Online Defensive Driving Tips

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...

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.

Recently, law enforcement officials have positively identified Adrian Norbell Johnson, the 37 year old FBI agent involved in the fatal car crash that took place in Brandywine, MD on Monday night. The FBI has released a statement saying that the agent has been working with the bureau for six years now. Also, his latest assignment for the FBI was to visit the FBI field office in Newark, New Jersey. Apparently, the agent had also recently moved to Washington D.C. to work on U.S. Attorney General’s security details – a task he was yet to get started with. The FBI has also said that the agent was not on duty and was driving his personal car when the crash took place. What’s more, Johnson’s blood alcohol level was found to be .25, which is 3 times the legal limit. This was a very high level of intoxication. People with .20 levels of alcohol generally show signs of impaired speech, lose the ability to walk and stand, and there is certainly some amount of impaired judgment. Such recklessness c...

Make America’s roads safer by joining the defensive driving and advanced driving courses that are soon coming to Malibu/Hollywood by the end of February. If you think that defensive driving courses are all boring, then it is time for something new! Back in the days prior to WWII, the British Government found that police officers were driving too fast when pursuing culprits or were involved in many rash driving cases where innocent people were either injured or killed. As a result of this, the world’s best road-driver training program was born! Known as the “System of Car Control”, this course is a one of a kind program that is regularly taught to the British police and traffic patrol officers and they now enjoy the reputation of the best drivers in the world. This particular course was made available to the civilians back in 1955 and was brought to the United States in 1999, where it was adapted for all North American Drivers. The President of Advanced Drivers of America, Eddie Wren,...

An Albany man is still recovering from the hit and run accident that almost killed him. Jimmy Shemwell, aged 59, was hit by someone driving a pickup truck, when he was riding his bicycle on Gillionville Road. The incident occurred on New Year's Day. It has been two weeks now that he was hospitalized and the police are on the hunt for the driver who hit him. Shemwell worked at the Albany YMCA for more than 30 years. Shemwell is well known for his big heart and positive attitude. And that is something he has maintained, even after his accident. When a bicycle collides with a truck, there are going to be problems. Shemwell said, “It almost broke all my ribs on the left side”. His nephew Foy Shemwell said, “They've got him on a stretcher and the first thing he said was, 'I don't think we'll make the Falcons game on Saturday'”. On New Year's Day, Jimmy Shemwell left his house and headed to church, passing by the YMCA where he works and which has surveillance came...

The AAA, New York or Alcoholics Anonymous is all set to conduct a rigorous 6 hour defensive driving and driver improvement course. The course will be held on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mohawk Valley Community College, 1101 Sherman Drive. With a reasonable priced fee structure, all AAA members are required to pay $39 for the course, while the AAA Plus members are required to pay $32 for the course. The AAA senior members of age 60 and above are also required to pay $32. AAA young driver members between the ages of 16 to 24 are required to pay $32 as well. Non-members will be charged $49. Everyone who takes this defensive driving course will also receive an added benefit of a 10 percent discount on their collision and liability insurance, and a reduction of nearly 4 points on their New York state license. However, a point to be noted is that the class is limited, so reserve immediately! With more and more institutions taking up defensive driving education as a responsibility,...

"What do people really think when driving in snow?" First and foremost, driving in the snow presents a large number of challenges for both the driver and the car itself. But somehow, everybody seems to complain about the other driver. Any defensive driving course, will tell you that you can simply stay safe by changing your drivers attitude and outlook. Furthermore, these defensive driving programs have helped thousands of drivers improve their winter driving skills, with the help of a few simple tips and techniques. Some of them are mentioned below: Firstly, every driver needs to avoid driving under any circumstances if they are fatigued or tired. Secondly, during the winter season, one should never warm up their car in an enclosed area. For instance, a garage. Next, the gas tank must never be kept below the half limit, for it might trigger a freeze-up. Always be alert and stay focused. Make sure that you use your seat belt at all times. Finally, you need to make sure that t...

South African roads have become increasingly hazardous, what with the numbers of road deaths and mishaps increasing rapidly. Drivers are being urged to exercise more caution and to use the roads responsibly. Records have shown that from the start of December, the fatalities numbered at nearly 860 as compared to last year’s 717. According to the Ministry of Transport, this death toll has risen because of drivers who do not behave responsibly. Several drivers were found to be driving at alarmingly high speeds, ignoring the fact that in case of an accident, they would be responsible for multiple deaths. Many accidents take place because drivers disobey the traffic rules. Drivers are being appealed to exercise patience and abide by the rules. Mr. Collins Letsoalo, the CEO of the Road Traffic Management Corporation, has stated that defensive driving is really about being ready for anything on the roads. Expecting the unexpected and always being ready for other’s mistakes can save your lives...

