1. Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter Driving

Your car is your best ally in winter, but only when equipped to handle the harsh conditions. A little preparation can go a long way.

• Inspect your tires: Tires with adequate tread are critical. If possible, switch to winter tires, as they’re designed to provide better traction on snow and ice. Check tire pressure frequently—cold temperatures can cause it to drop. This can affect your tire’s performance, and performance on the road equals safety.
• Top off all fluids: Winter-grade windshield washer fluid is essential to prevent freezing. Also, ensure your coolant is at the correct level and mixed to handle freezing temperatures.
• Check your battery health: Cold weather can reduce battery efficiency. A weak battery is more likely to fail in freezing temperatures, so consider having it tested at a service center.
• Pack an emergency kit: A winter driving kit should include a flashlight, extra batteries, a first aid kit, a blanket, snacks, water, a phone charger, jumper cables, a snow scraper, and a small shovel. For added safety, include a bag of sand or cat litter to help with traction if you get stuck.

2. Check the Weather Before You Go

New York winters can be unpredictable, with snow, sleet, and freezing rain all possible in a single day. Staying informed about the weather can make all the difference.

• Monitor real-time updates: Resources, like 511NY, are available to check road conditions, closures, and weather updates before you hit the road.
• Plan ahead: If a winter storm is forecast, consider rescheduling your plans if possible.

Pro tip: Always have a Plan B. Unexpected road closures or poor conditions may require alternate routes or even an overnight stay.

3. Slow and Steady Driving

Driving cautiously is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to stay safe. Winter roads demand patience and precision.

• Reduce your speed: Icy or snowy roads significantly increase stopping distances. Driving slower gives you more time to react.
• Increase following distance: Aim for at least 6 to 10 seconds of following distance to allow ample time for safe braking.
• Smooth movements: Sudden braking, accelerating, or sharp steering can cause your vehicle to lose traction. Always handle the controls gently in slippery conditions.

4. Recognize and Avoid Black Ice

Black ice is a thin layer of ice that blends with the road, making it nearly invisible. It’s most common on shaded roads, bridges, and overpasses.

• Signs of black ice: If the road looks wet but you don’t hear water splashing from your tires, it may be icy.
• How to handle black ice: If you hit a patch, don’t panic. Ease off the accelerator and keep your steering steady. Avoid braking unless absolutely necessary.

Remember: Roads are often slipperier during the early morning or evening when temperatures are lowest.

5. Share the Road with Snowplows

Snowplows work hard to keep roads safe, but they can present unique challenges for drivers.

• Maintain distance: Stay at least 200 feet behind snowplows to avoid debris and give them room to maneuver.
• Do not pass: The road ahead of the plow is often in worse condition than the road behind it. Passing a snowplow could leave you vulnerable to poor road conditions or limited visibility.
• Be cautious around salt spreaders: Flying salt or sand can damage your vehicle and obscure visibility.

6. Light Up the Way

Winter driving often comes with reduced visibility due to snow, fog, or shorter daylight hours. Proper lighting is crucial for your safety.

• Use low beams in bad weather: High beams can reflect off snow and impair your vision. Stick to low beams or fog lights.
• Keep your lights clean: Snow, ice, and dirt can build up on headlights and taillights, reducing their effectiveness. Wipe them clean regularly.

7. Handle Skids Like a Pro

A skid can be terrifying, but knowing how to respond can keep you safe.

• Front-wheel skid (understeer): If your car doesn’t turn as expected, take your foot off the gas and gently steer in the direction you want to go.
• Rear-wheel skid (oversteer): If the back of your car slides, steer in the same direction as the skid. For example, if the rear of your car slides to the right, turn your wheel to the right.
• Avoid overcorrecting: Quick, jerky movements can make the skid worse. Stay calm and make smooth adjustments.

8. Drive Defensively

In winter, being cautious isn’t enough—you also need to be alert for other drivers’ mistakes.

