Online Defensive Driving Tips

At least 2 out of every 5 drivers say that it is ok to break the speed limit of 30mph by about 10 mph more. Nearly 25% of these drivers are between the ages of 16 and 21. These same drivers also feel that there is nothing wrong with drinking about one and a half pints of beer or alcohol before getting behind the wheel. These survey results were a part of a campaign launched by the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. A poll was taken for 500 people aged between 16 to 21 and showed that at least 9% of males in this age bracket thought it was ok to drink more than one and a half pints of beer or alcohol before driving. Also, nearly 60% of drivers though that young drivers tend to behave more dangerously when carrying other young passengers. The 3 organizations that are launching this campaign are urging for a restriction as far as the time of the day that young drivers should drive in order to prevent late night accidents. Young drivers should also be prevented from carrying young passen

As cautious as women drivers try to be, they tend to get as distracted, if not more, than their male counterparts. And this holds true if the female driver in question is a mom. What with moms having to shuffle between doing household chores, fixing lunch, dropping their kids to school and going to work themselves, they have very little time for themselves. Plenty of moms confess that they fix their makeup and eat their breakfasts while dropping their kids to school; while driving. Everybody knows that moms are probably one of the most distracted drivers around! If you don’t want to be one of those unfortunate moms in a mess with the authorities for distracted driving, then here are some tips to help reduce distractions in your daily routine. Make sure everyone in the car is buckled up before you get started, and keep checking on them during stopovers. Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel at all times. Never take calls while driving; divert all your calls to voicemail

Gas prices in many parts of the United States, and across the world, have increased drastically, and many drivers are struggling to stretch their gas tanks as much as possible. Apart from buying a fuel-efficient car, there are a few ways to help you save your money on fuel. Today, it is very important to watch how you drive instead of what you drive. This means stop being aggressive on the roads! The U.S. Energy Department has announced that the biggest savings on fuel will come from avoiding aggressive driving. This can help lower your mileage by nearly 33 percent on highways and by about 5 percent around towns. Driving carefully is a great way to save on fuel. Gentle braking and gradual acceleration are great ways to save your fuel.

Statistics shown that car crashes and accidents kill more teens than suicide, homicide and cancer put together. And this is why it is very important to choose a reliable defensive driving school for your teen, as this could make all the difference between life or death. AAA or the Automobile Association of America has reported that teens only represent about 7% of the licensed population, but are involved in nearly 20% of all reported fatal accidents. But in spite of these scary statistics, high gas prices and safety risks, there is no way you can curb the enthusiasm of a teen driver. Most teen drivers confess to being both nervous as well as excited about driving lessons, as it is new but something that they really want to do. For teen aged 14 and 15 across the nation, AAA clubs have started offering free workshops and online tutorials. These courses are designed to give your teen that head start when looking for a good driving school, and they also provide the relevant tools and guid

The Comedy Guys Defensive Driving courses are one of the biggest in Texas. They are now starting their newest class in Arlington. The newest course is at Arlington’s Third Base Sports Bar & Grill in 821 Six Flags Drive. The Comedy Guys Traffic School provides classes for drivers who wish to attend these classes in order to get a speeding ticket dismissed or get reduced auto insurance rates. The classes will be held on Friday’s and Saturday’s in the morning. Arlington is a central metroplex, which is why having the classes there is ideal. It makes these classes easily available to all Arlington drivers, drivers from Western Dallas and the Easter side of Fort Worth, Irving, Mansfield and Grand Prairie. Third Base provides a dining room for students to learn from. It is a pleasant place with a great atmosphere for people to feel at ease and relaxed. The restaurant also provides a free lunch with refreshments. Comedy Guys has been offering defensive driving classes in Texas for over 15

The Romeoville Police Department is coordinating with the Romeoville High School to conduct a “Driver Safety Week” from Monday till Friday. The aim of this program is to increase the safety driving habits of teenage drivers. It has been reported that teenage drivers are involved in three times more fatal crashes than any other driver. The main focus will be on three main issues that are related to crashes. These are: speeding, driving under the influence and safety belt usage. Today’s course will involve the department issuing informational brochures about vehicles in the parking lot in related to high school students who have been killed in the past due to speed-related accidents. Tuesday’s course will have various officers stationed at different exits when the school releases. The officers will observe the students driving habits, whether the student is wearing a seat belt, etc. Students will be rewarded for driving safely and will be given a written warning for not driving safely. T

