Driving & Safety Edition

Driving & Safety

Essential guidance on safe driving habits, road rules, and accident prevention.

Updated daily · 44 stories

Home›Autos & Driving›Driving & Safety
A Driver's Guide to Understanding Traffic Signals Beyond Red, Yellow, and Green
Driving & Safety · Featured

A Driver's Guide to Understanding Traffic Signals Beyond Red, Yellow, and Green

By Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min read
Driving & Safety Backing Up Safely: The Reverse Maneuvers That Cause the Most Accidents

Backing Up Safely: The Reverse Maneuvers That Cause the Most Accidents

Reversing accounts for a disproportionate share of low-speed collisions and pedestrian injuries. Learn where technique m…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Before Every Long Road Trip: A Safety Preparation Checklist

Before Every Long Road Trip: A Safety Preparation Checklist

From tire pressure to emergency kits, this checklist covers the vehicle checks and personal preparations every driver sh…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Child Passenger Safety: Car Seat Stages and Installation Basics

Child Passenger Safety: Car Seat Stages and Installation Basics

Car seat type, direction, and installation method all matter. This guide explains the developmental stages of child pass…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 9 min
Driving & Safety Common Misconceptions About Four-Wheel Drive and Winter Safety

Common Misconceptions About Four-Wheel Drive and Winter Safety

4WD helps with acceleration on slippery surfaces but doesn't improve braking or cornering. Learn which winter driving my…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Defensive Driving: What It Actually Means on American Roads

Defensive Driving: What It Actually Means on American Roads

Defensive driving goes beyond following traffic laws. Learn the core principles that help American drivers anticipate an…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min
Driving & Safety Distracted Driving in the Smartphone Era

Distracted Driving in the Smartphone Era

Phones aren't the only distraction behind the wheel, but they're among the most dangerous. Explore the science of attent…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min
Driving & Safety Driver Fatigue: The Risk That's Easy to Underestimate

Driver Fatigue: The Risk That's Easy to Underestimate

Drowsy driving impairs judgment and reaction time similarly to alcohol. Understand the warning signs, the research behin…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 8 min
Driving & Safety Driving Habits That Quietly Increase Your Crash Risk

Driving Habits That Quietly Increase Your Crash Risk

Some high-risk driving behaviors are obvious—others fly under the radar. This rundown covers the everyday habits that re…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Driving in Rain, Snow, Ice, and Fog: How Each Condition Changes the Rules

Driving in Rain, Snow, Ice, and Fog: How Each Condition Changes the Rules

Each type of bad weather creates its own hazards. Learn how rain, snow, ice, and fog affect braking, visibility, and con…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min
Driving & Safety Emergency Vehicles Approaching: The Rules Drivers Often Overlook

Emergency Vehicles Approaching: The Rules Drivers Often Overlook

Move Over laws vary by state and cover more than most drivers realize. Understand your legal obligations and safe proced…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Highway Driving vs. City Driving: The Adjustments Most Drivers Don't Make

Highway Driving vs. City Driving: The Adjustments Most Drivers Don't Make

Urban and highway driving each create distinct hazard profiles. Learn how the mental and physical demands shift between …

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min
Driving & Safety How Alcohol Impairs Driving—Even Before the Legal Limit

How Alcohol Impairs Driving—Even Before the Legal Limit

Legal BAC thresholds don't mark the point where impairment begins. Learn what research shows about how alcohol affects d…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 8 min
Driving & Safety How Cruise Control and Adaptive Cruise Control Differ—and When Each Is Safer

How Cruise Control and Adaptive Cruise Control Differ—and When Each Is Safer

Standard and adaptive cruise control serve different purposes and carry different risks. Learn when each is appropriate …

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety How to Handle a Tire Blowout at Highway Speed

How to Handle a Tire Blowout at Highway Speed

A sudden tire blowout at speed can send a vehicle out of control. Learn the counterintuitive steps that help drivers sta…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min
Driving & Safety Hydroplaning: What Causes It and How to Regain Control

Hydroplaning: What Causes It and How to Regain Control

Hydroplaning can happen suddenly on wet roads. Learn what triggers it, why conventional braking instincts can make it wo…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Merging onto the Highway Without Causing a Hazard

Merging onto the Highway Without Causing a Hazard

Poor merging technique contributes to a surprising number of highway crashes. This guide walks through the mechanics of …

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min
Driving & Safety Night Driving Demands Different Skills Than Daytime Driving

Night Driving Demands Different Skills Than Daytime Driving

Reduced visibility, glare, and fatigue make nighttime driving uniquely risky. Here's what changes after dark and how to …

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Older Drivers and Changing Road Safety Needs

Older Drivers and Changing Road Safety Needs

Aging affects vision, reaction time, and flexibility in ways that gradually change how a person drives safely. Here's an…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 8 min
Driving & Safety Parking Lot Accidents: Why They're So Common and How to Avoid Them

Parking Lot Accidents: Why They're So Common and How to Avoid Them

A significant share of vehicle collisions happen in parking lots, not on open roads. Learn why these low-speed environme…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 5 min
Driving & Safety Reading Road Signs: A Reference Guide for U.S. Drivers

Reading Road Signs: A Reference Guide for U.S. Drivers

Color, shape, and symbol all carry meaning in the U.S. sign system. This reference covers warning, regulatory, and infor…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 5 min
Driving & Safety Right-of-Way Rules American Drivers Most Frequently Get Wrong

Right-of-Way Rules American Drivers Most Frequently Get Wrong

Confusion about right-of-way causes thousands of preventable crashes each year. Clarify the rules for intersections, rou…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Road Rage vs. Aggressive Driving: Understanding the Difference Matters

Road Rage vs. Aggressive Driving: Understanding the Difference Matters

Road rage and aggressive driving are related but legally and behaviorally distinct. Learn what separates them and why th…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Roundabouts vs. Traditional Intersections: Which Is Safer?

