Safe2Drive Blog

Car safety technology has advanced rapidly over the years, with new options and features being introduced all the time. With so many options, it can be tough to choose your new vehicle "must-haves." Here are three safety features I love using, as well as one that I wouldn’t mind skipping.

1. Adaptive Cruise Control

Traditional cruise control is a system that allows you to maintain a constant speed without having to keep your foot on the accelerator pedal. You can set your desired speed and the car will automatically adjust to maintain that speed for you. It’s an incredibly handy feature, especially for driving on long stretches of highway with few turns and stops.

Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is an advanced form of cruise control that uses sensors to monitor your following distance. Just like traditional cruise control, you will choose a set speed you want your vehicle to maintain. Unlike traditional cruise control, ACC has the added advantage of automatically adjusting your speed to maintain a safe following distance. If the vehicle in front of you slows down, ACC will slow your car down as well. If the vehicle in front of you speeds up, ACC will speed your car up as well until it reaches the pre-set speed.

ACC isn’t a free-pass to put your feet up and let your car do the driving, but it’s a great way to help you maintain a consistent, safe speed while maintaining a safe following distance. You shouldn’t use ACC or traditional cruise control in adverse conditions (e.g., heavy rain).

2. Automatic High Beams

Automatic high beams are a safety feature that automatically switches the vehicle’s headlights between low and high beams depending on the lighting conditions and traffic. They typically use a camera mounted in the rearview mirror to detect oncoming vehicles, lights from other vehicles, and ambient light.

When the automatic high beams are activated, the system will turn on the high beams when it is dark outside and there is no oncoming traffic or other vehicles ahead. The system will then automatically switch to low beams when it detects an oncoming vehicle or another vehicle with its headlights on.

Automatic high beams help mitigate the risk of blinding other drivers by eliminating the need to adjust your headlights yourself. This is usually an optional feature that you can turn on and off depending on personal preference and road conditions.

3. Lane Keeping Assist

Lane keeping assist helps make sure your vehicle stays within its lane. It uses sensors to monitor the vehicle’s position relative to pavement markings and can apply gentle steering corrections to keep the vehicle in its lane. This helps prevent weaving in and out of lanes, and can help remind the driver to engage their turn signal before changing lanes by applying a bit of resistance unless the turn signal is engaged.

At the same time, lane keeping assist can make drivers think it’s okay to let the car "drive itself," when in reality, it’s still up to the driver to steer and keep their vehicle within their own lane. Lane keeping assist will not steer your car for you, and it shouldn’t be used in poor weather or on roads without clearly-defined lane markings.

The Most Distracting Safety Feature

Personally, I find heads-up displays to be more distracting than useful, though there are many people who love this feature. Heads-up displays (HUD) are a transparent display that projects useful information onto the windshield of your car. This allows you to see helpful information like navigation instructions, current speed and speed limit, and even the time without needing to turn your head away from the road while still maintaining a clear line of sight.

Recently, I drove a vehicle with an HUD on a long road trip. While my driving buddy loved seeing the information displayed on the windshield, I found it difficult to keep my eyes on the lane ahead, and instead caught myself focusing on the HUD for much longer than the split second it would take me to glance at my speed on the dashboard.

Ultimately, it’s up to the driver to decide which additional new safety features they are comfortable using. Be sure to read the owner’s manual before testing out any features that are new to you. If you choose a new vehicle that has a feature you’re not comfortable with, make sure it’s possible to disable the feature when you’d like to do so.

We hope this helps you as you shop around for your next vehicle!

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.

Car safety technology has advanced rapidly over the years, with new options and features being introduced all the time. With so many options, it can be tough to choose your new vehicle "must-haves." Here are three safety features I love using, as well as one that I wouldn’t mind skipping.

While electric vehicles (EVs) are more common than ever, many drivers in the U.S. are still hesitant about making the switch. While there are incentives to purchasing an electric vehicle in some states, we’re a ways off from seeing a full transition from gas-powered to electric vehicles.

Other countries are more serious when it comes to adopting EVs. The U.K., for example, has banned sales of new internal combustion engine vehicles starting in 2030. New hybrid vehicle sales will be banned in 2035; used vehicle sales will be able to continue as normal.

What makes some people make the switch to EVs, while others remain skeptical? Let’s take a look at some pros and cons of EVs.

EV Pros

• Environmental benefits: EVs produce zero emissions, which helps improve air quality and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
• Lower operating costs: It’s cheaper to charge your vehicle than to buy gas, so you can save money on fuel costs.
• Less maintenance: EVs have fewer moving parts than gasoline-powered cars, so they require less maintenance. This makes them more cost-effective over time.
• Quieter operation: EVs are much quieter than gas-powered cars, which many people like.
• State incentives: Some states offer big incentives for buying an EV. For example, California will give up to a $7,500 EV tax credit.

Now let’s look at some cons.

