Most intersections in the United States allow drivers to turn right while the light is red. This is one way that traffic flows keep going and lines of cars from getting too long. Before you turn right on red, there are three critical steps to make sure you are doing it right and staying safe.

1. Always stop behind the white line

At every intersection, there is a white line. This is a point for drivers to know where they should stop at a red light. Ideally, this keeps the intersection clear for other drivers to move around and see better. The white line is also placed with enough space for pedestrians to have ample room to walk in the crosswalk and be seen by all drivers.

Stopping at the white line is required for all drivers, including those who want to turn right. When approaching the intersection, stop at the white line before proceeding to make sure that you are ready to complete the next two steps.

2. Take time to observe

The biggest reason that drivers need to stop behind the white line is to give them time to observe. If you are stopping properly, you will take time to look around. There are three main things to look for while stopped:

• Signs– not every intersection allows you to turn right when the light is red. It is important that you look around at the posted signs to make sure you aren’t breaking the law. Others require a special signal specifically for drivers turning right. Don’t turn if this light is red since it means there are others with a green turn signal.
• Pedestrians– Whether they are in the crosswalk already or getting ready to cross, pedestrians have the right of way. Do not drive into the crosswalk area if you see people there. It is illegal and creates a potentially dangerous situation for them.
• Oncoming traffic- Stopping allows you to wait until there is an opening for you to pull in without slowing down traffic.

It doesn’t take long to look for these things while stopped, especially once you become experienced. Each one is very important and rushing through the intersection puts a lot of people in danger, including yourself.

3. Proceed with caution

Once you have taken time to observe, make sure you approach the turn with caution. Bicyclists are difficult to see and can quickly come up behind you. Pedestrians might try to run in front of you to cross before the light changes. Vehicles further up the road from you might be turning right or left into the lane you’re trying to enter. These situations are all common scenarios that happen fast if you are not paying close enough attention.

Once you turn into the lane, speed up to match the flow of traffic to prevent any other problematic situations.

Making the right-handed turn with these three steps will help you complete a successful move while avoiding any incident, injury, or lawbreaking.

Maintenance on your car during the winter is different than the summer. Most mechanics recommend doing different inspections and changes for both winter maintenance and summer maintenance. A lot of the maintenance you can do yourself, or hire a mechanic. Either way, here are some of the maintenance items to do to help get your car ready for winter from the top to the bottom.

Windshield Wipers

The windshield wipers on your car are only recommended for six months. Unfortunately, most people don’t think about changing their windshield wipers until they are in the middle of a storm and see their wipers aren’t doing a great job. Switching out your blades in the fall will help keep your windshield clean and your visibility great all through the cold season. Don’t forget to switch out the blade on your rear window too.

Two more things that affect visibility are ice on your windows and a dirty windshield. To keep visibility great is to make sure your windshield washing fluid is full. That way, when another car on the road splashes dirty slush on your car, you won’t be left with thick, dirty streaks. Also, make sure you have an ice scraper and snow brush in your car. This way, you are prepared for ice on the windows or coming out of the office to a snow-covered car.

Checking Fluids

The two most important fluids to check are the oil and coolant. These each serve a different purpose in your vehicle and are important to have at optimum levels during the winter.

• Having the right amount of antifreeze and water mixture in your radiator will keep it from freezing.
• If you live in an area where temperatures drop below freezing, most mechanics recommend using a thinner oil to protect your engine.

Both fluid levels are going to be different for each style and type of vehicle, so make sure you check the recommended levels, types, and mixtures in your owner’s manual or talk to a trusted mechanic in your area.

Battery

Cold weather reduces the capacity of your battery, which is why many people must replace them during the winter. Make sure your battery is ready for winter by inspecting the fluid, cables, and terminals. Also be sure to check the battery itself for anything like cracks or breaks in the casing. Check the voltage by either using a handheld hydrometer or, if you have the ability, check the voltage on your dashboard.

Tires

If you live in an area that gets cold, you may have noticed before that lower temperatures deflate tires a little. With low air pressure, your tires don’t get great gas mileage, but they also increase the risk you take on a slick road. Make sure that you check and adjust to the recommended PSI level for each tire.

