Driving into hailstorms can be very dangerous.

Hailstorms can start very quickly without giving any warnings.

The best and only thing to do is to be prepared and for when driving into hailstorms by following these tips. Here’s what to do if you drive into a hailstorm:

Keep an eye on the weather. While it is difficult to accurately predict a hailstorm, they are most commonly associated with severe weather such as tornadoes and thunderstorms. Check your local newspaper or weather channel for the daily forecast, and plan your schedules accordingly in the event of severe weather.
Stay inside the vehicle. Hail falls at fast speeds, and it can cause injury to those in its path.
Stop driving and pull to a safe place so hail doesn’t break the windshield or any windows — driving compounds hail’s impact with your car. Stop under an overpass, and don’t forget to pull out of traffic lanes and onto a shoulder. Avoid ditches due to possible high-rising water. Motorists should pull off to the side of the road, away from trees or other areas where debris could fall, and stay undercover until the storm has passed.
Keep your car angled so the hail is hitting the front of your car. Windshields are reinforced to withstand forward driving and pelting objects. Side windows and backglass are not, so they’re much more susceptible to breakage.
Lie down, if possible, and keep your back to the windows. If you have a blanket, cover yourself with it to prevent possible debris from hitting you.

Something as quick and simple as putting on your seat belt or getting your windshield cleaned can mean the difference between life and death. Being aware of yourself and other drivers and practicing good road etiquette is equally important. So here are some tips to keep you mindful and safe:

Important to Keep in Mind

Obey the speed limits. Going too fast gives you less time to stop or react. Excess speed is one of the main causes of teenage accidents.
Always wear your seat belt – and make sure all passengers buckle up, too. Don’t try to fit more people in the car than you have seat belts for them to use.
Adjust your car’s head rest to a height behind your head – not your neck – to minimize whiplash in case you’re in an accident.
Make sure your windshield is clean. At sunrise and sunset, light reflecting off your dirty windshield can momentarily blind you from seeing what’s going on.
Experts now recommend that you hold the steering wheel at either 3 and 9 o’clock on the wheel, or even lower at 4 and 8 o’clock. If you’re in an accident and the airbags go off, you’ll be safer with your hands not flying into your face from the impact of the airbags.

Think About Other Drivers

Don’t drive like you own the road. Drive like you own the car.
Don’t make assumptions about what other drivers are going to do. The only thing you can assume about another driver with a turn signal on is that they have a turn signal on. He/she might not be turning at all, and just forgot to turn it off.
Watch out for aggressive drivers, and try to stay out of their way. They are the cause of a lot of accidents – especially on freeways.
Never pull out in front of anyone or swerve into someone else’s lane.

Full Time Awareness

Make sure your car always has gas in it – don’t ride around with the gauge on empty.
If you’re in the country, watch out for animals. If you see an animal approaching, slow down and flash your lights repeatedly. Dusk and dawn are particularly bad times for running into animals, so be on the lookout for them.
When light turns green, make sure intersection clears before you go.

Driving Close to Schools

Always stop for school buses with flashing lights. The flashing lights mean that students are either getting on or off the bus, and may be crossing the street. Their safety depends on cars obeying this law.
Don’t park in fire lanes around the school. Not only will you probably get a ticket, but you could be blocking the area where a fire truck might need to park.
Try to get to school five to ten minutes early, and leave five minutes late to avoid the mad dash into and out of the parking lot. Lots of accidents happen when people are rushing around.
Always watch for kids getting on and off school buses.
If your school lot has perpendicular spaces (not angled parking), park in a space you can pull straight out of instead of having to back out. Backing out in crowded lots is always tricky.
Don’t leave valuables like wallets, shoes, laptops, jackets, phones, or sports equipment in your car where they can be seen easily.

Source: Driving Tips Online

Autumn Driving Hazards

Sep 15, 2016 | New Driver News, Tips

– By ANewDriver

Every season presents its own challenges on the roads, but autumn is one season that often gets overlooked. With weather conditions that are typically not as harsh as those in Winter, Spring, and Summer, it’s easy to take it for granted. While the weather may not be too harsh, it’s more unpredictable than other seasons, so we should be aware of some hazards.

