Uncategorized – Page 20 – Traffic School Online

How many drinks does it take to get to a blood alcohol level of .08%, the national legal limit for driving? What if, as the National Transportation Safety Board recommends, states lower the legal driving limit to .05%? And how dangerous is driving with a BAC of .08% compared to being tired, on sleep medication, or driving distracted?

Check out this informational video, created by the Serenity Insurance Group, for answers!

We’re glad this video brought up the NTSB recommendation to lower the legal driving limit, which has proven to be controversial even among groups focused on the same goal of reducing drunk driving related crashes.

As shown in the video, it’s estimated that lowering the legal driving limit to .05% could save up to 800 lives per year. Many European nations saw alcohol-related fatalities drop by half within 10 years of lowering the standard. But took 20 years after the NTSB recommended a blood alcohol limit of .08% in 1982 for every state to adopt it. The leaders of Mothers Against Drunk Driving are concerned that another prolonged campaign to lower the legal limit even further will detract attention from other measures, such as high visibility enforcement and ignition interlock requirements, which may be more effective.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has said that individual states should be responsible for taking the lead and implementing the changes if they see fit. So far, only Washington, South Carolina, and New York have considered legislation to lower the limit.

If you’re planning a summer driving vacation this year, you’re in good company! According to a survey conducted by TripAdvisor, a whopping 74% of summer travelers will be making their journeys by car.

But summer road trips don’t always go smoothly – AAA expects to come to the rescue of at least 8 million summer travelers who will have their vacation plans derailed by a breakdown. Don’t be one of them! Here are some tips to make sure both you and your car are ready for anything you might encounter on the road.

Plan Your Journey

Mapping out your road trip is about more than just the sightseeing! Breaking up your trip into manageable portions is essential to your ability to drive safely, and planning your stops in advance can help you resist the temptation to keep going when you’re tired.

Don’t underestimate the risks of drowsy driving! According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleeping only 6 to 7 hours per night doubles your crash risk compared to sleeping 8 or more hours, and sleeping less than 5 hours per night multiplies your crash risk by 4 to 5 times.
Drinking extra coffee or taking a nap might make you feel more alert temporarily, but if you’re fatigued, the only cure is a good night’s sleep.
The National Sleep Foundation also recommends taking breaks during your day’s drive, about every 100 miles or 2 hours to keep yourself feeling fresh.
Roadtrippers is a trip planning website and smartphone app that allows you to view a wide variety of attractions in the areas you’ll be driving through, helping you plan your stops and overnight stays.

Stay on Top of Your Maintenance Schedule

Keeping your car well-maintained is essential to avoiding unexpected breakdowns, especially under the stress of hot summer weather.

If your vehicle has been serviced regularly and recently, you’ll be in good shape. If your next service is coming up, or you’re not sure when the vehicle was last serviced, take it to your mechanic for a check-up before you head out. (NHTSA)
Even if you’re up to date on your service schedule, it’s a good idea to periodically check your vehicle’s oil, and get an oil change if your car is due for one. (NHTSA)
Also be sure to check your tire pressure, and the depth and condition of your tire treads. If you’ll need new tires soon, get them before you go (Car Talk)(Consumer Reports)
Hot weather puts additional stress on your car, and may cause your car to overheat on a long drive or in heavy traffic. To avoid this, make sure your coolant level is adequate before you start your journey, and pay attention to your temperature indicator for signs of trouble. (Car Talk)
Making sure your air conditioning is working properly isn’t just a matter of comfort. The belt that powers the air conditioning often also powers the water pump that moves coolant through the engine system and prevents overheating. (Car Talk)
Car Talk provides a detailed list of things you’ll need to check over to get your car ready for summer, and The Weather Channel provides a visual guide to seasonal auto maintenance.

Prepare for Severe Weather

While we’re hoping for sunny summer skies, the weather doesn’t always cooperate! Make sure you know what you might encounter, especially if you’re driving in an unfamiliar region.