• Stay alert for pedestrians and cyclists: Snowbanks and icy sidewalks may push them closer to the road.
• Anticipate mistakes: Other drivers may brake suddenly or lose control. Be prepared to react safely.
• Keep both hands on the wheel: Winter roads require your full attention, so minimize distractions like phone use or eating.

9. Avoid Using Cruise Control

While cruise control is great for long drives, it’s dangerous on slippery roads.

• Maintain manual control: You need to be ready to adjust your speed immediately if you encounter ice, snow, or sudden traffic changes. Cruise control can delay your reaction time and increase the risk of losing traction.

10. Smart Parking Practices

Parking during winter comes with its own set of challenges, especially in urban areas like New York City.

• Choose spots carefully: Avoid parking near snowbanks or in areas prone to plowing. Snow can block your car or damage it if pushed by a plow.
• Lift your wipers: To prevent them from freezing to the windshield, lift your wipers when parking during a storm.
• Keep an ice scraper handy: You’ll likely need it after parking outdoors during snowfall or freezing rain.

Safety First, Always

Driving in New York winters may seem daunting, but with the right preparation and mindset, it’s entirely manageable. Take your time, stay alert, and don’t be afraid to delay your plans if conditions seem unsafe. After all, arriving late is better than not arriving at all.

By following these tips, you’ll be better equipped to handle whatever winter throws your way. Safe travels, and don’t forget to enjoy the beauty of the season!

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1. Write a Short Story

You may be amazed at how fun it is to write a story when you get to choose the genre and cast of characters. You no longer have to wait for your English teacher to assign you the task of writing a modern sci-fi adventure starring yourself as the lead protagonist. You can write it now! You may be surprised how the outline and structure you’ve learned during class comes to life. The struggle of finding your introduction, conflict, and resolution may come naturally. This activity will come in handy when you’re thinking about what to do when you’re bored at home alone.

2. Take an Online Driver’s Ed Course

You can learn to drive while you are bored at home! In some states, you do not have to sit in a classroom to get credit for taking a driver’s ed course. For California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, and Nevada, you can take driver’s ed online! You can log off and on as often as you like and complete the course at your own pace. For FL, IN, and KY, where the state time requirement is only 4 hours, you can even finish the course in one sitting if you like! You’ll be one step closer to having your driver’s license in a matter of days or hours!

3. Play Scrabble

This game has been around since 1933 and is still a favorite board game among teens and families! For almost a century the game has created competition of the wits across the globe. Try tallying how many words you and your competitor challenged each other to look up per game and see how many words you learned each day! Was it more than you did in English class? For those of you who are competitor-less, try playing against yourself! Give “Player 2” an evil name like “Corona,” or that of your ex. No cheating necessary.

4. Bake Something from Scratch

Cooking is one of the most educational yet fun things to do when bored! Going to school, studying, and football practice may have stopped you in the past from developing your culinary skills. Now you can unleash them! Once you learn the basics, you’ll be surprised what you can do. Oh, and you may have heard that the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but did you know the same rings true for women? Girls of all ages find it endearing when their date cooks for them. Learning a new recipe is one of the best things to do when bored for guys and girls! It is the perfect time to learn how to measure, baste, blanch, and create a dish you’ll love to share with friends and family… and a few that you’ll save for that special someone.

5. Learn a New Language

Learning a new language has been on the list of top teen activities for years. For those who are already studying a different language in school, you can step away from the conjugation overload and focus on knowing where to place the accent and roll the “R.” You can also enjoy getting ahead of the lesson plan so when you go back to school, you’ll sound like a native speaker. For those who did not pick a language as an elective, you can start off casually by learning how to say a few words and your favorite phrases in a different language. There are also many online tools and apps that can assist you as well, such as Duolingo or Spanishdict.

