skip to main content
Heartland Community College

Home»Continuing Education»Traffic Safety School»

In this section... (Click to Open)

Safety Tips and Resource Links

  • Illinois Secretary of State Website:

    • Illinois Rules of the Road
    • Guidance for teen drivers
    • Instructions for driver license and license-plate renewals

    Illinois General Assembly Website:

    • New laws and changes in laws

     National Safety Council:

    • Best practices in safe driving
    • Videos for raising awareness and improving driving habits (for visual learners).

  • Road-Trip Safety During COVID-19

    We encourage all drivers to anticipate risks associated with COVID-19 before hitting the highway. Review the following recommendations about planning for a safe road trip this fall.

    Before You Go

    • Plan your route.
    • Research the destination—and the spots along the way—to ensure there isn’t a “hot spot” where you’re headed.
    • Plan the safety precautions you will take, such as:
      • Wearing masks
      • Maintaining 6 ft. distance between people
      • Limiting eating or time indoors with other people, such as at rest areas and restaurants
    • Check whether you will have to quarantine upon arrival to your destination or at home upon return from traveling. Communicate that to family, employer, and coworkers accordingly.
    • Pack the following:
      • Sanitizers for hands and surfaces
      • Masks
      • Disposable gloves
      • Tissues
      • Sealable, disposable plastic bags
      • Water and snacks to minimize stops along the way

    During Your Trip

    • Wear disposable gloves when pumping gas instead of wiping down handle and nozzle; dispose gloves after pumping and before getting back into your vehicle.
    • Pay with credit cards instead of cash to remove face-to-face interactions.
    • Use a paper towel to protect hands when exiting a rest area.
    • Call ahead to dine-in restaurants to ensure there’s space due to restricted seating.
    • Call ahead to hotels to confirm reservation and learn their approach to sanitization and social distancing.
    • Use your own sanitizer to safely use high-touch areas in a hotel room, such as TV remote and doorknobs.

    Additional Resources:

    Driving in Bloomington-Normal

    Bloomington-Normal is a railroad town, and we must take care crossing tracks. As a driver:

    • Expect a train at any time in either direction, regardless of time of day or day of week.
    • Never race a train to the crossing.
    • If you see a train approaching, wait for it to go by before proceeding across the tracks.
    • Do not drive around lowered gates. It’s illegal and deadly.
    • If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get out and get away from the tracks, even if you do not see a train.