A Brief History of Anti-Lock Braking Systems

The Statue of Liberty is not the only world renowned object designed by the French.

Anti-lock braking systems, also known as ABS, were also designed by the French for aircraft around 1929. Before they put anti-lock braking systems on cars, if the road was slick and you slammed on your brakes, your wheels would lock up and you would skid out of control. So drivers would pump their brakes to create traction in a skid. Anti-lock braking systems pump the brakes for you. That’s what that vibrating and hammering feeling is in the brakes where it feels like the brake is slipping. Now, when you apply your brakes, rather than locking up, they still rotate, but they rotate at intervals. Because the brake is gripping the wheel at intervals, i.e. it is pumping the brake. So, when the road is slick, you no longer need to pump the brake. Rather, you only need to apply steady pressure and hold down the brake, while it gives you a nice, relaxing foot massage.

How Do Anti-Lock Brakes Work?

So, there is no need to pump the brakes anymore. In a car with ABS, the wheels should never lock in the first place, so pumping the brakes will just make you take longer to stop. They prevent wheels from locking up on slippery surfaces. So, all-in-all, better traction and better steering control are the main attributes to ABS.  An ABS does not necessarily shorten your stopping distance, but does allow you to keep control of your steering allowing you to have better control over your vehicle.

So, while the Statue of Liberty, French bread, French fries and French toast are all very important contributions to society as well as history, and the French maid is arguably the most noted costume at any party, the Anti-lock braking system is their greatest contribution of them all.

How To Apply Anti-Lock Brakes

• Press and hold the brake, you will feel the petal vibrating, don’t pump the brakes, just steer your car to safety.
• Keep your tires filled with the proper air pressure and make sure you have adequate tread.
• Allow enough space to stop.  Use the 3 second rule and if there are bad conditions increase the seconds appropriately.

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What to do in a hail storm

http://www.comedydefensivedriving.com/texas/ This video tip will let you know what to do when an emergency situation occurs while you are driving. Hail storms can cause severe damage to your car and can even harm you if you get caught off guard. Watch the whole series of short tips! Also, feel free to share the videos as well if you want, the more people to learn about this the better!

Have you ever been curious about the way hail is formed? Hail formation requires the perfect environment of strong, upward sweeping motions or currents of air. Each time the hail formation is swept up through the clouds, another layer or concentric ring is added to it. This happens over and over again until the formation is heavier than the wind is strong and it falls to the earth.

Another thing that I find interesting is that hail is usually described as the size of a sports ball, while tumors are usually described as the size of a breakfast fruit…just an observation.

Tips for driving in a hail storm

• Keep your radio tuned in to a weather channel.

• Be sure to use your headlights. Most states require you use them in rain anyway.

• Slow down. Call your boss or whomever you are trying to impress and tell them you are going to be delayed by weather. Tell them how hard you will be to replace!

• Allow extra breaking distance between you and the car ahead of you (use a 6 second rule for wet weather or a 9 second rule for icy weather).

• Move your car to a covered area and sit there until the weather alert has ended. A parking garage would be ideal as hail tends to bounce back up after hitting the ground at such a high speed and may bounce into your direction.

• If you stop, keep your seat belt on and put on your hazard lights. If pulling over to the shoulder of a freeway, put your signal light on instead, as if you are planning to re-enter the freeway.

• Whatever you do, if you stop under an overpass, pull onto the shoulder, do not stop in the traffic lane. Otherwise, people will think that you have already been hit in the head by the hail.

• Be extra careful in intersections for people who may not be able to stop.

• Be careful stopping or driving near power lines that may be weighed down with ice.

If you practice these recommendations when driving in bad weather, you’ll make it safer for you and everyone around you. And remember, if there is the slightest warning of approaching hail or any other kind of inclement weather, don’t drive unless it is absolutely necessary.

Until next week…keep your car and your head wrinkle-free.

Daun Thompson

Driving In Bad Weather – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Hand Signals for Bicycles:

• Stop – Extend the left hand and arm downward
• Left Turn – Extend the left hand and arm horizontally
• Right Turn – Extend the left hand and arm upward, or extend the right hand and arm horizontally.

A bicycle is a vehicle and a person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle. This, according to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, gives good legal cause to sharing the road with bikes. Bicyclists that do not follow street signs and laws are subject to the same penalties as a motor vehicle driver. If you ride a bicycle, you should check your own city’s bicycle laws as well as city ordinances on wearing a helmet.

