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◉ What’s the Deal with All These Potholes?

Tag: Defensive Driving

This past weekend I traveled out of town to visit some family and friends. What was otherwise a pleasant commute on a clear, sunny day soon became a nuisance as I steered around a bunch of pesky potholes. It felt like I was driving through an obstacle course at times, carefully avoiding all those small divots in the roadway. All the while, I couldn’t help but think: Why doesn’t someone do something about all these darn potholes? These roads have been a mess for a while. What’s taking so long to fix them?

If you’ve ever asked yourself a similar question–and I’m willing to bet you have–then you’ll find the following information interesting! First, let’s take a look at how potholes are formed…

What Causes Potholes

There are many reasons that potholes form in the road. One such reason occurs when sunlight, heat, and constant traffic create cracks in the asphalt road surface. This allows rainwater and snow to seep through the cracks into the gravel underneath the asphalt. When temperatures drop, such as they do in the evenings, the water freezes, expanding and pushing back dirt and debris. Then, when the water melts, it creates gaps underneath the asphalt. As vehicles continue to drive over these gaps, the covering asphalt eventually collapses and creates a pothole.

How a Pothole is Made

Screenshot from MDOT’s Birth of a Pothole, April 2004

Some other pothole causes include, but are not limited to:

  • Substandard roadway construction and repair
  • Weather effects
  • Wearing from heavy traffic
  • Vehicle accidents
  • Diesel fuel spillage
  • Fire or extreme heat

How to Deal with Potholes

The best way to handle a pothole is to avoid it if you are safely able to do so. Unfortunately, as I experienced this past weekend, that is not always possible. So what do you do when you can’t maneuver around those vexing road craters? Is it better to drive over them even though you’ll probably experience a rocky ride? Or is it best to turn around and find a detour? There isn’t any standard correct answer; it depends on the situation at hand. However, some general tips can help you decide the best approach to take when you encounter a pothole on the road. But first, let’s take a look at what risks potholes present to us drivers.

Pothole Risks

  • Potholes present a huge threat to drivers on the road and are considered one of the top causes of car accidents!
  • When driving over potholes, your vehicle bumps and jerks uncontrollably. This can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles and get into an accident.
  • Driving over potholes also strains your vehicle’s suspension and shocks which absorb most of that sudden impact. Enough strain can ruin your suspension system, shocks, and tires, and knock your car out of alignment.
  • Water and snow can fill potholes, masking potential hazards lying underneath. Additionally, water and snow can cause more damage to your vehicle.

Driving over potholes can be a huge risk for your vehicle, as well as your well-being and the well-being of other drivers and pedestrians. You should attempt to avoid driving directly over potholes when you are safely able to do so. Use all of your mirrors and check for other vehicles, pedestrians, and other road hazards before driving around a pothole. The last thing you want to do is get into an accident because you recklessly swerved to avoid a pothole. But you won’t always be able to avoid a pothole. Here are some tips for how to handle such an unavoidable situation:

Tips for Encountering a Pothole

  • If you have to drive over a pothole, slow down beforehand. Reducing speed will decrease the potential shock and damage caused by the bumpiness. Also, do not brake directly over the pothole as this can cause more damage.
  • While driving over a pothole, hold your steering wheel securely with two hands and keep your wheels straight ahead.
  • Leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles and pedestrians.
  • Prepare ahead of time by making sure your tires are properly inflated. This can help protect your tires from damage, as well as reduce some of the jarring impact.
  • Be especially wary if a pothole is filled with snow or water. You never know just how deep it is or if there are other hazards underneath.
  • If you can’t avoid a pothole, and you think it’s best not to drive directly over it, your best bet would be to turn around and find a detour. It’s better to retreat and drive a bit further than to have your car broken down on the side of the road. Trust me!

Reporting Potholes for Repair

So we now know how to handle our brief encounters with potholes, but that only helps us adapt to the problem instead of working to fix it. The problem remains: the pothole is still there. If you’re like me, you’ve complained plenty about how horrible some of our roads are, wondering why no one has fixed them yet. Well, guess what: it is your responsibility as a driver to help by reporting these roadway hazards so they can be repaired. I suggest contacting your city’s Department of Transportation and Public Works and reporting the pothole. Where I live, in Santa Rosa, California, our city has a “Pothole Repair Hotline” and they state that they depend “largely on residents to report potholes” and that they work on “repairing [potholes] within one business day of being notified.”

If you don’t report troublesome or hazardous potholes, how can you expect them to be fixed? Don’t rely on someone else to report the problem; contact your local government’s transportation department and help fix your city streets. Every city will have its policy for repairing the roads. They might not have a 24-hour timeline like Santa Rosa does, but one thing is certain: if you don’t report the problem, you can’t expect it to get better. Do your part: report those potholes!

