Business Fleet Logo

Video Safety Tip: Urban Driving

Here's advice, provided by State Farm and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, on how to drive safely in central business districts in major cities.

November 20, 2017
Video Safety Tip: Urban Driving

 

Photo: AAA

2 min to read


Some drivers become more apprehensive when they’re driving in a major city’s central business district. There are more vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, blaring horns, responding emergency vehicles, one-way streets, bus stops — all of which can combine to make driving more challenging.

Click on the photo or link above to watch a video that offers city driving tips from Vision Zero San Francisco and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

Ad Loading...

Additionally, State Farm offers this advice:

  • Avoid aggressive driving and weaving from lane to lane. 

  • Keep a safe distance of at least three seconds between you and the vehicle ahead of you. This will help avoid frequent braking and rear-end collisions. 

  • Watch the traffic ahead closely. When cars in front brake, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down gradually before you brake. Be cautious not to brake abruptly.

  • Stay focused. Keep your mind on driving by avoiding distractions such as eating or using your cell phone.

  • Use your blinkers when changing lanes or merging. Most state laws require activating blinkers at least 100 feet before merging or turning, but some states require at least 200 feet. 

  • Use your mirrors to monitor the areas around your car. Perform head checks to check your blind spots before changing lanes or merging. 

  • Use the length of the acceleration lane to merge safely into traffic. 

  • Be responsible with technology, and plan ahead. Before you start your trip, check traffic apps on your phone or listen to radio reports to avoid extra-congested areas. If you're worried about encountering heavy traffic during your commute, take time before you leave to map out an alternate route on your GPS.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

More Safety

Bar chart showing fleets with 10 or fewer vehicles monitor 25% of their vehicles with telematics, compared with 90% for fleets with 11 to 99 vehicles.
Safety•by Lauren Fletcher•October 1, 2026

Small Fleets Lag in Telematics Coverage as Industry Moves Beyond Adoption

SambaSafety’s 2026 Telematics Report finds fleets with 10 or fewer vehicles monitor a much smaller share of their vehicles than larger operations, as the industry shifts its focus from collecting data to using it.

Read More →
Business Fleet back-to-school graphic featuring a yellow school bus traveling on a highway under a blue sky.
Safety•by Lauren Fletcher•September 28, 2026

Back-to-School Traffic Is Not the Risk Fleets Think It Is

Back-to-school traffic does not always mean more crashes. New Empiric Earth data shows why fleets should focus on when and where risk changes.

Read More →
Worker drives a company vehicle with safety gear, tools, and a daily vehicle inspection checklist visible inside the cab.
Safety•September 23, 2026

Small Fleet, Big Exposure: How to Reduce Workers’ Comp Risks

For small fleets, one crash can trigger far more than vehicle damage. Here’s how stronger driver safety policies, training, maintenance, and technology can help reduce workers’ comp exposure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Snow-covered road through a winter forest with the words “Are You Prepared?” across the sky.
Safety•by Lauren Fletcher•September 14, 2026

Who Makes the Call When Winter Weather Gets Dangerous?

Winter weather can quickly change a small fleet’s plans. Knowing when to reroute, delay, or stop can matter just as much as preparing the vehicles themselves.

Read More →
Fuel nozzle positioned near a vehicle’s open fuel filler as blue static electricity arcs between the nozzle and fill point.
Safety•by Staff•August 31, 2026

API Issues Refueling Safety Guidelines

The American Petroleum Institute offers a list of safe vehicle refueling guidelines, including ways to avoid potential problems with static electricity discharges in fall, winter, and early spring.

Read More →
Winter emergency kit with gloves, flashlight, snow brush, and cold-weather supplies arranged on snowy ground during falling snow.
Safety•by Staff•August 26, 2026

Winter Fleet Prep: Expert Tips to Keep Vehicles Running Smoothly

Cold weather can expose weak batteries, tires, fuel systems, and maintenance gaps fast. Use this winter fleet checklist to prepare trucks and drivers before temperatures drop.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Technician wearing safety glasses inspects a front-mounted ADAS radar sensor on a blue commercial truck.
Safety•by Lauren Fletcher•July 15, 2026

8 ADAS Maintenance Tips for Small Business Fleets From Bendix

A dirty camera, bad alignment, or one loose connection could quietly knock your fleet’s ADAS offline. Here’s what Bendix says to check.

Read More →
 Drivers in a safety meeting at Wheelz Up
Safety•by Amy Hercher•July 14, 2026

Developing Budget-Friendly Driver Safety Programs

From driver training and safety meetings to one-on-one coaching and incentive programs, several small fleets share how they have developed a safety culture with their drivers using low- to no-cost resources.

Read More →
Business Fleet graphic promoting Operation Safe Driver Week, showing a police vehicle with flashing red and blue emergency lights and the dates July 12-18, 2026.
Safety•by Lauren Fletcher•July 2, 2026

A 20-Minute Safety Check for Small Fleets Before Operation Safe Driver Week

No safety department? No problem. Here's a practical checklist small fleet managers can use before Operation Safe Driver Week begins.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A commercial vehicle wheel and an inspector holding a clipboard appear behind the headline "Getting Tripped Up?" highlighting fleet compliance and roadside inspection challenges.
Safety•by Lauren Fletcher•June 25, 2026

Why Small Fleets Keep Getting Tripped Up by ELD Compliance

Roadcheck revealed a hard truth: most ELD violations aren't intentional. They're caused by small mistakes that can cost fleets time, money, and trust.

Read More →