No matter how safe a driver you are or how all your family members practice the best defensive driving techniques, every time you hit the road, there will always be some other driver you need to watch out for. Irrespective of age, defensive driving is extremely important for drivers who are young as well as old. But how do you steer clear of dangerous drivers on the road? Watch out for drivers who use cell phones. It is illegal to use hand-held devices while driving in many states, but this hasn’t stopped many drivers from using their mobile phones while driving. Using cell phones while driving has resulted in 636,000 crashes, 12,000 serious injuries, 330,000 injuries and 2,600 deaths every year. If you see a driver using his mobile phone, then keep an eye on him and try to put as much distance between your vehicle and his. Speeding, tailgating and drivers who change lanes too quickly can also cause accidents. Look out for speeding drivers so that you are not caught off-guard. If you a

With gasoline prices on the rise (again!), drivers can benefit greatly from a few tips on how to reduce gasoline expenses said the U.S. Department of Energy. According to this agency, reckless driving includes speeding and rapid acceleration and braking, and this can result in lowering your gas mileage by nearly 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent in town. In general, it is a known fact that every 5 miles that you drive over 60 mph is going to result in you paying an additional $24 cents per gallon of gas. Excessive engine idling also results in wastage of gasoline. Using your car’s overdrive gears and cruise control appropriately also leads to better mileage. Try not to place unnecessary heavy items in your car, as adding an extra 100 pounds to your car will reduce the miles per gallon by nearly 2 percent. Maintaining your car regularly can save you a lot of money on gasoline. Fixing any serious problems like a faulty oxygen sensor can result in nearly 40 percent improvement

If you’re in Cleveland, then you’ve probably noticed the increase in the number of traffic control cruisers along I-271 and I-90. And if you’re going to drive like a nutcase, the traffic cops are going to catch you for sure. State troopers have been doing their rounds looking for aggressive drivers. 8 troopers are on duty in Cuyahoga County are on the lookout for tailgaters and other driving miscreants. Some of the traffic violations that troopers will be on the lookout for are: Improper lane changing. Tailgating. Drinking and Driving. Speeding. Attempting to push other cars into the next lane. Following too closely. If any of these are observed, the drivers will be pulled over and may get a ticket.

Police offers across the country have warned drivers about the dangers of using Twitter and other social networking sites behind the wheel after studies were shown that more and more people have been using social networking sites while driving. Research has shown that at least one in five drivers have admitted to checking Twitter and other social networking sites when driving. This makes social networking a great danger behind the wheels and is high up there amongst other driving dangers like speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and driving under the influence. In spite of it being illegal to use mobile phones while driving, drivers are carelessly ignoring this law and still using mobile phones to tweet and check Facebook.

A lot of citizens are of the belief that the distracted driving laws carried out by the state government are going a wee bit too far. A lot of people feel that this is management at its worst! Where will it end? People with children feel that the biggest distraction when driving is their kid, so should their kids be outlawed? Should taking pickles off your burger be banned? Should texting while at a red light also be banned? The law maintains that any motor vehicle driver should devote all of his time and attention to driving and should refrain from any kind of activity that could cause distractions. A lot of people have been complaining about these laws and want to know how to identify a specific distraction. Many drivers are calling out for a little more common sense as far as legal restrictions are concerned. Yes drivers tend to eat, talk to passengers. Change CD’s and deal with misbehaving children. Laws should take this into consideration before coming up with restrictions. What d