The Process of Repairing Potholes

How to Repair a Pothole

Once reported, how exactly do workers fix these potholes? There are two categories for pothole repair: temporary repair and semi-permanent repair.

Temporary repair is a quick solution to potholes, but, as the name suggests, doesn’t last as long as the other option. This type of repair is often called the “throw-and-roll” repair. It generally uses a cold mix asphalt patching compound to fill the pothole. This cold mix is faster than using hot asphalt because it quickly hardens into a strong asphalt patch. This can be done year-round since it doesn’t require any heating or special rolling machines, as opposed to more permanent repair types that generally do. This temporary fix is a quick year-round option for cities and residents to patch potholes, but it might not be as long-lasting as other options because it’s just applying a patch to a hole instead of actually repairing any of the actual road damage.

The semi-permanent repair option takes more time and resources, but it’s considered one of the best options for pothole repair, other than replacing a whole roadway. There are a few stages for this option:

  1. Remove all water and debris from the pothole.
  2. Use a saw to cut along the sides of the patch area to ensure that the sides of the patch are in sound pavement.
  3. Apply a hot or cold patch mix to the patch area.
  4. Use a compacting device to roll over the patch area, sealing and securing it.

A common alternative to the semi-permanent repair option is the spray-injection repair. This is generally a faster option but requires specialized equipment to perform. It is also considered to be the “most economical and longest-lasting method of pothole repair” by the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP). Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Remove all debris and water from the pothole.
  2. Use a spray-injection device to apply a tack coat of binder on the bottom and sides of the pothole.
  3. Workers blow asphalt and aggregate into the pothole and cover the patch area with a final layer of aggregate for sealing.
  4. No compaction is required.

Each of these options can vary in time and equipment required for completion. Options like the “throw-and-roll” repair might take longer than other options because it requires actual manpower, but it doesn’t require any special equipment or weather conditions, making it a viable option in practically any situation. Other options can be done much faster–the spray injection repair can be completed in as little as one minute–but they require special equipment to complete which can delay the overall repair time while parts are being ordered or transported.

There is no perfect solution to potholes. Fortunately, multiple options work in many different situations and environments.

In Closing…

Potholes are annoying and can be dangerous, but now you know the best way to handle them. You also have a better idea of the process workers go through to repair potholes, as well as your responsibility as a driver to report those potholes when you see them. So when you see a pothole, don’t just avoid and forget it, leaving it for another driver to deal with. Report it and be part of the solution. That’s the best option for everyone!

Happy driving, folks!

No one is a perfect driver all the time, not even me! We all make driving mistakes now and then, but it’s important to constantly drive defensively and do our best to avoid committing traffic violations, no matter how “minor” they might be. But what if we don’t realize we are committing a violation? Let’s take a look at some of the more common infractions people make that often are committed without the driver even realizing it.

1) Changing Lanes without Using an Indicator

Some people call it an indicator, others a blinker or turn signal. No matter what you call it, it’s important to use it! A recent study by the Society of Automotive Engineers showed that over 25% of drivers failed to properly use turn signals when turning, and nearly half of drivers failed to signal before changing lanes.

This is a serious issue! Indicators are your way to communicate your actions to other drivers so they know that you plan on moving your vehicle into a different lane of traffic. Without that communication, other drivers will assume you will continue the same path, and that can, and does, lead to many vehicle collisions. It’s important to use your indicator at least five seconds before merging into the signaled lane to give all vehicles ample time to respond. Any less is not enough warning for other drivers.

National law requires all automotive vehicles to have operational turn signal devices installed and that drivers use those signals to indicate any lane change or turn. And yes, that goes for turns performed in designated turning lanes, too.

Rule of thumb: If you change lanes or turn, use your indicator!

2) Changing Lanes in the Middle of an Intersection

Lots of drivers don’t change lanes while driving in the middle of the intersection because they believe it is against the law. Even though this is good practice, as changing lanes mid-intersection can be dangerous, a lot of states don’t consider it an unlawful act. Still, some states, like Ohio, do consider it illegal.

Whether your state has a law against changing lanes mid-intersection or not, the action of doing so is still often frowned upon. Intersections are often busy areas. Such areas are often considered unsafe to change lanes in. Even if your state does not have a particular law against changing lanes mid-intersection, it has a law forbidding unsafe lane changes. If a witnessing police officer considers the mid-intersection lane change unsafe, you can be cited for it.

Rule of thumb: Don’t change lanes in the middle of an intersection!

3) Not Turning Headlights On When it’s Raining

Day or night, many states lawfully require drivers to keep their headlights on while their windshield wipers are in use. The rain impairs vision and reduces the visibility of all drivers, even in the middle of the day. Keeping your headlights on both increases visibility for the person driving the vehicle and makes it easier for other vehicles to spot said driver. Remember, headlights work both ways for increasing visibility.

