DRIVING

Traffic School Programs for Driving Record Point Reduction

July 24, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

If you’re pulled over, know your rights.

You have just been handed a ticket, your third traffic violation of the year. One more ticket and your license will be revoked, never mind the increased insurance premiums and fines that will follow immediately. Careful driving will help you avoid future tickets and the completion of a traffic school course can remove some points from your driving record. Not all driving courses qualify, therefore do your research before investing your time and money in a program.

State Jurisdiction

Each state, territory, and district has complete jurisdiction over its drivers by issuing licenses, vehicle registrations, and tags to qualified individuals.

Your state’s department of motor vehicles assigns points for various moving violations, therefore an accumulation of points can cost you your license. Your driving information is also available to insurance companies with your premiums adjusted accordingly.

State-Approved Programs

Many states oversee programs that allow drivers to take defensive driving and refresher courses to improve their driving skills. These courses are typically available through private companies or corporations, businesses that are known as “course sponsors” in the state of New York.

New York’s Point & Insurance Reduction Program removes four points for drivers that successfully complete an approved program. Contact your state’s DMV for qualifying program information and point reduction guidelines.

Example Courses

Qualifying courses last at least 320 minutes in New York. In North Carolina, driving clinics last for four hours and are completed in one session. In Nevada, one-day traffic programs are taken online, courses that may take up to five hours to complete.

Approved programs in each state review driving knowledge and are geared toward improving driving skills.

State DMV Notification

Once you successfully complete and pass a driving course, the approved driving school forwards that information to your state. Your state determines how many points are removed and how soon those points come off of your driving record.

In New York, it can take up to 10 weeks to remove your points. In Idaho, drivers are issued a certificate of completion and must send their certificate to Boise for handling and the subsequent reduction of three points from their driving record. In California, the driving school notifies the state when a student has successfully passed its course.

Points, Fines, and Fees

The completion of a driver education program may reduce your points, but it may not reduce your fine. Moreover, you can expect to pay a fee for your class and you may also be charged a separate fee for your certificate.

To reinstate your license, your DMV will also charge a fee. States restrict how often drivers can take a traffic school course and how many points may be removed within a certain amount of time. In New York, drivers can lose up to seven points over five years, in Idaho drivers can have up to three points removed annually.

Reducing the number of points on your driving record may preserve your driver’s license. If your license is revoked, the successful completion of traffic school may restore your privileges, but fines, court costs, and lawyer fees will remain.

Hypermiling Defined!

August 1, 2019 by admin 2 Comments

Disclaimer: Never put yourself or other drivers in harm’s way when practicing some of these techniques which may, incidentally, be illegal in some jurisdictions.

Hypermiling with three pedals at the ready.

There is a group of people on the roads who seek to squeeze more miles out of a gallon of fuel than seems scientifically possible. Known as hypermilers, these individuals examine the EPA fuel ratings for their vehicles, then find ways to beat those numbers by 5, 10 or 20 or more miles per gallon.

Hypermiling may seem like some off-beat way of driving, but it just may be something that you are already embracing in a bid to save fuel. Let’s take a look at hypermiling and what it means for those who participate in this fuel-saving strategy.

Hypermiling Defined

Simply put, hypermiling is a process where car owners make adjustments to their vehicles or to their driving techniques (usually both) in an effort to maximize a vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

Such drivers typically operate their cars at lower speeds and engage in coasting to maximize their mileage. You should know that not every method here is safe and Auto Trends isn’t endorsing the practice, but we are pointing out the strategies that some drivers employ to increase their gas mileage.

Enhance the Tires

Importantly, never do anything with your tires to potentially harm them. Tires should always have sufficient tread and be inflated to the car manufacturer’s recommended pounds per square inch (PSI) rating when cold. Some drivers opt for low-roll resistance tires, which can increase fuel economy, but may also affect handling.

What some hypermilers like to do is to attach wheel skirts to the rear wheels in a bid to better manage airflow, a method used to increase fuel efficiency. If you install skirts, ensure that they are securely fastened, otherwise, they may fall off and litter the highway.

Kill Your Comfort

Serious hypermilers also resist using the air conditioning as they know that the climate control system is a drain on fuel efficiency. It is a comfort-killing method that can be brutal to employ on a warm day.

