MyImprov | Defensive Driving

February 21, 2012

Be Advised: Vehicle Inspections Required In Texas

Making a move to Texas? If you consider yourself a defensive driver then you better make certain your vehicle is in excellent working order or you won’t be able to transfer your registration. You might also receive a citation for a vehicle malfunction if your clunky automobile is spotted by police.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles makes it very clear what you need to do to registers your vehicle in their state if you make a move there. The steps are easy enough if your vehicle is in good working order, and there is no reason to try ad put it off. It’s only a matter of time until a cop sees you have the wrong plates and decides to stop you.

For everyone who moves to Texas they have 30 days to get their vehicle registered or risk a citation. The first step is to get your vehicle inspected. There are an abundance of qualified vehicle inspection sites. You can make an appointment or just show up and take your chances on the wait. They will perform an inspection of your vehicle, checking the lights, horn and emissions; and the general quality of your vehicle. If your vehicle passes inspection you will be given a vehicle inspection sticker you can display in your windshield so everybody (especially law enforcement) know your vehicle is permitted to at least be on the roads in Texas.

Once your vehicle has passed inspection it will be time to visit your county tax office with all of the following:

* inspection certification,
* proof of liability insurance,
* the vehicle’s odometer reading if it is less than 10 years old,
* ownership document, which may be:
an original out-of-state title,
proof of registration (for non-title state),
current foreign/military ownership document, or
foreign evidence of ownership
* completed Form 130-U (if applying for registration only, without a Texas title, please attach a completed Form VTR-272), and

* and of course, the following fees:
registration fee,
title application fee of $28 or $33, depending on the county, and
new resident tax of $90 or proof of sales tax payment

It is possible there will be more fees you have to pay once you show up, so be certain you bring your check book!

Image: think4photop / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

February 17, 2012

Graduated License For First Time Drivers in Arizona

Teens who want to drive in Arizona have to learn a few things about defensive driving before the state allows them to take to the road on their own. In fact, although they can get any type of learner’s permit at 15 1/2 and have to wait until they are 18 before they are eligible for a full operators permit.

Graduated licensing programs are becoming more and more common as states look for ways to address the number of vehicle accidents caused by teen drivers. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, vehicle crashes are the number cause of death for teenagers in the United States.

Arizona addresses this problem by requiring teens to get parental permission before even making application for a learner’s permit, then requiring a slow and steady course of instruction until they turn 18. They have strict limitations imposed on their ability to drive with a learner’s permit and these limitations are gradually lifted as they get older and more qualified.

When it comes to defensive driving, Arizona wants to make certain all fully licensed drivers are well qualified before they get behind the wheel.

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation the stipulations for first time teen drivers are as follows:

1. Drivers must be a minimum of 15 1/2 years old before they qualify for a graduated vehicle operators permit.

2. Once they have held the learner’s permit for six months they qualify for a graduated driver license, and successfully completed a driver’s education course. There are more with stipulations including:

*Teen cannot drive between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. unless,
*A parent or legal guardian who has a valid driver license is sitting in the front passenger seat, -or-
*The teen is driving to or from a sanctioned school sponsored activity, sanctioned religious activity, place of employment or family emergency.
*Teen can not drive a motor vehicle containing more than one passenger under the age of 18 on a public highway unless,
*The passengers are the teen driver’s siblings, -or- the teen driver is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian with a valid driver license and occupies the front passenger seat.

Image: imagerymajestic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

February 15, 2012

New Jersey Drivers Need To Move Over: It’s The Law

In New Jersey the left lane of a two lane road (when both lanes are going in the same direction, of course) is only for drivers who are passing. That means if you’re cruising along, minding your own business, you better be doing it in the right hand lane.

Unfortunately not all drivers know this law, or, if they do, they simply ignore it. The law is pretty clear, however, even printed in the New Jersey Driver’s Manual: The left lane is only for passing. Violators face a possible citation and fine of $100, although the law is not regularly enforced.

Why do New Jersey drivers need to keep right except when they are passing? Well, to keep traffic controlled and flowing, for one. If drivers ride side by side, and decided to do so at a minimum speed, other drivers who are moving at a faster rate cannot get by them. This impedes traffic. And the northeastern United States is known for having high levels of traffic, so anything that can help alleviate the problem is a boon to everyone.

Another good reason to leave the left lane clear is so emergency vehicles always have a clear lane to get to their destination without the need to wait for a drive to move over.

Driving in the left lane is really just a case of someone doing whatever they want just because they can. It’s rude to other drivers and not an example of common sense, defensive driving.

Last summer New Jersey state Senator Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) introduced legislation increase the maximum penalty for violation of the “keep right” law from $100 to $300. He also suggested a portion of the fees collected be put into a fund to purchase “move over” signs for posting along roadways as a reminder to drivers who might be unaware of the law, or just forgetful. It might also provide an impetus for police to begin enforcing the law for public safety reasons.

In the meantime, if you drive in New Jersey be certain you do it in the right hand lane or risk a fine and the ire from other drivers who can’t get past you.

Image: ntwowe / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

February 13, 2012

What Happens In Vegas Might Come Back To Haunt You

If you happen to be vacationing in Nevada, amassing traffic citations as you enjoy the sights, sounds and shows, don’t think your worries will end once you are back home again.

In fact, Rapper, Mogul and Entrepreneur Marion “Suge” Knight learned this very valuable lesson after being stopped by police for a traffic infraction. Police discovered he had a few outstanding traffic warrants, in addition to a new charge for suspicion of marijuana possession, and he was promptly arrested.

The same is true just about any where you drive these days. Many states are also connected to a nationwide data base for traffic infractions, so once you get home your local BMV might just pass along the fines you received while you were out-of-state. In today’s digital age you simply cannot hide from your traffic citations.

Suge was spotted making an illegal turn and changing lanes without signalling on the Veags Strip last week and police immediately pulled him over. A quick check of his license showed his outstanding warrants, one for driving on a suspended license, and he was arrested on the spot. He was later released on $2,600 bail.

There is no reason to let traffic citations pile up and go unanswered. If you get busted by the police for something, even something you consider minor, make certain you find out what you owe, how you pay it, who you pay it to and when it is due. Then get it taken care of. Nothing will spoil your Las Vegas vacation quite like a night in jail and the best way to avoid this is to take care of your business in a timely fashion.

Even if you don’t end up in jail, you will end up on the wrong side of the law, with points piling up on your license and/or your license suspended. So don’t let a traffic citation follow you around forever, because eventually it will catch up with you.

Image: Nikolay / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

February 10, 2012

Florida Students Teaching Students About Dangers Of Distracted Driving

In Jacksonville, Florida, student injuries from texting while driving are on the rise. To counter this upward trend the Duvall County Sheriff’s Department, Duval County Public Schools and the Jacksonville-based nonprofit SELF (Service, Education, Leadership Foundation) are banding together to host the first Teen Safe Driving video contest.

The idea is to get students involved in the effort to get students to understand the risks involved with texting and driving and distracted driving in general. Since a great number of teens today watch and make their own videos for loading to YouTube and other online video sharing sites, officials hope students will get involved en masse, helping to spread the word about the dangers of texting while driving.

The contest asks teens to create a 30- to 60-second video on the dangers of distracted or impaired driving.They can employ any videography skills they already have, or feel free to learn new tricks to make their video even more slick and professional.

The video has to be submitted to SELF’s YouTube channel by midnight on March 17. A public vote will choose seven finalists between April 7-22, and a local panel of judges will select three more. The winner will finally be announced on May 23. Students may work alone or in teams. The winning student or team gets $1,500 in scholarships and a $1,000 grant for a student-focused improvement project at the public high school of their choice

The Florida students have an opportunity to win scholarship and more perhaps more importantly, save other students from injury or death as a result of distracted driving.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board distracted driving now surpasses drunk driving as the single most dangerous way to drive. Distracted driving is responsible for more fatal crashes than drunk driving; more injuries and more crashes in general.

When you consider that more students, teenagers specifically, use text messaging systems than any other group of people, it clear that they are most at risk for suffering injury or death in a crash as a result of distracted driving.

Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

February 10, 2012

‘High’ Drivers Are No Less Dangerous Than Drunks

It is fairly common knowledge that driving under the influence of alcohol is not only illegal and dangerous, but also stupid. Unfortunately there are a fair number of people who believe that although they can’t drive drunk they can drive stoned out of their mind.

This too is illegal, dangerous and stupid. Driving under the influence of any mind altering substance is akin to surrendering your common sense, your dexterity, your ability to think clearly and your humanity.

There is no safe way to drive stoned. It might seem like just a “joint” to you, but once the marijuana enters your system you are “under the influence” of a serious narcotic that impairs your ability to operate a vehicle.

