Traffic-School-Online

Defensive Driving Rules

2009-08-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

Rule 12:Choose Your Route for Safety

“What seems to be an easy path may not take us to our destinations.” “Losers chose the path mostly free of hassles.” Are these valuable lessons applicable while we are driving on the road? “Certainly not”

People die because they choose not to drive in a way which is considered decent. We consider it beneath and go beyond the limit of what our bodies can take. And the result is obvious: thousands die in every year and thousands are left incapacitated. The point is: can’t we practice defensive driving and learn to find out where the dangers are and plan ahead to avoid them?

Let me give you an example: I ride my motorcycle everyday to work on the highly congested and busy freeways of Washington DC. Needless to say this is a dangerous ride: too many people jostling each other, harried, angry and mostly distracted. What do I do to keep myself from trouble? In all these years I’m pretty used to mixing up with them but that doesn’t mean I don’t keep track of them. It’s certainly very difficult and I mean it.

Different routes pose different challenges: No matter where you drive be it city streets or boulevards, you are always subject to an intersection collision (mostly while you are driving a bit faster) On the freeways, you might get run over, or hit from behind if you happen to brake suddenly. Changing lanes, all of a sudden, not keeping ears and eyes open, getting impatient in traffic congestions, not bothering about weather conditions are some of the key reasons why we land up in trouble.

Sometimes, mostly while we are riding a motorcycle, we tend to follow short cut or dare to cross three lanes of heavy traffic. Picture yourself hundreds of vehicles of all kinds changing lanes to the left while others changing lanes to the right to exit at the next off ramp. Oh, too horrific! What’s the point taking smaller route if it is highly congested? Riding or driving a couple of miles more will not make a hole in our wallet; nor does it sound our beneath. Why not manage the risk by taking a safer route? Can’t we take another safer route to avoid a particular intersection? The answer is yes we can. All it takes a cool mind and some time to think. The key to defensive driving is to save your life and drive off the edge.

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How to use speed limits safely

2009-08-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

Speed kills
The single biggest road safety issue in the US and other parts of the world today is speed – drivers speeding too fast for the conditions.
In 2007, speed was a factor in:
• 32 percent of all road deaths ( about 40,000 deaths)
• 18 percent of all reported injuries from road crashes (about 300,000).

Driving safely with speed limits

Many drivers might not be aware of the fact that they can be driving at the speed limit and still be driving unsafely.
The speed limit is the maximum legal speed at which one can travel on in perfect conditions. But that doesn’t mean you are supposed to driver at that speed even if you are in bumper to bumper traffic. You’ll agree that road conditions are seldom ideal particularly in cities. As a safe driver, you'll have to look out for changes in traffic, road and weather conditions, and vary your speed accordingly.

Traffic conditions to watch out for include:
• high volumes of traffic on the road
• pedestrians, joggers and cyclists
• parked cars.

Road conditions to watch out for include:
• bumpy or narrow areas on the road
• wet, icy or unsealed road surfaces
• signs warning of hazards such as sharp curves or a slippery surface.

Weather conditions to watch out for include:
•rain, wind or fog.

Ideal speed depends on conditions

While driving, you need to be careful judging the safe speed for the stretch of road at any point of time. This is called driving to the conditions. If you don't adjust your speed to suit the conditions, you may be driving too fast, even if you're within the speed limit.

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Defensive Driving Rules

2009-08-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

Rule 11: Stop tailgating

‘Don’t tailgate other vehicles’- the significant piece of advice you receive from most of driving instructors. It is another important reason why the proportionate percentage of accidents is increasingly taking place. Fatal accidents are quite likely to happen. According to survey, 40% of death in road accident is the cause of tailgate. So, it is better to maintain fair distance while driving. You should also be careful about yourself of being tailgated.

First, don’t be too close to the vehicle ahead of you. Maintain at least 4 seconds distance in hand so that you can slow down or stop your car when necessary without hitting anything or the vehicle.

Second, be careful about the tailgaters around you. Slow the speed down the normal flow of traffic speed which would help the vehicle behind you to pass easily without any hazards. But your poor judgment or carelessness might irritate or frustrate them about you; so play it safe.

Finally, don’t be in a haste to hit the brake instantly, keep the speed in a position to slow it down comfortably. Slamming on the brake light frequently is not only against the law but you are taking risk of irritating the other drivers behind you.
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Defensive Driving Rules

2009-08-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

Rule 10: Look After Your Vehicle

If you aren’t mechanically apt enough to check the brakes, request someone to check it or help you show the fluid reservoir. Though, brake fluid levels don’t change naturally, otherwise is undoubtedly dangerous. Regular check ups of the brakes will be much help decreasing the thickened threat of road accidents.
If, in case, you find brakes or tires are not functioning properly, it is better to replace them with quality parts; cheaper priced tires or brakes might cause you great mishaps or lead you to regret because both are significant parts of driving; once you have lost either of them you have lost total control on driving.

Check your coolant system if it is working perfectly. Be also careful about all services of cooling systems whether they have been taken on manufacturing schedule. If you are thinking of saving money and letting your cooling system continue till the red flag, a tight lesson you are quite likely to receive shortly. Simply your coolant system will lose its alkaline nature and you might not be left with any option without changing your water pump, thermostat, radiator, heater core and hoses. So your damage is double than you have ever thought of.