Be aware of possible extreme weather events and proper safety procedures. Wunderground offers a Severe Weather Alert Map to help you prepare, and a Road Trip Planner showing the forecast for your route at the estimated time you’ll be passing through each area.
Rain can loosen oil and grime on roads that haven’t seen rain in a while, creating a dangerously slick surface. Remember to reduce your speed in rainy situations to avoid hydroplaning, and make sure your wiper blades are in good shape so you’ll have good visibility in a downpour (The Weather Channel)(NHTSA)
Sudden storms, even those occurring miles away, may also cause flash floods. Do not drive through flooded areas – your car may stall in the water. Instead, seek another route, or get to higher ground and wait for the flooding to subside. If your car does stall, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground. (The Weather Channel)

Pack an Emergency Kit

Even with the best car maintenance, a breakdown is still a possibility. Prepare for the unexpected by packing emergency supplies. At the minimum, you should consider bringing:

A fully charged cell phone, plus a car charger
First aid kit
Flashlight
Flares or reflective hazard triangles to warn other motorists of your stopped car
Jumper cables
Nonperishable food, drinking water, and essential medicines
Check out Consumer Reports’ detailed checklist for more useful items to include!

What are your tried and true road trip tips? Share them in the comments below!

Good tires are the foundation of safe driving. If that sounds hyperbolic, it’s not. Tires with weak tread are more likely to skid due to the lack of traction, and if you can’t reliably steer your car with any degree of precision, then it doesn’t really matter what sort of condition the rest of the car is in. Tires worn thin can blow out in the middle of traffic and, if that happens, then clean oil and new spark plugs can’t do much to prevent an accident.

If you want to drive safely, then two things are of the utmost importance. You need to learn how to detect when tires are wearing thin and extend the life of your tires.

Luckily, taking care of your tires is one of the easier tasks involved in keeping your car in shape. Follow these points for a safer driving experience:

Learn to Read the Wear

Inspect the treads of your tires regularly to assess their condition. Pay attention to any uneven wear patterns, as this may indicate issues with tire inflation or alignment. Familiarizing yourself with different types of tire wear can help you identify bad habits when it comes to inflating and caring for your tires. You can even spot other issues with your car, such as worn suspension parts identified by cupped wear on the tire itself.

Check Your Pressure Regularly

Check your tire pressure about once a month. Adjusting is easy enough: let air out when it’s over-inflated, and pump some more when it’s low. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) points to under-inflation as a leading cause of car accidents. Make sure to check the pressure right after inflation. Don’t let improper inflation let the air out of your new Continental tires.

Don’t Neglect Tire Rotation

If you don’t have your driver’s manual to tell you how often to have your tires rotated, start with once every 6,000 miles. This will let your tires wear evenly to ensure you don’t have four tires at four different points in their life cycle. An even tread means better traction and a lower risk of accidents.

Know Your Maximum Weight Load

Tires are only designed to support up to a certain weight. You don’t want to use your compact car to transport tons of steel and cement, obviously, but the weight recommendations are especially important for trucks and SUVs. You’ll find the recommended load listed on the same part of the sidewall where you’ll find the recommended tire pressure.

Replace Your Tires When You See the Bars

Most tires feature built-in wear indicator bars that are exposed when the tires have been worn down past a certain point. When this happens, your next trip should be to the garage in order to replace them. Every trip you take on worn tires is another chance to experience a blowout.

Caring for your tires doesn’t really take all that much time and effort — just a quick pressure check once a month and regular maintenance, and you shouldn’t have to worry about your tires any more than you do your oil filter, coolant levels, or any other aspect of car maintenance.

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is almost over, but it’s only the beginning of motorcycle riding season! Motorcycle safety is especially important this year, as overall traffic fatalities actually increased by 5.3% in 2012 after six years of steady declines (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Motorcyclist deaths have been highlighted as a major factor in this spike, with a 9% increase in motorcyclist fatalities predicted (Governor’s Highway Safety Association).