Roundabouts vs. Traditional Intersections: Which Is Safer?

Research consistently shows roundabouts reduce severe crashes compared to stop signs and traffic signals. Here's what th…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Rural Roads vs. Urban Streets: A Different Set of Driving Hazards

Rural Roads vs. Urban Streets: A Different Set of Driving Hazards

Rural and urban driving environments each bring hazards that rarely appear in the other. Understanding these distinction…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Safe Following Distance, Stopping Distance, and the Gap Between Them

Safe Following Distance, Stopping Distance, and the Gap Between Them

Stopping distance and following distance are related but distinct concepts. This explainer unpacks both, including how s…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min
Driving & Safety School Zones, Bus Stops, and the Traffic Laws Designed to Protect Children

School Zones, Bus Stops, and the Traffic Laws Designed to Protect Children

The rules around school zones and school buses exist for clear safety reasons—and carry steep penalties. Here's what Ame…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Sharing the Road With Cyclists and Pedestrians: What Drivers Should Know

Sharing the Road With Cyclists and Pedestrians: What Drivers Should Know

Interactions between cars, bikes, and pedestrians follow specific rules—and carry serious safety stakes. Here's how driv…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Staying Safe During a Traffic Stop

Staying Safe During a Traffic Stop

Being pulled over can be stressful. This guide covers what to do before, during, and after a traffic stop to keep the in…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min
Driving & Safety Tailgating: Why Following Too Closely Is More Dangerous Than Most Drivers Realize

Tailgating: Why Following Too Closely Is More Dangerous Than Most Drivers Realize

Tailgating is one of the leading causes of rear-end collisions. Understand the physics, the risks, and the safe followin…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min
Driving & Safety Teen Drivers and the Graduated Licensing System Explained

Teen Drivers and the Graduated Licensing System Explained

Graduated Driver Licensing programs are designed to reduce crashes among new drivers. Learn how GDL stages work and why …

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min
Driving & Safety The Arguments For and Against Hands-Free Phone Use While Driving

The Arguments For and Against Hands-Free Phone Use While Driving

Hands-free doesn't mean distraction-free. Examine the genuine safety debate around phone use while driving, including wh…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety The Complete Picture of Road Safety in the U.S.

The Complete Picture of Road Safety in the U.S.

A comprehensive look at safe driving habits, traffic laws, crash prevention, and road conditions American drivers encoun…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 8 min
Driving & Safety The Difference Between Skidding and Spinning Out—and How to Respond to Each

The Difference Between Skidding and Spinning Out—and How to Respond to Each

Skids and spin-outs feel similar but demand different responses. Learn to identify what's happening to your vehicle and …

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety The Rules of the Left Lane: What American Traffic Law Actually Says

The Rules of the Left Lane: What American Traffic Law Actually Says

Left-lane camping frustrates drivers and is illegal in many states. Understand the laws around lane discipline, passing,…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min
Driving & Safety Towing a Trailer Safely: What Changes About Your Vehicle's Behavior

Towing a Trailer Safely: What Changes About Your Vehicle's Behavior

Towing dramatically affects braking, turning, and stability. Understand the physics and preparation steps involved befor…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min
Driving & Safety U.S. Speed Limit Laws: What the Signs Don't Always Tell You

U.S. Speed Limit Laws: What the Signs Don't Always Tell You

Posted speed limits are only part of the legal picture. Understand prima facie limits, absolute limits, and how speed en…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Vehicle Safety Technology That Has Meaningfully Reduced Crash Rates

Vehicle Safety Technology That Has Meaningfully Reduced Crash Rates

From ABS to lane-departure warnings, modern safety features have measurable effects on crash outcomes. Here's what the r…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety What Actually Happens During a Vehicle Skid on Ice

What Actually Happens During a Vehicle Skid on Ice

Ice skids feel sudden and terrifying. Understanding the physics—and the right instincts to develop—can mean the differen…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 8 min
Driving & Safety What Every Driver Should Know Before Getting Behind the Wheel for the First Time

What Every Driver Should Know Before Getting Behind the Wheel for the First Time

First-time drivers face an enormous amount to learn. This guide covers the foundational knowledge, habits, and mindset s…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 8 min
Driving & Safety What Happens to Your Reaction Time at Higher Speeds

What Happens to Your Reaction Time at Higher Speeds

Speed doesn't just shorten stopping distance—it compresses the time you have to react. Here's how physics and human biol…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min
Driving & Safety What the Two-Second Rule Gets Wrong About Safe Following Distance

What the Two-Second Rule Gets Wrong About Safe Following Distance

The two-second rule is a useful starting point, but weather, speed, and vehicle type all change the equation. Here's a m…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident

The minutes after a crash are disorienting. This step-by-step breakdown covers the actions that protect your safety, leg…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 6 min
Driving & Safety Why Blind Spots Are Bigger Than Most Drivers Think

Why Blind Spots Are Bigger Than Most Drivers Think

Every vehicle has blind spots, but many drivers have an inaccurate sense of where they are. This explainer covers how to…

Autos & Driving Editorial Team · 7 min

Top writers in Driving & Safety

Autos & Driving Editorial Team

Autos & Driving Editorial Team

Staff Writer