Additional laws bicycles need to follow:

Here’s some additional information which is not only good for the bicyclist to know, but those driving around bicyclists as well. If a person operating a bicycle on a roadway is moving slower than the flow of traffic, they need to ride as near as possible to the right curb or edge of the roadway. However, there are exceptions to this law. Under the following conditions the law allows bicyclists to take the full lane of travel when:

• The person is passing another vehicle moving in the same direction.
• The person is preparing to turn left at an intersection or onto a private road or driveway.
• When there are unsafe conditions on the roadway, including fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, or surface hazards that prevents the person from safely riding next to the curb or edge of the roadway.
• The lane is of substandard width (less than 14 feet in width and not having a designated bicycle lane adjacent to that lane) making it unsafe for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to safely travel side by side.

And persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two abreast, but they must share a single lane. They may not impede the normal flow of traffic and they may not ride more than two abreast unless they are riding on a part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles. I’ve been stuck behind a row of those guys at the lake. Although, the view wasn’t so bad, I still want those hours of my life back.

Share the road with bikes:

If you are a bike enthusiast or just a weekend warrior, you may be interested to know that now, in Texas, you may purchase specialty license plates from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles that will hopefully remind people about sharing the road with bikes. And, a portion of the fee funds a variety of Bike Texas programs such as the Safe Routes to School program, the Community Trails Program as well as the Share the Road program for bicyclist and motor safety education.

Until next week…bicyclists are people too (just goofier looking). Look out for them.

Daun Thompson
Writer/ Comedienne/ Artist

Sharing the Road With Bikes – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Get rid of that traffic ticket! – Kinetic Typography

http://www.comedydefensivedriving.com We are the only provider offering 2 completely different online courses! We use animations, cartoons, videos, mini movies and NOT boring text courses, we are all about entertainment so that you can dismiss that traffic ticket and have fun while doing it. Check us out, there’s a reason why we’re the best since 1989! 😉

Comedy Defensive Driving utilizes the power of laughter to reinvigorate the classroom setting into a dynamic, fun, and entertaining environment. Experiencing the joy of humor and laughter has always been a valuable communicative technique to not only entertain, but to also re-contextualize information in a way that resonates with the individual on a personal level.

In fact, there are many benefits to incorporating comedy within the learning environment. Many informational television and radio programs understand the impact of comedy when joined with education, as it helps the viewer and listener stay engaged while also being entertained.

Below we’ll highlight the many benefits of comedic instruction and how it can not only help with absorbing information, but also assist in improving your wellbeing in the long-term.

A Fresh Outlook

“It is what we think we know that keeps us from learning.”

– Chester Barnard, Author and Pioneer of Management Theory and Organizational Studies

Most people look at a classroom setting with the presumption that an educational environment is a boring, sterile, and very serious place. Although this may be a popular outlook on an educational setting, teachers from all over the world utilize techniques which often times may seem contradicting to our traditional learning methods. Meanwhile, comedy and entertainment is a recognized tool within the teaching community, and is not only adopted by some of the top educators in the world, but is a fundamental teaching method for many specialized schooling systems.

Laughter & Cognitive Learning

“Emotion drives attention and attention drives learning.”

– Robert Sylwester, Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Oregon

Humor has the ability to disarm an individual’s notions while capturing the attention of the brain. Students have always struggled with scattered focus and lack of motivation. The attention of the brain, however, engages extremely well with information that is entertaining and fun. The element of surprise is utilized in the storytelling, jokes, and riddles of any comedic performer, which helps fortify many common cognitive roadblocks, like memory and concentration.

Creative Learning

“The map is not the territory.”

– Alfred Korzbyski, Philosopher and Scientist

Creativity, just like humor, combines together very diverse ideas that generate the flexible thinking necessary for complex problem solving. In fact, our sense of humor and creativity introduce new associations within pre-existing concepts, allowing for a stronger sense of adaptive thought to newer ideas. Incorporating humor within instruction inspires creative impulsive thought, giving the student power, confidence, and pleasure to think as a leader and increase attention and retention.

Overview

Humor remains an essential tool to educators around the world. Organizations recognize that laughter sparks a natural sense of enthusiasm and opens the learning mind to not only focus, but to do so in a way that inspires curiosity and deeper thought. Learning thrives in an environment that welcomes humor.

