A CAR ACCIDENT

I often have students in my class inquire about whether the police will come if called to a car accident. I’m sure that depends on the severity of the accident (i.e. whether anyone got injured or if the vehicles are impeding traffic). Either way, it’s always good to know what to do after a car…

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WRONG WAY

Every driver knows that road reflectors on the highway will reflect a silver white in the dark. If you’re going the wrong way on the highway at night, they will reflect red, meaning that you are going the wrong way! And, trust me, you don’t want to be a wrong way driver. And if you…

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WINTER DRIVING

Experts say it’s the simple things that enhance safety such as wearing a seat belt, driving the right speed for the conditions and paying attention to the road. These are the very things most drivers involved in accidents neglect to do. They also say that 95% of crashes are caused by human error.  People driving…

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THEFT OF AUTOMOBILES

I saw a LOCK TAKE HIDE sign today that said “PREVENT THEFT: LOCK Your Car TAKE Your Keys HIDE Your Belongings FILL a Decoy Purse With Thousands of Angry, Venomous Bees” (ha!) Typically when we talk about theft of automobiles, someone leaves the keys in their car and so it begins. We constantly see parking…

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THE MERGING ZIPPER

I often hear in my defensive driving class that “Texans don’t know how to merge.” One thing that typically irks people is a crazy traffic jam, caused because people don’t know how to merge (or, actually, they choose not to merge properly).  Whatever happened to the good old “zipper” tactic when merging? Remember, the one…

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SCHOOL ZONE

Cruising through a school zone at 20mph with lots on your mind? That’s me. I call it “school zoning.” I think my car actually “idles” at 20mph, so it’s kind of like a cheap man’s cruise control. I must admit, it’s been nice to not have to coordinate my work commute around school zone hours.…

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IS A ROLLING STOP LEGAL?

I have always been curious about why they call not stopping at a stop sign long enough a 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…

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ROAD RAGE AND GUNS

I’ve always loved western TV shows. Heck, when I was a kid, they were about all that was on prime time TV. The Lone Ranger, Big Valley, Ponderosa, The Rifleman, Bonanza, Wagon Train, Gunsmoke, Rawhide (I could go on). Road rage and guns…sounds like a contemporary western. When I moved to Texas in 1978, nearly…

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