder to concentrate and could cause more drowsy driving. On the other hand, gaining an hour can be just as jarring to your body’s natural routine. But drivers aren’t the only ones on the road who may be negatively affected by DST.

There are between one million and two million collisions between vehicles and large animals in the US every year. West Virginia, South Dakota, and Michigan are some of the states where drivers are most likely to hit an animal, though it’s a risk in any state. One of the most common vehicle and animal collisions is with deer.

Deer are common throughout the United States and are extra active in the fall around dusk. Of course, animals don’t use clocks to schedule their days like we do. When we change our clocks and adjust our commute times accordingly, deer do not adjust to our schedule, and suddenly, traffic peaks before sunset, rather than after sunset, putting us on the road at the same time as many deer.

A 2022 study suggests that the time change in the fall leads to a 16% increase in deer-vehicle collisions. Keeping the clocks the same year-round would therefore reduce traffic during peak deer hours in the fall, and reduce the number of deer-vehicle collisions.

There have been many attempts to end DST, but for now, we’re still observing the time change. If you’re out on the road and you encounter a deer, keep these tips in mind:

• Don’t suddenly and drastically swerve to avoid hitting a deer. Brake and hit the deer if you must. You are far less likely to be injured by hitting a deer directly than by swerving off the road or into oncoming traffic to avoid hitting one.
• When you see one deer there are probably more, and they often follow each other, especially if one starts to run. If you see a deer near the road, slow down and be on the lookout for more.
• Slow down and pay attention. Don’t waste money on gimmicks like deer whistles. Studies show that they are ineffective at deterring deer. The best way to avoid a collision with a deer is to be alert and ready to adjust your driving accordingly.

If you do hit a deer:

• Move your vehicle to a safe place if possible. Pull to the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights.
• Call the police. If the deer is still alive, don’t approach it yourself; wounded deer are unpredictable and can be dangerous. Let the police officer who arrives on the scene take care of what needs to be done.

Avoid hitting wildlife if at all possible, but don’t put yourself in danger in order to save a wild animal.

As we move closer to the dark days of winter, be extra mindful of your driving habits. Stay alert, and be ready to adjust your driving to avoid collisions at any time. Stay safe!

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.

Daylight Savings Time (DST) began on November 5th this year. When we lose an hour of sleep, we are more likely to make mistakes in our day-to-day lives. This is especially true for drivers. A lack of sleep makes it harder to concentrate and could cause more drowsy driving. On the other hand, gaining an hour can be just as jarring to your body’s natural routine. But drivers aren’t the only ones on the road who may be negatively affected by DST.

NHTSA established its 5-Star vehicle rating system in 1993 as a way to show people how safe a vehicle was before purchasing it. As cars improved over time, the 5-Star vehicle rating system did, too. In 2010, NHTSA introduced a list of recommended safety technologies for new vehicles. NHTSA and its 5-Star system have definitely helped make vehicles safer over the years - so why aren’t traffic fatalities decreasing?

One of the sharpest upticks we’ve seen in traffic collisions is the number of pedestrian fatalities. While more than half of the people involved in fatal collisions in 2021 were drivers, the next largest group were pedestrians at 17% percent. The number of pedestrians killed in 2021 (7,388 pedestrian deaths) was a 12.5% increase from 2020 (6,656 pedestrian deaths).

Why are pedestrian fatalities so high? Well, while new vehicles are generally safer for their occupants than older vehicles, they may be more dangerous for pedestrians. One of the reasons for this is that new vehicles are typically larger and heavier than older vehicles. They have more momentum in a crash, which can result in more serious injuries to pedestrians. SUVs are more likely to injure pedestrians than smaller cars.

Another factor is the design of new vehicles. Many new vehicles have higher front ends and larger front bumpers. These design features can make it more difficult for pedestrians to see over the vehicle, and can also raise the possibility of injuries in a collision.

This data inspired NHTSA to update their list of recommended safety technologies for new vehicles to include pedestrian automatic braking systems, lane-keeping support, blind spot detectors, and blind spot intervention. Let’s take a look at each of these safety features and how they can help reduce pedestrian fatalities.

Pedestrian Automatic Braking Systems

Pedestrian Automatic Braking Systems (PABS) are safety features that can help you avoid hitting pedestrians. They use sensors to detect pedestrians in front of your car and can automatically apply the brakes if you’re not reacting quickly enough, stopping your vehicle or at least slowing it down enough to minimize impact.

Lane-Keeping Support

Lane-keeping support systems use cameras to monitor the car’s position in its lane and gently steer the car back into the lane if it starts to drift out. These systems can help drivers avoid swerving and hitting pedestrians.

Blind Spot Detectors

Blind spot detectors use sensors to detect vehicles and other objects in a driver’s blind spots. When a vehicle is detected in a blind spot, the detector alerts the driver with a visual or audible warning. Some even have a haptic warning that causes your steering wheel to vibrate slightly. They can greatly reduce collisions while drivers change lanes.

Blind Spot Intervention

Blind spot intervention systems also detect vehicles and other objects in the driver’s blind spot, but they take it one step further. If the driver attempts to change lanes into the occupied blind spot, the system can apply corrective steering or braking to help prevent a collision.

What can drivers do to reduce pedestrian fatalities?

Drivers must do their part to decrease pedestrian fatalities as much as possible. Here are a few tips:

• Stop for pedestrians when they enter a crosswalk before the traffic light changes.
• Stop when a pedestrian is walking with a green light to a walking person symbol or to a walk symbol.
• Pay close attention and stop when a pedestrian is leaving or entering a street or highway from an alley, building, private road, or driveway.
• Stop for pedestrians on the sidewalk when entering or exiting an alley, driveway, or private road.
• Come to a full and complete stop at red lights and stop signs before entering the intersection. Don’t let any part of your vehicle hang over the stop line or crosswalk. Pedestrians need enough room to use the crosswalk. If your car blocks it, they may have to step into the street in order to cross.
• Always check for pedestrians before turning right at a red light.

You can’t count on pedestrians (or any other roadway user) to follow the law 100% of the time. You should always assume pedestrians are crossing when you see a car stopped at a crosswalk, even if you don’t see any pedestrians.

What can pedestrians do to be safer on the road?

Pedestrians are responsible for following traffic laws, too. Here are some tips for pedestrians:

• Stand on the curb, not in the street, when waiting for the signal to cross. When the signal changes to green or reads “Walk,” then you may step onto the street.
• Exit or enter a car from the curb side.
• Don’t text or wear headphones when you’re walking. If you do want to wear ear buds, only wear them in one ear so you can still hear everything happening around you.
• If you’re in an area without sidewalks, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic. Step off the pavement when you hear and see a car approaching.

As we know, drivers aren’t always paying attention to their surroundings. Stay alert and never just assume a car will stop for you. Only cross the street when it’s safe to do so.

New vehicles are not as safe for pedestrians as they could be. The automotive industry needs to do more to improve the pedestrian safety of new vehicles, and all roadway users also need to be aware of the risks and take steps to stay safe when crossing the street.

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.

NHTSA established its 5-Star vehicle rating system in 1993 as a way to show people how safe a vehicle was before purchasing it. As cars improved over time, the 5-Star vehicle rating system did, too. In 2010, NHTSA introduced a list of recommended safety technologies for new vehicles. NHTSA and its 5-Star system have definitely helped make vehicles safer over the years - so why aren’t traffic fatalities decreasing?