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◉ Speed Bumps: Impacts and Effectiveness

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As the traffic volume has increased, so has the likelihood of vehicular-related injuries or vehicle collisions. In residential areas, traffic flow peaks during common times of travel – mornings, when families drive to work or school, after-school pickup hours, and the rush hour after most 9-5 facilities close. Sometimes the density of traffic is so great that manual monitoring of speed compliance becomes challenging. In 1983, the first use of speed humps was approved for use in the United States in order to motivate vehicles to drive less than 30 miles per hour in designated areas. Because they act to regulate speed passively, they are sometimes referred to as “sleeping policemen.”

What is a Speed Bump?

A speed bump is a small raised area in a road, typically 3-4 inches in height and 1-3 feet in length. They are designed to compel vehicles to slow their speed to 15-20 miles an hour in order to cross without discomfort to the driver or damage to the vehicle. In residential areas, speed humps are often installed, which are similar in height to speed bumps but quite a bit longer.

Speed Bumps and Crash Rates

Speed bumps have been shown to reduce the frequency of several factors associated with collisions. A study by the Portland Bureau of Transportation found that annual crash frequency decreased by 39% on streets that had been treated with speed bumps. Moreover, the number of injuries sustained in the crashes on treated streets was reduced by 46%, making any crashes that did occur less severe than they may otherwise have been.

Speed Bumps and Pedestrian Safety

One of the greatest benefits of installing speed bumps in residential areas is the increased safety it provides to pedestrians. According to the American Journal of Public Health, children are especially susceptible, with automobile collisions responsible for the greatest number of deaths of American children aged 5-14. It was found that installing a speed bump is associated with a 53%-60% reduction in injury or death in neighborhood children struck by a vehicle. Because the most severe injuries are often related to vehicles exceeding the speed limit, the installation of speed bumps helps to ensure that drivers abide by the posted speeds.

Installation of Speed Bumps

Whether speed bumps can be installed locally is determined by policies that vary statewide. Typically, there are a series of measures that must be met for a street to be approved: a minimum traffic volume, such as 500 vehicles, must pass on the street per day, and the majority of vehicles must be traveling at a certain speed bracket, such at 85% traveling at or below 35 miles per hour. These measures ensure that speed bumps will be installed in relatively high-volume areas that require moderately slow speeds.

If a street in a local neighborhood meets the city’s requirements but does not currently have a speed bump installed, a citizen can contact the local traffic division with a request to review the street. The city must ensure that the street is not on a primary route for emergency responders, such as the Fire Department, and then the request must be signed by a number of other residents. The street is then subjected to data analysis to ensure that the city’s volume and speed measures are met. If the street falls within the required parameters, installation is likely to be approved.

Speed bumps are an effective way to reduce the frequency and severity of collisions, improve pedestrian safety, and passively reduce the number of vehicles exceeding the recommended speed limits. In areas with fairly high traffic and especially in residential settings where children are likely to play, the installation of speed bumps can dramatically improve the safety of pedestrians and motorists alike.

Teaching a teenager to drive may be one of the most stressful situations you encounter. Even the parent who has absolute faith in their child’s abilities as a student, athlete, or artist, will find themselves questioning their teen’s readiness to drive. It’s unlikely that you’ll manage to get through it completely stress-free, but there are ways to reduce the stress. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you put your “driving instructor” hat on.

 

Brush Up Your Own Driving Skills

In the years since you yourself learned how to drive, you’ve likely forgotten a thing or two. Furthermore, traffic laws are continually changing and being updated, and the same goes for vehicle equipment and features. Read through your state’s Driver Handbook, or enroll in a personal enrichment traffic safety course to make sure your knowledge is up to date. You will undoubtedly learn something new, and you’ll save yourself from having to admit you don’t know the answer to certain challenging questions your teen might ask. Your teen looks to you as an example, and you’ll want to impress upon them the importance of knowing what the rules are, and what to do, in different driving situations. As we all know, “ignorance is no excuse”.

Even when you’re the one behind the wheel and they are in the passenger seat, you are teaching them how to drive, whether you realize it or not. Be prepared to explain how or why you’ve done things. This can catch you off guard when you’re on “auto-pilot” rather than consciously thinking about what you’re doing. During this impressionable time, be vigilant in adhering to all traffic laws and safe driving procedures. Your teen will be watching you, and if you become careless or lazy, they’ll cite this as reasoning for themselves to do the same.

