7 Ways to Avoid Traffic Violation Penalties
Simple Ways to Become a Safer Driver
The number of car accidents that happen every year is incredible, motivating people to be safer drivers. The good thing is you can do this easily with the following suggestions that shouldn't take too long to adopt.
Phone Issues
One thing that could make you an unsafe driver is distractions, and phones are distractions for most people. All those messages, phone calls, pictures, notifications, and who knows what else can distract you while you're driving. Some people interact with their phones behind the wheel, which puts you and anyone else with you at risk. The good thing is there's a straightforward thing you can do. You can download a driving app that stops all notifications from coming in while you're driving. Most of these are activated automatically the moment you start going 15 miles per hour.
Watch the Speed
The next thing you can do to be safer is to stay within the speed limit. Those limits are there for a reason, but people can overlook this. Some people do it on purpose, while others just forget to stay within the speed limit. Face it; you don't always pay attention to your speed while you're driving. Make a habit of glancing at your speedometer once every minute or so. Doing this should keep you safe, and you should also consider downloading an app that helps you stay within the speed limit, no matter where you are.
Routine Checks
You know what you do before taking off in your car. You open the door, start the engine, and maybe turn on the music. That's as far as you go, but the truth is that there's much more you could do before taking off for the day if you want to be a safer driver. You'll want to do a couple of routine checks before you start driving to make sure you'll be safe. You want to check all your fluids to make sure everything is okay. You also want to see if all of your lights are working. Be sure to pay attention to your tires; you don't want your tires to feel overinflated or underinflated. These issues compromise your tires and safety.
Good Driving Position
Another simple thing you could do to be a safer driver is to drive with your hands in the proper position. Many people ignore the way they operate their automobiles. Sometimes, they hold the wheel with one hand or barely hold the wheel at all. The way you hold the wheel matters. It makes it easier to control your vehicle, even during crazy moments where you might be losing control of your car. Holding your wheel the right way makes it easier for you to maneuver if you need to do so. A good grip also makes it less tiring to drive. The nine and three hand positions or the eight and four-position are ergonomic options and relatively safe.
Be Rested
The last thing you want to do is make sure you only drive when you're rested. If you haven't slept well for some reason, you might get sleepy while you're driving. This activity requires you to be fully awake, yet sometimes, driving can make you feel a little sleepy. It's a tedious activity. Plus, the gentle rumble you think when you drive can lull a person to sleep, especially if that person is tired already. If you're feeling a little sleepy, make sure you tell someone so that they drive instead of you. If no one is with you, then go ahead and pull out of traffic and take a nap. It may seem strange, but it's better to be safe than be sorry.
Now, you have a few steps you can take to be a better and safer driver.
You could also take a defensive driving class to see if you can improve your
safe-driving skills.
What are the most dangerous roads in America?
Are you prepared to drive wherever the
open road may take you? From California to the New York island, from the
redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters, the roads that get us there are not
always safe.
You can’t always avoid the crowded
highways, twisted roads, and dangerous intersections in the United States, but you can be prepared. It pays to know how safe your fellow drivers
are on the road and which roads may require some extra precaution.
Save your time and money by familiarizing yourself with which roads, both close to home and yet to be explored, to look out for.
What makes a road dangerous?
Aside from fellow human error, there are many elements that contribute to the level of a road’s safety. Of course, any time you are behind the wheel, you should be attentive, but we tend to overlook the elements we expect to always be reliable.
A list of driving conditions to stay mindful of are:
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Heavy traffic
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Low population density
●
Lighting
●
Landscape
●
Speed limit
●
Insufficient infrastructure
●
Road width
●
Road conditions
●
Poor signage
●
Weather conditions
●
Seasonal changes
● Wildlife
Besides the everyday inconveniences that cause frustration, we need to think about how these conditions should affect our driving. Good driving isn’t universal everywhere you go, and being able to adapt is a quintessential part of being a good and safe driver.
How Region Affects Driving Habits
When I first moved to Nevada from Wisconsin, I had friends who thought it was hilarious to shout “Deer” when I was driving on those poorly lit outskirt dirt Las Vegas roads. Though they couldn’t find a breath between laughs, I was busy trying to regain my heartbeat.