But keeping the A/C off isn’t enough — all windows must be tightly shut, otherwise, wind drag will adversely affect fuel economy. As you might imagine, this step is only for the truly dedicated people who can withstand intense heat and the odoriferous results.

Cruise and Speed Control

One of the best ways for all drivers to save on fuel is to activate the cruise control at highway speeds. However, you do not want to activate the cruise control when roads are wet as you may inadvertently cause your vehicle to spin.

Hypermilers, though, may not rely on cruise control as they prefer to be in control of the car’s speed at all times. On the highway you can see them in the right lane, typically going well below the speed limit and hugging the white line on the right side of the far-right lane.

Where hills are involved, a hypermiler practitioner may build some momentum while climbing and then cut off the engine while moving down the hill, coasting his way along before restarting the engine. This step is possible only if the steering wheel doesn’t automatically lock when the engine is turned off. As long as you have control of the wheel and your foot is ready to apply the brake, you can pursue this option.

Go Light as in Real Light

If the previously mentioned tips are leaving you frowning, there are some other methods of achieving higher fuel mileage that may be more to your liking. Certainly, a number of hypermiler techniques seem extreme and some are not particularly safe.

For the rest of us, you can squeeze more miles out of a gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel by doing the following:

1. Empty your trunk. For every 100 pounds of stuff in your trunk or behind your back seat, your vehicle fuel economy will fall by about 1 percent. As you might imagine, smaller cars benefit more from removing junk than larger vehicles.

2. Remove your roof rack. If you carry anything on the roof of your car, wind drag will harm fuel economy, dropping it by as much as 25 percent according to the EPA. Hypermilers not only avoid this practice, but they are also likely to remove the roof racks. However, they don’t stop there — some drivers remove the back seat and anything else inside the vehicle that can save weight without compromising safety.

3. Idling is awful. Hypermilers live for green lights and will often time their driving to avoid stops of any kind. You can’t always avoid the lights, but if you are stopped at an intersection for more than a minute or are waiting for a freight train to pass, cut off your engine and you will save fuel.

4. Start slowing and avoid braking. You will kill your fuel mileage if you employ any number of aggressive driving techniques, including rapid acceleration, quick braking, and speeding. Hypermilers essentially crawl away from a stop and gradually build back to their intended speed. When it comes to braking, they often do so only when absolutely necessary, timing their driving to pass through synchronized green lights.

Hypermiler Considerations

Devout hypermilers also employ a number of other strategies to help them improve their fuel economy. On highways, some prefer to ride immediately behind an 18-wheeler, allowing the big rig to absorb wind drag. The problem here is that some ride too close to trucks, thus the rig driver is not able to see them in his mirrors. Where a safety issue exists, avoid that practice.

Smart ways to save on fuel involve taking roads that are less traveled, taking advantage of tailwinds and avoiding crosswinds as well as headwinds. Taking to the road when the weather is warm, where traffic is light and when road conditions are favorable are other ways to save fuel. And if you have a GPS system, use it to avoid traffic delays or what can seriously hamper your fuel economy.

Notes

Jalopnik: Hypermiling Is Awful And I Sort Of Hate It — http://jalopnik.com/hypermiling-is-awful-and-i-sort-of-hate-it-1647016853

Ecomodder: 109 hypermiling / ecodriving tips — http://ecomodder.com/forum/EM-hypermiling-driving-tips-ecodriving.php

FuelEconomy.gov: Driving More Efficiently — http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.jsp

Photo attribution: Public domain photo via Wikimedia.

Smokefree Car Bans: When Children Are Present

February 13, 2014 by Jonathon Greyson Leave a Comment

Taking the puff out of smoking.

smokefree car

Britain will soon be enforcing what some Americans want to see on the books: legislation banning smoking in cars with children present. The British initiative was started by health campaigners and received support by the opposition Labour Party. That ban is expected to kick in by May 2015, just before the next UK general election.

Smokefree Cars

In advocating for the measure, supporters cited data revealing that children riding in cars with smoke present were more likely to suffer health problems. Specifically, passive or secondhand smoking can cause ear infections, an increased risk and severity of asthma attacks, respiratory problems and infections, and an elevated risk of sudden infant death syndrome notes the Centers for Disease Control.

