traffic school Archives - Comedy Defensive Driving®

Court Ordered Traffic School. Oh No!

taylor cox — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 13:48:57 +0000

Getting told by a judge in traffic court that you have to attend traffic school can feel like being back in the headmaster’s office at school. Perhaps you spent money with a ticket attorney, and now it feels like a waste.

You “beat the ticket,” but you still have to go to traffic school on the judge’s orders – where’s the justice in that? If you’ve been court-ordered to attend a certified traffic school, try to see it as less of a punishment and more of a pleasure. Here’s why:

Comedy Defensive Driving offers same-day certification. Simply access the course 24/7 and complete traffic school online in your own time.

Stay at home and study. The coursework is 100% online, meaning you don’t even need to get into a car to attend classes. Any laptop, phone, or tablet will work for you to learn on.

Our talented professional comedians will instruct you on how to drive defensively. We’ll have you laughing while you learn, giggling as you get what’s going on. Evidence has shown that using humor as a way to retain facts is hands down the healthiest and happiest way to learn the rules of the road.

Upon completion of the course, you can apply to your local insurance company for a discount on your premiums. After all, it’s in their best interests to have educated drivers who are aware of the dynamics of driving defensively.

Greater awareness of what is going on around you and what other drivers on the road are doing will ultimately make you a far better driver. This means you’ll be less likely to cause an accident – or be involved in one.

It takes getting older to realize that you needn’t learn every life lesson the hard way. Getting sent to driving school may seem like something to be ashamed of, but it’s really a great opportunity to learn good lessons the ‘soft’ way.

Remaining alert and free from distraction while you drive is good practice. A driving school will teach you tricks that you can apply on the road that will ensure that there are some lessons you can avoid learning the hard way completely. How to control your speed coming out of a corner is just one of the things we teach.

Choosing Comedy Defensive Driving

Laugh while it’s just you learning. Study just for one day. And learn to drive defensively as a safeguard. Oh, the things you’ll learn when you take a driver improvement course that is on your time and schedule.

And did we mention that Comedy Defensive Driving is the most affordable driving school in the industry? Our fun, friendly online learning environment will tickle your funny bone without costing you an arm and a leg.

Upon completion of the course, you will receive no points on your driving license, and your case will be closed with the status of Adjudication Withheld. Provided you don’t wind up in traffic court any time soon. You’ll be as free as a bird to drive the streets of America, all the wiser for learning how to drive defensively.

The post Court Ordered Traffic School. Oh No! appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

HOW TO PARALLEL PARK

Daun Thompson — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 12:00:19 +0000

If you own a pricey, newer model car, it probably has a parking feature where it will parallel park the car for you. What a dream that would have been when I, and generations of other drivers agonized over having to parallel park. That was likely one of the most flunked portions of the driving test. So, today we are going to teach you how to parallel park a car.

HOW OUR PARENTS TAUGHT US

My childhood friend showed me how her mom taught her to parallel park a giant Buick. Back the car into the space until you hit the car behind you. Then pull forward until you hit the car in front of you. Then back up enough to leave space between cars so you don’t get blocked in by either car when the owner comes out and tries to pin you there while they call the cops. And this girl was NICE! This is how our parents taught us. My parents just gave up and dropped me off when I needed to go downtown.

THIS IS HOW IT’S DONE

First, make sure the space you are going to squeeze into is at least 6’ longer than your car. Make sure you signal before stopping so cars behind you will know to stay back. Maybe even tap your brake to signal your plan to park. Keep 3’ distance between you and the car you want to park behind. Be aware of moving cars around you. Pull your car forward where your steering wheel lines up with steering wheel of the parked car. Or, your back tires line up with that car’s back bumper. Put your car in reverse and turn your wheels all the way to the right. Ease in slowly until you are at a 45 degree angle, then stop. Turn your wheel all the way to the left and back up until parallel with the curb. Try to leave no more than 12 inches between your car and the curb.

TROUBLESHOOTING
If you hit the curb, pull out and try again. Turn your wheel enough this time where your car will hug the curb and ease back as far as you can. Turn your wheel and pull forward. Pull forward and back while turning the wheel until you are close to the curb. Be sure to leave ample space between cars as not to block anyone in, or to get yourself blocked in. Oh, and don’t forget to feed the parking meter. Or, just go home, park the car and call and Uber. That’s what I do.

Remember, practice makes perfect! And now that you’ve mastered that, you could learn next how to park on a steep hill in San Francisco. Yet another intimidating and humiliating experience!

Until next week,

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

HOW TO PARALLEL PARK – COMEDY DEFENSIVE DRIVING

The post HOW TO PARALLEL PARK 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®.

Teaching Skills To Avoid Accidents

Daun Thompson — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 17:37:32 +0000

We had driver education in high school. It was part of our curriculum. We could take physical education, or, we could choose an elective, which could be driver ed. Our assistant coach was our driving instructor. And we had driving simulators in a classroom. They were like bumper cars with theater screens. How appropriate is THAT, to learn how to drive in a bumper car. I believe that driver education was better then. Budget cuts have forced many school districts to eliminate driver education programs, leaving parents no option but to pay for private training or to train them themselves. With that said, parents need to take an active role in teaching their kids to drive. Especially at night and in bad weather. Every minute you spend with them benefits them (and others) in the long run. While most states require that parents (or guardians) ride along with their kid for 40 hours before they can get a driver license, most parents do a good job teaching them the importance of controlling the car, but are not so good at teaching skills to avoid accidents.