Landscape and wildlife may seem odd on this list to those of you from flatland or urban parts of the country. When you’re not used to looking out for hills or animals, thinking to do so may not be something you considered necessary. However, those like me from the northern or western parts of the country will tell you both have grave impacts on the way you drive.
Before going on road trips or even driving in
a new state, looking up road conditions and speed limits can help you avoid car accidents. Cities that
experience all four seasons and drastic weather changes tend to have more
physical road issues that make driving dangerous.
Weather can be the root cause for traffic jams, potholes, fallen signage, and non-working traffic signals. In addition to slowing down when you encounter turbulent weather conditions, checking the weather in advance can help you prepare for anything you may encounter.
Dangerous Highways Across America
Highways are the most convenient ways to travel because they get us where we want to go faster. Whether you’re staying local or on a road trip, highways are the most familiar roads used on a daily basis across the United States.
A list of a few highways across the country
that are notably dangerous are:
● I-15 in Nevada: It is arguably the most
dangerous road in the country. This is where landscape matters because highway
hypnosis is what can cause people to think it’s safe enough to speed up or tune
out.
● Interstate 285 in Atlanta: Due to an influx of
state residents, that frankly, the city wasn’t ready for, Atlanta experiences
heavy traffic times. The city is currently creating new roads to control the
traffic better, but in the meantime, the construction only adds to the already dangerous
factors.
● Highway 17 in South Carolina: Midwesterners
aren’t the only ones worried about wildlife. This highway is beautiful because
of its natural landscape, but the beauty also makes road signs hard to see.
With greenery comes wildlife, so from distracted drivers to deer, you need to
be cautious.
● The Dalton Highway in Alaska: In addition to
harsh weather conditions for most of the year, there is also a low population
density. Due to the low population, there are no gas stations or stores for
over 200 miles on this road, making it extremely dangerous if you don’t prepare
for it.
● The Million Dollar Highway in Colorado: With
no guardrails to keep you from rolling down the vast mountains, it’s no wonder
travelers feel unsafe. Even with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour, the twists
and turns of the road make spotting signs and other vehicles extremely
difficult.
The Intersections to Watch out
for
On average, the government spends over $50 billion for highway and road maintenance and infrastructure a year. Even with the increasing budget and innovations to spot red light camera violators, some streets are still disproportionately unsafe.
A list of states that have a history of not prioritizing roadway infrastructure and whose road quality rapidly declines because of weather conditions is:
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California
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Hawaii
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Rhode Island
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Massachusetts
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Michigan
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New Jersey
●
New York
●
Washington
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Wisconsin
Uncoincidentally, drivers registered in these states commonly pay higher rates for car insurance and other annual vehicle fees. It’s also not surprising that where there are faulty roads, there are the country’s most dangerous intersections. A small list of intersections with the most accidents and fatalities is:
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Birmingham, AL: University Boulevard and 28th
Street
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Denver, CO: MLK Jr. Boulevard and Quebec
Street
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Little Rock, AK: Asher Avenue and South
University Avenue
●
Columbus, OH: Broad Street at James Road
●
Bensalem, PA: Knights Road and Street Road
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Milwaukee, WI: Capitol Drive W and 35th Street
N
●
Stone Mountain, GA: Memorial Drive and North
Hairston Road
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Glendale, AZ: 59th Avenue and Olive Avenue
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West Bloomfield, MI: Orchard Lake Road and 14
Mile Road
●
Honolulu: 1450 block of Ala Moana Boulevard
●
New Orleans, LA: Canal Street at Carondelet
Street and Bourbon Street
How Drivers Can Stay Safe
We cannot always control the landscape, traffic flow, or the quality of the roads we drive on, but we can practice adaptable safe-driving techniques. Don’t allow yourself to be a distracted driver that can have deadly consequences.
More time and funding has been going into researching what drivers pay attention to and how we can build roads to be more efficient, durable, and overall safer for everyone on the road.
If your state didn’t make any of the “infrastructure naughty” lists, you should familiarize yourself with what road dangers you may have become numb to. Refer to this resource and others alike when planning to travel to help keep you and everyone on the road safe.