Keep your observant mind and eyes open to the sounds your car makes and repair them as soon as possible. Various sounds are responsible for different parts’ damage. If it is weird or like metallic scuffing, beneath your foot then remember your brake needs instant attention. Rattling or clanging sound indicates steering problem; shrieking or whirring underneath the hood specifies the problem like losing your water pump or power steering pump; ratcheting sound can cause the damage of CV struts.

You should also check the oil on a regular basis and other requirements of your car. Don’t compromise with the quality oil.

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2009-08-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

Rule 9: Be cautious while you are on the road

Communicate with other drivers to alert them about your presence. It considerably decreases the chances for mishaps or accidents. Use your light and horn to inform the other drivers especially while driving in congested traffic. Making direct eye contact, if possible, would be the best way to let them aware of your presence.

If you are in a hurry but unable to go ahead because of the car in front of you, then the easy process is to give signal or press the horn to express your intention to pass so that the other drivers can leave enough space for you. Though, this act is no more taken as a matter of courtesy in recent time, your intention can be taken otherwise which can fuel their arrogance to speed up instead of letting you pass by. So be aware of this kind of hazards and steps to be taken intelligently not haughtily.

Make sure that the horn and lights are functioning properly; if not, take it to a mechanic. Remember, they are the main instruments to grab the attention of others and save yourself from collision.

Most of the accidents occur at the turning points where you are unable to foresee if anyone is approaching towards you and need to slow down. Press the horn to let the drivers, coming to you, know of you so that they can equally be alerted of your presence. It might sound impossible to you to keep all the traffic rules in mind while driving; in fact, it is a matter of regular practice.

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Defensive driving rules

Defensive Driving Rules

2009-07-21T19:04:00.000-07:00

Rule 8: Driving with attitude

Driving safely is all about attitude—how serious we are about it. Recently, the tendency of driving fast is escalating horribly among the youngsters and that is confirmly treacherous for their lives as well as others. None but you are responsible for your own protection which can easily be learned through adherence to the specific rules and techniques for safety and survival. Defensive driving assists you take cautious steps by anticipating dangerous situations that reduce the risk of road accidents.

Fluctuation of moods especially anger or extreme emotions are quite likely to overshadow the right judgments such as taking turns or noticing traffic signals and welcome the obvious dangers for your life. Here, one should be very careful about it to control and calm down; otherwise result can be risky and regretful.

When you are distressed or distracted, it is better to either stop or think about positive things. A stressful mind makes conflicted judgments that can result into dangerous collisions.
“To err is human” we all are bound to make mistakes in our daily lives. If cautious, it would be very easy to save yourself from becoming a victim of unintentional mistakes of other drivers.

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Defensive driving rules

Defensive Driving Rules

2009-07-12T15:25:00.000-07:00

Rule 7: Avoid Distractions!

When we presume our driving duties, the most significant one is that we are accountable for all the involved actions and the results that follow. In every collision or accident, person in driving seat is most responsible; it is their indifferent nature towards surrounding situations that cause irreparable damage. Lame excuses such as, “I haven’t seen him”, and “It is not my fault” are common and numerous. But the question is why don’t they see others? It is only because of their diverted attention collision or opportunity of accident can easily be avoided by concentrating on their duties. So, it is better to stay focused before risking anyone’s life.

It has been seen that eating, drinking or conversing on mobile, changing CD disk, dealing with the disobedient child are most common reasons for road accidents. Drivers should be careful about driving speed (means where it has to be slowed down), signals and road intersections at the time of diversions which will undoubtedly reduce the chances of collisions or accidents.

It is the driver who can make the road safer for himself or herself by maintaining the driving rules and focusing on one particular duty. Don’t let other insignificant matters distract your attention which will help you minimize or avoid accidents.

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Defensive Driving Rules

2009-07-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

Rule 6: Don’t run red lights

“Red Light Spells Danger” I really wonder how many of us remember this song of Billy Ocean while driving. Most of us run red lights by mistake; or because we are in a hurry to reach office or home and can’t afford to wait for long 45 to 80 seconds. Whatever may be the case, running red lights kills hundreds of us every year and leaves thousands other incapacitated. The choice is ours. We can pay attention to driving and make sure we are not one of the oblivious red-light runners and live to drive another day; or put ours and others life at stake.
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Defensive Driving Rules

2009-07-02T15:14:00.001-07:00

Rule 5: Motorcyclist—you need to be very careful

Motorcycles, to most of riders, are a unique form of transportation that privileges them an exclusive position on the road. Speed and fun that come along with it expose them to dangers mostly not met by motorists. The lack of substantial protective shields between a motorcycle and the road result into serious injury or death at the event of collision. Unlike a car or other four wheelers, a motorcycle is lighter in weight; it has no door, no roof, no airbags, and no safety belts; therefore, motorcyclists are about 26 times more likely to die in a crash than a person riding in a passenger car, and are 5 times as likely to be injured.

A helmet alone doesn’t guarantee your safety: In case of collision with a four wheeler, or any other form of accidents, the motorcyclist involved can’t escape injury. What would be a "fender bender" for a four wheeler is often death for a motorcyclist. Wearing helmet, therefore, in most of the accidents, doesn’t make much difference.