The CDC says that all secondhand smoke not just in-cabin smoke causes an estimated 150,000 to 300,000 new cases of bronchitis and pneumonia annually for children aged 18 months or younger. Some 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations annually are also related to secondhand smoke for this age group.

State Smokefree Car Laws

In the United States, several states have laws in place that ban in-car smoking when children are present. On Jan. 1, 2014, Oregon began enforcing a law that makes it illegal to smoke in a car when children are present. It is a secondary law or what a police officer may cite only if the driver was stopped for another offense or violation.

Oregon defines children as anyone younger than 18. The maximum fine for the first time offender is $250. It rises to a maximum of $500 for each subsequent offense. California, Utah, Maine, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Puerto Rico also have smokefree car laws.

Campaigning for a Cause

Lobbying against smoking in cars is the Americans for Nonsmokers Rights (ANR), an advocacy organization formed in 1976 to preserve nonsmokers’ rights. ANR recognizes that laws alone will not stop secondhand smoking in cars and believes that educating the public about the health hazards would improve decision making about smoking in ways that harm other people.

Not everyone thinks that smokefree car laws are the way to go. British American Tobacco (BAT), whose brands include Lucky Strike, Kent, Pall Mall, and Viceroy, agrees that children should not be exposed to cigarette smoke in cars and other confined places. However, the company says that is concerned that the ban will someday be extended to include smoking when children are not present.

Smokefree New Zealand

The BAT position, however, appears to have little support and may do nothing to stop legislation from being enacted elsewhere. South Africa, Canada, Cyprus, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, also restrict smoking in cars with minors present. And where laws are not in place, educational campaigns may be used to persuade drivers to not light up as in New Zealand where the government has targeted 2025 for when that nation plans to become smoke free.

How to Drive in Winter

November 30, 2010 by admin 1 Comment

Let’s face it: at some point over the winter, you will encounter treacherous road conditions if you live or are passing through an area prone to icing. Black ice, blizzard conditions, howling winds, and careless drivers can make your trip a challenge, even life-threatening.

skid row — Careful winter driving can help you avoid dangerous skidding.

Staying off the road is the best advice, by letting the storm run its course and giving road crews a chance to clear everything away. However, sometimes you have to head out or finish your road journey lest you become stranded. Before setting out or continuing down the road, keep the following in mind to avoid becoming a road casualty:

Prep your car – Any car with maintenance issues should not be driven – you will only raise the specter of breaking down on the road. Your car should be tuned up, the oil changed, new wipers in place, fluids flushed and/or replenished, leaks handled and the car battery in optimal condition. Fill up your gas tank too. All-season radials are not sufficient for heavy snows – put on a pair of snow tires.

Bring supplies – Carry sandbags in your car for traction as well as for helping you to dig out should you become stuck. Bring along a shovel, brush, deicer, jumper cables, flash light, extra batteries, road flares, coolant, tools, rags, paper towels, duct tape, and tire inflator. You can visit Edmunds for tips on how to assemble a do-it-yourself emergency road kit.[1]

Recharge your phone – Bring along a cell phone and make sure it is fully charged before heading out. Carry a recharger with you and remember that your phone may not be able to connect in remote areas. However, with GPS capability, your active cell phone may help searchers find you.[2]

Check lights – Walk around your car to make sure that headlamps, tail lights, fog lights, turn signals, and brake lights are working. Replace burned-out bulbs.

Head out – Roads may appear clear, but black ice may be present. No vehicle, including 44 SUVs and cars with traction control and brake assist can stop a car from sliding. Start your trip off slowly and do not assume that road conditions will be the same from highway to highway. Stay in the right lane, turn the steering wheel slowly and gradually brake as needed. Sudden acceleration or braking can cause your car to spin out of control. Always turn your front wheels into a skid.[3]

Consider sharing your planned route with someone who will not be taking this trip with you. That way, if you do not arrive at your destination, emergency personnel can be sent out. If you belong to an auto club, have their toll free number handy in case you get stuck.

Bring along a blanket, food, and water. Pull off the road from time to time to clear off accumulating snow and ice. If coming to the aid of another stranded motorist, call 911 for assistance as needed.

Once you arrive at your destination, you will want to make sure that your car has made it through its adventure unharmed. Tires may need additional air and under the hood fluids replenished. Repeat the steps outlined earlier before returning or continuing with your trip.