Not every state requires headlights to be on while wipers are in use, but it’s still good practice to do so. Keeping your headlights on while visibility is low, like in rainstorms, is always a good idea since it increases visibility for all drivers. Doing so could save lives.

Rule of thumb: If your wipers are on, your headlights should be, too!

4) Not Completely Stopping at a Stop Sign

This is a big problem where I’m from, which is probably why people often call this the “California Stop.” No matter where you drive in the United States, you are required to make a complete stop when you come upon a stop sign. But that’s where there can be some debate–what exactly is a complete stop?

The legal definition of a complete stop is “when there is no forward momentum and the needle on the speedometer is at 0.” This means that there should be no forward movement of the vehicle at all. It’s important to note two things when making a complete stop:

  • First, it’s important to check all ways for moving vehicles, pedestrians, or other possible roadway hazards before entering the intersection. Doing so can take a couple of seconds to do. You should remain stopped at the stop sign until you’ve properly checked all directions and ensured they are clear.
  • Second, the longer you remain stopped, the more discernible it is to other drivers. This means a witnessing police officer will better distinguish a complete stop if you stop for three seconds rather than one second. Doing so could save you the hassle of dealing with a traffic ticket.

Speaking of tickets, if you are spotted not making a complete stop at a stop sign, you can, and will, be cited for running that stop sign, regardless if you slowed down or not. Traffic enforcers across the country are stern about this, and rightfully so. As I stated before, complete stops are necessary to ensure the intersection is clear and safe to continue. It’s not only the law to stop, it’s common sense!

Rule of thumb: Stop long enough for your back to hit your seat. This means that there is no more forward momentum from driving, ensuring your vehicle has stopped completely. Allow yourself enough time to check all directions and ensure the intersection is clear before advancing!

5) Not Moving Over or Slowing Down for Emergency Vehicles

This is something I see drivers do all the time, a lot of whom aren’t even aware that there are laws requiring them to move over or slow down while passing an emergency vehicle on the side of the road. As of 2013, all 50 US states have Move Over Laws in effect (the only exception being Washington D.C.). Each state has its own specific rules for the law, but generally, all require drivers to move into a farther lane of traffic, if safely able to do so or slow down while passing. Not doing so can result in a fine, license suspension, and/or jail time. This is a serious law as it protects the men and women working alongside our busy, and often dangerous, roadways.

Rule of thumb: Move over or slow down while passing emergency vehicles on the side of the road!

In Closing…

Just because you aren’t aware that you are violating a law does not mean you won’t be cited for doing so. Stay vigilant and practice defensive driving at all times, and be sure not to violate any of these common infractions. It’s also a good idea to check in with your local DMV to stay up-to-date on all current laws in your area.

Happy driving, everyone!

 

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If you’ve received a traffic citation in the state of Arizona, you should be aware that there are two completely different types of “traffic schools”, and that there are big differences between the two. Depending on the type of violation you committed, or the type of citation you received, you may be required to attend a class, or you may be given the option to attend a class in exchange for dismissal of your violation.

So, what’s the difference? The short answer is that Traffic Survival School is required, and Defensive Driving is usually optional, though there are some exceptions. You may be required to attend Traffic Survival School if you received a ticket some time ago, and have already had points assessed against your driving record. If you receive a letter from the MVD stating that you must complete a Traffic Survival School program, this is not optional — you must comply, or else risk having the MVD suspend your driver’s license. Defensive Driving is a court diversion program commonly offered to drivers who have received a traffic citation but have not yet been convicted of a violation. In most cases, when you receive a traffic ticket in Arizona, you can choose to attend a Defensive Driving program, whereby upon completion, points will not be assessed to your driving record. Be aware that even if you do not elect to attend Defensive Driving, in some cases, a judge may require you to attend Defensive Driving or Traffic Survival School.

Differences in Course Material and Delivery

There are a few key differences in the rules and curriculum for a Traffic Survival School versus a Defensive Driving School. It is for this reason that the two are not interchangeable. If you accidentally take Defensive Driving when you should have taken Traffic Survival, your completion certificate will not be accepted, and you’ll end up having to enroll with another school and complete the correct type of course in order to remain licensed.

Defensive Driving courses are intended to be 4 – 4 ½ hours long and may be taken either online or in person. The lessons will cover Arizona traffic laws and basic safe driving practices. Defensive Driving is known as a “court diversion” program because (most commonly) the people who take it are doing so to have their violation dismissed and thereby diverted from a conviction.

Traffic Survival School is a slightly more in-depth program. The classes are intended to be 8 hours long, and may only be taken in-person. Online courses are not permitted. This should be a red flag to anyone searching online for an approved Traffic Survival School — if the course itself is conducted via the Internet, it will not satisfy the requirements. Even if you live out of state, you will not be allowed to take the course online. The Traffic Survival School Administration gives detailed instructions for those who live out-of-state, but the requirement to attend a class in person remains the same.