But this is not a new issue – motorcycle fatalities have been increasing for years. Even while advances in highway safety have brought overall traffic fatalities down by 23% from 1997 to 2011, motorcyclist deaths have more than doubled, with increases reported in 14 of the past 15 years (GHSA). Per miles traveled in 2010, the number of deaths on motorcycles was 30 times the number in cars (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).

Here are the three most important ways to combat these high fatality rates, so that you can stay safe on the road this year!

1. Wear Helmets

Helmets are Effective

Helmets reduce the risk of motorcyclist fatalities by 37%, and reduce the risk of brain injuries by 67% (IIHS)
Riders without helmets are 40% more likely to die from a head injury than riders wearing helmets (CDC)
Studies have shown that helmets which meet the standards set by the US Department of Transportation do not restrict your vision or interfere with your hearing (CDC)(IIHS)

Universal Helmet Laws Prevent Motorcycle Deaths

Universal motorcycle helmet laws, which apply to all riders, result in are the only safety measure that has been proven to reduce motorcycle deaths. Universal helmet laws result in increased helmet usage rates, and decreased fatalities. (CDC)
Only 19 states currently have universal helmet laws, down from 1997, when 26 states had universal helmet laws in place. (NBC News)
28 states have partial helmet laws, which only apply to young riders. These are NOT effective in motivating riders to wear helmets! States with partial laws experience about the same helmet use rates as states with no helmet laws at all (CDC)
Three states – Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire – have no helmet requirements. (IIHS)

Keep Universal Helmet Laws on the Books!

Universal helmet laws result in significant increases in helmet usage rates, but when laws are repealed or weakened, helmet usage decreases again, and deaths and injuries increase (CDC)
What kind of helmet law does your state have? Check out Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s map of helmet laws to find out!

2. Never Drink and Ride

Alcohol is a factor in many motorcycle deaths. In 2011…
- 30% of all fatally injured riders…
- 42% of riders fatally injured in single vehicle crashes, meaning crashes where the motorcycle was the only vehicle involved…
- 57% of riders killed at night, and…
- 67% of riders killed in single vehicle crashes on weekend nights…
… had a BAC at or above the legal limit of .08% (IIHS)
Of riders killed in traffic collisions with BAC levels of .08% or higher, only 44% were wearing helmets, compared to 67% for riders with no alcohol (NHTSA).
Motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes are 2.5 times more likely to have consumed alcohol than drivers of passenger vehicles (Motorcycle.com).

3. Slow Down

In 2011, 35% of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding, compared to only 22% for passenger car drivers (NHTSA).
Road conditions like potholes, gravel, or wet surfaces can be extremely dangerous for riders, and can easily contribute to crashes, especially at high speeds.
In 2011, 48% of riders killed in single-vehicle motorcycle crashes were speeding (IIHS)

Looking for More Information?

Check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s list of recommendations for motorcyclists and drivers to share the road safely!
Motorcycles are smaller and harder to see than cars. Drivers, keep a sharp eye out and check your blind spots. Motorcyclists, wear bright colors and reflective tape, and use turn signals and hand signals to stay visible!
Make sure you know the laws for the state you’re riding in! Some states allow motorcycles to “split lanes,” or travel in the unused space between two lines of moving or stationary vehicles, but other states have laws against it. Check out the American Motorcyclist Association’s state-by-state list, or with your state DMV.

This coming Friday, May 17th, is National Bike to Work Day!

Over the past decade, the number of Americans commuting by bike has grown by 47% (League of American Bicyclists). Many cities, schools, and businesses are working to make their communities bicycle friendly by adding bike lanes to roads, providing education for cyclists, and organizing incentives and events for bicycle commuters.

Bike to Work Day is one of the nation’s biggest cycling events, and is supported by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) as well as many local cycling clubs and groups. Activities include bike safety classes and repair workshops in the days leading up to Bike to Work Day, and energizer stations providing snacks, hydration, and even free cycling gear to bike commuters on the day itself.

With more cyclists than usual hitting the road this week, it’s a great time to review bike safety laws. Here are some tips to share the road safely, whether you’ll be driving a car or riding a bike yourself!

