Defensive driving rules

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

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

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.

Defensive Driving
Traffic school
California Traffic School

Get Your Driver's License Back After a DUI

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.