Safe2Drive Blog

Imagine this: you’re driving down the highway, when all of a sudden, you notice the cars in front of you swerving into the left lane. You slow down, wondering what’s causing everyone to swerve. Then you see it: there’s a mattress in the middle of the lane ahead! Good thing you slowed down and are able to change lanes before colliding with it. Has something like this ever happened to you? Or, on the other side of the story, have you ever lost precious cargo during a move? It’s stressful, dangerous, and difficult to clean up. June 6th is National Secure Your Load Day. Is your load secure?

It’s important to realize that securing your load is vital to traffic safety. Debris and other objects on the roadway can easily cause drivers to collide with the obstructions and each other. Securing your load takes some time, but it’s worth it.

Start by selecting the right equipment for the job. Ratchet straps, bungee cords, and cargo nets are a lifesaver, helping keep your load snug and secure. You want whatever’s in your load to move and shift as little as possible. Make sure your cargo is tightly packed, with no wiggle room to spare. The goal is to create a stable and balanced load that won’t shift even at the slightest turn.

Another important factor is proper weight distribution. Unevenly distributed weight can throw off your vehicle’s balance, making it much more difficult to control. Heavier items should be placed at the bottom and centered, with lighter items on top. Make sure your load isn’t blocking your view of the road.

Securing your load may seem unimportant, especially if you’re just taking a small trip. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. By properly securing your cargo, you’re not only safeguarding the lives of those around you but also protecting yourself and your property. We hope you’ll take the extra few minutes to secure your loads properly moving forward!

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.

Imagine this: you’re driving down the highway, when all of a sudden, you notice the cars in front of you swerving into the left lane. You slow down, wondering what’s causing everyone to swerve. Then you see it: there’s a mattress in the middle of the lane ahead! Good thing you slowed down and are able to change lanes before colliding with it. Has something like this ever happened to you? Or, on the other side of the story, have you ever lost precious cargo during a move? It’s stressful, dangerous, and difficult to clean up. June 6th is National Secure Your Load Day. Is your load secure?

May is National Bicycle Safety Month, and for good reason--as the weather starts to warm up, more and more people forgo motor vehicles and turn to bicycles for their travel needs. Riding a bike is a great way to help support a clean environment. It’s also a nice workout! Perhaps the most difficult thing about riding a bike is sharing the road with motor vehicle drivers, who sometimes believe they "own the road." That isn’t the case at all--in reality, all roadway users have equal rights and responsibilities on our roadways.

As we head into the warmer months, here are some ways you can do your part to keep bicyclists safe while you’re behind the wheel.

Bicyclists are vulnerable roadway users.

Some roadway users are more vulnerable than others because they are not protected by a vehicle. This means that they’re much more likely to sustain serious injuries in the event of a collision. As a driver, it’s your responsibility to be careful around vulnerable roadway users and always drive in a way that prevents collisions--even if the vulnerable roadway user is doing something they shouldn’t, like weaving between cars or ignoring traffic lights.

Share the road.

Like we mentioned, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other roadway users. That means they have the right to ride in the middle of a lane if it’s too narrow to share with a car, and they must obey all traffic laws, including stopping at stop signs and red lights. As a driver, it’s important to respect bicyclists’ rights and do your part to keep them safe.

Give them extra space.

When passing a bicyclist, it’s important to give them plenty of space. The recommended safe passing distance is at least three feet in most cases, but try to give them as much space as you can safely. If you’re not sure you can safely pass a bicyclist, slow down and wait until it’s safe to do so. Do not speed up to get around a bicyclist faster--that will just put both of you in danger of a collision. It’s not worth the miniscule amount of time you’ll save.

Be patient.

Bicyclists are often slower than cars, especially on hills or when facing headwinds. It’s important to be patient and not try to pass them in unsafe conditions, such as on a curve or in heavy traffic. Wait until it’s safe to pass, and then give them plenty of space.

Use turn signals.

Using turn signals is important when driving around bicyclists, as it helps them anticipate your movements and avoid collisions. Always use your turn signals when turning or changing lanes, and give bicyclists plenty of warning when you’re about to turn.

Don’t honk, yell, or otherwise distract bicyclists.

Honking or yelling at bicyclists can startle them or cause them to lose control of their bike and should only be done when there is immediate danger. If you need to get their attention, try to make eye contact with them.

Adjust your driving to fit current weather conditions.

Weather conditions can have a big impact on bicyclists’ safety. Rain, wind, and snow can all make biking more challenging, so be extra cautious and patient when sharing the road with bicyclists in adverse weather.

Check your blind spots.

Bicyclists can sometimes be difficult to see, especially in a car’s blind spots. Be extra cautious when turning or changing lanes, and always check your blind spots before making a move.

Pay extra attention at night.