If you doubt this, there are a plethora of research studies which prove it, including a recent one from scientists at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, who report that those who use cannabis within three hours of driving are twice as likely to cause a crash than those who have not. This latest research took information from nine studies involving more than 50,000 people from around the world, all of whom had been involved in serious crashes.

The research about the ill-health effects of the use of marijuana have been decidedly mixed. Some say it is bad for you, others say it isn’t. But this research seems to present irrefutable evidence that cannabis makes you more likely to have a serious crash.

Let’s face it, how you choose to live your life and what you choose to do to let loose are up to you, but when you get behind the wheel of a 4,000 pound missile made of plastic, glass and steel, you are not just responsible for yourself any more, but for everyone who is sharing the road with you. So do yourself (and them) a favor and wait until the buzz goes away, and you come back down from your high, before you get behind the wheel.

Image: mack2happy / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

February 9, 2012

Delaware Designated Driver Program Sought

A proposed designated driver program in southern Delaware is seeking corporate sponsors to help fund the fledgling non-profit group.

A Sussex County woman, Terry Rogers, is forming the Delaware chapter of “Will Be Designated Driver” in order to supplement resources available to help people who have had too much to drink find a safe and sober ride home.

Rogers, whose son and his mother were killed by a drunk driver, said she is starting the chapter in southern Delaware because there are few taxis and no public transportation in the area.

According to the Delaware State Police Annual Traffic Statistical Report, almost 40 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2010 were caused by a drunk driver. With the remoteness of southern Delaware and lack of public transportation, Rogers says the area is perfect for this type of program.

We like to have a little fun at My Improv Traffic School, but the reality is drunk driving is no laughing matter. After distracted driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is the number one cause of traffic fatalities around the nation. In rural Delaware, where roads become slick and icy in the winter and drivers are often on desolate rural roads between towns, drunk driving is a recipe for disaster.

Rogers hopes she can have the “Will Be Designated Driver program up and running before Memorial Day weekend. She estimates she needs about $30,000 to get the program started.

The “Will Be Designated Driver” program will offer rides home to drunken drivers for just $2 per mile. For an additional $2 per mile they will have another sober designated driver drive the person’s car home as well. “Will Be Designated Drivers” is a not-for-profit group that will take the drunken person home even if they refuse to pay, just to get them off the road and keep the community safer.

Rogers told a local news affiliate that she would like to eventually roll the program out around the state, but expects that would require as many as 10 vans and up to $1 million.

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February 6, 2012

AAA Offered Free ‘Tipsy Tow’ in Northern California

Bowl Sunday is time for football fans to get together, celebrate victories and probably down a few beers. No matter who wins or who loses it’s never a good idea to celebrate or commiserate by getting behind the wheel of your car drunk.

This year AAA offered their “Tipsy Tow” problem to drivers in Northern California. Even if they are not a AAA member, anyone who was too drunk to drive could call AAA tow truck to come and tow their vehicle to their home as long as it was within a 10 mile radius.

This free service was meant to help keep California highways safe. According to the California Highway Patrol, 11 people died as a result of drunk driving crashes on Super Bowl Sunday in 2009. That’s three times the daily average for the state. Almost 500 people were arrested that same day for driving under the influence of alcohol. That means their out-of-pocket expenses shot up to almost $12,000, including points added to their license and possible jail time, not to mention the impact it has on their insurance rates.

The problem with inebriated drivers is that they have little objectivity when it comes to how much alcohol they consumed and whether or not they are capable to drive.
In fact, depending on your body weight and metabolism, just one drink might be enough to put you over the limit and make you incapable of driving safely. Alcohol has been shown to reduce your reflexes, slow down your reaction time and impair your judgement. That’s likely why drunk drivers think they’re “ok to drive” when clearly they are not.

AAA was hoping to improve the statistics for Northern California by offering this free ride home. If a bar tender or restaurant manager noticed a patron was too drunk to drive they could call AAA and arrange for a ‘Tipsy Tow’ without worrying about who was going to pay for it.

Hopefully the CHP will have some better roadway statistics to show for these efforts.

Image: Stoonn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

February 1, 2012

Texas Drivers Pay Hefty Insurance Rates

Texas. Everything is bigger in Texas. Including your car insurance bill.

That’s right, once again Texas ranks near the top of the list when it comes to the amount paid for auto insurance. According to a new report by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Texas finished 11th of all 50 states when it comes to insurance premiums. This is good news for insurers and bad news for drivers.

Part of the reason for the higher insurance rates in Texas as compared to some other states is the number of heavily populated urban districts. Insurance rates are determined by the amount paid out by insurance companies in claims. If claims are high then premiums need to be higher so the insurance company is not paying out more than it is taking in. This is simple math. The densely populated urban areas in Texas lead to higher traffic congestion and a larger than average number of vehicle crashes, resulting in insurance companies paying out money.

However, forewarned is forearmed. That means, in order for Texans to see lower insurance rates all they need to do is start driving a little more defensively. By decreasing the number of vehicle crashes in their state, Texans can have a direct impact on the insurance premiums they pay. In this way they control their own destiny. Anyone who knows they need a little extra help when it comes to driving, or knows someone else who does, might want to consider a quick and easy defensive driving course. Because the better drivers all Texans can be, the quicker insurance rates may start to decline.

As cars get more technologically advanced, they get more expensive and the cost of repairing them also goes up, all of which leads to higher insurance rates.

You can’t do much about the price of gas, but you can do something about your insurance premiums; Drive safe.

Image: africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 31, 2012

Buckle-Up Your Pets (And Yourself!)

Believe it or not, there is currently no law on the books in California or any other state preventing drivers from operating a vehicle with their pet on their lap. That means your Doberman Pincher can sit right square between you and the steering wheel, and unless he is obviously disrupting your driving, the cops can’t do a thing about it.

In an age where distracted driving is the leading cause of traffic fatalities, it seems odd that there are no laws against driving with a pet on your lap. But there aren’t. In fact, whether it’s a python, a puma or an orangutan, that animal is free to climb all around your vehicle in any manner they see fit. This is great news for pet lovers who like to their animals to accompany them wherever they go; to be more like their best friend than their pet. But it’s not very good news for anyone who might be sharing the road with them.

Unlike distracted driving, which the National Transportation Safety Board said is the leading cause of traffic fatalities, there are no statistics for the number of crashes caused by pooches in the front seat, or any seat. In fact, it’s hard to know just how many people currently ride around with their pet loose in the vehicle.

When I take my cat to the vet I always put him in a carrier because otherwise he might climb to the top of my head and try to sit there while I’m driving. This is a risk I cannot take. I have seen a number of other drivers cruising down the road with fido hanging his head out the window or even riding in their lap as they cruise down the highway at 65 mph. Doesn’t seem like the smartest thing to do to me, but who am I to judge?

Clearly I am not alone in my belief that driving with a loose animal in your vehicle is dangerous, however. A new group in California called Bark Buckle Up is petitioning legislators to create a law which requires drivers to restrain animals who are riding in a vehicle with them. Interestingly enough they are doing to protect the safety of the animal, which they say is endangered if the car stops short or swerves suddenly, not the driver or anyone else on the road.

What a strange world we live in.

Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 27, 2012

Don’t Drive With Your Kids In The Trunk

This is not likely a lesson any sane, rational person needs to learn, but if you put children in the trunk of your car you’re likely going to get a ticket.

In England a man by the name of Zoltan Lakatos was stopped by police when they noticed he had an abundance of people crammed into his little Audi A4. In point of fact he had 11 people in his car, but police didn’t notice them all right away.

Three adults and two children were in the back seat, with two adults in the front. When police stopped him, they heard more noises from the back of the car and found four more children in the trunk, or ‘boot’ as they say in England.

Boot, trunk, whatever. That’s where you are supposed to put your groceries, not your children.

To make matters even worse, Zoltan was driving without insurance, so if he had an accident, not only would the other driver be paying for his own damages, the national health care system would be paying for all the injuries sustained by the 11 people in Zoltan’s car.

England is 4,000 miles away, across the Atlantic Ocean, located on an island, but it’s not a foreign planet. They have traffic safety laws there just like we do. They might drive on the wrong side of the road (from our perspective) but they do it very safely.

And they get particularly distressed when drivers put their children in the boot (trunk.)

As part of his punishment for this mishmash of offenses Zoltan was convicted of endangering his passengers and driving without insurance and fined more than $2,000. He also had his license suspended for a year.

So let this be a lesson to you, if you’re planning a trip to England any time in the near future. Put your luggage in the trunk and put your children into proper car seats, safely buckled, where they belong. Not the other way around.

Image: J Fry / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 26, 2012

‘Stiffer Penalties’ For Car vs Motorcycle Crashes

In Florida, a bill is moving through the Senate which would increase penalties for drivers who seriously injure a motorcyclist in a vehicle accident.

