Drinking & Driving

You’ve all heard the speech. Don’t drink and drive so you know it by now. But here’s maybe what you don’t know: All states have adopted 21 as the legal drinking age. Two-thirds of the states have now passed laws that allow the arresting officer to take the license of drivers who fail or refuse to take a breath test. All states have now lowered the legal blood alcohol level and all states have passed Zero Tolerance Laws. So for all the drivers that have any (AND THAT DOES MEAN ANY) amount of alcohol in their blood system will lose their license and worse. Many state legislatures have passed laws requiring mandatory jail time for repeat offenders. For those of you that think you’ll be able to get an attorney to get your sentence lowered or thrown out in its entirety have a wakeup call. The penalties that the judge is passing out are mandated by state law. There’s nothing anyone can do about it unless you get the law changed. Remember also that in some state even first time offenders may be facing a weekend in jail and lengthy license suspensions. And what’s worse if you are in an accident you may lose someone you love but even more so other people may lose someone they love just because you thought you got get in the car after drinking and drive home. We’ve all seen the pictures and heard the stories so maybe it is time we all thought before we drink and even more so before we get into the vehicle after drinking including getting into a vehicle in which the driver has been drinking (that includes motorcycles as well). No one, no matter what they say, can drive home drunk even if it is just a “beer” or just “one” drink. That’s one too many.

Summer Driving Hazards

Summer means sunshine and vacations which also means children on bicycles, playing ball on the streets, and more traffic in certain areas. Your local neighborhood that was pretty quiet from 7ish to 3ish is now crowded with kids all over the place. They’ve got bikes and skateboards and rollerblades and may just ride into the road if they aren’t careful. They are throwing all sorts of balls around and some go into the street so beware of not only the ball but the child. You’ve got people walking all over the place. Instead of driving (and with the price of gas many more will try to avoid it) people are walking to the nearest park for some time for the kids to play so you’ve got more strollers around as well. On the roadways there are more people going to the beach and they aren’t in vehicles you have the dangers of motorcycles out more. With all that sunshine who can blame them for trying to get to the beach? You would do the same thing if you were on vacation but of course they all travel at the same time so while you don’t have bumper to bumper with people going to work you have MORE bumper to bumper traffic with people trying to get a good spot in the sand. Here’s another hazard of summer driving: the Sun itself. After a day at the beach you may find yourself a little “crisp” so take caution and get the sunscreen out and be cautious driving home. You don’t realize just how much you’re going to hurt when taking that turn with a burn! Also remember if you don’t know where you’re going, get out a map beforehand or go on line for directions. You can also ask for directions! No one will find this strange and it could save you gas instead of just driving around aimlessly.

Driving in school zones

If you didn’t know, you can be fined by not obeying traffic laws regarding school zones. It’s not difficult but it does take patience. Remember to stop when a school bus has its red flashing lights on and extended stop arm out. If you pass them, you can be reported (remember you do have a license plate that gives personal information about you when someone looks it up – you can’t avoid it) and get fined. An even worse scenario is you rush through a school zone and hit a child that is making his/her way to school. Be alert. Children that are walking to school or even riding bikes may not cross the street where they are supposed to. It is an unfortunate fact but one that motorists must realize. Many parents are only thinking of their child and getting them to school and fail to pay attention to other motorists or even other children. It’s not a race to see what child gets their first and then how fast you can get to work. Take your time. When a bus stops to let children off and the bus person takes a walk around checking under the bus for children we find it funny but in reality they are ensuring that children are safely away from the bus when it pulls out. Can you say the same for your children or their classmates? Gives yourself and give children (not only yours) time. Obey the laws and parents and teachers teach your children the proper way to cross the street and remind them of the dangers of playing close to the street. A ball can easily get missed being caught and a child will immediately dart into the street to get it without realizing the dangers.

RULES OF THE ROAD

Where to begin. It seems there are so many but in reality there are not.

Turn Signals – those little gadgets by (and sometimes on) the steering wheel are meant to be used. The power won’t any faster or slower if you or don’t use them but when used properly they may save your life and the life of someone else. Remember you use the turn signals when intending to turn, changing lanes and even leaving a parking space (imagine that).

Passing Safety – remember we pass on the right! (don’t forget that turn signal) and only where designated in the road and that’s with the “dotted line” along a two way road.

Slow Moving Vehicles – Don’t just think it’s an “older” person driving it may be someone that is looking for a specific road or address. I know personally it’s a pain but be courteous. Stay in the right lane or to the right of the road (UNLESS YOU’RE TURNING LEFT) so that people may pass you and for the people behind you follow the next rule.

