My Improv New York | Defensive Driving

May 15, 2012

NYSP Rolling Checkpoint Nets Six DUI

New York State Police are well aware that the recent emphasis has been on distracted drivers, but that does not mean they are ignoring other, similarly dangerous forms of driving such as speeding, reckless driving and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

This past December the National Transportation Safety Board released a study which seemed to indicate that deaths attributed to distracted driving now outnumber those attributed to driving under the influence of alcohol. Some have questioned the validity of that research pointing out that it is difficult to determine whether or not distracted driving was the actual cause of these crashes of just a coincidence. Similar arguments are often made concerning drivers under the influence of alcohol, but scientists have confirmed that both these actions-driving while distracted or driving drunk does impair your ability to operate a vehicle. Specifically, both these actions inhibit your movement, slow your reaction time and lead drivers to lose focus on the road ahead of them.

Drunk driving laws have been enforced for decades and the impact on the number of fatalities caused by DUI has been dramatic. This has lent credence to the effort to enact a nation wide ban on distracted driving, although there remains some resistance.

While legislators argue over the merits of a distracted driving ban, police focus on existing laws, and enforcing public safety on the roads and highways.

A New York State Police roving DWI sobriety enforcement details, concentrated on Route 6 in Cortlandt and on the Sprain Brook Parkway on May 11 and 12, resulted in the arrest of six drivers for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. They also issued 12 speeding tickets and 38 other citations for a variety of traffic related infractions.

This is a win for the state police whose job it is to enforce existing traffic laws, but it also a win for public safety.

May 11, 2012

New York Taxi Cab Fleet Scrutinized

If New York Mayor Michale Bloomberg had his way, all of the New York taxi cabs would be hybrid vehicles right now getting 30-mpg or more.

Unfortunately his 2007 push to convert the fleets met stiff opposition from the taxi cab owners lobby who argued that hybrid vehicles were less safe and more expensive and therefore were an undue burden on the industry.

Bloomberg is still pushing for improvements in the taxi cab fleet as a way of decreasing the amount of carbon emissions. Already about 30 percent of the New York taxis on the road today are hybrid vehicles–a dramatic improvement from where they were 10 years ago, when hybrid cars were mostly unheard of.

There is still quite a way to go. A new plan to convert all existing taxi cabs from the now discontinued Ford Crown Victoria to the Nissan NV200. These new vehicles will offer a slight decrease in fuel consumption, but are still a far cry from the hybrid vehicles Bloomberg had wanted to see in place.

Switching from a Ford Crown Victoria to a Toyota Prius would save taxi cab drivers about $25 a day in fuel costs, given that they drive about 1,300 miles a week. However, the advantages of using the Crown Victoria, which has replacement parts which are readily available and therefore cheap, are not to be overlooked.

Until hybrid vehicles are as common as mass produced fossil fuel powered vehicles it seems unlikely they will ever be considered a viable alternative for taxi cab companies. As for safety standards, all vehicles on the roads today must pass rigid standards enforced by the National Highway Traffic safety Administration, and therefore offer the same level of safety.

When it comes to vehicle safety the difference between a hybrid vehicle or a straight fossil fuel powered vehicle the point is moot. The savings on fuel and the limited amount of carbon emissions simply cannot be argued. It is real and it is coming soon to a taxi cab near you.

May 10, 2012

New York Drivers Risk Suspension For Unpaid Tickets

You might think an unpaid parking ticket is nothing to worry about, but you would be mistaken. In fact, New York state is one of a growing number of states which provides severe penalties for drivers who decide against paying their parking tickets, even going as far as suspending their license when the tickets go unpaid for too long, or when the debt becomes too high.

For those of you who think that it’s ok for you to ignore your parking tickets since you live “across the river” New Jersey does the same thing.

There is another consideration as well: states are working feverishly to connect their department of motor vehicle information, so if you do something wrong in one state, you can’t just go to the neighboring state to get a fresh start.

What is at stake for these states is millions of dollars in so far unpaid fines. They want their money, especially as the Recession continues to weight down local, national and global economies. Their best efforts to collect these unpaid fines come only when they provide a swift and severe penalty to people who do not pay. If they just let you keep racking up the parking fines you are likely to go on racking up the parking fines. If they suspend your license for it, however, you not only have to pay your parking fines you also get socked with a driver’s license reinstatement fee as an added deterrent.

In the United States today a driver’s license is very important if you work or go to school or just need to get to the grocery store once a week. There is no other way to travel if not by your own transportation. So the threat of losing your license should be enough to convince every driver to pay their parking tickets before they lose their privileges.

May 9, 2012

Obese Drivers Need Seat Belts Too

A new study by the University of Buffalo in New York shows that obese drivers are much less likely to wear their seat belts than anyone else.

For the most part they do it because of the discomfort involved in trying to squeeze their frame into and around the seat belt strap. Unfortunately, despite their larger frames they are no less at risk of serious injury in the event of a crash than anyone else.

The university looked at data from more than 300,000 crashes and found that someone with an average sized frame was nearly 70 percent more likely to wear their seat belt than someone who obese. Even being slightly over weight meant that person was less likely to wear their seat belt.

The study does not offer any solutions for the problem of obese drivers not wearing their seat belts, but repeated studies have shown that wearing a seat belt dramatically decreases the risk of suffering a serious injury or even a fatality as a result of a crash.

Because seat belts are required to be worn by every one who drives the road in America, police officers are also no less inclined to issue citations to drivers who refuse to buckle-up regardless of their weight or size.

New York defensive drivers understand the importance of wearing their seat belts regardless of comfort, because they recognize that wearing a seat belt dramatically reduces the likelihood they will suffer injury or death as a result of a vehicle crash. Whether driving or just riding as a passenger, seat belts have repeatedly shown their value when it comes to saving lives and preventing injury.

For drivers, wearing a seat belt is not only a good idea, it’s also the law. And it is well worth enduring a little discomfort in exchange for a greatly increased measure of safety.

May 5, 2012

3,000 Distracted Driving Tickets In 7 Days

During the second “Operation Hang Up” in New York, state troopers handed out more than 3,100 citations to drivers who refused to put down their handheld devices while driving.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the fact that so many tickets were handed out during the well publicized effort to control distracted driving was proof that some drivers simply weren’t getting the message. It also makes it all that much more likely future “Operation Hang Up” events will happen.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee funds Operation Hang Up campaigns through a Distracted Driving Enforcement Grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant enables the State Police to focus patrol resources on the issue of distracted driving and supplements their conventional traffic safety and enforcement efforts. Similar enhanced enforcement periods will be conducted in the future. The first Operation Hang Up enhanced enforcement campaign took place over last year’s Thanksgiving Holiday, during which the New York State Police ticketed more than 800 drivers.

