California Gas Prices Still Hurting Drivers

When gasoline prices in Southern California shot past $5 a gallon, folks almost started panicking. Drivers lined up at gas stations with the cheapest fuel. Stories about stealing gas spread like wildfire, from cars and even right from the pumps. Some folks ditched their cars right there on the streets when they ran out of gas. Defensive drivers know the importance of being fully prepared for any road trip-whether they are heading across the country or just across town. That means checking your fuel supply first. Not everyone can afford to fill up the gas tank, especially when prices are skyrocketing, but if you don't have enough fuel to get you where you are going and back you are going to end up paying more to get yourself (and your vehicle) home safely. Now is also a good time to start thinking about your driving habits. Defensive drivers already know that no matter what sort of gas mileage they might be getting from their vehicle, aggressive driving will make it much, much worse. According to studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aggressive driving (that means too much acceleration; frequent stopping starting or swerving in and out of traffic; speeding) can decrease your vehicle's fuel efficiency by as much as 45%. With gas prices hovering around the $5 mark you could wind up costing yourself hundreds of extra dollars every month just by driving carelessly. Now might also be a good time to consider ride sharing, or commuting, especially if you have a regular route you take to work or school every day. By joining forces with someone else (or a few people) who are making the same trip every day you can decrease how much money you spend on fuel and make use of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes if you are taking to the highway.

California Senior Drivers Face Tough Road

California holds strict rules when deciding if folks of a certain age can keep driving. Yet, believe it or not, some argue that the state is just scratching the surface. They say there's still a big gap in cutting down on traffic accidents linked to older drivers. It's a big topic since each life matters and understanding the stories behind these numbers nudges change forward. Wonder why this is so important? Keep reading to uncover the complete picture. On the other side of that coin, senior drivers, although they represent nearly 20 percent of all drivers on the road in the nation today, are repsonsible for a much smaller percentage of serious crashes. Crashes involving seniors tend to make the headlines more often, however, giving a false impression when it comes to the number of crashes they cause. And experts say that despite what many believe, a persons age has nothing to do with whether or not they are safe drivers. Instead they point to a physical ailments, often caused by the natural aging process. These ailments are simple enough to predict and some say doctors should be making the call about whether or not a person is able to drive safely. To address just this type of situation California recently tried a three-step screening process to detect drivers who might need a road test before getting their licenses renewed. Unfortunately, despite these restrictions the changes attempted in California did not reduce crashes. That caused researchers to pause and try a different approach to resolving the issue. Meanwhile across the nation traffic safety experts are struggling to keep everyone who uses the roads and highways, regardless of their age, safer tomorrow than they were yesterday, or even today.

Some states introduce age requirements after high-profile accidents. Massachusetts now requires drivers to start renewing licenses in person at age 75, with proof of an eye exam. The change came after an 88-year-old driver struck and killed a 4-year-old crossing a suburban Boston street in 2009. This summer, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed a national guideline for older driver safety that, if finalized, would push states to become more consistent. Among the recommendations: Every state needs a program to improve older driver safety; doctors should be protected from lawsuits if they report a possibly unsafe driver; and driver's licenses should be renewed in person after a certain age, tailored to each state's crash data.... ...In California, older drivers who fail a regular road test sometimes get a re-test on familiar neighborhood roads to qualify for a restricted license. State traffic researchers expect demand for that option to grow, and are preparing to study if that tailored testing really assures safety.

Prop 33 Good, Bad Or Just Plain Wrong?

Voters head to the polls in November to pick the next President of the United States. In California, though, the choice hits closer to home. They will decide if insurance companies should have more say in setting rates and deciding which customers get discounts.

If approved in November, Proposition 33 would allow auto insurers to offer “loyalty discounts” to new customers that have had continuous coverage for the past five years. ....The initiative is a reincarnation of Proposition 17, which was shot down by a narrow margin in June 2010. It now rises from the dead, equipped with some changes that proponents hope will sway voters. Opponents, meanwhile, argue that Prop. 33 is just like its predecessor and will negatively impact people who use public transit or bike, among other nondrivers. The measure would allow insurance companies to raise rates for people who have clean records but stopped driving over the past five years.

