Greg's Driving School

Parking Lot Safety Tips for New Drivers

Compared to roads and highways, parking lots are relatively safe for new drivers. However, that doesn’t mean they’re devoid of danger. In fact, millions of cars are damaged in American parking lots every year. If you’re new to driving, pay attention to these parking lot safety tips:

Drive Slowly

The typical parking lot has plenty of pedestrians walking to their vehicles and vehicles slowly pulling out of parking spots. If you’re driving too fast, you may hit a pedestrian or vehicle before you get a chance to slow down. When driving around a parking lot, you shouldn’t go faster than 15 miles per hour—that way, you can come to a quick, complete stop if necessary.  

Don’t Cut Across Lanes

When you see a big empty parking lot, you may be tempted to save time by cutting across lanes. However, doing so can easily lead to an accident. For safety’s sake, it’s best if you stick to the designated lanes.   

Pay Attention to Markings

Many parking lots have one-way lanes. If you go down the wrong lane, you could find yourself head-to-head with another vehicle. In order to avoid any accidents, you should pay attention to parking lot arrows, stop signs, and other markings.

Park Safely

When you’re first learning to drive, parking can be a real challenge. If your first parking attempt is less than ideal, you should keep trying until you get it right. If you park too closely to another car, your car door will likely get dinged or damaged. Don’t feel rushed while parking—instead, take as much time as you need to get into the space safely.

If you haven’t yet completed your driver’s education requirement in Maryland, you should do so at Greg’s Driving School. Our driver’s education course includes 30 hours of classroom time and six hours of in-car training. Call us today at (301) 703-9075 to get one step closer to becoming a safer driver.

Do New Car Safety Features Live Up to the Hype?

 Like many of today’s products, modern vehicles are imbued with incredible technology. However, there’s some dispute over the effectiveness of these new safety features.

In this short video, Consumer Reports reviews several new safety features. Some of the best modern features include a 360-degree camera and blind spot alert system. On the other hand, features like pre-crash and lane departure warning systems are deemed overly sensitive. Before you purchase a car, you should do your research to determine whether its safety features are actually helpful.

Though safety features can be effective, there’s no substitute for safe driving. If you’d like to learn how to become a safer driver, you should enroll in a driver’s education course at Greg’s Driving School in Maryland. Call us today at (301) 703-9075 to learn more about our curriculum.

Learn More About Safe Driving By Checking Out These Articles!

• Seatbelts have saved over 250,000 lives since 1975. Learn more about seatbelts at this page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Driving is most dangerous at night. Find out how you can stay safe in the dark at this page from Weather.com.

• Texting while driving is at least as dangerous as driving drunk. Check out this page from Car and Driver for more information.

• Would you like to learn about state cell phone and texting laws? Visit this page from the Governors Highway Safety Administration.

• For driving statistics, including information about the number of distracted driving accidents in recent years, take a look at this information from Distraction.gov.

Gambling with Life: Why Seat Belts Are So Important

If you ride in a vehicle every day, you probably don’t think much about the inherent dangers of driving. If you always assume you’re going to reach your destination without suffering an accident, you might forgo the necessary protection. Here are a few reasons why you should wear a seatbelt whenever you drive anywhere:  

• Airbags Aren’t Reliable

Most modern vehicles come with at least two front airbags, while others also have rear and side airbags to better protect their occupants. Still, you shouldn’t rely on airbags alone for protection. Even if your airbag deploys correctly, it may not prevent you or your passengers from being ejected from your vehicle. Seatbelts, on the other hand, are designed to keep people securely fastened to their seats at all times.

• Seatbelts Save Lives

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 50% of the drivers and passengers killed in auto crashes in 2009 were not wearing seatbelts. The CDC estimates that seatbelts have saved over 250,000 lives since 1975 and reduced the risk of serious injuries by half.

• Buckling Up Is the Law

Seatbelt laws are designed to protect you and others from harm. If for no other reason, you should wear your seatbelt to avoid fines and points on your license. Maryland is a primary enforcement state, which means officers are authorized to pull you over for the sole reason of failing to wear a seatbelt. If caught without a seatbelt, you can expect a fine of at least $25.

To learn more about the importance of seat belts, consider taking a driver’s education course at Greg’s Driving School. Our driver’s education course covers nearly every aspect of traffic safety, from buckling your seatbelt to routine maintenance. Call us today at (301) 703-9075 if you have any questions about our driving school.  

What to Do If You Are Involved in a Car Accident

Though the vast majority of drivers safely arrive at their destinations, accidents still happen on a daily basis. Should you be unlucky enough to be involved in one of them, it’s important that you’re adequately prepared. Here are a few things you should do after an accident:

• Check for Injuries

Safety should always be your chief concern. If anyone is seriously hurt, you shouldn’t hesitate to call for an ambulance and a police unit for immediate assistance. If everyone appears to be all right, you and the other driver should move your vehicles out of traffic.  

• Exchange Information

You and the other driver should then exchange names, addresses, contact information, proof of insurance, and license numbers. This information is important for staying in contact and dealing with the various expenses.

• Document the Scene

If you have a camera, you should take pictures of the scene and the damage to your vehicle. If any witnesses are around, you should ask for their contact information. A detailed record of the incident will help during court proceedings or the claims process.  

• File an Accident Report

Once you’re safely at home, you should file an accident report with your local law enforcement. Filing a report can help speed the claims process. Lastly, you should visit the doctor a few days after your accident, since some auto accident injuries aren’t readily apparent.

If you’d like to learn more about how to handle yourself after an accident, contact Greg’s Driving School in Maryland today. Our driver’s education course can help you fulfill your state licensure requirement and teach you how to drive safely at the same time. Call us today at (301) 703-9075 to find out when our next driver’s education course begins.