Cyclists

Follow Traffic Laws

Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities on the road as drivers do! Cyclists must obey all traffic laws, including stopping for traffic signals and stop signs, riding with the flow of traffic, and signaling lane changes.
Most bicycle laws instruct cyclists to ride “as far to the right as practicable.” This means that you should use the rightmost traffic lane headed in the direction you are going, or a bike lane if it is available. However, you may leave the bike lane at any time to avoid hazards or prepare for a turn. (LAB)
Cyclists may “take the lane,” or ride in the middle of a traffic lane, for a variety of reasons including the lane being too narrow to share safely. (LAB)
Just like other traffic laws, bicycle laws do vary from state to state. The League of American Bicyclists provides an interactive map to review the highlights of each state’s rules.

Anticipate Hazards

Stay out of the “door zone” of parked cars, where you could easily be hit by an opening car door. Usually this means riding 3 to 5 feet away from parked cars, which may require avoiding the rightmost part of the bike lane. (SF.StreetsBlog.org)
Watch for debris, obstructions, or poor road conditions that could make your path unsafe. If you need to move into traffic to avoid hazards in the bike lane, signal first.
Watch for right-turning cars, and avoid taking a path that will put you on the right side of a right-turn-only lane – instead, signal and then move into a traffic lane going in your direction.

Be Visible

When riding in darkness, most states require that bicycles have a white headlight and a red rear reflector, plus pedal and wheel reflectors. The League of American Cyclists recommends also using a red rear light. (LAB)
Wear bright or reflective clothing any time you ride.
Ride where motorists can see you. Ride in a straight line, and do not swerve in and out of parked cars on the side of the road. While some cities allow cyclists to ride on sidewalks, be aware that motorists may not be able to see you.

Wear a Helmet

Wearing a helmet is crucial to staying safe on the road. The League of American Bicyclists recommends wearing a helmet for any bike ride, no matter how short.
The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute estimates that bike helmet use reduces head injury risk by 85%.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 67% of cyclists killed in 2011 were not wearing helmets (IIHS).
No state has a universal helmet law, but some have mandatory helmet laws covering young riders. Some cities and counties have also passed their own helmet laws, so be sure to check your local requirements before you ride!

Be Educated

Want to learn tips for bike commuting, bicycle maintenance, and beginning or advanced riding? The League of American Cyclists provides guides to these topics online. You can also search for League-certified workshops, classes, and riding groups in your area.
Check out your local cycling groups or clubs for other available classes!

Motorists

Bicycles are Vehicles, Too!

Be aware that cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities on the road as you do, and must follow the same traffic laws.
Recognize cyclists’ rights to ride in the middle of a traffic lane, and to change lanes to prepare for turns.
At intersections, follow the same right-of-way rules for cyclists as you would for other cars. If you would yield to a car, yield to the cyclist!

Watch for Cyclists

Cyclists are smaller and harder to see than cars are. Be on the lookout!
When parked on a street, check your mirrors and look behind you before opening your car door. 45 states already have laws against “dooring” or opening your door into an oncoming cyclist. (Cyclelicious)
Look for oncoming cyclists when preparing to make a left turn. It may be difficult to judge the speed they are going, so when in doubt, wait until they pass before turning.
Watch for cyclists when preparing to make a right turn, whether or not you must cross or enter a bicycle lane to make the turn.
Just like motorists, cyclists should follow traffic laws and safe driving practices – but may not always do so. Watch for cyclists riding on sidewalks, in crosswalks, or weaving in and out between cars.

Give Cyclists Room

Cyclists are much more vulnerable than cars, so be certain to leave a safety buffer of at least three feet between you and a cyclist. 19 states have already passed a law mandating a three-foot buffer, and Pennsylvania requires a four-foot buffer. (3FeetPlease.com)
Always make sure that you can see far enough down the road before safely moving into the left lane to pass a cyclist – passing is not worth a head-on collision.
On winding roads, this may mean you’ll need to wait until passing is safe. Be sure to leave plenty of room between you and the cyclist while you are driving behind them. The cyclist may “take the lane” while they know it will not be safe for you to pass them, for example if there is a blind turn or they can see oncoming traffic in the opposite lane, and then move towards the right side of the lane to allow you to pass once the road is clear.
Do not speed up to overtake and make a right turn in front of a cyclist. If you see a cyclist on the right side of the road as you are preparing for a right turn, slow down and allow them to clear the intersection before making your right turn.

