Philadelphia is one of our nation’s most famous cities – it played a vital role in the beginning of our country. Many of the most famous landmarks in the United States are located in Philadelphia. And while the city does attract tens of thousands of tourists every year, it also plays home to plenty of permanent residents too. With multiple professional sports teams, and a thriving professional economy, Philadelphia is a great place to live if you can handle the cold weather.

If you’re going to drive in Philadelphia, it’s important that you have the necessary insurance. You should not underestimate how valuable it can be if you end up getting in an accident. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the things you should consider if you’re someone who frequently drives in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia: Driving Conditions in the City

If you’re going to drive on Philadelphia roads, it’s important to be aware of some of the issues that drivers face in the region. Each area of the country poses its own risks, so if you’re new to the area, make sure to take the following conditions seriously. Winters can be extremely harsh in Philadelphia, given how north the city lies within the United States. This provides a range of different issues for drivers, including icy roads and snowy conditions. Those who drive in the winter should pay attention to local warnings and ensure they understand how to drive in cold conditions.

Aside from the weather, there is also plenty of traffic in Philadelphia – as one of the nation’s oldest cities, it can get extremely crowded during peak times. If you’re looking to ensure you don’t get into trouble on the road, be very aware when there is a lot of traffic.

Driving Safety Laws in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

If you want to be as safe as possible on Philadelphia roads, make sure to consider the safety laws in the region. Philadelphia drivers have to abide by a mix of state and local laws if they want to drive legally on the roads of the city. In this section, we’ll take a deeper look at what you need to know to drive in Philadelphia. Check it out below:

Phone/Handheld Laws in Philadelphia

As mentioned previously, drivers in Philadelphia have to abide by both local and statewide laws. In terms of phones or handheld devices, you cannot use phones to text message anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania. But in Philadelphia, you are not allowed to use your cell phone at all. This means that you need to avoid using your cell phone any time you operate a vehicle inside the city.

It goes without saying that using a cell phone while driving is extremely dangerous. It is responsible for many deaths and collisions throughout the country. In order to practice safe driving standards, you shouldn’t use a cell phone anywhere when you’re driving.

Seatbelt and Car Seat Laws in Philadelphia

If you drive in the state of Pennsylvania, you must use a seatbelt if you are under the age of 18. For those who are under the age of four, a restrained car seat is required for legal transportation. In addition, those between four and eight must be placed in a booster seat.

Remember, driving without a seatbelt is extremely dangerous and can lead to death. If you want to avoid a ticket, injury, or death, we advise you to wear a seat belt at all times while you’re in your vehicle.

Alcohol and Drug Laws (Driving)

As with every region of the country, Philadelphia takes driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol very seriously. If you are driving anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania, it is a DUI if you are operating a vehicle over the blood alcohol content (BAC) limit of .08. Though penalties can increase if you are significantly over this limit. The punishment for driving under the influence will depend on how many times you have been caught for a similar offense.

If you are a first-time offender, most cases result in a $300 fine, up to six months of probation, and a driving course. For second time offenders, this fine can increase to $2,500 and you might face up to six months in jail. In addition, you can have you license suspended for a year and have an ignition lock placed in your card. If you’re a third-time offender, you might face a fine of up to $5,000 and potentially up to two years in prison. Again, if you are significantly over the limit these fines and penalties can increase substantially.

DUIs are one of the leading causes of road fatalities in the United States. Make sure you’re aware of how dangerous it is to drive while under the influence of any form of substance.

Philadelphia Statistics

Roads in the United States can be dangerous, but you might not realize how many crashes there truly are in Philadelphia. To provide context, we’ll take a look at some statistics about the number of crashes in the state of Pennsylvania. There were over 120,000 accidents in the state in 2017. Out of these crashes, over 1,100 people were killed. In addition to these fatalities, over 80,000 people were injured in the same year. As you can see, it’s important to be a vigilant driver at all times in Philadelphia.

Verdict

Now that you have a deep understanding of the risks you face while driving in Philadelphia, as well as some of the laws that you need to abide by, it’s time to consider how important it is to ensure that you are currently insured. People who are driving in the United States need to have proper insurance to protect themselves against the large costs associated with accidents and injuries. Take a look at some of the info on our site if you want to know who the best insurance companies are in the area.

If you plan on driving in another city or location, make sure to check out some of the other area-specific pages on our site!