home
about us
affiliate
driving record information
Posts Tagged ‘driving’
Safe Driving Tips for Sudden Summer Rainstorms
May 10, 2013 | 
Author Summer is here, and with that means plenty of road trips – and if you live in an area that’s prone to rain, you might have more than your fair share of experience with sudden summer rainstorms. Summer rainstorms are more than just a light sprinkling of rain – they can be very intense downpours that lead to extremely dangerous situations on the road.
If you happen to be caught in one of these sudden summer rainstorms, here’s what you can do to maintain your safe driving:
- No matter how confident you may be in your driving skills, it pays to slow down. Slowing down or stopping on a wet road is much more difficult, which can pose a variety of dangerous situations should the car come to a sudden stop in front of you. No matter how good your tires might be, they won’t save you should you need to come to a quick stop from 70 mph in the rain.
- Slowly and safely merge to the middle lane in the highway. Rain puddles tend to form on the outer lanes, which could result in hydroplaning (when your wheels lock up and skid out of control).
- Try not to use your brakes to avoid this hydroplaning effect. If you need to slow down, take your foot off the accelerator until you’ve achieved your ideal speed.
- Don’t try to pass large trucks or buses. The spray from the larger vehicles can case your car to suddenly hydroplane and significantly reduce your visibility of the road.
- Turn your headlights on in the rain, but don’t use your high beams, as this can obscure your visibility should fog follow the rainstorm. If you want to ensure that the cars behind you can see you, consider driving with your emergency lights on.
- Avoid driving through puddles, especially if you can’t gauge the depth of the water. With that in mind, never drive through fast-flowing water, as this could sweep your car away.
If you find that it’s difficult to drive even with these safe driving tips, consider moving off to the emergency lane (ideally under a bridge or overpass) and waiting for the rain to pass altogether.
The Best Safe Driving Tips for Nighttime Traveling
Whether you commute home from work in the dark or you’re driving during night to avoid daytime traffic on your road trip, driving at night can come with certain hazards and dangers. From nocturnal animal activity to vision impairment, safe driving tips are absolutely necessary for staying on the road during your nighttime travels.
No matter where your travels may take you, here are the best safe driving tips for nighttime traveling:
- Remember that your vision will be much more impaired at night than driving during the day. After all, it’s easy to see animals and pedestrians at night, which it’s why it’s important to stay awake and alert when driving on the road at night. For example, don’t just merge into a lane because you don’t see headlights from another car in the next lane. Look in your blind spot as you would driving during the day before making your move, as this can help you avoid getting into an accident with a driver without his or her headlights on.
- Eye fatigue can be a common occurrence when driving at night, as our eyes are constantly straining to see ahead of us. To prevent your eyes from getting tired – and falling asleep on the road – move your eyes around whenever possible. Try moving them from side to side and near to far ahead when it’s safe to do so.
- Use your headlights wisely. Refrain from using your high beams on the highway, as this can impair the vision of drivers on the other side of the road. If your high beams are on, show some courtesy by turning your high beams to low beams when passing another vehicle. If a driver doesn’t give you the same courtesy, don’t be afraid to flick your lights at him or her. After all, it’s better to be proactive with your safety.
- Refrain from speeding on the roads when driving at night. Because you can only see as far ahead as your highlights, this won’t give you enough time to stop should something suddenly appear. Slow down your speeds, especially on windy back roads.
- If you need to pull off the road at night, make sure you’re as far away as possible from the main road. Turn on your emergency lights so other vehicles can see you.
Use these safe driving tips to stay on the road during your nocturnal travels.
How the Recent Government Cuts Will Affect the DMV
While government officials and military personnel are busy hunkering down to prepare for the aftereffects of the recent government cuts, a major entity is discovering that it’s going to get hit hard – and it just might affect your everyday life.
The Department of Motor Vehicles, one of the largest government agencies in the United States, is expected to close hundreds of locations around the country to deal with the upcoming budget cuts. In addition to these sudden changes, the DMV is looking to re-organize its core functions in order to continue providing the public with essential services. This includes moving several services online, which means that many people might find it more difficult to obtain the information they need on their driving records and DMV reports. Many DMV locations are closing altogether, leaving residents and businesses worried that they won’t be able to access the services they need.
This could prove to be a potential disaster for employers and job-seeking individuals, as driving records are a core component of extensive background checks within the hiring process.
“The budget cuts couldn’t have come at a worse time,” says Jeffrey Kellner, founder of 4SafeDrivers.com. “With the economy still stagnating and jobs more scarce than ever, the information contained within driving records can make or break a person’s quest for the perfect career.”