In fact, it’s called the Stiffer Penalties Bill, and it’s no joke. Florida legislators recognize that their state’s abundance of sunshine and good weather attract a large number of motorcycling enthusiasts. Mix an abundance of motorcyclists with an abundance of out-of-state drivers you get the perfect storm of serious vehicle crashes.

Florida Senate Bill 1754 increases criminal penalties for a driver who causes serious bodily injury or death to a motorcyclist. In part the bill says that causing serious bodily injury translates to a second degree misdemeanor, and includes paying a fine, incarceration, and a loss of license.

The bill does more than protect motorcyclists, however. It extends to bicyclists and pedestrians as well, making any vehicle crash that causes death to someone walking or riding any kind of bike a much more serious offense with much more severe penalties.

If the bill is approved, which seems likely given it has the support of multiple motorcycling and bicycling groups, it would go into effect on July 1 of this year.

In the meantime anyone who drives the streets in Florida should be aware that they share the roads with people who are not riding in two-ton steel and plastic vehicles with seat belts and air bags. In fact, some riders have nothing but a pair of leather pants to protect them and just because your vehicle is bigger and tougher doesn’t give you the right to run into them, crowd them, cut them off or endanger their lives.

There is plenty of room on the road ways for everyone. And if your vehicle is bigger that makes it all more important that you yield even if you have the right of way and drive with caution and care at all times.

Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 24, 2012

Iowa Looking To Ban Traffic Cameras

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad said during a radio interview this week that is the Iowa legislature sends a bill banning traffic cameras to his desk, he’ll definitely sign it.

While some states have embraced traffic cameras, either cameras that track speeders or those at intersections which catch people who run red lights, as a means of creating a safer driving environment and a way of generating a little extra revenue without putting more cops on the streets, Iowa has legislators have been trying to get them removed.

Public opinion about traffic cameras in Iowa seems evenly split, although not along party lines as some issues are. Both Republican and Democratic legislators have alternately tried and failed to get measures passed which made traffic cameras illegal. Some have gone after just red light cameras, while others have targeted all forms of traffic cameras as a an infringement upon civil liberties. There is a currently a measure up for discussion which would actually write the statewide ban of traffic cameras into the Iowa state constitution, although that measure has so far failed to garner enough support for that to happen.

Branstad takes the position that if the legislature can agree on a bill, they likely have the support of their constituents behind them, meaning a majority of the people of state of Iowa feel the cameras are too intrusive, so he would therefore want to support the will of the people.

However, supporters of traffic cameras say the automated devices help control traffic, keep speeding to a minimum and make the streets a safer place without the need for more patrols. They also point to the increased revenues collected by those communities which have installed traffic cameras at key intersections or in areas where speeding has become common place. These people say the issue is not about infringing on the rights of certain drivers, but about protecting everyone who takes to the streets in their car, or even those who walk or ride bikes along road ways.

So far no bill, either for or against traffic cameras has made it passed both houses, and Branstad seems unlikely to see a bill placed before him any time soon. But both sides continue to push hard for the state to make a stand somewhere.

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 20, 2012

Arizona Teen Texting Ban Getting Closer

Arizona lawmakers are one step closer to a ban on the use of handheld devices by drivers under the age of 18 or those with a learner’s permit.

This week the Arizona Senate Committee on Public Safety and Human Services voted unanimously to make it illegal for motorists less than 18 years of age to text or use a cellphone while driving. The full ban will last for the first six months after they receive their learner’s permit.

This is Arizona’s latest attempt to limit the use of handheld devices by drivers. Two past efforts failed miserably due to lack of public support. This is despite a report by the National Transportation Safety Board which identified the use of handheld devices as the number one cause of crashes across the United States. The NTSB also called for every state to impose an outright ban on the use of such devices by all drivers, a measure which has had only a smattering of support in states such as Indiana, Texas and Arizona.

The fact is, the average teenager in the U.S. sends more than 5,000 texts every month. If the teen has a driver’s license you can bet your bottom dollar that at least a portion of those texts are sent from behind the wheel.

There is little argument to the belief that distracted driving is the single most likely cause of traffic fatalities. In fact, statistics show that distracted driving is more dangerous and more likely to cause a fatal crash than even drunk driving. Despite these facts, many states are still debating whether or not to impose a handheld devices ban on drivers due to the incovenience it might impose on those who have a long commute and need to do some work via phone while they drive.

There is little to be said in defensive of anyone who feels texting and driving is a necessity, however. It simply makes no sense at all.

Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 18, 2012

Not-So-Funny Driving Errors

We know a thing or two about funny at MyImprov Traffic School. And driving.

But there’s nothing funny about these five common, yet very dangerous driving errors. These are the things many drivers don’t even think about doing–they just happen because people get distracted, or maybe don’t even realize are actually wrong. Whatever the reason they result in more accidents more often, which can wind up costing you money, points on your license or something even more valuable, like your life.

We present them here with our usual sense of style and tongue-in-cheek humor, but we want you take them seriously.

1. Left Lane Is For Passing:

Time was almost every driver understood, when you are cruising on a two-lane highway, the left lane is primarily for vehicles who are passing, or traveling at a faster rate of speed than everyone else. If you were happy toddling along, you kept to the right lane where you belonged. Today, it seems everyone thinks either lane is perfectly acceptable for their vehicle whether they doing the speed limit, or 15 mph under the speed limit. The fact is, however, police can and sometimes do, ticket drivers for lulling about in what they refer to as the “passing lane” because these drivers are impeding traffic. So, if you’re not actually passing someone, stay in the right lane where it’s safer.

2. Tailgating Is Stupid And Dangerous:

We know you’re in a hurry. It’s the 21st century, everyone is in a hurry. But that doesn’t give you the right to ride on the other driver’s bumper. Not only is tailgating illegal, it’s dangerous. The driver in front of you might stop or slow suddenly. If you’re riding on his bumper there is almost no way for you to avoid a crash. And if you do hit him, it’ll be your fault.

3. High Beams Off If You Don’t Need Them:

Nothing is more annoying than when the driver coming at you has their high beams on and doesn’t lower them. There isn’t much you can do except move your eyes to the right so you’re not staring into them. But let that be a lesson to you and put on your low beams whenever there is oncoming traffic.

4. Failing To Signal Is Illegal:

Not only does signalling a lane change or a turn give the driver behind you time to react to your change in speed and direction, it’s also the law. Police can ticket you for changing lanes without signally just as quick as they can ticket you for turning without signalling. Plus, the drivers around you aren’t mind readers, so don’t expect them to just “know” which way you’re going. Give them your signal.

5. Speed Kills (It Also Maims, Hurts And Can Result In A Citation):

Excessive speed is a contributing factor in almost every crash. There are speed limits for a reason, namely because that is the maximum safe speed for the particular stretch of road you are on. If you exceed those posted limits you run the risk of a ticket and possibly a crash, so just keep your foot off the accelerator if you’re tempted or set your cruise control.

These are just a few of the most common driving errors. I’ll bet you committed at least one of them in the past week, possibly more. Do yourself a favor and try to keep these simple suggestions in mind when ever you drive, wherever you go. You’ll be that much more likely to arrive in one piece, and without a traffic ticket in your back pocket.

Image: scottchan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 16, 2012

Delaware Drunk Driver Destroys House

It took a Delaware drunk driver about 2 minutes to completely destroy her own car, a lamp post, mailbox, a 2012 Mercedes, a 2012 Harley Davidson and an entire home after missing a turn and going off the road.

Police say Jessica Cook, 21, lost control of her car while speeding around a curve on New Granville Road very early Monday morning. Police have also said alcohol was a factor in the crash though Cook’s blood alcohol content has not yet been released. Police say they are still investigating the crash. Cook was not injured, and neither were any occupants in the home, though the county building inspector reported the house is now unfit for habitation because of the damage it sustained.

So, my question is, how many drinks does it take to destroy a home, two cars and a motorcycle, not to mention the lamp post and mailbox?

Drunk driving is about as far from defensive driving as you can possibly get, although distracted driving is even worse when it comes to the likelihood of you having a crash. The fact is, while distracted driving is a case of you not paying attention to what you are doing, driving after having a few drinks means even if you are paying attention your coordination just isn’t up to snuff. So you are more likely to crash.

Studies have shown that just two beers is enough to not only put some people over the limit, it also severely inhibits your ability to react or even think clearly. You are not in control of your senses when you are drunk. That’s what creates an opportunity for embarrassing photos to be taken of you and posted on your friend’s Facebook page. It’s also why you are more likely to crash your car. Although you might think you are perfectly fine, because you are drunk and not thinking clearly, you are wrong about being capable of driving safe.

