Online Defensive Driving Tips

Jalen Rose, the former NBA player and Fab Five alum was arrested earlier this month for allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested in Michigan. The incident took place on March 11th, when Rose’s Cadillac Escalade was reported by a passerby as having driven off an icy road. Once the police arrived on the scene, Rose refused to take a breathalyzer and was instead sent to a hospital where a blood alcohol test was taken. Rose’s attorney has said that Rose is willing to cooperate with the Michigan authorities and address any issues in court and not with the press. If Rose was indeed driving under the influence, then he should have known better than to do that. Celebrities and athletes are role models for plenty of kids around the world, and such antics can influence others kids to behave in the same way. If he was indeed drunk, then he could have certainly afforded a cab and gone home in one.

AAA Western and Central New York will be sponsoring a 6 hour defensive driving course on Saturday. The course will get started at 9 a.m. and end at 3.30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn on 75 North St. The course will cost $35 for AAA members and $41 for non-members. AAA also provides these defensive driving courses online, and if you are wishing to participate in these online classes, then you will receive the same benefits as the traditional classroom version. If you’re an AAA member, the cost of the online program would be discounted for you. What’s more, if you participate in any of the defensive driving course, you will receive a 10 percent insurance discount on your collision and liability insurance premiums if you are the principal driver. This will be valid for 3 years.

In Navarre, a woman from the cantonment was recently penalized for driving carelessly after crashing into the rear end of a car, which then crashed into the vehicle in front of it. 55 year old Vera Daniel was seriously injured in the wreck that took place earlier today, said a Florida Highway Patrol announcement. She was heading East on Highway 98 when she rammed in to Hyundai van, which was waiting at the Coral Street intersection. The van in turn was then propelled forward by the impact and struck a Volvo in front. Daniel’s passenger escaped with minor injuries. The occupants of the van were not injured seriously and the occupant of the Volvo was not injured at all. Alcohol is not one of the factors and everyone was found to be wearing seatbelts.

A proposed federal funding could possibly make alcohol detection devices available for new cars. This however is being taken as good news to some and bad to the others. The President of Mothers against Drunk Driving has said that their organization would like to see this device used as much as possible. However, plenty of advocated believe that this device will stop drunk drivers from driving, thus solving a major problem. Law enforcers have worked on behavior modification for nearly 30 years now, without seeing any significant results. These alcohol detection devices could be different though. These aren’t the same old clunky breathalyzers that require drivers to blow on them repeatedly to get a reading. As long as you are under the legal limit, this device will now operate seamlessly and you won’t even realize it is in your vehicle!

Sprint and Location Labs have released a new application – the Sprint Drive First. This application is easy-to-use and is extremely helpful as it locks down a user’s phone and sends all incoming calls to the voicemail when the car is in motion. This way, it helps to keep users eyes on the road instead of at the phone. Yes admittedly, all everybody needs is just a little self control, but this doesn’t seem to work at all! Everyday people meet with accidents and endanger other lives just because they are distracted by their phones. The Sprint Drive First will initially be available only to Smartphone’s. The features of Sprint are: It locks the driver’s phone screen and automatically directs all calls to the voicemail. It blocks all incoming text messages and sends out an auto-responder to the sender informing him or her that the driver is unavailable. It allows access to 3 main contacts and mobile applications.

In response to the AAP car seat recommendations, the NHTSA or the National Highway Safety Administration has now revised their child safety seat regulations as well. These new child safety seat guidelines can be a bit confusing for some parents. The NHTSA has started using an age-based system, which are based on age categories. The categories are: New Born to 12 months: A rear facing car seat. 1 to 3 years of age: A rear facing car seat for as long as you can, and then a forward facing seat with a harness. 4 to 7 years of age: A forward facing seat with a harness for as long as you can, and then a booster seat. 8 to 12 years of age: A booster seat for as long as you can, and then a seatbelt when the child is ready for it. All children are recommended to stay in the back seat up until the age of 12.

A school bus driver in Connecticut faces charges for sending and receiving nearly 1,000 text messages while driving! This comes as new proof to the problem of distracted driving in the country. Evelyn Guzman was caught when police officers reviewed the onboard surveillance tapes with regards to Guzman’s daughter who was a bus monitor and who was charged for repeatedly assaulting a 9 year old autistic girl. All the Guzman’s do not represent the general population, the risks that are posed by texting and driving are getting increasing national attention. Reports have shown that talking on a mobile phone while driving literally quadruples the risk of an accident, and can be compared to drunk driving. Talking on a hands-free handset is also extremely dangerous. Texting while driving is even more dangerous as it takes the driver’s eyes off the road. T-Mobile recently launched a service called the DriveSmart service which senses when a phone is being used in a moving car and automatically se