New York seems to be on the right track when it comes to cracking down on distracted drivers. Increased enforcement has produced tremendous results which is a tell-tale sign that lots of people are violating the law, even in the face of what has been a very public effort to combat them and get them to put the devices down.

Last year there were nearly one million crashes caused by distracted driving. About a third of those crashes resulted in a fatality, making distracted driving the leading cause of traffic fatalities, outpacing even fatalities caused by driving under the influence.

Cuomo has made it clear he has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to distracted driving within his state and he expects local and state police to follow his lead. What is unclear is how well, or how quickly, New York drivers will get the message, out down their handheld devices and learn to drive without distractions.

May 3, 2012

Improvements Coming To Bronx River Parkway

Just days after a tragic vehicle crash caused the deaths of seven members of the same family driving on the Bronx River Parkway, state transportation officials have announced plans to make immediate changes to the roadway.

Sisters Maria Nunez, 39, and Maria Gonzalez, 45, Gonzalez’s daughter Jocelyn, 9, Nunez’s daughters Marlyn, 3, and Niely, 7, and the children’s grandparents Jacob Nunez, 85, and Ana Julia Martinez, 81, died Sunday. They died near the spot where at least two previous fatal accidents had occurred under similar circumstances.

Police vehicle accident investigators reported that the driver of an SUV which plummeted off a bridge near the Bronx Zoo was going 68 mph on a narrow portion of the road marked with a 50 mph speed limit. This, they say, was a contributing factor to the crash. However, they also admit that if the concrete barrier on the edge of the road had been higher, or a curb had been removed, or the speed further reduced in the area, the crash might have been avoided.

New York state DOT Commissioner Joan McDonald said in a written statement, “The New York State Department of Transportation shares community concerns about the safety of the Bronx River Parkway in the wake of the tragic crash that claimed the lives of seven family members on April 29.”

McDonald said the department will install concrete barriers along the outer travel lane on both the northbound and southbound lanes over the viaduct at the Bronx Zoo, as well as two other similarly constructed viaducts south that cross over East Tremont Avenue and the Amtrak lines

No doubt changes to the roadway will help prevent further similar crashes in the area, but an emphasis on safe driving certainly couldn’t hurt. Not all roadways are 100 percent safe at all times and some roadways are definitely dangerous no matter what time of day you drive on them. Drives who focus on their defensive driving skills will be a much better position to protect themselves and everyone who shares the road with them from the dangers of traffic crashes.

May 1, 2012

‘AAA’ Says Unsafe Road To Blame For Tragedy

Following a devastating motor vehicle crash this past Sunday that killed seven members of the same family, the American Automobile Association is calling for New York state to replace or repair a large section of the Bronx River Parkway because it “lacks modern transportation engineering features.”

Police traffic investigators said the driver of the SUV involved was traveling at almost 70 miles per hour, lost control, struck a concrete barrier, over-corrected and sent the vehicle over the guardrail where it plunged almost 60 feet to the ground, killing everyone inside.

This particular stretch of the Bronx River Parkway was the scene of another traffic fatality caused when that vehicle also plunged over the guard rail. In fact, three sections of the parkway in the Bronx, including one at or near the accident site, are on the state Transportation Department’s 5 Percent List, a federally mandated report of locations “exhibiting the most severe highway safety needs.”

The state is likely taking a good hard look at this section of road, possibly planning to make at least some modifications to improve safety for all drivers who use it.

The state Department of Transportation’s only comment was an email message that said, “We are working closely with all agencies involved to determine the cause of this tragic accident.”

On the highway, just before the accident site, is a sign that warns of “Limited Sight Distance” on the six-lane parkway, which runs north-south between the south Bronx and central Westchester County.

The accident was the second in the past year where a car fell off the same stretch of the parkway; the earlier accident wasn’t fatal. In 2006, six people were killed on the parkway when one car crossed the median into oncoming traffic.

Police said Maria Gonzalez of the Bronx was driving south at 68 mph when she bumped a concrete barrier separating the north- and southbound lanes. With one tire damaged, her Honda Pilot skittered across three lanes of traffic, hit a 2-foot-high concrete curb and went airborne, clearing a 4-foot-tall guardrail.

April 27, 2012

NYSP Distracted Driving Campaigns Net 65,000 Citations

In 2012 alone, the New York distracted driving ban has resulted in police handing out 65,000 citations to violators. This news comes during a week long effort to enforce the state ban on the use of handheld devices by drivers called, “Operation Hang Up.”

New York State Police have been out in force this week, specifically looking for drivers who flaunt the ban on handheld devices, making traffic stops and issuing tickets. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has spoken publicly about his support of the ban and the increased enforcement.

“It is illegal to use a handheld electronic device while you are operating a motor vehicle, period,” Cuomo said at a Manhattan news conference Tuesday. “And we’re going to enforce the laws to change the culture.”

This week is the second campaign against distracted driving in less than six months. The first campaign was conducted over the last Thanksgiving holiday and resulted in 800 tickets being handed out. Both campaigns are funded through a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that was earmarked for anti-distracted driving programs. Cuomo has said publicly that he expects similar campaigns will be conducted in the future, and will continue to be conducted until drivers get the message that distracted driving is against the law, and in some cases, deadly.

The National Transportation Safety Board has reported that distracted driving is responsible for more deadly crashes than drunk driving. last year, according to the NTSB, there were more than 3,000 fatal crashes caused by distracted driving, prompting them to suggest a nation wide ban on distracted driving was needed.

New York state has one of the most strict and comprehensive bans on distracted driving in the nation. Last year Governor Cuomo issued an order making violation of the ban a primary offense, giving police the authority to make traffic stops and issue citations to anyone they see in violation of the ban.

April 26, 2012

New York Distracted Driving Crackdown Success

This week New York State Troopers began ‘Operation Hang Up‘ which was designed to focus primarily on drivers who flaunt the state’s comprehensive ban on handheld devices. In the first 12 hours of the campaign more than 150 motorists were cited for violations.

The current campaign began April 23 and continues through April 29, with state troopers coming down hard on any driver who risks paying attention to the their handheld device instead of their driving skills.