Being a good defensive driver starts before you ever open the car door. It starts when you realize that you might not be able to drive safely after a few drinks so you arrange for a safe and sober drive home.

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 13, 2012

Texas Investing In Wrong-Way Driving Warning System

Drivers headed the wrong way on U.S. 281 near San Antonio, Texas, are the target of a $500,000 investment by the Texas Department of Transportation. The money will help fund radar detectors and illuminated wrong-way signs at 32 exit ramps along a 15 mile stretch of the roadway.

This specific portion of U.S. 281 has the highest number of wrong-way drivers in the entire state, one of which, last year, resulted in a crash which killed a San Antonio Police Officer. In nearly all cases the wrong way drivers are found to be driving while intoxicated.

Once the new system is installed, the radar detectors will pick up on drivers who are heading in the wrong direction and sound an alarm at the Department of Transportation TransGuide office who will then alert the San Antonio Police Department.

Defensive driving skills come in very handy no matter what state you are driving in, but when something truly unexpected happens, like a driver heading straight at you on a busy one-way highway, you simply might not be able to react fast enough.

In addition to Brown, six other people lost their lives in wrong way crashes last. This prompted both the latest investment in wrong-way driving detectors along U.S. 281 and a general crack down on drunk driving in the San Antonio region. Since last May the Texas Department of Transportation has been using its messaging system to alert all drivers in the area to be alert and aware of an increase in wrong-way drivers in the area.

Last year more than 500 wrong-way drivers were reported in the San Antonio area alone. If this new wrong-way driver detection works as well as is hoped, the Texas Department of Transportation will install another detection system along Interstate 35, between U.S. 90 and I-37, another area with a higher than usual number of drivers headed in the wrong direction.

No matter where you drive it is best to be a good defensive driver; keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road because you just never know what might be coming down the road in your direction.

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 12, 2012

Georgia Troopers Emphasize Motorcycle Safety

A crash this week involving a local news producer has Georgia State Patrol officials reminding motorists they are sharing the road with all sorts of vehicles.

WALB News 10 operations manager Bill Gilbride was riding his motorcycle south on US 19 when the driver of Chevy Tahoe unexpectedly turned in front of him. Georgia State Troopers are still investigating, but they expect charges will be filed against the Tahoe driver for failure to yield the right of the way. In the meantime, Gilbride is undergoing surgery at a local hospital where his condition his listed as critical.

Defensive driving is not just for people who drive cars, you know. Whatever kind of vehicle you use on the road you need to be aware of what is happening all around you. Not everyone is a safe driver and sometimes they are downright unsafe. Drivers cut off over drivers, run red lights, speed, drive erratically and do all sorts of things in their cars, truck and SUV’s that can create a safety hazard for themselves, their passengers and other drivers, especially motorcyclists.

Drivers need to be totally aware of their surroundings; know who they are sharing the road with at any given time and what those other drivers might be doing. You can’t anticipate everything that is going to happen, but you sure can mitigate the risks you run when you get behind the wheel (or the handlebars.)

Georgia is home to thousands of motorcyclists. Because the weather in the state is mild most of the year you can find hundreds of these riders out on the roads just about any day of the year. Motorcyclist must receive special instruction before they are issued a motorcyclists license, and many are known for being safe riders; responsible defensive drivers. Unfortunately, because they have so little protection, not much except a helmet and maybe a pair of leather pants, there is the great likelihood they will sustain serous injury in the event of a crash.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 11, 2012

Florida Lawmakers Eyeing PIP Fraud Law

Personal Injury Protection insurance is big business in Florida, where some drivers pay hundreds of dollars more each year in premiums to stay covered.

You can be the most expert defensive driver in the world, but sometimes, accidents happen. That’s why you have insurance. Unfortunately, not everyone has insurance, which means hospitals, clinics, homeowners and others, don’t get reimbursed for the damages caused by someone else’s negligence. This has led some Florida lawmakers to look at ways of defending against fraud which might lead to a decrease in insurance premiums, especially where PIP insurance is concerned.

In 1972 Florida introduced PIP insurance to provide benefits for anyone injured in an automobile accident no matter whose fault it was. The law guarantees that a driver’s insurance company will pay up to $10,000 to cover medical bills and lost wages in the event of an accident.

Unfortunately, PIP also opens the doors for fraud. A recent investigation in Dade County showed rampant fraud at some clinics who claimed they had treated accident victims without insurance, but who could not produce records of those patients. In fact, Florida is now the #1 state for staged accidents, where nobody actually gets hurt, but lots of people collect money anyway. This fraud has forced insurance companies to raise premiums to compensate for losses. Some estimates show that the increased premiums costs Florida drivers an extra billion dollars or more every year.

The proposed legislation will close a loophole that exists for smaller clinics (where some say the majority of fraud takes place) and set up a fee schedule for reimbursements. It is also intended to bring the existing bill payment system into the 21st century, thereby reducing costs and speeding payments. The new law also gives hospitals the first priority when it comes to PIP claims, mainly because they are usually the care provider when someone is involved in an accident.

So, if you’re living and driving in Florida make certain you have your PIP, and consider a defensive driving course. The safer you drive, the less it’s gonna cost you.

Image: Bill Longshaw / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 10, 2012

Nevada Driving Deaths Continue Downward Trend

For the last five years the number of drivers killed on Nevada roadways has fallen. This is great news for defensive drivers, who have therefore increased their chances of making it home safely.

The state had an all-time high of traffic related deaths in 2006 of 432. In 2011 just 243 driving-related deaths were reported, down from 257 in 2010.

The continued downward slide in traffic-related deaths is all part of a series of programs initiated in 2006 by the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety. Among the areas they focused their efforts on to curb what had been an upward trend in traffic deaths was increased enforcement of existing traffic laws; installation of center line “rumble strips” which alert drivers if they cross it; road safety audits and more flashing yellow lights; and the new handheld device law which took effect this year.

All of these changes came about as part of the Nevada Strategic Highway Safety Plan. This plan calls for a more than 60 percent reduction in highway traffic deaths by 2015, and eventually a zero annual death toll from driving.

That’s one heck of a defensive driving campaign, but so far, their efforts have been successful. Five straight years of decline in traffic-related fatalities seems to indicate that the state is on the right track when it comes to highway safety.

Increased education of drivers has also been a part of their plan, but most drivers don’t need a defensive driving course to understand what is safe, responsible driving and what is a flagrant disregard for the law and the safety and security of others. Although, judging by the number of citations already handed out to enforce their new ban on handheld devices for drivers, at least a few people need a reminder just how dangerous distracted driving can be.

In case you forgot, here’s yours: Distracted driving is WORSE than driving under the influence of alcohol. Do yourself and everyone who shares the road with you a favor, and don’t do it. Besides, it’s against the law to do it in Nevada anyway.

Image: Paul Martin Eldridge / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 10, 2012

Car Service And Repair Blues

If you are like MOST vehicle owners, you realize that you do have to change your vehicle fluids, rotate your tires, and according to the law, keep your car in good enough mechanical shape that it would not break down on a highway or city street (you CAN be cited breaking down….doesn’t happen frequently, but you should understand the law). AND…now and then….something happens and we have to take the vehicle in for repairs. HOPEFULLY, you are still covered by your warranty (and in a future blog, I will talk about EXTENDED WARRANTIES), but if you are not….and you are coming out of pocket with this, you do NOT have to be a gearhead, or even have the slightest knowledge of how your vehicle works, to make sure that you do not get ripped off by your dealer service, or gas station, or AA(honk honk)MCO or Gus, the corner mechanic.

First of all, when we go to a restaurant, MOST of us actually look at the check, and make sure that we were not overcharged. Why do you not do this after your vehicle repair? Well….It actually happened to Mr. Traffic YESTERDAY (1/5/12) that I had to take my truck into Ford for brakes. Now, understand that I am educated as to how a vehicle works, and have changed my oil, etc etc. religiously since I bought it in 2005. It looks like it just came off the showroom floor. But, FINALLY, my vehicle needed some brake service. It was about time, and I wanted Ford to do it as I also needed to replace a couple of bulbs in my dash that burned out, and they need to take the whole dash off to do this!!!

