Safe2Drive Blog

We here at Safe2Drive have been monitoring the rapid spread of the new strain of coronavirus and the impact it is having on our communities. Our hearts ache for everyone impacted by COVID-19, and we hope all of our students are staying as safe as possible.

As a company, our biggest priority is the health and safety of our employees and our students. We are listening to the experts and doing our part to "flatten the curve." All of our employees are working remotely, including our customer service team, and we are here to help you during this difficult time.

We understand that many face-to-face courses are being canceled as the public is encouraged to practice social distancing. Our courses are, as always, accessible online to our students 24/7. We designed our courses specifically for online learning with media such as games, animations, videos, and slideshows! Because our employees are able to work remotely with no interruption, we are operating as normal and processing certificates on schedule.

We hope our online courses can be helpful to you, and can even be a fun way to pass the time! Below is a list of the types of online courses we offer:

Traffic School and Defensive Driving

Our online traffic school and defensive driving courses are an excellent option for those who need to get a traffic ticket dismissed. These courses are also a great resource for those who are practicing social distancing and finding themselves with a lot more spare time on their hands! Depending on the course, you could get points off your driving record, or earn safe driver points. Our defensive driving courses are also a fun way to brush up on your knowledge of driving laws and skills.

Driver Education

Driver education is something so many teens look forward to every year, and with face-to-face classes being canceled across the country, we know many teens will be disappointed their driver education courses have been canceled or postponed. We’re here to help! We offer online driver education courses in many states. While most teens will still need to wait to complete their behind-the-wheel portion of driver education, they can complete the classroom portion online through our website. Click here to see if we offer an online course in your state.

In addition to our regular online driver education courses, where students are able to complete the course on their own, we also offer a few parent-taught options. For students in Texas, we offer Parent-Taught Driver Education and Parent-Taught Behind-the-Wheel courses for those who qualify. We also have Parent-Taught Driver Education courses in Iowa and Oklahoma. All of our driver education courses are a great option for teens who are stuck at home but still want to work towards earning their driver’s license.

Auto Insurance Discount

Have you always wanted to take an auto insurance discount course but have never found the time to do so? We offer insurance discount online courses to help you brush up on your defensive driving skills. Make sure to contact your insurance company to make sure they provide discounts for taking a defensive driving course and to determine the actual discount amount offered. Even if your insurance company doesn’t offer a discount, this course is still a great way to pass the time while learning more about safe driving! Click here to learn more.

Mature Driver Improvement

It’s especially important for older folks to stay home during this time. While you’re home, you can take our Mature Driver Improvement course to freshen up your knowledge of driving laws and skills. You could also obtain an insurance discount for taking this course. Be sure to check with your auto insurance company first to see what discounts they offer. Click here to learn more about our online Mature Driver Improvement courses in your state.

We know this is a scary time for a lot of people. There is more news every day about the virus, and things are changing rapidly. Rest assured that we are here for all of your online driving school needs. We hope we can help make things a little easier for you as we all do our part to stop the spread of this coronavirus. Remember to clean and disinfect your vehicle between uses. Wipe down the steering wheel, seat belt buckle, door handles, display buttons, and any other frequently-touched surfaces. Stay home as much as you can, and stay safe!

We here at Safe2Drive have been monitoring the rapid spread of the new strain of coronavirus and the impact it is having on our communities. Our hearts ache for everyone impacted by COVID-19, and we hope all of our students are staying as safe as possible.

I love spring. Here in the Midwest, it’s been a while since I’ve really seen the sun. The days are getting longer, the air is warming up, and the trees are starting to come back to life. As many of us start our spring cleaning, let’s make sure we don’t forget one important area: our vehicles! With each changing season, our vehicles have different needs. Here are five ways to spruce up your vehicle and get it ready for the spring:

1. Wash your car.

Winter weather can really do a number on your vehicle. All of that salt and grime can damage your vehicle’s finish, so it’s important to wash it all away. Take some time to do a deep cleaning of your vehicle (inside and out!). Make sure to clean and sanitize areas you touch often, like the steering wheel, door handles, and display buttons.