This is the second ‘Operation Hang Up’ conducted by New York State Troopers. During the first campaign, conducted over the Thanksgiving holiday, more than 800 drivers were cited for violating the comprehensive handheld devices ban.

Governor Andrew Cuomo told news agencies this week that the success of both campaigns means more distracted driving campaigns are likely in the future. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee funds Operation Hang Up campaigns through a Distracted Driving Enforcement Grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The money funds the department’s specific enforcement of the state’s distracted driving laws.

The added focus on distracted driving has been extremely effective, even when there hasn’t been an active campaign. During the first quarter of 2012 New York State Troopers handed out more than 65,000 citations for distracted driving, setting a standard for what will and will not be accepted from drivers.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, distracted driving now accounts for more traffic related fatalities than driving under the influence of alcohol. The NTSB recommended that all states enact a total ban on the use of handheld devices, but New York already had one of the most comprehensive bans on distracted driving in the country. Last summer New York made it a primary offense for drivers to using handheld devices behind the wheel, empowering police to stop people they saw violating the ban and issue citations on the spot. They also raise the penalties for first time offender and subsequent offenses.

April 24, 2012

NYSP Prepares For ‘Operation Hang Up’

This week New York State Police are focusing nearly all their attention one specific driving infraction: distracted driving.

Thus begins ‘Operation Hang Up‘ the first new York State Police focused effort on reducing the number of distracted drivers on state roads and highways. The effort will require stepped up enforcement of existing laws, more patrols on the streets and more attention to exactly what all those drivers they pass are doing.

New York has one of the strictest anti-distracted driving laws in the country. They ban the use of cell phones or devices for texting while driving. Penalties are severe and police are authorized to stop and cite any drivers they see violating the law. There is no wiggle room. If you try to text and drive, or chat on your cell phone while you are driving, and police catch you, you will be cited for distracted driving.

By emphasizing enforcement of distracted driving laws in New York, state police are hoping to raise awareness not only of the existing law, but also of the dangers of distracted driving itself.

According to a recent report by the National Transportation Safety Board, more serious vehicle crashes are caused by distracted driving than those caused by DUI. That’s a first in the history of automobiles, but given the ubiquitous nature of digital devices the trend is only likely to continue if police and law makers don’t step up their vigilance.

For now, police are emphasizing the new laws in New York in every way possible, both to educate drivers and keep the roads safe. In other states where police have focused enforcement on distracted driving a weeks worth of enforcement usually results in hundreds of citations. By this time next we will know for sure what effect the NYSP stepped-up enforcement had, but it seems likely they will at least catch a few distracted drivers.

April 19, 2012

New York Driving School Now Reality Television

A new reality television show on ‘A&E’ is offering many people a close-up look at the trials and tribulations of driving school instructors and the challenges they face every day.

The school is owned by Steve Ruppaner and based in Astoria, New York. The show is a mix of humor and tragedy as inexperienced drivers take their turn behind the wheel on busy New York streets.

To be fair, the students are people who have repeatedly had trouble passing their driving test, not young, first-time drivers (although there will likely be a few of those.) The show is called “Last Chance Driving School” for a reason. These are mostly drivers who have had a serious problem learning how to safely operate a motor vehicle and have come to school as a last-chance salvation.

There is no better way to learn to drive than to get behind the wheel and try it. Nothing can replace the feel of being behind the wheel of a real automobile, on an actual street, in normal traffic. When drivers learn their skills in unpopulated areas and then venture to congested areas, that is when trouble often ensues.

Driving schools are a great way for inexperienced drivers to get the skills and experience they need without setting off alone on busy streets. Especially when those busy streets take them through New York City. Having a reality show based on the experiences of these driving school instructors might be a wake-up call for some drivers who continue to believe that they have all the skills they need to drive safely. It might also serve as a lesson to those who remain unable to master good safe driving skills, letting them know that there is always help available and that they should never stop perfecting their skills as good defensive drivers.

April 17, 2012

NYSP Conduct “Operation Hang Up”

April is Distracted Driving Awareness month and this has not slipped unnoticed past the New York State Police. This month they are conducting “Operation Hang Up” which will focus on drivers violating the state’s ban on the use of any and all handheld devices by drivers.

New York has some of the toughest laws on distracted driving in the United States. Even before the National Transportation safety Board released its findings that distracted driving caused more fatal crashes than driving under the influence of alcohol (last December) New York already had a comprehensive ban on the use of handheld devices and texting by drivers. When the NTSB asked all states to immediately ban the use of handheld devices, new York stepped up their vigilance against distracted driving and made the use of these banned items by drivers a primary offense, meaning police could make stops on violators and issue citations on the spot.

Now state police are getting into the game, issuing tickets to drivers they see cruising the state highways with cell phones in hand, either talking or texting. This is resulting in a win fall of extra revenue for the state, which they can in turn use to promote driver awareness not only of the state law banning the use of these devices, but also on the dangers of distracted driving in general.

The NTSB study was not the only one which showed a dramatic rise in the number of crashes and traffic fatalities caused by distracted driving. A UC Berkely study, and a number of independent insurance company studies also point to a rise in distracted driving crashes as a sign of the changing tide in dangerous driving. With added enforcement and new laws coming into play more and more drivers are going to receive a serious wake-up call when it comes to distracted driving. And who knows, all this attention might finally get through to those drivers who still think its ok to email, update their Facebook status, of chit-chat on the cell when they are supposed to be focusing on driving safely.

April 13, 2012

New York Screening Commercial Drivers For Sleep Apnea

This past year has seen New York state law makers putting an emphasis on commercial transportation. The has been fraught with dangers for passengers who ride the many commercial bus tourist and transportation lines. At least one commercial driving school has been shuttered following an investigation into a scheme meant to help people cheat on the commercial driving test; and new standards for commercial bus safety have been instituted statewide.

Now New York commercial truck drivers who might be at risk for developing or already have sleep apnea are coming under federal scrutiny. U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in conjunction with the American Transportation Research Institute of the American Trucking Associations, will begin screening commercial driver’s license holders thought to be susceptible to sleep apnea. The individuals who will be selected for screening will be those with a body mass index of 35 or above. If you have a number that high you will be forced to undergo mandatory sleep apnea testing or have to surrender your commercial driving privileges.

