Top 10 states with the worst drivers

States with bad drivers were ranked according to a number of factors. This list includes but is not limited to: careless driving, number of fatalities and drunk driving incidents.

1. New Mexico (tied for 1st)

1. Texas (tied for 1st )

3. Montana

4. South Carolina

5. Louisiana

6. Alabama (tied for 6th)

6. Hawaii (tied for 6th)

8. Arizona

9. Oregon

10. Nevada

Each of the above states ranked as dangerous areas for drivers. Most all were ranked due to speeding and distracted driving. Hawaii was considered one of the worst when it comes to breaking the speed limit. In fact, just over 48% of fatal accidents in Hawaii involved speeding. Hawaii had the highest percentage of speeding-related fatal accidents out of the top 10 states. South Carolina ranked as one of the worst for careless and/or distracted driving. This is due to the state having the largest number of cyclist and pedestrian deaths. Texas and New Mexico, tied for 1st both had the largest number in fatal car crashes. As well as, a high cyclist and pedestrian death rate. Texas also had one of the highest alcohol related fatal incidents.

What do all these states have in common?

While some states problems revolve around speeding and DUI’s (cough* Texas), all of them had distracted and/or careless driving listed as a reason for the number of road fatalities. Distracted driving is a huge issue. Especially when considering the number of cyclist and pedestrians being hit by vehicles. This number has steadily increased year after year.

The easiest answer to this problem is for everyone to put down their phones! But we all know that just saying this does not mean it happens. Most everyone knows they shouldn’t be texting and driving but yet people continue to do it anyways. Some easy suggestions to help you get off your phone is to make an automated response while driving. Most smart phones can sense when you are in a moving vehicle and can be set to an automated reply.

• For example on an iPhone: go to settings – go to Do Not Disturb- set Do Not Disturb to “while driving mode”. If you want to set an auto reply while in Do Not Disturb: go to Do Not Disturb- Auto Reply- type in your Auto Reply that you are currently driving and will respond when done.

Make sure you are up to date on your Defensive Driving

While there will always be unavailable accidents on the road, driving defensively is the best was to keep safe. Making sure you know all the rules of the road, how to avoid accidents, and most importantly how to stay alert. Taking a defensive driving class can also help improve your insurance cost! As if you needed another reason. Make sure you and all of your friends take a defensive driving course every 2 years. The recommended amount. You can also take a course to dismiss a ticket you have received.

To sign up for a course, click here. Find your state and register. Then sit back and take the course at your own pace. Everything is online and at your disposal when ever you feel like it. The course was built by real comedians to make learning about driving safely as painless as possible. We know this isn’t the most exciting subject, so to make sure everyone pays attention we have added in some jokes. This helps with all of our short attention spans and helps us remember important information because it is now tied to an emotion (laughter). Sign up today and get driving defensively.

The post States with the worst drivers! The top 10 according to a new 2022 study appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

NO TEXTING WHILE DRIVING STATE LAW

Although Texas does not have a hands-free state law regarding cell phone use as do most other states, they do have a no texting while driving state law. And there are many hands-free city ordinances within the lone star state. Not every city, although, and certainly not in my city of Dallas with a population of over 1.35 million! And, since I teach defensive driving, one would think that I would see those texting moving violations in my classes. But I only see those for texting in a school zone when the light is activated. So, apparently, they’re not actually enforcing our state law. I hear that they are enforcing the city ordinances, although, and they come with high fines.

OTHER USES FOR THOSE CAMERAS

There are many other uses for those cameras and ways to re-purpose them. They can be used to compile data in intersections where there are more accidents. And they can be used to monitor crime by having more cameras present for better angles. I read that Australia, after a successful trial, has added mobile detection cameras that use artificial intelligence to determine if a driver has something in their hand. This footage is reviewed (as were our camera light ones) by a human who determines if a fine should be issued. These photos may also expose other things, such as the presence of guns, drugs, etc.

In closing, there is no doubt that in my state drinking and driving has affected everyone at some level. Everyone knows someone who has had a family member who has been killed by a drunk driver. But, if we don’t get a grip on it, this will be true with a texting driver.

Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

TURNING CAMERA LIGHTS AROUND TO CATCH TEXTERS – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post TURNING CAMERA LIGHTS AROUND TO CATCH TEXTERS appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

TEXTING v.s. DRINKING COMPARISONS

• Inability to maintain a single lane, or to stay in your own lane.
• Number of accidents and fatalities incurred as a result.
• Both are illegal.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

If a driver begins to drift out of their own lane, a law enforcement officer may assume that they have been drinking and may pull them over with due cause. And don’t expect mercy as you are explaining that there was no alcohol involved, yet there was a severe distraction. We are all aware that driving while intoxicated carries stiff fines and penalties and could possibly remain on your driving record indefinitely. While distracted driving is considered less severe, legally and financially, both are equally as dangerous.

