driving safety course Archives - Comedy Defensive Driving®

Teens and Seat Belts

Daun Thompson — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 17:11:02 +0000

I was under the impression that the majority of people that don’t wear seat belts are the elderly. Since wearing a seat belt (or what they used to call a “safety belt”) became a law in 1986, the elderly have spent most of their lives not being required to wear a seat belt, so perhaps they never really caught on or got comfortable with it. My elderly parents would drive from Illinois to Texas sans-belt (that’s French for “no belt”). My Mother says that wearing the seat belt would wrinkle her outfit. But going through the windshield would surely put a few wrinkles in her outfit and her head, etc. It seems that teen boys have adopted this attitude about not wearing seat belts. My position as a Defensive Driving Instructor does not require that I lecture or “mother” teens about wearing a seat belt. And it seems that teen girls do typically wear seat belts. So, what’s the deal with teens and seat belts?

One would think that the hefty fine alone would encourage compliance with the seat belt law. And not only the fine but since not wearing a seat belt is a moving violation, one would have the option of possibly reducing the price of the ticket and taking a defensive driving course to have the ticket dismissed. Or, if not, the points will be applied to your driving record and your insurance will increase. That would certainly modify my behavior. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death among teenagers. And, in Texas, teen drivers have the highest incidence of unbuckled fatalities. Statistics show that in 2015, 293 teen drivers and passengers (age 15-20) died. Of those fatalities, 115 of them (39%) were not wearing seat belts.

The law in this state requires everyone in the vehicle to wear a seat belt, one seat belt for each passenger and driver in the vehicle. No more sitting on laps or sharing seat belts (i.e. no more clown car action). “Who” gets the ticket for not wearing a seatbelt in Texas, depends on their age. If anyone under 17 (under age) is not wearing a seat belt, the driver will get the citation. Anyone 17 or older (of age) will receive the citation. Although I did have an unfortunate 16 year old girl in my class who had received a citation for speeding through a 20mph school zone, and had also received two seat belt citations because her 16 year old friends were not wearing their seat belts. Although she was under 17, she still got their citations. The officer could have also cited her for having more than one non-family member under 21 in the car with her. So it could have been worse. Still, I bet her parents were not pleased. My parents would have killed me and started all over again, creating new, cheaper offspring.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Teens and Seat Belts – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post Teens and Seat Belts appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Drowsy Driving – Tips on Staying Alert

Daun Thompson — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 15:17:11 +0000

Have you ever been on a road trip and you’re about 20 miles from your destination, but you’re so sleepy that you can barely keep your eyes open? And you know that you should pull off the road, get out of the car and walk around a bit. Maybe get something to drink and some fresh air, but you just keep on driving? “It’s only 20 miles! I can make it.” Seconds later, as your car is leaving the pavement, you are jolted awake “Yikes! How long was I asleep?” Even if you get plenty of rest before you start out on that road trip, you can only endure so many hours before your brain kicks into “screen saver” mode. Most state laws consider that drowsy driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving and there are strict penalties. Much like intoxication, sleepiness slows down reaction time while it also decreases awareness and impairs judgment.

According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), fatigued driving or drowsy driving is the principal cause of up to 100,000 vehicle crashes every year. Reports say at least 1,500 people are killed and injuring 71,000! While these numbers are staggering, there are yet more numbers of fatigue-related crashed that go unreported.

But these are primarily passenger vehicle crashes. Less than 1% of all sleep-related crashes involve truckers. Currently, Federal laws are in place, prohibiting truckers to drive more than 10 hours in a 24-hour period. My Grandfather was a trucker who spent his career hauling fuel cross-country. Back then, truckers could for drive for days without sleep. And, in those days, people thought that drinking coffee, or taking over the counter meds would keep them awake. It was also common to take illegal drugs such as Amphetamines to keep awake. But we all know that what goes up must eventually come down. It’s true that truckers would get what they called “white line fever” (a song by Merle Haggard, R.I.P., sniff…). But now I’m thinking that white line fever must have had two meanings.