Danielle Beck-Hunter writes and researches for the auto insurance site, AutoInsurance.org. Danielle has an English degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and has been a registered driver in Wisconsin, Georgia, California, and Nevada.Tips on finding the right driving instructor for you
Learning how to drive is an essential life skill. You must
be able to drive yourself to work, to college, drop kids to school or run
general errands. Knowing how to drive is also a necessary skill to have in
emergencies. Several people learn how to drive from their parents, friends, or
other family members. However, not everyone has that option.
If you’re in a similar situation, learning from a driving instructor is an excellent option. They can also help you get your driving license quickly. When trying to find the right driving instructor, you must keep several things in mind. Choosing a driving instructor who is not well-suited for you can not only make you lose a lot of money but also cause a lot of inconveniences. That being said, finding the best-suited one isn’t exactly tough. Here’s how you can choose the right driving instructor for yourself.
Ask for
recommendations within your social circle
The driving instructor you choose should be safe and
reliable. The best way to learn about available driving instructors is by
asking for recommendations from within your social circle. This includes your
work colleagues, your friends, family members, or neighbors.
Understand
their approach and ask for their advice
Being aware of the driving instructor’s style of driving is crucial before you begin practicing with them. They must be big advocates of safe and low-risk driving and shouldn’t encourage you to drive rashly or speedily. In addition to this, it is also a good idea to ask the driving instructor a lot of questions. Their answers should give you an idea of what kind of experience you’ll have and if you should hire them or not.
●
How long have you been in the business?
●
How many hours a day of practice do you recommend?
●
Will you be charging per hour or per lesson?
●
After how long do your students usually take the driving
test?
●
Are you flexible on the time and day of the lesson?
●
Do you offer free cancellation of a lesson?
● Where will the pickup and drop off point of every lesson be?
Look for
someone who has Professional
Indemnity Insurance for Driving Instructor
Learning how to drive isn’t very tough but can be risky at times. If your driving instructor isn’t careful while teaching you or there is some issue with the car, you might end up in an accident. In such instances, it’s likely that you will file for damages and request compensatory payment. Find someone who has Professional Indemnity Insurance for Driving Instructor.
A Professional Indemnity Insurance from BizCover covers driving instructors in instances of accidents or negligence. If you file a legal claim, Professional Indemnity Insurance enables the driving instructor to pay you all damage payments in full.
They should
offer you additional educational material
Along with giving a driving test, you also need to pass a written test to be able to secure a driving license for yourself. This requires you to learn traffic safety rules and recommendations. Your driving instructor should be able to guide you on the same and offer additional educational material for you to refer to.
When asking them about how the driving lessons would look like, make sure that you ask them about educational material as well. These educational resources are also crucial for you to learn how you can be a better and safer driver on the road.
Don’t go for
the cheapest option available
A driving instructor has to bear a lot of costs when teaching their students. This is also one reason why driving lessons can be a tad bit costly. However, you must refrain from choosing the cheapest option available to you, especially if the rates are suspiciously low. Chances are that if a driving instructor is charging you way less than the market rate, they are cutting costs and won’t provide you good enough lessons. In fact, driving instructors that are charging you suspiciously low often tend to extend the number of classes to make more money in the long run.
Ask the driving instructor exactly why they charge the fee that they do. You may have the option to ask for a discount with them if you book lessons in bulk. However, do this only when you’ve had a few lessons with them and are sure that they’re doing a good job. Additionally, also ensure that they are certified driving instructors and are not running a business without appropriate licenses and certifications.
Conclusion
It is highly recommended that you do thorough homework before choosing a driving instructor to teach you how to drive. Do not jump to conclusions and ensure that you are going with someone who comes highly recommended. A good driving instructor will offer way more than simply driving lessons and that’s exactly what you need to look for.
References
[1] Tips for Choosing the Right Driving Instructor for You, Homers Driving School. Retrieved from: https://www.homersdrivingschool.co.uk/blog/tips-for-choosing-the-right-driving-instructor-for-you/
[2] 2015, How to choose a driving instructor, Ingenie.
Retrieved from: https://www.ingenie.com/parents-guide/how-to-choose-a-driving-instructor
Safety Tips and Information for Driving in the U.S.
Safety Tips and Information for Driving in the U.S.
Top 7 Driving Test Tips For Students
A student will be tested in the same way as any other adult on the road. It calls for strict preparation and observance of driving rules. Failure during the test will mean that you miss a license to spin your ride and have to train again. Here are expert driving test tips that will enable you to pass and get your license.
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