At Comedy Defense Driving, we are all about the combination of entertainment and education. We understand the impact of laughter in a learning environment, which is why we offer classes taught by some of the leading comedic talents today. Visit our classroom course options near you to learn more.

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Not only can hurricanes and tropical storms do a number on your sweet ride, you must also be prepared to travel. The American Red Cross has compiled a list of items for your survival kit for traveling during hurricane and tropical storm season.

So here are some great driving safety tips when traveling near or in hurricanes or tropical storms:
• Water—one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
• Food—non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
• Multi-purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area

And my final driving safety tips to you this day is – always plan ahead and leaving early when a serious storm threat is broadcast, is the best bet. There is no way to instruct someone how to drive in a tropical storm and certainly not during a hurricane. So, being as far away from the site of the storm is the safest place to be.

Hurricanes and Tropical Storms – Comedy Defensive Driving

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This isn’t the NBA or the NFL. It’s just your state trying to keep its roads safe (loyal to its law-abiding citizens!) with a ‘points’ demerit system. And while it sounds friendlier than it is, getting points on your driver’s license isn’t as bad as it seems either.

Thankfully, Comedy Defensive Driving is here as your preferred online driving school to help with your license point reduction.

How Driver’s License Points Work

Depending on the state where you’ve got your driver’s license in, you’ll get around 12 virtual demerit points assigned to your license. These are valid for a year normally, and technically you lose those points if you do something like drive over the speed limit or get caught driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). So ‘getting points’ is actually losing the points you already have – if you get the point!

The severity of your infringement will determine the number of points you get. If you get too many points, you can have your license suspended, your insurance premiums can skyrocket, and you’ll soon find that life is far more of a hassle with lots of points on your license. Just try applying for a job that requires driving and see how that goes.

Keeping points off your driver’s license is like keeping a clean bill of health with your doctor and going for regular check-ups. And in this scenario, Comedy Defensive Driving is your online driving school ‘doctor,’ and our defensive driving course is the check-up.

Each state is slightly different, but let’s look at Texas, the Lonestar State, to get an idea of what you get points for. If you choose to pay the civil penalty for your infringement or are adjudicated guilty by a judge, your driving record will be assessed as follows:

• Moving Violations: 3 points
• Speeding 15 mph or less over posted speed: 3 points
• Speeding more than 15 mph over posted speeds: 4 points
• Passing stopped school bus: 4 points
• Moving violation (non-speeding) resulting in a crash: 4 points
• Unlawful speed resulting in a crash: 6 points
• Reckless driving (criminal traffic violation): 4 points
• Leaving the scene of a crash with damage: 6 points
• Littering: 3 points
• Violation of child restraint laws: 3 points

If you accumulate:

• 12 points in 12 months, your license will be suspended for 30 days
• 18 points in 18 months, your license will be suspended for 3 months
• 24 points within 36 months, your license will be suspended for 12 months

License Point Reduction

Suppose you receive a ticket for a non-criminal moving violation, and you do not hold a commercial driver’s license. In that case, you may elect to attend a basic driver improvement course in lieu of points on your driving record.

What this means is that if you plead guilty to a minor traffic violation (let’s say speeding slightly over the limit), a judge might grant you the option of attending online driving school. This is so that the points you would have been awarded for the infringement don’t reflect on your driver’s license.

So here’s another technicality that can be confusing: when attending online driving school to reduce the points on your license, you’re just preventing the points from the fine you incurred from being awarded to your license. There are no additional points to be squashed or reduced for other infringements. It’s simply a case of attending driving school to cancel out the ‘my bad’ that you just caused on the roads.

Comedy Defensive Driving to the Rescue

Of course, there are other reasons for attending online driving school, but at Comedy Defensive Driving we wanted to focus on the points reduction element as a way to maintain a clean bill of health on your driver’s license.

Whatever your reason for needing to attend online driving school – be it to squash points, get better insurance premiums, or because you were caught drag racing and just need to keep your license – Comedy Defensive Driving is here to help.

With our 100% online class that is taught to you by professional comedians at the top of their game, you will learn how to control your speed, how to look ahead and be ready for something unexpected to happen at any moment, and how to remain alert and free from distraction.