Here is a list compiled by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety of the top 10 things you can do to avoid falling asleep at the wheel:
1. If you feel sleepy, stop driving. Pull over, get out and get a beverage.
2. If you get a caffeinated beverage, since it takes about 30 minutes to kick-in, take a nap.
3. Get plenty of sleep the night before your trip (6 hours or more).
4. Don’t leave for a long road trip right after work.
5. Drive during the hours that you are normally awake and stay in a hotel at your normal bedtime.
6. If you are planning to drive straight through, take a nap between midnight and dawn.
7. Avoid carbohydrates since they make you drowsy. Protein enriched foods and beverages are best.
8. Forget the cold and allergy meds or any meds that may make you drowsy.
9. Have a passenger in the front seat to talk to.
10. Pull over every two hours or every 100 miles. Even if you don’t feel like you need to. It’ll give you, your passengers and your car a break. And try to only drive 300-400 miles per day.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
Drowsy Driving – Comedy Defensive Driving School

The post Drowsy Driving – Tips on Staying Alert appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Self-Driving Vehicle

Daun Thompson — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 16:29:07 +0000

My eight year old Niece was absolutely obsessed with the new Tesla showcased at the mall this weekend. When I told her that it is a self-driving vehicle, she looked at me like “you’re just messing with me, right?” The same look she gave me at her Grandfather’s funeral when I told her that Grandpa was in that little wooden box on the table next to his picture. Regardless, she said that she is putting this car on her “life goals” list (meaning her bucket list). It’s funny that an eight year old should already have a bucket list. I believe when I was her age, my greatest goal was marrying my Barbie to Ken. She and her six year old sister thought it was funny that the display car was plugged in and charging like a toy waiting to be played with. She asked why it even has a steering wheel if it drives itself, which is a fair question. The Tesla manufacturer claims that it has full self-driving capability at a safety level substantially greater than that of a human driver. All you need to do is get in the car and tell it where you want to go. It’s like a cab driver, only without the tip. If you don’t tell the car where to go, it will look at your calendar and take you to the assumed destination. It calculates the optimal route and navigates there. When you arrive at your destination, you simply get out and the car will enter “park seek mode” and automatically search a parking space and park itself. When you’re ready, a simple tap on your phone will summon the car back to pick you up. It’s kind of like the Lone Ranger’s horse, Trigger, only without the messy clean up. Cool, eh?

So, how does this work? Satellites, baby. Plus, there are eight surround cameras which provide 360 degrees of visibility around the car at up to 250 meters of range. Twelve updated ultrasonic sensors complement this vision, allowing for detection of both hard and soft objects at nearly twice the distance of the prior system. And, forward-facing radar with enhanced processing provides additional data about the world on a redundant wavelength that is able to see through heavy rain, fog, dust and even the car ahead. It’s all pretty amazing, if you really think about it. And, if an eight year old is impressed by a self-driving car, imagine how blown-away the older generation must be!

Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Self-Driving Vehicle – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post Self-Driving Vehicle appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Speed Limits Have Increased

Daun Thompson — Tue, 03 May 2016 04:27:15 +0000

Unless you’ve recently had your license revoked, you’ve probably noticed that speed limits have increased. Since 2013, speeds have become more extreme, and they continue to increase. Although driving under the speed limit, or not with the flow of traffic has been found to cause more crashes than speeding, the high impact from speeding crashes typically cause more fatalities. Teenage girls are now saying that they are uncomfortable with the higher speeds, while teenage boys are thrilled by the increase. There’s a couple of frightening scenarios. Girls causing accidents while driving on a high-speed freeway, under the speed limit and without the knowledge and driving confidence required to be on the freeway. And boys taking risks at an even higher speed and causing accidents.