6. Take a FREE DMV Practice Test

If driving a car down a long, windy road towards the beach comes to mind as one of the things to do when bored, but you do not have your driver’s license yet, then taking a free DMV practice test can make it happen! You’ll have unlimited access to quiz yourself until you know the DMV Driver’s handbook like the back of your hand. You’ll probably discover that most of the rules of the road are common sense, but you’ll definitely learn some new defensive driving skills and techniques that will keep you safe and become a better driver.
See how distracted driving affects your driving with this driving simulation video game.

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There are several good reasons you may want to consider making the switch to LED headlights for your vehicle, the most important is safety. The simple fact that LED headlights better light the road allowing you to see more clearly at night is a huge safety feature. Defensive driving and being aware of what is happening around you is key for accident free driving.

Even car manufacturers are beginning to see the advantages of LED headlights and are making the change from the less-efficient halogen bulb car headlights. In an effort to increase vehicle safety, the auto industry has begun using the best headlight bulbs available, which are LED headlights. They want to give drivers every advantage they can for safety and using the brightest headlights with LED headlight bulbs in their vehicles is a great place to start in an effort to improve driver safety.

If you don’t already have LED headlights in your vehicle, now is the time to upgrade. In addition to increasing safety while driving, there are many reasons to make the switch, including, a better overall driving experience. Other advantages of using LED headlights include the fact that they are now more affordable than ever for consumers, LED headlights offer more efficient lighting, do not require bulbs to be replaced, they last longer, and are less expensive to use.

Taking steps for the safety of yourself and your passengers begins with planning ahead to foresee any obvious issues that might cause an auto accident. Taking a defensive driving course at an online traffic school is a great way to learn more about the rules of the road and what you can do to be a better driver and avoid accidents. Sign up today for an online defensive driving class to avoid accidents and keep your insurance rates low.

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One of the most difficult things to master when learning how to drive is parallel parking. Unfortunately, we all must know how to parallel park in order to earn our driver’s license. Parallel parking can be a bit overwhelming at first, but with these instructions and a little bit of patience, you should be able to master the art of parallel parking in a jiffy!

Follow These Steps to Perfectly Parallel Park Every Time

1. Once you find your parking spot, signal your intention with your blinker and position your vehicle so that the back tires of your car are aligned with the back bumper of the car you intend to park behind
2. Shift your vehicle into reverse, and turn your wheels as far as they will go to the right
3. Slowly back up into the parking space and stop when your vehicle is at a 45-degree angle
4. Next, turn your wheels all the way to the left
5. Continue to reverse and back up into the spot until your vehicle is parallel with the curb

Your vehicle should now be safely parked within a foot of the curb and will get better over time as you become more experienced. Don’t hesitate to practice at home using cones or cardboard boxes to mark your “parking spot.”

Perfect Your Parallel Parking to Avoid Parking Tickets!

If you should happen to receive a parking ticket due to your lack of parallel parking skills, you should definitely consider enrolling in a defensive driving traffic school. An online accredited defensive driving school can help reduce points on your license, as well as keep your auto insurance rates down. In addition, an online traffic school can also help teens who are just learning to drive and parallel park become safer more educated drivers.

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An important part of driving safely is making sure your car is always in tip-top shape. One major pointer for driver safety is to make sure the brakes of your car function properly. When you hear that tell-tale squeak when you hit the pedal, you know it’s time to consider fixing brakes on your ride.

Why Do Brakes Squeak?

Brake squeaking is a common warning sign that you might want to consider fixing brakes on your vehicle. This annoying and potentially dangerous squeaking can be caused by a variety of conditions including:

• Worn brake pads
• Glazed brake pads and rotors
• Damaged anti-rattle clips or shims
• No pad insulation
• Faulty or no rotor surface cut

Fixing Brakes That Squeak

Fixing brakes that squeak can be an easy fix in most cases. Here are a few ways to end the squeaking and ensure your vehicle is driving safely:

• Change the Pads – Changing the pads to ones made from a different type of friction material such as ceramic or metallic pads can stop the noise.
• Spray the Pads – A quick spray of a simple aerosol, which is sold at most auto parts stores, can reduce squeaking by spraying it on the brake pad’s friction material.
• Add a Shim – Adding some Teflon shims to decouple the piston from the pad can stop squeaking brakes. Be sure to place the shim between the brake pad and the caliper’s hydraulic piston to be effective.
• Make Some Adjustments – Coating the back of the brake pad’s backing plates with brake grease will give a quick but temporary fix, as it will wash away eventually due to rain and road dirt.