Many bicyclists ride at night, either for transportation or recreation. It’s important to be prepared for nighttime riding by using your headlights and taillights, as well as reflective clothing or accessories. If you’re driving at night, be extra cautious and watch for bicyclists who may be less visible.

Let’s all have a safe and enjoyable summer by doing our part to keep each other safe on the roads.

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.

May is National Bicycle Safety Month, and for good reason--as the weather starts to warm up, more and more people forgo motor vehicles and turn to bicycles for their travel needs. Riding a bike is a great way to help support a clean environment. It’s also a nice workout! Perhaps the most difficult thing about riding a bike is sharing the road with motor vehicle drivers, who sometimes believe they "own the road." That isn’t the case at all--in reality, all roadway users have equal rights and responsibilities on our roadways.

Drivers in Tennessee can now take Safe2Drive’s state-approved Tennesse 4-Hour Traffic School Online Course to dismiss a ticket, keep points off your driving record, get an insurance discount, or to satisfy a court order. What makes our Tennessee Traffic School online course special? You can take our course from the comfort of your own home, or on the go using your smartphone or tablet! Want to know more about our Tennessee Traffic School online course? Keeping reading.

What’s the point of taking a Tennessee Traffic School online course?

Our Tennessee Traffic School online course is a 4-hour course that may allow you to dismiss your ticket and avoid points going on your driving record after you’ve received a ticket. This helps keep your insurance rates low because insurance providers won’t see your ticket or any points associated with it. Some people take this course because of a court requirement, or to receive a discount on their auto insurance.

Can I take a Tennessee Traffic School online course to keep points off my driving record?

Drivers who have been convicted of a speeding violation may receive a letter from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security notifying them that they are eligible to take a 4-hour traffic school course for point reduction. You must have received this letter to be eligible to take this course!

Who is eligible for a Tennessee Traffic School online course to avoid driving record points?

Drivers are only eligible to take this course for point reduction once in a four-year period. The number of points reduced is up to the Department and will be stated in the Department’s letter.

Can I take a Tennessee Traffic School online course to dismiss my ticket?

Maybe! Drivers who have gotten a ticket for a minor traffic violation may request permission from their court to take a 4-hour traffic school course to have their ticket dismissed. This decision is up to the court. Ask your court if you’re eligible.

How does the Tennessee Traffic School online course work?

You can complete our course in four easy steps:

1. Get permission from your court. If you’re taking the course for ticket dismissal, you must receive permission from your court. If you’re taking the course for point reduction, you must have received a letter from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security letting you know you’re eligible to complete a 4-hour traffic school course for point reduction. If you’re taking the course for an insurance discount, make sure your insurance provider offers this deal.
2. Register. Registration is quick and easy. Create an account with your username and password, fill out your contact information, read our course policies, and make payment. That’s it! You’re ready to get started.
3. Complete the course. Our 4-hour course is divided up into short lessons full of games, stories, and videos to make your learning experience fun and engaging. At the end of each lesson is a 5-question multiple-choice quiz. You must answer 4 of the 5 questions correctly to pass and proceed to the next lesson. We allow unlimited retakes, so you can retake the quiz until you pass. There is no final exam at the end of the course. Once you pass the last lesson quiz, you’re done!
4. Get your certificate. We’ll email you your Certificate of Completion immediately when you complete the course.

The process is simple, but our customer service team is here to help you whenever you may need it!

What are the benefits of taking the Tennessee Traffic School online course online with Safe2Drive?

We’ve taken the time to make sure our course is informative without being boring! We include games, animations, and videos to help you learn everything you need to know. Plus, our course is super convenient! Take the course at home or on the go. All you need is a device that connects to the internet.

If you have a question about the course, you can call, email, or Live Chat our customer support team and talk to a real person seven days a week! We are truly here to help and we want you to succeed.

Are you ready to take the next step and register for the Tennessee Traffic School online course? Click here to register for the Tennessee Traffic School online course today! We look forward to helping you keep points off your Tennessee driving record, dismiss your ticket, get an insurance discount or satisfy your court order.

Drivers in Tennessee can now take Safe2Drive’s state-approved Tennesse 4-Hour Traffic School Online Course to dismiss a ticket, keep points off your driving record, get an insurance discount, or to satisfy a court order. What makes our Tennessee Traffic School online course special? You can take our course from the comfort of your own home, or on the go using your smartphone or tablet! Want to know more about our Tennessee Traffic School online course? Keeping reading.

You may have seen in the news recently that Ohio has updated its laws regarding cell phone use while driving. This is great news considering how dangerous distracted driving is: around 3,522 people died in distracted driving-related collisions in 2021. We’ve known distracted driving is dangerous for many years now, yet it’s still a problem on the road today. Let’s take a look at what Ohio is doing to help keep these statistics down.