Of course, bicyclists too have every right to use our roads, except for those roads from which they are excluded legally. Many drivers today complain about sharing the roads with bicyclists, as they have to endure a few more seconds of delay. However, coexisting with your cyclist counterparts is just a basic driving skill. And those drivers who cannot do this should not be made to drive. But every once in a while, we hear news of bicyclists wrecking havoc as well! There have been many incidents where cyclists were found to flaunt the traffic rules and were caught riding their cycles on the road for automobiles. When admonished for this, many cyclists have used expletives and other aggressive behavior to prove their point. Running a signal, rude behavior and riding on the wrong side of the road can get many cyclists in trouble with the law. Bicyclists who are looking for protection of the 3-foot rule should always observe it themselves in the first place. People who operate 3 pound vehi

Although is long gone, the traffic Police are still reminding drivers that roads are equally as busy, and it is important for motorists to not let their guards down as far as safety driving is concerned. Here are a few important tips to remember in all weather conditions: Keep those mobile phones aside: Many motorists repeatedly defy the law regarding the use of mobile phones will driving. Distracted driving is becoming one of the major reasons for motor vehicle crashes. Keep those Seatbelts Buckled: All passengers and drivers should wear their seatbelts in a securely fastened and properly adjusted manner. Ensure that children are also secured in a baby seat or a properly installed child restraint. Obey the Speed Limit: Speed is one of the major causes for fatalities. Obeying the speed limits and slowing down can greatly reduce the chances of crashed and injuries from taking place. Slow down or move over: If you find yourself passing an emergency vehicle with its emergency lights on, t

Having too much of a good thing is just not possible, and this applies to vehicle safety as well. More and more engineers are getting increasingly excited about developing new safety gadgets for vehicles. What with gadgets like the Brake Assist Plus system, the DISTRONIC proximity control systems and the Traffic Jam Vehicle Follow Assist systems, drivers now literally have very minimal control over their own vehicles. Systems are being engineered to self-steer vehicles and to keep vehicles at a safe distance from the one in front, as well as to follow various traffic safety procedures. Companies have been boasting about developing vehicles that can park themselves, slow down if you get too close to another vehicle and check your blind spots for you. So, what’s next? Is there going to be a vehicle that can wipe your nose for you now? The most concerning aspect about these electronic driver aids is that when a motorist gets into a vehicle and doesn’t have to do anything, because he’s use

With spring on its way in and the summer holidays just around the corner, high school students have been spending more time behind the wheel. And this can only mean that the potential for more accidents involving teens is at an all time high. This is why Hall County officials have been doing their rounds around the high school areas to educate kids on the dangers of impaired driving. Lt. Gene Joy, Hall County’s Sheriff said that the team was at the Johnson High School on Thursday, educating the students through a realistic skit called “Fatal Vision” that uses actual vehicles that were present in actual crashes. There are actual smoke grenades that go off to make it look like an actual car crash said Lt. Joy. The actors and actresses in the skit have fake “blood” on them to make it look more realistic. Also, emergency personnel respond to the scene of the accident to make it more realistic. The goal behind this is to ensure that teen drivers make better driving decisions behind the whee

Dylan Lard, an 18 year old guy from Montevallo, hopped into his car with a friend to drive from Auburn to Tuscaloosa. While driving on Interstate 459, Lard began to feel very drowsy behind the wheel and closed his eyes for a bit. In doing so, he not only lost control of the car, but also lost control of his life. But miraculously, Lard woke up in the hospital after nearly 2 days after the wreck but found out that his neck was broken and his left hand would be permanently paralyzed. Today, Lard is a full time senior broadcast student at the University of Montevallo and he, along with 15 other students, have completed a recent campaign to spread awareness about the dangers and risks of distracted driving. The students created a video called, “Distracted Driving: A Deadly Mixture”. Being a community service project, the video was filmed, edited and produced in a series of segments covering a wide range of topics from distracted driving and impaired driving to texting and driving and drows

Sioux Falls is now building its second roundabout on 69th Street and Southeastern Avenue. This circular intersection is a relatively new concept for most of the traffic engineers in town. The recent success of the first roundabout has led to plans of building a second one. The first roundabout on Career Avenue has the University Center surrounding it and was a fairly new concept for the city. But it has also taken off fairly well. And this is why city engineers have decided that it is time for another one. This move has led to a fairly favorable response from the city resident and the next roundabout to come up will be in a more residential setting. However, intersection safety is a very important topic to cover. The safety council in the city will talk about intersection safety and roundabouts in its defensive driving classes. A roundabout is nothing more than just a circular intersection but it is important to pay careful attention to the road signs and pavement markings. This way, v