Any morning may be warm, cold, foggy, raining, sleeting, or even snowing. This season also sees the first frost, which can cause roads to be slippery, especially on secondary roads where ice can form and take longer to dissolve. In addition to weather conditions, fallen leaves can also cause slippery conditions: that’s because they contain a large amount of water and are in decomposition process. So the best action to take when spotting a road covered in leaves is to slow down where there are large patches.

With the school year starting in September, everyone will be sharing the road with school buses during the morning commute. This can be particularly problematic because several morning weather conditions, including cooler temperatures, can make it difficult to see through a windshield. It’s a good idea to make sure the defrost feature is in working order before Fall is in full swing. When school buses are on the road it’s important to keep a safe distance at all times, especially when the stop arm is extended. Everyone needs to stop at that time, unless there is a divider between a car and the school bus. The rule for stopping is similar to the rule for pulling over when an emergency vehicle has its lights flashing.

Fall conditions also affect evening driving. During the season, the sun rises later and sets earlier, so a person may wind up driving toward the sun in the evening. It’s a good idea to have a pair of sunglasses in the car. A properly positioned visor can also help with the glare of the sun. The best way to position a visor is to push it all the way toward the windshield, and then bring it toward the steering wheel until it’s in the correct spot. Once the sun starts going down, it’s time to turn on the headlights. It’s best to do this during dusk so other drivers can see the car, because a setting sun can still cause glare on a windshield. During dusk it’s also important to use the two-second rule to keep a safe distance between cars. Using these driving tips will be a good step toward a safe season.

New Hi-Tech vehicle is a boost for drivers with physical disabilities

Aug 24, 2016 | New Driver News

– By ANewDriver via Independent.ie

Driving from a wheelchair: the new Hi-Tech vehicle is a boost for drivers with physical disabilities. The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) will officially roll out the new motor and driving tuition service. It will be known as a the ‘Drive from Wheelchair Tuition Vehicle’.

The important addition to the IWA’s driving school fleet means people will be able to learn to drive from their wheelchair, alongside a driving instructor.

While Hi-tech advances are usually associated with new and eye-catching cars, it is good, for once, to highlight its use in a manner that can improve people’s lives in such a profound way. The new vehicle is expected to help open up opportunities for many with physical disabilities.

Those who use a power or electric wheelchair will be able to learn to drive in the specially adapted vehicle which, as our pictures show, has a spread of controls and technology designed to help them.

The vehicle is expected to benefit many as it is capable of substantially increasing their level of independence on a day-to-day basis. As a result, it is anticipated that it will help improve opportunities for employment and/or further education.

What to do When Driving with Sun Glare

Aug 12, 2016 | Tips

– By ANewDriver

Driving with sun glare? Sunlight can cause major problems seeing when you drive at any time of year, not just in summer. The period just after the sun rises and just before it sets are dangerous times for drivers, whether the days are long or short. In Ireland, RSA & Gardai have been warning drivers of ‘sun glare’ as it has been linked to many road deaths.

When the sun is shining into your eyes as you drive, you don’t have a good view of the road due to glare. It can be impossible to get a true view of the road ahead. But you can take steps to improve your vision when the sun is out.

Here is what can help you:

Wear a pair of good Sunglasses – Summer or winter, you must wear them. A good pair of polarized sunglasses are an essential safety tool for any driver year round. They won’t give you perfect vision in the glare of the sun, but they are your best first step.

Make sure your windscreen is clean before driving – Grime on the inside and outside of your windshield makes the sunlight refract and scatter, which intensifies the glare. Clean glass is easier to see out of whatever the weather conditions, but especially when you are facing sunlight. It is best to clean your windshield before your trip. Using your car’s windshield cleaning device during the drive leaves drops of washer fluid on it, which reflect the sun, making it harder to drive until they dry up.

Avoid clutter on your dashboard – Sunlight reflects off items on your dashboard. Anything with a shiny surface, including paper, can add to your trouble seeing well. Store items in the glove compartment or buy a caddy to hold them.

