Pointing Out The Obvious Differences

The argument seems to be that not only can bicyclists not keep up or get up to an immediate speed as the flow of traffic, stop signs and traffic lights were designed with cars in mind, not bicycles. Every year, hundreds of bicyclists die in traffic accidents involving cars and thousands more are injured, according to the NHTSA. And drivers can play a big role in reducing those statistics. Of course, bicyclists have responsibilities too. If you are a cyclist, when you are in a car you most likely are more patient with a fellow cyclist. You realize that there is one less car on the road today polluting the environment, using fuel and creating potholes.

Know Your Hand Signals and More!

One responsibility of both the driver and cyclist are in knowing and using hand signs for right and left turns. If the cyclist is planning to make a right turn at an intersection or onto a street, there should be a raised left hand in a squared position or an extended right hand. When exiting your car, look out your side mirror first to make sure than a bicyclist is not passing. Bikes should always ride in the direction of traffic, always use hand signals and always come to a complete stop at signs and red lights. They should also ride in the center of the lane whenever possible. And they should ride at a fast clip and look over their shoulder and use hand signals when changing lanes or turning.

Remember, a car weighs two tons or so, while the average bike weighs a mere twenty pounds. When sharing the road with bicycles, always pass them slowly and smoothly and for heaven’s sake, don’t HONK, even if you know them!

Until next week…

Daun Thompson

Writer / Comedienne / Artist

SAFE DRIVING AROUND BICYCLISTS – Comedy Defensive Driving

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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

The post Why People Don’t Signal appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Leaving your signal on for “eternity” is a common driving faux pas. Car manufacturers have remedied this by changing the signal so it blinks anywhere before 3-7 blinks before it automatically shuts off. Since older cars don’t have this feature, nor do “older people” with older cars, there lies your demographic. I am in that demographic. Since this happens so often, signaling to change lanes is a bit like crying wolf. If someone has their signal on in another lane, we don’t know if they really would like to move over or if they just left the darned thing on. So now, since you’ve been fooled before, you just back off for a few seconds and if they don’t get over immediately…oh well! Then you look in your rear view mirror and see them about a mile back in that same lane with that signal just flashing away!

Not going when the light turns green is another common driving mistake but this one fuels an already impatient driver behind you. And they know that the only reason you didn’t peel out like a bull out of the shoot when the light turned green can only be due to your inattention. Let’s face it, if you didn’t go because your car actually stalled out, you’d have turned your hazard lights on.

Driving too slow in the left passing lane makes other drivers completely nuts. If you are passing other cars, fine. But if you are impeding traffic by just cruising in the passing lane where no one can pass, it causes a wave of road rage. Is it possible that some drivers are not aware that the left lane is for passing only? Or perhaps they just don’t really care (which is what the other drivers around them are thinking).

Parallel parking (or parallel chicken) is a skill that is acquired with much practice. You’ll have it mastered if you are taught the proper way to parallel park by pulling next to the car you wish to park behind where your steering wheel is parallel to that car, then cutting your wheels and backing in, and then practicing that for about 20 years. That’s why some newer cars will parallel park for you.

So, stop driving like a knucklehead. Be mindful and considerate of other drivers around you. It will give you confidence and will make your driving experience at least somewhat bearable.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Embarrassing Driving Mistakes – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post EMBARRASSING DRIVING MISTAKES appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Following these simple principles may help us to avoid that which we all dread.
• Always wear your seat belt and make sure others in the car are wearing theirs too.
• Scan the road ahead. And constantly scan around your car by checking your side mirrors and your rearview mirror every 3 to 7 seconds so you always know where your safe “out” is (drive like a bobble head). This is super important…but your MAIN FOCUS should always be scanning the road ahead of your intended path of travel. This will result in better reaction time and no surprises.
• Always try to keep a three second following distance between you and the car ahead. This will help reduce the chances of a rear-end collision. Once the car ahead of you passes a stationary object such as a tree, mile marker or a dead deer (if it gets up and walks away, you need to find something else), count 3 seconds before your car passes that same stationary object. Double this rule in wet weather and triple it in icy or snowy weather. Keep a good space around your car.
• Change lanes properly. Use your signal, that’s what it’s for. It’s also a moving violation if you don’t signal 100 feet before changing lanes or turning and a common cause of car crashes. Newer cars have a blinker feature that will automatically shut off after 3 to 6 blinks (so you no longer have to be the “eternal signaler” that forgot to shut the blinker off).
• Be aware of your speed and keep up with the flow of traffic. Not keeping up with the flow of traffic is the current leading cause for crashes. So, if everyone is speeding and you’re not keeping up with the flow of traffic, you could be impeding traffic (which can be more dangerous than speeding). Driving too slow causes more crashes, but the high-impact of speeding crashes cause more fatalities. In other words, “speed kills.”
• Be careful when backing out. In a parking lot, you must yield to moving vehicles.
• Keep a good, clear view. Make sure you have plenty of wiper fluid, that the wipers work and your windshield is clean. If you can’t see well at night, if it’s that foggy, just get off the road and wait.
• Stay calm and alert and don’t be distracted.
• Watch out for blind spots and those in your blind spots (and you in theirs). Motorcyclists and bicyclists are especially vulnerable to blind spots.
• Adjust your seat and steering wheel to suit you.