While you check the pressure on each tire, take some time to inspect the tread. Balding tires increase the danger on a wet road because they don’t have enough grip.

Depending on the area you live, consider switching all four tires to snow tires or all-season tires. This will help you have more control and grip on the road as you drive in wet and slippery conditions.

Finishing It Off

Once you have finished inspecting your tires, you have completed our general winter maintenance checklist. If you have noticed funny noises or problems with your car, make sure you take it to the mechanic so that you can get them resolved quickly. Don’t let a problem continue during any season, but during the winter you risk being stranded in the cold.

Whether you are planning on celebrating Halloween with a fun night of trick or treating, attending parties, or attending haunted venues, it’s a risky night to be out. Whether you unintentionally cause harm to others or get in an incident, there are dangers lurking on Halloween night. Here are five tips to keep your night a little less scary and a lot more fun.

Tips for Safe Driving

1. Keep your headlights on. Many people don’t turn their headlights on until it’s dark, but visibility starts to decrease in the early evening hours. It is also hard for other drivers and pedestrians to see your vehicle, or distinguish if it’s running, so just keep your lights on. Many cars automatically have lights on, but if yours isn’t one of them, turn them on early.
2. Drive slower than the posted limit. Speed limits are not required driving speeds. When there are crowds around, or a lot of children present, it is better to drive slower than the posted speed. In these situations, people are likely to step or run out in the road in front of your car, causing an incident if you are distracted or driving too fast.
3. Park in marked spots. Haunted venues draw big crowds on Halloween night. If you are planning to attend, look for a marked spot to park your vehicle. This not only keeps your vehicle safer from getting hit, but it also prevents creating another hazard for other drivers.
4. Never drive intoxicated. There are plenty of Halloween parties that offer alcohol. If you are planning to get behind a wheel, don’t drink or do drugs. If you are underage, you shouldn’t be participating in these activities anyway.
5. Give yourself extra time to get there. To avoid unexpected delays or driving too fast to meet up with friends, give yourself extra time to get where you need to go.

Tips for Parents and Kids

1. Stay on the sidewalk. Too many cars are going through the streets, not watching for pedestrians. It is always safer to stay on the sidewalk. If you are on roads without sidewalks, make sure you walk on the shoulder of the road, rather than in the middle.
2. Don’t wear masks. Plenty of costumes come with a mask, but they limit how much you can see when you are walking around. If you have kids with masks on, or you’re wearing one yourself, take it off while you are walking around. This is especially true when crossing streets.
3. Know where your kids are going. If you have older kids and teens that go out alone, make sure you know the route they are taking. Teach them how to stay safe by not going inside houses, stay in a group, and that if they feel in danger, they should leave the area, even on Halloween. If your teens are going to a party, make sure you know the parents and see if there will be any drinking or other harmful behaviors going on.
4. Wear reflective or glowing gear. Another problem with so many pedestrians is that they are hard for drivers to see. Make sure that everyone has some sort of reflective gear or glow sticks on them. This also helps you keep track of your group more easily.
5. Stay in groups. The term “safety in numbers” applies to Halloween too. The more eyes that are available to keep track of children and watch out for dangers, the better.

Remember to be safe and have a Happy Halloween!

National Teen Driver Safety Week for 2017 is October 15-21, which means states across the nation are gearing up for awareness. The purpose of this week is to encourage parents to have conversations with their teen drivers about how to stay safe behind the wheel of a car.

This was started to decrease the number of teens dying and causing incidents on the roads through the greatest dangers for teen drivers: alcohol, seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, and the number of passengers in the car. Here are four useful campaigns are available to help address these issues.

1. 5 to Drive

Materials provided in the “5 to Drive” campaign highlight five post-it notes that parents can leave on the dashboard of their child’s car or just use as a reminder to discuss these issues. The five notes are:

1. No Cell Phones
2. No Extra Passengers
3. No Speeding
4. No Alcohol
5. Buckle Up

These resources are available to parents, caregivers, teachers, and any safety advocate. Infographics are provided as well as supplemental information for teaching effectively and showing the dangers each presents. For parents, this helps establish ground rules for allowing their teen access to the vehicle.