On Saturday afternoon, a Tipp City police officer, narrowly escaped serious injury when his parked cruiser was rear-ended, by a speeding vehicle. Officer Marc Basye, was out of the patrol car at the time of the incident. He was interrogating a suspect, who could have possibly been involved in the hit and skip accident, which had occurred just a short distance away. The rear ended accident, took place at about 1.30 p.m. near a traffic stop that was located on County Road 25-A bridge over Interstate 75 in Tipp City. A speeding pickup truck simply slammed into the rear end of the cruiser. Miami County deputies, who had handled crash, said that, “the driver of the truck was not paying attention when he bounced off the left rear quarter panel of the cruiser. ”The truck driver was cited by deputies for a clear distance violation. Fortunately, there were no injuries in either mishap. Terry Reid, the owner of the National Defensive Driver Training in Guelph, recently said that, “I believe ther...

Recently, the government urged the people of America to adopt a defensive driving attitude. This inspiration and advice resulted from the fact that Chicago and its surrounding areas had been experiencing rather bad weather conditions. Aren't we all guilty of violating stop signals or moving signs? Needless to say, we often avoid enrolling ourselves into these driver’s ed classes, for they tend to disrupt daily schedules and routines. But thanks to modern technology, we can now sit back and fulfill our driving obligations from the comforts of our own home. Since, these defensive driving programs can now be completed online, we can take those all important restroom breaks and even have a snack or two. These courses will definitely provide you with some essential tips about defensive driving. More so, they will also help you deal with a few old notions about driving. For instance, you will learn that if you are following a car and you happen to spot an object ahead, then you need to c...

Defensive driving is not only applicable to your everyday road traffic; it now applies to the F1 track as well! For the 2011 season, the FIA has decided to take harsh measures against aggressive or irresponsible driving in an effort to see cleaner and safer driving on the track. Following a meeting last week, the FIA has since laid down a number of sporting and technical regulations for 2011. FIA is all set to bring about more responsible and safer racing in Formula 1, which is why harsh measures will be taken against aggressive driving and those drivers who constantly run off the track to gain advantage. Other maneuvers that intentionally or unintentionally hinder other racers include: changing direction too often, deliberately crowding a car to run off the track, or any other kind of abnormal change in the direction is also not permitted. If drivers are found committing such violation, they are liable to be fined. Likewise, drivers driving regular roadways and highways should pay hee...

Now, parents will have some reason to celebrate as a recent report shows that over the past few years, the number of teenage drivers in fatal accidents fell more than one third. Even though car accidents still hold the number one cause of death for teenagers with 8 deaths occurring on an average day on American roads. This drop in the accident chart can be credited to the parents. Parents are encouraging their teens to practice safety in their driving. Every parent must influence the habit of safe driving within their children. Some the practical steps that they can easily implement are: 1.Extend the supervised driving periods of their teens beyond the legal age to assess the skills and reactions fully. 2.Explain and reinforce the rules of the road clearly. 3.Create parent-teen agreements to hold teen drivers accountable to expectations. Car crashes are four times higher in teens than their elders and the likelihood of accidents are more when teens are behind the wheel. Parents can inf...

Defensive driving can also be defined as intelligent driving. However, it also involves a lot of consideration and patience, for other road users. It involves being constantly alert and this in turn can save thousands of lives. There is no doubt that, without patience a driver is simply headed towards a whole lot of trouble and major disasters. An auto mechanic who operates in Cassia Park, St Andrew, Mr. David Jones said, "Once the basics are learned, the way is clear for safer, more satisfying driving." He also went on to say that defensive driving, “also means obeying the traffic signals and ensuring the vehicle you are driving is in good working condition.” Furthermore, an intelligent driver also ensures that she or he: 1.Is well rested and relaxed before starting assigned driving tasks. 2.Does not take any drugs or alcohol that could make her/him drowsy before taking the steering. 3.Watches out for pedestrians and other road users. 4.Plans a journey thoroughly, before emb...