On the surface this does seem to give insurers more power than they already have. Some changes have been made from the previously defeated bill:

The rewritten Prop. 33 does now allow exemptions for military personnel, individuals who have been unemployed for up to 18 months and children living at home with their parents. And the initiative would provide currently uninsured drivers a discount proportional to the number of years they have had insurance in the previous five years.

Whether or not voters will be convinced that the new bill is enough of a departure from the old version, or that the new bill will actually benefit more people than it hurts will only be known once the vote is over.

California Drivers Can Go Paperless

Great news for drivers eager to use their handheld gadgets, as it’s now against the law in California to talk or text on them while driving. However, a fresh state law allows using these devices to display proof of insurance during a traffic stop or accident.

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law Assembly Bill 1708, which makes California the seventh state in the country that allows motorists to show they have auto insurance via their smartphone or other mobile electronic device. Drivers can still opt to hand over a piece of paper from their glove box instead, the Association of California Insurance Companies said in a news release.

The decisions of whether or not allow paperless proof of insurance was a sticky situation for legislators. On the one hand they wanted to make the process simpler for drivers and insurance companies, not to mention an attempt to decrease the costs involved in printing insurance cards, on the other hand they have been battling to convince drivers not to use handheld devices while they drive. They did not want to be seen as being wishy-washy in the middle of an all-out war against distracted driving. So far the news is being hailed as a step forward by insurance companies, drivers and even safety advocates, all of whom say that if a driver does need to show proof of insurance they will do so while their vehicle is safely parked, meaning there is no danger of anyone getting confused about the intention of the law. So far, so good.

California Increasing Fines For ‘Distracted Drivers’

California already has some of the strictest laws against using handheld devices while driving, yet legislators are thinking about raising the penalties even more for rule-breakers. Dubbed 'the cellphone bill', California SB 1310, authored state Dem. Sen. Joe Simitian of Palo Alto, would increase the current fine for driving while using a handheld phone or sending a text message from $20 to $30 for first time offenders, and from $50 to $60 for repeat offenders. There certainly is something to be said for the existing handheld cell devices law. California police have handed out literally hundreds, perhaps thousands of these citations. This has brought it thousands of dollars of revenue for the state and been a severe wake-up call for drivers who either ignored the new law or decided they didn't need to follow it. It is hoped the new law, which increases the fines 50 percent will be enough of a deterrent. In the meantime traffic safety analysts still debate the merits of stiffer distracted driving laws with some questioning whether or not distracted driving is worse than driving under the influence of alcohol (as some studies claim.) For California drivers the facts are not really at issue. The only issue they need to be concerned with is state law, which appears to be ready to make it even worse for drivers who flaunt it. From the U.S. Department of Transportation:

Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on America's roadways. In 2010 alone, over 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving crashes. The U.S. Department of Transportation is leading the effort to stop texting and cell phone use behind the wheel. Since 2009, we have held two national distracted driving summits, banned texting and cell phone use for commercial drivers, encouraged states to adopt tough laws, and launched several campaigns to raise public awareness about the issue.

CHP Plans Massive Enforcement For Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend sneaks up as the second riskiest time for getting into a car crash because of drunk driving, just after Independence Day. DUI arrests surge every year during this three day weekend, most likely because many people see the holiday as their last chance to grab some summer. Regardless of why they do it, Labor Day is a holiday police every where dread. That might be what has prompted the California Highway Patrol to announce they will be stepping up enforcement all weekend long. On average the CHP issues about 1,500 citations to drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol every Labor Day weekend. This year, they want to convince people to stay out of their car of they party too hard.

CHP officers will be out in force, keeping a close eye on the roads and enforcing the law to keep motorists safe. The three-day holiday is a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) for the CHP, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. through Monday at 11:59 p.m. Throughout the MEP, all available officers will be on patrol cracking down on impaired drivers, speeders and those who are a danger to themselves and others on the state's roadways. During last year's Labor Day weekend 29 people were killed in traffic collisions across California, which is a 38-percent increase from 2010. Motorists who choose not to wear safety equipment contributed to the drastic increase in casualties. "It is very disheartening to know that 19 people lost their lives last Labor Day weekend as a result of not wearing their seatbelt," CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. "What a tremendous price to pay for something that is entirely preventable."