I remember, once I was thrown off my motorcycle at a minor speed of 40 mph. It wasn’t a collision; I was just trying to save a puppy that emerged, all of a sudden, in front of me. I landed on my head. I was wearing a good helmet so it saved my head, but it took four months to completely recover from pain and injury. I still ride the same bike, wear the same helmet but I ride it very carefully. A recent study shows that a motorcyclist can suffer fatal head injuries in an impact as low as 4 mph.

Visual Recognition: Motorcycles, due to small in size, are smaller visual targets, which are more likely to be covered by other vehicles, or weather conditions. This is an issue of greater concerns at intersections, where near about 70 percent of motorcycle-versus-vehicle collisions occur.

Road Hazards: Hazards such as potholes, oil slicks, puddles, debris, ruts, uneven pavement, and railroad tracks become a major hazard for a motorcyclist.

Poor Riding Skills: Against the popular belief that a motorcycle is very easy to ride, it requires much more skill and physical coordination to operate than a car. Majority of motorcycle accidents are caused due to the rider’s lack of basic skills, or inability to understand the operating characteristics and limitations of the motorcycle.

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Defensive Driving Rules

2009-06-28T13:27:00.000-07:00

Rule 4: Wear your seat belt

We seldom realize the importance of seat belts until we come across an accident. The sole purpose of seat belts is to protect us at the time of collision. It not only sustains crash forces but also keeps us from being thrown out of the vehicle. All major researches show that the majority of death, at the time of crash, occurred because the persons involved were driving without wearing seat belts. Yet we come up with a variety of excuses for not wearing them. Some of them are:

1.“I don’t feel comfortable.” “It’s suffocating.” “I can’t breathe properly.”
Are they really so uncomfortable? Nothing is as comfortable as dying or spending months in hospital or losing one of the limbs.

2.It wrinkles my neatly ironed clothes. Undoubtedly, they do.

3.“I don’t want to stick to the seat at the time of crash. What if I’m trapped or my vehicle catches fire?” But the fact is, people get killed by smashing themselves inside the vehicle. Being thrown outside is even dangerous. Besides, it helps you stay conscious; therefore, more likely to escape in case the engine catches fire.

4.“Those who ride with me make fun of me if I’m wearing the seat belt.” You must not listen to them or the best would be to ask them to wear it. The point is why to keep such company who are so irresponsible. Let them realize the fact that wearing seat belts prevent over 50% of deaths and injuries.

5.“I don’t care!” Some of us are living daredevils and would never fear death. There are certainly other ways to express our audacity. Wearing seat belt is for our good; we better accept it at the earliest.

Defensive Driving Rules

2009-06-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

Rule 3: Say no to speed!

Why to drive fast? How many times are we really desperately in need of driving fast?
We really don’t have any obvious reason; we just do it deliberately for overtaking other vehicles, or without realizing the growing speed. Whatever may be the case, the risk of collision always persists. Speed driving increases the risk of collision in two ways: one, it cuts your reaction time. Two, it results in more stored energy that must be dispelled in any collision.
Let’s listen to what science says: “Each incremental increase in speed reduces our ability to react in time to hazards, because we are covering distances in lesser time than what it takes to react.” It worsens while driving at night; since darkness substantially reduces our visibility.

Experienced and sensible drivers keep themselves at a speed that matches with the traffic and never exceed or slow under.
Does speeding really save much time?
In most of the cases, we find the car who took us over about half a mile back to be waiting at the next red light.
It doesn’t save much time, does it?
Say no to speed!
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Defensive Driving Rules

2009-06-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

Rule 2: Trust nobody but yourself

Ready-to-learn attitude, which assists taking precious lessons from previous mistakes, will further extricate your dexterous hands from similar troubles on noisy roadway. It is better anticipating that other drivers might make mistakes; it’s you who should be circumspect to disentangle yourself from unpredictable menace- ‘drivers’ and opposite will make your life reliant on clemency of bear party returner or violent youngsters. It has been corroborated that most of the collisions occur because of others’ carelessness. Remember, your one inane mistake can welcome accidents that will cruelly snatch your valuable life from the beautiful world.

Don’t be too trusting
Believing that other drivers, who might be adolescents, are quite threatening for you, you are opening up a space to adopt a wary approach to be a guarantor of own life because if traffic rules fail to save you, it’s your adroit mind responsible for dealing with them strategically and providing instant safety.

Defensive driving rules

2009-05-25T02:55:00.001-07:00

Rule 1: Careful driving

What happens after collision? You might be the victim or the one who made someone victim. In either case what excuse comes out? “Sorry, I didn’t notice you!” “I never saw you!” “It is your fault!”
Apparently, almost every collision involves inattention of one or both drivers. It could be anything, talking, drowsiness, fatigue, highway hypnosis, any sort of distractions or even daydreaming.

Seeing, recognizing and avoiding are the three basic elements of defensive driving. Driving a vehicle is not like walking or riding a bicycle. A slight negligence can claim life or disable a person for life. Paying attention helps you create the time that you need to recognize hazards and escape collision.

Have your ever wondered why most of collisions take place in your locality?
It’s not just a coincidence. The fact that we are too relaxed causes the problem. Familiarity creates contempt and inattention. Most of don’t realize that a fatal injury can occur even in low speed collision.

Being alert and poised while driving is not as easy task as it seems. The problem worsens by each passing month and year. Our mind tends to wander and we drive automatically. Most of the collisions are caused by experienced drivers. We really seriously need to think over it.
Attentive driving can be practiced and mastered. We can make a list of Do’s and Don’ts and go through it immediately before you start driving. Driving is not a casual task; therefore it does require your full attention.

