I have been teaching defensive driving for several years now. It’s a job I really do love. I get to make people laugh, get to try out new jokes and even write a few. But, I must admit, I am not a perfect driver. In fact, I would actually consider myself a mediocre driver. Although I have kept a pretty clean driving record over the past 20+ years, you could wallpaper with my tickets when I was younger. As I tell my students, that’s not how one gets a job teaching defensive driving, by being a good driver. It’s through the work-release program from prison. Of course I’m kidding. I have compiled a list of common questions that students ask me. Here, we will be confirming traffic laws in question.

I have been asked by several students about the difference between a solid white and a double white line, and whether or not it is legal to cross over them. Drivers are discouraged, but not prohibited, from crossing the solid white line. While it is illegal to cross a double solid white line. In addition, white lines separate traffic traveling in the same direction and mark the edge of freeways and ramps. While yellow lines generally separate traffic traveling in opposite directions and they mark the left edge of divided highways and ramps. So, if you see that there is a yellow line on the right edge of the freeway, you are drunk and driving on the wrong side of the road.

There is also confusion in regards to road markings for passing zones. Double solid yellow center lines mean no passing allowed in either direction. While a single dashed yellow center line tells you that you are allowed to pass other vehicles if the road ahead is clear; but vehicles coming the opposite direction are allowed to pass too. Of course, there will also be signage indicating if it is a passing zone or not.

One other question I have been asked is about rumble strips damaging your tires. No, they will not. Rumble strips are those small indentations or narrow raised strips on the highway or shoulder, put there to vibrate the steering wheel and to make a noise to get the attention of the driver. These may have been put there for several reasons. Such as to alert you that there is going to be a stop coming up on a high speed roadway. To wake a driver that may be drifting off the road. To alert you that it is a potentially dangerous passing zone. Or, to alert you that there is an upcoming dangerous curve, a toll booth, railroad crossing or the end of a freeway.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Confirming Traffic Laws In Question – Comedy Defensive Driving

Categories: Driving In Traffic, driving safety tips
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Author: Daun Thompson

Daun Thompson has spent years acting in both film and theatre which has been paramount in launching her onto the comedy stage (incidentally, without a helmet, resulting in a nasty concussion). Being a funny girl is a full time job. A job that she hopes that one day will come with dental benefits and a 401K. Unlike her work, she is biodegradable, yet flame retardant. And gentle to the touch. Her goal in life??? For strangers to approach her and ask "Didn't you used to be somebody?" In the late 1980's she cut her teeth at the Velveeta Room on 6th Street in Austin, Texas ... the original room with the stripper pole. From there, she moved to northern California and worked with many comedy icons, like Mitch Hedberg, Marc Maron, Colin Quinn, Vic Dunlop, Huck Flyn, Michael Mancini, Doug Ferrari, Shang and Brian Posehn. Daun has been a licensed driver safety instructor and trainer with Comedy Defensive Driving for over 9 years. Her knowledge of driving safety laws keeps her readers informed and engaged with her blog adventures. She still continues to do stand-up comedy, sometimes in a reclining position...just to be different.