The scariest part of Halloween isn’t the costumes, haunted houses or movies. It’s a day when, on average, twice as many child pedestrians are killed to other days of the year.

In order to combat the perpetuation of these statistics, 911 Driving School, which provides defensive driving courses and drivers education classes for adults and teens, has put together a list of driver safety tips for Halloween:

• Children and adults alike wear dark costumes, and the days are getting shorter. Chances are good that you’ll see people out and about – practice defensive driving when behind the wheel, and always drive very slowly in residential areas, observing traffic laws, school zones and speed limits and taking special care to look around before turning.
• Always use your turn signals, even if you’re in your own neighborhood or close to home. People may be difficult to spot in costume; expect the unexpected.
• Decorations can be a distraction – keep your eyes open for large objects such as pumpkins in the road and flashing lights.
• Check your city’s posted times for trick-or-treating, and avoid driving during these times if possible.

For more information on these and other driving tips, or to sign up for safe driving classes in your area, click here.

Quickly approaching, Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 18-24) and National Seat Check Saturday (Sept. 24) are the perfect time to refresh yourself on the newest safety rules for driving in cars with children.

Car crashes are a leading cause of death in the 1-13 age group, and the majority of these deaths and injuries can be prevented by the proper use of car seats, boosters and seat belts. One of the most important things to remember: weight restrictions are important to child car safety.

Each car seat has its own weight limits, and kids need different seats for different stages of life. From birth until they exceed the weight limit for a booster seat and can safely ride without one, make sure that children are properly protected. After all, car seats reduce the risk of kids being killed in cars by up to 71 percent.

Always refer to your car seat manufacturer’s guidelines as well as federal laws for the most up-to-date information on weight limits – it’s worth a few minutes of research to make sure the kids are safe.

At 911 Driving School, students learn the importance of these critical safety rules – find a location near you here.

Quickly approaching, Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 18-24) and National Seat Check Saturday (Sept. 24) are the perfect time to refresh yourself on the newest safety rules for driving in cars with children.

Car crashes are a leading cause of death in the 1-13 age group, and the majority of these deaths and injuries can be prevented by the proper use of car seats, boosters and seat belts. One of the most important things to remember: weight restrictions are important to child car safety.

Each car seat has its own weight limits, and kids need different seats for different stages of life. From birth until they exceed the weight limit for a booster seat and can safely ride without one, make sure that children are properly protected. After all, car seats reduce the risk of kids being killed in cars by up to 71 percent.

Always refer to your car seat manufacturer’s guidelines as well as federal laws for the most up-to-date information on weight limits – it’s worth a few minutes of research to make sure the kids are safe.

At 911 Driving School, students learn the importance of these critical safety rules – find a location near you here.

Back to School Driving

A new school year is just around the corner, meaning frantic mornings trying to get everyone out the door and to school (and work) on time. In the hustle and bustle, you may be impatient and hurried. Careless driving is especially dangerous near school zones where there are plenty of kids milling about. According to the National Safety Council, most incidents involving kids happen in close proximity to a school.

The start of the school year presents many obstacles to drivers; there are plenty of pedestrians, bicyclists, cars, and buses. In your rush to get your children to school by the time the bell rings, consider adding additional time for your morning commute and follow these back to school safe driving suggestions:

Pedestrians:

Before and after school, sidewalks and streets are filled with children.  Kids can be unpredictable and unaware of their surroundings or the risks. Many kids lose their lives in bus and car incidents while walking. Be on alert for sudden movements and school zone traffic safety laws . Here are some additional safe driving tips to help keep everyone safe:

• Do not pass a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians
• When you’re in a school zone and the flashers are blinking, you must stop and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalks or intersections.
• Do not block the crosswalk while waiting at a red light or preparing to turn.
• You must always stop for a crossing guard or school patrol officer who is holding a stop sign.
• Always use extra caution and be on the look-out for children around schools, playgrounds, parks and residential areas.

Bikes:

Kids on bikes are even more of a challenge. They can go fast, make sudden movements and come out from seemingly nowhere. Kids on bicycles, like pedestrians, do not always follow traffic rules and can be oblivious to their surroundings. Here are some school safety driving tips to help you avoid hitting hard-to-see bicyclists:

• Be extra careful and watchful for bicyclists near schools, parks, and residential areas. Be on alert for bicyclists coming from in between parked cars and driveways.