Drive Safely in Rain and fog

2009-05-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

Driving in rain and fog is always a jittery no matter how experienced driver you are. Heavy rain and fog limits the visibility to just a few yards decreasing your ability to see and be seen. On the other hand, rain builds up water on roadways and creates slippery and hazardous conditions that cause tires to lose traction. Driving safely in such weather conditions doesn’t just mean to slow down; there are other safety tips you must follow:

1.You’ll never know how the weather is going to be in an hour or so; therefore, make sure all your vehicle lights are in working order. Make sure that your headlights are on while driving in rain or fog, even if it is a day time.

2.Make sure that your windshields and windows are clean from inside as well outside. Check your windshield wiper blades for wear and replace them if required. Worn blades smear water on the windshield rather than clearing it making it almost impossible to see outside. Be extra cautious in freezing rain.

3.Drive slowly and cautiously in rain after a long spell on dry roadway. Even highly maintained roadways become slippery due to the mixing of water with oil and grease that build up on it.

4.Make sure that your tires are inflated to the recommended pressure and contain sufficient thread depth to make good traction. Situations like hydroplane is possible even at the speed of 35 or below. Slow driving is always recommended.

5.To maintain “space cushion” keep a bit bigger distance from the vehicles ahead. It’s always safe.

6.Is has been seen that most of the drivers, while driving in rain or fog, tend to follow the taillight of vehicles in front of them. In such situations, avoid stopping your car on the shoulder of a roadway. In case you really need to, you must take your car as far off the roadway. Turn off the headlight, and turn on the emergency hazard lights.

7.In order to beat the visibility in fog, always use low beam headlights. A strict no to high beam headlight as it reflects back off the fog and worsens the visibility.

8.While driving in foggy condition, try listening to approaching traffic you are unable to see, for you need to open your car windows a little. It helps you to form a fair idea of vehicles coming from both the sides.

Beware of Digital Billboards while driving

2009-05-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

It is a long way since drivers are facing greater challenges against digital billboards as well as roadside advertisements which are causing greater consternation of road accidents.

Jerry Wachtel, a California-based engineering psychologist and traffic safety expert, has ignominiously teased the platitudinous remarks of billboard industry in American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials,

“Research sponsored by the outdoor advertising industry generally concludes that there are no adverse impacts from roadside digital billboards, even when, in one case, the actual findings of such research indicate otherwise,"

On the contrary, he clearly discloses the conclusions dug out by the government agencies, insurance companies, and auto safety organizations that the dazzlingly decorative digital billboards at night and presence of roadside advertising wooed their attention which perilously increases the feasibility of vicious accidents. In addition, oftenest changing massages in digital billboard essentially distract their attention and arouse their curiosity towards them for longer time.

Mr. Wachtel has defended against the accusation of an anti-billboard rather he emphasized on controlling the brightness and frequency of changing landscapes of billboard to reduce the accident rate.
Scenic America, anti-billboard group, has significantly mentioned the Wachtel study in approaching municipalities to cease approving new digital signs until they are circumspect about safety issues.
Mr. Wachtel, in an interview, evidently mentioned, “Advancing technology is likely to make the problem of distracted motorists worse.

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Get Your Driver's License Back After a DUI

2009-05-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

Most of us are aware of the fact that drinking alcohol and driving is a serious offense. It not only risks your life but also drags you in embarrassing situation of police custody, the loss of your driver’s license, court fees, and various legal costs. We give up hope of getting our driver’s license back after the DUI (Driving Under Influence), charge. The process of procuring the license back may seem lengthy, but it can be shortened by implementing the following ways:

Follow what the judge orders. Complete all the programs as per schedule. Generally, the judge, presiding over the DUI cases, asks you to complete alcohol awareness program, or in a couple of case, to attend a traffic school. Once you finish such programs, you require attending a counseling session, in order to claim your driver’s license back.

Immediately contact your insurance provider and ask your agent whether you need an SR-22 form to show that you really have sufficient insurance coverage. You immediately need to fill it out and submit to the DMV or the Secretary of State’s office. There are some states, however, where SR-22 forms are not required.

Next, but the very important one, is to attend your hearing. This is required if the charged DUI is your second offense or more, or you are a minor. Majority of the states expect you to attend a driver’s license hearing prior to reinstating your driver’s license.

Finally, pay the reinstatement fee. It varies from state to state; therefore, you are advised to consult your local DMV or Secretary of State’s office.
Now that you have got your driver’s license back, it’s time to move ahead; no point repeating mistakes. After all law and enforcements are for our safety and benefits.

Fighting a traffic ticket

2009-04-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

Apparently, fighting a traffic ticket seems difficult or next to impossible because of the complex process which has been set up just to discourage people from contesting their tickets. Nonetheless,it is absolutely possible to contest the ticket and one should fight with the determination to completely obliterate it.

Instructions:

1.To eliminate scandalous reputation or get rid of traffic ticket received for over speeding, traffic rule violation or road accident due to negligence, one should timely attend the court for initial hearing on the given date that is listed on the traffic ticket.

2.Dressing yourself properly and carefully especially in business casual is very important on preliminary hearing day. It is also a mandatory to arrive court timely which will give the right impression about the person.

