dps Archives - Comedy Defensive Driving®

My Baby On Board Is Behind The Wheel

Daun Thompson — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:05:19 +0000

Today is the day! My daughter passed her drivers test and now she has the privilege of driving among the rest of us. And, by “us”, I mean the really bad drivers. I’m not saying that she’s a good driver, she’s not. Looking back at my family history, I truly believe that being a bad driver is genetic. So, not only am I concerned for her life, I am also concerned for those lives around her.
She received her learner license about a year ago. Her sixteenth birthday was last October, and she could have gotten her driver license at that time, but I just wasn’t ready for that responsibility (and worry). So I was conveniently too busy to take her to the DPS (Department of Public Safety) to take her final driving test. She just wasn’t ready to be set loose on her own.
One thing that did impress me at the DPS office where she did her final evaluation and test, the clerk grabbed her by the wrist, looked her right in the eye and said “Now, you’re not going to text, talk on the phone, drive after midnight or have more than one non-relative under the age of 21 in the car with you, are you?” Of course, she replied “No.” And I truly hope she keeps her word. I have had to get on my daughter for texting under the table while we’re having a serious talk. She was looking me right in the eye as if she were really listening to me, and the whole time she was texting someone under the table. She calls it multi-tasking. I call it grounded…I think it’s just rude.
Although, I don’t feel in my heart that she has “mastered” the driving practices that were taught to her through the parent-taught drivers education course, nor through the online course that she completed, I have to release her into the mix with what little experience she has. She completed 32 hours of classroom education and 34 driving hours. It seems like a lot, I suppose. Especially to the student. But, to me, the single parent of an only child, no instruction is enough. And, as far as evasive driving goes, nothing prepares one for hydroplaning, avoiding an accident or steering/recovering from a skid. They can teach you all of that they want, but until you actually find yourself in one of these situations and experience it for yourself, little is learned through a diagram, a film or classroom demonstration. Fortunately, I have found a little extra help there can be obtained through the Drivers Edge. They do a national tour, annually. It’s free and teaches kids evasive driving, hands-on. They pick up where regular drivers education leaves off. You can find more information about this program at driversedge.org. Another place to find extra information is at DMV.org

There, you will find a free road sign practice test and other practice tests that can be very helpful.
Every little bit of knowledge surely helps. But there is no substitution for experience. And that, unfortunately, comes with time and a few dents. I don’t know how many years my health plan will cover my prescription for a nice, calming sedative…I’m hoping at least until she’s 21.

Until next week…if you’d like to pray for me, here’s how you spell my name…

Daun Thompson

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Giving Your Teen The Driver’s Edge

Lisa — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:43:21 +0000

My Daughter will be eligible to receive a license to drive in October.And, quite frankly, I am terrified.She is a horrible little driver.She has her driver training permit and has been practicing…but not nearly enough to gain the experience required to avoid a crash.We haven’t even been on the highway yet.She’s not ready for that kind of scary.And neither am I (apparently, I’m a screamer).

I had heard from other parents of new drivers that there is a program out there that teaches real life emergency avoidance and response techniques, as well as overall driver safety.It’s an invaluable “supplement” for new drivers, in addition to their driver training.The program is called DRIVER’S EDGE (driversedge.org).It is a FREE (that caught your attention, didn’t it?) half-day program for drivers ages 21 and younger.

The program does a national annual tour.So, once registration opens in your area, you need to hop online and reserve a spot immediately, as it is on a first come, first served basis.You can go to their website ahead of time and give them your contact information if you would like to be notified when they plan to teach the program in your area. The registrant must have a valid license or permit to attend.

The program in our area is going to be held at Texas Motor Speedway (how appropriate for my little driver).It is taught by true driving professionals through a unique combination of behind the wheel and classroom experience.And the program was developed to address the unacceptably high number of youth related automobile collisions and fatalities that occur each year.Car crashes are the number one killer of teens in the U.S.And teens are four times more likely to die or be injured in a car crash than older people.Apparently males are twice as likely as females to die or become injured in a car crash.Perhaps that’s why boys’ insurance is higher than girls’ insurance. The crash risk is high during the first year teens drive because they’re newbies behind the wheel…inexperienced drivers.Unlike we seasoned drivers with many years of experience.Most teen crashes occur on the weekends, when teens are too busy having fun to pay attention to their driving. ..also known as distractions.Teens tend to underestimate or not recognize dangerous situations.And teens are more likely to speed, run red lights, make illegal turns, ride with an intoxicated driver, and drive after using alcohol or drugs.I know at least the speeding part is true.When I was a teen, I used to drive like a bat out of hell.I could have wallpapered with my tickets!But, I slowed it down after I had a baby in the car.There’s something about having a tiny, fragile baby in the car that makes one drive like a little old lady.And now that she’s a teenager, I just want to drive off a bridge.Funny how one reverts to old habits.

