So, at the risk of sounding ungrateful (because, believe me, I am genuinely thrilled about our new state law), those cities and counties that are already hands-free will actually “regress” to only texting bans (and now talking on a cell phone will be legal again in those areas). But, again, it’s better than nothing at all. I am not certain what this new law will mean. No texting while driving could mean that you can still talk on the phone but, in order to text, read, scroll or update your GPS, you actually have to be off of the roadway, with your car in “park.” This is actually how our current city ordinances are set up (those which are not entirely hands-free). Or, this no texting ban could simply mean that a driver cannot text while the car is moving (which some people will still do, illegally), but a driver may be able to text while the car is not in motion (like at a red light). If the new law is the second scenario here, even law-abiding citizens will be texting, reading and updating their GPS while waiting at a red light. Because, if you can legally do it, why wouldn’t you? Drivers are impatient as it is. Especially when a red light turns green, it’s like their horn is coordinated with the light. They don’t even give you a chance to take your foot off of the brake and hit the gas before they honk at you “What are you waiting for…another shade of green?” Hopefully, the new state law will enlist the first scenario.

Either way, thank goodness for evolution!
Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Texting Law in Texas – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Texas lawmakers are planning once again to introduce a bill banning texting and driving statewide. But will it become a law? Every two years, the Texas Legislature returns in January to re-visit this issue. So, if a bill does pass, we may have a law that will go into effect in September. But, apparently, there is already some republican opposition. They argue that a law would infringe on the individual freedoms of adult drivers. So, what about the freedoms of innocent drivers that are injured and killed by those distracted adult drivers? They also argue that a statewide law would not make a difference regarding the safety of drivers, which is in direct contradiction to data provided by the TXDOT, which reported more than 100,000 car accidents caused by distracted drivers in 2015 alone. That’s a staggering number. Yet, folks are skeptical that it will pass during the upcoming 85th legislative session.

So this Texan will follow closely to keep you informed. In the meantime, if you are a Texan, perhaps it is comforting to know that we do have over 90 cities that currently ban texting while driving. Also, drivers under the age of 18, commercial vehicle drivers (including bus drivers) and all drivers in activated school zones are banned from texting.

Statistics show that one out of 4 car accidents are a result of texting while driving. And, texting while driving is six times more likely to crash than drunk drivers. So if you’re drinking “and” texting … yikes!

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
States Void of a Texting Ban – Comedy Defensive Driving School

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Where I live in North Texas, there are only 16 cities that I am aware of that have passed a city ordinance banning cell phone use while driving (Arlington, Grand Prairie, Denton, Watauga, Little Elm, Hickory Creek, Bedford, Euless, Hurst, Highland Park, University Park, Farmers Branch, Addison, Highland Park, University Park, Rowlett and Sunnyvale). There are likely other cities beyond North Texas that have passed ordinances that I am not aware of, but I do know that Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Houston and Amarillo definitely have bans. Only two of these five cities are completely hands free city ordinances (Austin and San Antonio), while the others only ban texting or viewing your phone while driving.
Again, while there may be more cities that have joined in, now, this is the most current list that I am aware of. How many cities are you aware of in your great state that ban cell phone use while driving?

While I prefer my tax dollars not be used to fund the policing (or babysitting) of drivers who cannot put their phones down. And I would like to see their resources being used to control crime. I would hope that all states eventually come together and create a federal law banning any major distractions while driving (anything that takes your eyes off of the road long enough to cause a crash).

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Cell Phone Laws – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Unfortunately, the Morrison family didn’t have satellite radio to be able to listen to. You’ve got to love the variety of unusual stations that don’t lose their signal between cities. That’s certainly a lifesaver! If you plan a road trip with passengers, assign whoever is going to be sitting in the front seat as your “co-pilot.” They can be appointed as your assistant and be expected to do whatever you ask of them (well, nearly everything). Make a game out of it, or more like a competition. Set rules for yourself and other drivers. No cell phone use while driving, PERIOD. No talking, texting or reading messages or emails. Set up your phone in driving mode and maybe even put it in the glove compartment. Have chatting periods, music periods, etc. Put your “co-pilot” in charge of the music and GPS. Map your routes before leaving for your trip. Re-check them every day to familiarize yourself with your routes. Stop and eat all of your meals. Or purchase healthy food items and take time to stop and enjoy a picnic. Get out every few hours and take a brisk walk. Make a little sight-seeing tour out of it and take some pictures.

Road Trip America is a great website with tips, sightseeing tours and loads of great information for your next road trip. As the Lizard King said “Have a real good time…let it roll, baby roll.”

Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Road Trip Tips – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Teens Behind The Wheel – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Distracted Drivers – Comedy Defensive Driving

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There is just one month left in the 84th Texas legislative session. For the third time, the texting and driving ban is in front of the Texas legislature. The house has already passed its bill and now it has been sent over to the senate state affairs committee. This new bill differs from the first one introduced. Initially, the bill said you cannot write, read or send a text message, even if you were stopped. The new version says that you can text wherever as long as you are stopped.

