traffic accident Archives - Comedy Defensive Driving®

Car Accident Checklist

Daun Thompson — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 18:48:43 +0000

Accidents happen and sometimes driving seems like a game of bumper cars. If you’re involved in an accident, follow this car accident checklist. The first thing you should do is to make sure that no one is hurt (in all vehicles involved). In my past two accidents (which were not my fault, of course), my insurance card at the time instructed me to not admit fault and have their insurance agent speak directly with your insurance agent. I was instructed to resist the urge to apologize for the accident, even if you think it might be your fault. Law enforcement officers will determine the degree to which each driver may have contributed to the collision.
Next, you should follow this checklist:
• Call 911 and stay at the scene until police show up. They will likely complete an accident report. Even if law enforcement officers don’t respond to the accident, which sometimes happens if there are no injuries, download an accident report form from your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles website, fill it out and submit it.
• Exchange insurance information with the other driver(s) involved. Take a picture of their insurance card and license plate, if possible. And get a phone number and name of the person driving the car.
• Take pictures of the damages of both vehicles with your phone.
• Ask witnesses for names and phone numbers.
• Write down an account of what happened and street name. Sometimes we forget details.
• Call your insurance provider to report the claim.
Of course, you may choose to keep important emergency information in your cell phone under a file or note called “ICE,” which tells first responders where to look “In Case of Emergency.” You may also want to list several of your emergency contacts under “ICE.” This, and other medication allergies may help in any emergency.
And stay safe. If it is safe to do so, move your car to the side of the road. Turn on your hazard lights and put out any flares or warning triangles if you have them.
Again, accidents happen. And they are stressful enough. Perhaps following these guidelines will help you to resolve your accident and get you back on the road quickly.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Car Accident Checklist – Comedy Defensive Driving

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CRAZY TRAFFIC

Daun Thompson — Tue, 17 May 2016 15:40:02 +0000

I was just telling someone that most of my Texas friends had moved to L.A. for their comedy careers back in the early 1990’s, but I moved to San Francisco because I don’t like crazy traffic (plus, even living in S.F., I still got to work with Mitch Hedberg (sniff), Marc Maron, Brian Posehn, Johnny Steele, Michael Mancini, and many other amazing, accomplished comedians). And, as we all know, L.A. is notorious for their traffic jams. With few access roads in L.A., if there is an accident on any freeway, traffic will be backed up for miles. While here in Texas, traffic moves off the freeway, onto the access road and gets back onto the freeway, ahead of the wreck…brilliant! Being stuck in traffic on the way to a gig kinda brings the funny down a notch. Even in S.F., I had been late for gigs because of nutty traffic. Totally uncool.

So, this conversation made me curious as to what cities in the U.S. are currently the worst for crazy traffic. According to data compiled by INRX Driving Intelligence, these are the top 10 cities for the worst traffic in the U.s.
1. Los Angeles, CA (yep! go figure!)
2. Washington, D.C.
3. San Francisco, CA (really?? like, just paying a cover charge to enter the city isn’t bad enough)
4. Houston, TX (a miniature version of NYC)
5. New York City, NY (all cabs…no one I know who lives there owns a car)
6. Seattle, WA (I show a road rage film in my defensive driving class, shot “no pun int” in Seattle)
7. Boston, MA
8. Chicago, IL (I grew up outside of Chi-Town and not surprised it’s on the list)
9. Atlanta, Georgia
10. Honolulu, Hawaii (small islands, few road options, not surprised)

I’m living in Dallas now and surprised that we’re not on the list. Perhaps we’re number 11. Anyhow, all of this driving yourself to work and gigs nonsense will be totally obsolete in a few years now that cars are designed to drive themselves. One day in the near future, kids in my defensive driving class will have their grandkids asking them “Grandpa (because they’re mostly boys in my classes…lol), what’s Defensive Driving School?” And they’ll answer “It was just a crazy waste of time. We used to have to actually operate a motor vehicle. We had to be responsible to pay for oil and gasoline and to be sure not to kill anyone. Oh, and the petroleum came from dinosaurs. Which is ironic, since cars are now made out of plastic, a petroleum product, made from dinosaurs.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
(come catch Daun make funnies in June: Lake Buena Vista, FL and Sarasota, FL)

CRAZY TRAFFIC – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Automobile Insurance

Daun Thompson — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 05:36:22 +0000

Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. And, with higher risk comes higher cost. While a large number of drivers are not insured, the rest of us are paying extra for underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage. It is understandable that some drivers simply cannot afford automobile insurance. Some states have programs to help cover the high cost of insurance. Surely there is a qualification process, but it’s nice to know there’s help out there. Getting caught without liability insurance coverage is a serious violation, one that comes with strict penalties, ongoing surcharges and a permanent smudge on your driving record. In addition, high-risk drivers, especially DUI and DWI offenders must maintain an SR-22, which is also very pricey.