In 2013 alone, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were nearly 2,000 deaths, quite possibly due to the increase in speed limits. Over the past 20 years, an estimated 33,000 additional fatalities occurred as states kept raising speed limits. In the study performed by the IIHS, it was found that each 5mph increase in the maximum speed limit was associated to a 4% increase in road deaths, while there is an 8% increase on interstates and freeways. It’s just a natural fact that crashes are more deadly as speeds increase.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Speed Limits Have Increased – Comedy Defensive Driving School

The post Speed Limits Have Increased appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

ROLLING STOP

Daun Thompson — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 02:12:03 +0000

I have always been curious about why rolling through a stop sign is called rolling stop, or a California roll (my favorite sushi, btw). I’ve even heard someone call it a Hollywood stop. Now, I have resided in California. And, as I recall, everyone stopped. Or, perhaps I was too busy rolling through a stop sign to even notice.

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

The post ROLLING STOP appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Signaling

Daun Thompson — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 18:30:55 +0000

Have you ever had someone point out your bad driving habits? I thought my driving skills were unsurpassed, until a friend pointed out that I hadn’t signaled the entire time they were in my car. Can it be true? Had I become a non-signaler like everyone else? There is certainly no excuse for why I stopped signaling. After all, I don’t typically sit in rush hour traffic. Those aren’t my hours. So, maybe since I have chosen a career that does not me to drive in peak traffic hours, perhaps at times there is no one to signal to. Or, perhaps I was just trying to save the life of the bulb so it lasts the life of the car. Because we all know that the bulb will cost under $5, but the labor is where they get you. Most auto parts stores will change the bulb for free. They will also change a battery, windshield wipers and do a free diagnostic test on your vehicle. That’s good to know when funds are tight.
Since I was called out for not signaling, I have become extremely self-conscious and now find myself over-signaling. I even turn on my signal before I pull into my own darned driveway. My neighbor’s son is policeman and also parks in front of her house. It would be just my luck that he would write me a ticket right here on my own street. And now that I am a reformed non-signaler, I notice that most people don’t bother to signal at all. And those that do use their signal, leave it on for eternity.
The law is, you must turn on your signal 100 feet before changing lanes or turning. That’s going to seem like quite a distance, unless you’re traveling at a high speed. A football field is 300 feet. They used to teach new drivers to count 2-3 car lengths or a house length. But we had big old boats for cars back then. Now there are minis and smart cars. Now, I hear, they teach students to measure from one utility pole to another. But with utilities now being buried under ground, that will soon be obsolete. Two semi-truck trailers (not the cab, but the trailers alone) would measure just a few inches under, or just a few inches over 100 feet. If you are still not quite sure of how to gauge 100 feet, just buy a tape measure at the dollar store. Or you can ask the guy with the restraining order. Surely he will know.

Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
(…you can see Daun Thompson live January 29 at Café Salsera in Dallas…or go to DaunThompson.com for show dates)

Signaling – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post Signaling appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

The Evolving Automobile

Daun Thompson — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 14:59:15 +0000