The California Highway Patrol or the CHP is cracking down hard on drivers and motorists not wearing their seatbelts when driving. The regular fine for not wearing your seatbelt when driving is $142, but other costs come into the picture, including the court fees, and this can raise your overall fine drastically. The fine is $442 for note restraining a child under 16 properly. Even if the parent is not in the car, the driver will immediately be ticketed. This enforcement effort is also known as the California Occupant Restraint Campaign II and runs till September. This campaign is part of a federally funded enforcement campaign that is trying to reduce the number of injuries and deaths caused due to drivers and motorists not wearing their seatbelts. Apart from this, the CHP is also conducting a community outreach program to help educate drivers about the importance of seatbelts and child restraining. Child safety belts and driver seatbelts are the best protected devices against aggressi

Many Connecticut lawmakers are now considering increasing the number of penalties issued for violating the various distracted driving laws. This could also include the possibility of confiscating the violators’ phones and licenses. The state has also banned texting while driving, being one of the 8 states along with the District of Columbia, to make it mandatory for drivers to keep a hands-free communication device at all times when driving. But many lawmakers feel that this is not enough. The state laws have also prohibited school bus drivers and drivers with a learner’s permit or those under the age of 18 from using mobile phones while driving. Another proposal retains that a drivers license should be suspended for 24 hours if they have been issued summons for 2 or more incidents of texting and driving.

In a June crash on Route 51, a driver managed to severely injure the mother of his bride-to-be, and his since pleaded guilty to 2 traffic violations yesterday. 20 year old Adam Mains pleaded guilty before a Common Pleas judge to careless driving and driving above the speed limit in a work zone. The crash that subsequently followed injured Brenda Schragl of South Park. She suffered multiple fractures and brain injuries and was in a coma for nearly a month after the crash. This has caused the postponement of the wedding ceremony. Mr. Mains faces at least $300 worth of fines and a suspension of his driver’s license. The Schragl family on the other hand, has a civil lawsuit pending against Mr. Mains and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, alleging that the work zone was unsafe. The crash took place when the family members were travelling to a restaurant for a rehearsal dinner. Mr. Mains has a long history of driving offenses and has admitted that he was speeding.

The Senate Bill 146, legislation of Oklahoma that bans the practice of texting while driving has recently been passed by the state Senate in a 32 to 9 vote! The bill that was authored by Senator Jerry Ellis and co-authored by Representative Danny Morgan states that fines can be issued in cases of texting and driving and could even exceed speeding if it is signed by Governor Mary Fallin. Morgan’s bill aims to ban texting while driving for driver’s under the age of 18, while Ellis’ bill aims to ban texting and driving for all drivers, except for emergency and medical personnel or law enforcement officials. The current state law bans drivers under the age of 17 years from texting while driving. Surprisingly, the young drivers have supported this bill the most, as they have all grown up texting and driving and know how dangerous it can be. Oklahoma only ranks second in texting per capita. The Distracted Driver Act that was passed by Governor Brad Henry allows police officers to issue ticke

A driver was stopped for careless driving in the early morning hours this Sunday. The driver was arrested by the Washington Township police for possession of a weapon and driving under the influence of alcohol. The 36 year old Cabral Simpson was stopped on Sunday morning on Shadow Hill Way by a police officer for driving recklessly. After getting into a conversation with the Driver, the cop determined that he was driving under the influence of alcohol. As per the standard procedures, Simpson was arrested and in the process, the officer found a loaded handgun on him. Simpson was subsequently charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, possession of a handgun, possession of hollow point bullets, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and driving recklessly.

Have you ever gripped your steering wheel in anger every time a driver cuts you off? Have you ever blown your car horn in anger just to remind someone that he’s drifting into your lane and not paying attention? It is but natural to lash out in anger when you are behind the wheel. Most of us lean on the horn, scream obscenities and even gesticulate angrily to other drivers. However, it would be wise to keep your anger at bay. Road rage is now being considered a traffic offense that disregards the safety of others. Little good comes out of getting angry with other drivers. It can cost you greatly in the long-term. Aggressive driving accounts for nearly one-third of all crashes and fatalities. This is why avoiding road range can benefit you in the long run. Here are some tips to avoid road rage: Get a good night’s rest: When you don’t get good sleep, you tend to be more irritable. So, sleep well and prevent road rage, as this helps to make you more attentive behind the wheel. Don’t take o

A man has recently been sentenced to 175 hours of community work after driving so rashly that he collided into a cyclist and catapulted her right into the air, causing her death. Christopher David McClelland, a 45 year old man from Marton, pleaded guilty for diving carelessly and causing the death of the woman in February. The incident took place on State Highway 1, next to Mt, Stewart in November last year. The victim, Patricia Fraser, was a mother of four and was riding single file with a friend in the cycle lane on that fateful day. The man had allowed his vehicle to drift on to the cycle lane, wherein he drove the left corner of his car into the rear wheel of the woman’s cycle without breaking. She was then sent flying over the bonnet of the car and into the from wind screen of the vehicle and then catapulted into the air and landed on grass. Ms Frasier was training for a cycle challenge when she was killed. She was wearing a high visibility jacket and riding her cycle safely.