Now, there are new techniques and guides that have been developed out of new scientific research. The study shows that, after teaching basic vehicle handling skills, few parents went on to teach next-step driving skills, such as spotting and avoiding a potential hazard. Slowing when approaching a crosswalk where pedestrians might appear, or in a neighborhood where children are at play that may slip behind parked cars or alleyways are just a few lessons to teach. Drilling them on maneuvers that will avoid hazards and how to develop hazard recognition and judgment, making left turns in an intersection and how to merge (especially onto and off of high speed roadways) are super important.

Insurance company State Farm, funded research and development to help keep teen drivers safe. And they offer a program called “Road Trips,” at teendriving.statefarm.com. This program helps teach your teen how to drive on more varied roads (at night and in bad weather).

You want your kid to get a good start at driving and should never try to push them, but let them progress at their own pace so that they will feel more confident behind the wheel. Both KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL imparted will help them to be better drivers.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

( See Daun November 3rd at the Arlington, Texas IMPROV )

Teaching Skills To Avoid Accidents – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post Teaching Skills To Avoid Accidents appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Back To School

Daun Thompson — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 04:06:37 +0000

School’s back in session. If you have little ones, you already know this and your mornings are more harried lately. You’re trying to get the kids to school on time, while trying not to get a speeding ticket, especially in a school zone. You don’t want to be calling your boss to tell him you’re going to be late. And, you especially don’t want to be on your phone while you’re in a school zone. Be extra careful for those stopped buses, too. There’s so much more to be looking out for now when it comes to back to school driving. You’re better off to just be paying extra attention while school is in session. All of these moving violations carry a hefty fine. Too many of these violations on your driving record could result in having your driver license revoked. Now, how will you get those kiddos to school if that happens? Perhaps Uber or Lyft to get back to school?

Children will be distracted too. Some are walking to school, while texting friends and not paying attention. You can expect to see them crossing the street, and not always at crosswalks. Some will exit the bus and run across the road. So, just be aware and don’t add your own distractions to the mix. Most school zones, anymore, become a one-way road situation for parents dropping off and picking up their children. You can bet that there will be police present, making sure that everyone is driving safely and obeying school zone laws. Even when you are not directly near the school, the school zone may extend beyond the point where you would expect it to end, since some kids are walking to school. And, where the school zone ends and the speed limit increases, make darned sure that your car passes the speed limit sign before you begin to accelerate, and not before you approach that sign. Passing a school bus with its red lights flashing, using a cell phone, speeding, not stopping for crossing guards all lead up to a really bad beginning of the school year.

And, if you really think about it, parents have already tricked their kids into being excited about going back to school by purchasing them new school clothes, backpacks, books, cool notebooks and accessories. They’re already going to find out on the first day of school that they were once again tricked into being excited about school. Just pay attention, and don’t make it worse for them. And, once you drop them off, you can go back home and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Back To School – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post Back To School appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Teen Distracted Drivers

Daun Thompson — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 04:33:47 +0000

There are troubling new statistics on the number of people that are dying on the nation’s roads. The National Safety Council now puts the number at more than 19,000 people in the first half of 2016. That’s up 9% over last year. And this month, we’re entering the deadliest time for teenage drivers. Back to school means a lot of new drivers out on the road. August has 360,000 kids turning 16, nationwide (the most of any month). And that means a lot of new, inexperienced drivers going to and from school. Adding into that factor, many of those are teen distracted drivers.

As parents, we have a mix of emotions to sort out. We are happy for them, and proud to see they are growing up and becoming responsible for themselves. After all, being independent is the first step to becoming an adult. Yet, in your mind, they are still you’re baby and you can’t avoid feeling worried. Just because they’ve received their license doesn’t mean they’re a safe driver.

Car accidents remain the leading cause of death among teenagers and were actually up 10% last year. 43% of teens admit to texting while driving and 35% admit to using social media like snapchat, facebook, and even video chatting. It’s still big news about the 18 year old girl who is now facing felony charges because she was snapchatting while driving at 107mph. This led to a high speed crash that left another driver with a severe brain injury. Then, of course, she took a selfie while being whisked away on a gurney. Again, not all kids can’t be expected to be a safe driver and make good decisions.

But, never fear, there is new technology designed to keep teen drivers safe. New software allows parents to track their child’s driving habits and micromanage them to keep them focused on being a better driver. Some of the newer cars have a program that will allow the parents to set a volume limit that mutes the radio until the driver and passengers are wearing their seat belts. They can also set excessive speed warnings and get a driving report that includes the following information:

• Distance Driven
• Maximum Speed
• Overspeed Warnings
• Forward Collision Alerts
• Forward Collision Avoidance Braking (hard braking)

This type of app gives them an opportunity to show their parents that they can drive responsibly. Safety advocates also encourage parents to sign a contract with their new teen driver and lay out the expectations on when they can drive (maybe no driving at night), who can be in the car with them, putting the cellphone away when driving, etc.