To quote Bob Dylan, “The Times, They Are a-Changin’.” When I moved to Texas in 1979, most pick-up trucks had a gun rack mounted in the back window, with a rifle on display for all to see. And everyone in the car/truck could have an open container, even the driver. Of course, the rifle couldn’t be loaded. But the driver could be. Where’s the logic in that? When I moved to northern California in 1990, pick-up trucks had a wine rack in the back window. Not really, but have you ever been on a wine tour in Napa Valley? You know, you’re only supposed to taste the wine, not drink it. I have never seen a car in the ditch on a wine tour. I’m not disappointed, but I am surprised. We, as a race, are ever-evolving (thank God). And, with this forward thinking, we are constantly redesigning the safety features in the evolving automobile.
My first car with a cell phone (that was about the size of a shoe) was a 1989 Volvo. A hideous tank of a car, with a yuppie mom luggage rack. It was also my first car with anti-lock brakes. It also had a sun-roof that would constantly leak, so I put duct tape around it. It was silver, so it matched the car. But I’d always get pulled over in Highland Park (a hoity toity part of Dallas), because they knew I didn’t live there, with the duct tape and all. A phone in the car? I felt like a rock star. Before cell phones, I remember when you had to wait until you got home from work to see who was trying to get a hold of you. We also had rotary dial phones then. If you were being stabbed to death, and you had to call for help, you had to dial 9-1-1. Your other option would be to call the operator, “0”. Now, zero was the last number on the dial and, coincidentally, the last number you’d want to dial if you were bleeding to death. I bet a lot of people didn’t make it to the hospital. How far we’ve come since then. And Bob is right about the times changing.
Not too many years from now, all cars will be driving themselves. It will be just like the cartoon show The Jetsons. All bosses’ names will be Mr. Spacely and (please God) please let all homes be on poles so we have no yards. I want all of those hours of my life back, mowing and edging and raking leaves! We’ll even be able to push a button and dinner is ready. Wait! We already do…it’s called a microwave!
Maybe it’s time to look into purchasing another Volvo, since they recently published a statement that no one will be seriously injured or killed in a Volvo by the year 2020. Maybe I should wait until 2020 to purchase one, since it will likely be driving itself by then as well.
Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

The Evolving Automobile – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post The Evolving Automobile appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Taking Care of Your Car Battery

Daun Thompson — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 17:52:24 +0000

I recently had the delightful experience of having a dead battery. Sounds easy enough, the car won’t start, it must be the battery. But, the real issue I faced was, I didn’t know if I actually had a bad battery, bad battery cables, a bad starter, a bad alternator or even something else. Perhaps I just had bad karma. I checked the battery water to make sure the cells were all holding water. That’s the first thing I thought, was that I had neglected checking my battery. I paid just under $100 for my last battery, so I really needed to take care of that battery.

Here are a few symptoms to pinpoint the problem:

If your car will not crank at all and you hear a clicking noise, which slowly fades away to nothing, it may be either your battery is dead/dying or you have bad cable or terminal connections. You can take the battery out and take it to a mechanic (which would be cheaper than having your car towed). Or, you can clean your battery cable connections with a wire brush (and I used a fizzy soft drink) until the connections are clean and then reconnect them and try it again.

If the lights are dim when you try to start the car, the radio does not come on and the windshield wipers don’t work, it’s likely a dead battery.

Most vehicles have a battery light somewhere on the dashboard that indicates battery life. If this light comes on, the battery is fairly new and holds a charge well when tested, and you’ve ruled out an electrical short, then the problem might be the alternator.

The battery, alternator and voltage regulator all work together to keep electrical components of the car powered properly. It can be costly to replace the alternator if the battery or regulator really are the problem. So have these three parts tested separately to find out which component is failing.

So, if you find your car won’t start, keep your fingers crossed. Hopefully it’s just a dead battery. Taking care of your car battery, will take care of you.

Until next week.

Daun T
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Take Care of That Battery from ComedyDefensiveDriving.com

The post Taking Care of Your Car Battery appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Driver Responsibility Verification Program – TexasSure

Daun Thompson — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:15:07 +0000

The last time I got pulled over by Johnny Law (and that was his real name…no kidding), he scanned the registration sticker on my windshield. I suppose he did this to see if it was counterfeit. But he didn’t ask me for proof of liability insurance. I had heard that the police can pull that up on their computers now (in between checking their Facebook) so they don’t usually ask you for it. In other words, they know if you have current coverage or not. And, of course, I did. I may be a speeder, by I’m a responsible speeder. This automated database is a joint project of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, the Texas Department of Insurance and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Most states have a similar program. Here in my state TexasSure is designed to reduce the number of uninsured drivers and cut costs for those of us responsible Texans, who now pay almost $900 million a year to protect ourselves against those irresponsible drivers without coverage. According to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, 15% to 20% of Texas drivers are uninsured.