Long story longer, a few hours later, I arrived back at the Ford Dealer here in Hollywood, and they gave me the bill and I gasped. It was much higher than the estimate, and I went over the invoice to see why. They do NOT break down the work….just summarize the work done…..parts/labor and that’s it. I went to the service writer and said….”I NEED A BREAKDOWN OF EACH ITEM DONE”….and he looked a little dismayed, but said he will be right back. When he came back, the bill had been DOUBLE CHARGED for one set of brake shoes, and I pointed it out to him, to which he said….”Well..THAT’S not right!!…I’ll be right back….” And they took it off the invoice, saving me $200. Was this a mere human error? HELL NO. They were ripping me off and I caught them….as I have at Pep Boys, and other “reputable” dealers. YOU MUST take the time to get whoever is repairing your vehicle to explain it to YOUR satisfaction….otherwise, you will be way the poorer for it. HONEST VEHICLE REPAIR PERSON are NOT words that usually travel together in the same sentence, and it is a sad reality of our economically challenged world. So….YOU be smart……you do NOT have to be CLICK & CLACK (from NPR)….you just have to be tenacious. Otherwise, you may rip up HUNDREDS!

Defensive driving is all about knowing your limits and taking good care of your vehicle. Trust us, we know defensive driving when we see it.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 6, 2012

Your Company Needs A Distracted Driving Policy

Given a recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board that the use of handheld devices by drivers should be banned nationwide, now might be a good time for your company to investigate it’s policy about employees using handheld devices when they are driving, especially if you have employees who are driving as a part of their job duties.

At least one Georgia attorney is recommending all companies adopt a policy which strictly forbids the use of handheld devices by employees who drive, to avoid liability in the event of a vehicle crash caused by distracted driving.

Studies have shown that distracted driving, which is what you are doing if you try to text, chat or argue with your boss on the phone while you’re cruising down the highway, is even more dangerous than driving under the influence. Your brain simply cannot focus on two things at once, especially when one of those things is safely operating your vehicle.

Georgia defensive driving, like everywhere, is based on paying close attention to what is happening around you, not on the text message you are trying to send to a co-worker.

We don’t profess to be experts in the law. We are defensive driving experts. Our expertise and experience tell us, if you’re employees are using their cell phones while driving it definitely increases their risk for having a distracted driving crash. Plain and simple. Statistics don’t lie and statistics tell us that distracted drivers have more crashes. Period.

Georgia is a nice state. Plenty of sunshine, beaches, parks and lots of nice folks. We can understand why you want to make it your home and do your business there. But as a business owner you have an obligation to keep your employees and anyone they might come in contact with, safe from an unintended crash. Nobody plans to have a vehicle accident, that’s why they are called “accidents.” But you can increase (or decrease) the likelihood of having an accident the moment you think about reaching for your smartphone.

Image: jannoon028 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 5, 2012

Humor Is Good For Your Driving

Laughter is the best medicine. Make certain you get a daily dose especially if you spend a lot of time on the road.

One of the biggest hazards facing drivers today comes not from outside their vehicle, but inside their own minds. With so many more cars on the road than ever before; more working hours, more stress and less time available for relaxing with friends and family, drivers are understandably often frustrated behind the wheel. This mix of frustration and a 5,000 pound missile made of plastic, steel and glass is a deadly combination.

Fortunately, a comedy defensive driving course can help.

Laughter is the very best medicine for relieving stress and pain. It is the fastest way to feel better, faster even than any pill or shot you might get from your family physician because it starts from within and works its way out, instead of having to travel the long way around.

Unlike prescription medicine, laughter is something that is easy to come by. You don’t have to visit your doctor to get a dose of humor and start feeling better right away.

If you must attend an online traffic school because you racked up too many points on your license from all the frustrated driving you have been doing lately, why not choose a course that will give you a chuckle. As you laugh your way through the course, carefully clicking along, you are likely yo also learn a few things about defensive driving you didn’t know. Defensive driving courses are great for staying current with the new traffic laws which might have recently been enacted in your state and brushing up on your driving skills in general.

If you have a long daily commute, or even a long road trip planned, check your oil, check your tire pressure; make sure you bring a map, some good company and a big dose of good humor with you.

Image: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 5, 2012

Arizona Police Crackdown On DUI

Arizona police went into anti-drunk driving over-drive for the holidays and it saw some big results.

Beginning on Nov. 24 of last year, the Arizona Holiday DUI Task Force conducted more than 55,000 traffic stops in their search for drivers who had a few drinks before getting behind the wheel. As a result more than 3,200 drivers were found to be drunk behind the wheel and were arrested.

This is good news for Arizona defensive drivers who know better than to drink and drive, and bad news for the ones who don’t. In Arizona first time drunk drivers will pay hefty fines including the costs for installing and maintaining an interlock device on their automobile. The interlock device requires the driver to self-administer a breathalyzer test before the engine will start. The devices cost a couple hundred dollars and have a monthly maintenance fee of almost $100. First-time drunk drivers are required to use the devices for a minimum of six months.

On New Year’s Eve alone officers from 70 different departments around the state participated in a statewide crackdown on drunk drivers resulting in dozens of drunk driving arrests. The state also spent more than $1 million on six new DUI-processing vehicles for use out in the field. In the DUI-processing vehicles, drivers suspected of being under the influence can take a breathalyzer test, provide a blood sample or receive an examination from a DUI-expert. All of this extra effort is meant to show that Arizona definitely has a zero-tolerance plan for combating drunk driving.

In 2010 Arizona had 581 drunk-driving related accidents with 33 fatalities as a result. Their DUI enforcement procedures in that same year result in the arrest of more than 18,000 drivers who were under the influence of alcohol behind the wheel.

No doubt the officers who participated in the 2011 Arizona Holiday DUI Task Force were thinking about this number as they were on patrol, many hoping they could at least bring the number down by one for this year.

Results of the 2011 Arizona Holiday DUI Task Force will not be calculated for at least a few more weeks. No matter what they are defensive drivers can rest easy knowing every time they get behind they are fully in control of their faculties, as they should be.

Image: xedos4 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 3, 2012

Iowa Road Deaths Lowest In 10 Years

Iowans had more to celebrate than a Happy New Year this past weekend. The state posted the fewest number of drivers killed as a result of a traffic crashes in 2011 than in the last 10 years.

That is quite an accomplishment for a state with plenty open roads where people who have a hankering to put the pedal to the metal can do so just about anywhere (except Boise, of course). Iowa is not known as an unsafe state to drive in, despite the desolate roads and open highways, but to see traffic fatalities drop to their lowest levels in a decade is quite an accomplishment no matter how you slice it.

Authorities credit the strict decline to an increased awareness and emphasis on defensive driving; heightened enforcement of drunk driving laws and safer vehicles, all of which work together to create a safer driving environment for people cruising through Iowa.

In 2011 just 356 people died on Iowa highways. In 2009 Iowa had 373 traffic fatalities which was the lowest level in 64 years, when there were far fewer cars on the road than there are today. In 2010 that number rose to 390, but then dropped even lower last year.

Defensive driving has certainly helped make Iowa roads a safer place to be, but the increased emphasis on anti-drunk driving efforts by state and local police goes a long way to keeping drivers and passengers safe. Studies have repeatedly shown that after distracted driving, drunk driving is the most dangerous threat facing drivers today. When a driver is drunk their reflexes are slowed, their decision making and judgement skills are impaired; they are more likely to take risks behind the wheel and being more likely miss important environmental factors like slick roads, heavy traffic or even stop signs.

So, congratulations Iowa, for proving that attention to little details, like keeping drunk drivers off the road, can go a long way toward making your state (and every state) a better place to live.

Image: Chuck Felix / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 2, 2012

California Commercial Drivers Welcome New Year And New Cell Phone Ban

This year commercial drivers in California will be forced t put down their handheld devices so they can better concentrate on their driving.

This is good news for anyone who already practices defensive driving.

The new law went into effect January 1, 2012, and is expected to impact nearly 4 million commercial drivers in the state, preventing them from texting or using their cell phone while driving. This includes bus and truck drivers as well as cabbies and other commercial vehicle operators.

This new law comes on the heels of a recommendation by the National transportation Safety Board last month calling for every state to ban drivers from using any and all handheld devices. According to the NTSB, distracted driving brought about by the increased use of handheld devices by drivers, either texting or talking, is the single most dangerous mistake made on highways around the country.The NTSB is suggesting states ban the use of handheld devices by all drivers except emergency workers, during an emergency.

Already several states and cities have similar bans, some more or less severe.

Another new safe driving related law in California that begins this year requires children be secured in a car seat until they are either 8-years-old or taller than 4 feet 9 inches tall. This is an increase of two years in age and a minimum weight of 60 pounds under the previous laws. Drivers who ignore this new law face a fine of at least $475 per offense, though it is unclear to us why any driver would violate the law and risk the life of a child just as a matter of convenience.

Distracted driving has been a contributing cause of fatal traffic accidents in almost all cases, and the number has been growing as the use of cell phones and other portable handheld communication devices have been increasing. The ultimate effect on the handheld devices ban will take time to track, but in places where a ban has already been enacted, the rate of distracted driving crashes has shown a marked decline.