It is believed that sleep apnea sufferers are under stress brought about by their inability to get a good nights sleep. This stress can create fatigue which can lead to drivers falling asleep at the wheel, reduced attention span or reaction times and an inability to focus. Sleep apnea sufferers are prone to excessive snoring and often have trouble breathing while they are asleep. They are also known to have a high body mass index.

There is no known cure for sleep apnea. Treatments vary and results of those treatments vary even more widely.

It is not yet clear what will become of commercial drivers who test positive for sleep apnea. There are currently no plans to remove their licenses or prevent them from driving or working, but it seems likely that some further measures will be taken once the risk of sleep apnea has been identified.

April 11, 2012

New York Law Fights Distracted Driving

When it comes to distracted driving New York state legislators, the governor and local and state police have a zero tolerance attitude. State law specifically bans drivers from using any hand-held mobile telephone except to call 911 or to contact medical, fire or police personnel about an emergency.

For drivers who violate the law the penalties are swift and severe. Police have been empowered to stop motorists they see violating the law and can issue citations on the spot. Anyone who receives a traffic ticket for violating the law will pay a maximum fine of $100 and mandatory surcharges and fees of up to $85. For offenses committed on and after October 5, 2011, this violation also carries three driver violation points. You can visit a certified New York Traffic School to keep the points off your license, but you’re going to pay for the privilege, plus, you’ll still have to pay the fine.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board distracted driving is the leading cause of fatal traffic accidents in the United States, eclipsing even those crashes caused by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. New York enacted their distracted driving law summer of last year, prior to the NTSB findings, but have since re-doubled their efforts, focusing on distracted driving.

And the state did not stop at cell phone use by drivers, they also included the more deadly serious offense of texting while driving.
New York State law now prohibits all drivers from using portable electronic devices, such as cell phones and smart phones, to send text messages or emails while driving. (Emails? People are sending emails while driving?!) The penalty for a violation of this law is a fine of up to $150 plus mandatory surcharges and fees of up to $85. Like the punishment for using a cell phone driving, this violation also carries three driver violation points.

If you’re planning on driving in New York state do yourself a favor and lock your cell phone in the glove box. The alternative, especially if you’re tempted to use it, just isn’t worth the risk.

April 9, 2012

New York Funds Better Bus Inspections

Following a year that saw more than its fair share of bus crashes in New York, state Governor Andrew Cuomo has found an extra $1 million to fund an initiative that would completely change the way buses are inspected.

The New York State Department of Transportation reportedly conducts more than 150,000 bus inspections every year. When the changes Cuomo has proposed goes into effect it will change the previous method of inspecting every bus several times a year to a performance-based system in which the companies with the worst safety records receive more inspections than those companies which have a safer record. All companies will still get at least two inspections a year, even those with the very best safety records.

The move is meant to increase bus safety in the state. This past year Cuomo suspended the operating licenses of 8 charter bus companies after they repeated failed numerous inspections.

Last year the New York Department of Transportation made 2,000 surprise roadside inspections and state police issued 197 tickets. Follow this clamp down, 173 bus drivers and 143 buses were taken off the road. After a similar crack down in April 2010, almost 100 buses and more than 100 bus drivers were busted by these same surprise inspections. In what came as a surprise to many, some of these drivers had multiple licenses under aliases and criminal records.

All of this, plus multiple deaths and injuries related to bus crashes, led to public outrage at the state of the commercial bus industry, forcing Cuomo to look deep into the budget and find a way to improve the existing bus inspection system.

Millions of tourists and visitors sue New York state commercial bus lines to travel. A sense of the system being unsafe in any way could cause serious economic repercussions for the state and everyone who lives there. By increasing bus safety Cuomo hopes to avoid a situation which not only results in more possible deaths or injuries, but also causes harm to the bottom line in the New York state budget.

April 6, 2012

Bedford Police Target School Bus Passers

Passing a school bus while it is loading or unloading students is not only illegal, it is very dangerous. Students are notorious for not paying attention as they exit or enter the bus, so don’t expect them to be watching for a car speeding past the bus. Also, since cars are required to stop for school buses, the kids likely would have no expectation you were coming and might step right in your path.

Parents, school administrators and traffic safety experts repeatedly caution drivers to slow down and stop for all school buses when they are loading or unloading students. Now police in Bedford, New York, as jumping into the mix with Operation Safe Stop. During this special offensive against dangerous drivers, officers with the Bedford Police Department will be riding on school buses to ensure sfaety and be on the lookout for drivers who do not stop. They will also be deployed on special patrols in marked and unmarked vehicles searching for drivers who ignore school bus safety. All of this additional enforcement will be focused on bus routes that have had the most recent complaints of unsafe driving by teachers, students, parents and school administrators.

Section 1174 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law specifically addresses how motorists should approach and deal with school buses. If you ignore this law and try to pass a stopped or slowing school bus in New York state you are not only endangering the lives of children, but also leaving yourself open to serious penalties. A first conviction earns you fines up to $400 and 30 days in jail. If you continue to violate the law it gets worse: third convictions bring fines of up to $1,000 and 180 days in jail.

Not only should you consider avoiding fines, jail time and points on your license, but also the impact it would have on you if you were to inadvertently strike and kill a child. That is a far worse punishment and one you will have to live with forever.

April 5, 2012

New York Zero Tolerance For Texting And Driving

Since last July, New York has issued 119,000 tickets to texting drivers. New York state is one of 35 states which completely bans the use of texting devices by drivers.

This is good news safe drivers, or anyone who travels on New York roadways.

New York was among the first states to enact a total ban on texting and driving, but stopped short of banning the use of all handheld devices. This was the recommendation of the National Transportation Safety Board following its December report which showed thet not only was distracted driving responsible for more traffic fatalities that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but also that it was on the rise in every state.

This report was accompanied by a recommendation from the NTSB that all state legislators immediately issue complete and total bans on the use any and all handheld devices by drivers. The NTSB pointed to research which showed quite clearly that drivers who were engaged in conversations, even while using a hands free device which much more likely to have a collision than drivers who had their full attention on the road.

New York may have stopped short of a total ban on the use of handheld devices, but it has seriously stepped up efforts to curb distracted driving. New York police are now empowered to stop drivers who appear to be distracted even if they are not actively violating any driving laws. Once they make a stop they may cite a driver they find was distracted either through the use of a texting device or by some other thing. Even adjusting the radio dial can be enough of a distraction to cause a serious crash.

When it comes to distracted driving it doesn’t take much to cause a collision, but fortunately, it takes even less to avoid being distracted in the first place: common sense.