If you are paying a car loan, you must keep collision insurance until the car is paid off. Unfortunately, most people choose to change their coverage to liability only, once it is paid off to suit their budget. But, in the event of a collision, if you were at fault, your insurance would only pay for the other car’s repairs and not yours. There again, we’re looking at a higher cost issue. Paying for your own repairs or possibly having your car totaled, now you’re without wheels. You have to depend on rides, use the local transit system (if there is one available) and may lose income as a result. It could be a spiral downward, and just because you couldn’t or wouldn’t afford liability insurance.
Although you must have insurance, you don’t have to pay Neiman-Marcus prices for it. Most drivers are eligible for insurance discounts, and don’t even know it. You can receive benefits for merely driving safely or doing well in school. Apparently there are many things that determine your insurance rates. What you drive, your age, your gender, your zip code, your marital status, whether or not you own or rent your home, if you have any points or tickets on your driving record and even your credit score.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Automobile Insurance – Comedy Defensive Driving

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I AM A REFORMED NON-SIGNALER

Lisa — Tue, 03 May 2011 17:15:44 +0000

Ever have someone point out just how bad of a driver you are?I thought my driving skills were unsurpassed.Until one afternoon, I met up with my boyfriend to see a movie.Since we were both in separate cars, afterward, he followed me home.When we arrived, he said “Hey there, Cougar” (that’s his pet name for me … and I call him my Pool Boy).“You didn’t signal one time the entire drive to your house.”I said “You know where I live.You’ve been there a thousand times.”Not good enough, I suppose.He just shook his head.Wow!Is it true?I’m one of those people who don’t use their signal?Now, I don’t know about you.But, I get a little self-conscious when someone points out a blatent flaw.After that day, I must say, I over-signal.Now, I turn on my signal before I even pull out of my garage.And now that I’m a reformed signaler, I notice that, more often than not, most people don’t bother themselves to signal.In all fairness to them … maybe they’re trying to extend the life of the bulb … so the bulb lasts the life of the car.It’s a well-known fact that, to replace the bulb is about $2.25.But the labor to replace it is about $60.00.An easy enough task for a do-it-yourselfer.But with some foreign cars, it is difficult to get to the housing to replace the bulb.Sometimes you have to remove the entire engine block just to get at it (well, maybe that was a mistake … an expensive mistake … and I have learned a lesson from it … I really have). Any more, if you do signal, you’re a novelty. I saw a guy on the freeway, who had his signal on and was driving a bit under the speed limit.I was thinking to myself “That clown left his signal on.”And all-along, he probably just wanted to change lanes.Maybe some people are more private. They just don’t want anyone to know where they’re going.It’s no one’s damned business.Turn signals may be the most underutilized device in the car.Although signaling is one of the most important actions you can take as a driver.It’s all about warning other drivers (and stalking ex-boyfriends) of your next move to minimize surprises (potentially hazardous surprises at that).Failing to signal may be the cause of quite a few accidents, and is probably a big source of “road rage” as well.Some people don’t signal in heavy traffic because they claim, once they turn their signal on, it’s a guarantee that no one will let them over.People move forward and close up the space, they say.But don’t give up.There are still some good people out there that will gladly let you over if you turn on your signal and beg. Just give it a chance. I’ve been practicing it and it really works (sometimes).Just don’t forget to waive “thanks” to those people … or they get really mad and try to hurt you.Some people are so emotional … take some Prozac, dude. Thing is, they don’t know through a tinted window if you’re waiving at them with all five fingers or just one. So, there. You just won.

The law is, you must signal 100 feet before changing lanes or turning. The fine for failure to signal intent to turn is just shy of a $200 fine.Plus, it just plain makes people crazy if you’re in front of them and you don’t signal.Even if they, themselves are a professed non-signaler.If you’re not sure how to easily gauge 100 feet, just ask the guy you have the restaining order on. He’ll know.

Having my boyfriend point that non-signaling flaw out to me, may save me some grief in the long-run.So I really should thank him.I think when you’ve been driving a long time, like I have, you get a little cocky with your driving skills.Plus, I haven’t gotten a ticket in many years.And that’s not something you want to go bragging about.If you brag, the Karma Monkey will trip you up … and then you’ll get three tickets in a row.And it’s always in threes … like celebrity deaths.Weird, huh?

Remember … 100 feet.So, get that tape measure at Dollar Tree.You’re gonna need it.

Daun Thompson

( Daun Thompson is a Comedienne, Artist, Writer and Idea Mogul residing in Dallas, Texas )

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