The American Trucking Association has just released a record that says that American trucking has never been safer than it is today! According to these records, the number of truck-related injuries and fatalities in the United States fell to nearly 1.17 percent per 100 million miles in 2009 – which is now called the industry’s safest year. This comes as great news to the trucking industry as well as to the entire motoring public! The improvements made to the trucking industry are a clear testament to the commitment to safety that is made by the industry. The drivers of course deserve most of the credit. And ATA as well for its efforts in training and educating the motoring public. Since the highways are where most truckers spend their working hours, it is very important for them to be as safe as possible. Through the ATA Share the Program, truckers now have the opportunity to directly connect with all other motorists and teach them the best defensive driving techniques.

In spite of her busy schedule as a vocational nursing student at the Angelina College, Jessica Johnson has volunteered to become a designated driver, available to anyone, at anytime. This comes after the death of her best friend, Zayne Anthony, in a freak drunk driving accident in February. Jessica has volunteered to start a designated driving program for all Lufkin residents who need a ride home after having a couple of drinks. Jessica knows at least 5 people who have died due to drunk driving. In an effort to promote her campaign, Jessica has even bought herself a cell phone and has started distributing fliers about her “Last Call” program, where anyone who has had too much to drink can call her and get a free ride home. If more people could be as responsible as Jessica, the roads would be a safer place to drive in. Fortunately, there are plenty of defensive driving campaigns that teach drivers how to drive responsibly.

A truck driver was charged with careless driving yesterday after he caused an accident on the US Highway 90. 45 year old Jerry James Goodwin of DeFuniak Springs was driving his sem0truck when he rammed into the back end of a Chevrolet Silverado on Thursday afternoon. The semi-truck then proceeded to overturn and slid across the highway. The truck blocked the entire eastbound lane and even blocked part of the westbound lane as well. The semi-truck was also carrying a whole load of scrap steel and iron, which spilled onto the highway. The driver was charged with careless driving.

The number of traffic-relates fatalities in the United States fell to an all time low in 2010, says reports from the Department of Transportation. According to reports sent in from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010 was marked as the year of lowest traffic-related fatalities with a figure of 32,788 fatalities. This comes as a 3% drop from the overall figure reported in 2009. Furthermore, it was reported that in 2010 the rate of 1.09 deaths per 100 million miles of vehicle travel was recorded as the lowest since 1949. The latest figures to come out show a 5% drop in fatalities since 2005, when nearly 43,510 deaths were recorded. These figures are particularly surprising when you take into consideration the fact that Americans drove 3 trillion million miles in 2010, the most ever driven since 2007. The Northwest Pacific states of Oregon, Washington. Montana, Idaho and Alaska registered the biggest drops in fatality rates. The department has said that this is due to

For many of those who live in and around Perry Hall, the Interstate 95 is just a short drive away. And although highways such as this are more convenient and provide for a faster route to work for most drivers, they are also an extremely dangerous environment for road workers to be on. Earlier this week, state and federal officials had hosted an event near the future Intercounty Connector’s I-95 interchange so as to promote highway work zone safety. Apart from familiarizing the general public with various safety measures, officials have also sent out warnings about increased law enforcement in highway work zones. Highway work zone crashes are dangerous for the workers as well as the drivers. In the last decade, work zone crashes in Maryland have reached to nearly 2,600 cases a year. Conditions however, are improving. In spit f the increase in the traffic, and the increase in the repair work and highway construction work taking place, road safety has increased and work zone accidents ar

The California Highway Patrol along with other law enforcement officers are now planning to keep an extra lookout for distracted drivers this month – the National Distracted Driving Month. Officers will be on the lookout for drivers using mobile phones while driving or drivers who text and drive or even eat and apply makeup while driving on the highway. Enforcement commenced on Monday and will go on till Tuesday, as well as on the 20th and 21st of April – focused enforcement days. The month long education campaigns coupled with the focused enforcement campaigns comes as an effort to target distracted drivers. To kick off this campaign, a media event was hosted where drivers were given certain tasks like eating, texting and applying makeup while driving on a closed circuit course.