Determining Which Class To Take

In the majority of cases, you will have received some kind of written documentation or notification that clearly states either “Traffic Survival School” or “Defensive Driving”. If you received a letter from the MVD, a court order, or other documentation from the court, give it a thorough read-through and you’ll likely find that the required class type is indicated. Many times a list of schools is provided as well. If you’re given a list of approved schools from an official source, it’s a safe bet to stick to that list.

If you are unable to find a clear indication of which type of class to take, call the court that is handling your citation and inquire.

Am I eligible to take Defensive Driving?

Your eligibility to attend Defensive Driving will depend on several factors, including the severity and/or type of violation committed. Drivers who were issued a citation for involvement in a collision that resulted in serious injury or death are not eligible. The Arizona Supreme Court provides a list of eligible violation codes, to which you can compare the violation code shown on your citation. In some cases, the citation may show more than one violation code. This means that you were cited for more than one violation. The Defensive Driving Court diversion program may be used to dismiss only one violation in a 12-month period, so only one of the violations can be dismissed, while the other will go on your record.

Of course, if you have attended Defensive Driving in the past 12 months for a completely different citation, you wouldn’t be eligible to attend again within that 12-month timeframe. The state of Arizona uses the citation dates to gauge the eligibility time period, meaning that when you take a Defensive Driving course for a violation, you are not eligible to do so again unless the citation date of the second violation is at least 1 year from the citation date of the first violation.

There are also restrictions for commercial drivers. Commercial driver’s license holders who were cited while driving a vehicle that requires a CDL are not eligible to attend Defensive Driving.

Why am I being required to complete Traffic Survival School?

Traffic Survival School is intended as both a penalty and a corrective measure for drivers who have committed severe and/or frequent traffic violations. There are a variety of circumstances or violations that may cause the Arizona MVD (or an individual judge) to require your attendance, including:

  • Red light violation
  • DUI
  • Aggressive driving
  • If you have 8 – 12 points against your license within a 12-month period
  • If you have a graduated driver’s license (drivers 18 or younger) and receive a traffic conviction

The state of Arizona takes a hard-line approach about serious or repeat traffic violators, which is why they will require this more extensive type of program in those cases. The idea is to educate drivers so that they’ll be less likely to commit a violation in the future, and Arizona roads will be that much safer for all of us.

Still not sure which Arizona traffic school course is right for you? Feel free to leave us a comment or contact us with your questions. 

The old cliche states that senior citizens are poor drivers who drive slowly in the fast lane, use their blinkers for too long, or simply cut people off. If you’re a senior, you can avoid becoming that crusty old “bad driver” cliche by following these tips. They’ll help you remain a sharp and safe driver late in life.

Understand The Younger Generation

Serious generation gap concerns are frustrating because younger drivers can treat you like a relic long past your due date. As a result, you may feel upset when driving or like acting out.

You can’t do that: your major advantage over younger drivers is your maturity and restraint. But you do need to understand their frustrations. Reasons that younger drivers are so rude or consider you a bad driver include:

  • Impatience
  • Immaturity
  • Misunderstanding of your abilities
  • Immersion in pop culture generalities

In America, youth culture rules, and people of older generations are often considered out-of-date or useless. There isn’t much you can really do to change that perception, short of sitting down individually with each younger person and discussing your life.

Instead, you need to counter their impatience and immaturity by showing a high level of restraint and maturity. Drive at a speed that is comfortable for you and try to at least meet the speed limit.

Avoid the left “fast” lane unless you’re passing or turning soon. And avoid any kind of altercation: simply let the youth pass you in a calm and relaxed manner. This will avoid serious dangers.

Take Care Of Your Health

The reason that senior drivers often struggle to drive is that their health has started to slip away from them. This problem can make it difficult to keep track of traffic and cognitively process what is happening. However, it is possible to boost your abilities by keeping your health in order.

Some of the most important aspects of your health you need to check include your vision; your hearing; the effects of your medication; and any drowsiness you may feel.

These four concerns are among the most common contributors to poor driving activities from seniors. Keep them from making an impact on your life by doing the following:

  • Get your vision checked at least once a year
  • Always wear your corrective lenses
  • Clean your windshield, mirrors, and headlights
  • Increase the brightness of your interior lights
  • Schedule a hearing appointment at least once a year
  • Always wear your hearing aids when driving
  • Keep your radio off to avoid distractions
  • Visually inspect traffic in both lanes before opening your door or changing lanes
  • Ask your doctor about changing to medicines that don’t confuse you or cause drowsiness
  • Sleep at least 8-10 hours every day

Self-Monitor Your Driving

Last, but not least, is self-monitoring your own driving. Health problems and other concerns may be impairing your driving abilities and you need to be honest and open to your troubles. Check yourself regularly for the following behaviors:

  • Trouble seeing the road, even with corrective lenses
  • Difficulty keeping track of directions
  • Getting lost or confused in familiar areas
  • Decreased reaction time
  • Drifting into other lanes
  • Changing speed rapidly for no reason
  • Multiple near accidents or even one real accident
  • Parking problems or running into cars for no reason

You don’t necessarily need to stop driving if you show these signs. However, you do need to immediately talk to your doctor and see if there are any ways you can correct them. This can help avoid destroying your driving confidence and keeping you stuck at home without a car.

