NHSA Blog

Don't Drink and Drive on St. Patrick's Day

In March, the phrase “Kiss me, I’m green!” seems to apply to everyone, not just the Irish. As the nation gears up for one of the booziest holidays of the year, St. Patrick’s Day, nearly everyone wants to be in on the green-tinted fun. However, if your plans include hitting the road to travel to your favorite pub for some drinks with friends, remember an important point: Even on St. Patrick’s Day it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. Even drinking just a little alcohol will make anyone more dangerous on the road.

6 Tips for Renting a Car

Spring is the time to hit the road. Warmer weather has arrived, you have a long break from college or work, and you can hear the road calling your name. If you’re going to rent a car for your trip – whether it’s just to get from the airport and back or you’ll be taking a road trip – keep in mind these 6 tips to reduce costs and avoid problems.

7 Surprising Tips for Safe Driving at Railroad Crossings

Trying to beat a train at a railroad crossing is a way to lose big – the train will always win. In fact, the driver of a vehicle that crashes into a train is 20 times more likely to lose their life than if they crashed into another vehicle. So how can you drive safely when approaching railroad crossings? Here are a few unexpected rules to follow.

How to Change Your Brakes

When you are rushing down the highway in a 4,000-pound vehicle, you don’t want to have doubts about the condition of your brakes. You simply want to know that when you put your foot on the brake your vehicle will slowly – or quickly, depending on your need – come to a stop. In fact, maintaining your brakes is one of the most important maintenance tasks for your vehicle. It’s a step that protects you and your loved ones, which is why many people choose to personally change the brakes on their vehicles. At first, changing your brakes can seem like a complicated procedure, but once you’ve done it a few times it can take as little as a couple of hours to finish the whole job. Knowing how to change your brakes is a way to avoid the high costs at auto repair places and keep your car in optimum shape.

Eight Steps to Quickly Change your Motor Oil

While making major repairs on your car may be out of the question, one task many people can learn to accomplish - in under half an hour - is to change their vehicle’s motor oil. Why take the time to do this? For one thing, doing it yourself will save you money. You’ll also feel good about protecting one of your most important possessions since regular oil changes help prolong the life of your vehicle and protect your investment.

Seven Ways to Control Your Emotions While Driving

Have you ever considered how strong emotions can affect your safety when you're behind the wheel? Think about the following situations and how they might affect your driving.

A Holiday Sober Driving Guide

As the holidays get closer, talk turns to the fun and feasting in the days ahead. However, a downside of all the merriment is the temptation to drive after having a few drinks. Why is it a downside? Every year, in just the one week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, an average of 300 people die in drunk-driving-related crashes.

Six Tips for Winter Driving and Vehicle Maintenance

As chilly weather settles in for the winter, what maintenance does your vehicle need? To keep your vehicle running smoothly even in slush, freezing rain, or snow, we have tips for you. These pointers may be new to you, or they may simply serve as a reminder as you get ready for the cold months ahead. If you live in warmer areas and are planning a road trip to cooler climates, count on these tips to keep you stress-free and prepared for anything.

Safe Driving at Thanksgiving Time

This November, many Americans will set aside a day to be grateful. Over 50 million Americans are expected to travel to visit family during Thanksgiving week, many of them embarking on long road trips. All those vehicles on the road make safety behind the wheel even more important. Whether or not you will travel far from home, how can you stay safe on the road?

Vehicle Safety Recalls and Daylight Savings Time

The NHTSA advises vehicle owners to check for recalls twice a year when setting their clocks backward or forward to observe Daylight Saving Time or to revert to standard time. Of course, vehicle repairs are not directly linked to your clock, but these important changes to your daily routine are a convenient time to remember to check for important recalls.