April 2, 2012

NY Taxi Fleet Being Replaced

Now that Ford’s Crown Victoria is a thing of the past New York City taxicabs are getting a complete overhaul. That’s right, there’s a new taxi model in town and it’s made by Nissan.

The Nissan NV200 van will begin replacing all existing NYC taxi cabs starting in 2013. The new NV200 vans offer more space; room for four with a higher ceiling and a host of other amenities and safety features including back-up cameras and on-board navigation systems. Each new NV200 also has a mobile charging station for passengers which includes a 12-volt plug and two USB ports.

But that’s not all!

These new NV200 vans are designed with the passengers in mind. More than 600,000 people travel by taxi in NYC every day, so comfort had to be taken into consideration. The NV200 offers independently controlled A/C and heat, sliding doors and, in a nod to the tourism industry, a transparent roof so passengers can gaze up at the skyscrapers. They also offer an interior which brims with special odor neutralizing materials, to avoid that strange smell which often accompanies a taxi ride.

The new NV200 has a retail price of about $29,700. It sports a 2.0 liter four cylinder engine, but Nissan is already experimenting with alternative fuel vehicles. They currently have six Nissan Leaf full electric vehicles which they plan to release for use as taxi’s in New York City to test whether an all-electric taxi fleet would be possible, and they are looking at alternative fuel power train systems for the NV200 vans.

Taxi’s are big business in NYC. They are the simplest way to get from point to point in the city. There is an extensive system of subway trains and public buses which can also get you around the city, but when you need to go direct, most people opt for a taxi cab. That makes the new Nissan deal so valuable and so important to the city.

March 30, 2012

DUI And NBA = Jail Time

Jayson Williams learned the hard way that driving under the influence of alcohol is a one-way ticket to citations, suspended license and, in Williams case, a one year jail sentence.

Williams has been serving his time at the Eric M. Taylor Center in East Elmhurst, N.Y. and is scheduled for release on April 15.

Granted, Williams had a string of charges stemming from an accidental shooting at his mansion, which included a charge of aggravated assault. But the DUI came later. In 2010, while Williams was on bail, police received a report that a Mercedes-Benz SUV had hit a tree on FDR Drive in Manhattan late at night. When police arrived they found Williams sitting in the passenger’s seat. He told police someone else was driving, but no one else was in the vehicle.

As a result of that arrest Williams was sentenced to the maximum term of up to one year for DUI. He started serving that time after he was released from prison in New Jersey in August 2011 on charges related to the accidental shooting. Not only did he get fines and fees and jail time, he was also ordered by the judge to pay to replace the tree he crashed into, which cost more than $16,000.

New York Defensive Drivers know the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They arrange for a designated driver if they plan on drinking, or just hand their keys to the bartender if the drinking started unexpectedly. There is no excuse for getting behind the wheel of a 4,000 pound missile made of steel and glass and plastic and trying to navigate busy city streets (the streets are always busy in New York) just so they can get home. It is beyong negligent to drive intoxicated whether you are an NBA star or just some guy who had a late night out with his friends.

So just don’t do it.

March 28, 2012

Drivers Pay More For Gas In New York, But They Don’t Have To

As the price of fuel rises New York drivers are paying some of the highest prices in the nation per gallon of gasoline. Besides the high price at the pump New York state has the eighth highest state fuel tax, meaning New Yorkers have to dig deep to fill up the tank.

Every driver across the nation is struggling to find the extra cash they need to fill up at the pump, but among them, defensive drivers are doing it much less often. New York defensive drivers have long since figured out that by driving safer they are also saving money on fuel.

Why? By aggressive driving increases your fuel consumption significantly. Repeated studies have shown that the most likely contributing factor to low gas mileage is aggressive driving. You accelerate more often and stop more suddenly, increasing the amount of fuel your vehicle consumes and adding to the wear and tear on your braking system. Gradually acceleration and maintaining a safe driving speed are ways of limiting the amount of fuel your vehicle consumes. They will also save you some money on new brakes.

Aggressive driving is also costly when it comes to the money you will spend on traffic citations. Police in New York are watching for aggressive drivers and regularly stopping drivers who are weaving in and out of traffic, speeding, following to closely, passing on the right or running through amber lights. Traffic congestion is common in New York increasing the danger of aggressive driving. Police are aware of this and using existing state laws meant to combat aggressive driving to thwart those drivers who believe they have more rights on the road than anyone else.

In New York the price of gasoline is sitting steady at $4 but estimates are that price will rise as summer rolls in. By driving defensively New Yorkers can save themselves some money at the pump.

March 26, 2012

New York Pilots DOT Program

The Department of Transportation is busily working with automakers to find a way to limit the number of distractions for drivers presented by the many new electronic devices included in today’s vehicles.

The DOT used Syracuse, New York, to pilot a program meant to limit the amount of distractions drivers can be exposed to while operating a vehicle and the program is being hailed as a success.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving is now the single most likely cause of fatal traffic crashes in the United States and account for more crashes than those caused by driving under the influence of alcohol.

New York defensive drivers know better than to take their hands off the wheel to answer a cell phone call, or look away from the road to read or send a text message, but unfortunately, not everyone does.

The Department of Transportation is backing the NHTSA effort to convince all states to ban the use of handheld devices by all drivers and is even going as far as working with automakers to make certain all the new technology being installed in vehicles does not add to the number of distractions.

New cars today contain built in display screens, web access, GPS devices and an abundance of tools meant to make driving easier and safer, but if the driver becomes distracted by this technology, looks away from the road for even a moment, they might find themselves involved in a serious crash.

Some states, in fact 36 at last count, have already taken steps to ban the use of handheld devices by drivers, or at least texting and driving. These states have enacted laws which provide for severe penalties for drivers who violate the ban and allow police officers to stop drivers they see violating the ban.

It is possible the DOT tests and the NHTSA report will create a safer driving environment for all of us.

Image: Damian Brandon / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

March 24, 2012

New York Drivers Face Traffic And Rats

New York drivers already have to contend with some of the most congested roadways in the world, but that’s not their only enemy. During the winter months, when temperatures drop, the city’s next most abundant resource, rats and rodents, start looking for some place warm to spend their nights and a nice warm engine block makes a great bed.

That’s right. Rats. In your car. While drivers sleep in their beds, rats nest in their cars, often gnawing away at wires, upholstery, pipes, anything they can get their teeth into. This type of damage is often difficult to notice right away, meaning you might hop in your car and drive away, not realizing a rat has chewed through your radiator hose, draining all the fluid, which quickly leads to engine overheating. As far as the damage to your interior this is expensive to fix and not as detrimental the operation of your vehicle, but it quickly can become a health and safety issue.