As you can see, there’s no reason that you can’t keep driving late into life. While there are benefits to no longer owning a car or driving, they are balanced by the freedom you gain with driving. Just make sure you are honest about your limitations and you should be fine.

Whether you’re of legal drinking age or not, you may get asked to be a designated driver (DD). A designated driver is the person responsible for driving inebriated individuals. A designated driver will provide safe transportation to and from an event. This way you won’t need to worry about an alcohol-related accident or getting a DUI. But if you’ve never been a DD before, you may need some pointers on how to be a designated driver.

Benefits of Being the DD

First of all, if you’re hesitant about being a designated driver, think again! There are plenty of benefits to being the DD. For starters, you’ll enjoy waking up without a hangover. You’ll also get plenty of free entertainment by being the only sober person in the group.

And, if you’re of legal drinking age, you just might be able to get a friend to return the favor the next time you go out. Still, there are some tips you’ll want to keep in mind as you prepare for your first DD experience.

Learn to Say “No,” Even to One Drink

First, don’t give in to peer pressure to drink alcohol when you’re a DD… Ever. If you’re going to a large party or event, expect people to ask you why you’re not drinking or offer to buy you drinks. Too often, one drink turns into a second drink, which turns into yet another drink. And before you know it, you’re too drunk to drive everybody home. Not a good situation.

To avoid pressure to drink alcohol, consider ordering virgin cocktails. If it appears to others that you’re drinking, they’ll be less likely to try and force alcohol on you.

Set Some Ground Rules

Before you leave, have a conversation with your friends about your expectations. Set some ground rules. Specify a time to leave, along with a place to meet. This should avoid the hassle of convincing people that it’s time to go or trying to find lost friends.

Be on the Lookout for Open Containers

When it comes time to drive everybody home, make sure nobody is bringing any open containers. All it takes is one open container in your car for you to get a traffic ticket if you’re pulled over by a police officer. Any open alcohol containers will need to be either thrown out or secured in the trunk of your vehicle.

Know When to Book a Cab Instead

Last but not least, know when it’s in your best interest to hire a cab for the night instead. There are situations where you may not be comfortable being a designated driver. You may want to enjoy a few drinks–such as during a holiday party. If everybody in your group goes in a cab, the fare per person shouldn’t be expensive. Plus, you’ll save your driving record, and potentially lives as well!

These are just a few guidelines to keep in mind as you prepare for your first DD experience. By following these tips, you can be sure everybody has a good time and gets home safely.

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Some people feel that manual driving is a thing of the past because our high-tech world developed an alternative type of transmission. When in actuality, driving a stick shift is a lost art that gives you thrilling fulfillment and saves you a few bucks at the gas station. There are endless benefits to learning to master the art of shifting gears. The key points to follow highlight a few of the reasons why you will probably grow to love manual cars.

Traveling Abroad

The majority of the cars around the world, especially in Europe, were designed with manual transmissions. Hence, the reason why European cars are seen as sporty and cutting-edge. If you live in the Western Hemisphere, then manual cars are foreign to you.

The cool part about manual transmissions is that the gearbox and pedals are the same, so when you take a road trip across Europe you are even comfortable driving on the other side of the car.

Better Buy

A manual transmission is cheaper to build which is why the sale price of a manual is lower than that of an automatic transmission. Manual transmissions also pay off under the hood, with substantially lower costs for maintenance and repairs.

Besides the cost and other features of the manual cars, you will also develop a valuable technique which some people consider a form of art. Driving a stick shift enables to you drive any car. You should find security in knowing that you are prepared for emergency situations.

The Need for Speed

Have you ever heard someone say “Sticks are more fun!” Well, sports car enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies alike rate manual transmissions as their first choice in a vehicle. It is also said that with manual cars you have the “15% rule” which guarantees you an extra 15 percent of horsepower compared to an automatic. There are many reasons why most high-performance cars only use manual transmissions. They accelerate quicker, perform better, and don’t limit you as the driver. And when you are going that fast it’s important to remain in control of the car.

Most people like the feeling of having more control over the car anyway since they determine the level of power from the engine to the wheels. This also helps you to better react in inclement weather and other hazardous driving situations.