Leave ample space between you and the driver ahead – Give yourself plenty of room out in traffic. If there is a problem, this extra room can save you from running into the car ahead.

Try to avoid times when glare is at its worst – It is not possible to avoid it at all times, but it can be helpful to leave even 30 minutes earlier or later for your commute to avoid the problems with glare. If you can’t, then add extra time to your trip. Rushing when driving with the sun glaring in your eyes is asking for trouble.

Source: RSA.ie

A Quick Guide To Warning Traffic Signs

Jul 25, 2016 | Driving Test Guides, Tips

– By ANewDriver

This section includes signs that warn road users of a hazard ahead. They are diamond or rectangular in shape and have a black border and black symbols or letters on a yellow background.

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A Quick Car Checklist before Your Test

Jul 20, 2016 | Driving Test Guides, Tips

– By ANewDriver

It is a good idea to be familiar with the car you are using for your test. A New Driver has made a quick list of things to check up before you go ahead with it. By checking all the list below is in good order before you go to your driving test centre, you will reduce your changes of getting refused eligibility to sit the test: It happens more often than you know!

So here is what to watch out for:

Provisional Licence/Learners Permit: Make sure this is in date and has the correct category on it.
Tax: Make sure your car’s tax disc is in date and correct registration number.
Insurance: Make sute the insurance disc on the car is in date and has the correct registration number.
Nct: Only if the test car is required to have an NCT disc, make sure the NCT disc is in date and has the correct registration number.
Bonnet check: Check that oil for engine, coolant for engine radiator, water for windscreen washer, steering fluid, and clutch fluid is topped up. You must know where all fluids go for your test regardless.
Lights: Check brake lights and indicators are working correctly and are the correct colour.
Warning lights due to fault: Make sure there are no warning lights on before you go for your test as your car will be refused.
Seatbelts: Check that all seatbelts are working correctly.
Windows: Check that all windows are working correctly.
Tyres: Remember you should know the Tyre Check as there is a 90% chance you will be asked. Vehicles with bald or worn tyres will not be taken out on test.

A Quick Guide For Information Signs

Jul 11, 2016 | Driving Test Guides, Tips

– By ANewDriver

An information sign is a very legibly printed and very noticeable placard that informs people of the purpose of an object, or gives them instruction on the use of something – like road signs showing directions and the location of services or other places of interest to tourists.

Advance direction signs

Motorway

National road

Regional road

Direction signs (at junctions)

Motorway direction sign

National road direction signs

Regional road direction sign

Local road direction sign

Destination distance sign

Town or village sign

Slow lane sign

Cul-de-sac

Industrial estate symbol

Sign showing parking bay for disabled persons

Disabled persons parking bay

Airport symbol

Ferry symbol

Alternative route for high vehicles

Lay-by ahead sign

Hospital ahead sign

Lay-by sign

Hospital sign

Carpark with facilities for disabled persons

SOS lay-by

Sign showing restricted heights on route

Sign for low bridges or low clearance ahead

Advance information sign for low clearance

Traffic calming sign

Traffic calming sign

Supplementary plate

Ramps on road

Tourist information signs

Sign for lay-by with facilities ahead (3km)

Advance sign for facilities in lay-by

Sign for lay-by with tourist information ahead (1km)

Advance sign for lay-by with tourism information

Sign for Óige youth hostels

Advance direction to local services

Signing to approved tourist information

Tourist advanced direction sign

Tourist attraction direction sign

Pedestrian sign to a tourist attraction

Pedestrian sign to a car park

Sign to approved tourist information point

Quick Guide For Road Works Warning Signs

Jun 21, 2016 | Driving Lessons, Driving Test Guides, Tips

– By ANewDriver

Warning signs for road work will warn you of hazards ahead, such as roundabouts, crossroads, dangerous bends or anything else that would call on you to drive more carefully.

You should always take special care when you see a warning sign. If you fail to observe these signs you could create an emergency. Like other warning signs, these are diamond or rectangular in shape and have a black border and black symbols or text. However, they are orange in colour instead of yellow.

Roadworks ahead