And, for Pete’s sake, always be prepared to yield the right of way. Try to be a courteous driver. Let people over when they signal and they will probably do the same. It’s only going to create good Karma.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

A Crash Free Society – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post A Crash Free Society appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

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 post Coping in Traffic appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

And, I will make an effort to become a better driver. I really need to set a better example for my defensive driving students in 2014. Yes, I joke about being pulled over and getting one ticket in 2013. And I joke about getting out of another ticket in 2013. And, it’s all true. It really happened. But prior to 2013, I hadn’t gotten a ticket in nearly 26 years. Of course, the ticket I received this year was on my way to teach a defensive driving class. I took a right turn at a stop sign and didn’t stop long enough for my car to “settle.” Three seconds is what they teach in driver’s education now. The law doesn’t indicate that you have to stop for a period of “time” but that your car has to “settle.” So, three seconds will ensure that your car has settled. That’s not a bad habit to get into. I think I’ve got that one down, now that I’ve paid my dues for my mistake. And, I didn’t tell the police officer that I taught defensive driving in an attempt to get out of my ticket. I didn’t want to get a lecture. I was already detained enough. Then, this summer, I got out of a ticket because I told the trooper I teach defensive driving. He pulled me over because he said I didn’t signal. I did signal, but I shut it off before I completed my lane change. I knew exactly what I did wrong. One of my big pet peeves is the “eternal signaler.” Someone who forgets their turn signal is on and leaves it on for eternity. So, I have a bad habit of keeping my hand on my turn signal and shutting it off prematurely so I don’t forget about it and leave it on. It’s a habit that I am still trying to break, so that is going on this year’s resolution list as well. I told that trooper that I was so embarrassed. I teach defensive driving and I always lecture my students to use their signal at all times. Even when no one is around. Even when they’re pulling into their own darned driveway. Because cops write piddly little tickets for piddly little stuff. He said “Really? You say that to your students?” And he let me go without a lecture or a ticket.

I also need to take better care of my car. Of course, I do the basics…oil changes, fluids, belts and hoses. But I really need to flush my radiator, rotate my tires, balance them and a few other things that I haven’t been doing. And, I need to drive the speed limit, even at the risk of making other people angry. So, happy new year everyone. I hope 2014 is a good year for us all.

Until next year…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Happy New Year – Comedy Defensive Driving

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And, just so you know, the left lane is for passing only, not passing out. You’re just supposed to pass other cars in that lane, it’s not just a lane to hang out in. You can get a ticket for impeding traffic if you do, as it ranks right on up there at the top of the road rage list. And you can also get a ticket for speeding in the passing lane. How ironic that most people refer to it as the fast lane.

If you are on a two-lane road, check the dotted line. Make sure you have a dotted lane line on your side of the road. This means it’s safe for you to pass. Also, look for a “Pass With Care” sign. Solid yellow lines indicate that passing is not allowed. In this case, look for a “Do Not Pass” sign. And, when passing other vehicles in daylight, it is safe to return to the right lane or to your own lane, if a two-lane road, when you can see their two front tires in your rear view mirror. At night, it’s when you see their full headlights in your rear view mirror.

Always check your blind spots before changing lanes to begin passing other vehicles. Not everyone uses their signals, you know. And, in many states, when approaching a car on a two-lane road, and that car is turning left, if the shoulder is paved, you may pass them on the right shoulder. But only if the shoulder is paved.