Fuel Economy

Getting better MPGs is as simple as driving a stick shift. The transmission weighs less, which absorbs fuel at a slower pace, thus saving you money. Even shifting into neutral when coasting to stops uses the least amount of fuel.

The cars most recently produced have amazing fuel and energy-efficient features that compete with that of a manual car. But don’t feel bad, think of stick shifts as the original energy conservation, fuel-efficient vehicle that it has always been.

No Distracted Driving

Are you the multi-tasking type, who can do it all? Well, if you are not then you will do just fine driving a stick shift. Although once you are used to manual driving and the feel of the car when you shift gears, you will be fine; however, it requires movement from your whole body. With your complete attention on the road and the car’s movement, you won’t have time to send that text or eat that burger!

Automatic transmissions are so boring! Embark on a new journey and learn how to drive a stick shift. It’s a handy skill and a respected craft. For more tips and information on the power of the stick shift, operating manual cars, and all of your other driving concerns, contact us.

Valet parking is an option that is very convenient for drivers. It allows them to avoid searching for parking places, which is a great time saver. In the past, valet parking was something that people expected to see at fancy restaurants, but this is no longer the case.

In today’s world, valet parking can be found just about anywhere. Hotels, casinos, and even malls now offer valet parking for the convenience of their customers. While this is very convenient, there are some things that you should keep in mind when you are relying on valet parking.

Safety

In order to be safe, it is always best to only rely on valet parking when the service is one that you can trust. There are times when some companies do not provide the type of service that is required to keep your vehicle safe.

If possible, ask about the policies that are in place if your vehicle becomes damaged while in the care of the valet. You should also ask where your vehicle will be parked and what protection elements are involved. Knowing this information will help you to know if your vehicle is safe when you are using valet services.

Be Prepared

It is also a great idea to be prepared when you plan to use valet services. Straighten up your car a bit before you head out for the evening so that you are not embarrassed that someone else is driving your car. Also, make sure that you have some cash on hand so that you can tip the person who is parking your vehicle.

Before you leave for the evening, it is also best to remove any valuables from your car. Most often, valet services are not responsible for items that go missing in your vehicle, so it is best to leave them behind. When you drop off your car, be sure to grab anything that you may need for the evening. For example, make sure that you don’t leave your wallet or cell phone in the vehicle.

Pay Attention

You are probably not the only person who is choosing to use valet services at the location that you are visiting. Keeping your attention on the driver ahead of you as well as the parking attendants is important. The goal of the valet is to move cars in and out of the loading area as quickly as possible. However, this will not be possible if the drivers are not paying attention to the process in front of them.

Sometimes the valet will open the door for you and other times they won’t. This depends on the location that you are at. At fancy restaurants, this is considered to be a standard part of the process. In other places, this may not be the case. If the valet does open the door, they will treat female passengers to this service before male passengers. Allowing them to go through the process of taking care of your passengers is the best way to receive the best service from your valet.

Valet parking is something that many drivers rely on and can be very helpful in a multitude of circumstances. However, in order to receive the most value from the service, it is always best to know a little about the process before you begin.

Keeping these things in mind when you are using valet services will help to keep you safe and secure throughout the evening. They are also items that will help make sure that your vehicle is treated properly and that you remain safe throughout the entire valet parking process.

Last week, August 3 to 9, was National Stop on Red Week, a campaign sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration. The campaign aimed to drive home the message that running a red light is unacceptable by reminding the public about the potential consequences.

At best, these include heavy fines and increased insurance costs. At worst, you could cause injury or death. In 2012, 683 people were killed and 133,000 were injured as a result of red-light crashes. More than half of those killed were people hit by the red light runner, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and occupants of other vehicles.

According to AAA, 93 percent of Americans already do consider it unacceptable to run a red light, but a third admitted that they had run a red light in the 30 days before the survey. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that running red lights, stop signs, and other traffic control devices is the leading cause of all urban crashes.

So if we already understand the consequences and know it’s not okay, why is red light running still so common?

The reality is that intersections are complicated and dangerous. When faced with a split-second decision, the safest option might not always be clear, especially if you’re not paying full attention to the road. Here are a few steps you can take to be prepared to stop safely at the next red light.

1. Recognize the “Dilemma Zone”

You’re approaching an intersection and the light changes from green to yellow. You’re already too close to stop comfortably, but can you make it across the intersection before the light turns red?

We’ve all been there, and traffic engineers have a name for this phenomenon – it’s called the dilemma zone. It’s a theoretical area about 2.5 to 5.5 seconds away from the stop line, where drivers have a 10 to 90 percent probability of stopping.

When a yellow light is too short, drivers can neither stop safely nor cross the intersection completely before the light turns red. By implementing a longer yellow signal, the dilemma zone can be eliminated.