On Monday, a woman crashed her car into the walls of a home – an incident which was caught on video by the surveillance system. The woman was cited for careless driving on Wednesday. Nga Bui was cited for the crash on Ursula Street. The home owners, Ross and Katherine Getchell, have witnessed many crashes at that particular intersection, but this is the first time that a driver actually crashed into their home. The video shows Bui driving north on Ursula and stopping at a yield sign to make a right turn. After making the turn, she kept turning and accelerated and slammed into the Getchell’s house! The car entered the bedroom and left a hole in their brick wall. Fortunately, nobody was hurt and the Getchell’s were not sure just how much damage was caused and how expensive the repairs would be.

The South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance is all set to host a 6 hour defensive driving course on March 26th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Cumberland County 911 Emergency Communications Center in Deerfield Township. The syllabus of the course will provide drivers with the necessary knowledge and driving tips to prevent traffic violations and collisions and to challenge irrational behind-the-wheel behaviors. It costs about $50 per person and those of you who complete this course will be given a 5 percent discount on the liability section of your auto insurance for three years, and an additional 2 points off your motor vehicle record.

Pittsburgh’s mayor expressed disappointment yesterday over the arrests of 2 of the city’s firefighters. The fire department made it mandatory for random drug tests to be conducted after a string of arrests last year because of domestic violence, DUI, public drunkenness and assault. A firefighter was also caught stealing a security truck from a casino. 2 firefighters were arrested last week in two separate incidents. Witnesses say they saw one firefighter kicking and punching a man. The victim was found lying unconscious in an intersection and was bleeding from cuts to his face and head. In another incident, police found another firefighter standing outside his Suzuki, smelling of alcohol. Apparently, he had been driving drunk and sideswiped another vehicle. When asked for his driver’s license, he apparently handed the officer a credit card. He also failed sobriety tests and a Breathalyzer test showed that his blood alcohol level was .228, which is three times the legal limit.

Arguments have been doing the rounds with regards to hefty traffic fines being doled out. Should traffic police be issuing $150 warning tickets to speeding or careless drivers, protecting them from high insurance claims while at the same time fattening the government’s wallet? A proposal in the Legislature can possibly change state traffic laws, sparking friction amongst towns, counties and law enforcement agencies with drivers. A bill in the House of Representatives might allow police officers to write warning tickets to careless drivers and speedsters. The point behind this is the driver would not suffer points on his driving record, which would otherwise raise his insurance premiums. And, it would also enable the cash-strapped government to split the take. If passed through, this new law could raise a lot of money for the state as well as its cities and towns. Careless driving laws became immensely popular in the 80’s, where drivers could plead to the local charge and pay a much hig

Delaware’s Office of Highway Safety has been asking local drivers to “Respect the Sign”. Respect the Sign is this year’s theme for the aggressive driving campaign. The office will be putting up posters, billboards, flyers and even ads online and over the radio to encourage drivers to follow the traffic signs every day. According to the Office, nearly 40 percent of the overall fatal crashes that take place in Delaware are caused due to aggressive driving. Of all these crashes, nearly one-third are caused because drivers fail to yield to the right way. Last year, police handed out more than 3,300 citations for aggressive driving, and this includes: tailgating, speeding, and running stop signs or red lights. The Delaware State Police as well as the Dover and Milford Police will be conducting local patrols on the lookout for aggressive drivers. The first patrols are already underway and will run up until March 12th. The next wave will commence on April 24th and will run up until May 7th.

A 54 year old man was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and other such offenses after he ran into another car yesterday in Wilmington. Delaware state police say that 60 year old Oscar Foraker was heading south on the bridge. As he went over the crest, he was struck head on by William Nardo’s car. Both men were hospitalized but sustained minor injuries. Strict measures need to be taken against irresponsible drivers who choose to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Not only are these drivers risking their own lives and that of their passengers, but they also risk injuring and even killing bystanders and other drivers as well. Defensive driving courses have become extremely important, if not a necessity, for drivers across the country.

Apart from messing up her Capella National Anthem at the Super Bowl, Christina Aguilera does not seem to let the embarrassment get her down, especially when it comes to her usual “inebriated” escapades. If the Super Bowl mess wasn’t enough to get her in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, she was earlier pulled over with her boyfriend, Matt Rutler in his Mustang near the sunset strip. LA deputies caught him for driving in a drunken state, and Christina was also caught for “public drunkenness”. But is it illegal to be drunk in a car in LA, even if you are not driving? But according to a report in the local newspapers, it turns out that it is standard procedure in a DUI arrest, when officers have the right to decide whether a passenger is too drunk to take care of herself. Christina however, was released earlier today and will not be prosecuted. But she will be facing a misdemeanor arrest on her rap sheet, and has even gone through the process. She was booked, fingerprinted and put

All across Indiana, police are going to start working overtime this month in order to watch out for and crack down on drunken, dangerous and impaired drivers. With more and more drunk driving cases being reported every day, law enforcement agencies have decided to step in and take harsh measures against those who deem it necessary to flaunt the laws. The Indiana state police, along with more than 250 other agencies, have decided to take part in Operation Pull Over that runs till March 20th. The police and agencies taking part in this federally funded project will send out increased patrols that look for aggressive or drunken drivers without seatbelts. The Indiana police have said that there were 41 deaths on the state’s highways in 2009, and nearly 24 percent of these involved drivers who were drunk.