Feb 9, 2026 | Car Accidents, Driving
When it comes to following the rules, you probably like to think you’re a law abiding citizen. However, we all do things from time to time that fall outside those lines of what’s allowed, and what’s not. Take, for example, the basic road rules. Merging correctly, making full stops at a stop sign, legal turns… While these little things might seem harmless— breaking basic road rules from time to time can be quite dangerous for you, and the drivers around you…
Basic Road Rules & How We Break Them
Failing to Use Turn Signals
While you might be an exception to the statistics, it is a fact that most people don’t use their turn signals in the ways that they should. Turn signals are essential to following basic road rules, and making drivers aware of what you’re up to. Before switching lanes, before turning at a light, a stop sign… Any time you’re making a move on the roadway— use your turn signals. Without using them, you fail to give other drivers a heads up or warning. Therefore, they don’t have the opportunity to react in a safe manner.
Making Illegal Turns
When you’re running behind, you might begin to let some of those basic road rules fall to the wayside. Take, for example, making legal turns. Many of us think that doing so is harmless— especially if the street around you is clear. However, illegal turns are illegal for a reason. In most cases, these areas are marked for illegal turns because that area is too dangerous, or unpredictable. Due to the design of the road and environmental factors, you probably cannot see clearly enough to execute the turn safely. While it might seem like a calculated risk, accidents do happen every day.
Riding in the Left Lane
Of all basic road rules, this one falls to the wayside most often. It can be considered a courtesy to move out of the left lane when you aren’t matching the speed of surrounding cars. However, it is ultimately just the correct way to use the roadway. If you are planning to travel slower than the “normal” speed of traffic, stay to the right lane. By doing this, you allow others move by you easily and safely. In addition, you keep the left lane open for drivers to pass safely and return to other lanes.
While these are nothing more than basic road rules, they hold safe driving principles. They are in place to make the roads safer and keep traffic flowing better. Therefore, no matter how unnecessary or inconvenient it may seem, stick to following these basic road rules.
Jan 27, 2026 | Car Accidents, Driving
Traffic circles are gaining popularity in America because they are safer and more efficient than intersections. They are safer because the most deadly type of crash is the right-angle crash. In a traffic circle, this is nearly impossible. And they are more efficient because traffic is meant to slow but never stop. However, many Americans are still hesitant about entering them. Make sure that you do not have any distractions. In addition, read signs carefully on the road and on the side of the road. Never assume that other drivers know when to yield. And finally, go slowly, but never stop while inside a traffic circle. Hopefully, with these tips, you’ll be able to enter them confidently and avoid any mishaps in traffic circles.
Tips for Navigating Traffic Circles Safely: Calm and Slowly
No Distractions
One important safety tip for entering into traffic circles is to never have distractions. A traffic circle or roundabout involves a lot of moving parts. It’s important that you are able to give the road your fullest attention. This is also a good tip for driving in general. But it is especially important in traffic circles. Put away the phone or put a phone call on hold for a few moments. Avoid fiddling with your radio or eating while in a traffic circle. Just focus on what you need to do to navigate it safely.
Read Signs Carefully
Traffic circles can involve a lot of signage which is what makes some drivers nervous. Often there are signs when you enter the circle, signs on the sides of the circle, and signs at each exit. In addition, there are often directions painted on the road as well. Try to remember that if you are taking one of the first exits you’ll want to stay in an outer lane. If you’re traveling further around the circle, you should move to an interior lane. Try to read the signs of having a passenger help you figure out which exit to take. Stay alert.
Don’t Assume Other Drivers are Being Safe
Another important piece of safety advice for traffic circles is to never assume that other drivers know what they’re supposed to be doing. Part of being a good defensive driver is preparing for the mistakes of others around you on the road. This is the same in traffic circles. Traffic entering the circle is always supposed to yield to traffic already in the circle. However, if you are traveling in a circle, keep an eye on the oncoming lanes. A driver may surprise you and pull out right in front of you if they aren’t paying attention or don’t really understand when to yield. Always keep an eye on traffic all around you.
Go Slow But Don’t Stop
Finally, one last piece of safety advice for navigating traffic circles is to always go slowly, but never stop. It’s fine to stop while waiting to enter the circle if there isn’t a gap in traffic. However, once you’ve entered it, traffic should continue moving. If you are feeling nervous and don’t know which exit is yours, just remember that you can take another lap around the circle. Take things slow as other drivers may not know when to yield or might make mistakes.
Traffic circles have been gaining popularity because studies show that they are safer and more efficient than traditional four-way stops. However, it’s important to remember that they require concentration and focus. Never enter a traffic circle if you are distracted by your phone or passengers. Try to read the signage so you’ll know which lane to be in. You can ask a passenger to help you read signs. In addition, always assume that other drivers will not know when to yield. This will make you a better defensive driver. And finally, go slowly but don’t stop once you’ve entered the circle. As America increases its use of traffic circles, hopefully, crashes at intersections will decrease and traffic flow patterns will improve.