3.Find a prosecutor whom you consider right for your case and explain the minutest details or mitigating factors of your case regarding traffic ticket. Before entering the court, ask your prosecutor whether there is any possibility to make deal to lessen your offense.

4.Be polite inside the court, have a seat there and wait patiently for your call. If you fail to make any agreement with your prosecutor, then argue strongly about your traffic ticket supporting your rationale but be careful about maintaining a proper mannerism with the prosecutor. Antagonizing him would not be a solution of your problem.

5.You have the right to appeal your case in case the judge keeps your traffic ticket on initial hearing. You should notify judge or prosecutor for formal hearing on upholding your ticket.

These steps should necessarily be maintained to remove the traffic ticket. Success entirely depends upon the way you prepare your case and your rapport with the prosecutor. A little luck and some upfront expenses may help you come out victorious.

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How to drive smart

2009-04-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

There is a perceptible difference between driving fast and driving smart. Driving fast is exciting, no doubt, but gets traffic tickets and risks life. Driving smart, on the other hand, saves money, keeps from receiving tickets, and saves life. The point is, everybody can drive smart. There are a few tips one can keep in mind:

1.Never forget to wear a seatbelt; it’s a mandatory in every state. In case you have an accident and someone in your car is not buckled up, you are quite likely to be charged with crime.

2.Back off. There is no need to drive pretty close to the vehicle in front of you. A number of accidents occur in such circumstances.

3.Drive slow. It’s safe and secure. There is no point chasing the car who took you over. Studies show that up to 80% of accidents take place due to speeding.

4.Be very careful at the intersections. Over half of the accidents in urban areas take place at intersections, mostly when someone ignores the red signals and doesn’t slow down.

5.Driving defensively is highly appreciable. Assume that rest of the drivers are negligent and going to make an illegal maneuver, and you are alert to avoid problems.

6.Don’t ever carry drugs or alcohol in your car, nor allow your friends to do so. It’s a serious offence in all states. Therefore, make your stand clear. If you have some friends who are drug or alcohol addicts, better avoid them for good.

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Why and when to attend a traffic school

2009-04-17T14:07:00.000-07:00

Driving freely anywhere in California is a privilege. For many of Californians, driving is the only way of commuting to and from workplace and home daily. It’s quite unfortunate to get pulled over and receive traffic tickets. Receiving a ticket doesn’t just mean finding oneself in a frustrating situation; it may increase your insurance rates and add points to your Driving Licence. The good news is you have an option of attending a California Traffic School. The courts in the US allow you to take up traffic training classes to remove the points from your Driving Licence. Most of the courts allow you to take traffic training online.

Next, you would like to know what are traffic violations and points in California. Basic traffic violations such as speeding, ignoring the traffic signals are one point moving violations. On the other hand, more serious offenses such as DUI (Driving Under the Influence), reckless driving and carrying illegal weapons and transport of explosives, to name a few, are two point moving violations. You may qualify to attend an eight hour traffic school class provided you have received a ticket for a one point moving violations. The received ticket is immediately dismissed once you successfully finish the training class. The point will not appear in your Driving licence. In California, one is not eligible to attend traffic school in an 18-month period. In certain cases however, with a judge’s permission, one can attend traffic school again under California Vehicle Code 41501(a). In case you have received your second ticket, you will be expected to attend a 12 hour traffic school class and your second ticket will still appear on your public driving record as a dismissed ticket.

What to do if you have just received a ticket?

The very first thing you need is to wait for a ‘Courtesy Notice’; it is issued by the court mentioning the price of the ticket. Remember, the price varies from court to court. The next you need to do is pay the ticket amount plus a Traffic School Administrative Fee (It is usually in the ranges $29 to $39) and sign an affidavit stating that you have not attended any traffic school in last 18 months. The court, then, issues the date by which you must complete the traffic school course. Generally, the court provides you with the list and contact details of traffic schools. You must be very careful if you are attending a school which is not mentioned in the list. In such cases, you must verify them prior to attending the course.

Attending online traffic school would be a sensible decision if you live for tight schedules and would not be able to spare your time. Most of the online traffic schools’ certificates are recognized by the courts in California and across the US. What matter is that you successfully complete the course and remember your lessons while driving next time.

Online Driving Training

2009-04-09T14:29:00.000-07:00

Taking online driving training is a reasonable and thoughtful consideration to make oneself aware of requisite traffic regulations for driving improvement. Traffic rules help pinpoint major concerning areas, encourage one for defensive driving practice, and reduce the chances of receiving the traffic tickets.

In today’s busiest schedule, attending conventional classroom seems to be unrealistic and next to impossible. Online traffic schools, which are referred to as the finest alternative, provide the affordability and convenience that can be accessed through computer from relaxed environment of home.

Other challenging aspects are how to be careful at the intersections of two-ways or four-ways turning points where potential accidents are quite likely to occur, how to stay calm while in bumper to bumper traffic, or involve oneself in activities that help bear a harmless mind during difficulties, and how to keep oneself away from reckless driving as well as drunk drivers in order to increase personal safety. Spending some hours of valuable training at online traffic school can be of great help for smooth and safe driving.

Parents are always concerned about their children who begin driving for the first time; they might be reckless or befall victim of carelessness. It is highly recommended to encourage them to take part in virtual traffic training programs.