Get Help From the Experts

Some states require that teens take a Driver’s Ed course before getting their permit or learner’s license, and others don’t — but even if you live in a state that doesn’t require Driver’s Ed, it’s still a good idea to enroll your teen before letting them get behind the wheel. Learning about the rules of the road and basic driving procedures provides a solid foundation and promotes mindfulness of safe driving practices. Your teen will be better prepared to handle unusual or dangerous situations, as well as the everyday ones. The ability to take a Driver’s Ed course online is an appealing option, not only because your teen can complete the coursework around their busy schedule, but also because studies have shown that students who receive online education perform better than those who were taught the same curriculum in a classroom setting.

Mentally Prepare for Each Next Phase

The natural progression will be to start in an empty parking lot, then move to quiet neighborhood streets, and then on to increasingly challenging and higher-traffic areas. The need to protect and shelter your child can be a strong deterrent to putting them in traffic situations with an element of risk, but this is a necessity in learning how to drive. It is imperative that they learn how to control their vehicles in the numerous and varied high-risk traffic environments that they will encounter after they receive their license.

As you think about the next location for your driving lessons, go over the potential hazards and problem areas in your mind. Think about how you would handle each as a driver, and how you would assist your teen from the passenger seat. This should be ongoing. As your teen drives, keep an eye on the mirrors and look far down the road. Anticipate possible scenarios, and plan what you would do to respond to them.

Remain Calm — At Least, Outwardly

A calm attitude can go a long way toward the effectiveness of your driving instruction. You’ll need to remain alert to absolutely everything in the driving environment, but when the unexpected occurs, maintain your composure. If you suddenly exclaim, grip your seat, or reach for the roof handle, it could cause your teen to panic and react with a dangerous driving error. Their first instinct might be to slam on the brakes, which could mean trouble for anyone following behind.

Watch your tone of voice. If you shriek a warning at them or bellow a command, they are now paying attention to you and not the road. Be assertive in pointing out any potential problems, but do so in a calm manner, and firmly correct any mistakes they make. It should go without saying that shouting, berating, and demeaning your teen will make for a traumatic experience, and a very nervous new driver.

Coping With Loss of Control

Regardless of personality type, we all enjoy a certain amount of control when driving a vehicle. If you’re known to be a backseat driver, you’ll need to work especially hard to curb those feelings while teaching your teen how to drive. Though you’ll be advising them throughout the process, you must make them feel that they are the ones in control of the vehicle and that they understand the responsibility of that control. There’s only so much you can do from the passenger’s seat. To soothe some of your anxiety, take an inventory of the things you can control, or at the very least, the things you can affect. This includes responsibilities such as vehicle maintenance, limiting distractions, and pointing out roadway hazards.

Your Physical and Mental State

To create a positive learning experience, both you and your teen should be physically and mentally prepared for the driving lesson. Don’t go into the lesson hungry, angry, sad, or otherwise emotional. Remember to stay hydrated, and above all, do not conduct driving practice when either of you are fatigued. Get plenty of sleep beforehand, and remember that fatigue causes severe driver impairment — drowsy drivers can be as dangerous as drunk drivers.

Remember to Use Positive Reinforcement

Driving is an inherently dangerous activity, and it is all too easy to become solely focused on the mistakes, close calls, and lack of technique that are all a normal part of learning to drive. Remember to encourage your teen when they demonstrate safe, courteous driving behaviors. When they take note of new or unusual circumstances, or they ask questions, remain positive in your responses. Give them the benefit of your driving experience, and help them to develop their own safe driving habits. Remember, there was a time when you were a new driver, and it took a long time to develop the instincts and judgment you have now. You’ll see more progress and better judgment from them the more you emphasize and encourage safe driving behaviors.

For some teens, taking driver’s ed is a rite of passage that they assume they’ll undergo before they’re able to get their license. Other families, however, find themselves debating the value of driver’s ed for teens. If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not driver’s ed is the right decision for your family, consider the benefits of professional driver’s education for new and teenage drivers. We’ve outlined six primary reasons why most parents opt to enroll their teens in driver’s ed, supported by various National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) studies and recommendations.

1. Driver’s Ed Can Lower Insurance Costs

Many insurance companies offer a discount for teens who have taken driver’s ed. The cost savings can really add up, especially if you were dreading the increase in your insurance premiums when you added your teen to the policy. According to the Insurance Information Institute, contact your insurance company to find out how much of a discount is offered.

