advanced driving tips for safety Archives - Comedy Defensive Driving®

Standard Safety Features

Daun Thompson — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 16:58:36 +0000

My car is nearly 14 years old. I’ve garaged it, so it looks new (on the outside). But the inside, now that’s another story. I paid a lot of money for my car. It was brand spanking new and all of the latest safety features which, at the time was only one air bag in the steering wheel, another for the passenger side and anti-lock brakes. I think the Nissan dealership called the color “Mid-Life Crisis Yellow.” I got what I paid for, it’s been a great car. It was, what the dealership called “loaded” when I bought it and, looking back, I must have been loaded as well to have bought a car in such a crazy color. But, hey, I haven’t had a car accident in 14 years. That’s likely due to the color. Other drivers can definitely see me coming. Now, 14 years later, there is a long list of standard safety features in nearly all new cars. These features are meant to avoid collisions and save lives. Now that I am in the market for a new car to get me through the next 14 years, I’ll be checking these safety features off my list.

• L.E.D. Automotive lighting: Running lights and tail lights and sometimes headlights.
• Proximity-Based Power Folding, Illuminated Side Mirrors: Great when parking on a busy, tight street or pulling into your cramped garage. In some cars, the side mirrors have a light below them to shine light on the door lock and the ground below.
• Heated Head Lights: Great in winter to keep the snow and ice from covering your lights.
• Back Up Cameras and Surround View Cameras: Back up cameras are now standard in most new cars, while surround view cameras may be an add-on.
• Surround Sensors: Great for letting you know you’re getting too close to the curb or another object. The persistent nagging can be annoying at times, like a back-seat driver.
• Parking Assist: Parallel parking (or what I call Parallel “Chicken”), for most drivers, is the hardest maneuver.
• Keyless Entry: Not in all cars, but not only in luxury cars like it used to be.
• Airbag Sensors: Weight distribution on the passenger seats will turn airbags to “on” mode.
• In-Seat Storage: Not standard in all cars, but what a convenience this would be.
• Self-Dimming Headlights: Again, not standard in all cars.
• Heated Seats: I had these in my 1989 Volvo and man, were they great in the wintertime.
• A Full-Sized Spare Tire: Not just a doughnut tire.

Disc Brakes are also standard in all cars manufactured today. Oh, yes, and Air Conditioning. Although the above mentioned safety features may save your life, you certainly could not live without air conditioning!

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Standard Safety Features – Comedy Defensive Driving School

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Roadside Assistance

Daun Thompson — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 03:04:00 +0000

In Texas, there is an 800 number printed on the back of your driver license or ID card for roadside assistance and emergencies. If your car is disabled on a state or federal roadway in Texas, you can call the number to request non-emergency assistance. The number is super tiny, so you may need a magnifying glass just to read it. The number is also printed on the registration sticker in your windshield. There, you will find it to be a little larger type and much easier to read. A stranded vehicle is a hazard for other cars on the roadway. And, in traffic, the shoulder where the car would likely be stranded is for emergency vehicles.
The roadside assistance service will only change a tire or put a little gas in your car, whichever you need to get you back on the road. They will not tow your vehicle. And, your vehicle must be on the freeway. They will not assist you if you are on an exit or entrance ramp, on the access road or anywhere else, other than the freeway or roadway. Sometimes, even driving a few extra feet on a rim seems a little safer than being stranded on a high speed roadway, especially when large trucks pass you. It is also not for emergencies and not a substitute for 9-1-1 and the number is not to be used as an information hotline or to find a date.
And, while you’re waiting for your knight in shining armor to arrive, here’s a little safety tip for you. Don’t put your hazard lights on while stranded on the freeway. Drunk drivers are attracted to flashing lights (kinda like how blonds are attracted to shiny objects). It would be better to turn on your signal as if you were going to re-enter the freeway from the shoulder (even if you’re not), because other motorists may move over a lane to allow you to re-enter (Really? No one is ever that courteous, they’re more likely afraid you’ll pull out in front of them and will move over for their own safety). This, in turn, would be safer for you, rather than having traffic pass next to you while you wait for assistance.
So now you know that your I.D. or driver license is good for more than picking a lock.
Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
Roadside Assistance – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Respect Everyone’s Journey

Daun Thompson — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 04:49:18 +0000

Paying attention while driving is the key to staying out of trouble. Not only trouble with law enforcement, but prevention of accidents as well. Being a courteous driver is also the key to being a safe driver. Not taking risks, not following too close and always leaving yourself a safe “out” in any traffic situation will also help to keep you out of danger and therefore make you a better driver. So, respect everyone’s journey.

Never whip in front of a semi-truck. It takes a truck 10 times longer to stop than it takes a car to stop. If you think that truck driver is leaving a huge space between them and the car ahead of them is for you, you’re dead wrong. Your Honda Accord could become a Honda accordion. And we all know, not everyone likes an accordion. Do you like Banda music? Really?? Come on!

