As reported by 13WHAM.com, Forbes Advisor has ranked New York fourth in its list of states with the best drivers. After all, the Empire State has the third-lowest total fatal car accidents and fourth-fewest DUI drivers involved in deadly crashes.
Although the figures are low (8.1 and 2.5 per 100,000 licensed drivers, respectively), they’re still sobering statistics. And since the roads in the City That Never Sleeps can be chaotic, they can make driving more challenging.
Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. We here at Pierre Paul Driving School have shared driving tips and NYC traffic navigation strategies to help you get around safely, so read on.
Always Conduct Pre-Drive Inspections
One of the most crucial NYC road safety tips is to ensure your vehicle is in tip-top shape before every drive. Always inspect your car before revving its engine, whether your ride is brand-new, a few years old, or has 50,000 miles or more on it.
A good enough reason is that something wrong may have happened to your car in the hours you left it parked. For example, someone may have vandalized it by puncturing its tires or breaking its lights or mirrors. Or you may not have noticed yourself, but your tires may now be quite worn and on the verge of going flat.
Either way, never skip pre-drive inspections, as they’re for your and every other road user’s safety. According to the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, defective car parts can cause accidents. The ones that cause the most incidents are bald or worn tires, bad brakes, faulty suspension, and broken lights.
Factor in Weather Conditions
New York City experiences varied weather conditions, including snow, ice, and rainfall extreme enough to cause flash floods.
The last thing you want is to drive in flooded areas, so check the weather forecast before you get behind the wheel. Staying up-to-date on weather conditions is even more crucial if you’re going on a long road trip with your NYC home as the starting point.
If the weather takes a turn for the worse while you’re driving, don’t panic. Instead, stay focused and alert, and be in a defensive driving mode to help you navigate adverse driving conditions.
Drive more cautiously, watch out for the water level, and pay attention to flash flood warnings in the area.
Hopefully, you won’t ever be in this situation. However, you may have to abandon your car if you encounter a flash flood while driving and the water rises fast. Then, as quickly as possible, find and reach higher ground on foot.
Schedule Trips Outside of NYC Rush Hours
There are many things to love about NYC, from its vibrant and dynamic character to its gastronomic food delights and incredible skyline views. Unfortunately, it has less-than-lovable attributes, too, particularly its rush hours. According to Visual Capitalist, it’s America’s worst city for rush hour traffic, with motorists here having lost an average of 101 hours to traffic jams in 2023 alone.
So, one of the most practical New York City driving advice for you and other new NYC drivers is to avoid rush hours as much as possible. Your best bet is to schedule driving activities outside the range of 7 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. during weekdays.
If you must be somewhere early, say between 7 and 8 a.m., you may want to get a head start and drive to your destination earlier. However, consider doing so only if you’ve slept well the night before and are fully rested and awake to ensure safe driving in New York City.
Use Technology to Your Advantage
Staying informed with traffic apps is one of the best urban driving strategies to avoid congested NYC roads. Here are some of the most useful ones to install on your phone:
511 NY App
The 511NY app is an official New York Department of Transportation app that provides real-time traffic and transit information for the entire state. One of its most valuable features is the Drive Mode.
With the Drive Mode feature, you enter your origin and destination. The app will then give you up to three routes with estimated highway travel times based on road and traffic conditions.
The app also comes with other nifty filters/layers, such as:
- Closures
- Incidents
- Cameras
- Construction
- Special events
Use those other filters to plan your routes before hitting the road. They can help you avoid getting stuck in traffic due to closures, crashes, or special events (e.g., festivals or parades).
Waze
Waze is like 511 NY, offering up-to-the-minute road information, including traffic congestion, accident alerts, and closures. However, it’s a community-driven navigation app that relies on user-provided data.
Use Waze side-by-side 511 NY to plan the best routes to your destination. 511 NY also uses Waze data, so the Waze app can sometimes provide data more quickly.
Google Maps
Waze and Google Maps are Google-operated navigation systems, but the latter is more comprehensive. Waze is specifically for road users with tires; Google Maps is for everyone, from pedestrians to commuters, cyclists, motorcyclists, and drivers. The primary goal of Waze is to get you somewhere in the least amount of time possible, while Google Maps proposes safer and more eco-friendly routes, as TomsGuide.com points out.
Because of those key differences, it pays to have Google Maps on your phone, too. Its use can be particularly beneficial for road trips from NYC to outside NYS, where the 511 NY app won’t work.
As a friendly reminder, only use navigation apps hands-free and never get distracted by your phone while driving.
Keep These NYC Driving Tips in Mind
Whether you’re a first-time driver or new to NYC, these driving tips should help you navigate the city’s roads more safely and efficiently.
If you need expert assistance in honing your driving skills, the professional instructors at our licensed Brooklyn driving school, Pierre Paul Driving School, are here to help. We have over 15 years of experience training drivers of all ages and experience levels. We offer comprehensive lessons and packages with available pricing plans to help you stay within your budget.
Book your lessons now or call us at 718-576-6277 to learn more about us and our services!