California Cracks Down On Drunk Drivers

Count California in on the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign happening all across the nation until early September. All over the state, police officers are stepping up to catch folks who choose to drive after having a drink or two and make sure they don't stay on the roads. Among their efforts drivers in California can expect to see more police on the roads, especially in areas where statistics show the incidence of drunk driving is high, and increased use of police DUI checkpoints where all drivers are stopped and checked for alcohol. Checkpoints have proven to be an effective tool in combating the scourge of drunk driving, which is why police are increasingly using them in their DUI campaigns. California is hardly alone in the nationwide crackdown on drunk driving. But with the fifth largest economy in the world, and a population greater than in most nations, California sees more than its fair share of drunk driving. In 2010, the last year for which data is available, nearly 800 people lost their lives on California roadways as a result of drunk driving. For people between the ages of 21-24, the risk of dying in a drunk driving related crash are greatly increased. California Office of Traffic Safety leads the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign with funds provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. States are not obligated to participate in the program but those that do receive additional money to fund increased patrols to help keep drunk drivers off the streets. In California, as in most other states, drivers convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol face stiff penalties including heavy fines and points added to their driving record; the possibility of suspension or driving privileges and/or the forced use of interlock ignition device (plus all fees associated with its use) which requires them to submit to a self-administered breathalyzer test every time they want to drive their car any where.

400,000 New Drivers Possibly Coming To California Roads

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, as many as 400,000 new driver's licenses may be issued following the orders contained in President Barack Obama's 'Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals' order. The order specifically allows formerly undocumented young people living in the U.S. at the behest of their parents to apply for citizens and entitles them to certain rights, such as driver's licenses, immediately. These individuals will still be required to provide all documentation required for ordinary citizens and pass all required exams and driving tests. That means they will need to demonstrate their driving ability and possess all the same skills as everyone else. What is important to recognize is that an additional 400,000 drivers means, likely, hundreds of thousands of more vehicles on the roads in a state where traffic congestion is already a major concern. It is unclear how well the existing infrastructure and system can handle a major influx of new drivers and new vehicles, but it seems likely the State of California will find out sooner or later.

Deferred Action applies to undocumented immigrants between the ages of 15 and 31, who were brought to America before the age of 16 and have no criminal record. Participants also must be either high school students or graduates who have lived in the United States continuously for five years. Gil Duran, spokesman for Gov. Jerry Brown, said the DMV statement reflects the governor's position but that he could not elaborate. The glitch is that state regulations allow only certain types of federal immigration documents to support the issuance of a driver's license. If President Obama's Deferred Action program provides participants with "new or different immigration documents," then legislation or regulatory clarification may be needed, the DMV said.

Californians Might Be Taxed For Driving

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission in California kicked off a study called "Vehicle Miles Traveled" to figure out how to gather funds for fixing roads and supporting public transport. This fresh program explores using GPS gadgets to track how far drivers travel and charging them a tax based on their mileage. No doubt the issue will raise red flags for a number of people including those who feel the state is intruding on their privacy and those who feel they are being taxed enough. But California is hardly alone in this effort. Florida, too, is looking at a plan to tax drivers based on the miles they drive and at the national level both parties have put forth similar ideas. There is no question that more funds are needed to repair crumbling infrastructure such as roads and bridges, and that not enough revenue is being derived through current methods to expand public transportation, but there are an abundance of questions about who should pay for these improvements, and how. In the coming months, as the California program is tested and the ability of the state to track your miles driven and assess taxes based on these numbers improves, it seems likely some form of taxed-for-driving will be implemented. How people will respond to this system, intended to be more fair by only charge those people who use the roads more, is yet to be seen.

California Driving Test Requires Patience

California, like all states, requires first time drivers to complete both a written test and an actual behind-the-wheel driving test. For many first time drivers this driving test can be an object of frustration, worry and concern. Blood pressure increases, they sweat and suffer anxiety as a result of their impending test. Failing the test means no driver's license and a weeks wait until they can take the test again. Not to mention the ridicule of their friends who did pass the test. Fortunately, the California Department of Transportation offers some insight into what these new drivers can expect in an effort to remove some of the stress and concern. After all driver's who are relaxed are more apt to do better behind the wheel than drivers who are stressed out.