Until next week……..

Daun Thompson
Comedienne / Writer / Artist
Passing other vehicles

The post Driving In Traffic and Passing appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

I know that some of us don’t use our turn signals all of the time. For some, perhaps it is only when we feel a real urgency to use them. I must admit, I am a reformed non-signaler. In Texas, the fine is around $191.00…and that’s a lot of Jack Daniels. And it’s usually added to another ticket, such as speeding or illegal lane change within an intersection. It’s like an “add-on,” like a pack of gum at the grocery store check out counter. I didn’t even realize I wasn’t signaling until I had a friend in the car point it out. He said “I thought you teach those classes…you haven’t signaled the entire time I’ve been in the car.” So I had to use those turn signals. And I really can’t say why I wasn’t signaling. Maybe I was trying to conserve the life of the bulb, so it lasts the life of the car.

Of course, some say they don’t signal when no one else is around. Or they don’t signal in rush hour traffic because then, it’s a guarantee that no one will let you over. And, of course, we all signal when we’re being pulled over by the cops…for sure. Maybe it would be a good idea to just get into the habit of signaling all of the time…audience or not, just so it’s second nature, like wearing a seat belt. It seems to be a road rage contributor as well. People don’t like to guess where you’re going. They don’t like rear-ending you (well, some actually do) and they don’t like waiting at an intersection for you to spin the wheel.

Then, of course, we have the eternal signaler. You know, that guy that turns on his blinker and never EVER shuts it off.

Until next week…don’t be a schlep…use those turn signals.

Daun Thompson
Comedienne / Writer / Artist / Idea Mogul

Use Those Turn Signals – Comedy Defensive Driving

The post Don’t Make Me Guess – Use Those Turn Signals appeared first on Comedy Defensive Driving®.

Let’s take the turn signal, for instance. Letting someone know that you are going to change lanes or turn is an awesome concept. Unfortunately, in heavy traffic, people agree that signaling to change lanes will sometimes guarantee that no one will let you over. You’ve just sealed your fate. Being a reformed non-signaler, myself, I can’t explain why I wasn’t using my signal. Perhaps I was trying to save the life of the bulb, so it lasts the life of the car. And, now that I do signal, I’ve learned that you just have to be patient and someone will eventually let you in. And then, make sure you give them their thank you wave in a timely manner, or that’ll make them mad, too. I know a young man who not only signals his lane change, but in heavy traffic, he also rolls down his window and waves at the person in the next lane to get their attention. He makes eye contact with them and literally begs them to let him over. Sometimes he even cries. He never really said that, but I know him, and he probably does cry.

Now, the scariest tool, by far, is the horn. Great for communicating on the road in the past, now honking the horn is likened to scolding someone in public.  While the short beep means “shame on you…wake up and drive,” laying on the horn makes people absolutely bonkers. That long, nagging, whining horn reminds me of being screamed at by my mother, before being grounded for life. And, if the person you’re honking at happens to have a gun, and they use it, the grounding for them would certainly be for life…in the state prison.

Giving someone a brake check or tapping your brakes to let the person behind you know that you think they are following too close is also now taken as a sign of aggression. If they are tailgating you and you clearly cannot move over because that lane is bumper to bumper traffic, putting your hazard lights on may diffuse their anger. Now they’ve gone from being angry at you to feeling sorry for you. It’s a little passive-aggressive perhaps, but harmless, nonetheless. You still get to kind of “zing” them without causing their anger to escalate.

And those good old hazard lights have changed their meaning too. Yes, they may be good to diffuse a tailgating situation. But using them when broken down on the side of the road is not a good idea, as one would think. Apparently drunk drivers are attracted to flashing lights (kind of like how blonds are attracted to shiny objects), and the drunk driver may drive right into your car. Better than using your hazard lights, turn on your signal light as if you are planning to re-enter the freeway. Other drivers will see this and be afraid that you could pull out right in front of them. Which may encourage them to move over and put an empty lane between you and them for their safety, which turns out to be for your safety, too.

Until next week…use those tools the car manufacturer gave you…before they become extinct.

Daun Thompson      Artist / Comedienne / Writer

Communicating On The Road – Comedy Defensive Driving

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