Using Traffic Schools to Reduce Insurance Rates

2009-04-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

“Traffic schools help reduce Insurance Rates” – how does it sound?
If recent surveys are to be believed, a rapidly increasing number of drivers are now rushing back to traffic schools to bring down their insurance rates. In an understanding, most of insurance companies encourage drivers and vehicle owners to enroll themselves at traffic schools and get trained. Upon training, not only can they avail the current discounts but also prevent future increases. So, if you want to reduce traffic insurance rates, you need to do it in a systematic way.

First of all, you need to make sure if your insurance company allows traffic school attendance to reduce your insurance rates. At present, most of such companies have given a ‘yes’ to such plans, and they have different requirements regarding the type of course and whether they allow online schools.

Enrolling in a traffic school at the earliest is recommended once you received a citation or ticket. There is no point in delaying even if you have 18 months to go for it. Enrolling at the earliest shows your faith and may motivate your insurance company to think of larger rate reduction.

Next important task is to find a traffic school that offers “point and insurance reduction program.” The school’s experience and reputation plays a key role.

Last but the most important part, the reduction facility applies only if you don’t commit another offense in 2 to 3 years time. So, careful driving is always the best option.

Safety class for new drivers by parents

2009-04-09T14:16:00.000-07:00

According to California Highway Patrol, on road accidents are the leading cause of death for majority of teenage drivers. California has been ranked on top in terms of fatality rates of drivers between the ages 15 and 20.
The report is highly upsetting for parents, especially when their teenager has just received a license and started dreaming to beat Michael Schumacher or Fernando Alonso. Parents are expected to spend some minutes before and after their teenager goes for driving.
Here are a couple of points you should discuss with your teenage drivers:

1.Warn them of using cell phone while driving since it increases the risk of crash by 300%. In unavoidable circumstances, they should stop the car aside or use hands free but never on highways.

2.Advise them to refrain listening to the radio in high volume. It helps them stay alert about surroundings.

3.Tell your teenage driver to avoid eating while driving

4.Don’t let your son or daughter to drive in a group of friends as gossiping inside the car increases the chances of accident by 158%. It’s always better to supervise them prior to allowing friends inside while driving.

5. Warn them of speeding as it’s another major cause of road accidents. Besides, they will be stopped by traffic police and receive points on their license.

6.Initially, at least for 9 months to a year, don’t let them drive at night. Teenagers are three times more likely to die in a crash at night than during the day.

7.Advise them to join a traffic school to learn road safety rules as well as defensive driving. In case of busy schedules, they can join online traffic schools and take training lessons at home.

Thinking of receiving Florida Operator’s License?

2009-04-01T11:08:00.000-07:00

After receiving Learner’s license, you must be thinking of getting Florida Operator’s license. The process is more or less same, and can be briefly understood in the following points:

•You must be 16 years old and possess a Learner’s License for at least a year. You must not have any traffic convictions and successfully completed 50 or more hours of driving including 10 hours of driving experience at night.

•Once you fulfill the age and experience criteria, you can make a call and schedule an appointment at DMV office.

•The following documents should be brought at the DMV office:

1.Florida Learner’s License or a similar one from other jurisdiction

2.You need to bring any of your parents (or legal guardian) if you are below 18, the person needs to sign a consent form in front of the notary officer or the examiner.

3.Valid vehicle registration number for the driving test.

•Thorough revision of Florida Driver’s Handbook. If possible, ask your parent to take your mock test. It will boost up your confidence prior to appearing for the test.

•Attempt the Driving Test with positive mind.

Now that you have managed to secure your Operator’s License, your task hasn’t ended; you need to be careful and obedient while driving. You have to follow all traffic rules especially driving below speed limit and respecting other drivers.

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Receiving Learner’s License

2009-03-26T05:49:00.000-07:00

At first, you need to receive Learner’s permit, for you have to attend the Drug Alcohol Traffic Awareness (D.A.T.A) course. You should be at least 14 ½ years old in order to be considered for the course, and spend minimum four hours taking it. Once you complete this course, you can apply for the DMV exam. The minimum age limit to take up the exam is 15. A thorough go through of Florida’s Driver Handbook is highly recommended before appearing for the exam. The best part, you can take the exam online.

The documents to bring to the DMV:

•D.A.T.A course completion certificate
•Identification and age proof: you can bring any of these—Florida State ID card, Original Birth Certificate, or Valid U.S. Passport,
•Original Social Security Card
•You need to bring any of your parents (or legal guardian) if you are below 18, the person needs to sign a consent form in front of the notary officer or the examiner.

Things to do at the DMV:

•You have to pass the vision test. You must have 20/40 (with or without glass) or better vision in both of your eyes.
•You have to pass the hearing test and give your finger print.
•In certain cases you might be asked a couple of general questions. And, Congratulations!! You receive your Learner’s License.

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Traffic School Bookmarks

2009-02-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

Traffic School Bookmarks 1

Traffic School Bookmarks 2

Traffic School Bookmarks 3

Traffic School Bookmarks 4

Traffic School Bookmarks 5

2008-12-10T22:45:00.000-08:00

Online Traffic School Info

2008-12-10T07:41:00.000-08:00

InterActive Traffic School

InterActive Online Traffic School
with Cartoons

Send in the Funny, and Online
Traffic School will Show You the
Money

Traffic School Teacher Answers
Questions About Kids on
Scooters, Passing in an
Intersection and Driving Over
100 Mph

Send in the Funny, and Online
Traffic School will Show You the
Money

Traffic School - Classroom VS. Online

Traffic School and Clearing Points

Traffic School - You can't attend
for Highway Hypnosis

Traffic School After the Family
Vacation

Avoid Traffic School - Choose
Behind the Wheel Amusement
Carefully

Traffic School Online Information

Traffic School Quality - Online Vs
Classroom

Traffic School - Should it Even Be
an Option For Those Who Risk the
Lives of Their Children?