2. Driver’s Ed Helps Teens Learn the Details

It’s been a long time since you learned how to drive. Chances are, you’ve forgotten many of the details that make up the driving process. Many driving tasks and habits are second nature to experienced drivers, and remembering to explain these processes to a new driver can be rather challenging. Driver’s ed teachers, however, have worked with teens for a long time. They know all the important details that go along with learning to drive, and how to express them in a way that’s sure to sink in for your teen. State-approved online driver’s ed courses, like those offered by Online Drivers Ed, are generally developed by driving instructors and follow educational practices that help ensure that students can easily remember the material.

3. Some States Require It

Not every state requires driver’s ed in order for your teen to get their license. But for those states that do, it’s not just a suggestion: your teen has to get that important driver’s ed class somewhere. Those states that do require it have seen an increase in the safety and competence of drivers who took the class, which means that taking driver’s ed is a proven method to help teens drive more safely.

4. Teens Get More Experience

Let’s face it: you don’t have time to go driving with your teen every day. When they take a driver’s ed class, they will gain more experience with everything they need to know about driving. From a refresher in driving safety from someone who isn’t their parent, to detailed lessons about how to handle harsh driving conditions, driver’s ed will offer your teen more information about how to drive safely. The National Safety Council recommends a combination of driver’s ed and supervised practice for optimal skill development.

5. Road Test Preparation

When your teen takes driver’s ed from a professional in your area, they’ll get the scoop on the driver’s license test: what they’re expected to know, how it will impact their test score, and what they’ll actually need to do in order to pass the driving test. Some cities, for example, require parallel parking to get a driver’s license. Other cities, where it’s less common, may require little more than a drive around the block. Make sure your teen knows what they really need to know before they get their license, instead of failing the test due to lack of experience with one crucial point — even if it’s a point they won’t necessarily use during everyday driving. A resource like the DMV.org’s Driver’s Ed guide can help your teen prepare for the road test.

6. Increase Your Teen’s Confidence

There’s nothing like going into a test with the sure knowledge that you’ll be able to pass it — and driver’s ed can provide that for your teen. It gives them the confidence to know that they can handle what happens on the road and the experience necessary to back it up. Good instructors will help build that confidence, preparing your teen for what they’ll face when they start driving. The NHTSA recommends building confidence through practice and reinforcement.

If you want your teen to have professional instruction that will make sure they know everything they need to know, not only to take their road test but to increase their safety behind the wheel, driver’s ed is well worth the investment. Sign your teen up to give them all the benefits of that experience.

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If you’ve received a traffic citation in the state of Arizona, you should be aware that there are two completely different types of “traffic schools”, and that there are big differences between the two. Depending on the type of violation you committed, or the type of citation you received, you may be required to attend a class, or you may be given the option to attend a class in exchange for dismissal of your violation.

So, what’s the difference? The short answer is that Traffic Survival School is required, and Defensive Driving is usually optional, though there are some exceptions. You may be required to attend Traffic Survival School if you received a ticket some time ago, and have already had points assessed against your driving record. If you receive a letter from the MVD stating that you must complete a Traffic Survival School program, this is not optional — you must comply, or else risk having the MVD suspend your driver’s license. Defensive Driving is a court diversion program commonly offered to drivers who have received a traffic citation but have not yet been convicted of a violation. In most cases, when you receive a traffic ticket in Arizona, you can choose to attend a Defensive Driving program, whereby upon completion, points will not be assessed to your driving record. Be aware that even if you do not elect to attend Defensive Driving, in some cases, a judge may require you to attend Defensive Driving or Traffic Survival School.

Differences in Course Material and Delivery

There are a few key differences in the rules and curriculum for a Traffic Survival School versus a Defensive Driving School. It is for this reason that the two are not interchangeable. If you accidentally take Defensive Driving when you should have taken Traffic Survival, your completion certificate will not be accepted, and you’ll end up having to enroll with another school and complete the correct type of course in order to remain licensed.

Defensive Driving courses are intended to be 4 – 4 ½ hours long and may be taken either online or in person. The lessons will cover Arizona traffic laws and basic safe driving practices. Defensive Driving is known as a “court diversion” program because (most commonly) the people who take it are doing so to have their violation dismissed and thereby diverted from a conviction.