On the road, your examiner will be looking to see whether you: Check traffic, including pedestrians, by your head and eye movements as well as using your mirrors. Signal before you pull into or out of traffic, make a turn, or change lanes. Drive at an appropriate and legal speed: not too fast and not too slow. Leave adequate space between your vehicle and other vehicles. Maintain good control of your vehicle. Obey all traffic laws. During your driving test, your examiner will ask you to perform certain critical skill test maneuvers that include: Backing your vehicle. Driving through intersections (controlled, uncontrolled, and stop signs). Completing left and right hand turns. Completing left and right lane changes. Driving in residential and business areas.

Another step in the process of a new driver getting behind the wheel might be attending our Online Traffic School. Visit our web site to learn more!

Effort To Allow Illegals To Get California Driver’s Licenses

Assemblyman Gil Cedillo is on his eighth try and maybe his last, to push through a California law letting folks without legal status get a state driver's license. All his earlier tries didn't make it, except once in 2004, when the bill passed but didn't get signed into law. The idea of allowing undocumented people living in the United States to obtain driver's licenses has been widely debated with most people siding with their political party. There is no physical reason not to allow these people to have driver's licenses. They would still need to pass the same test as everyone else; have a good enough grasp of the English language to understand street signs and understand traffic laws and drive safely just as everyone else is required to. But since these people are here illegally many people feel allowing them to obtain a driver's license is tantamount to saying it's ok that they here illegally. There is another reason some people feel illegal aliens should be allowed driver's licenses. they believe licensing these drivers would require them to be properly insured. Their vehicles would need to be properly registered and they would not have a reason to avoid police as they seem to now. No doubt this most recent attempt by Gil Cedillo will fail again, but the debate over issuing driver's licenses to people living in the U.S. illegally will continue for some time.

Caifornia ‘Young Drivers’ Web Site

Repeated studies have shown that young, inexperienced drivers, have the greatest risk of being involved in a fatal vehicle collision. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for teenagers, especially those of driving age. This information has prompted a number of states to enact graduated licensing programs for young drivers. These require new drivers to pass a series of in-practice milestones with limited driving privileges before their driving privileges are increased. California does not have a graduated driver licensing program for young drivers but it has taken steps to enhance their safety nonetheless. In fact, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has a new web site designed with young drivers and their parents in mind, especially California Driver’s License. The site is full of information meant to help them learn new skills, enhance the skills they already have and keep them, and everyone who shares the road with them, safe.

Parents can learn about their roles and responsibilities including useful information to help young drivers stay safe on the road. In addition to driving safety, DMV also provides helpful tips and resources on low cost insurance, how to save gas, preparing for college and getting a job. Checklist for Vehicle Registration Apply for a Provisional Permit Practice Written Test Distracted Driving Money Saving Tips Preparing for College Joining the Workforce

• For information on How to Register a Car in California, click:How to Register a Car in California

• Get the essential guide on applying for a New California Driver’s License Tailored for Teens in our comprehensive step-by-step walkthrough.

Interlock Ignition Program In Some Parts Of California

If you are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol in Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Tulare County, California, state law requires you to install an ignition interlock device on your automobile and pay all services fees associated with said device. This law has been effect since 2010 and will remain in effect until 2015. An ignition interlock device requires the driver to self-administer and pass a breathalyzer test attached to the ignition system of the vehicle. If the driver does not pass the test, or fails to administer the test, the vehicle will not start. It is illegal for any driver convicted of DUI and required to install an ignition interlock device to drive any vehicle without one, and it is illegal for anyone to tamper with an interlock ignition device in any way. Fees and fines assessed for conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol in California and installation of the required interlock ignition device can run into the thousands of dollars for the first offense alone.

New legislation (AB 91) requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to implement a pilot program July 1, 2010, through December 31, 2015, that requires individuals convicted for first and repeat driving under the influence (DUI) offenses in Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Tulare County to install a certified ignition interlock device (IID) on all vehicles they own or operate.