Traffic School For Dog Owners

Traffic School For Sociopaths

Traffic School Teacher Answers
Questions About New License Age,
Blue Headlights & Low Speed Vehicles

Traffic School May Not Be the Only
Price You Have to Pay For Traffic
Violations

Traffic School - Should it Be an
Option For Red Light Runners?

Traffic School Not Punitive Enough
For Neighborhood Crusader

Traffic School Threat is Not the
Most Powerful Weapon in Teen Driver
Parents' Arsenal

Traffic School is a Speeder's
Destiny

Traffic School's Most Frequently
Asked Question - When Do You Stop
For School Buses?

Traffic School For Holiday Parking
Space Hijackers

Traffic School Blues not an Option for Evading the Police

Traffic School or Life Lessons for Newly Minted Driver?

Traffic School – Does Your Car Color Determine Whether Your Personality Will
Send You There?

Traffic School Offers Online Video Contest

Cartoon Traffic School

Types of Traffic School and What it Means

Online Vs. Classroom Traffic School

Classroom vs Online Traffic School

Traffic School Info

Online
Traffic School

Traffic School Bookmarks

Traffic School Online Resources

Is Traffic School the Same as Driver's Education?

2008-11-24T14:30:00.000-08:00

There is a difference between driver's education and traffic school. Driver's education is a course offered to those people who are getting their license for the first time. Traffic school is a class, usually four or eight hours, offered to current drivers that have recently broken a traffic law or were at fault in a vehicular accident. In many cases traffic school is attended on a voluntary basis, but it can also be court ordered by a judge depending on the severity of the offense.

If you have been cited with a moving violation that does not involve alcohol or drugs and have not been ordered to appear in court, you are usually eligible for traffic school. Many people choose to attend traffic school to avoid increasing insurance premiums or to remove the citation, or points, from their driving record. Many times, people who are cited for speeding, running red lights, or failure to yield are the most common attendees of traffic school.

Depending on your state and your driving record, you may or may not be able to use traffic school to remove the citation or points from your license. In order to be sure of your state's laws, you should check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You can also read the back of your citation or ticket for information regarding traffic school in your area. In almost every state, you will be limited to attending traffic school not more than five times in your lifetime, unless ordered by a court.

Today, there are many private agencies that provide traffic school. Typically, these will only take one day of attendance and your certificate of completion will be given to you or shipped directly to the county in which you received the citation. Attendance in traffic school will also reduce the amount of your ticket in some states as well.

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M. Pearl (formerly M. Groh-Gordy) is a former high school and college teacher who has been a traffic school owner and instructor since 1994. Her company, InterActive! Traffic School Online currently serves traffic violators in 6 states.
Her column on automobile driving is published weekly in newspapers of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group and/or the online Motorways sections of 14 California publications.

The Importance of Traffic School

2008-11-24T14:29:00.000-08:00

Many people may scoff at the idea of attending a four or eight hour course at a traffic school, but in truth, traffic schools are a very important aspect to driver's education. Usually, traffic school is used as a part of a punishment for breaking traffic laws or engaging in a traffic law violation, but these classes convey an important message overall. These traffic school courses serve as a reminder of the laws of the road and the potential consequences of what can happen when these laws are broken. When some traffic laws are broken lives can be lost.

In many states, in order to obtain a drivers license, prospective drivers are required to read the state's traffic education book, take a class on driver's safety, and to pass both a written and practical driving test. While many people may think that they are driving experts once they obtain their license, they could not be further from the truth. Many people forget important safety laws and end up required to take a class or two at the local traffic school.

Traffic school is not required after a person obtains his or her drivers license, however it can be court ordered or a voluntary event later on. In most cases, people end up in traffic school after they have had an accident or received a moving violation. Accidents and moving violations can potentially risk the safety and lives of others, so traffic school is an excellent way for a traffic violator to be reminded of what his or her actions could do. Many states offer traffic school as a way to avoid getting points added to your driving record and will keep your insurance premiums down. It is the intention of traffic schools to re-educate offenders so that the same mistakes will not be repeated again.

~
M. Pearl (formerly M. Groh-Gordy) is a former high school and college teacher who has been a traffic school owner and instructor since 1994. Her company, InterActive! Traffic School Online currently serves traffic violators in 6 states. Her column on automobile driving is published weekly in newspapers of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group and/or the online Motorways sections of 14 California publications.

Types of Traffic School and What it Means

2008-11-24T14:27:00.000-08:00

These days, if you have gotten a traffic citation or ticket that allows for the attendance of traffic school, you have many options on the ways in which you can attend the class. You may still attend a class in the day or evening that is held at a local traffic school service, comedy traffic school, or even online traffic school. No matter which option you take, as long as you take the course from an accredited traffic school that is recognized by your state and complete the course with a passing grade, you will usually reduce the amount of your citation fine, prevent points from being added to your license, and could even avoid an increase in your insurance premium.