What Driver’s Edge will offer up?Every student has a chance to get behind the wheel with a professional instructor.These programs are taught by professional racing drivers and professional performance driving instructors.The experience includes evasive lane change maneuvers, ABS braking exercises, panic braking instruction and skid control instruction.In addition to behind the wheel instruction, they will also receive interactive instruction.Local law enforcement will be present to do a mock field sobriety test, compare the effects of impaired and distracted driving, show what to do and how to act if you’re ever pulled over, among other things.They also do a car care module which includes essential car care information, tire safety, proper seating, steering wheel and mirror positions, proper seatbelt usage, distracted driving and other current topics.

And, for those of you with some spare change, what a great charity to donate to.Driver’s Edge is a non-profit organization and public charity dedicated to one simple thing…teaching young drivers what’s not being taught in traditional driver’s education.Their sole mission is to help save lives with their unique and innovative behind the wheel program.And, to continue to be able to offer this program for free, donations are certainly welcome! And they’re tax deductible.

Until next week…keep those teen drivers safe!

Daun Thompson

(Daun Thompson is a comedienne, writer and artist residing in Dallas, Texas)

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IXNAY ON THE TEXTNAY or Texting While Driving

Lisa — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:26:49 +0000

The Fourth of July is right around the corner…and Rick Perry lights the first fuse…

If things had gone as planned, the Texas state law banning texting while driving would have gone into effect this September 1.Although it is a city ordinance in several Texas cities such as San Antonio, El Paso and Austin (our lovely capital and home of Rick Perry…a.k.a. Mr. Vetoe).On June 17, Governor Rick Perry vetoed the legislature’s plan to ban text messaging for all drivers. This would have been a Texas state law.

The ban on texting while driving has been a city ordinance in Austin since June of 2009.I’m not likely the only person who thought that, if our capital city was on-board with it, that was a pretty good indication that this would become a state law in a short matter of time. We were wrong!Apparently slick Rick cited that House Bill 242 was a “government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults.”Texas already bans texting by teens. The bill would have extended that ban to all drivers. Perry says that he does recommend additional education on this issue in driving safety and driver’s education courses and public service ads.

The amended bill would have prohibited a driver from reading, writing or sending a text-based communication while operating a motor vehicle, unless the vehicle is stopped.Opponents said drivers would be penalized for simply receiving a text message while behind the wheel. Do this…next time you stop at a red light, look over at all of the cars in the other lanes. You’ll notice that nearly everyone is looking down…finishing a text at the red light. Darned multi-taskers!

Currently, it is a state law prohibiting use of a handheld electronic device or texting in an active school zone. There are exceptions for emergency situations, though.Like, if you hit a kid jay-walking in a school zone.You’ll need to use your cell phone to call 911 to let them know that “the car behind you just hit a kid in a school zone”. (Please, don’t take me seriously on this one…)

I, for one, don’t text and drive.Not because I’m smart enough not to.I’m just not coordinated enough.I’ve tried it.And I could totally take out families.My 15 year old daughter can text and not even look at her phone while she’s texting.She can sit at the kitchen table, look me right in the eyes while we’re having a converstion…the whole time she’s texting under the table.She calls it multi-tasking…I call it grounded…I think it’s just rude.

It is a Federal law that Commercial Drivers(truck drivers) cannot text while driving.And, if they get caught, the fine is just under $2k.Plus no one will ever hire them again. Fair enough, a semi truck is a huge piece of machinery…you could totally take out families with. What ever happened to good old CB Radios? And Smokey and the Bandit?? And Jim Stafford and Jerry Reed songs? You know, people used to park while playing those 8-Tracks.

By the way…T-Mobile is probably throwing a party somewhere…if anyone wants to go…

Until next time…

Daun Thompson

(Daun is a writer, comedienne and artist residing in Dallas, Texas)

The post IXNAY ON THE TEXTNAY or Texting While Driving appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.