Well, at least it’s a start. At least we’re going to begin to evolve. Just looking at the number of senseless accidents and deaths due to cell phone use in Texas alone is staggering. So, still being able to text while sitting at a red light will only likely cause more road rage. As it is, the person behind you is already so impatient that they don’t even give you time to take your foot off the brake and put it on the gas pedal when the light turns green. They’re already honking at you, “What are you waiting for, lady, another shade of GREEN?” I hear in New York City, they honk at you when the cross-traffic light turns yellow. At least we’re not that impatient.

But, no one wants to miss their opportunity to get through the green light in an intersection when they are already running late for work. Now, with construction zones and lane closures, ramp closures, etc. So this will surely cause even more road rage than ever before. Austin and San Antonio, Texas, have both passed city ordinances banning cell phone use while driving, altogether. These cities are entirely hands free. And Austin’s city ordinance also includes bicyclists. So now the question is, “Who the heck is texting while riding a bike?” Now, that’s coordination! Maybe Lance Armstrong can do that. He’s about the only bicyclist that could keep up with the flow of traffic, anyway.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Texting in Texas – Comedy Defensive Driving

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The post Distracted Driving Awareness Month 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
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I recall the day he got his first ticket in that car. He was on the phone with me…in an active school zone…hello??? Totally distracted. All excited. Telling me all about his new car…not realizing that he was speeding right through a school zone…with the yellow light flashing…between the hours of “I can’t afford this” and “what was I thinking??”. A Corvette probably idles over 20mph (as do the pacemakers of those who drive them), so he’d likely have to ride his brake through any school zone, regardless. And really??? 20mph? If you were going any slower, you’d be in reverse. But little ones…they’ll run right out in front of you. They can’t be responsible for their own actions. That’s why there are so many rules/laws in school zones. So, bam! Nice double whammy! Cited for both speeding and talking.

Here’s the funny part…He says “Hey, I’m getting pulled over by a Cop in a school zone”. I tell him “I suggest you hang up the phone, Goober, you’re going to get a ticket for that!” And he says (no kidding..you can’t even make this $#!+ up…) “Should I tell him I’m on the phone with you??” (like I’m a World famous defensive driving instructor, right?) I tell him “No! And don’t give some Cop my name. I don’t need my name written down in some Cop’s notebook”. He ended up getting three tickets from that Officer. One for speeding through an active school zone. One for talking on a hand-held device in an active school zone. And the third one?? I don’t even know. Maybe he was cited for having a mid-life crisis. Now he is absolutely convinced…that darned red Corvette is a Cop magnet.End of the story??? Almost. The Corvette is for sale. Dirt cheap. With low miles, too, since it spent most of its life at the city impound.

So here are my questions:

Do car insurance companies use the color of your car to determine your rates?

Do certain colors increase your chance of an accident?

Do people with yellow cars really get less speeding tickets than those with red cars?

Did I unplug the iron before I left the house?

These were questions that plagued me. But they were thought provoking questions. And, God knows, that some of us need to be provoked to think.

Seems like anywhere I’ve lived (Illinois, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, California, Nebraska, the Dallas County Correctional Facility for Women…just kidding…about Nebraska…who the hell do you know that’s actually from Nebraska?? ) people seem to agree that, at least in those states, the police tend to target the red sports cars. But not in California. People in California are so cool, mellow and laid back. Hell, it’s no wonder they’re 3 hours behind New York. In Cali, they’re more concerned about the environment than they are speeders. Their littering fine is cheaper than manslaughter. A study shows that their top “magnet” vehicles for being profiled by the law for getting the most moving violations are not the red cars…the sports cars. They target cars that aren’t up to their emissions codes, cars that pollute and gas guzzlers. I read somewhere that their #1 car for being targeted by the police is the Hummer. Doesn’t the Govenator drive a Hummer? I hear he has a fleet of them. Their least targeted car in California, just like most places?? You got it! Electric cars, hybrids, Oldsmobiles, Buicks, family mini vans, station wagons, white serial killer vans with no windows…cops never pull them over, do they??…until it’s too late.

According to my insurance agent, there are no official statistics to reinforce the urban legend about red cars getting more tickets. The lack of statistics makes it impossible to say which color cars get more tickets. But police and insurance companies deny any link between red cars and the increase of tickets and accidents. In general, driving the speed limit, stopping at red lights (all of them, please), yielding to oncoming traffic, and making your cell phone calls when you are completely stopped (no, don’t finish your text at a red light) is always a good idea and will probably keep your rates low, no matter what color car you drive.

So, does your car insurance company use color to determine your premium? The answer is no. If you want that mid-life crisis yellow or red car, go right ahead and get it. We all deserve a laugh!

Until next week…be safe….and take your fiber….

Daun Thompson

( Daun Thompson is a comedienne, writer and an instructor at Comedy Defensive Driving School in Texas, filling in for Danny Keaton while he is touring the Pacific Northwest and Great Southwest… he’s fine by the way…I just sent him gas money… )

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