Nearly everyone knows of someone who has had a family member killed by a drunk driver. If we don’t get a grip on the texting while driving situation, these people will also suffer the loss of loved ones killed by someone who couldn’t wait to finish a message.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

INTEXTICATION AND INTOXICATION – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post INTEXTICATION AND INTOXICATION appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

When I had my daughter in 1995, and had a wreck on the way to the hospital, I was certainly going to do my homework and make darned sure that my next car was the safest on the road. Car and Driver Magazine had always talked up the Volvo for its safety features. So that’s what I bought. A hideous “tank” of a station wagon, with a yuppie mom luggage rack and the works. I figured that a wagon, rather than a coupe would give enough space between the front, rear and sides so that my little bundle of screaming, colicky joy would be safer from an impact at any angle. And I would drive carefully over every bump with her in the car. Now I find that odd. I mean, now that she’s a teenager, I just want to drive off a bridge.

The 2015 Volvo XC90 will feature two of the “world’s first” standard safety features. A run-off road protection package and auto brake at intersection capability. The XC90 is also the first car in the world with technology that features automatic braking if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car. And, in an accidental road departure, the XC90 detects what is happening and tightens the front seatbelts. One additional new feature is an energy-absorbing material between the seat and the seat frame to cushion the vertical forces that can arise when the car encounters a hard landing in the terrain. This counteracts spine injuries, which are a frequent consequence of these impacts. Volvo has pledged that no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by the year 2020.

The latest park assist pilot that can parallel park by taking over and operating the steering wheel will be improved as well. Not that we need to use that feature often as most places have done away with parallel parking spaces. But a nice feature to have, nonetheless. When I was a kid driver, we used to call it “parallel chicken.”

So, here’s to a healthier, happier and safer new year. And many more to come … cheers!

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
Smart Technology – Because You Can’t Be Bothered – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post Smart Technology – Because You Can’t Be Bothered appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

You can expect to learn about a lot of different things, including distracted driving. On a serious note, distracted driving is very dangerous — it puts your life at risk, as well as the lives of others on the road. On a lighter note, we are all guilty of distracted driving at some point — we just got lucky and didn’t cause a ten-car pileup in the middle of rush hour! Be honest. At some point, you’ve been fiddling with the radio, messing with your hair, reaching for your drink, answering your phone, scarfing a sandwich, or doing something else that takes your attention away from the road. Heck, maybe you even did all of the above at the same time, in which case, you have NO business on the road!

Distracted driving is easy to do, but it can be a hard habit to break. Comedy Defensive Driving will help you break the cycle that makes you a distracted driver. We will also make sure you know how to watch out for those drivers; you know, the ones that put their makeup on, shave their beard, dye their hair, write letters, compose music, and pick their noses — all while driving 65 mph down the interstate! Talk about dangerous!

Contact us today to learn how to deal with those drivers, and make sure you don’t become one.

The post Learn How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Distracted Driving appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

The post What to Do When You Have Car Trouble on the Road appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

• Make sure your car is weather-ready. This means replacing your wiper blades if they are worn, and making sure your tires are properly inflated and have good tread. You also want to make certain that all of your lights are working, including turn signals and brake lights.

• Leave plenty of room between you and the cars around you. You may have more difficulty coming to a quick stop under wet conditions, so leave lots of space between you and surrounding cars. If the car in front of you suddenly hits the brakes, you have a much better chance of stopping with lots of room.

• Don’t use the cruise. Setting the cruise makes it much easier to drive on the open road, but when it’s wet outside, cruise control can be dangerous. If your car begins to lose traction on the wet surface, the cruise may cause an increase in acceleration, which can lead to hydroplaning. Use your own foot power for accelerating when it’s raining.

• Speaking of hydroplaning, you can avoid this by being cautious. Don’t hit your brakes hard when driving on a wet surface, and take corners with care.
Contact us today at Comedy Defensive Driving for more rainy weather tips and find out how you can get started in your first defensive driving course.

The post Safety Tips for Driving in Rainy Conditions appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

• A decrease in the awareness of your surroundings, which means you may not notice that pedestrian in time or that car slowing down in front of you.

• A decrease in reaction time, which means when you do finally notice the pedestrian or the car, it may take you longer to react and hit the brakes.