California traffic school is a great place to learn about the severe consequences of distracted driving, including the loss of your license or even your life or freedom. But why wait until it’s too late? Put down the phone and drive, and increase your chance of getting to your destination safe and sound.

Photo compliments of FreeFoto.com

December 30, 2011

Cell Phone Ban Coming To Nevada

Nevada drivers will welcome the New Year on Sunday, and a new law which says drivers are prohibited from using cell phones while driving. The new law is to help reduce the number of crashes attributed to distracted driving.

In case you didn’t know it, distracted driving is the exact opposite of defensive driving. It means that instead of paying attention to yourself and your surroundings, you’re simply not paying attention to anything at all.

The new law in Nevada is a strict interpretation of the cell phone ban. It provides severe penalties for drivers who continue to use their cell phones either to make a call or send and receive text messages. Nevada legislators approved the new law this past year and it takes effect with the new year. Their passage of the new law preceded a recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board which said sates should ban the use of all handheld devices by drivers. This recommendation was welcomed by many states, 35 of which already have strict laws against the use of cell phones or text messaging by drivers. But some legislators, such as those in Texas, have resisted a statewide ban, saying they support local measures instead.

The new ban on handheld phones and testing for drivers is statute SB 140. Anyone who breaks the law is subject to a $50 fine on their first offense, a $100 fine for their second offense and a $250 fine for each additional offense. If you cause a crash because you were texting and driving or chatting on your cell phone while driving, and you hurt or kill somebody else, you could face between 1 and 6 years in prison and an additional $2,000-$5,000 fine.

You can always turn to a defensive driving course to help you get the points off your license, but the fines and fees can really pile up. The best advice is that you turn your cell phone off before you get into your vehicle. Don’t take the chance that you might be tempted to answer it or “make a quick call” while driving. It just isn’t worth the risk.

Photo compliments of FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

December 30, 2011

Delaware Taking Tough Stance Against Holiday DUI

Already this holiday season Delaware has had two deaths attributed to drinking and driving, but the Office of Highway Safety is hoping to make them the only ones.

This year, the OHS has five DUI checkpoints planned for the state, focusing on what they anticipate will be the heaviest traveled areas for New Year’s Eve party revelers in an effort to stop drunk drivers from getting too far. Anyone who is spotted trying to evade a DUI checkpoint will be stopped automatically and could face additional charges for evasion, plus DUI charges (which likely why they tried to evade the checkpoint in the first place.)

You can take a defensive driving course online to get the points off your license when you get a traffic citation, but unfortunately it won’t fix stupid, which is what you must be if you get behind the wheel when you’re anything but sober.

This past Christmas weekend, the OHS arrested 20 people for driving under the influence of alcohol. That’s up slightly from last year when they took 19 people into custody for DUI, and still too high for such a small sate. Last year the state saw 23 people arrested over the New Year’s weekend because of drunk driving, and they hope to curtail that number with the multiple DUI checkpoints and 90 additional “saturation patrols” will be conducted. That means Delaware police will be out in force to make certain everyone enjoys their holiday and gets home safe.

Delaware, being as it is nestled between Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, is often just a crossing point for interstate travel. But out-of-state drivers are not immune to state laws against driving drunk. They aren’t impervious to personal injury as a result of it, either, nor are they blessed with ability to avoid hurting other people as a result of their own stupidity.

Defensive driving is no accident. Drivers need to be aware of their own limitations and the limitations of the person who might be driving next to them. If you’ve had a few drinks, or you plan on having a few drinks, arrange for a safe and sober drive home on your own. It will save you the time and expense of getting a ride to the local jail from the OHS.

Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

December 28, 2011

Georgia Using App To Prevent Drunk Driving

While many states consider mobile technology a bane to safe driving, Georgia officials have taken a decidedly different approach. This week Georgia state officials rolled out a new smartphone app called “Drive Safer Georgia” to help drunk drivers find alternate rides home in the event you have had too much to drink.

Defensive driving is all about being responsible. In Georgia, as in most states, the penalties for getting behind the wheel after drinking are severe. You could face thousands of dollars in fines, jail time and a multitude of points added to your license. If you get behind the wheel after drinking anyway, and kill someone, no defensive driving course in the world can fix that.

Georgia officials are hoping that by creating and distributing the free mobile app they will encourage drivers to find a way home other than driving after their New Years celebrations. the new app provides a list of sober and safe alternatives for drunk drivers, right in their area. Of course the effectiveness of the app will be dictated by its use, and it’s hard to know how many drunk people will have the thoughtfulness of checking their app rather than just driving home. Instead it is hoped they will know where they will be drinking in advance and use the app to find a way home before they absolutely need it.

This is a great use of mobile technology to fight a problem that has become all too common, despite best efforts at getting it under control. After the holiday Georgia officials will have a better idea of its effectiveness, and it is possible their success will inspire similar programs in other states.

Photo compliments of Freefoto.com

December 27, 2011

Things Are Looking Up For Texas Drivers

According to a new report by the Texas Department of Transportation fewer Texans than ever before are getting behind the wheel after downing a few beers.
That’s right, drinking and driving is on the decline in Texas and the Texas Department of Transportation is taking advantage of this decline to build more momentum toward even further declines.

To this end the TxDOT is pulling out nearly all the stops in its latest holiday PR campaign blitz. They are using a mix of traditional marketing techniques, social media marketing and some decidedly gorilla marketing efforts to get their message across to drivers around state.

After distracted driving, drinking and driving is the most dangerous mix on the roads today. Drivers who consume just a few beers, or a few glasses of wine or a few shots are in danger of suffering delayed reaction time, impaired judgement or a decrease in dexterity. It’s also enough to put them over the limit when it comes to blood alcohol content which will earn them a citation, possible jail time and a suspended license.

Even a defensive driving course can’t help you if you’ve died in a horrible car crash because you were driving drunk.
There simply is no excuse for drinking and driving. Getting behind the wheel of a 4,000 pound metal missile after you’ve had a few drinks is tantamount to putting a bullet into a revolve, giving the chamber a spin, pointing the gun at your grandmom and pulling the trigger. Nobody wants to take a chance like that.
Last year there were 3,024 fatalities on Texas roads and highways. Of there, there were more than 1,100 alcohol related crashes, making alcohol a factor in more than 35% of the traffic fatalities in the state.

This holiday season TxDOT is sending a clear message, delivered by one of Santa’s reindeer: “Don’t drive if you’re tipsy, buzzed or Blitzen. Call a cab or get a sober ride home.”

Defensive driving sounds like good advice to me. Follow it.

Image: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

December 27, 2011

Texas Cops Rewarding Safe Drivers

Not much compares to the sinking feeling you get when the red and blue lights flash in your rear view mirror and you know you’ve been speeding. You try be polite, and bite your tongue, and don’t say or do anything that will make the experience any worse than it has to be. But you know you’re going to get a ticket, and that’s just a bummer.

Texas law enforcement is trying to change all that by pulling over safe drivers and handing them a gift card for those who practice good defensive driving whether they learned their skills in a defensive driving course or on their own through trial and error (though the former is easier.)

That’s right–instead of just handing out speeding tickets, the cops in Texas are handing out presents to drivers they catch who are doing the right things behind the wheel. Instead of setting up speed-traps the Texas police have been setting up “safety observation zones” where they can observe drivers who are taking the right precautions. It might be a school zone, where busy mom’s and dad’s often forget to securely buckle up a child before speeding away. Or it might be a busy intersection where drivers often get distracted and speed through caution lights or yield signs.

In Texas right now, anyplace where there is an opportunity to catch a driver doing something right, there is likely a police officer waiting to reward them for it. All the drivers need to do is drive defensively; be safe behind the wheel and set a good example for others to follow, and they have a chance at being rewarded.
With a program like this in place maybe the sight of red and blue lights in your rear view mirror won’t make you cringe in terror, but cross your fingers that you’ll be rewarded for being an excellent defensive driver.

Image: Dundee Photographics / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

December 27, 2011

Texas Frowns At Proposed Cell-Phone Ban

Just days after a recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board that all states pass a comprehensive cell-phone texting ban for drivers, some Texas lawmakers say it is not likely to be enacted in Texas.

Anyone who is defensive driving in Texas doesn’t need a ban to know distracted driving is unsafe.
According to a recent story in the Houston Chronicle the odds of such a bill passing the Texas legislature are slim, if not completely non-existent. Just this past summer Texas governor Rick Perry vetoed a bill which would have imposed restrictions on texting while driving. Perry has made it clear these restrictions should be enacted only at the local level, and not be subject to statewide or nationwide bans.
The Texas Department of Transportation recently reported that cellphone use was a factor in more than 3,400 accidents last year, with more than 40 fatalities reported as a result. That is a near five percent increase since their last report in 2006.
Despite lawmakers resistance to a statewide ban on texting and driving, or any type of distracted driving, defensive drivers understand the risk. This means drivers are bearing the brunt of responsibility for their actions behind the wheel in Texas. It is not a license to continue to operate your vehicle in an unsafe manner in Texas. In fact, several major Texas cities have already taken steps to curb cell phone and texting use by drivers. It’s just a statewide ban which seems unlikely in Texas.
Texas citizens take pride in the fact they “Remember the Alamo”, hopefully they can also remember to hang up the phone. If you still have your doubts, consider a defensive driving course.