Traffic Survival School is a slightly more in-depth program. The classes are intended to be 8 hours long, and may only be taken in-person. Online courses are not permitted. This should be a red flag to anyone searching online for an approved Traffic Survival School — if the course itself is conducted via the Internet, it will not satisfy the requirements. Even if you live out of state, you will not be allowed to take the course online. The Traffic Survival School Administration gives detailed instructions for those who live out-of-state, but the requirement to attend a class in person remains the same.

Determining Which Class To Take

In the majority of cases, you will have received some kind of written documentation or notification that clearly states either “Traffic Survival School” or “Defensive Driving”. If you received a letter from the MVD, a court order, or other documentation from the court, give it a thorough read-through and you’ll likely find that the required class type is indicated. Many times a list of schools is provided as well. If you’re given a list of approved schools from an official source, it’s a safe bet to stick to that list.

If you are unable to find a clear indication of which type of class to take, call the court that is handling your citation and inquire.

Am I eligible to take Defensive Driving?

Your eligibility to attend Defensive Driving will depend on several factors, including the severity and/or type of violation committed. Drivers who were issued a citation for involvement in a collision that resulted in serious injury or death are not eligible. The Arizona Supreme Court provides a list of eligible violation codes, to which you can compare the violation code shown on your citation. In some cases, the citation may show more than one violation code. This means that you were cited for more than one violation. The Defensive Driving Court diversion program may be used to dismiss only one violation in a 12-month period, so only one of the violations can be dismissed, while the other will go on your record.

Of course, if you have attended Defensive Driving in the past 12 months for a completely different citation, you wouldn’t be eligible to attend again within that 12-month timeframe. The state of Arizona uses the citation dates to gauge the eligibility time period, meaning that when you take a Defensive Driving course for a violation, you are not eligible to do so again unless the citation date of the second violation is at least 1 year from the citation date of the first violation.

There are also restrictions for commercial drivers. Commercial driver’s license holders who were cited while driving a vehicle that requires a CDL are not eligible to attend Defensive Driving.

Why am I being required to complete Traffic Survival School?

Traffic Survival School is intended as both a penalty and a corrective measure for drivers who have committed severe and/or frequent traffic violations. There are a variety of circumstances or violations that may cause the Arizona MVD (or an individual judge) to require your attendance, including:

  • Red light violation
  • DUI
  • Aggressive driving
  • If you have 8 – 12 points against your license within a 12-month period
  • If you have a graduated driver’s license (drivers 18 or younger) and receive a traffic conviction

The state of Arizona takes a hard-line approach about serious or repeat traffic violators, which is why they will require this more extensive type of program in those cases. The idea is to educate drivers so that they’ll be less likely to commit a violation in the future, and Arizona roads will be that much safer for all of us.

Still not sure which Arizona traffic school course is right for you? Feel free to leave us a comment or contact us with your questions. 

If you’re about to take your driver’s test (or have already passed), you may feel like you know all there is to know about driving. But your parents or driving teachers may not have told you everything. Before you hit the road, take a minute to look over these driving tips that you might not have learned yet:

Adjust Your Mirrors – The Right Way

You probably know already that remembering to adjust your mirrors is important. However, you may not be doing it right, and you would be surprised to find out how many people do it wrong.

Most people adjust their mirrors so that they will be able to see both the road and some of their cars in the reflection, but this is actually the wrong way to do it. If you want to increase the safety of your driving and decrease blind spots, you should adjust your mirrors so that you can’t see the sides of your car at all – just the road and surrounding objects behind you.

Keep Your Headlights On – Even During Daytime

It may sound strange to keep your headlights on when it isn’t dark but hear us out. Keeping your headlights on all or most of the time may make you a safer driver. For one thing, headlights make you more visible to drivers, especially on overcast days. Drivers are more likely to notice you moving through their blind spots or coming over a hill if your headlights are on.

Besides making you more visible, keeping your headlights on will increase your visibility as well, especially when you are traveling through tunnels or heavily shaded areas.

Turn Your Music Off (or Down)

While listening to music in your car does make driving a lot more fun, it doesn’t make it more safe. Studies have shown that people who drove without music or radio distractions were much more focused drivers than those who drove with music playing. This is because listening to music in your car is a type of multitasking; if you’re focused on singing along to your favorite songs, or listening to a funny radio host, you’re going to be less focused on driving.