1. Using a cell phone while driving is a primary traffic offense for all Ohio drivers.

Before this new law, using an electronic wireless communications device (e.g., cell phone, smart watches, tablets, etc.) was a secondary offense for adult drivers, and a primary defense for drivers under age 18. What’s the difference between a primary offense and a secondary offense?

• Primary Offense: traffic violations that are cause for police officers to stop a vehicle (e.g., speed limit violations, running a red light).
• Secondary Offense: traffic offenses that can result in a ticket, but are not severe enough for a police officer to stop a driver based solely on that violation (e.g., headlight violations, adult seat belt violations).

Under Ohio’s new texting and driving law, distracted driving is a primary offense for all drivers, regardless of their age. This means that if an officer sees a driver using a cell phone or other electronic device, whether it’s in their hand, lap, or other parts of the body (e.g., holding the phone to your ear with your shoulder), the officer can pull the driver over.

There are some exceptions to Ohio’s new distracted driving law.

Distracted driving in any capacity is dangerous, there are a few situations where drivers over age 18 are permitted to use a hand-held electronic device:

Emergency purposes:

• Using a cell phone to report emergencies to law enforcement, hospitals, healthcare providers, fire departments, or similar emergency entities.
• First responders (e.g., law enforcement, fire and EMS) can use electronic devices as needed for their official job duties.
• Utility workers operating utility vehicles are permitted to use electronic devices in certain emergency or outage situations.

Parked:

• Drivers may hold and use electronic devices while sitting stationary outside the lanes of travel (e.g., when stopped on the shoulder).
• Sitting stationary at a red traffic light or traffic control device causing traffic to stop. Do not hold up traffic by becoming too distracted to notice a signal change.
• Parked on a road or highway due to an emergency road closure. Again, be sure to pay close attention to changing conditions so as to not hold up traffic when it’s time to drive again.

Making or taking a phone call:

• Drivers are permitted to hold their electronic device up to their ear only during phone conversations, as long as the calls are started and stopped with a single touch or swipe on the device.
• Drivers may use the speaker phone option or voice-operated features of their vehicle as long as they’re not holding or supporting the device with any part of their body.

Either way, drivers aren’t permitted to manually enter letters, numbers, or symbols into the device while driving.

Wireless use:

• It’s okay for drivers to use features and functions on their electronic device that require only one single touch or swipe.
• Drivers can use their electronic device to receive messages that are then read through a voice-operated or hands-free function or feature.

Keep in mind that drivers aren’t allowed to manually enter letters, numbers, or symbols into the device while driving.

Navigation:

• Drivers can use an electronic device for navigational purposes as long as they don’t manually enter letters, numbers, or symbols into the device, and they do not hold or support the device with any part of their body.

Again, drivers can’t manually enter letters, numbers, or symbols into the electronic device, or hold or support it with any part of their body.

Hands-free:

• Drivers can make or receive calls using "hands-free" technology (e.g., Bluetooth or other integrated systems within the vehicle) as long as they’re not holding or supporting the electronic device, or manually entering letters, numbers, or symbols.
• Commercial truck drivers are permitted to use a mobile data terminal that transmits and receives data while operating a commercial motor vehicle.

Note that in almost all cases, including those listed above, a single touch or swipe on your electronic device while driving is against the law.

Rules for drivers under age 18 are more strict than for drivers over age 18.

Drivers under age 18 are prohibited from using electronic devices in any capacity, including "hands-free" features. They are only permitted to use electronic devices in limited situations:

1. Using a navigational device (e.g., a GPS device, a maps application on your cell phone, or a built-in navigation system in your vehicle) but ONLY in hands-free or voice activated mode. Program your navigational device before beginning your drive.
2. For emergency purposes (e.g., making contact with law enforcement, a hospital, health care provider, fire department, or similar emergency entity). If you’re able to safely pull over before making that call, you should do so.
3. If the driver is stationary and outside a lane of travel (e.g., calling a tow truck when you’re stopped on the shoulder.

Remember, except in the above situations, even "hands-free" features (e.g., as making calls or sending messages via voice to text), is illegal for drivers under age 18.

Final Thoughts

Ohio’s new cell phone law is a big step in the right direction when it comes to protecting roadway users in the Buckeye state. Do your part to stay safe (and stay out of trouble) by committing to never using your cell phone while driving.

Are you looking for an Ohio online driving course?

We offer convenient online courses for Ohioans! Are you looking for an online Ohio Driver Improvement course? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?

Visit our website today to learn about our online courses for Ohio drivers.

You may have seen in the news recently that Ohio has updated its laws regarding cell phone use while driving. This is great news considering how dangerous distracted driving is: around 3,522 people died in distracted driving-related collisions in 2021. We’ve known distracted driving is dangerous for many years now, yet it’s still a problem on the road today. Let’s take a look at what Ohio is doing to help keep these statistics down.