Jan 2, 2026 | Car Accidents, Car maintenance
Routine vehicle maintenance is so important for keeping your car as safe as possible on the road. You might buy the safest vehicle on the market, but if it breaks down you still could get into a dangerous situation. Doing maintenance on your vehicle periodically throughout the year can save you money. Waiting until you notice a problem can lead to much bigger issues to fix. Check your tire pressure and tread periodically. In addition, do periodic checks on your battery as well to prevent drain. Your engine needs some attention now and then. And of course, it’s important to take care of the exterior of your car as well. Hopefully, by doing maintenance throughout the year you can prevent expensive fixes or breakdowns.
Routine Vehicle Maintenance for Road Safety: Keep Your Car in Great Shape
Tire Maintenance
Routine vehicle maintenance should include taking care of your tires. Tire blowouts can be incredibly dangerous, so the best way to prevent them is to start with a good-quality tire. Change them every 25,000-50,000 miles or so and also have them rotated. In addition, take a glance at them each time before you drive. You want to see if they look like the tread is getting worn down or if they seem low on pressure. Driving tires with bare thread or low/high pressure can be riskier.
Battery Maintenance
Another important part of routine vehicle maintenance is taking care of your battery. The recommendation is that you replace your battery every four years or so. A car care center can also check your battery and see if it’s still in good condition and has plenty of life left. If you plan to be gone for a long time, make sure you start your car periodically. Leaving it for too long without starting can lead to battery drain and engine problems.
Engine Maintenance
Engine care is another aspect of routine vehicle maintenance. Your engine has to work especially hard in really hot or cold climates so make sure to check it a few times a year. It’s best to change your oil every 5,000-7,500 miles or so. You should also check your fluid levels and check for leaks. If you notice any puddles in your driveway or your check engine light comes on, take your car in for a check. A car care center can also check your belts and various other aspects of your engine.
Exterior Maintenance
Finally, routine vehicle maintenance wouldn’t be complete without taking care of the exterior of your car as well. Your car can take a beating in severe weather, so if the possible park it somewhere covered. If you don’t have a garage, try to park in the shade whenever possible. In addition, wash your car’s exterior frequently. The longer dirt and grime can build up on your exterior, the more it can hurt your paint. In addition, you can use soap on your car that has built-in UV protection from the sun’s damaging rays.
Routine vehicle maintenance is important to keep your car running in tip-top shape. This will keep you safer on the road. It will also prevent small preventable problems from turning into massively expensive ones later. Check your car before and after a long road trip, and a few times a year. You should check out your tires and make sure the pressure and tread are looking okay each time you drive. In addition, protect your car’s battery and engine by getting them checked over at a car care center periodically. And finally, try to protect your car’s exterior by parking it in covered areas and keeping it clean. Keeping your car in great shape will save you money in the long run by allowing you to catch small issues before they turn into bigger ones.
Nov 3, 2025 | Car Accidents, Traffic Ticket
Sometimes, obtaining a lawyer for a traffic ticket means you don’t have to appear in court. Sometimes, even with a lawyer, you do have to appear. Courtroom impressions can go a long way to help or hinder your case. However, there are steps you can take to improve your chances in front of a judge.
Courtroom Impressions: What You Should (& Shouldn’t) Do
What You Should Do:
Be Respectful
Being respectful is a simple way to give good first courtroom impressions. Before it is your turn, you should pay attention to other cases. It’s not a good sign if the judge is bothered by your behavior before it’s your turn. Remain quiet and patient while waiting for your case to be heard.
Turn Off Your Phone
Some courthouses do not even allow phones past security. For those that do, make sure your phone is off before entering the courtroom. You can ensure good courtroom impressions by not distracting the judge or others with a ringing cellphone during court proceedings.
Dress to Impress
For some it may be obvious to wear proper clothes to court. However, some might not think about it. In addition to the “look good, feel good” mantra that many abide by, dressing in a business casual manner shows you care about the courtroom impressions you make.
What You Shouldn’t Do:
Argue with an Officer
If you have an issue with the behavior of the officer who gave the ticket, do not go in looking for an argument. Arguing can be disrespectful to the officer, the judge, and the court in general. In addition to being respectful, leave the arguing to another day. Courtroom impressions make all the difference when hoping for a reduction.
Ask to Leave
When going to court, you should be prepared to be there for a while. Asking how long it will take or when you can leave will give the judge and other bad courtroom impressions of you. This will make it harder for a dismissal or lessened ticket.