Want to participate in Bike to Work Day, or organize your own event? Check out the League of American Bicyclists’ resources for Bike Month 2013!

As the weather warms up, you’ll encounter more cyclists on the road, and maybe even want to join in! Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be well prepared to enjoy your journey.

This is the second post of a two part series in recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a national campaign against cell phone use while driving.

During the third annual Distracted Driving Awareness Month this April, legislators and law enforcement agencies are targeting cell phone use while driving as a major threat to road safety.

However, driving safely requires you to tune out many distractions that are not addressed by traffic laws. What other distractions in your car could be preventing you from focusing on the complex task of driving?

Driving With Kids

The Younger the Passenger, the Bigger the Distraction

Child passengers are 12 times more distracting than talking on a cell phone. (ABC)(Monash University)
Parents with children 1-8 years old in the car take their eyes off the road for an average of 3 minutes and 22 seconds during a 16 minute drive. (ABC)(Monash University)
Kids are four times more distracting than adult passengers, and infants are eight times more distracting. (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety)

Establish Car Rules

Explain to children that you need to pay attention to the road while you are driving, and they will need to wait until the car is stopped for you to perform tasks like changing the music or handing them dropped items.

Be Prepared

Make sure that snacks, books, or games are within easy reach of your older children.
For younger children and babies, plan on having a snack before your trip, since you may not be able to provide the attention they need while they eat.

Keep Mirrors Focused on the Road

Do not adjust your rearview mirror to see kids in the backseat. Being able to see behind your car is essential to safe driving.
If you decide to use a special mirror to see a child in a rear-facing car seat, make sure it is securely fastened. It could become a hazard to everyone in the car if it comes loose during a collision.

Daydreaming

According to a recent study by Erie Insurance and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 62% of fatal car crashes involved a driver who was “generally distracted” or “lost in thought (daydreaming).” (WAVE)

Don’t Drive While Drowsy

Daydreaming and wandering thoughts can be a warning sign that you are becoming drowsy. (National Sleep Foundation)
Make sure you get enough sleep the night before you drive.
If you become drowsy while you are driving, stop and take a nap, or let another driver take over.

What’s On Your Mind?

If you find yourself unable to focus on your driving, try to identify what is distracting you and take steps to eliminate it.
This may be as simple as turning off the radio and giving yourself some peace and quiet.
If you are worried or experiencing strong emotions, take the necessary steps to clear your head. This may require stopping until you are able to compose yourself and continue safely, or calling a friend for assistance.

Your Car’s Features

Many states have passed laws against using cell phones while driving, but none have addressed the distraction posed by the complicated entertainment and navigation systems of newer cars. Some cars even offer the ability to connect with your smartphone using your car’s controls.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have proposed voluntary guidelines for automobile manufacturers to limit the distraction risk of electronic devices installed in vehicles. These guidelines would include reducing the complexity and length of tasks required by the device, and disabling text messaging and internet browsing unless the car is parked.

Until the new guidelines come into effect or states begin to pass laws targeting other electronic equipment as a source of distraction, it is up to drivers to use these devices responsibly.

Make Adjustments Before Driving

Take a moment before you begin driving to make adjustments. If you have your seat position, navigation systems, temperature control, and music just the way you want before you hit the road, you won’t be tempted to make changes as you drive.

Know the Risks

Keep in mind that texting, dialing, browsing the internet, and having phone conversations using your car’s built-in systems is just as distracting and risky as performing these tasks on a cell phone.

While there are no laws against letting your thoughts wander or passing a snack to your kids in the backseat, these distractions still have a serious impact on your ability to drive safely. Being distracted contributes to risky driving behaviors which could cost you a ticket, or worse, cause a collision.