Checking your mirrors and constantly scanning around the car so you always know where there is a safe place to steer into, should someone drift into your lane may save you a lot of grief. Many people experience an accident due to faulty evasive action. If a car does drift into your lane and you swerve into another lane to avoid a crash, but you crash into someone in that lane in the process, now it’s your fault.

Signaling before you turn or change lanes, lets other drivers around you know your intentions. Getting back into the habit of signaling will not only keep you safe but will also help to avoid road rage.

At a traffic light, remember that green doesn’t mean “go.” Green means look both ways and make sure someone is not running the red light. If there are other cars in lanes next to you, blocking your view, let them go first. If they don’t go when the light turns green, it’s likely because they can see (and you cannot, because they are blocking your view) that a car is running the red light.

Don’t try to multitask while driving. Keeping your eyes on the road and not being distracted will save your life and those lives of others around you. Remember to respect everyone’s journey. And hopefully, they will respect yours.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Respect Everyone’s Journey – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Look Twice For Motorcycles

Daun Thompson — Mon, 26 May 2014 15:24:24 +0000

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month. You may be noticing billboards advertising this and reminding you to look twice for motorcycles and share the road. Because of the high price of gas, automobile insurance and purchasing an automobile, more drivers have purchased a motorcycle to save on expenses. So, there are more motorcycles on the road. This, combined with distracted drivers, is a lethal combination. Statistics show that the percentage of intoxicated motorcycle riders in fatal crashes is greater than the percentage of intoxicated drivers on our roads. But, with today being Memorial Day, it is likely that the combination of intoxicated motorcyclists and intoxicated automobile operators will provide disastrous results.

With road construction, lane closures, ramp closures and especially H.O.V. closures, I truly hope that people will refrain from drinking and driving and be extra cautious when riding near a motorcyclist. It is known that motorcyclists can ride on the H.O.V. lane without a passenger. The H.O.V. is, in fact, the safest place for them to ride, rather than on the freeway, around distracted or drunk drivers. But some of the major H.O.V.’s in this area are closed and under construction. And the ones that remain open are on freeways so riddled with traffic that automobile operators cross illegally across the double line or slip between the pvc posts to enter the H.O.V. to avoid traffic. This could be lethal to a motorcyclist if they are not seen.
Although May is Motorcycle Awareness Month, why not always practice caution when riding near a motorcyclist? In Texas, if you cut off a motorcyclist and they crash, you could ensue a $500 fine. I personally believe if the fine were more, people would really pay attention. And, if the crash results in serious bodily injury or death, the fine is upward of $5000 (plus you get the pants sued off of you).

So, look twice for motorcycles and share the road. Of course, we all know that there are also motorcyclists out there ‘hot-doggin’ and whipping in and out of traffic, popping wheelies and passing you at 120 miles per hour. Another reason for we drivers to really be paying attention. Perhaps we can’t always feel so responsible for those people who intentionally put their lives in danger. But there are still those out there that have purchased a motorcycle to save on their commute expenses. And remember, those people have a family. And some of them have wives and kids (oops…that would be in Utah…I meant a wife (singular) and kids.

Until next week…be safe.

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Look Twice For Motorcycles – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Cupid can kiss my…

Lisa — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:31:00 +0000

Alright, Valentine’s Day is almost upon us. So you know what that means, guys! Open that wallet big and wide! Last year for Valentine’s Day I spent over $300, that was just for the roses, candy and dinner and did I get any at the end of the night??? You’re damn right I did!

I know a lot of you guys will be putting your best foot forward on Sunday night, especially if you haven’t been dating your sweetheart that long. Taking your clothes to the cleaners, polishing your shoes…maybe even using deodorant, but have you thought about the cleanliness of your car? The condition of the interior of your vehicle can set the tone for the rest of the date, good or bad. Also not mentioning how your last relationship ended in violence is a good idea too. A few women have told me that they knew they made the right choice to go out with me when they got into my car for the first time. And a few said they wished they had never met me as they threw some sort of an appliance at me. Windex, Armor all, air fresheners to get rid of that fart smell will be your essential tools for your car’s makeover.

I hope this Valentine’s Day is a special one for you and your sweet puddings and if you don’t have a valentine, then realize how lucky you and your wallet/bank account really are. I hope I don’t sound bitter because I’m not. I love my girlfriend and I’m excited about our first Valentine’s Day together. (Yeah and I’m writing this because I know she reads my blogs.) No really, I am excited Sunday night. She had to sit through the Super Bowl last Sunday, so the least I can do is take her out on a special night.

Join me again next week and until then…

Take care and be safe-

Danny Keaton

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