Parents who are looking to improve their kids’ driving skills and ensure that they are safe behind the wheel should firstly warn them against using mobile phones while driving, sending or receiving text messages while driving, overcrowding the car with too many passengers, drinking and driving and going faster than the speed limit. Driving is dangerous and reminding them of the dangers can only help keep them aware. Warning your kids makes a lot of sense because every day more and more teens are killed in car crashes that occur due to distracted or drunken driving. As parents, you’ve probably already warned your kids about these threats. But how many of us have actually warned our kids about a very deceptive danger, one that many of us indulge in for a pleasurable driving experience? We’re talking about listening to loud music while driving! Surveys have shown that nearly 93% of teen drivers tend to play loud music while driving, which always has a distracting influence on them. Here a

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.

A woman’s 9 year old daughter turned her in recently for drunk driving. She has since checked into a rehab. Latanya Evans, a 49 year old woman was nearly in tears as she waited for a judge to pass her sentence after her latest drunk driving charge. Last week, Evan was reportedly driving on 12 Mile Road with a revoked license. Her blood alcohol levels were 0.25, which is three time above the legal limit. Her 9 year old daughter however, took matters into her hands and bravely passed a note to a bank teller at the Bank of America, asking for help. The little girl write a hastily scrawled note that said that her mother id drunk and to help her. The girl was undeniably smart and that action of hers speaks volumes of the type of parenting she is subjected to at home. The older daughter however, has come to the defense of her mother saying that she just made a mistake. Evans has been battling alcoholism for many years now, and although her license was revoked back in 2008, she was still driv

A man from Dalton has recently been ordered to visit 4 North Georgia high schools and talk to the students about the dangers that distracted driving can cause. The man is currently facing charges for vehicular homicide. 65 year old Jerry Ray deal has recently pleaded guilty for 2 counts of second degree homicide by vehicle. This case follows the tragic deaths of 33 year old Jason William Vick and 7 year old Billy Martin of Ellijay. Apparently, it was reported that Deal was distracted by his cell phone when driving. Distracted driving can cause a lot of damage and injuries and in most cases death. It is very important for people to participate in defensive driving trainings in order to avoid these accidents. Jerry Ray Deal could have avoided it if only he had gone for classes.

While driving to work today, did you check out that driver weaving all across the road just because he or she was distracted in some way or the other? Every day I come across hundreds of drivers who either text while driving or are distracted in some way or the other. The Colorado State Patrol Troopers say that they had to look into nearly 40 fatal accidents last year because of distracted driving. This is nearly a 5% increase from 2009. The Colorado State Troopers claim to investigate nearly 14 crashes every day due to distracted driving. Distracted driving is considered to be the second leading cause for crashes in the state. Speeding of course will always be the first cause. A famous news program recently went out with the State Patrol to see for themselves how the Denver drivers would act during peak traffic hours. The drivers were apparently found looking at cell phones instead of at the road. Once the roads start getting congested and traffic is intermittent; more like to stop an

If you think you drive too much, then think again. A day in the life of a road warrior involves spending as much as 8 or more hours a day behind the wheel. A day in the life of a road warrior is also filled with tailgaters, road raged fellow drivers, speed demons and cut off artists. To keep their car insurance rates low and to just stay safe, these road warriors have a number of ways to avoid crashes and tickets. Some of these tips include: How to discourage Tailgaters: Tailgating is annoying as well as dangerous. It is a form of aggressive driving that has contributed to a great number of crashes. What’s more, it can also be very hard to see anything behind you when your rearview mirror is filled with the car behind you. Most road warriors tend to drive fairly fast but within the legal speed limits. To discourage tailgaters, these pros just simply slow down. So, take your foot off the accelerator and allow your vehicle to slow down until the car behind you starts to get impatient and