In addition to being the start of the holiday season, Thanksgiving is also the beginning of the season when most car accidents due to drunk driving occur. Two to three times as many individuals die in alcohol-related car deaths between Thanksgiving and New Year's than at any other time of the year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts there will be record-breaking numbers of people
Dead batteries are a reality for far too many people during peak winter months. Even if you're a member of AAA (American Automobile Association), roadside assistance can be slow because of high demand. Be safe by stocking your car with the following emergency essentials. It can mean the difference between being stranded or arriving at your destination without aggravation. 1. Spare tire 2. Tire jack 3. Tire iron 4. Tire inflator and sealer (to help you plug a leak until you g
New Year's Eve is one of the most dangerous days of the year to drive. Planning for transportation is just as important as planning what you'll wear to your New Year's Eve celebrations. Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is both a high-risk activity that can lead to tragic accidents and health consequences. it is also a serious criminal offense with costly penalties. As you can see from below, the fine for DWI (also called DUI-for Driving Under the Influence) depends on the le
Even the best drivers may find themselves the target of a police car’s sirens and flashing lights. When you're pulled over, be sure you following the protocol below to ensure you don't escalate the situation: 1. As soon as you realize you're being pulled over, use your turning signal and change lanes until you can stop in a place that is safe for both you and the officer. Then turn off your engine and roll down your window. 2. If it’s dark, put on your interior car lights and
Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime with maximum penalties potentially adding up to thousands of dollars in fines and years in prison. The consequences for driving away from the scene of a car accident vary, depending on whether anyone was hurt or the driver has prior convictions for the same driving offense. These are the charges and penalties you may face in New York State if you drive away from the scene of a car accident: If neither a person or anima
The statistics relating to car accidents and teens driving under the influence of alcohol are devastating. About 2,000 Americans under the age of 21 die behind the wheel while intoxicated each year and almost 20% of alcohol-related driving deaths are caused by individuals under 21 years of age. New York State has especially stringent DWI laws to prevent such tragedies. In New York, it is against the law for anyone under the age of 21 to be driving with any alcohol in their
The roads surrounding school buildings, considered school zones, typically have reduced speed limits to ensure the safety of students. Heavy speeding fines will be imposed if you ignore those speed limits Speed limits in school zones can vary, although the lowest speed limit that is allowed in New York is 15 miles per hour. It can extend about a quarter of a mile away from the school. Fines for driving over the speed limit vary, depending on how fast you're going over the spe
If you do plan on driving after having 1 or more drinks take steps to keep your Blood Alcohol level (BAC) below the legal limit. Calculating how alcohol affects your BAC based on your weight can help you determine how much you can legally drink and drive without getting arrested. In addition, eating, sleeping, hydrating and waiting a period of time will also help your body process the alcohol before you drive. However, keep in mind this is not a 100% guaranteed method to ensu
While most people know when they are way too drunk to drive, it may be unclear to most when they just meet the cutoff to being legally drunk. Currently individuals cannot legally operate a car with a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher. However the national transportation board has recommended that the legal blood alcohol level be reduced to below .05% which could make it harder for people to know when they have had too much to drink before they drive. In order to avoid pot
While riding a bicycle one of the last thing people may be thinking about is stopping at red lights and stop signs. However, bicycle riders are generally expected to follow local traffic laws that apply to motorists. In addition to following the local traffic laws there may be local provisions that require cyclists to wear helmets, rules against riding on sidewalks and rules against riding a bike while intoxicated. Common bicycle rules include: · Make Sure to Signal- Fa
CNN reports that each year there are about 1.85 million vehicle break-ins where an estimated value of over 1.2 billion dollars in personal items and accessories are stolen. This staggering number of break-ins does not even include attempted break-ins. While it is impossible to ensure that no one will ever try to break into your car unless you have 24 hour guards, there are several tips that can make your car less of a target for car thieves. · Lock Your Car Doors: Locki
New York City is a very crowded place. New York City has a population of 8.4 million people, with 56.5 million yearly visitors. Manhattan alone has a population of over 1.6 million which nearly doubles during the day from commuters. With millions of cars driving through the city each day and millions of commuters and tourists crowding the streets, New York City can be a very difficult place to drive. Below are tips to help you avoid becoming part of the 66,554 crashes that oc
If you end up going to traffic court for a traffic violation you will be faced with several options as tp how to plead. It can be hard to understand the ramifications of how you plead so it is important to hire a competent traffic attorney to represent you. Below is a list of different pleas that may be made in traffic court. · Pay a Fine: is equivalent to entering a guilty plea and the offense will show up on your driving record. This means if you already have one offen
If you want to transfer ownership of a vehicle to another person then you need to follow certain steps. If you’re selling your car, you must either complete and sign the transfer ownership section of a title certificate and sign a bill of sale or provide another form of proof of ownership and transfer of ownership. For example, you must have a NYS certificate of Title (not a photocopy) or acceptable proof from another state. If you are buying the vehicle, then you need to