EV Cons

• Range issues: The range of an EV is limited by the size of its battery. This could be a problem if you have a long commute or if you plan on doing a lot of road trips.
• Higher initial cost: Even though the cost over time is lower, buying an EV is still more expensive than their gas-powered counterpart. There aren’t as many used EVs on the market yet, either.
• Charging times: It’s much quicker to fill up a gas-powered vehicle than an EV. The time it takes to charge an EV depends on what level of charger your use. It’s possible to "trickle charge" your EV at home using Level 1 equipment (i.e., plugging it into an appropriate wall socket in your home or a parking garage). It works in a pinch, but it’s a very slow process.
• Level 2 charging at home: A better option for at-home charging is having a professional electrician install a Level 2 home charger directly into your home’s electrical panel. This allows you to charge your EV more quickly at home, but it can be quite expensive to install.
• Level 3 "DC fast charging" station availability: Commercial fast charging stations are popping up more and more as EVs gain popularity, but they’re not as prevalent as gas stations, especially in rural areas.

When it comes to future vehicles, it’s clear that the market is moving toward the cleaner option with EVs. It will be interesting to watch opinions and preferences towards EVs change over time.

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.

While electric vehicles (EVs) are more common than ever, many drivers in the U.S. are still hesitant about making the switch. While there are incentives to purchasing an electric vehicle in some states, we’re a ways off from seeing a full transition from gas-powered to electric vehicles.

The third week of September is Child Passenger Safety Week and National Seat Check Saturday. This is a time to educate caretakers and parents how important it is to make sure kids are buckled up in the safest way possible.

There are four types of car seats available for children. The perfect seat for your child passenger will depend on their size and age.

• Rear-facing seats: This seat is designed for children from birth to about three years of age. Children should be kept in rear-facing seats as long as possible. Check the height and weight limit for your car seat to determine if it’s safe for the child to stay rear-facing. It’s best to keep them in that position until they reach the height or weight limit for the seat.
• Forward-facing seats: Once a child has outgrown their rear-facing seat, the next step is a forward-facing seat with a harness and tether. Smaller children may need a forward-facing seat until around seven years of age.
• Booster seats: When the child reaches the height or weight limit for their forward-facing seat, they need to use a booster seat.
• Seat belt: The final stage is the seat belt. Children are ready for seat belts when the lap belt fits snugly across their upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits snugly across the chest without crossing their neck or face. You’ll probably need to help children buckle up until you’re sure they’re able to do it on their own safely.

In general, children under age 13 should stay in the backseat, though smaller children should stay in the backseat until it’s safe, even after age 13.

In order to be sure you’ve installed your car seat correctly, you can visit a car seat inspection station. Certified technicians can help you inspect the car seat and make sure you’re using it correctly. You can search for a car seat inspection station near you using NHTSA’s Car Seat Inspection Database.

There’s nothing more important in the car than making sure your passengers are safe--especially children who need your help in order to make sure they’re secured properly.

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.

The third week of September is Child Passenger Safety Week and National Seat Check Saturday. This is a time to educate caretakers and parents how important it is to make sure kids are buckled up in the safest way possible.

As summer winds down, you’ve probably noticed an increase in police officers out on the road. This time of year is when the nation focuses on the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. This campaign aims to reduce the number of impaired driving collisions and fatalities by increasing police presence and cracking down on impaired drivers.

Law enforcement has a number of ways to find drinking and impaired drivers. One way is through chemical tests of the driver’s blood, breath, or urine if they’re arrested under the suspicion of impaired driving. But what happens if you refuse to submit to a chemical test?

The Implied Consent Law

When you earn your driver’s license, you are automatically agreeing to take a sobriety test and chemical test at an officer’s request in the event you’re stopped by police while driving. Chemical tests use blood, breath, urine, or saliva to measure the amount of alcohol or other drugs in someone’s blood. This is called the "Implied Consent" law.

Of course, you still have a right to refuse to submit to a chemical test, but there are penalties if you do so. These penalties are in addition to penalties imposed after being convicted of an alcohol or drug-related traffic violation. Refusal may be used as evidence against you in court.

Legal Penalties for Impaired Driving

The penalties for impaired driving convictions depend on your state and the severity of the offense. Here are some common penalties:

• Driver’s license suspension. This is the most common penalty for impaired driving. For a first offense, a license suspension is usually about six months to a year.
• Fines. Fines for impaired driving can be substantial. For a first offense, fines typically range from $500 to $1,000. For subsequent offenses, the fines can be much higher.
• Ignition interlock device. An ignition interlock device is a breathalyzer that is installed in a vehicle’s ignition. The driver must blow into the device before starting the car. If the driver’s blood alcohol level is above a certain level, the car will not start.

The legal penalties are severe, as they should be.

Alternatives to Impaired Driving

Here are some alternatives to driving while intoxicated:

• Designate a sober driver who won’t drink or use other drugs that day so they can safely drive everyone home.
• Call a cab or a rideshare service, or a trusted friend or family member to pick you up.
• If you’re at a party, consider sleeping over rather than driving home at night when you’re impaired.
• Decide not to drink or use other drugs while out when you know you’re not going to be able to get home safely.

Stay safe by planning ahead when you know you’re going to be drinking to make sure you’re not forced to decide whether or not to drive while your judgment is impaired. If you’re going out with friends, make sure ahead of time that you’ll all be able to get home safely. Never get in the car with a driver who’s intoxicated, and if you can, urge them not to drive while intoxicated, either.

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.

As summer winds down, you’ve probably noticed an increase in police officers out on the road. This time of year is when the nation focuses on the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. This campaign aims to reduce the number of impaired driving collisions and fatalities by increasing police presence and cracking down on impaired drivers.