Comedy Defensive Driving will have you laughing while you learn. We have taught over 3 million students so far countrywide, and we are confident that this is the best way to get points off your license in a fun and painless way.

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What Else Has Changed

Another new law passed in Texas that you must be 18 years of age to purchase cough syrup. Cough syrup? Don’t even get me started! Heck, we had trash can punch at our prom in the high school gym with everclear grain alcohol in it. The drinking age was 18 in Texas in the late 70’s. Then it went up to 19 and “hovered” there for awhile. It eventually went back up to 21. At some point, I believe the drinking age was 4 (maybe that was in other countries). I remember taking my sister out drinking on Greenville Avenue when she was 12. We didn’t want to stay home and “babysit” so we put makeup on her like a baby hooker and took her with us. She ordered a “mom” drink and blew her cover. Ugh!

Are Alcohol Laws Moving Backwards?

In the 70’s, everyone in the car could have an open container, even the driver. I thought you’d get a ticket if you “didn’t” drink and drive in Texas. So, this new law is sure to get some ribbing. Beer to go and booze delivery is the new thing. You can purchase no more than a 12 pack of beer at a brewery, and get it to go. You can also order booze from a food delivery service and have them bring the booze right to your house (or jail cell).  But they probably won’t bring you cigarettes.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson

Writer / Comedienne / Artist

HOW TEXAS LAWS HAVE CHANGED  – Comedy Defensive Driving School

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DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS

This original campaign launched in 1986 has had some success in reducing litter. It is reported that, even with efforts, 362 million pieces of litter continue to show up on our roads. Teaming up with a well-known brand such as Buc-ee’s will extend into the community. And will also promote education initiatives in schools to teach younger generations the importance of keeping the environment clean and picturesque. Yes, just as Ladybird Johnson had envisioned it to be. Who, by the way, launched her own Texas Wildflower program in 1986 as well.

THE BARREL AND THE BEAVER

Buc-ee’s wants our roads to be as clean as their restrooms. In their establishments, you will see the signature “Don’t Mess With Texas” red white and blue trash barrels. And, of course, their beloved beaver merchandise. It couldn’t be a better union of these two, both with a proud and loyal following. Two with a common goal, to fight litter in Texas.

And don’t even think about throwing anything out the window of your car (except ice, water and chicken feathers). No, not even Buc-ee’s Nuggets.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson

Writer / Comedienne / Artist

THIS CRITTER DON’T LITTER CAMPAIGN – Comedy Defensive Driving School

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Other Meanings For Headlight Flashing

I’ve only mentioned three uses for headlight flashing. Here are a few others:

• To say “thank you.”
• To attract attention, like blowing your horn (an “optical horn”).
• To let another driver know that you are yielding the right of way.
• To make other drivers aware of road dangers.
• To remind another driver that their high beams are on.

Urban Legend or Truth?

Oh yes, and the good old urban legend that has been circulating since the late 1990’s. Do you remember the one about gang initiation? If you are driving after dark and you see an oncoming car with no headlights on, do not flash your headlights at them. Supposedly the legend goes that gang members will kill everyone in the car. And, why would you not believe this could happen since people lose their minds all of the time in traffic. We see it every day in the news.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson

Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Headlight Flashing – Comedy Defensive Driving

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How Does The Zipper Merge Work?

The way they teach the zipper merge is one car, per car. If the lane is ending, you should begin merging when you can after you see the first sign. It just makes sense if cars are merging the entire 500 feet and others are merging when the lane ends, those drivers that are already in the continuing lane are being held up by allowing so many cars to merge, thus disrupting the flow of traffic. The same goes for cars merging onto the freeway. Although in Texas, cars that are already on the freeway have the right of way and cars entering the freeway have to yield, if traffic is at a crawl, cars on the freeway should allow one car, per car to enter the freeway in front of them.

How Not Doing The Zipper Merge Causes Road Rage

Please don’t try to be a hero by holding up traffic to allow half a dozen cars to merge in front of you. It’s likely that the driver behind you is counting how many bullets he needs to load into the chamber of his gun because he’s already late for work and hates heroes like you. And, lastly, if traffic is at a minimum and speeds are normal, it wouldn’t hurt to take your foot off the gas to allow a car to speed up and merge in front of you.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson

Writer / Comedienne / Artist

THE ZIPPER MERGE – Comedy Defensive Driving

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