Employers often look to driving records to determine if a person is responsibility and reliable. If a potential employee has unpaid parking tickets, speeding offenses and even DUI arrests on their driving records, this could convince an employer to look elsewhere for a new hire. Additionally, some job-seeking individuals have reported that driving record errors have prevented them from getting hired.
With so much at stake, the economy has made it more important than ever for people to access their driving records – but the recent budget cuts look to threaten hassle-free access to DMV reports. This is why services like 4SafeDrivers.com are stepping in to pick up where the Department of Motor Vehicles left off. Online driving record searches take the burden off of the DMV, and also make it easier for people to find the information they need without going through the hassle of the DMV’s severely constrained services.
While the extent of the budget cuts have yet to be felt, businesses and individuals are looking to mitigate any potential setbacks by moving their needs to 4SafeDrivers.com.
Tickets For Flashing Lights to Warn Other Drivers
The legality of flashing your lights to warn other drivers of upcoming speed traps is a hotly contested topic.
It’s a common sight on the road. You’re driving along when you notice an oncoming car flashing their lights at you as they pass. You know that this means that there are police up ahead and you react by slowing down to avoid a speeding ticket. Is this legal? Based on recent court rulings, it appears that this type of communication is allowed.
Driving
A man in Florida who was recently ticketed for this behaviour decided to sue the County Sheriff’s Office for violating his civil rights. The judge ruled that the driver was exercising his right to free speech when he flashed his lights to warn another driver of an upcoming speed trap. The judge further stated that this type of communication is protected by the First Amendment and the driver was therefore acting legally. The man won his case and the County police are now being told that they should not issue tickets to drivers for flashing their lights in this manner.
It’s an interesting question. Regarding this case, Judge Alan Dickey stated, “If the goal of the traffic law is to promote safety and not to raise revenue, then why wouldn’t we want everyone who sees a law enforcement officer with a radar gun in his hand, blinking his lights to slow down all those other cars?”. In other words, Judge Dickey feels that the result of this activity will be to slow drivers down, and that will result in safer driving. Therefore, he feels that the outcome is positive.
However, not everyone agrees with this sentiment. Rich Roberts, a spokesman for the International Union of Police Associations, thinks that flashing your headlights interferes with laws that are designed to make driving safe. “Warning oncoming traffic that there are law enforcement officers ahead allows a speeder to slow down until he passes the officers – and then he starts speeding again,” Roberts said.
In the past, drivers in New Jersey, Ohio and Tennessee have challenged similar tickets that they have received for warning other motorists by honking their horn or flashing their headlights, and the courts have similarly determined that this activity is protected under the First Amendment.
Currently, it appears that police officers are no longer issuing tickets for flashing headlights to warn other drivers of speed traps, but the future legality of this activity is uncertain.
Posted in Driving, Driving in the US, Tips, Vehicle Safety | 
Tags: 4safedrivers.com, driving, flashing lights, safe driving, speed traps, Speeding, ticket | 
No Comments »
Texting While Driving – Laws and Dangers
Driving while distracted is the cause of many serious and often fatal accidents every year. However, this is still a common practice for many drivers which is resulting in more and more cities and states legislating a ban on this activity. There are many types of distractions that can cause danger, such as talking or texting on a cell phone, grooming, watching videos, or adjusting a cd player or radio.
Posted in Driving, Driving in the US, Teen drivers, Vehicle Safety | Tags: 4safedrivers.com, driving, safety, state driving laws, Texting While Driving | No Comments »
What is a Bad Driver and How Can You Tell?
There are a lot of people out there that may call themselves a bad driver or call others a
bad driver, but what does a bad driver really mean? Does it just pertain to the skill of the
driver, or does it cover much more.
A bad driver can be many things, most importantly though, they are those drivers that
most commonly disregard the common driving laws and rules of the road. These drivers
pay less attention to the road than they do the things they should be ignoring, and they
do not consider other drivers as they take they wheel. These are the drivers that feel
that driving rules are irrelevant, therefore do not have to be followed – and these are the
drivers that cause accidents and even traffic fatalities.
Those drivers who do not have the good driving skills that we all expect drivers to have
may not be bad drivers, but are known as learning drivers. Sure, they aren’t always
driving as fast as you, and they may even make a few mistakes on the road, but that
doesn’t mean that they are bad drivers. These are the at risk drivers who need the
practice behind the wheel and the instruction in driving that can keep them safe, but
that doesn’t mean they are bad drivers at all. The state DMV’s consider these drivers at-
risk and this is the purpose of imposing the Graduated License Laws that are in effect
all over the nation. These are the drivers that are required to first obtain and maintain a
learner’s permit as they get the practice with a supervising driver that they need.
