Driving in New York City can be precarious, and merous factors can add to the dangers. This month, we offer safe driving tips for a variety of high-risk situations.
Nighttime Driving
Fewer daylight hours means more hours driving in darkness, when it’s harder to see and react to potential hazards. The following tips will help keep you safer:
- Keep your windshield clean to improve visibility.
- Regularly clean your wiper blades and make sure they are functioning properly. If not, replace the worn blades.
- Turn lights on at least a half-hour before sunset, to see and be seen.
- Increase your following distance to four seconds.
- Be extra careful on curves and at intersections.
- Switch from high to low beams to keep from blinding other drivers.
- If you have trouble, pull completely off the road – out of the way of potential dangers – and use your flashers to warn other drivers.
- Please note: As a professional driver, you should have your eyes examined annually. It is natural for night vision to diminish as you age.
Red Light Accidents
- When approaching an intersection scan all directions, even if you have the green light.
- Decrease your speed when approaching a yellow traffic light or one that just turned green (in case someone tries to speed through a changing light).
- Be extra careful from 8:00pm to 6:00am, when more people are driving while intoxicated.
- Beware of for-hire vehicles that may pass you at a red light to pick up a fare.
- Always look out for pedestrians, ESPECIALLY when making turns.
Intersection Traffic
- Slow down at intersections if pedestrians are around. Expect jaywalkers.
- Watch out for cars and bikes that disregard traffic signals or stop signs.
- Regardless of who has the right of way, you are expected to always take evasive, defensive driving measures to avoid accidents.
- Adjust your speed according to road and weather conditions.
- Watch out for pedestrians looking at their cell phones, not paying attention to traffic signals and the world around them.
Speeding Accidents
Studies have shown speeding does not save you as much time as you might think, particularly in a congested city. The risks far outweigh any potential benefits. Also: The faster a vehicle is traveling, the greater the risk for a fatality or serious injury in an accident.
- Always obey posted speed limits and actively keep an eye out for speeders and reckless drivers.
- Be ready to take defensive and evasive actions if a vehicle is speeding nearby. Regularly check your rearview and sideview mirrors so you have time to react.
- Familiarize yourself with speed limits and traffic laws in areas you frequent.
- Speeding violations can add points to your driver’s license and even speed camera tickets dramatically reduce your earnings. Multiple violations can also increase insurance rates or even cause your policy to be canceled.
- Drivers who speed are often reported to the TLC by passengers.
- If you are delayed in traffic on the way to a job, notify the passenger and/or your base, but DO NOT speed to compensate for being late.
Your Safety
Remember: Getting home safely after your shift ends should always be your primary goal.
- Stay calm, even if the passenger is rude or gets angry and threatening. It’s not worth risking a violent encounter.
- Do not argue with a passenger over a fare. Agree on the price before embarking and collect payment when they are still in your vehicle.
- Never leave your vehicle to chase a passenger who flees without paying.
- Do not lower your driver-side window to accept a payment.
- If you have a partition, consider the hours you are working to determine if it should stay closed.
- If you are in an accident, call 911. Do not rush to exit your vehicle – stay inside until the police arrive. It could be a robbery or carjack scheme.
- If you are being robbed and cannot safely flee, it is best to obey the assailant. Your money and your car are not worth your life.
Bertram Merling is the Loss Control Coordinator for Hereford Insurance Company. He welcomes your questions and comments, and can be reached at 718.361.9191 ext. 7235, or via email at