For New York drivers looking to avoid this type of damaging infestation they don’t have many choices. First and foremost they might want to consider using common mothballs to keep the rodents away. Believe it or not, mothballs are a great way to keep the little critters from finding comfort in your car. Of course, this also means that the drivers themselves will need to also deal with the horrible smell.

Once you have a rat or rodent infestation in your vehicle it is difficult to make them go away. In all likelihood you will need to contact a local pest control agent and have your vehicle professionally treated. They will need to remove all traces of the rodent infestation and treat your vehicle against further infestation. Although they can fix your problem, the fix is costly, and honestly, there is no guarantee the little rodents won’t come right back the first chance they get.

You might be the best defensive driver in New York, but the fact is, nothing can protect you if you are targeted by rats.

March 21, 2012

Speed Kills Everywhere (But Especially In Traffic)

When it comes to the dangers of speeding the worst thing a driver faces is an obstacle. This is likely why speeding in heavily congested areas is such a killer.

New York defensive drivers know better than to speed, whether or not they are in heavy traffic; in the country or in the city. When a driver exceeds the maximum safe speed they are limiting their ability to react in a timely fashion, and might even be pushing their vehicle beyond its safe limits. What they might not know is that their tire traction is reduced, their vehicle handling is often diminished and they just won’t have the time they need to stop their vehicle safely, avoiding a crash, when they speed.

As a driving infraction speeding has lost some of its luster as efforts are made to promote awareness of distracted driving and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. However, although it is not the leading cause of traffic fatalities it is still in the top three factors. many drivers who are impaired, either because they aren’t paying attention or because they are impaired, are usually also exceeding the posted speed limit, adding to their problems.

New York roadways are widely considered some of the most heavily congested roadways in America, if not the world. This means that drivers often succumb to their frustration at not moving by stomping on the accelerator every chance they get. Because roads are congested it is that much more difficult to predict what will happen around you; who might pull in front of you or what obstacle you might be confronted with next. If you are speeding the time you have to react to these obstacles is greatly shortened, leaving little time to do anything except say “oh no!”

If you find yourself driving in New York consider that some drivers will be ignoring the handheld devices ban, some will be driving drunk and some will be speeding, and drive accordingly.

March 20, 2012

Don’t Drive Drunk (With Or Without Your Tires)

In New York, as in most other states (in fact, ALL other states) automobile drivers are required to have four wheels on their vehicle while they are driving. If you choose to drive your car without a tire, well, you’re just making it a little too easy for police to spot you.

You might laugh at the suggestion you keep all four tires on the road (or HAVE four tires) but not everyone is so, well, coherent.

When New York State Police stopped Adam Gula, 23, of Spring Hill, Fla., and examined his car, a white Hyundai, at about 2:18 a.m. on March 18, on the Northern State Parkway, they immediately knew something was amiss, because one of his wheels was missing. The right front wheel was just a rim, but that wasn’t keeping Gula from cruising down the highway. Oh, and neither was the alcohol in his system apparently.

A quick breath-alyzer test determined that Gula had a BAC of 0.19 percent, more than twice the legal limit. So, not only was Gula arrested driving with faulty equipment (i.e., the missing tire) he was also arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

You don’t need to attend New York traffic school to know that driving drunk, with or without all the tires on your car is a bad thing, but drivers like Gula really drive home the point. Not only did he damage his car by riding on the rim, he also endangered his own life and the lives of everyone sharing the road with him that night. And for what? What was so important that he just had to drive on the rim, drunk, to get someplace? Nothing.

Gula was just on his way home from a party, too drunk or too stupid to notice, or care, that his vehicle was badly damaged.

Now he not only has a damaged vehicle, but a damaged license (points for DUI) and some hefty fines to pay before he gets his license back.

March 16, 2012

Police Teaming Up To Find Drunk Drivers This Weekend

Planning on having a blast this St. Patrick’s Day? Better make certain you arrange for a safe and sober ride home if you do because New York police around the state will be out in force.

New York State Police and local municipal police are even teaming up to increase sober driving patrols and operate DUI checkpoints across the state. That means if you drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol you are much more likely to get caught. That’s bad news for you, but good news for all the New York defensive drivers who share the road with you.

There is no excuse for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but then again, if you are impaired you might not even realize what you are doing until you smash into a tree or the car in front of you. Even then it might not dawn on you what happened until you sobered up.

Every year drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol are involved in thousands of accidents, many of which result in fatalities. Drunk drivers don’t just risk their own lives, passengers in their vehicles are killed, innocent pedestrians and other drivers are also at risk. Just because someone wasn’t smart enough to arrange for a safe and sober ride home after a night of drinking.

Every traffic school graduate understands fully the risks of getting behind the wheel of any automobile after downing a few drinks. But it should be common sense that if you can hardly walk straight you probably can’t drive straight either.

So go out this weekend and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style. Enjoy yourself, have a few drinks with friends and family, and then, when it’s time to go home, hand your keys to a sober friend or call someone else for a ride. It’s the smart thing to do.

March 15, 2012

License Revoked For Fraudulent Driving School

New York defensive drivers know the difference between having the right skills to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and just pretending you have the right skills. But apparently this is not true of everyone, as a New York couple who ran a commercial driving school had their license to operate the school revoked this week.

The governor announced the revocation of N&Y Professional Service Line driving school’s license today after the couple who ran the program was charged with mail fraud. In statement to the media he said: “We vowed last year that New York would not tolerate unsafe buses, dangerous or unqualified drivers, or fraud in obtaining licenses…That’s why this action is being taken.”

True to his word, this past year the governor ordered 6,600 inspections from March 2011 to January 2012. Those inspections found fault with 621 buses and 644 drivers, likely increasingly the safety for anyone who was relying on their services for transportation.

As a result of the revocation of the license for the commercial driving school, the New York Department of Motor Vehicles is insisting that all those who used N&Y Professional Service Line to obtain a commercial license must reschedule a test by this Friday or face suspension of their driving privileges. This will doubt prove an inconvenience for some legitimate drivers, but is the only way to know for certain that everyone who obtained a license through that school did so because they have the proper skills and knowledge and not because they [aid the highest fee and receive illegal help passing the test.