However, bad drivers are those that know how to drive, can even complete some of
the most difficult moves on the roads without damaging their vehicle, but they make the
poor choices that are warned against while driving. They disregard the laws and they
create more risk for safe drivers than should be present. These drivers aren’t bound by
a restricted license, but risk losing their license as they commit crimes on the roadways.
So, if you are wondering who can really be called a bad driver, consider those drivers
who have been on the roads for years and still don’t follow the rules they are bound
by. Before you think that you are a bad driver, think about the mistakes you make on
accident, versus the mistakes that bad drivers make intentionally.
Posted in Driving, Driving in the US, Driving Record, News | Tags: 4safedrivers.com, bad driver, Dmv Report, drivers, driving, driving skills, online driving records | 2 Comments »
Must Have Tips for Driving Safer
Driving is such great fun for many people, but also as much as a responsibility as a job would be. Not only are you responsible for yourself, but for keeping those within and outside of your vehicle safe as well. Just one bad move could put yourself and many others in danger – dangers that should be avoided properly. Driving safely is a practice you should always pay close attention to, as your safety and that of all those in your vehicle and those driving around you depends on your better judgment and wiser decisions.
1. Always drive defensively as it is for your better safety and that of drivers as well. Driving defensively means driving aware and alert at all times, ready for the mistakes of other drivers and the unexpected to occur.
2. Wear your safety belt and ensure that all passengers in your vehicle are buckled in and restrained safely and properly. This belt is to protect you from further injuries if you are ever involved in an accident, and has proven itself to save many lives.
3. Take your time, as it is better to get to your destination a little later than intended than never at all. If you are speeding, not only do you risk high fines and traffic violations that can add points to your license, but you also risk your safety, as speeding is a quick way to end up in some sort of collision. You lose your judgment time when you are rushing, and can make the wrong moves on the road.
4. Be a courteous driver towards other drivers, never trying to push them out of your way. Even if you are tired of driving behind the slowest driver on the road, you must remember that it is better to be behind a slow driver than impacted with their vehicle. Not only will you be late anyway, but you will risk not making it home or to work at all. Let drivers around you if they are trying to get around, and try not to be demanding on the road.
5. Be aware of your surroundings and reduce distractions as much as possible. If you are on the cell phone, texting your best pal, playing the newest handheld game, watching television, or putting on makeup, you aren’t able to clearly see what is going on around you and can not only end up in an accident, but also risk hitting pedestrians that may be in the roadway.
These tips and many others can be great for helping you stay safe behind the wheel, and can even be good advice for those you may be riding with if you aren’t behind the wheel. You should always strive to drive as safely as possible, while maintaining an appropriate alertness on the roads to know what is coming your way at all times. If you are ever tired behind the wheel, don’t hesitate to pull over and get some rest before continuing your trip further.
Posted in Driving, Driving in the US, Insurance, News, Tips | Tags: driving, driving safely, traffic violations | No Comments »
Paying Attention to Other Drivers Can Save Your Life
How many times have you driven on the roads, only to be almost sideswiped by another driver, or only to have a driver abruptly stop in front of you without any warning? There are other situations as well that you can encounter in which you are doing your part to stay safe on the road, but another driver inevitably puts you in danger. Can these drivers be arrested for their poor manners or driving habits? In most cases, these drivers are just bad drivers, and in some cases officers will cite their poor choices, but that doesn’t mean that you aren’t supposed to do your part to stay as safe as possible.
A million times there are drivers out there that practice poor driving skills, and it isn’t always the poor driver who suffers the consequence. Many, many traffic accidents are actually caused not by the driver involved but by poor choices of surrounding drivers, which can even lead to injury or death – which is never any good.
In these cases, a driver may have made an erratic turn, stopped abruptly, followed too closely, or even slipped into the lane beside another driver without paying much attention. There are even those cases where a poor driver will cut off another driver, make a turn without a signal, or commit some other traffic atrocity that you really weren’t prepared for.
When these things happen, the best you can do is prepare yourself and drive defensively, which means paying attention to the drivers around you so you can remain safe. Not all times are you the driver at fault for accidents you are involved in, which is one reason that defensive driving is taught and so actively promoted. If you drive defensively, you are more prepared for poor choices of other drivers, therefore, more able to respond within the time that you are given to do so.
Not all drivers are good drivers, and paying attention to the drivers around you can really be a life saver. Just think of the passengers that are in your vehicle when you are driving and it is no problem to take extra care to make sure you are aware of the poor judgment of drivers that may encounter your space. If you ever find that a poor or reckless driver is around you on the roadways, don’t try to be pushy, just let them go their own way – even if it means pulling to a shoulder until the driver has passed you by.