Driver Safety and Defensive Driving at Traffic School

If driving safely is a priority for you, consider a driver safety class at an accredited online traffic school. Take advantage of our free express registration and get going in less than one minute. Get started with your defensive driving course today!

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If you require glasses while driving then wear them. Driving without corrective lenses can result in injury to yourself and others. If your driver’s license includes a corrective lenses restriction, you have to wear your glasses when driving. Being caught driving without glasses is a serious offense in nearly every state.

What Happens if You Get Caught Driving Without Your Glasses?

Driving without glasses results in a traffic ticket or an even more severe traffic penalty. You may face the following penalties for driving without glasses:

• North Carolina – Same as driving without a license (up to $500 fine)
• Florida – Driving without glasses is a moving violation and a second-degree misdemeanor (up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine)
• Texas – A restriction code violation with a fine of over $200 fine

What is a Corrective Lenses Restriction?

A corrective lenses restriction is a notation on the driver’s license. In New York State, the restriction requires the driver to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses when driving. The words “corrective lenses” is printed on the front of the license and some states include further information on the back of the license. Defensive driving school is designed to help drivers learn to predict and anticipate what others drivers may do. If a driver is not wearing their glasses you may have to react more quickly and make up for their inability to see.

Can You Get a Driver’s License if You Are Blind in One Eye?

Although driving restrictions vary from state to state, it is against federal law to prohibit people who are blind in one eye from securing a driver’s license. As long as the individual can pass the same tests administered to everyone else, they are able to get a drivers license. Some states do not allow people with so-called monocular vision to drive at night. Be sure to do your research at your local DMV to determine if you qualify.

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Are you curious as to whether or not the hearing impaired can safely drive? There are common misconceptions that those who can not hear, cannot safely drive. This article will clear up many misconceptions regarding deaf drivers as well as detailing certain laws and regulations.

Can You Have a Driver’s License if Your Deaf?

Yes, lack of or diminished auditory capabilities will not hinder someone’s ability to drive. That being said there are still certain precautions to take. For example, since the drivers can not hear sirens from emergency vehicles there are devices to alert drivers. There are also devices to alert drivers if there is a horn and to proceed carefully.

Deaf Driving Laws

Here is a sample of the deaf driving laws in a few states:

• Florida -“Deafness alone will not prevent a person from being issued a driver license.”
• California -“Drivers that are deaf or hard of hearing can adjust their driver safety habits by relying more on their seeing sense to compensate for the loss of hearing.”

Hearing Impaired Driving Restrictions

According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), drivers are required to report significant hearing loss. The DMV then determines whether a “HEARING AID OR FULL-VIEW MIRROR (F) restriction is required on your driver license.”

If your driver license does have the restriction you must use a hearing aid while driving and/or your vehicle must be equipped with full-view mirrors. All the mirrors both inside and outside must meet DMV’s requirements.

• Ensure your Florida driver’s license is up to date – Learn how to perform a drivers license check at How to Perform a Florida Drivers License Check!
• For More Information About How to Apply for a New CA Driver’s License in California, Click : How to Apply for a New CA Driver’s License in California

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Drivers need to know how to handle many situation before they lead to trouble – from driving on ice to handling their vehicle correctly during a slid. Even the most mundane issue can cause dangerous conditions. A car with foggy windows may not seem very serious, but it can easily cause a life threatening accident.

No matter what type of climate you live in, you will have to worry about foggy windows. In warm climates or cold climates, foggy windows can make it difficult to see and dangerous to drive. Learning how to deal with this problem will make you a safer driver.

