red light Archives - Comedy Defensive Driving®

Intersections

Daun Thompson — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 15:41:34 +0000

Intersections are tricky. And now, with camera lights in some of those intersections, they’re even trickier. It’s good to know a little more about the workings of intersection driving rules so that you can avoid a crash and perhaps avoid traffic violations as well. What you may not know about intersections may hurt you. So here’s a little refresher course on intersectionality (not really…it’s about intersections…I just like to use new geek words).
In any freshly painted intersection there will be a solid white line painted on the pavement by the city to separate each lane of traffic. This line will begin exactly 100 feet before the crosswalk line. Their purpose for being there is because it is against the law to change lanes 100 feet before the crosswalk of an intersection. It is also against the law to change lanes within the intersection, and up to 100 feet after the intersection ends. There is enough going on in that intersection that you should be doing nothing other than simply passing through it. Especially now with camera lights, people who have gotten those bills in the mail are likely wary of getting another, so they goose it to get through the yellow/red light. Causing even higher impact crashes. Or people stop at a yellow light. So you really have to pay attention when approaching an intersection.
Have you ever really needed to take a right turn on red (in Texas this is legal) and there is a car in front of you, not turning but blocking your lane? They’re just sitting there like a lump and you’re dying to take a right on red? So you cut through the gas station on the corner so you don’t have to wait for the light to turn green? In Texas, that is well over a $300 moving violation. But, I hear if you come to a complete stop when cutting through, and put your car in park, then look up at the gas station sign and say “Dang! That gas is pricey!” Maybe even get out of your car and act it out, waving your arms like a lunatic, then put your car in drive, you won’t get a ticket. Or, maybe you will get one for bad acting. But, really, after all of that, you maybe would have been better off to just wait behind the lump until the light turned green. And furthermore, the reason that person is not taking a right on red is likely because they have business to take care of on the opposite corner of that intersection. Maybe there’s a bank or a gas station they are going to. Even if it were legal for them to change lanes within the intersection, no one would let them over in that short distance. So cut them some slack. But, if they don’t turn into the bank or gas station on the other side of that intersection and they continue on past it, you can follow them and beat them up (nah…just kidding…that’s my own law).
When the light turns green, always look both ways to make sure someone isn’t running the red light. If there is a vehicle blocking your view, let them go first. They won’t go if they can see that someone is running the light. And, if you have a tall truck in front of you, hang back while they ease through the intersection. They have to shift gears and move slowly. If you are directly behind them, you can’t see when the overhead hanging light turns yellow and then red. And then there you are, running a red light.
Always use caution in intersections. They are said to be the most dangerous crash zones.
Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
Intersections – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post Intersections appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

WHAT IS A CALIFORNIA ROLL IN DRIVING?

Daun Thompson — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 05:14:31 +0000

No Cop, no stop. That seems to be the trend these days. Rolling through a stop sign or rolling through a red light to take a right turn is also referred to as a California rolling stop or a California roll. Coincidentally, that’s my favorite Sushi. Drivers Education instructors teach new drivers to count three seconds before leaving a stop sign or taking a right turn at a red light. Although the law does not require that you stop for a certain amount of time, the law requires that your car settles. But three seconds will insure that your car has settled and will keep you from getting a citation. Some instructors teach students to count five seconds. But I believe three seconds is adequate. If you make someone behind you wait for an extra two seconds, you’re the Devil. At the very least, they may honk at you, hoping to wake you from your slumber. Or, thinking you may be finishing up a text message, they may twist on you and ignite a road rage fueled gun battle. And people do pull guns on each other over trivial things such as this. Now with new concealed carry laws, nearly everyone will be carrying a gun. Maybe we’ll even start seeing gun racks with rifles in the back window of pick-up trucks again, just like back in the 70’s. Not in all states, though. No such gun laws exist in California. So, perhaps in Northern California, we’ll start seeing wine racks in the back window of pick-up trucks. It’s just a thought…
Typically, citizens who get a camera light bill in the mail from a photo-enforced intersection, aren’t blowing through a red light. They are usually taking a right turn on red and rolling through the red light. So, teaching new drivers to count three seconds to make certain their car has settled has certainly saved them from getting cited for a California roll through a stop sign, having their insurance rates increase due to those citations, and possibly even preventing them from causing a crash.
So, don’t forget, even if there is no Cop, you still need to come to a complete stop. It will, at the end of the day, save you money, and grief and maybe even save your life.
Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
Rolling Stop – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post WHAT IS A CALIFORNIA ROLL IN DRIVING? appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

SIGNS, SIGNALS AND MARKINGS – SAFETY IS KNOWLEDGE / KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Daun Thompson — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:18:43 +0000

There are many “universal” signs. For example, the peace sign is known world-wide. And, least we forget the infamous finger (which is one half of the peace sign), the shape of a stop sign (octagon), the colors red (stop), yellow (yield/caution) and green (go/proceed). While safety is knowledge, knowledge is power and that knowledge may save your life one day. Most people think a solid yellow light means “speed up.” And, if there is a camera light in that particular intersection, you certainly don’t want to be in that “Kodak moment”, so most people speed up to get through the light before it turns red. Doing this so they don’t get a camera light fine or a citation from a police officer. Not realizing that speeding up results in higher impact collisions at intersections. And what does a flashing yellow light mean to you? I’m sure your answer is “Not much.” But, what it really means is slow down and proceed with caution.

Traffic Signs, Signals, and Markings Explained | Comedy Defensive Driving

The Hunger Games’ Tim Taylor and Ralph Goin from Ma’s Roadhouse perform this funny sketch about traffic signs, signals, and markings. Visit and subscribe to our social sites for more fun and interesting information. Website – http://www.comedydefensivedriving.com FB – https://www.facebook.com/comedydefensivedrivingschool Twitter – @comedydriving Google+ – Comedy Defensive Driving Pinterest — http://www.pinterest.com/comedydefensive/ Yelp – http://www.yelp.com/biz/comedy-defensive-driving-dallas-2 All material in this video is the Copyright of Comedy Defensive Driving School. ® is the Federally Registered Trademark of IDT, Inc. All rights reserved 1989-2013

And, thank God for the invention of lane markings in 1911. Before that, there were noted to have been a lot of head-on horse and donkey collisions. Resulting in what we commonly know as the “mule”, which is the result of a female horse mating with a male donkey…also known as the first “hybrid” mode of transportation. And you thought Porsche was the first hybrid, didn’t you? Painted markings on the road are meant to keep you on the straight and narrow. For example, yellow lines separate traffic going opposite directions, while white broken lines separate lanes going the same direction. And, while a solid white line means that it is a risky area and you should not change lanes across a solid white line, if it is double white line on a two-lane road, you can only pass when the line on your side of the double line becomes a broken line. By the way, when passing another vehicle, they call that “to overtake it.” Sounds like a Nazi control issue to me. And, you can certainly get a ticket for crossing over a double solid white line. Just like you can certainly get a ticket for giving a cop the finger. While safety is knowledge, knowledge is power and that knowledge may save you money some day. Money is fines, damages and hospital bills.

Until next week…pay attention…obey the law…use that knowledge.

Daun Thompson, Comedienne/Artist/Idea Mogul
Safety Is Knowledge And Knowledge Is Power – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post SIGNS, SIGNALS AND MARKINGS – SAFETY IS KNOWLEDGE / KNOWLEDGE IS POWER appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

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®.