When you first start driving on your own, consider driving without music for a while. If you must have music, keep the volume down and make an extra effort to focus on your surroundings. Also, try to stick to music with slower, more relaxed beats; people who listened to songs with faster tempos were more likely to drive recklessly and go through red lights.

Never Slam on the Brakes

Slippery conditions and sudden losses of traction (such as a tire blowout) are a couple of the most common causes of accidents. When you find yourself in one of these situations where you need to stop suddenly, your first instinct is probably to slam on the brakes. However, hitting your brakes is one of the worst things that you can do.

When you do have to stop quickly, take your foot off of the gas pedal and gently tap the brakes, letting your car gradually lose speed. Doing this gives you more control over your car so that you can safely steer yourself in a better direction.

Pay Attention to Traffic Signs…But Pay More Attention to Traffic

It’s important to watch for and obey traffic signs, but you have to remember that not every driver is paying attention. The first rule of defensive driving is to understand that there are many distracted drivers as well as drivers who just decide to ignore the rules. To keep yourself and your passengers safe, make sure to pay close attention to drivers as well as road signs.

When it comes to driving, like most things in life, there is always more to learn. Try putting these tips into practice to become a safer, better, and more informed driver.

 

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If you get hit with a violation while away from your home state, you can expect it to follow you home nine times out of ten. And if you move between states while you’re carrying points on your license, they’ll usually transfer over according to the terms of the Interstate Compact Act.

Interstate Compacts And Changing Residency

Most of the states have opted into a set of compacts that require them to share DMV information. When you change your residency from one member state to another, your points will follow you if the new state has a points system.

You may not end up with an identical amount of points, however. The points will be re-assessed according to your new state’s rules, based on what they assess for the violation that you committed in the old state.

How States Share Violation Information

Each set of states has to have a formal agreement in place stipulating that they’ll voluntarily submit information about traffic violations and convictions to each other. Before the 1960s, that meant that motorists could sometimes get away with ducking out of a ticket or court appearance if they were pulled over while outside of their state of residence, as not all of the states had clear agreements in place with each other.

That situation began to change in 1960 when the Driver License Compact was created. This is a set of laws that states can opt into, ensuring that information about traffic violations would be shared between them. By the 1990s, the vast majority of the states had opted in. As of 2016, only five states have held out of the Driver License Compact: Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Tennessee. States that have opted in are required to assess their native penalty for out-of-state violations if they have an equivalent law on the books. This means that if you get a speeding ticket in another state, you’ll be assessed for the amount of points that a similar speeding offense would get you in your home state — not the amount that the state you were visiting requires.

The Driver License Compact is not the only agreement between the states, however. It has also largely been paired with the Non-Resident Violator Compact. This agreement stipulates that if you are cited in a member state other than your own and don’t pay your ticket, your home state is allowed to suspend your license. There are certain offenses that this agreement does not apply to, however. Parking violations, exceeding weight limits, and registration issues are not included. These will remain on the books in the state you are cited in, but will not be passed on to your home state. Most states are currently members of this compact, but there are a few holdouts, and in most cases, they differ from the states that have opted out of the Driver License Compact: Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Michigan and Wisconsin have opted out of both the Driver License Compact and the Non-Resident Violator Compact.

A new compact called the Driver License Agreement has been proposed to unify and revise the terms of these two agreements. This compact would expand the terms of the Non-Resident Violator Compact to include things like parking and registration offenses. Thus far, however, adoption of this compact has been very slow. At present, only Arkansas, Connecticut, and Massachusetts have adopted it.

So what if you live in a state that doesn’t have one of these compacts? Or Michigan and Wisconsin, which subscribe to none of them? You’re still not entirely out of hot water. These compacts only mandate that member states report violations to each other. States will very often report violations of this nature to each other as a courtesy even if they aren’t required to. If that happens, even if your state doesn’t have a formal agreement in place with the reporting state, they may still assess your points.

States Without Point Systems

There are nine states that don’t have any sort of point system, but nearly all of them are members of the compacts described above.

If you’re moving from a state without a point system to a state that has one, the new state will usually look at your previous traffic violations and assess points based on its own internal rules.

When you’re learning the rules of the road, you may find that driving in conditions that involve strong or heavy wind and rain can feel dangerous. Thunderstorms and tropical weather in summer can make for a turbulent ride. While no one wants to get stuck in a bad storm, there are many things you can do to keep yourself safe and avoid the dangers.