Image: akeeris / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

December 27, 2011

Arizona Relaxing DUI Punishment For First-Time Offenders

A new law in Arizona will lessen the penalty for those convicted the first time of a drunken driving offense. This news doesn’t mean a thing for anyone who has experience defensive driving. They know better.

Starting Sunday drivers who have been convicted of a first time drunken driving offense will have an interlock device added to their vehicle for just six months, instead of the 12-months they have been receiving.

An interlock device requires the driver to self-administer a breathalyzer test before the ignition will start. If the driver tests postives for alcohol, they aren’t going any where.

Even with this latest change Arizona is still one of the toughest states when it comes to drunk drivers. It is one of only 15 states that requires first time offenders to install any type of interlock device.

Arizona first passed a law requiring drunk drivers to install interlock devices in 2001 and in 20o7 expanded the law to first-time offenders.

These devices are bought and paid for by the driver, who also pay the $80 monthly maintenance fee. Since the requirement was added to first time offenders the drunk driving rate has decreased significantly, from almost 400 in 2006 to half that number in 2010.

A Defensive driving course teaches the importance of being clean and sober any time you get behind the wheel, but that’s a lesson some people cannot understand.

Image: Liz Noffsinger / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

December 22, 2011

Florida Legislators Oppose Further Driver Safety Rules

Despite having just passed a new ban on texting and driving, some Florida legislators say they are adamantly opposed to any further driving restrictions for fear of over-burdening drivers.

Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, said he was against anything which would further restrict personal freedoms:

“We have to be careful,” he said. “In the good intention name of trying to keep people from getting hurt, it is easy to overly constrain individual freedoms that have differentiated our country.”

This is odd, especially when you consider that texting and driving, or any type of distracted driving has been repeatedly proven to be a leading cause of traffic crashes, especially those involving fatalities.

Anyone who has successfully completed an online defensive driving course, or attended and completed traffic school either to keep points from accumulating on their license or to keep their insurance premiums low (or both), knows the dangers of distracted driving.

You simply cannot expect to be able to pay attention to two things at once, especially when one of those things is controlling the 4,000 pound missile you are controlling at speeds of 55 miles-per-hour or more. One mis-guess; one glance away from the road ahead of you to the small digital screen that holds the wonderful message of “C U L8tr!” is all it takes for you to slam head-on into the rear of the vehicle that suddenly slowed down in front of you.

In Florida they suffer from an abundance of beautiful clear days, full of sunshine. It can be deceptively calm, leading some drivers to relax and stop worrying about where they are going or how they are going to get there.

Defensive driving, however, means never taking your eyes off the road until you get where you are going. Safely.

December 21, 2011

DHSMV Warns Customers Not To Pay A Fee To Visit Their Site

Floridians, consider yourselves warned: Someone is using a scam website to trick people into paying to visit the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles web site.

It seems someone has paid a fee to search engines so that when someone searches for information on the DHSMV website, the scam website is at the top of the list. When the searcher clicks on the scam site it asks them for personal information; name, contact information and a credit card number. Then the site charges their credit card before connecting them with the FREE DHSMV website.

That’s right: The scammers are charging people to access a free web site.

The Florida Highway Patrol released a statement this week which advised anyone trying to visit the DWSMV web site not to fall for the phishing scam.

“To say the websites are misleading is an understatement,” said DHSMV Executive Director Julie Jones. “They provide small disclaimers that state they are not affiliated with the Department and then proceed to charge customers anywhere from $25 to $50. It is an unbelievable racket.”

The scam websites to have a small disclaimer on their site which advises visitors they are not affiliated with the DHSMV, the Florida state government, nor any governmental agency of any kind, so the sites are not actually breaking the law. But even with the disclaimer it seems likely at least some innocent web surfers are going to fall for their ruse and fork over their hard earned cash to visit an otherwise free web site. It might be technically legal but it sure sounds like a scam to us.

“The Department wants to arm our customers with information about these illusive websites so they are not duped into paying unnecessary fees of any kind,” Jones added. “The websites are legal, but unethical.”

It is always free to visit the My Improv Traffic School website so you can learn more about our online defensive driving course. You have to pay for the course, but visiting the web site is always free.

Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

December 20, 2011

Florida Highway Patrol Warning Holiday Drivers

The Florida Highway Patrol wants you to enjoy yourself this holiday season, but warn drivers they won’t be handing out gifts to anyone who gets behind the wheel after drinking.

Florida has one of the toughest policies in the nation when it comes to dealing with anyone who drinks and drives. You could say they have zero tolerance for drunk drivers, but then again, so does every police officer in the nation. And so does anyone who is defensive driving.

In fact, this year there is a nationwide effort to keep drunk drivers off the street called Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

According to a recent study of traffic statistics by the Florida Department of Highway Safety from 2010, more than 35 percent of the traffic deaths which occurred on Florida highways during the holidays last year were alcohol-related. This has prompted a major crackdown on drunk driving in the Sunshine state.

Everyone wants to enjoy the Christmas and New Year holiday festivities, but not everyone is going to be able to drive home when they are done having fun. You don’t even need to be drunk to get in trouble with the law or drive in an unsafe manner. Florida law says that a blood alcohol content of .08 percent is enough for you to be cited. That’s just three drinks for someone weighing 140 pounds or less. Three beers, three glasses of wine, three shots–it’s all the same when it comes to your BAC. And don’t bother trying to hide it with a breath mint, a couple pieces of chewing gum or even a penny. That’s not going to work when it comes to a breathalyzer test.

Anyone who has successfully completed a defensive driving course understands just how dangerous it is to get behind the wheel drunk, or even slightly inebriated. Distracted driving is dangerous and you’re definitely distracted if you’ve had a few drinks before trying to drive home.

It’s a simple thing to have a happy holiday and get home safe. It starts by not drinking and driving.

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December 20, 2011

The Times, They Are-A-Changin’!

On December 13, 2011, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)….you know, the guys who have to investigate every plane crash, train wreck, 60 car pileup on the highways, came out with a position that was a long time in coming. They will suggest to the congress and administration, that the use of a CELL PHONE while a vehicle is in motion in the United States, should be BANNED except for emergencies, or if it is built into the vehicle (like Ford Sync for example). It is already against the law in many states to TEXT while you drive, and for instance, in California, you can get a $300 ticket for having it in your hand even at a red light. So far, in most places, it is not a “Point” moving violation that would require traffic school, but many counties (Orange County in CA) ARE sending their violators of this offense to traffic school.

The use of a cell phone has already been BANNED while driving in :
Spain, Chile, Brazil, Israel, Jordan, Portugal, France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Singapore, Australia, the UK, and other places around the globe. The United States just does not keep up with safety issues.

As Mr. Traffic, I am usually for the government staying out of our lives (tell me what they actually do well), but in this case, I am TOTALLY for this new ban. People who talk on a cell phone now (after 10 years of studies) kill as many people as DRUNK DRIVERS…..Texting is TWICE as lethal. And the exemption for “built-in” is insane as there is no difference in the risk for HANDS FREE. IT IS WHERE YOUR HEAD IS….NOT WHERE YOUR HANDS ARE.

The University of Utah did a huge study to show the effects of driver distraction this way, end the results were dire. The brain simply cannot multi-task this way safely….we THINK we can and that it is OTHERS who can’t, but it is not true. If you would not drive drunk….WHY would you TEXT????

So, I would urge all who read this to NOT use their cell phones while you drive, (and if you HAVE to for any reason, at least do it legally hands free/Bluetooth so you don’t end up in our defensive driving school)…and NEVER NEVER NEVER Text while driving. Don’t temp Fate….that text can wait!!!

Kenny Morse
“Mr. Traffic”
Improv Traffic School

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December 16, 2011

Florida Moving To Halt Distracted Driving

Up until now Florida has lagged behind other states when it comes to fighting against distracted driving. They have so far been reluctant to even make texting and driving a crime, much less more general distracted driving offenses.

Defensive driving is an important skill to have, especially if you’re on vacation.

Last week, when the National Transportation Safety Board released its findings about distracted driving and called for a nationwide ban on any and all cell-phone or handheld device use while driving, Florida legislators groaned. The Florida Senate just approved a bill banning texting and driving, but they have done little else to fight distracted driving.

