Safe2Drive Blog

During the first week of June, we celebrate Child Safety Week! This year, we’re focusing on ways to keep children safe in and around cars. According to AAA, Americans drive an average of 11,498 miles per year, which is about the distance of two roundtrips from San Francisco to Washington, DC. Of course, most children spend a good amount of time in the car, whether it’s to and from school, a quick trip down the street for a playdate, or a long road trip for an annual family vacation. That’s why we’re sharing three ways you can celebrate child safety week!

1. Make sure your children are using the correct car seats and booster seats.

Did you know that car crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13? That’s why it’s so important that children are seated properly in the car. Children should remain in rear-facing car seats as long as possible. Once they outgrow the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer, they can be moved to a forward-facing car seat. Children should remain in the forward-facing car seat until they outgrow the height or weight limits for that seat. Then, the child should sit in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit in a seat belt properly.

The safest place in the car for children is the back seat.

2. Establish some rules for car rides.

Distracted driving killed 2,841 people in the US in 2018. Children can be a distraction to the driver, which can be dangerous. It may be helpful to establish a firm set of rules children must follow while in the car. As drivers, it’s our job to minimize distractions while on the road. If you’re constantly turning around in your seat to pick up your child’s dropped toy, your attention is not on the road.

The rules you establish will depend on your own family’s needs. Some families may designate an older child to keep an eye on the younger one’s needs while on the road. One parent may decide to sit in the back seat with the children while the other parent drives. Maybe your child is allowed to have some extra screen time on long trips. Do whatever works for your family. You can let your children know that distracting driving is dangerous, and ask them to only interrupt the driver in an emergency.

3. Practice car safety with your children.

Spend a day teaching your child all about safety inside and outside of the car. The exact things you’ll discuss will depend on the age of your children. For little kids, show them how to properly sit in their car seat or booster seat. Make sure they know to never play around cars and to keep their toys away from the street. As children get older, explain to them why it’s safer for them to ride in the back seat. You could watch a video about how air bags work, and then review how to correctly wear a seat belt.

If you have teenagers at home, talk with them about the dangers of texting and driving. Remind them that any action that takes their mind and eyes off of driving is a risk. Talk to them about what they would do if they were in a car with a driver who was texting while driving.

Depending on the age of your teen, they may be able to start driver’s education! Even if the schools in your area are not offering driver’s education at this time, your child may be able to complete an online driver’s education course. Visit our website to see if we offer an online teen driver’s education course in your state!

During the first week of June, we celebrate Child Safety Week! This year, we’re focusing on ways to keep children safe in and around cars. According to AAA, Americans drive an average of 11,498 miles per year, which is about the distance of two roundtrips from San Francisco to Washington, DC. Of course, most children spend a good amount of time in the car, whether it’s to and from school, a quick trip down the street for a playdate, or a long road trip for an annual family vacation. That’s why we’re sharing three ways you can celebrate child safety week!

This week, Texas has started its phased reopening of driver's license offices. This is good news for anyone who has does not currently have a driver's license, learner's permit, or CDL, and anyone who needs to complete a driver's test in order to fulfill licensing requirements.

At first, limited services will be available by appointment only. All customers who arrive for their scheduled appointments will be screened for symptoms, which includes having their temperature taken. Customers will also be asked if they have come in contact with any individuals in the prior 14 days who had any of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, fever/chills, body aches, vomiting, and diarrhea. Anyone who needs to take a driving test is required to wear a face mask or other facial covering. DPS offices will not accept cash payments at this time, and prefer payment by credit card. Money orders, cashier's checks, and personal checks will also be accepted (for the exact amount).

As we mentioned, DPS offices will open up in phases. The four phases are as follows:

Phase 1

Phase 1 of the plan includes offices in the DPS Northwest and West Texas regions reopening with limited services beginning on May 26th. You can schedule an appointment up to six months in advance. Services include:

• Applying for an original Texas driver's license or ID
• Applying for a Texas learner's license
• Driver license services requiring a skills exam
• Applying for a CDL or Commercial Learner Permit
• CDL skills exams (only at select locations)

Phase 2

The second phase includes opening offices with limited services (the same as listed above) on May 29th. Offices in DPS' Central and South Texas regions will reopen as part of the second phase. Appointments in these regions may be scheduled up to six months in advance, and you may schedule an appointment today.

Phase 3

Phase 3 includes reopening offices with limited services in DPS' North and East Texas regions beginning on June 3rd. As with the previous phases, you must make an appointment prior to visiting the DPS office of your choice.

Phase 4

In the final phase, customers will be able to schedule appointments for all services in all DPS locations. There is not an exact date set yet for this phase.

As always, Safe2Drive is here to provide online Texas driver education and safety courses for anyone who needs to complete a course to satisfy licensing requirements, dismiss a ticket, satisfy a court order, or to obtain an insurance discount. Our courses are offered completely online and are available for you to complete at any time. Please visit our website to learn more about the courses we offer in Texas!

This week, Texas has started its phased reopening of driver's license offices. This is good news for anyone who has does not currently have a driver's license, learner's permit, or CDL, and anyone who needs to complete a driver's test in order to fulfill licensing requirements.