Riding along with your teen driver every once in a while to see how well they are driving is also effective. Especially if it is random (like that random drug test they do at work).

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Teen Distracted Drivers – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post Teen Distracted Drivers appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Auto Insurance Rates

Daun Thompson — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 14:54:45 +0000

Parents of teenage drivers always have a barrage of advice for keeping auto insurance rates down. Who better to ask, than those who have experienced the pain in the wallet and who have already done the research? More often than not, I hear from these parents “Insure the car, not the kid.” Although, for some, this may be the solution to keeping your rates down, insurance companies know that you have a teenage driver living under your roof. My agent actually asked me if I wanted them to add my teenager to my policy. My daughter has been living away from home for three years now and my insurance rates are still pretty high. But, she has yet to change the address on her driver license and car registration and they both have my home address on them. I’m sure that’s why my rates did not decrease back to normal when she moved out. Teenage boys’ insurance rates can be upward of $400 per month, even with nothing on their driving record. And, boys’ insurance rates have always been higher than girls’ insurance rates. Still, when I put my daughter on my insurance policy, my rates more than quadrupled! Thank goodness she was born a female and not a male. I was curious as to how much my insurance rates would have increased if she were born a son. So, I did the math. And it actually would have been cheaper to send her to Sweden and get a sex change than it would have been to put “him” on my insurance policy. And she probably would have gone along with it. She’s a pretty easy going kid.

The bottom line is, insurance is all about risk. And few understand how to assess risk better than insurers. The factors in determining your insurance rates when evaluating those risks include:
• Age (rates generally go down at 25 and increase again at 62)
• Gender
• Zip Code (inner city or rural)
• Vehicle Type (sportscar or mini van)
• Marital Status (married is cheaper but totally not worth it…trust me)
• Driving Record (accident and citation history)
• Annual Mileage
• Credit Score
• Own or Rent Your Home

So, who actually receives the cheapest auto insurance rates??
• Females
• Over 25 Years Old (but under 62)
• Married (ugh..there we go again…)
• Vehicle is Older and Less Expensive
• Clean Driving Record (no accidents or citations)
• Live in a Rural Area
• Low Annual Mileage
• Good Credit Score (ugh..there we go again…)

At the end of the day, these drivers cost the insurers less money because they are a lower risk. So, if you want to know how to lower your insurance rates, here are a few options.
• Increase Your Deductibles
• Lower Your Maximum Coverage Limits (this is “iffy” since you must have the proper legal minimums in your state)
• Take a Defensive Driving Safety Course every three years
• (If you are a student) Maintain a High GPA
• Make Sure Your Car Has The Newest Safety Features (air bag, alarm, etc.)
• Maintain a Clean Driver Record (again, taking a Defensive Driving Safety Course to dismiss a citation will help)
• Move Outside of the City Limit
• Drive Fewer Miles
• Improve Your Credit Score

Just keep in mind, though, the company with the most attractive rates may not always be the best option for you. Shopping around for better rates with these points in mind will save you money. And we all know that the money we save can be used for other important expenses, like paying off our liquor store credit card charges.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Auto Insurance Rates – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post Auto Insurance Rates appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

NO DRIVER LICENSE

Daun Thompson — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 05:40:09 +0000

I saw an automobile insurance advertisement on a city bus that said “No Driver License? No Problem!” Now, that’s very disturbing to me. I always thought that you actually need a driver license to insure a vehicle. That just makes sense. Someone told me just yesterday that she was broadsided by a non-resident who ran a red light. The woman was driving someone else’s car, which was insured, but the woman did not have a driver license and did not speak English. I’m sure the incident was absolutely terrifying for the visitor to our country. She likely had no idea of the extent that the law would punish her, like in other countries (maybe even her own country) since she was at fault. Thankfully, the woman she hit was not injured. But within a few days of the accident, the foreigner was claiming that she was actually injured in the crash. In addition to the injury claim, she also created other diversions, likely trying to avoid the “no driver license” issue. So, what is the law regarding being licensed to drive?

Driving without a license is a misdemeanor. And the consequences of driving without a license becomes more severe if the offense is repeated. The first offense is no greater than a $200 fine. And the fine increases with each offense. The third offense, along with a hefty fine, results in jail time. But, if a minor gets caught without a driver license, the total penalties will also include a towing fee, impound fee and court fee. And, the offense will directly affect the time period until the minor can obtain a license when they turn 16. Community service hours and a little time in the “juvee” may added by the judge. The parents could also be held liable and charged with negligence if they knowingly allowed their child to drive. Driving with a suspended license, although also a misdemeanor, generally carries more severe penalties and is a more serious offense.

Oh, and about that foreigner? Apparently, an undocumented immigrant is not permitted to obtain a driver license in Texas.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

No Driver License – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post NO DRIVER LICENSE 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®.

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®.