But we’re only human, and that moment of indecision can’t be completely eliminated. Instead, the dilemma zone can become an “option zone,” where the yellow light is long enough that within that time and distance, either choice is safe and legal.

2. Know Yellow Light Laws

Approaching that yellow light can be even more nerve-racking if you’re not completely sure what it means. Do you have to stop if it’s safe to do so? What if the light turns red while you’re in the intersection?

The answers to these questions vary from state to state. There are three basic types of laws governing what drivers have to do at a yellow light:

  • In Louisiana, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and West Virginia, drivers may not be in the intersection at all while the signal is red. This means that it’s only legal to enter the intersection on yellow if it can be entirely cleared before the light changes to red.
  • In Connecticut, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin, drivers may only enter the intersection on yellow unless it is impossible or unsafe to stop.
  • In the remaining 37 states and Washington, DC, drivers may enter the intersection on a yellow light. Drivers may also legally be in the intersection while the red signal is displayed, as long as they entered while the light was still yellow.

3. Control Your Speed

Speed has a major impact on how efficiently and safely you can travel through stoplights.

Traffic engineers set the length of yellow and all-red signals based on how fast vehicles on the road are expected to travel, and the safe stopping distance they’ll need at that speed. Often, the posted speed limit is used as the assumed approach speed. If you’re driving faster than that speed limit, you’ll need a longer stopping distance, and the yellow light may not be long enough for you to come to a safe stop before the light turns red.

Driving the speed limit can even help you get to your destination faster and more efficiently. Many cities time green lights for vehicles going at or a little below the posted speed limit. As you may have noticed on streets you drive often, if you maintain just the right speed, you can catch a bunch of green lights in a row.

4. Never Drive Drowsy or Distracted

We’ve posted in the past about the danger of driving while using your cell phone, about other driving distractions like tending to child passengers and getting lost in your own thoughts, and about drowsiness, so we’ll keep this reminder brief.

It only takes a few seconds for the light to change from green to yellow, to red, and when we’re not paying full attention, it can be easy for a red light to escape our notice completely.

Don’t risk it. Only drive when you’re alert and rested, and if you absolutely must use your phone, find a safe place to stop.

Remember…

Intersections are the number one place for crashes to occur, so always be aware of other drivers and road users, even if it’s legally your turn to cross!

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New Year’s has a bad reputation as the most dangerous holiday to be on the road. While more total fatalities actually occur during other holiday periods, an average of 42% of New Year’s traffic fatalities are alcohol-related – a higher percentage than any other holiday period.

Ultimately, it’s each of our responsibility to decide not to drink and drive, and to encourage others to do the same. But it’s not always easy to speak up! Here are some tips to help you think through how you can help friends and family members make safe driving decisions this holiday season.

Make a Plan

Often, planning ahead can prevent drunk driving from ever becoming an issue at your social event.

  • Designate a driver before the drinking starts.
  • If you’re not sure everyone will be willing to stick to the plan, consider having everyone give up their car keys in advance.
  • Choose to take a cab or public transit in advance. Some cities offer free public transit on New Year’s Eve.
  • Discuss where everyone in your group will be staying that night.
  • Look into safe ride programs in your area.

But sometimes situations arise that you hadn’t anticipated. Maybe you meet up with people who didn’t arrive with you and don’t have a safe way to get home, or maybe someone wants to change the plan at the last minute.

In these situations, we know we’re supposed to speak up – but that can be hard to do!

You’re Not the Only One Worried

When somebody who seems drunk is getting ready to head out to their car and leave an event, and nobody else seems concerned, it’s tough to bring yourself to say anything about it.

While it might seem like you’re the only one thinking about it, others in your group are probably experiencing a similar dilemma. Think about how you’d feel if one of them spoke up at that moment. Relieved? Grateful? Others in the group will probably feel the same way, and may even voice their support and help make alternative suggestions.

What Will You Say?

Sometimes a simple “Hey, let me call you a cab” or offering them a couch to sleep on is enough to deter them. But other times, the person might continue to insist on driving. They might say things like…

  • I’m fine now.
  • It’s just a short drive.
  • I never get pulled over.
  • I won’t hurt anyone.
  • I’ve done it before and it’s always fine.
  • You don’t know me, you can’t tell if I’m drunk or not.

You can…

  • Suggest a more appealing alternative. Offer to wait for the cab with them, or suggest an activity you can do if they stay at your house. If others are also staying, point that out!
  • Have a private conversation. If you’re close friends with the person, you may have better success taking them aside and speaking with them privately. If you don’t know them well, try discreetly asking their friends to talk to them.
  • Be as non-confrontational as you can. Embarrassing the person will probably make them less willing to back down.
  • Remind them that you care. You don’t want them to get in trouble with the law or hurt themselves or others. Is the convenience of driving home really worth the possible consequences?
  • Enlist a friend. If you’re not having success convincing them by yourself, grab a friend of yours or theirs to help you – it’ll be harder for them to say no to more than one person
  • Remind them of how their decisions impact you or others. Many states have social host laws, which make a host who furnishes alcohol to guests liable for some or all guests’ actions. Be familiar with your state’s laws and know whether you or your host could be held responsible for damage or injury caused by a drunk driver leaving your gathering.