What causes condensation on windows, and why do they become foggy?

Foggy windows are the result of two factors: temperature and the air’s moisture content. When it is cold outside and you turn on your heater, you are creating an environment encouraging foggy windows. Any warm moisture from inside the car which comes in contact with the cold glass, will cause condensation and fog your windows. If the outside air is hot, and you turn on the AC, you have the opposite situation. The hot outside air meets your cooler windows resulting in fog.

The causes are different, but the result is the same – blurry windows and hazardous driving. The next time you have foggy windows, try the following methods of clearing your windows.

How do I clear foggy windows when it’s cold outside?

The best way to prevent fog from forming on your windows is to use a product specially designed to help eliminate the problem Car dealerships and hardware stores often sell these defoggers and the staff can help you choose the right one for your car. Simply apply these solutions to your interior windows before there are any problems, and you won’t have to worry about blurry windows this winter.

If you did not plan ahead, there are some quick fixes to this problem.

• Turn off your heat. Since it is your heater which is causing the problem, simply turn it off. This will help to equalize the temperature inside and outside of your car. You may even want to roll down your window a few inches defog your windows quicker.
• Turn off your car’s recirculating air feature.Some cars’ ventilation systems have the ability to recirculate air from inside the car. This will make foggy windows worse. By turning off the recirculating feature, your car will pull in the drier outside air which helps to eliminate the moisture level inside your vehicle and reduces condensation.
• Turn on your front defrost vent and rear-window defroster. This can help, especially if you turn on the A/C to low. You may feel cold, but being cold is much better than not being able to see where you are going.

How do I clear foggy windows when it’s hot outside?

Unlike foggy windows caused by cold weather, hot weather fog forms on the outside of the car’s windows. There are some simple fixes to this problem.

• Turn on your windshield wipers. Simply by turning on your front a rear-window wipers, you can wipe away the condensation and see much clearer. While this tip helps you to see out the front and rear windows, it does not eliminate the problem from side windows.
• Lower your A/C, or turn it off completely. Increasing the temperature in your car balances the temperature difference between the inside of your car and the outside air temperature. This will stop condensation from forming. You are usually able to prevent condensation without turning off your A/C completely.
• Keep your recirculating air feature off. Again, turning off your air recirculation will help correct the problem.

Whether your foggy windows are due to hot or cold weather, fixing the problem will make you a safer driver. Being safe while being on the road is the responsibility of every driver.

Poor visibility from foggy windows is just one of the many weather-related issues drivers need to know how to handle. Becoming educated in safer all-weather driving can make you more confident when you are behind the wheel. It is a good idea for all drivers to learn how to be safer in bad weather. Taking a traffic school course focusing on driving in adverse conditions is a wonderful step in becoming a better driver.

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If you’re one of those unfortunate drivers to get such a ticket, there is hope. By taking CA traffic school online, you can have your ticket dismissed without having points go on your driving record. Plus, it helps you hone those skills you need to be able to stay focused when behind the wheel. That’s vital for preventing the possibility of there being a “next time” as far as your distracted driving goes.

It Could Happen To You

If all you get is a ticket and the opportunity to take traffic school online, consider yourself fortunate. It’s far too easy to get distracted when you’re behind the wheel of a vehicle. New York Times reporter Eric A. Taub can attest to that. He recently used his journalistic platform to recount how the simple act of turning to speak to his wife, who was seated in the front passenger’s seat during a supposedly average day, sent him careening down a Los Angeles highway at 80 miles per hour. He also recounts his car’s front right wheel spinning toward parts unknown with the left said metal front wheel that was now rolling down the pavement sans tire, sending sparks flying with no Fourth of July or any other cause for pyrotechnic celebration in sight.

The time it took for Taub and his family’s drive to turn into a harrowing experience was four seconds. That’s twice as long as the National Highway and Safety Administration’s two-second rule, meaning that you should never take your eyes from the road when driving for more than two seconds at a time.