2. Teens and Seat Belt Use

The focus of this campaign is strictly to address the benefits of wearing a seatbelt. In 2013, more than half of 15-19-year-olds who were killed in crashes weren’t wearing a seat belt. This is more than just about the driver too. Unfortunately, 90% of younger passengers in the vehicle (ages 13-19) aren’t restrained if the driver is not.

3. U Drive- U Text- U Pay

Distracted driving is a danger to everyone on the road and the biggest distraction is the cellphone. Texting and driving can take your eyes off the road for five seconds at a time, which is enough time to travel the length of a football field when driving at high speeds.

This campaign is focused on more than just teen drivers and focuses on men and women. It provides materials from law enforcement and focuses on consequences of distracted driving, which is gaining recognition as a serious and deadly problem across the nation.

4. The Ultimate Party Foul

While drinking and driving is never safe, this campaign focuses on teaching 16 and 17-year-old drivers that underage drinking and driving is “the ultimate Party Foul”. Laws mandate a minimum drinking age to help save lives, but people often disregard them. In 2013, 29% of drivers killed under the age of 21 had alcohol in their systems. This campaign provides useful materials for communities, parents, and schools to encourage drivers of all ages not to drink and drive.

If you have not taken the time to talk to your teen driver about these common, serious problems, National Teen Driver Safety Week is a great time to find events and resources in your area. Not finding anything in your area? The Traffic Safety Marketing (TSM) government site has more resources available, including fact sheets and talking points, sample news releases, and downloadable infographics to help you.

Students are returning to school everywhere across the United States, and since school zones, crosswalks, and school buses are most frequently used during the school months, it is important drivers remember the laws involving them. Keeping students safe should be everyone’s priority.

Schools and Speed Limits

Areas surrounding schools often experience heavy amounts of traffic around school start and end times. With so many children walking home or running to vehicles, it is important to drive at a slower speed. Pay special attention to the following areas:

• School Zones: Often marked by flashing lights on a speed limit sign, you should slow down. Most areas require driving no faster than 20 miles per hour, but there are areas that require you drive under 15 miles per hour.
• Drop Off and Pick Up Lanes: Schools have designated areas for dropping off and picking up students. When in these areas, drive less than 10 miles per hour and be ready to brake if a student runs out from between cars. If you are going to need to park for more than a small moment, park in a parking stall to keep the lanes clear for others.
• Neighborhoods: Remember that a speed limit is the fastest you should be going, not the required speed. In neighborhoods and other areas outside of the marked school zone, go slow and watch out for kids. It only takes a small distraction for the child to not pay attention and step into traffic.

Laws for Crosswalks

While crosswalk laws don’t change during the school year, they are more frequently used. In more dangerous intersections or roads with higher amounts of pedestrians, cities will use one of the following options:

• Crossing Guards
• Brightly Colored Flags
• Flashing Lights

In these situations, drivers are required to yield to the pedestrian. Stop when someone is in the road and wait for them to cross completely before proceeding. Keeping the intersection clear helps ensure the pedestrian’s safety because they are more clearly seen from every direction.

Stopping for School Buses

School bus drivers are tasked with getting children to and from school safely. They stop at designated areas to pick up and drop off students. When a school bus stops, they pull on a lever that opens the door and starts signals on the front and back of the bus. A stop sign also extends out by the driver. These signal to other drivers that they need to stop. This helps keep students safe who may be running to catch the bus in the morning or crossing the street to get home in the afternoon.

Safety and Enforcement

Keeping students safe is a community responsibility. While you may be in a hurry to get to school, take your own kids to school, or get to work, it is important to slow down and pay attention to the laws. Since the consequences for breaking these laws can lead to serious injury and death, they have stiffer penalties. Plan to leave a little early and drive at a slower speed. Being a little late is better than causing serious injury or death to someone else, getting in a crash, or having to pay an expensive ticket.