The next time you get behind the wheel, take a few minutes to identify any potential distractions before you start your journey. Taking care of distractions before you drive will help you stay focused and reach your destination safely.

The message is being shouted across the media and in high-quality driver education courses: texting while driving is lethal. In many states, it’s illegal. Drivers of any age are prohibited by California law from sending text messages at any time while operating a vehicle, and other states are passing similar legislation. But amazingly, thousands of people still text while driving, and these drivers are causing serious accidents.

It’s often passengers or other drivers who die in crashes caused by texting. Rob Reynolds lost his 16-year-old daughter Cady Ann when a texting teen driver ran a red light and crashed into the side of Cady’s car. Reynolds founded C.A.R. Alliance to educate teens and their parents about the dangers of distracted driving. He shares stories of accidents that make you wonder, “What were they thinking?”

Reynolds tells audiences about how his daughter died when the entire side of her car crushed the driver’s seat. He talks about the Houston driver who dropped his cell phone and swerved off the road into a canal as he was trying to pick it up. The man and two adult friends escaped the submerged car but were unable to pull his five children out of the back seat. All of the children drowned. Reynolds also mentions Hollywood plastic surgeon Frank Ryan, who drove over a cliff while using his Twitter account.

Reynolds is one of a growing number of dedicated advocates for no texting while driving. The Brown family, who lost their daughter when she chose to text on the road and totaled her truck, were featured on Oprah’s “No Phone Zone” episode. They educate families about distracted driving and encourage drivers to sign a pledge to stop texting and driving. Students say that hearing how many people have died makes them think that it’s not such a good idea to try to text on the road.

Safe driving requires good judgment, visual acuity, and motor control. It’s hard to bring those into play in a motor vehicle if your hands are off the wheel and your eyes are following the text instead of traffic. As Rob Reynolds tells his audiences, “Those messages will be in your phone ten minutes later when you get to where you’re going.”

If you’re interested in getting a permit to drive and need to learn about driver safety, you can register for a complete online driver education course at http://onlinedriversed.com.

As a parent of a teenage driver about to embark on a land-based or online driver’s ed course, you’re likely filled with concern for their safety on the road. Your top priority is finding the best driver training option to help your new driver avoid accidents. The online driver ed course offered by Online Drivers Ed brings intuitive education into your home, teaching your new driver everything they need to know to stay safe.

However, accidents can still happen. Whether it’s your teenager’s fault or another driver’s, your new driver must know how to react in the unfortunate event of a traffic accident. Online Drivers Ed provides a quick rundown of key steps your new driver should take in the event of a traffic accident.

Essential Steps to Take After a Traffic Accident

Stop and Signal: As you’ll learn in a California online driver’s ed class, stop your vehicle and turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers that an accident has occurred.
Call 911: Report any injuries and request an officer to be dispatched to the scene. Do not leave the scene, as California law requires you to remain there, or else you could be charged with a hit-and-run offense.
Exchange Information: Collect key information from the other driver, including their name, address, date of birth, telephone number, driver’s license number, and insurance company. Additionally, gather the same information from any passengers and witnesses.
Take Note of Officer Details: Get the badge number and name of the officer who reported to the scene of the accident.
Avoid Speculation: Don’t volunteer your thoughts on the accident to the other driver involved. Even if you think the accident was your fault, keep that to yourself. Police officers will use various details to determine the cause and fault of the accident.
Don’t Settle on the Spot: Don’t agree to pay for damages or settle on the spot. Leaving the police out of the situation could lead to complications. Let the police and insurance companies work things out.
Document the Scene: Online driver’s ed courses often emphasize the importance of having a camera on hand. Use your smartphone camera to take photos of the accident scene, including any damages to both vehicles. Capture images from a distance and multiple angles, but ensure you do so safely.

These are just a few essential steps to take in the event of an accident. While an online driver’s ed course in California may recommend additional measures, this list is a great start. Print out this article and keep it in your glove compartment for easy reference.

◉ Lower Drunk Driving Limit Could Save Lives

Category: Uncategorized