What's the right way to yield for emergency vehicles? DC, Maryland & Virginia told us:
- The general rule is pull over to the right so emergency vehicles can pass on the left.
- However, if you're on a one-way road, or in the left lane of a highway and don't feel safe pulling to the right, stay on the left and make way for the emergency vehicle to pass in the center of the road.
- In all cases, the major concern is safety: you have to find the safest way to yield to the emergency vehicle.
When it comes to drinking and driving, what’s the difference between a DUI and a DWI? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety told us:
- In Maryland, Virginia, and DC, there’s really no difference between the two: they carry the same charges.
- DUI stands for driving under the influence & DWI stands for driving while intoxicated.
- Drivers in Maryland and the District can also be charged with "driving while impaired" which carries a lesser penalty than DUI or DWI.
- Police sometimes shorten to "driving while impaired" to just "impaired" in order to avoid confusion with DUI or DWI.
Who makes decisions concerning daylight saving time? We checked with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which acts as the official timekeeper for the United States:
- Daylight Saving Time was formally introduced to the U.S. in 1918.
- Today, most of the country observes Daylight Saving Time under federal regulation.
- The rules for Daylight Saving Time changed in 2007 for the first time in more than 20 years as an effort to reduce energy consumption.
- So now, Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November.
- This year, daylight saving ends on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 2 a.m.
- At that time, clocks will be set back one hour and it will become 1 a.m. local standard time.
- And don't forget to change the batteries in your smoke detectors when you change your clocks.
Got a question for "Ask Liz"? Send any consumer questions to askliz@nbcwashington.com.