You must have auto insurance in Texas…it’s the law. And if you get caught driving without minimum liability coverage to pay for injuries and damages that you cause, you are subject to fines and loss of license. TexasSure relies on a massive database containing the names of all insured drivers and their insurance companies, matched to their license plates and VIN’s. So, when a driver is involved in an accident or stopped by the law, they had better have current minimum liability insurance. If not, the fines are up to $350 on the first offense and up to $1,000 and possible suspension of your license on the second. Plus a state surcharge of $250 per year for three years. And, if you continue to break this law, you can be arrested. I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t do well in jail. I don’t like peanut butter or bologna.

Until next week…drive safe, be responsible and drive TexasSure.

Daun Thompson

Comedienne/Writer/ Artist

TexasSure – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post Driver Responsibility Verification Program – TexasSure appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

What Happens in the HOV Stays in the HOV

Daun Thompson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:39:58 +0000

H.O.V. is an acronym for the High Occupancy Vehicle lane. In most states, the minimum occupancy of a vehicle to legally drive in the HOV lane is two people. You, the driver (duh), while the second party can be a child in a booster seat or car seat. So, if you don’t have a little one, you may want to go out and get yourself one so you can drive in the HOV lane. Or, if you didn’t ask for one this past Christmas, it’s too late now. But you have 351 days until next Christmas to make one. And 54 days until April Fools Day to tell your husband you’re just kidding…about the baby and the marriage. Just think though, you can finally mount that “Baby On Board With Gun” bumper sticker, right next to your “I Swerve For Cops” bumper sticker. When I lived in California, some novelty company came out with an inflatable doll for the passenger seat. The cops got wise to it and the fine was $250. Plus you had to explain the doll to your wife. You know what they say…what happens in the HOV stays in the HOV. The same company also came out with a t-shirt that had a seat belt silkscreened on it. Studies show that most people that don’t wear a seatbelt admit that it’s because they don’t want to wrinkle their outfit. Not like going through the windshield won’t put a wrinkle in your outfit…and your head. Originally, I thought they put the HOV lane in for those people who like to drive in the left lane for a long time. Let me rephrase that…who like to drive slow in the left lane for a long time. I don’t usually get to use the HOV lane. I drive alone to work and back, I don’t ride a crotch rocket motorcyle and I don’t have an electric or hybrid car. But, I did have the opportunity to use the HOV lane around Christmas time. My sister Bobbie (we call her Oops, actually, because she’s 13 years younger than me…you figure it out), she and I were going shopping and I was so excited about getting to use the HOV lane! But the guy in front of us was doing 45mph. My sister says anyone who drives on the freeway at 45mph should be humanely euthanized. She managed an animal clinic and that’s how they talk, I suppose. Like any red-blooded vegetarian, she absolutely loves animals and would never eat one. But, given half the chance, she’d eat a person. She hates people. I’ve been told by some people that I am the nice one. And don’t think I don’t remind her of that on a regular basis, I do. So, if you’re the one driving that Ford F-150 that goes zero-to-60mph in 3 hours, get in the slow lane. Or you may find yourself DRT (dead right there) in your HOV (high occupancy vehicle). Sounds like a rap song, doesn’t it? If I was a rapper, I’ve decided to call myself Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen. I digress from my point that slow drivers cause more accidents than fast drivers, just remember that.

Another thing to remember, getting on the HOV lane by yourself is not really putting anyone’s life in danger. It’s all about carpooling, fuel conservation, emissions, pollution, etc. But, crossing over that double solid line to enter or exit the HOV lane, as opposed to entering or exiting where you are supposed to, is considered very dangerous. And, if you do the combination of the two, there are some stiff penalties to pay.

Until next week.

Daun Thompson

The post What Happens in the HOV Stays in the HOV appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.