moving violations Archives - Comedy Defensive Driving®

Why People Don’t Signal

Daun Thompson — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 14:11:34 +0000

If Shakespeare were alive today, he would probably write a play about a love/hate story where drivers don’t signal before changing lanes or turning. “To Signal or NOT to signal … that is the question.” There are many theories as to why people don’t signal. I have observed that these theories vary from coast to coast. In fact, my conclusion is that most blame it on drivers who have relocated from either coast, claiming that New Yorkers and Californians don’t signal. I believe it depends on the traffic situation. Some drivers claim that in some states if you turn on your signal, no one will let you over. Here in Texas, if you don’t use it, no one will let you in.

Then again, maybe it’s all about conservation…conserving the life of the bulb so it lasts the life of the car, or conserving blinker fluid. Either way, whatever the excuse may be, it is unlawful to not signal before changing lanes or turning. Since this is a huge issue in all states, it has become a hot issue for writing tickets. Or, it is, at the very least, probable cause for pulling someone over. So now, perhaps not signaling has become a bad habit that needs to be corrected. Like wearing a seatbelt just becomes second nature, being mindful about signaling should become second nature as well.

Taking the time to turn on your signal 100 feet before changing lanes or before turning will not only let other drivers know your intentions, it will also save you a lot of money (tickets, crashes, anger management classes, etc.). Most states offer defensive driving to get a citation dismissed. And most insurance companies offer an insurance discount for taking a defensive driving class. If you are a devout non-signaler, you may want to go ahead and check what your options are in your state, so you will be prepared when Johnny Law comes knocking at your driver side door.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Why People Don’t Signal – Comedy Defensive Driving

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School Bus Safety

Daun Thompson — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 22:23:33 +0000

School is back in session. And, just like past generations, kids were “tricked” into being excited about going back to school by getting new school clothes and supplies. Many kids will be walking to school, while some will be dropped off blocks away from school traffic and others will be let out in the middle of the road, hoping to survive for another school day. School zones will be active and buses will be present. Will you be practicing school bus safety?

Passing a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop sign out is against the law and carries a hefty fine. In the Lone Star State, the fine is a whopping $1250.00 and Judges will not allow you to take a defensive driving class to have the ticket dismissed and the fine reduced. Therefore, you would have to not only pay the entire fine amount, but the points would go on your driving record making your insurance increase considerably. Most drivers are aware that you must stop behind the bus, while many still pass the bus when these warning lights are activated. It is estimated that over 10 million drivers illegal pass school buses every year. The fine for this has not only increased if issued by a police officer, but many buses have been equipped with cameras for this reason. For economical reasons alone, one would think that everyone would stop behind a stopped school bus. Perhaps the issue here is not only respecting and valuing the lives of other people’s children, but when it’s really broken down for you (which I am going to do here if you read on), buses are much more valuable to us and should be respected for saving lives, fuel and air pollution.

EDUCATION: Taking the bus decreases truancy and increases the likelihood of children doing well in school. If half the battle is showing up for school, the school bus is helping us win the battle.
ENVIRONMENTAL and ECONOMICAL: School buses keep over 17 million cars off roads each year. One bus carries the equivalent of 36 cars. This saves families approximately 62 billion miles of driving, 2.6 billion gallons of fuel and 56.5 billion pounds of CO2.
SAVING LIVES: Students are 70% more likely to get to school safely if they ride a bus, rather than in a car. School bus drivers are the most highly trained, tested and scrutinized drivers on the road.

Since passing vehicles cause an estimated 2/3 of school bus loading/unloading fatalities, here is a wee bit of information to keep kids safe.
• More school-aged pedestrians are killed from 7-8 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. than any other time of the day.
• The Danger Zone: Motorists should not be within 10 feet radius around all sides of a school bus. A safe stop distance away from a school bus should be up to 25 feet when stop arm is out and red lights are flashing. Slow down when the yellow lights are flashing and prepare to stop. Do not attempt to pass the bus. Oncoming cars must drop speeds to 20mph or less. When stop arm is out, every driver behind the bus must stop. Oncoming cars must stop if there is only a painted line or a split/divide in the median (a divided highway will depend on certain situations).
So it’s critical that we learn and follow the laws pertaining to school buses in our own state.
You can find this information at http://www.nasdpts.org/Operations/documents/State_Laws_Regarding_Passing_School_Buses.pdf

Take a minute and educate yourself about these important laws.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

School Bus Safety – Comedy Defensive Driving

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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

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