This month, we are focusing on the importance of being safe on the road, whether it’s handling passengers or avoiding accidents.
Passenger Safety
TLC Regulations, as well as New York State traffic laws, state the following: All vehicles for hire (including black cars, medallion taxis, etc.) must load and drop all passengers as close to the curb as possible. If an opening is within a reasonable distance of a loading area or unloading destination, drivers must use the opening and load or unload within 12 inches of the curb. This not only helps ensure safe loading and unloading procedures but will help keep traffic moving. Always treat other motorists the way you would like to be treated.
Wheelchair Safety
All New York City for-hire vehicles must service passengers with wheelchairs.
- Always assist wheelchair occupants into your vehicle and assist them in safely securing themselves.
- Always ask the passenger if they have any specific requests regarding securing their wheelchair in the vehicle or trunk.
- Travel at safe speeds and avoid making any unnecessary, unsafe or abrupt stops. Make the trip as pleasant and comfortable as possible.
- All ambulate and special access wheelchair taxis must secure the wheelchair and passenger safely and securely prior to starting a trip.
- For more info on wheelchair safety, visit the TLC website at http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/home/home.shtmland search for “wheelchairs”.
Space to the Side
Remember: You need adequate space on both sides of your vehicle to safely turn or change lanes.
- Avoid driving next to other vehicles on multi-lane roads. Someone may crowd your lane or try to change lanes and strike your vehicle. Move ahead or drop behind the other vehicle.
- Keep as much space as you can between yourself and oncoming vehicles. On a two-lane road, this means not crowding the center line. In general, it is safest to drive in the center of your lane.
- Be courteous and make room for vehicles entering on a multi-lane roadway. If there is not a vehicle in the lane next to you, move over a lane.
- Keep extra space between your vehicle and parked vehicles. Someone could step out from a parked vehicle, from between vehicles, or a parked vehicle could pull out without signaling.
- Give extra space to pedestrians, bicycles and children. They could move into your path without warning.
- When possible, take hazards one at a time. For example, if you are overtaking a bicycle and an oncoming vehicle is approaching, slow down and let the vehicle pass first, giving extra room to the bicyclist.
Safe Distances
Always try to keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you, in case you need to stop or take an evasive action to avoid a potential accident.
- Rear-end collisions are commonly caused by drivers tailgating and not allowing the proper distance between them and the vehicle in front of them.
- The Three Second Rule: You can measure a safe following distance by choosing an object near the road ahead of you, like a sign or a telephone pole. As the vehicle ahead of you passes it, count slowly, “One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three.” If you reach the object before you finish counting, you are too close to the vehicle ahead of you. Adjust accordingly.
- Increase your following distance on wet and slippery roads.