2. Get your vehicle serviced.

You should be keeping up with your vehicle’s maintenance regularly and as recommended in the owner’s manual for your vehicle. You may need an oil change, tire rotation, and new air filter, depending on your specific vehicle.

3. Check your windshield wiper blades.

All of that snow and ice can be tough on your wiper blades. Now that the weather is getting warmer and spring is here, we’re likely to start seeing a lot more rain. Your wiper blades need to be in tip-top condition for those April showers, so it may be time to purchase a new set! While you’re at it, make sure you check you wiper fluid levels.

4. Update your emergency gear.

If you live somewhere with snow and ice, you’ve hopefully stored some emergency items in your vehicle such as a snow shovel and road salt, which you probably won’t need in the warmer months. If you have snacks stored in your vehicle, check the expiration dates! Here are a few emergency items to consider keeping on-hand in the spring:

• Blankets (it still gets cold at night!)
• High-calorie, non-perishable snacks
• Bottled water
• First aid kit
• Phone charger and portable backup battery (make sure the backup battery stays charged, too!)
• Reflectors and road flares
• Flashlights (real ones, not just the one on your smart phone)

5. Check your tires.

If you’ve been using snow tires, it’s about time to switch them out for regular tires. Make sure your tires are all properly inflated and in good condition.

One of the more unfortunate parts of spring means the inevitability of potholes. Sometimes hitting a pothole is unavoidable, which is not good news for your tires. Keep an eye out for potholes, and if you do happen to hit one, check your tires to make sure there’s no permanent damage.

Spring is here and we hope you keep our tips in mind before you hit the road! You should also consider brushing up on your defensive driving skills by completing one of our online courses! Please check out our website to see what courses we offer in your state!

I love spring. Here in the Midwest, it’s been a while since I’ve really seen the sun. The days are getting longer, the air is warming up, and the trees are starting to come back to life. As many of us start our spring cleaning, let’s make sure we don’t forget one important area: our vehicles! With each changing season, our vehicles have different needs. Here are five ways to spruce up your vehicle and get it ready for the spring:

Friday the 13th has long been associated with bad luck, but did you know that the first Friday the 13th of the year is a little different? It’s Blame Someone Else Day! This Friday the 13th, you may encounter some bad luck. That’s a bummer. The good news is, you get to blame it on someone else!

People love to blame someone else for their problems. It turns out, we like to blame others because it’s easier to blame someone else than to accept personal responsibility. One area where people often play the blame game is on the road. And that makes sense, because there are so many things we can blame on others when it comes to driving! To celebrate Blame Someone Else Day, here are five things you can blame on someone else this Friday the 13th:

1. Potholes

Is there anything more frustrating than hitting a pothole? You’re driving along, minding your own business, when all of a sudden, a pothole comes out of nowhere! It messes up your tire, which messes up your day, which messes up your week...and so on. Isn’t it someone’s job to fix potholes? If you hit a pothole this Friday the 13th, you can absolutely blame it on someone else!

2. Tailgating

Is someone tailgating you? It’s their fault for driving too fast! Are you tailgating someone else? Also their fault, but this time for driving too slowly!

3. Flat Tires

Did you wake up on Friday the 13th with a flat tire? That’s definitely someone else’s fault! You can blame whoever made the tire, or maybe even the air inside the tire for leaking out. Is there a nail in your tire? Go ahead and blame that on whoever left the nail in the street.

4. Traffic Jams

Ugh, traffic jams. Thankfully, there’s an endless list of other people to blame for this. Pretty much everyone else on the road during your commute is to blame for the traffic jams this Friday the 13th. Pick a car and blame away!

5. Objects in the Road

Have you ever been driving down the highway when without warning, you had to swerve to avoid a random object like a blown-out tire? That’s so annoying. If you come across a random object in the road this Friday the 13th, you are welcome to blame it on anyone you’d like.