California Driving Infractions Last For Years

Curious about how long a California speeding ticket sticks to your record? Years. Depending on the severity of the driving infraction it could remain on your record from 3 to 10 years. The most serious infractions, such as a hit and run crash, remain on your record for a full decade before they go away. In the case of a speeding ticket, that's going to take a full 36 months before it goes away. In all cases the points you get for your citation stay until it is removed from your record. So, if you want a clean driving record, plan for the long term.

Most convictions of traffic offenses, such as hit and run, reckless driving, and driving under the influence (DUI) will remain on your record for 10 years from the violation date and count as 2 points. Most other traffic offense convictions will remain on your record for 3 years from the violation date and count as 1 point. Accidents are reported for 3 years from the accident date. If you are found to be at fault, the accident normally counts as 1 point. Actions taken against your driving privilege, such as a suspension or revocation due to a DUI or a failure to provide proof of financial responsibility, will be reported for 3 years from the proof termination date or the reinstatement date, whichever is earlier. A Failure To Appear for DUI offenses will be reported for 10 years from the violation date. All other Failure To Appears and Failure to Pay fines will be reported for 5 years from the violation date.

Long Wait At California DMV? We Can Help!

Waiting in line is a total drag, especially at the department of motor vehicles. California, bustling with millions of folks, wants to save you from those never-ending waits at the DMV. This bustling state is making moves to either cut down the time you spend there or help you skip the trip altogether. Part of their effort revolves around allowing drivers to do a great deal of their business with the DMV via their web site. California drivers can now renew their license and or registration, access their driving record and find answers to questions regarding the status of their license, all online. If you cannot do what you need to do online, then the California DMV recommends you make an appointment at your local DMV branch before coming in. If you have an appointment you can avoid the wait and get your business done in record time.

Appointments are available at all offices for faster service. You may make an office appointment or a behind-the-wheel driving test appointment online. If you make an office appointment online, please check our driver license and/or vehicle registration pages for requirements, fees, forms, or any other information you may need to complete your transaction. You may also call to make an appointment. When you call to make your appointment, ask for general information regarding your transaction, the name of the forms you may need, and the location and hours of the office. Ask if your transaction can be processed by mail. If the answer is yes, then request the forms be mailed to you. After you receive the forms, complete the information and mail them to any DMV office. Please allow 3 to 6 weeks to process your new documents. If it is necessary for you to visit an office, make an Appointment(s) for faster service. See DMV offices for directions to the office.

California Teens Flaunting Distracted Driving Ban

The California Office of Traffic Safety is reporting that teenage drivers are the least likely drivers to obey existing state laws against distracted driving. This is doubly concerning because teenage drivers are considered to be the most at-risk of a traffic fatality caused by distracted driving. Repeated studies have shown that teenagers are the most likely users of handheld devices, opting for a smartphone over a laptop, netbook, tablet computer or pc, nearly nine times out of ten. They are also inexperienced drivers meaning they already have an increased risk of causing or being involved in a serious traffic collision. When handheld devices are added to the mix their chance of having a serious crash sky rockets.

The OTS study also found that 46 percent of young drivers felt that they were perfectly capable of driving a motor vehicle while using a cellphone and that the distraction was not an issue. Many young drivers feel like they are immune to the dangers of driving distracted and believe it is not going to be them who are involved in a motor vehicle accident; they are the exception to the rule. It is for this and other reasons that California increased its efforts recent years to ban driving while using a cellphone. In 2008, when the law went to effect, the authorities issued approximately 300,000 tickets for violating the cellphone ban. In 2011 alone, police handed out about 500,000 tickets. The penalty for driving while using a cellphone is $159 for a first offense and $259 for a second offense. A potential monetary fine may not be a deterrent for some California drivers, but what should be of real concern are the other dangers. A motorist who willfully drives distracted by using a cellphone while operating a vehicle is taking an unnecessary risk for themselves, their passengers and the other drivers on the road. The likelihood of an accident increases when a driver does not pay full attention to the operation of a vehicle. Severe accidents can have long-term repercussions and can even be fatal.