Recently, a Newton policeman in his patrol car, barreled out of Newtonville Avenue across Walnut Street, without even stopping at the stop sign and without looking at the heavy Walnut Street traffic. Luckily, at that very moment another driver used his quick reflexes to brake, thus saving him from injury or death, from the impending driver door impact. Any knowledgeable driver will know that a motorist’s attitude is one of the most important factors that could eventually make driving much safer. The very concept of defensive driving is all about defending a motorist’s own safety as well as other road users or third party lives. Defensive driving encourages drivers to be alert and to give more 'cushion space' between themselves and the vehicle in front of them. Unfortunately, certain accidents just cannot be avoided. But being slow will minimize the chance of fatalities. Another vital point to keep in mind is that you have an obligation to help other careless and arrogant drive...

It is that time of the year when you have to take extra precautions while driving. With deer always on the move, defensive driving tactics should come as second nature for drivers. The accidents taking place between deer and cars is on the rise. According to the police, there were around 31 of these accidents that took place in Lincoln County last week alone. The statistics are threatening to increase with the start of the gun deer season. As advised by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, it is always better to check whether your headlights are in proper working condition before you hit the road. Likewise, the number of distractions should be reduced. The owner, Bob Dehnel, of One Way Collision Center in Merrill has seen the amount of damage that is caused due to car deer accidents. He says that some of the cars that come into his shop still have fur stuck to their front end. The repairs of all this can be really expensive. “On average, costs range from $1,000 to $6,000 dollars ea...

Being a defensive driver may be a great skill but there are some drivers who don’t wish to be a defensive driver as it increases the chances of accidents related to driving. Funny, we have been writing a lot of tips and advice on how defensive driving can save your life, but this finding is something out of the ordinary. A defensive driving is a skill which you acquire to operate an automobile with the skills to prevent an accident. If these drivers think that such skills would rather cause them more danger then, one thing comes to our mind. What kind of skills have they acquired? It can be either that they have chosen a cheap defensive driving course and obviously they won’t have enough info or training. If you are not convinced about your defensive driving skills even after completing your course in defensive driving, you have been either duped or you haven’t been paying much attention to your training. Let us remind you of one thing, defensive driving saves lives rather than putting...

The recent number of DUI cases has established the fact that there are a large number of drivers who are extremely careless and lack a sense of alertness of the road. Luckily for various amateur drivers, the embodiment of a DUI simulator has raised the awareness factor involving this kind of occasion. Any amenable driver understands the fact that it is their responsibility to undergo a thorough examination in order to gauge if their driving skills are qualified enough to drive on the interstate. At present, several novice drivers are availing off driving solutions that are being offered by many defensive driving companies, in order to build and sharpen their skills as a driver. Defensive driving is nothing but keeping in mind the fact that your hands as a driver, ought to be no where else but on the wheel and that safety is not an extra, but a fundamental concern. Furthermore, a defensive driver must always be on alert. They need to be focused on the road ahead and avoid deadly distrac...

Negligence in wearing seat belts while driving builds in more victims in car collisions. Survey shows 50% of people get killed in car accidents due to not wearing seat belts. Tying seat belt can be effective in saving your life and minimize injuries you get from the road crash. Before starting the vehicle, drivers must ensure that all passengers including him are using seat belt. Government has also made a rule for wearing a seat belt and if police officer finds you driving without a seat belt, you may have to pay fine. It is a fact that wearing seat belt appropriately has radically increased the likelihood of survival in meeting an accident. Seat belts usage may reduce the ratio of people dying and getting injured possibly will reduce to some extent. Whenever you met a collision with opposite vehicle coming straight to you, seat belt can stop you collide on the front side of the vehicle and gives you proper grip to withstand the crash. A study shows that passengers in a vehicle have 3...

Six hours of life can add up to the large amount of savings on car insurance which would improve driving record if one signs up for state approved defensive driving course. One can save a trip to classroom with various courses being offered online which would help you study at your own pace without having to spend a full day. The state Department of Motor Vehicles began offering a handful of online defensive driving which when completed would save drivers 10% on collision and liability premiums and get around discount of 4 points for speeding vehicles. Among the options the online course is offered at a partnership which promises to lend a comedic bent to subject matter which includes collision prevention, defensive driving tips, how to avoid aggressive driving and effects of alcohol on the usage of road. This course are being offered at both online and offline ways. They are being offered a 6 hours of instruction which on successful completion will give a certificate that drivers woul...