Chew Gum
Sounds simple, but chewing gum can be a giant distraction in the courtroom. For some it might be a nervous habit. Leave the gum out of it and earn the positive courtroom impressions you deserve.
Sep 8, 2025 | Accident prevention, Car Accidents
Rollover accidents can be very dangerous and are incredibly scary. Every year, thousands of accidents occur with rollovers. And many of them cause serious injuries. It’s important to know the most common reasons for these accidents so that you can avoid them. Often high speed is a factor. Another common reason is driver error – often because drivers are distracted. Certain vehicles can be more prone to rollovers because of their design. And finally, tire malfunction can also be a cause of a rollover accident. You cannot guarantee safety on the road, but you can make yourself safer by being aware of how rollovers happen.
Rollover Accidents: How they Happen and How to Prevent them from Happening to You
High Speed
High speed is very often a factor in rollover accidents. When cars are traveling fast and collide, it’s more likely that the force of the speed will make the car flip. Rollovers can also happen is when a car takes a turn going too quickly. Even swerving to avoid an animal can cause a vehicle to roll over if your car is traveling fast enough. To avoid rollovers, always travel the posted speed limit. And always slow way down before taking a sharp curve to keep all four wheels on the ground.
Driver Error
Another source of rollover accidents is driver error. Drivers being distracted is so incredibly dangerous. If you’re driving, you should not be looking at your phone. Or let your mind wander. Rollover accidents can also happen when drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Often, these cause drivers to make sudden movements or even drive the wrong way on roads. This can lead to very bad accidents, including rollovers.
Electronic Malfunction
Some cars are more prone to rollover accidents because they are more top-heavy than others. Tall SUV’s in particular can be more likely to roll over. Therefore, most cars are equipped with ESC or Electronic Stability Control. This is an electronic sensor that helps prevent the car from rolling over. However, when it malfunctions, a rollover accident is more likely. Getting your vehicle serviced frequently should keep the electronics in good shape.
Tire Malfunction
Finally, tire malfunctions can often cause rollover accidents. Tires often blow out when drivers are traveling at a high rate of speed. The pressure on the tire from the car moving so quickly can cause it to fail. Therefore, tire blowouts often happen on highways. When this happens it can be difficult for your car to stay upright since it’s suddenly off-balance with one tire missing. While it’s impossible to ensure that your tires won’t ever fail, it’s important to pick high-quality tires for your car. You should always monitor the tire pressure, tread, and have them serviced and rotated frequently.
Rollover accidents are very scary and can be deadly. They are often caused in one way or another because a car is traveling at a high rate of speed. Make sure that you always drive the speed limit and slow down as you approach sharp turns. In addition, drivers must never drive distractedly as this can cause many different accidents, including rollovers. Making sure that your car’s ESC feature is working properly can keep you safer on the road as well. And finally, tire blowouts can cause rollover as well, so always make sure your tires are in good shape before hitting the road. Hopefully, by being aware of what can cause rollover accidents, you can stay safer on the road and avoid ever experiencing one.
Sep 7, 2025 | Car Accidents, Driver Safety
If you would like to learn more, check out this video about the risks of letting someone borrow your car.
We have all had it happen before. A friend or family member could be without a car for any given reason, and they ask to use yours. Maybe theirs is in the shop for maintenance or even for repairs after an accident. They could have flown into town to visit you. Perhaps their kid needed to borrow theirs so they are without one. There are plenty of reasons that someone may ask you to borrow their car. What you need to decide on is if you are willing to let someone borrow your car.
How-to: Decide if Someone Should Borrow Your Car: Weighing the Risks
Driving History
Before you let anyone borrow your car, you should consider what kind of a driver they are. Do you know they are a terrible, reckless driver? You may want to think twice about letting them drive your car. They will be unfamiliar with your car, so putting a bad driver in a vehicle they are unfamiliar with could be a total disaster. Also, consider things such as if your friend or a family member has a history of having a DUI. Anything that could mean a bad driving record should be a red flag to you.
Insurance
You will also want to consider your car insurance before you let someone borrow your car. This could come into play if the person driving your car is involved in an accident. Car insurance follows the vehicle, not the driver. When you allow a friend, family member, or babysitter to borrow your vehicle, your insurance takes primary coverage. For example, the person if your car is not at fault, the driver who is at fault will have to use their insurance to cover the damage. However, if the person who is using your car is at fault, your insurance would likely cover the damage to the other driver’s car. In addition, your liability coverage would likely pay for any injuries or damage to the other driver as well.
Unless you have collision coverage, your insurance would not cover damage to your own car. Plus, if you do end up repairing damages using your collision coverage, you will probably have to pay your deductible. This would be the case even though you weren’t driving at the time of the accident. Keep this in mind when you consider whether or not you want to loan out your car.