There is no substitute for knowledge, especially when it comes to the knowledge you need to safely operate a commercial or private vehicle on the roads today. By circumventing the law, these fraudulent drivers are not only risk their own lives they are risking the life of anyone who shares the road with them.

Image: Damian Brandon / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

March 13, 2012

Aggressive Driver Posts Exploits On YouTube

According to a story posted at SILive.com, a web site which provides news for Staten Island, an aggressive driver has been posting videos of his dangerous driving tactics in a series of YouTube videos.

The site provide video clips and links to the YouTube channel videos posted by someone under the screen name of “we5leyz”, but both the videos and a number of other purportedly “dangerous driving” videos were either taken down by that user or marked as “private” within hours of the story being posted.

SILive.com reporters made contact with the individual behind the “we5leyz” screen name and say they are working on a follow-up story, but so far nothing further has developed. If the information which SILive.come reports about the videos is true, the driver of the vehicle could face some serious charges, including speeding, endangering a minor, speeding and reckless driving in a school zone, illegal lane change, illegal turn and passing on the right. These charges could result in serious fines and a possible suspended license. It is also likely the driver would be required to attend a New York State certified defensive driving course.

SILive.com reports that in the video the driver use a dashboard mounted video camera to record themselves doing all these activities and more, including using a train horn which they have installed in your vehicle to frighten children, pedestrians and other drivers. It is beyond belief that the driver would endanger the lives of others for a few cheap thrills and even more unbelievable that they would film themselves doing it and then post these videos on YouTube.

Police do not need to witness you breaking driving laws to file charges, all they need is evidence of you doing something wrong. Filming yourself doing something illegal, dangerous (not to mention stupid) and then posting it publicly is all evidence they need to make those charges stick.

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March 9, 2012

Drowsy Driving Dangers In NYC

A warning was issued this week against the dangers of drowsy driving by Commissioner Barbara J. Fiala of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.

Fiala used the upcoming switch to Daylight Saving Time to remind drivers that driving while drowsy is just as dangerous as distracted driving or driving under the influence of alcohol. Although not as common as distracted driving or DUI, drowsy driving reduces your reaction time and your ability to think clearly and make good decision.

In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that as many as 100,000 crashes each year are caused by drowsy driving, with more than 1,000 deaths as a result of those crashes.

New York defensive drivers understand the importance of being fully rested before climbing behind the wheel of their automobile to go anywhere. They understand that they need to be sharp to be driving in New York or any where, for that matter.

Fiala went so far as to release a statement cautioning anyone who is out driving to make certain they are well rested:

“In thousands of crashes each year on our highways, drowsiness or fatigue is reported as a contributing factor,” Fiala wrote. “Motorists must be cognizant of the warning signs of fatigue and avoid driving while drowsy, particularly as we make the adjustment to Daylight Saving Time.”

The hazards of drowsy driving extend far beyond simply falling asleep at the wheel. Just being a little sleepy while driving can be enough to slow your reaction time and impair your judgement. Either of these things alone is enough to increase your risks of having a crash. Combined, they are a recipe for disaster.

If you are driving in New York, or anywhere, make certain you only do it after you are have a good nights sleep. Remember, a well rested driver is a safe driver.

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

March 8, 2012

Accident Scammers Busted In Brooklyn

A year-long investigation by the New York police department netted the arrest of sixteen people in Brooklyn for what police say was a scam to defraud insurance companies by faking accidents, or causing them intentionally.

According to police the scheme involved the renting of U-Haul trucks which were then used to intentionally collide with other vehicles. Those involved in the scam, police say, were also putting themselves in the way of moving vehicles and pretending they had been struck and injured. Under the New York State no-fault insurance law, a claim for up to $50,000 can be made for physical therapy and other cases can be filed separately to pay for personal injury.

New York defensive drivers know to be on the lookout for other drivers who not paying attention or are careless about the way they drive, but it is difficult to avoid a collision with someone who is intentionally aiming to crash into you. It is also difficult to avoid pedestrians who willingly throw themselves in front of your vehicle without regard for their safety and then claim injury.

Fortunately police and insurance companies are aware of such schemes and routinely break up these groups of conspirators. This does little to help those drivers who have already been swindled by such enterprising crooks. The money and time and effort they have wasted defending themselves in these fraudulent cases is likely gone forever and not to be recouped.

For New York defensive drivers the best advice is to be savvy about where you are, where you are going and what other people are doing around you. It is not always possible to avoid a collision, but you certainly have some say in how you handle yourself afterwards. Be certain to collect all relevant facts about the crash. Take an abundance of photos of the “victim” as well as your own vehicle and be certain you are careful to list facts about what happened while they are fresh in your memory.

Remember, the best offense to fraudulent activity is a good defense. Be careful, but wise, and be on the lookout for scammers.

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March 6, 2012

Distracted Driving Fines Piling Up In New York

Less than a year into a new statewide ban on texting or talking on a cell phone while driving in New York and already fines are starting to really pile up.

According to the New York State Police more than 118,000 tickets were written for combined cell phone use and texting while driving in the past several months. A closer look shows that more than 111,000 people were arrested for cell phone use and another almost 7,500 people were arrested for texting while driving.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board distracted driving caused by handheld devices is now responsible for more traffic accidents than driving under the influence. The NTSB has called for a nationwide ban on the use of any and all devices by drivers, including hands-free devices which they say pose a similar threat as handheld devices.

New York defensive drivers are unlikely to be among those who have violated the new ban on the use of handheld devices by drivers because they understand the importance of practicing safe driving habits every time they get behind the wheel. For these drivers the decision to use a handheld device never enters their mind because they need all their attention for the road ahead and other drivers, not the person on the other end of their device.

Under New York law, using a mobile phone without a hands-free device or texting while driving is a primary traffic offense. That means police can pull you over if they see you doing either thing. Prior to the law they needed a different reason to pull you over and could only cite you if your distraction had caused the violation. Drivers convicted of the new violation can receive a fine of up to $150 and three points on a driver’s license if convicted.

A trip to traffic school can help get the points off your license, but if you have a serious crash as a result of your distraction, only your insurance company and emergency personnel can help you.

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

March 3, 2012

New Yorkers Busted For Cheating On CDL Test

A New York couple has been arrested and charged with helping others cheat on their commercial driver’s license test which would allow them to drive buses and trucks. At least one bogus license went to a bus driver involved in a serious crash in Virginia last year which injured more than 50 people and killed four others. Authorities say that driver led them to the scam.

