Safe2Drive Blog

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.

It’s time to head back to school! This season is a time of excitement, but can also be a dangerous time out on the roads. With more children out and about, and more school speed limit zones being enforced, here are four things to keep in mind before you hit the road.

1. Share the Road with School Buses.

Make sure you’re sharing the road with school buses safely. School bus laws vary slightly depending on what state you’re in. Check out our school bus law guide here.

2. Prepare for extra traffic.

Back-to-school season can bring increased traffic. Be prepared to slow down and give yourself extra time to get where you’re going.

Many high schoolers may be driving themselves and their siblings to school. Give student drivers grace on the road and remember that they’re still learning.

3. Pay attention to school zones.

School zones are typically marked with flashing lights and reduced speed limits. Never drive distracted in a school zone. If you’re dropping off or picking up children at school, always do so in the designated area. Don’t double park or stop in the middle of the road.

It might have been a while since your daily commute included going through a school zone while children were present. Always follow school zone speed limits. Do this even if you don’t see any children around. Children are unpredictable and may dart out into the street without looking, and you can never be sure where they are.

4. Review pedestrian laws with your kids.

Back to school season is an important time to review pedestrian laws with your kids. Make sure they’re aware of how safely cross the street and to always walk facing traffic if they must walk in the roadway.

Here are a few other important rules and safety tips for pedestrians:

• Only cross the street at an intersection or marked pedestrian crosswalk. It is dangerous to cross in the middle of the block between two intersections.
• Avoid walking on the street. Use sidewalks whenever possible.
• If you are in an area without sidewalks, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic.
• When you are waiting for traffic signals to change and give you the right-of-way to cross the street, never wait on the street, only on the curb. When the signal changes to green or reads "Walk," then you may step onto the street.
• For your safety, wear white or light-colored clothing, or carry a light or reflector when you walk early in the morning or in the evening when it is dark out. It is hard for drivers to see pedestrians in dark clothing when it’s dark outside.
• Always look both ways before crossing the street and before stepping out from behind parked cars!
• Exercise extra caution when exiting a streetcar or a bus.

We hope you have a safe and happy start to the school year!

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.

It’s time to head back to school! This season is a time of excitement, but can also be a dangerous time out on the roads. With more children out and about, and more school speed limit zones being enforced, here are four things to keep in mind before you hit the road.