This is not good news for the Sunshine State, which sees tens of millions of visitors every year, many of who travel there by car. Florida is also one of the most popular states with a population which continues to grow by leaps and bounds, even during the recent recession. Distracted driving is no less of a problem in Florida than it is any where else, but forcing people to put down their handheld devices to concentrate on driving, in a state where public transportation is practically non-existent, is like asking everyone to take a pay cut, or at least a productivity cut.

More than one-quarter of all adults have admitted to texting and driving. Certainly none of these people completed the Florida Online Traffic School or they would understand just haw dangerous distracted driving is and would never do it. Distracted driving is the most dangerous type of driving, second only to driving with a blindfold on.

Now that the NTSB has weighed in on the scourge of distracted driving, and suggested that all states ban any sort of handheld device from a driver’s hands, it seems likely Florida will finally come around to the idea that keeping people safe on their roadways will be good for them and keep them at the top of the list for favorite vacation destinations.

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December 15, 2011

Traffic Fatalities Drop In The Sunshine State

Florida is known as the land of sun and surf. Thanks to efforts by the state to make the roads a safer place it is now known as the state with the most significant drop in traffic fatalities this past year (down 115) after California (down 375.)

Unfortunately, though traffic fatalities as a whole were down in 2010, the number of pedestrians hit by cars has markedly risen. The number of pedestrians injured by a motor vehicle rose nearly 20 percent, and the number killed after being struck rose five percent.

This improvement has come only after a concerted effort by lawmakers and law enforcement officers to force people to pay closer attention when they get behind the wheel of their automobile. Defensive driving is on the rise in the Sunshine State because the penalties for not doing so (besides dying in a horrible car crash) are enormous.

Even during the recession Florida remained the top travel destination in the world, hosting more than 70 million visitors a year, many of which traveled there by car, either for a week or a weekend getaway. This means the roads are often congested, especially in urban areas like Miami and Orlando, and drivers are often confused about where they are and where they going.

A defensive driving course is not simply a good idea in Florida, i might just save your life.

Defensive driving is one of those skills you have and hope you never have to rely upon to make it home alive. You get behind the wheel of your car and cruise to your destination confident you know and follow all the rules of the road, therefore increasing the chances of avoiding a crash. It is your best defense against all those other drivers who are texting, talking, fiddling with the radio, driving at excessive speed and generally not paying attention when they get behind the wheel.

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December 14, 2011

Florida Turns A Blind-Eye To The Dangers Of Distracted Driving

Don’t Blink In The Sunshine State

This week the National Transportation Safety Board called for a nationwide ban on the use of any handheld electronic devices by drivers on any of the country’s roadways. Distracted driving, they say, is the most dangerous threat facing drivers today. It’s worse than driving under the influence because it is so common. Despite a multitude of public service ads meant to enlighten them to its dangers, many people think nothing of getting behind the wheel of a car with their cell phone in their hand.

Florida has some of the most lax laws against distracted driving in the nation. In fact, they don’t have any laws pertaining to the use of cells phones or text messaging devices by drivers, which practically declares open season on defensive drivers, already on alert against distracted drivers.

Defensive driving experts understand the importance of focusing their attention where it belongs: On the road ahead, and NOT on their cell phone.

Whoever is calling you will call you back. Whatever your girlfriend just texted you can wait until you get someplace to read it. There is no message worth your life, the lives of the passengers in your car or the life of the driver you crash into because you aren’t paying attention.

Anyone who has finished a defensive driving course walked away with a new appreciation for just how dangerous distracted driving is. They saw the numbers, did the math, heard the stories and learned the lessons of paying strict attention to the road ahead of them and the situation around them, instead of worrying about some fifteen second phone call that was probably the wrong number or at least could have waited until they got home.

Traffic school can help make you a safe, defensive driver, and keep points from accumulating on your license, but it won’t protect you from distracted drivers

Let’s say it’s the boss on the phone. He’s calling you and calling you because he needs to know where that report is you were supposed to finish before you left work. If you die in a crash while you’re on the phone with him just think how guilty he’ll feel. Especially since you left that report on his desk just as he asked.

Before you set out on a road trip to Florida pack your sunscreen and pay close attention to the driver heading right for you. You might see him, but he might be so busy texting his mommy that he won’t see you until it’s too late.

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December 14, 2011

Traffic Spy-Cams Will Getcha If You Don’t Watch Out

Best Way To Avoid A Ticket: Drive Safely

Safe drivers are usually not the first to complain about the many new traffic control devices being installed on America’s roadways. From traffic light cameras which snap license plate pictures of driver’s who run red lights to speed cameras designed to catch speeders without the need for a police officer to sit by the side of the road all day, these automatically ticketing devices are becoming more and more common.

Just ask the folks of Palm Coast, Florida, who contend with red-light cameras at 10 intersections around the city.

Despite complaints from those who say the new technology is infringing on their civil rights and rights to privacy, courts around the country are overwhelmingly supporting them. Even when state law does not specifically allow them local ordinances are good enough; city officials who want a traffic camera at a local intersection have only to vote it in and it’s done. Police love them because it helps them monitor an area without spending manpower to do it. Drivers hate them for obvious reasons.

There is no worse feeling (ok, there ARE probably worse feelings but for our purposes here they don’t count) than getting a citation in the mail with a photo of your license plate running a red light or speeding through a school zone.

You know who are NOT complaining about the increase in automatic traffic control devices? Defensive driving experts. Anyone who has ever attended a defensive driving course knows just how important it is to maintain a safe speed, follow all traffic laws and be good, defensive drivers. There is no substitute for being a safe driver. Cars don’t drive themselves, so we are responsible for our own actions every time we get behind the wheel. If a red-light camera catches you running a signal don’t blame the technology. If you want to know who is really at fault, take a good hard look in the mirror.

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December 14, 2011

Milwaukee County Serious About Safe Driving

Sheriff’s Office Focuses On Dangerous Drivers

What’s the opposite of a dangerous driver? A defensive driver. A defensive driver understands the importance of following the rules of the road, obeying traffic signals and paying close attention to the road in front of them and what is going on all around them. A dangerous driver just jumps behind the wheel of their car, stomps on the accelerator and maybe says a prayer for any other drivers sharing the road with them that day.

There is no trick to defensive driving. Anyone who has successfully finished a defensive driving course understands just how damage a 4,000 pound projectile can do if the driver behind the wheel isn’t careful. Members of the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department also know how dangerous some drivers can be. This past Thanksgiving holiday deputies saw a 100 percent increase in traffic incidents from the year before, prompting the sheriff to increase his department’s presence on the local roadways.

This increased response is meant to turn the tide in Milwaukee County when it comes to dangerous drivers on the roadways. They hope that more deputies on the road will remind drivers to be safe on the roadways, especially during the holidays.

Among the most dangerous types of drivers, Milwaukee County sheriff David Clarke says, are distracted drivers. Drivers who think they can text while they get behind the wheel risk not only their own lives, he said, but the lives of everyone who shares the road with them. Drivers who have successfully completed a defensive driving course, or completed an online defensive driving course, know they need to devote their full attention to the skill of driving if they want to avoid an accident.

If you’re driving through Milwaukee County this holiday season don’t be surprised if you see more than a few deputies handing out tickets to dangerous drivers. But if you’re a defensive driver you can cruise on through–safely.

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December 12, 2011

Florida To Ban Distracted Driving

The Florida Legislature is taking aim at drivers who allow themselves to be distracted by texting, cell phones or even ubiquitous GPS devices. Senate Bill 416 is specifically worded so that whatever device you use, no matter its function, if it is distracting you from the act of driving, it is prohibited. The wording of the bill addresses anyone who is “manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers, symbols or other text in a wireless communication device.”

That pretty much covers everything.

If Senate Bill 416 passes, which seems all but assured, Florida will become the 36th state to ban texting and distracted driving. The penalties could be as much as a $30 fine and a minimum of 3 points on your license. If your distracted driving leads to an accident the penalties are even higher-up to 6 points added on your license.

Defensive driving experts know the importance of maintaining their focus where it belongs: on the road ahead and not on a digital device, chatting with your significant other; checking e-mail or the latest sports scores. There really is no excuse for distracted driving. As defensive drivers know, taking your eyes off the road even for a second is all you need for a crash to happen.

A defensive driving course can help you keep the points from adding up on your license. It can also help you understand just how dangerous it is to do anything behind the wheel–including lighting a cigarette, fiddling with the radio or even opening a candy bar. But not even traffic school can restore lives lost due to distracted driving.

More crashes are caused by drivers lack of attention than anything else. Anything that can wake drivers up to this fact is bound to have a positive impact on making the roadways safer for everyone.

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