Traffic school is an important part of dealing with serious and minor moving traffic violations. It is easy to forget that when you get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle you are not only taking your life into your own hands, but the lives of everyone else out on the road as well. Traffic school is meant to retrain current drivers on the traffic laws and the importance of safety including defensive driving. It is the aim of every traffic school instructor to send drivers back out onto the road with an increased knowledge of traffic rules and laws and to never see those same drivers in their class again!

Currently, the most popular form of traffic school is online traffic school. With an online traffic school, you can take the four hour course online from the comfort of your own home or office while fitting it into your busy schedule. In fact, with most online traffic schools, you can complete one section at a time, logging in and out in case you cannot dedicate a four-hour block of time to complete the course.

~

M. Pearl (formerly M. Groh-Gordy) is a former high school and college teacher who has been a traffic school owner and instructor since 1994. Her company, InterActive! Traffic School Online currently serves traffic violators in 6 states. Her column on automobile driving is published weekly in newspapers of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group and/or the online Motorways sections of 14 California publications.

Online traffic school

2008-11-24T14:26:00.000-08:00

Almost everyone will choose to take a traffic school course in their lifetime, and some will take more than others. But whether it is your first time and you are trying to take care of a traffic ticket or you are just looking to refresh your driving knowledge, taking a traffic school course online will make the experience less of a hassle and more enjoyable. If it seems like you don’t have time to drop everything and go sit in a classroom, an online course can give you the freedom to set your own schedule and take the course in the comfort of your own home.

Perhaps it seems like you just made one little mistake, and now you are being forced to take a traffic school or defensive driving course to keep a traffic violation from going on your record. The fact remains that yes, you did make one small mistake, but that is all it takes. Maybe you were just driving ten or fifteen miles over the speed limit, that’s an honest mistake right? Over 13 thousand lives were lost in speeding related collisions in 2005. All of these people probably thought that it wasn’t a big deal either. The point is, Traffic School is a great way to get back to the basics and remember why it is so important to be very alert, cautious, and obedient to traffic laws while behind the wheel of an automobile.

Unlike tradition traffic school where you are sitting in a classroom, listening to a monotone instructor, or worrying about all of the things you are missing, online classes bring the material and testing right to you. Some online courses even provide fun games and cartoons to save you from boredom along the way. Online traffic schools are easy, fun, and simple solutions to completing your traffic course requirements.
If you are considering an online traffic course, make sure it is 100% approved by your state. Some companies are actually recommended by your state department as having quality research, good writing, or creative additions. These programs will provide you with great information to make you a safer driver while not taking away specific valuable time from your day. You can work at your own pace and take breaks along the way. So whether it is a rainy day and you want to get it all out of the way while sitting at home in your pajamas or you need to spread it out a little bit each day at an hour that is convenient, online traffic school is the answer.

~

M. Pearl (formerly M. Groh-Gordy) is a former high school and college teacher who has been a traffic school owner and instructor since 1994. Her company, InterActive! Traffic School Online currently serves traffic violators in 6 states. Her column on automobile driving is published weekly in newspapers of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group and/or the online Motorways sections of 14 California publications.

Why traffic school?

2008-11-24T14:25:00.000-08:00

Through the Internet and through classrooms across the United States, drivers are enrolled in traffic school, also known as defensive driving. Though this is a course that does focus on the vehicle operation safety, it is not the same as a driver’ education. Driver’s education, or driver’s ed, is a course required of new drivers in order to issue them a license to operate a motor vehicle for the first time. Over the course of a lifetime, an individual might enroll in several traffic school courses, which will remind them of safety measures and traffic laws as well as provide them with current information about new laws or regulations. Many courts offer relief from a fine or other traffic violation penalty through the enrollment and passing of a traffic school course.

Privately owned and operated traffic schools are most common in jurisdictions within the United States. These traffic schools must have approval from their state in order to eliminate citations for vehicle moving violations. This is the number one reason for attendance in traffic schools. For most non-alcoholic violations, the court will allow a defendant to take a traffic safety course and expel the citation from their record completely. Of course, the specifications and protocol for removing a citation from an individual’s record may vary depending on the location of the violation or even the residence of the violator.

There are a number of advantages to traffic school courses versus paying off the fine. The biggest reason for many enrollees is to save money on the fine. Many courts will reduce the fine or only require court costs on a moving violation if the individual passes a traffic school course. However, this is not the only reason to consider. Keeping traffic violations off of one’s traffic record will impact insurance rates. The more citations an individual receives, the higher their insurance premium will be. In the long run, the cost of a traffic school course and court costs will be well worth the change in an insurance premium. Having a clean driving record is also beneficial for getting a job that requires the driving of company cars or transportation of goods.

Today, taking a traffic school course is extremely easy, with the help of the Internet. Online traffic schools have exploded in popularity, giving people the freedom to take a course at their own pace, at their one convenience, and in the comfort of their own home. Now there is almost no excuse not to take a traffic course instead of keeping a citation on your record. It is easy, convenient, and can even be a fun, and there is never any harm in learning how to be safer while operating an automobile.

~

M. Pearl (formerly M. Groh-Gordy) is a former high school and college teacher who has been a traffic school owner and instructor since 1994. Her company, InterActive! Traffic School Online currently serves traffic violators in 6 states. Her column on automobile driving is published weekly in newspapers of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group and/or the online Motorways sections of 14 California publications.