Allowing some space (i.e. The Two Second Rule) – pick something along the road (i.e. a tree) as the vehicle ahead of you passes it count aloud, slowly, “one thousand one, one thousand two” if you ready the “tree” before you finish, you are too close, slow down. Course in rain and snow you want to be further away. This rule allows for space for sudden stops etc.

The Right of Way – okay this one is more detailed but here’s the gist. First no matter what, it is far better to give the right of way (and let’s forget road rage) than to get into an accident.

• If you are approaching an intersection you must give up the right way to the traffic already in the intersection.
• If you are approaching an intersection from another direction as another car and have reached it at approximately as the other person, the person turning left must give the right of way to oncoming traffic going either straight or turning right.
• If you are entering a road from a driveway (alley etc) you must stop and give the right of way to the traffic on the road (and this includes pedestrians).
• Do not enter an intersection if traffic is backed up on the other side and you can’t get all the way through.
• Do not block the intersection. (I can name times each day this happens to me – it’s very frustrating I’m sure to you as well).

There are more than these rules and they are covered in your basic driver education course (so remember to study).

Traffic Control Signs and Signals – this one may seem simple. Green is go, yellow is and Red means STOP! The only exceptions to these rules are if a police officer is directing traffic and lets you go (remember to pay attention to him/her) and emergency vehicles may go through red lights but must use caution. Remember to yield the right of way which means you must IMMEDIATELY pull to the right edge of the road to clear the intersection and you must stop and remain stopped until the vehicle(s) have passed by unless of course a police officer tells you differently.

Pedestrian Safety – You must yield to pedestrians using marked or unmarked crosswalks so pay attention this also goes back to school zone safety.

Driving in Snow

While not every part of the country gets snow, enough of it does and while you may not drive in it every day winter does come no matter now nice the summer seems.

First let’s remember to slow down and use the Two Second Rule (well in snow I’d go five to six seconds if you can). Also allow yourself more time to arrive at your destination. No use rushing. Snow gives a completely new perspective on driving.

Turn on your lights so other motorists and see you.

Forget about cruise control. You need to maintain control of your car.

Don’t pass the snow plows and sand trucks. They really are trying to clear the mess for you.

Just because you drive an SUV doesn’t mean you can handle all road conditions.

Okay and now for the basic types if you skid (and in a panic try to stay calm and remember these)

Rear wheels skidding: take your foot off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the font whiles to go (i.e. if your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left.). This may take a few times to get your vehicle back under control. Standard brake vehicles, pump the brakes gently. Anti Lock brakes, DO NOT pump the brakes. Apply pressure to them steadily. They should pulse.

Front wheels skidding: take your foot of the gas and shift to neutral and give it a moment before you try to steer. As you skid sideways the wheels will slow the vehicle and the traction will return at which time you should steer in the direction you want to go. Put the transmission in “drive” and accelerate gently.

And here’s a few more tips if you get stuck.

• Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
• Turn your wheels from side to side to push the snow away.
• Lightly touch the gas to ease your car out.

Use a shovel to clear away snow from the wheels and pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels to help get traction.

In one of my very first cars, I kept kitty litter in the trunk to give it weight and in the summer gave it to my cousin for her cats!

Also remember to clear the wheel wells or you may get some vibration the tires.

Also I use Rainex (this is not an ad for them but I love the stuff and figured it’s worth mentioning) and have found that in snow and rain it helps the visibility so much that it really is worth the few minutes each month to apply it.

Night Time Driving

Here’s something odd, the older I get the more problems I have driving at night. I never realized it until a long drive from the Northeast to the Southeast. We tried making up time driving at night and I found myself getting headaches.

The following tips can help you to stay safer while driving at night. Keep your windshield (inside and out) clean. It really does work. Have you ever driven in someone else’s car that doesn’t keep the windshield clean? Geez what a hard time seeing. Reduce your speed and increase your following distance at night. The two second rule has again changed to the five or six second rule.

Try to stick with well-lit roads. On darker roads slow down you may not see the person walking their dog or someone pulling out of their driveway.

Remember to turn on your high beams as you approach a vehicle; and if the person approaching you does not lower their beams, focus on the road edge of the road. If a car(s) behind you is too close or if glare from their headlights is bothering you, pull over and allow them to pass you. It really is much easier.

When driving at night make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise. If you become too tired to drive find a place to stop and rest. Some will say open your window and put the radio up louder but really your best bet is to rest. I’ve done it myself on a number of occasions. A nice twenty minute nap always did me a world of good.

If you have an older car that does not have daytime running lights, be sure to put on your headlights as soon as twilight occurs. This makes it easier for other drivers to see your car. If you get too busy as darkness approaches you may quickly forget to put those lights on.

Limit driving to daytime hours when it becomes too difficult to drive safely at night and this if for both young and old alike.