• When you’re making a left-hand turn and notice a bicyclist coming from the opposite direction, let the bike pass before turning. In fact, most bike and car incidents happen when vehicles are turning left.
• If a bicyclist is coming from behind you and you’re turning right, leave at least 3 feet of space ( on the side of the road and allow the bike to pass before you turn.
• Anticipate sudden movements and child riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling.
• Check your side mirrors before opening your car door and always use your turn signals.

Busses:

You can’t complete the back to school chaos without buses. Yes, buses can be slow and you sure don’t want to be behind one when it stops to pick-up or drop off kids. Kids die in school bus-related incidents at drop-off and pick-up sites every year. Most of these are a result of kids getting struck by cars going around buses. Here are some tips to help you avoid such tragedies:

• You must always stop when a school bus’s yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop sign arm is extended. This is a law in every state.
• Never pass a school bus after it has just dropped off kids.
• When stopping behind a school bus, stay at least 10 feet away so children can safely enter and exit the bus.
• Be alert and extra cautious as it is not uncommon for kids to run out onto the street around a bus stop.

Other drivers:

Though you can’t control the driving behaviors of others, you can do your part in driving defensively to avoid a crash.  Be patient and don’t assume their movements. Chances are they are just as harried as you are. You won’t make things better if you’re impatient and drive aggressively. On the contrary, that behavior will make it more dangerous for everyone. Here are some tips to help you drive more defensively around other drivers:

• Leave a safe following distance in case the car in front of you has to stop suddenly.
• Don’t pass a stopped car
• Avoid trying to squeeze by cars to make a right-hand turn.
• Don’t honk out of frustration. Other drivers are likely to be just as stressed out as you are and honking may make matters worse.

Also keep in mind that there may be teen drivers taking their siblings to school. These new drivers may not be familiar with driving in traffic or with kids around. They may be extra cautious, so be sure to give them the benefit of the doubt.

For some driving techniques or classes, visit  https://911drivingschool.com/ before you head out on the road.

Summer road trip checklist

It’ summertime! Time to pack up the vehicle and head out into the great unknown. Whether it’s a quick trip over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house or a cross-country drive to a new destination, there are several steps you should take to stay safe on the road.

 Here is a list of four simple things you can prepare to ensure safer travel.

• Check your tires to ensure they are in good traveling condition. Worn tread, tire baldness or bulging could mean big trouble on the open road.
• Know how to check the basic function of your vehicle. Check the oil, windshield wipers, antifreeze levels and all lights inside and outside of the vehicle before the trip. Prevention is always the best answer.
• When going cross-country, or on an unfamiliar route, plan your gas station stops well. No one wants to run out of gas in the hot summer weather.
• Drive defensively. You probably drive safely, but that doesn’t mean the other drivers will. Expect the unexpected. Always keep your eyes on the road, never text or operate the GPS, and do not let others in the car distract you from your greatest responsibility- Arriving to your final destination safely!

Always remember to buckle up, and never drink and drive. Have a fun time on your summer travels. For some driving techniques, visit  https://911drivingschool.com/ before you head out on the road.

Once your teen can drive, you want them to say “yes, mom and dad, your incredibly safe and airbag filled minivan IS cool, I wouldn’t want to drive anything else, ” but we all know that is not the case. Not to worry, there are plenty of cars out there that have been designed to handle wear and tear, are cost effective, and more importantly very safe.

Here are a few things to consider when the day comes that you buy a vehicle for your teen driver:

• Bigger = Safer – Heavier automobiles are safer and will typically win in a time of  a collision. Larger vehicles such as SUV’s can be a wise choice for your new driver

• Avoid high horsepower –  Plain and simple – they just don’t have the experience to understand how this kind of power effects a vehicle and are likely to not know how to safely operate them

•  Electronic stability – This technology has been mandatory in vehicles since 2012. It automatically helps maintain stability while navigating the terrain. There is proof that this technology has reduced fatal crashes nearly by half.

The fatal rate for teenagers is 3 x times higher than all other drivers. However, within the past 10 years, the safety requirements for vehicles have improved tremendously. The industry has been required to improve the safety aspects of all their vehicles.  Any parent will worry regardless,  but there are reliable and safe vehicles available that can help put your mind at ease.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released a list of vehicles, which they have categorized into “good choices” and “best choices.” This shows the best large cars, midsize cars, small SUVs, midsize SUVs, large SUVs, minivans, and pickups in both the “good choices” and “best choices” categories, all of which start under $20, 000.

Make sure your child gets a proper driving education and plenty of supervised road time. Giving them the necessary skills to know how to navigate in the world of driving is the only way to truly help them stay safe on the road.