• An impairment of your judgment, which means you may mistakenly think you have time to pass another car when you don’t.

• Problems with your vision, which can include blurred vision and watery eyes. When you are not seeing clearly, you are not driving safely.

• An increase in moodiness, which can lead to road rage and driving erratically. When you are tired, you are irritable, and other drivers can quickly annoy you, causing you to drive in ways you may not normally drive.

Here at Comedy Defensive Driving, we know all too well about the dangers of driving while you are sleepy. We don’t want you driving drowsy — we want you driving with an alert mind, clear sight, and defensive skills. Contact us today to learn more about our driving courses and how you can stay alert on the road.

The post The Dangers of Drowsy Driving appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Here’s just a few of those car myths busted. Some people believe that the color of your car affects your insurance rates. They believe that auto insurance premiums are higher for, say, a red car. Well, yes, if the red car is a sports car, that may be true. But, not true just because it’s red. Just because the color red may be more appealing and catches the eye, it doesn’t mean that people driving red cars get more tickets. Only if that red car is doing something illegal, such as speeding. I had been asked if I get a discount on my car insurance because my car is bright yellow (midlife crisis yellow), because yellow typically means “yield” or “caution.” But, as most of us have noticed, the color of a yield sign hasn’t been yellow since 1971. It’s red and white. Besides, the answer is no. I may not be eligible for a discount due to its color, but am subject to much ridicule about how ridiculous the color is. Even a cop that once pulled me over made a joke about it. He said “My daughter just turned 16 and she wants a car just like this, and in this same color.” I said “You know, this car is a total cop magnet.” He laughed and said “Yea, I saw you coming a mile away in that Tweety Bird yellow car.”

Rolling down your windows and shutting off the a/c to save on fuel consumption is also another one of the car myths busted. Although running your car’s a/c does cause your engine to run less efficiently and therefore causes you to burn more fuel, only shutting it off and opening your windows at a low speed will save you on fuel. On a high speed roadway, such as a freeway, just the opposite. And, if you are in traffic and barely moving, using your a/c may cause your car to overheat. The best solution if this happens is to turn on your heater to take some of the heat off of the engine to make it cool down some. Nothing’s worse than inching along in rush hour traffic, with the temperature being well over one hundred degrees, and you have your heater blowing in your sweaty face.

And, changing your oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles is a thing of the past. Now, most cars can go several thousand more miles before changing the oil than they did in the past. Most manufacturers now suggest you change your oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles or more! Yay!! Another myth busted that will save you money at the mechanic too!

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist / Benevolent Thesbo

Car Myths Busted – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post Car Myths Busted appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Distracted Drivers

Would you please turn down the radio! My father’s words still ring in my ears from my high school days when I’d listen to Cheech and Chong … “Dave’s not here…” And Iron Butterfly’s “Innagadadavida.” We’d spin the disc backwards on the turntable (they called it an “album” then) because we were told that there was a secret message revealed. And there was, it said “clean your room and get a job, and stop living in your parents basement like a loser.” Oh, and it also said “Dave’s not here, man…”

My dad’s Toronado and Oldsmobiles came with an 8-Track tape in STEREO which featured such corny songs as “Popcorn” (the goofiest song ever), Ed Ames’ “Cherish”, and other songs by such notables as Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck (who the heck would name their child that unless they just really hate kids?).

Everyone knows that crashes kill more teens than anything else. And distracted drivers along with drunken driving are leading causes of traffic deaths. That’s why teens have restrictions on them when they first receive a driver license. They have a curfew, no text messaging or talking on the phone, and not more than one non-family member in the car at one time (they just want you to kill one friend at a time…not all of them at once). A 2008 study by Erie Indemnity, a Pennsylvania insurance carrier shows that 93 percent of teen drivers play loud, distracting music behind the wheel. Furthermore, in 2001 a study conducted in Canada shows that reaction time slows as much as 20 percent when someone is subjected to loud volume, causing a potentially fatal delay for drivers.

So, distracted drivers, you may want to turn the radio down when you’re driving if you want to live longer.  You may also take into consideration that your jamming tune may be louder than the ambulance that is coming up behind you or louder than the horn that the guy who is “sharing” the lane with you may also cause you to crash.  Did you even think about that?  What?? You need me to repeat that?  You can’t hear what I’m saying???  I’m not surprised.

Until next week….
Daun Thompson
Comedienne / Artist / Writer
Distracted Drivers “Turn The Radio Down” – Comedy Defensive Driving
Google

The post Distracted Drivers – Turn The Radio Down – Comedy Defensive Driving appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.