Every year as the weather gets warmer, more bicyclists are out and about. May is National Bike Month. The League of American Bicyclists encourages communities from coast to coast to give biking a try. Biking has many benefits, from supporting physical health to helping our environment. With many communities practicing social distancing, biking is still a great option for exercise or to get essential supplies in lieu of public transportation. May is a great month to give biking a try. With that in mind, let’s look at four ways to stay safe while celebrating National Bike Month.

1. Follow community guidelines for social distancing.

Depending on when you’re reading this post, community guidelines may be different in regards to social distancing rules. The coronavirus has made it more difficult for us to get outside, and the situation is changing every day. Check the CDC website, as well as your community’s local government guidelines before you decide to give biking a try.

2. Learn proper hand signals.

Hand signals are an integral tool for any bike rider. Just like you must always use your turn signals when behind the wheel of a car, you need to use hand signals when you ride a bike. Check out the infographic below. Memorize the hand signals and practice executing them before you hop on your bike. If you’re planning a family bike ride, make sure everyone knows and uses the proper hand signals.

3. Follow all rules of the road.

Even though you’re not driving a motor vehicle, you still need to follow the proper rules of the road. Here is a quick list of tips from the League of American Bicyclists:

• Ride on the right with the flow of traffic.
• Yield the right-of-way to traffic in busier lanes.
• Don’t swerve between parked cars. Always ride in a straight line.
• Wear bright clothing and stay visible.
• Ride far enough away from the door zone when passing parked cars to avoid a suddenly opened door.
• Always obey traffic signals.
• Plan to stop for yellow lights, because it takes longer for bikes to travel through an intersection than cars.
• Avoid cars that run red lights by scanning the roadway after the signal turns green to make sure it’s safe and clear.

4. Have fun!

Staying inside all day can really take its toll on our mental health. Riding your bike is a great way to get out of the house, even if it’s just a quick ride around the block. Biking isn’t only a mode of transportation, or a way to complete a race. Even a slow bike ride can be fun!

These are just a few tips to keep in mind as you celebrate National Bike Month. We hope you’re able to enjoy some fresh air and sunlight this month! We all need it. If you like learning tips and tricks like this, consider taking one of our defensive driving courses! Our courses are offered completely online and are always available for you. Click here to see which courses we offer in your state!

Every year as the weather gets warmer, more bicyclists are out and about. May is National Bike Month. The League of American Bicyclists encourages communities from coast to coast to give biking a try. Biking has many benefits, from supporting physical health to helping our environment. With many communities practicing social distancing, biking is still a great option for exercise or to get essential supplies in lieu of public transportation. May is a great month to give biking a try. With that in mind, let’s look at four ways to stay safe while celebrating National Bike Month.

Are you a Pennsylvania driver age 55 or older? If so, we have some exciting news for you: you could qualify for a 5% or higher car insurance discount that lasts for three years! These days, we’re all looking for ways to save money and get the most out of every dollar. If you’re not already receiving an auto insurance discount, you’re wasting money! How do you get this discount? Take a Pennsylvania Mature Driver Improvement course. Ask your insurance agent if the discount is available to you. Need more information? Here are three things you should know about our courses:

1. We offer a basic and refresher course.

Safe2Drive has two options for those interested in a Pennsylvania Mature Driver Improvement course. Our Basic course is for drivers who have never taken a Mature Driver Improvement course, and is 7 hours in length. Our Refresher course is for those who have taken the Basic course already. You can take the Refresher course every three years to maintain your insurance discount. The Refresher course is four hours in length.

2. Our courses are PennDOT-approved and completed online.

You can trust that the information in our Mature Driver courses has been fully approved. We offer courses that are completed fully online. You don’t have to worry about getting to a classroom, or having a face-to-face class canceled. Our courses are always accessible online, and you can complete them at the pace that works best for you. You can log in and out of the course as much as you’d like. We’ll always save your spot so you can pick up where you left off.

Our website is easy to navigate. You can even use your tablet to access the course!

3. You can print your Certificate of Completion at home.

After you complete the Basic or Refresher course, you’ll take a short final exam in order to receive your Certificate of Completion. Most people pass the final exam on their first try, but if you need to take it more than once, that’s fine! We offer unlimited retakes at no extra cost to you. Once you pass the final exam, you don’t have to wait around for your Certificate of Completion to arrive in the mail. You can print your Certificate of Completion right at home, then submit it to your auto insurance company to receive your discount. Make sure to keep a copy for your own records.

There’s no reason to pay extra for car insurance. Many people are driving less lately, but we all still need auto insurance. Ask your auto insurance agent today if you’re eligible for a Pennsylvania Mature Driver Improvement course. Click here to visit our website to learn more about our courses!

Are you a Pennsylvania driver age 55 or older? If so, we have some exciting news for you: you could qualify for a 5% or higher car insurance discount that lasts for three years! These days, we’re all looking for ways to save money and get the most out of every dollar. If you’re not already receiving an auto insurance discount, you’re wasting money! How do you get this discount? Take a Pennsylvania Mature Driver Improvement course. Ask your insurance agent if the discount is available to you. Need more information? Here are three things you should know about our courses: