If there was ever a time to think traffic fatalities should decrease, it would be during a global pandemic where most people are staying home and driving less. Unfortunately, that was not the case for 2019-2021. In fact, traffic fatalities increased almost 19%. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) an estimated 38,680 people died in motor vehicle crashes. This is the largest projected number of fatalities since 2007. This traffic accident statistic shocked those in the highway safety industry because data shows there are much fewer vehicles on the road. In this article we will break down the NHTSA’s research and beliefs for why traffic fatalities have increased but the drive time of the average American has significantly decreased.

Less cars but faster speeds

Speed is believed to be one of the main factors as to why we are seeing more fatal crashes. Recently we wrote a blog about the large increase in speeding tickets reported by officials during early pandemic days. Not only were more drivers being pulled over for going above the speed limit, there was a very large increase in extreme speeds. Extreme speeds is defined as going 20 mph above the speed limit. Erie insurance conducted a study a found the following;

“One in 10 drivers (11%) admitted to driving at extreme speeds (20 mph or more over the speed limit) much more often than normal during the early months of the pandemic. As for what they observed about other drivers, a third (33%) said it seemed like a lot more drivers than normal were speeding and of those, nearly six in 10 (57%) said they noticed more drivers going at extreme speeds.”

Speeding itself is dangerous and a large part of traffic incidents in the US. Extreme speeding is even worse. Going 20 mph above a speed limit doesn’t allow cars enough time to slow down for a crash. The difference can be life or death. Remember to slow down while driving, it isn’t worth the extreme minutes saved.

An increase in driving while under the influence

Along with increased speeds, there has been an extremely large jump in the number of DUI’s and DWI’s. Driving under the influencer accounted for 11,654 deaths. Drunk Driving as a whole accounted for 30% of all road fatalities. According to the NHTSA this past year was one of the most deadly. We have steadily seen an increase in alcohol sales since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020. Although alcohol sales don’t seem to be slowing down, driving under the influence defiantly can! Remember to order a ride, designate a driver and don’t let your friends drive home drunk. If you see someone leaving a bar intoxicated don’t be afraid to let them know driving home is illegal and extremely dangerous.

Seatbelts

This next reason given by the NHTSA surprised us. People are not wearing their seatbelts!! There has been an increase in fatalities where the driver and/or passengers were not buckled in correctly. This is easily one of the most avoidable problems. There is no reason to not where your seatbelt. No matter what seat you are sitting in! In fact the safest spot in the car is also the most deadly. The back middle seat in a vehicle can be both depending on whether or not someone is buckled in. The reason less people are wearing their seatbelts is most likely due to less cars being on the road. This gives drivers and passengers a false sense of security. Even if the road is empty always buckle up. Make sure every one in the vehicle is properly wearing their seatbelt at all times! Don’t become a statistic.

As always we wish you safe driving, especially with the Fourth of July upon us. The Fourth of July is the most deadly day of the year for driving. Please be safe, order a ride share app if needed and buckle up!!

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Top Safety Tips for Driving in Traffic Jams

If you have been following us for a while you know we like to break down as simple as possible. Below you’ll find our favorite tips on driving safely during traffic jams.

Avoid aggressive driving

This should be a given but, for many of us, it is easy to forget. It has been a long time since a lot of us have driven shoulder to shoulder with fellow cars. Always remind yourself and your friends that aggressive driving doesn’t mean you’re going to get to your destination any faster. Traffic is back and it’s not changing. It’s also not going to go any faster because you’re mad at it.

Keep your distance

How much distance should you keep between you and other cars? If you have taken our Comedy Defensive Driving course recently you may already know the answer to this. While in traffic you should keep at least three seconds between you and the car in front of you. It is extremely easy to stop paying attention in stop and go traffic. Because of this, we see a lot of fender benders, ALOT. By keeping a proper distance between you and your driving neighbors you ensure both of you are safe from accidental car touching. You also, wont piss off your driving neighbors 🙂

Plan for it

This next tip is one of our favorites from Daily Traffic Alerts. They very simply put, you need to plan for TRAFFIC! It is inevitable, it always happens and it is always frustrating. By planning ahead we save ourselves the headache of being late, driving aggressively, and driving too close to other cars because we think that’s going to get us there any faster. *Spoiler* it is not. Plan for it! The most simple yet effective advice.

Stay Sharp

Our last tip for staying safe on the road is to stay sharp! Distracted driving is the leading cause of accidents. There is never a time to be more easily distracted than when you are driving slowly! Just because you are no longer traveling at high speeds does not mean grab your cell phone. In fact, it is the opposite. While in stop and go traffic, it is extremely important to continue to watch the cars in front of you and always be aware! Never take your eyes off the road.

Remember to take your online Defensive Driving Course if you need a good refresher on any of these driving tips OR if you are in need of dismissing a ticket.

Until next time,
Comedy Defensive Driving

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SPEEDING vs. DRIVING TOO SLOW

I was doing a crossword puzzle on the plane and got stumped on “A Traffic Cop’s Concern.” That’s an easy one, I thought. But “quota” wouldn’t fit in the boxes. The answer was “speeding.” But speeding is no longer a leading cause for motor vehicle collisions. Driving too slow or not keeping up with traffic flow is currently the leading cause. Like the correct answer, speeding seems to be the leading cause of traffic tickets. But, I have, in my 8+ years of teaching defensive driving, only instructed one student who had been cited for driving too slow. So, why still write speeding tickets? It is fact that slow drivers cause more traffic accidents than speeders. But it is also proven that the high-impact from speeding crashes cause the fatalities, because “speed kills.” I would wager a bet that there are not many speeders in those states that have legalized marijuana.

MINIMUM SPEED LIMIT SIGNS

Any state I have traveled to within the past year all have minimum speed limit signs. My state (at least in my area) does not. But I know we used to have them. Perhaps they removed them all and stored them in a big warehouse somewhere and then sold them to another state. They should definitely put them back up, if driving too slow is the current leading cause for car crashes. Perhaps if it’s posted with signage, a driver can then be cited for driving too slow. That is one ticket that they should absolutely be writing!

Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

NOT KEEPING UP WITH TRAFFIC FLOW – Comedy Defensive Driving

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ALWAYS STAY OUT OF A TRUCK’S NO ZONE

There are four blind spot areas (so, every side of the vehicle)

• The front of the truck – Always leave at least 4 car lengths between the back of your car and the truck.
• The truck’s driver side, anywhere past 1/3 of the trailer.
• The truck’s passenger side.
• The truck’s rear – That’s why you’ll usually see a sign posted on the back of the trailer “If you can’t see my side mirrors, I can’t see YOU.” Leave 20-25 car lengths between your car and the back of the truck. They don’t have impact absorbing bumpers like a car and it’s likely that the bumper will line up with your windshield. Plus, leaving more space will allow you to better see what’s up ahead.

ALWAYS ANTICIPATE WIDE TURNS

This is another sign you may see on a commercial vehicle. Buses and trucks need extra room to turn. If you are in a lane next to them, you should just hang back a bit until they’ve completed their turn so you don’t get cut off or pinned between them and the curb.

In addition, the weight of a commercial vehicle puts tremendous stress on its tires. So, their tires are like ticking time bombs, ready to go off any minute! If you’re near a truck and a tire blows, the steel belts in their tire can take your windshield out and do a “Jane Mansfield” on you. Another good reason to not linger near a truck, because “headless” isn’t a good look (well, maybe for some).

Having an accident with an 18 wheeler almost always leads to injuries. So, again, share the road, give truckers space and don’t linger around them. Insurance companies say accidents with 18 wheelers are usually the fault of the other vehicles.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson

Writer / Comedienne / Artist

SAFE DRIVING AROUND TRUCKS – Comedy Defensive Driving

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I did, however, get pulled over on the freeway for not using my turn signal when changing lanes. Although, in my defense, I did signal. I just didn’t signal long enough. It’s a bad habit I have, turning my signal off before completing a lane change. But, as I said, I did signal. So when I got pulled over, I was completely oblivious as to why the officer lit me up (which sounds like fun, being “lit up”, but trust me it’s not fun).

When I asked, he retorted with “You didn’t signal, Ma’am.”  Well, there’s no sense in arguing with a State Trooper. So I told him I taught defensive driving and he let me go with a warning.

The law states that you must signal 100 feet before turning or changing lanes. And the fine for failure to signal intent is just shy of $200. Plus, it just plain makes people crazy if you don’t signal. Now that I am a reformed non-signaler, I notice that most people don’t signal. So we can add a wee bit of road rage as a result of not signaling.

If you’re not sure how to gauge 100 feet, get a tape measure at Dollar Tree. When I was in driver education, our instructor said 100 feet was approximately two to three car lengths or a house length. But cars were the size of boats when I was 16.

Cars of today are typically smaller, so perhaps five car lengths. If you take into consideration, 100 feet is 1/3 of a football field. Also, newer cars have a feature to “tap” the blinker and it will automatically shut off after 3 blinks. Perhaps that’s what the police are looking for before you change lanes or turn. Or, again, actually completing your lane change before turning your signal off if you have an older car.

Until next week….

Daun Thompson

Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Turn Signal – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Lately, I find myself muttering the word “idiot” a lot when I am driving. No more of that business! And, I am going to learn to manage my time better, plan ahead for traffic and leave earlier. Basically, I will need to stop dawdling (or, as my friends call it, “Daun”dling). Time management alone will likely save me hundreds in toll bills, since I won’t be relying on costly express lanes to get me there on time. I don’t even have the stomach to look at how much I spent this year in tolls. After the holiday cheer ends, next comes tax season. I will wait until then to look at that expense. Why ruin my holiday spirit?

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

A Patient Driver – Comedy Defensive Driving

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While it may be found that this is a safer approach, I doubt that I am the only driver who misses those green arrows in left turn lanes. If there is heavy oncoming traffic the left turn lane should always get a green arrow to move some of the congestion out of that lane (which is usually backed up into the next lane for a mile!). At times, I have found that I am better off to go through the light, do a u-turn on the other side of the intersection and turn right onto the street I am trying to route to, but this too can be dangerous in heavy traffic. And, in some cases, u-turns are illegal. As for me, I try to avoid intersections altogether if I can help it, or at least the ones where the left turn light goes to red, then a yellow flashing arrow and back to red.

I do realize that the change, as they say, is all about safety and consistency. But now that they seem to be active just about everywhere, you may want to bring a razor in the car with you. Because, although you may leave the house clean-shaven, by the time you get to work, you’re guaranteed to have grown a full beard.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Flashing Yellow Arrow Signals – Comedy Defensive Driving

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On a multi-lane road, you may be forced to pass on the right because someone is driving too slowly in the passing lane. And disorganization and confusion can definitely lead to traffic accidents. Or, if the slow driver is ahead of you, over a hill or around a curve and you are approaching from behind at a higher speed, you may have to hit your brakes which could lead to a chain reaction of braking. Or, likely a chain of rear-end collisions and, if you are lucky enough to avoid it, at the very least it will certainly lead to road rage.

Of course we all assume that the driver is either a new driver or an elderly driver. But, oftentimes, it is simply a distracted driver. According to Carnegie Mellon research cited by distraction.gov, driving while using a cell phone can reduce driving focus by 37 percent. Anyone can drive too slowly at any given time, but keeping up with the flow of traffic and following the rules of the road will undoubtedly get you to your destination safely.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Slow Drivers – Comedy Defensive Driving School

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Here are some defensive driving tips to consider when you create a space cushion:

The Three Basic Elements of Driving

When you maintain a safe distance from another vehicle, you must take into consideration the following elements of driving:

1. The consistent control of your speed
2. Positioning of your vehicle in each lane
3. Communication with other drivers via car lights and signals

All three of these factors are integral to creating a space cushion throughout your driving time. Circumstances change from moment to moment and you, as a defensive driver, must anticipate those changes and still maintain a safe distance from the other vehicles. Also, don’t forget: signal to other drivers when you have made a decision to enter their lane.

Front End Space Cushions

The objective of a front-end space cushion between you and other vehicles is for you to maintain a comfortable view of everything you are observing straight ahead as you drive. This means being able to see not only the entire back of the car directly in front of you all the way down to the tires but to also be able to view the cars on both sides of yours that are in front of you in any other lanes.

On a three-lane road, the best lane for optimal opportunity to create a safe space cushion between all vehicles in the center lane. This gives a maximum view of the entire road if you maintain at least a 3-5 second space cushion (or half a car length) between you and the car in front of you.

Increased Front-End Cushion Factors

Always treat vehicles other than cars in a slightly different manner when creating a space cushion. Their stop time and how they react to other vehicles is much different than a car.
Motorcycles should be followed at no less than a 10-second delay. Long trailers, especially with abundant loads, should be followed at a distance of 15 seconds or more and safely passed when an opportunity presents itself.

Side Vehicle Considerations

Always be aware of what another driver’s blind spot is when you are creating a space cushion between you and the vehicle next to you. If the front of your vehicle is nearly parallel to the other vehicle’s rear tire, then you are in their blind spot.

If you are in another driver’s blind spot, more than likely does not see you and could quickly change lanes, creating a collision that would probably be your fault if they hit you. Decelerate and drive at least 3-5 seconds from that driver’s back wheel, or speed up just enough to go past the other vehicle and create a complete space cushion on that side.

Back-End Space Cushions

This is the space cushion that we usually have no control over creating. That’s because the driver behind you is in control of their own speed and not you. This is not a problem unless the person is tailgating you. Do not slam on your brakes to alert them to “back off.” It may incite road rage.

Simply find an opportunity to either pull to the side of the road to let them pass or simply change lanes so they can go by and you can create a space cushion all around your vehicle once again.

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So here’s the answer. Apparently, one of the most common traffic tickets issued to California drivers is for the rolling stop. When drivers approach a stop sign, they are supposed to come to a complete stop. Not fully stopping can pose a danger to other drivers as well as to pedestrians. That’s why police are cracking down on those of us rollers. After all, if there are no other cars in an intersection, there is no one to completely stop for, right? So, it’s safe. You actually yielded. But your car didn’t “settle” behind the crosswalk line before you left the stop sign or turned right at a red light. So, more police officers are stopping cars that roll through stop signs and red lights without completely stopping. These tickets are costly and can jack up your insurance rates by adding points to your driving record. To remove these points, you can attend a defensive driving school. And the traffic fine should also be reduced if you attend a class. If you have camera lights in your neck of the woods, a majority of those are a result of a rolling stop at an intersection. But those are a civil offense, like a parking ticket and will not go on your driving record. Those affect your registration (license plate), not your driver license.

As a driver, you need to know that speeding is not the only common moving violation now. Coasting through a stop sign or red light instead of making a full stop could result in an accident which is why rolling stop violations are taken very seriously.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Rolling Stop – Comedy Defensive Driving School

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