While it may be found that this is a safer approach, I doubt that I am the only driver who misses those green arrows in left turn lanes. If there is heavy oncoming traffic the left turn lane should always get a green arrow to move some of the congestion out of that lane (which is usually backed up into the next lane for a mile!). At times, I have found that I am better off to go through the light, do a u-turn on the other side of the intersection and turn right onto the street I am trying to route to, but this too can be dangerous in heavy traffic. And, in some cases, u-turns are illegal. As for me, I try to avoid intersections altogether if I can help it, or at least the ones where the left turn light goes to red, then a yellow flashing arrow and back to red.

I do realize that the change, as they say, is all about safety and consistency. But now that they seem to be active just about everywhere, you may want to bring a razor in the car with you. Because, although you may leave the house clean-shaven, by the time you get to work, you’re guaranteed to have grown a full beard.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Flashing Yellow Arrow Signals – Comedy Defensive Driving

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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®.

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

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Roundabouts (also called Traffic Circles) were developed by the UK in the mid twentieth century.“Foreign” to some here in the U.S., I have people ask me what’s the point and how do they work.The “point” is, a normal intersection has a total of 32 conflict points.A roundabout reduces those conflict points by 75%!!As a roundabout only has 8 possible conflict points. Absolutely brilliant, those Brits!

A typical roundabout is an intersection without signals, with a circular central island (generally very pretty and all dolled-up with a fountain or statue right in the center to totally distract you) and a circular road around the island.The way it works, vehicles entering the roundabout yield to vehicles already on the roundabout.It works just ducky…as they say in the UK.

Crashes at roundabouts are less severe than crashes at normal intersections.This is because they not only eliminate the need for someone to turn in front of a possible oncoming car who has misjudged their right of way (or their turn), but they also eliminate altogether the possibility of a crash caused by someone who has run a red light or stop sign.  Thus also reducing stress, road rage, increase in insurance rates…oh, and Valium intake.

Another good use of roundabouts is to cut down on the cut-through traffic in residential neighborhoods.Also, an Arizona study shows that, in a modern roundabout, there would be a 90% reduction in fatal crashes. A 75% reduction in injury crashes.A 30% to 40% reduction in pedestrians being struck by a car (i.e. Your child walking home from school.I mean, if they did.None do now. But, back in the day, we walked to school and back every day.When I told my daughter this, she replied “Didn’t Grandma and Grandpa love you?…good point”).In addition, there would be a 10% reduction in bicycle crashes.And a 30% to 50% increase in traffic capacity…thereby enhancing traffic flow.Modern roundabouts reduce entry speed, which helps smooth out the flow of traffic.Traffic flows in one circular direction at a low speed of typically less than 25mph.

And with fuel at an all-time high, you will be happy to know, that, unlike an intersection, there is no idling in a roundabout since you are not waiting for a light to change.No stops and starts like you would have at an intersection where you would find yourself wasting fuel. With the flow of traffic at a continuance, this also saves us time (and time is money, right?).

So, there you go.There are numerous reasons why roundabouts are an excellent design idea.Other than the pretty flowers in the middle.So, don’t stop and smell the roses… just cruise around them…

Until next week….

Daun Thompson

(Daun Thompson is a comedienne, writer and artist residing in Dallas, Texas)

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