Driving Safely in Stormy Weather

Any type of severe weather can significantly increase a new driver’s risk of an accident. Here’s what you can do to take care of yourself when driving during a storm:

  • Eliminate distractions. Avoid talking on your cell phone, texting, or playing music when the weather is bad. You need to give driving conditions your undivided attention.
  • Stay informed by listening to storm updates on the radio, especially if you’re driving around most of the day. You can also use weather apps like NOAA’s National Weather Service or The Weather Channel for real-time updates.
  • If there’s a severe storm occurring when you’re ready to go someplace, stay home. Wait for the weather to clear before leaving the house.
  • Stop if you need to. If you can’t see more than a few yards, or there is hail, it’s not safe to drive. Pull to the side of the road or into a parking lot and wait for the weather to clear.

Navigating High Winds: Tips for Staying Safe

If you’re driving in heavy winds, it’s important to take precautions. Winds can cause accidents and injuries. Strong wind can occur just about anywhere, but it’s more common in wide open spaces, such as stretches of highway. Wind can also be dangerous on highway overpasses and inside tunnels. If you live in a tornado-prone area, stay tuned to local weather reports. You may need to exit the vehicle and take cover if news stations report a tornado touching the ground.

Here are a few tips to cope with heavy winds if you’re behind the wheel:

  • Anticipate wind gusts and be cautious when you’re driving through an area that is prone to stronger winds or when strong winds are anticipated by the weather reports.
  • Be aware of larger vehicles. Tractor-trailers and recreational vehicles are more susceptible to high winds. Be on the lookout for drivers who are having trouble staying in their lane.
  • Keep your hands firmly on the wheel. Wind can cause you to veer right or left, but you can maintain control by using both your hands to steer. Stay alert, and drive cautiously, especially if you’re in a large vehicle or truck.

Driving Safely in Heavy Rains

Heavy rain often reduces visibility for drivers, so prepare to cope with this. At one time or another, all drivers encounter challenging weather. Stay calm and remember what you learned in your driving classes. Always obey the rules of the road.

Cars and trucks are also at increased risk for hydroplaning, which can cause deadly accidents. Hydroplaning occurs when your vehicle travels too fast in wet weather, causing the vehicle’s tires to travel on a thin layer of water instead of gripping the road. Steering and braking become difficult under these conditions, and hydroplaning can even cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

Follow these tips to help you stay safe while driving in heavy rain conditions:

  • One of the most dangerous times to drive is during the beginning of rainfall. During this time, oils from cars and trucks on the roadway cause slick conditions. If it’s just started to rain, wait a few minutes before heading out.
  • Turn your lights on and keep them on as long as it’s raining. This will help other vehicles see you. In many states, this is the law, even if the sky is bright during the rainfall.
  • Give other vehicles on the road more space to maneuver by adding a few extra seconds of following time. This will give you more time to react to traffic conditions if you need to.

Additional Tips for New Drivers in Bad Weather

Take the time to understand how adverse weather can affect your driving skills. The first few times you’re out on the road in bad weather, you will likely benefit from having a licensed driver with you. When you’re learning to drive, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. So take the time to learn how to drive in various weather conditions, and if you find yourself in a dangerous situation, assess the best course of action. Often, severe storms will pass quickly, so you may want to just sit it out and wait to start your car after the sky has cleared.

Invest in proper maintenance for your vehicle, such as checking tire pressure, brakes, and windshield wipers regularly. This will help you stay prepared for challenging driving conditions and reduce the risk of accidents. For more information on vehicle maintenance, check out resources like Consumer Reports Car Maintenance and Repair Guide.

Looking for more driving tips? We have plenty! Read our blog and learn what skills you need to become an excellent driver for life. You can also visit The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for more resources on safe driving practices.

Maybe you’ve fallen in love with a sporty Ferrari or a classic BMW and are interested in getting one straight from the lands that gave them birth. Maybe you’re traveling to Italy or Germany for a vacation, and are interested in importing a car directly from those factories.

You want to know how to import a car.

Importing a car from outside the U.S. is certainly possible. There are environmental, safety, and cost factors to consider, though, before you actually buy a car overseas and decide to import it. Here are 4 steps to follow.

1. Check U.S. Environmental Regulations Before You Buy

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection website says it succinctly: environmental agencies “have very detailed requirements that can make importing a vehicle and/or its parts difficult, if not impossible, for some vehicles that were not originally manufactured for the U.S. market.”

