Archive for 2014

Put your knowledge to the test!

Believe it or not most people feel that they are pretty good drivers. It is not something that people are very good at self-assessing. When looking at this subject online it is amazing how many sites are willing to rate your driving skills for you. Some of the sites are fairly legitimate (http://goo.gl/ExNiZ3) and some are just silly (http://goo.gl/cAl4K3). This last one has the category of “Good enough to get away from a group of zombies” as a realistic assessment of your skills.

But what they most have in common are a set of good, common sense questions to help you determine if your skills are up to snuff or maybe, just maybe, you might need a little refresher course (WirelessDefensiveDriving.com of course!). Questions about how you stick to the speed limit, whether you check your mirrors, use your turn signals and how you grip the steering wheel.  All very objective, which is why most of us come out looking better than we probably should.

There is one thread in most of the listings for rating your skills: Most people admit that others might not see them as quite as good as they see themselves. Comments such as “I would give myself an 8 but my wife or friends would probably say 4 or 5” abound. There are numerous chat rooms that concur with this idea that we may be just over inflating our own abilities a smidge. Like I said, all very objective.

But lo and behold, just as I was becoming convinced that there was no realistic way to judge one’s driving, I discover: There’s an App for That! Actually I found 2! On the Google Play page I found the Rate My Driving app for Android then saw another called Motor Mate by Confused.com. Both function in about the same way by monitoring driving behavior using  GPS data. The app knows where you are driving and records how you react to road types, situations and driving environments. It does this by looking at how you brake, your speed, taking corners, slowing and speeding up, etc.

One app claims to be able to give you a clear picture of your driving ability after you have driven 250 miles. They say by driving 250 miles the score is an accurate reflection of your ability across a variety of road types, times, environments and situations. At least one of these apps is sponsored by an insurance company.

Whether you go online to take a survey or use an app on your phone it is always a good idea to refresh your driving skills by taking a defensive driving course. It can also often reduce your insurance premiums. Check with your insurer then log into WirelessDefensiveDriving.com.

This weekend 36 million people will get on the road. The weather is finally good, winter is over, and we are all looking to get out of Dodge for some fun. You can already smell the grill and hear the laughing. Taking the family on the road for a couple of days of fun is one of our most beloved things to do.

Road trips are one activity we enjoy doing together. No, we are not always laughing and cheerful, we do travel with teens after all, but at the end of the day, we do have a good time.

This weekend, while on the road, we will talk about Memorial Day, what it means to give up things for the greater goods and something bigger than any of us. Of course paying attention is only possible between answering to a tweet, vine, post or whatever else is critical and needs to be addressed right-at-this-moment. We will talk about our parents, our family, friends and their sacrifices at home and around the world.

Strapped next to each other in a moving car, will not necessarily make us a captivated audience, but surely a captive one. (Tip: Always have the child-lock engaged on the rear doors).

We will try not to be in a hurry to get there. I am the one that needs most help in with that. Thankfully plenty of people in the car will make sure we’ll pull over for jerky, sweet tea, frequent bathroom stops and of course Dairy Queen.

We will plan a time to arrive at destination, but we will never actually make it on time. Getting there eventually is a much better plan than not getting there at all.

Aggressive driving, sleepy driving, drunk driving, distracted driving have no place in a car full of people barreling down the road at the speed limit (ok, maybe a couple of miles over the limits). All you have to do is drive. Really, just drive, as in, ONLY drive. There is enough going on in the car and on the road around you to keep you busy. You don’t need to be a killjoy or a downer, but remind your passengers, with whatever threats necessary, that you are trying to just drive.

Be nice, have fun and paraphrasing Dylan, take care of making good memories for you cannot relive them.

David @ WDD

HOW OLD IS TOO OLD TO BE A SAFE DRIVER?

When it comes to driving safely is there a point when a person is too old? This is a question posed across the country every time an elderly person accidentally hits the gas instead of the brake and injures a number of people. Not too long ago this happened to a man in California who is 100 years old, with a valid driver’s license, no record of violations, who claims his brakes failed when he hit a group of nine children. There were injuries, but fortunately not severe. California has been taking a closer look at their laws on this subject after this and numerous other incidents.

Wrong Pedals. When A Driver Is Too Old To Be A Defensive Driver?

In Texas renewing your license is pretty easy and often can be done electronically with the regular renewal being every 6 years. But electronic renewal is not an option in Texas for people 79 or over and when you reach 85 you must renew your license every 2 years. This is no doubt to make certain you still meet the standards because of physical or mental infirmities. If there is any doubt of an older persons ability Texas may require applicants to undergo physical or mental exams or re-take the standard licensing tests for vision, as well as the written and road tests. A medical review board of health care professionals may also be called into this decision.

The DMV can decide to renew a license after this review or refuse to do so.  It can also restrict, suspend or revoke a license. Sometimes it is as simple as prohibiting night driving or restricting how far an older person can drive. Typically motorists age 70 and older drive less frequently than other age groups, but, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, they contribute more to the rate of accident fatalities. The death rate per mile traveled for drivers over 85 is 4 times that of the 30-59 age group. According to the NHTSA, senior drivers have trouble judging distances and speed causing a number of accidents.

A driver’s license represents a person’s independence and relinquishing it can be a traumatic experience. As our population ages, we will continue to address this issue. Right now 1 in 8 drivers are considered elderly but more than 1 in 5 will be 65 or older within the next 15 years.

Whether older or younger, a great way to refresh oneself on the rules of the road in Texas is to sign up at WirelessDefensiveDriving.com.

Heads Up To Defensive Drivers – Speed Limits Going Up In North Texas.

Speed limits have a way of going up and down in Texas, much as the temperature does! The state is divided into many regions and in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area we have a planning group called the Regional Transportation Council that works with the North Central Texas Council of Governments to set these speed limits. If these changes are approved by state and federal agencies then the Department of Transportation will begin putting up new signs.

If approved speed limits on some highways will go from 60 to 65 (I20, Loop 820 and Texas 121 in central Ft. Worth, Grapevine, North Richland Hills and cities in or near the center of Tarrant County) Others would go from 65 to 70. For a map of proposed speed limit changes check out: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/20130811-speed-limits-could-go-up-on-some-dallas-area-highways.ece

Why the changes in speed expectations? Actually it is simple. In 2001 speed limits were reduced in order to reduce pollution from auto emissions. You may remember that at the time Texas was struggling to find ways to meet EPA requirements. Pollution was a substantial problem in the state at the time and the federal government had enacted tough federal pollution reduction laws.

What has changed in 13 years? According to the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, many pollution issues have been addressed through other means. Better traffic signal timing, the use of technology to warn motorists of bottlenecks and restrictions on trucks in the left lanes of highways are just a few. In addition emission requirements have been more stringent for cars and trucks and the equipment has become more efficient.

According to the Dallas Morning News these changes would not take place for at least 6 months. So until you see new signs go up stick to the posted speed limits on your favorite Texas highways. And if you exceed that and get ticketed contact us at wirelessdefensivedriving.com. We have been doing defensive driving in Texas for a long time and have helped tens of thousands of drivers over the years.

Our online, built for mobile devices, defensive driving course is approved by the Texas Eduction Agency, the only regulating agency in the state. If you would like to take our course for free it is all available at our Youtube Channel.