References

[1] Edmunds: How To Create Your Own Roadside Emergency Kit

[2] LovetoKnow: How to Trace a Cell Phone Location

[3] Department of Energy – Ask a Scientist: Skidding Direction

See Also — 7 Winter Storage Tips for Classic Cars

“Skid Row” by Tiberiu Ana is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Winter Driving Means Exercising Special Precautions Throughout The Season

December 30, 2008 by admin 1 Comment

Cold air has pushed down from Canada while moisture is moving east out of the Rockies, a dynamic mixture that means only one thing: snow, ice and freezing rain will impact all of the midwest and northeast over the next few days, making driving treacherous in some areas. Certainly, if you don’t have to be out on the roads during the worst of natures fury, you’ll want to ride this storm out.

It seems that the auto clubs and insurance companies are each doing their part to alert drivers of the pending problems of venturing out on the highway during the worst of the weather, urging people to wait the storm out. But, as we all know, work beckons and some of us are still away from home during the holiday season and needing to get back to where we live. A one day delay may not be possible for everyone.

“The best defense is preparation,” said Mike Convery, chief claim officer at MetLife Auto & Home. “Experience has shown us that many winter-related claims are avoidable, which is why it’s important to make sure your vehicle’s well-equipped and in good condition to take on the cold weather. By taking precautions, and being aware of what actions to take when you’re on the road, you may be able to avoid a serious accident and protect your loved ones from injury.”

Before the snow starts to fall, consider the following:

Give your vehicle a tune-up. Check the level of antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid, and make sure the battery is fully charged. If you haven’t changed your wiper blades in the past six months, purchase a fresh set.
Inspect your tires for bulges and uneven wear. If you get stuck in the snow, worn tires won’t be much help. Worn tire can also create potentially dangerous situations, too, such as a blowout on the road.
Keep emergency gear in your car. Make sure you have things like a flashlight, jumper cables, ice scraper, shovel, and snow brush, windshield wiper fluid, and warning devices (such as flares). Also, consider packing a “winter survival kit” that includes blankets, a bright piece of cloth to tie to your antenna, a flashlight with spare batteries, non-perishable foods, such as candy bars, and waterproof matches.

Snow, ice, and extreme cold can also cause problems for vehicles, especially during snow and ice storms, when driving can become treacherous. When braving the winter weather:

Drive slowly. Let someone know what route you’re taking and when you plan to arrive, so they can take action and alert authorities, if you don’t get there or are unreasonably delayed.
Consider the road conditions. Driving over the speed limit—or even at normal speed that would be considered unreasonable based on the conditions —can be hazardous, and the extra time you gain isn’t worth the risk.
Avoid ice patches. Avoid icy skids by matching your speed to the road conditions and taking precautions on curves and turns by slowing down in advance. Also, remember that ice patches are particularly common on-ramps, bridges, and overpasses, which tend to freeze first.
Slide smart. To bring a sliding car under control, remove your foot from both the accelerator and brake pedals, unless your vehicle has an antilock braking system (ABS). In that case, depress the brake pedal as hard as possible until the vehicle stops moving. Meanwhile, turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the front wheels to go and continue steering and counter steering.

Even with the best of precautions, your car may still end up stuck in a snowbank. Above all, don’t panic: try to push the snow out of the way of the wheels, by turning the steering wheel from side to side a few times or digging out with a shovel. Ease forward, keeping a light touch on the gas, and don’t spin the wheels or you’ll dig yourself in deeper. Rock the vehicle, shifting from forward to reverse and back again. If this doesn’t work, use your cell phone to call for help and then wait in your car, because it’s easy to get disoriented in the snow.

To stay warm, turn on the motor for 10 minutes every hour for heat, and make sure you have your window open a crack, for fresh air. Check to ensure that snow is not blocking the exhaust pipe. For best visibility, light two flares and place one at each end of the car, a safe distance away.

I also recommend that drivers not leave home without some sort of auto club arrangement in place. We’ve had a lot of success with AAA over the years, an auto club that provides towing, lockout service, car restart and other services. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a snowbank somewhere and needing the state to shovel you out – you’ll be responsible for that bill and you could end up causing a much worse accident!

Source: MetLife Auto & Home