In other words, you have to check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for emissions and other environmental standards before you buy a car. These regulations are some of the most stringent in the world, so it may be that the car you have your eye on doesn’t meet them.

If you buy a car overseas that does not meet U.S. environmental standards, it must be brought up to them before it can pass inspection and thus be driven in the U.S. This can be highly expensive, and in some cases, may not be possible. Do your research on the import of your dreams before you buy.

For an overview of the EPA’s regulations on imports, as well as the forms you will need when you do import a car, see here.

2. Make Sure the Car You Buy Meets U.S. Safety Regulations

In addition to environmental regulations, an imported car must pass U.S. safety standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Department of Transportation (DOT) has an Importation and Certification section with rules and regulations on its standards.

A car being imported must meet what NHTSA terms the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Some of these concern bumper and other safety features. Cars that have been built overseas but meet U.S. FMVSS generally have a certification verification on the car. (It is often by the driver’s side door.)

If you buy a car overseas that you plan to import, you should check with the seller that the certification is there. The NHTSA recommends that you also ask for a letter from the seller verifying this and bring it with you.

Information on the NHTSA’s laws on importation of cars can be found here. The regulations are different if the imported vehicle is from Canada. Those rules can be found here. There is also a helpful frequently asked questions (FAQ) site here.

3. Taking a Car Through Customs

When your imported car is brought through customs, you will need to show the shipper’s or carrier’s original bill of lading, the bill of sale, any overseas registration documents, and any other documents covering the vehicle.

When your car is brought into the U.S., you may have to pay customs fees. Generally, for cars, these are 2.5% of the price, unless you are importing a Canadian-made car. These are duty-free. There is an $800 exemption if the car is for personal use, it was bought during the trip you are re-entering from, and it accompanies you into the U.S. After the exemption, a flat 3% duty rate covers the next $1,000 of the car’s price. The remainder of the price is due at the 2.5% rate.

4. Check Any State Emissions Regulations Before You Buy

Depending on where in the U.S. you live, the state may have environmental regulations in addition to the EPA’s that your import will have to pass before it can be driven. California, for example, has anti-smog regulations in addition to U.S. rules. Check the Department of Motor Vehicles information in your state before purchasing an imported car.

In sum, you should make sure that you understand the environmental, safety, and customs issues before purchasing a car for import and beginning to import it.

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The human brain is capable of keeping us alive through intense, extreme situations. From car wrecks and domestic abuse to stalking and shoot-outs, we can survive horrible things. However, just like physical trauma, mental and emotional trauma leaves wounds in the psyche. Sometimes they heal over, and you’d never even know. Other times, though, the trauma leaves deep, painful scars. When those scars interfere with your daily life, the condition is called post-traumatic stress disorder.

Isn’t PTSD Just For Soldiers?

When people think of post-traumatic stress disorder, they tend to think of returning combat veterans. Whether it’s pop culture depictions like what we saw in Rambo: First Blood, or nightly news stories about the numbers of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who are dealing with this condition, it’s something we think of as exclusive to warriors. Sometimes we admit that it may be common in police officers, as well. However, being in a war zone is just one instance where the constant tension, stress, and regular infusions of adrenaline can leave lasting effects on someone’s mind.

Because everyone reacts to trauma differently, it’s impossible to say what will, and what won’t, leave someone suffering from PTSD. For example, someone involved in a mass shooting might be able to put the incident behind them, once they’ve had some time to recover and recuperate. Other people, though, may never be able to go to the place where the incident happened, or even other places like it, without being triggered. Nightmares, flashbacks, severe anxiety, and intrusive thoughts regarding the trauma can all make leading a normal life extremely difficult.

Can Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) Affect Driving?

Post-traumatic stress disorder takes many forms, and no two sufferers show the same symptoms or react the same way to the same stimuli. For example, one person who drove a convoy through a war zone might have no negative reactions to traffic when behind the wheel, but someone who was involved in a collision that resulted in the loss of a loved one might feel extreme distress whenever a truck sounds its horn.

If someone suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, they have to plan their entire lives around it. And, in some cases, they need to inform the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

According to the Houston Chronicle, there are many states, such as Texas, Virginia, Florida, and Ohio which ask applicants if they suffer from any conditions, or take any forms of medication, that might interfere with their being able to drive safely. This is far from a universal requirement, though, and in many states where there is an attempt to classify some applicants as “mentally unwell” there have been legal challenges on the grounds that the questions are archaic and unnecessary.