Posted in Driving, Driving in the US, Insurance, Tips | Tags: defensive driving, drive defensively, driving, driving accidents, driving skills | No Comments »
Drivers and Transit Passengers Prepare for Hurricane Irene,4safedrivers.com
Almost 300,000 New York residents have been ordered to leave the waterfront areas with a first-time shutdown of New York’s very large transit system. These are two measures that are taking place in preparation of Hurricane Irene, which is headed toward the city, causing great fiasco for New York’s drivers.
Irene is a very large storm, leaving New York city officials facing the dilemma of protecting their residents to the fullest of their capabilities during the storm – which has led to a shutdown of the city’s public transportation, something that has never before happened. With so many residents required to leave their homes, it is creating a great deal of stress on the roadways, with a great deal of panic within the city’s drivers as well.
Those who live in the waterfront neighborhoods of New York must be prepared to gather their belongings for travel – most likely by car, as there have been flights cancelled as well in order to accommodate the precautions given to residents.
Drivers must be careful to heed the storm’s advance, getting out of the city as soon as possible in order to prevent great congestion that can lead to dangers in roadway rage and violence, as well as accidents, injury, and even deaths. The urgency within the residents of New York City as well as the preparation taken by city officials is a combination that can cause great issues if there aren’t safe practices on the roadways as well.
Transit systems will begin to shut down this weekend, but residents who are ordered to leave must be sure that they aren’t waiting on the last bus or train, as there could be great issues. It is important that residents are able to remember the large number of residents asked to leave, which means there are sure to be sold out trips that can spell trouble for those who aren’t able to find adequate shelter within the city. DMV offices maybe closed so be sure to take your drivers licence with you and make sure you have any ID you may need.
Even after the storm passes, there will be issues with the city’s transit system due to fallen debris and issues with damages from Hurricane Irene. This means that there could be more issues for drivers of the city as there will be more obstacles for drivers that decide to take the roads themselves. For those commercial drivers out there, this spells a great deal of danger as well, which is why city officials have urged all drivers to get ready for much more pertinent watching of drivers on the roads to ensure that the safest practices possible are in place before and after the storm passes.
Sunday August 28, 2011 is going to be a day that has left officials with no alternative than to warn all residents who were permitted to remain within their homes to stay within their houses if safe, or find other adequate shelter if needed.
Must Have Tips for Driving Safer
Driving is such great fun for many people, but also as much as a responsibility as a job would be. Not only are you responsible for yourself, but for keeping those within and outside of your vehicle safe as well. Just one bad move could put yourself and many others in danger – dangers that should be avoided properly. Driving safely is a practice you should always pay close attention to, as your safety and that of all those in your vehicle and those driving around you depends on your better judgment and wiser decisions.
- Always drive defensively as it is for your better safety and that of drivers as well. Driving defensively means driving aware and alert at all times, ready for the mistakes of other drivers and the unexpected to occur.
- Wear your safety belt and ensure that all passengers in your vehicle are buckled in and restrained safely and properly. This belt is to protect you from further injuries if you are ever involved in an accident, and has proven itself to save many lives.
- Take your time, as it is better to get to your destination a little later than intended than never at all. If you are speeding, not only do you risk high fines and traffic violations that can add points to your driving record, but you also risk your safety, as speeding is a quick way to end up in some sort of collision. You lose your judgment time when you are rushing, and can make the wrong moves on the road.
- Be a courteous driver towards other drivers, never trying to push them out of your way. Even if you are tired of driving behind the slowest driver on the road, you must remember that it is better to be behind a slow driver than impacted with their vehicle. Not only will you be late anyway, but you will risk not making it home or to work at all. Let drivers around you if they are trying to get around, and try not to be demanding on the road.
- Be aware of your surroundings and reduce distractions as much as possible. If you are on the cell phone, texting your best pal, playing the newest handheld game, watching television, or putting on makeup, you aren’t able to clearly see what is going on around you and can not only end up in an accident, but also risk hitting pedestrians that may be in the roadway.
These tips and many others can be great for helping you stay safe behind the wheel, and can even be good advice for those you may be riding with if you aren’t behind the wheel. You should always strive to drive as safely as possible, while maintaining an appropriate alertness on the roads to know what is coming your way at all times. If you are ever tired behind the wheel, don’t hesitate to pull over and get some rest before continuing your trip further.
Posted in Driving, Driving in the US, Tips | Tags: behind the wheel, drive defensively, driving | No Comments »
Copyright 2011.