Past Mistakes Reoccur

Before you roll those hopefully responsible, road-watching eyes, let’s look back on a major, yet avoidable, disaster that made national headlines in the spring. Remember in March 2018 when the first self-driving Uber car in Arizona struck and killed a pedestrian? It was at night and the pedestrian had the right of way at a crosswalk. That person likely saw the car coming but presumed it would stop while they make their way across the street. After all, they were walking with their bike, which was equipped with reflectors and they’d likely come to rely on – even trust – the fact that nothing would happen. They had probably made that same journey many times before without any problems, whatsoever, and never even gave a thought to doing so that time. Safe assumption, right?
We all know the tragic reality was that this assumption was fatal to that poor cyclist. Sure, the car was still in the testing stages and obstacle-detecting mechanisms that would signal the vehicle’s brakes wasn’t working. But there was someone behind the wheel who could have stopped the vehicle. Instead, they didn’t – because they were glued to their mobile device.

It Doesn’t Have to Happen to You

This is an extreme case that shed light on the fact that today’s drivers are way too easily distracted. It doesn’t have to be a mobile device or even a severe error in judgment. The National Highway and Safety Administration simply describes distracted driving as anything that takes your attention away from driving. So, if this is an issue for you, traffic school online can help you become a focused driver.

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Every day, all over the world, drivers are crashing into each other. These crashes are usually due to unsafe driving, lack of attention on a driver’s part, or the occasional outside factor, like wildlife darting across the road. But when did this start? Who can claim the first automobile accident, from way back when cars were a new invention?

First Fatal Accident (Sort Of)

August 31, 1869 was the day when the first person died from injuries caused by something like a car. However, most people do not count this as the first car accident, as the vehicle is quite a long way from the cars we know today. Mary Ward, an accomplished scientist, was riding in an experimental steam powered vehicle built by two of her cousins. As she was thrown from the vehicle on a curve, then broke her neck under it, the experiment was probably not considered entirely successful. However, there is a lesson to be learned here: scientific curiosity aside, don’t get in an experimental vehicle until proper tests have been run.

First Car Versus Bicycle

Widely considered to be the real first accident, this occurred on May 30, 1896, during a “horseless wagon race” in New York City. Henry Wells lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a bicyclist named Ebeling Thomas. The bicyclist broke his leg, and the driver was arrested. If only there was a New York Defensive Driving course back then, a lot of chaos could have been avoided. However, as there were several other bicyclists arrested that day for the 1896 equivalent of speeding, perhaps a certain amount of chaos was just par for the course at that time.

First Car Versus Nature

John William Lambert built the first successful automobile in America, so it’s appropriate that he also was involved in one of the first car crashes. In Ohio City, Ohio, in 1891, Lambert’s vehicle came upon a tree root sticking out of the ground. The vehicle hit the root and Lambert lost control, so it slammed into a hitching post. Both John Lambert and the other person in the car walked away with only minor injuries. Ohio City boasts that this was the first car accident, though that should perhaps not be considered a badge of honor. It’s also possible that the above accident from 1896 is considered the first because it is the first to involve more than one vehicle.

First Pedestrian Death in the United States

On September 13, 1899, the first pedestrian death in the United States occurred. (The first pedestrian death ever recorded was three years before that, in the United Kingdom.) In New York City Henry H. Bliss was getting out of a streetcar. Unfortunately, he was never able to reach the curb, as he was struck by an electric powered taxi, and he was not able to overcome the damage done to his head and chest. The driver of the cab was initially arrested, but he was ultimately released. There is now a plaque at the site of the accident.

First Car Versus Car

Oddly, there is no reliable information available regarding the first time one car crashed into another car. There is a popular rumor about an accident in Ohio. The rumor says that there were only two cars in the entire state of Ohio, and they somehow managed to crash into each other in 1895. However, as that story has never been proven, and historical fact makes it seem unlikely, the first crash involving two vehicles remains a mystery.

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