Make Sure You’re Safe

Getting behind the wheel is always a risk. Whether you’re driving down to the corner store to pick up some snacks, or you’re on a cross-country road trip, there is always a chance that circumstances will pitch a fastball at your head. As a driver, you need to know whether you’re going to be able to react to that.

Having PTSD doesn’t mean you can’t drive, or even that you’re an unsafe driver. However, if your condition is triggered by driving, or you’re more likely to suffer from serious symptoms when you drive, then it’s important to know that and to gauge the risk appropriately. Suffering from this condition doesn’t prevent you from having a driver’s license, owning a car, or getting out on the highway. But you need to take responsibility and avoid that sort of situation, if you know there’s a high risk of incident when you drive.

Ever wonder what type of car gets the most tickets? Well, there’s a verified answer! Both Forbes and insure.com have released a list. The winners (er, losers) are:

  1. Mercedes-Benz SL-class
  2. Toyota Camry Solara
  3. Scion TC
  4. Hummer H2/H3
  5. Scion XB
  6. Mercedes-Benz CLS-63 AMG
  7. Acura Integra
  8. Pontiac Grand Prix
  9. Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG
  10. Volkswagen GTI

The Data Behind the List

Not only do these cars rack up more tickets, they rack up a lot more tickets. The driver of the #1 car on this list, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, a convertible, was more than 4 times as likely to be issued a ticket than the standard car on the road.

The driver of the #2 car, the Toyota Camry Solara, a coupe, was almost as ticket-prone: they were more than 3.5 times likely to be pulled over. And #3 was not far behind; they got tickets 3.4 times more than Joe or Josephine Average Car.

It is not until you hit the #4 car on the list, the Hummer SUV, that the driver is only (only) 2.9 times more likely to receive a ticket for rolling magisterially down the road. And #5, the Scion XB? 2.7 times more likely.

These data were crunched by a firm that analyzes data for the insurance industry. They toted up how many tickets each car on the road in the U.S. got per 100,000 miles driven. They then figured out which vehicles had the highest number of tickets.

Color Makes Little Difference—And Red Isn’t Frequently Ticketed

So these results come with a lot of data backing them. For one thing, they knock several enduring myths out of the box. The first is that color matters. Do red cars get more tickets? No. They account for 16% of tickets and 14% of cars on the road, and those percentages are pretty equally matched.

The color most often pulled over? Good old solid gray. They constitute 6% of cars total, but get 10% of tickets.

The safest colors? White, which accounts for 25% of the total car population, receive 19% of the tickets, less than they should if all were proportional. Silver, which hits 10% of total cars on the road, was issued just 5% of all tickets. The theory is, that the police may not notice white or silver cars as much.

Younger Men Don’t Get More Tickets

The data also show that the common perception that young men get more tickets than other Americans is a misperception. The top ticketed cars were often driven by more women than men—and middle age was frequent among the winners of the most-ticketed sweepstakes.

Take, for example, the #1 Mercedes. Those drivers are 41% men and nearly 60% female, and the average age of both genders is 53. The #2 Camry Solara is driven by 38% men and 62% women, and the average age is 50.

The #3 car, the Scion TC, does swing younger—the average age is 30—but again, far more women than men drive it, at 39% versus 61%. And the Hummer? It’s the only one of the top 5 with significantly more men, at 73%. Women drive just 27% of Hummers, and the average age of all its drivers is 46. The Scion xB gender breakdown is 40%/60%, with more women, and the average age is 37.

Officials believe that people who like more powerful cars, of both genders, are likely to exert control—and may push speeds and traffic regulations as a result. The rise in women reflects the rise in women being more in control in life generally.

It’s Safe Driving That Matters

Perhaps the most trenchant phrase that matters is this one from insurance.com: “It’s the driver, not the car, who creates dangerous situations – and receives tickets.” The frequency of ticketing reflects the behavior of their drivers. People who want to hear their Mercedes purr or their Hummer roar are acting in ways that cause them to be pulled over—speeding ignoring traffic conditions or running lights.

The corollary? Drivers who pay attention to the speed limit, drive safely according to traffic conditions, and follow traffic rules and regulations are going to be okay—no matter what car they drive.