So there you have it! Five things you can blame on someone else to celebrate Blame Someone Else Day. Of course, all good things must come to an end. Once Friday the 13th is over, it’s back to accepting responsibility. One way to better prepare yourself for whatever happens on the road is by taking a defensive driving course! Lucky for you, Safe2Drive offers online traffic safety courses to fit your needs. Please check out our website to see what courses we offer in your state!

Friday the 13th has long been associated with bad luck, but did you know that the first Friday the 13th of the year is a little different? It’s Blame Someone Else Day! This Friday the 13th, you may encounter some bad luck. That’s a bummer. The good news is, you get to blame it on someone else!

Spring is right around the corner. Soon, the bare trees and brown lawns will be green again, and the days will get longer. In the spring, we "spring forward" by starting daylight savings time. This year, on Sunday, March 8th, the clocks will be turned forward one hour at 2:00 am to 3:00 am. You’ll probably hear people grumble about "losing" an hour of sleep, and with good reason. Not only does losing an hour make people more irritable, it can also be dangerous, especially when it comes to those who have to commute to work the next day.

Daylight savings time was first suggested back in 1895, but here in the US, it didn’t really start until 1966. While most of Europe and North America observes daylight savings time, the majority of the world doesn’t. Areas near the equator, as well as most of Africa and Asia, for example, don’t observe daylight savings time.

Daylight savings time has had its fair share of controversy. When daylight savings time starts each year in March, hospitals report a 24% spike in heart-attack visits throughout the US. The problem seems to stem from a change in our sleep schedules. When we spring forward an hour, we lose about 40 minutes of sleep. It can take weeks for our bodies to get used to the change.

Sleep-deprived drivers are dangerous drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving claimed 795 lives in 2017, and caused many collisions.

We want to help you get ready for the time change, so we put together a list of ways you can adjust your driving to make daylight savings time a little safer for yourself and those around you.

1. Look up when the sun will rise and set.

Sunrise and sunset will be about an hour later on March 8th than it was the day before. If you’re used to your morning commute being sunny, it can be jarring for it to suddenly be dark. Make sure you pay attention to when the sun will rise after the time change, and adjust your driving accordingly. If it’s darker than you’re used to when you leave in the morning, remember to make sure your headlights are on and working, and keep an extra sharp eye out for hazards.

2. Adjust your sleep schedule.

Sleep is one of the most important factors when it comes to our health. "Losing" an hour of sleep with the time change can really mess up your body. Go to bed a bit earlier leading up to daylight savings time in order to give your body some more time to adjust. Remember, drowsy driving is incredibly dangerous.

3. Drive defensively.

Defensive driving is always important. It’s especially important during daylight savings time when other drivers are affected by the time change as well. Do not drive distracted, avoid sudden lane changes and tailgating, and remember to always use your turn signals. Other drivers may not be as alert as you are, so it’s vital that you give your full attention to the road and do not engage in any risky driving behaviors. If your defensive driving skills are a little rusty, check out our website! We offer online defensive driving courses in many states.

4. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.

With everyone being a little off with the time change, you may need a little bit more time to get to your destination. If you plan for it, you’ll be ready! Leave a little earlier than you normally would, and keep in mind that other drivers are probably disoriented by the time change, too. And remember to wear your seat belt!

While daylight savings time does come with some risks on the road, as you can see, there are precautions we can take to make sure we’re as safe as possible following the time change. We hope these tips help you stay alert! If you’d like to learn more about traffic safety, and see which online courses we offer in your state, check out our website!

Spring is right around the corner. Soon, the bare trees and brown lawns will be green again, and the days will get longer. In the spring, we "spring forward" by starting daylight savings time. This year, on Sunday, March 8th, the clocks will be turned forward one hour at 2:00 am to 3:00 am. You’ll probably hear people grumble about "losing" an hour of sleep, and with good reason. Not only does losing an hour make people more irritable, it can also be dangerous, especially when it comes to those who have to commute to work the next day.