But if they won’t listen, what will you do next?

Last Resorts

Many resources suggest taking or hiding the person’s keys, and in particular, suggest doing so while they’re distracted so they’ll think they just misplaced them. But if the person is already trying to leave, this may not be possible.

This Mothers Against Drunk Driving brochure suggests letting the air out of their tires, or even moving the car yourself if you have not been drinking. However letting the air completely out of the tires could damage the wheels, making you liable for the damage, and moving the car without the owner’s permission could be considered unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Instead, we suggest being ready to report the drunk driver to your local police department. You can let them know that you don’t want to have to call the police, but that you will if they get behind the wheel.

Be prepared to follow through. Whether you call 911, your local police department, or a state hotline, you’ll need to provide…

  • A complete description of the vehicle. Include the make, model, and color of the car, and the license plate number if you have it available.
  • The location of the vehicle, including a street name and a cross street.
  • The vehicle’s direction of travel.

Don’t take any action that could compromise your own safety, like trying to detain the driver or stop the vehicle, and never get into a vehicle with a drunk driver.

Have a safe and happy New Year!

As you get ready for fall driving hazards like fallen leaves, icy roads, and sun glare, make sure you also stay alert for deer and other animals on the road. Collisions between vehicles and large mammals like deer are more common in October and November than at any other time of year, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

Wildlife vehicle collisions are severely under-reported, but the FHWA estimates that the total is between one and two million per year, and is increasing by about 6,800 crashes annually.

Here are some tips to help you anticipate animals on the road and reduce your risk of a costly crash.

Know When and Where to Watch Out

According to the New York Times, white-tail deer are the large mammals most often struck by vehicles. Nearly half of all crashes involving this species occur from October to December. Seasonal migrations, mating periods, and hunting seasons all cause more wildlife movement during this time.

Animal vehicle crashes occur most often in the morning, from 5 AM to 8 AM, and in the evening, from 4 PM to midnight. Animals are particularly active near dawn and dusk, which often coincides with peak commute traffic hours.

Most wildlife-vehicle collisions happen on low-volume, high-speed rural roads, which are also likely to be areas with high animal populations. Be particularly cautious in forested areas, where trees and foliage near the roadway could hide an approaching animal. Remember that where you see one animal, there are probably others nearby.

Modify Your Driving

Where animals are likely to be present, remember to reduce your speed to give yourself the best chance of stopping in time to avoid a crash.

Don’t count on deer whistles to deter deer. Although they’ve been in use for decades, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that they do not affect deer behavior. Instead, it’s best to slow down and scan the area ahead of you continuously for wildlife.

Wear Seatbelts and Helmets

An estimated 179 wildlife-vehicle collisions per year are fatal. While this only represents 0.5% of all fatal crashes, the IIHS reports that many of these fatalities were preventable:

  • 60% of people killed in animal-car collisions were not using safety belts
  • 65% of motorcyclists killed in collisions with animals were not wearing helmets

Don’t Swerve to Avoid an Animal

Most deaths in animal-vehicle collisions were not caused by impact with the animal, but by events that occurred after striking the animal.

80% of fatal animal-vehicle crashes involved only one passenger vehicle or motorcycle:

  • In 38% of these, a motorcyclist fell off the motorcycle after striking an animal.
  • In 36% of these, a passenger vehicle ran off the road and overturned or struck a fixed object after striking an animal.
  • In only 5% of these, the animal went through the windshield of the striking vehicle.

20% involved multiple vehicles:

  • In half of these, the animal became airborne when struck by one vehicle, and went through the windshield of a second vehicle.
  • In the other half of these, one vehicle struck an animal and then collided with other vehicles, or other vehicles also struck the animal and then went off the road.

If an animal darts out in front of you and a crash is unavoidable, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety advises applying your brakes firmly and remaining in your lane. Swerving can cause a more serious crash involving hitting other vehicles or fixed objects, running off the roadway, or overturning your vehicle.

What to Do If You Hit an Animal

If you or others are injured, call emergency services for assistance immediately.

Turn on your car’s hazard lights or use emergency road flares to warn oncoming traffic of the animal on the road.

If the animal has been hurt or killed, call the non-emergency number of your local police department. Give the location and condition of the animal, and be sure to state if the animal poses a traffic hazard that could cause additional collisions. The Humane Society advises that quick removal will also prevent scavengers from being attracted to the road.