Law enforcement and immigration agents converged on the offices of Ying Wai Phillip Ng, 47, and his wife, Pui Kuen Ng, 47, on March 1. They were both arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud in a driver’s license test-taking scheme. They operated a driving school in Brooklyn known as N&Y Professional Service Line which authorities alleged helped people cheat on the CDL test. If convicted, they face a possible 20-year prison sentence for their fraudulent activities.

CDL’s are earned after the applicant passes a rigorous test administered by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles. The test helps the bureau confirm the applicant has the skills required to operate the largest vehicles safely; without danger to themselves or anyone who might ride with them or share the road with them. According to authorities the Ngs were helping people cheat on the test for a decade or more. Their scheme involved putting a wireless camera on the person they were “helping” and passing them the answer to test questions while they were taking the test.

Authorities produced documents which showed the Ngs helped 720 people take the CDL test administered by the New York DMV. It is unclear how many of those people received illegal help and who passed on their own. It is also unclear how many of those who received help are currently driving and whether or not they possess adequate skills for operating a commercial vehicle with or without passengers.

Traffic school teaches the importance of being self-reliant behind the wheel; driving defensively and considering all the possible hazards you might face operating a vehicle. It also teaches drivers to be responsible for their own actions and fully understand their own limitations.

If you need to cheat on your driver’s test to pass, that is a real limitation and you should go back and study more.

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

March 1, 2012

Charges Filed In Golf Cart Crash

Driving is driving, whether it is a golf cart or a GoPed. If you operate it on the road, either with or without a license or whether or not you own the vehicle, you are required to follow all laws and are ultimately responsible for anything which might happen while you operate the vehicle.

This was lesson handed down to an 18-year-old Western New York State driver whose friend was killed while riding in a golf cart with her on rural country road.

Cortney Greene of Byron was charged with criminally negligent homicide, vehicular manslaughter and driving while impaired by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday. If convicted on all counts Greene could spend more than a decade of her life in prison. This would not restore the life of her friend, but it does send a strong message to anyone operating a vehicle they think makes them immune from vehicle safety laws.

In the case of Greene and her passenger, their vehicle was actually struck from behind, yet still she is facing a multitude of felony charges.

There is no good reason and certainly no legal precedent for believing that operating a non-car vehicle on the roadway makes you immune from responsibility. Even if you are a good defensive driver. In fact, it is possible that operating such a vehicle makes you more liable for prosecution if you do so with contempt for the law.

It should also be mentioned that automobiles come with a myriad of features which make them much more appropriate for driving on roads and much more safer in the event of an accident. Seat belts, air bags and anti-lock brakes are not standard equipment on golf carts or go carts, making them a more dangerous vehicle to drive anywhere, much less on a road.

So, the next time you set off to have a ball in a non-automobile make certain you follow all laws required of vehicle operation, regardless of where you plan to ride.

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February 28, 2012

Changes Coming To Prospect Park Loop

Brooklyn city administrators have responded to a series of vehicle, pedestrian and cycling crashes with a new plan to restrict vehicle traffic to a single lane for cars, one for pedestrians and one for cyclists in the Prospect Park Loop.

The plan has not yet been approved but opposition is scant and support is growing.

Prospect Park Loop is little more than 3 miles around the park, and sees more than 10 million visitors every year, making it one of the busiest roads in the country. The Prospect Park Road Sharing Task Force was given the assignment of making the roadway a safer place for everyone.

The changes are slightly complicated, but here they are in a nutshell:
If approved the center lane, now used by motorists during morning and evening rush hours and by bicyclists at other times, would be used only for bicycles all day, excluding all others. (Car traffic is allowed from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the East Drive, and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the West Drive.) The left lane, which is currently divided between pedestrians and bicyclists during the rush hours, would be for pedestrians only. The right lane will then become the only place for cars: individual drivers when the park is open to cars, and parks department and other working vehicles during the off hours.

By making these changes, the city is hoping to protect New York defensive drivers and anyone they share the road with. Restricting traffic to specific lanes is a way of allowing the street to be used by anyone who needs to get around, yet keeps them separated from each other as a matter of public safety.

Safe drivers understand the rules of the road and yield to pedestrians, cyclist and other vehicles as a matter of course. Unfortunately, not everyone you meet on the road is a safe driver, so laws must be adjusted. Hopefully this adjustment will help keep everyone on the Prospect Park Loop safer.

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February 24, 2012

Technological Help For New York Seniors

Driving in New York is hard enough, even for defensive drivers, but parking presents it’s very own special set of challenges. Assuming you can even find an empty parking space.

Parking in New York City is a matter of searching, finding, then carefully squeezing your vehicle into a space which is only just big enough for it to fit. For senior drivers this can be more difficult than it was when they were younger, and a reason to avoid driving altogether. Fortunately there are efforts under way to provide help for senior drivers who have rusty parking skills.

One of the most exciting new developments for people of all ages who have trouble parking, is the parking assist function. Once the vehicle is lined up with the parallel parking space the driver presses a button and the vehicle (usually) does the rest, putting the car into the space without colliding with other adjacent vehicles.

A new amenity being tested by Ford Motor Company will take that service one step further by actually helping drivers find a parking space that is the right size for the vehicle. These new Ford vehicles have sensors at the front which accurately measure the size of the available parking spaces. The driver only has to drive past a space for the vehicle to know whether it is the right size for the vehicle you are in. The dashboard lights up, and the speakers “beep.” With another push of a button and some careful braking by the driver, the vehicle does all the work of getting your car safely parked.

There are also an assortment of blind spot sensors which help drivers be aware of vehicles which they might not be able to see, warning them if they get too close or about to have a collision. So far Ford, Lexus, Lincoln, Toyota and BMW all have vehicles with similar options that assist drivers, and it seems likely similar features will be coming soon to other vehicles.

Image: Paul Martin Eldridge / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

February 23, 2012

New York DMV Online And On Time

If you worry about meeting deadlines, keeping up with work and the kids and generally keeping up with life, the last thing you’re likely thinking about is keeping up with your driving and registration requirements. Fortunately, New York drivers have a web site that provides just about everything you might need to stay legal on the road, without the need to make a special trip to the nearest Department of Motor Vehicle branch.

New York defensive drivers understand the importance of staying legal behind the wheel. They know that properly registering their vehicle, keeping their license in good order and generally meeting all state requirements for safe driving is the first step to being prepared for the hazards of the highway.

The New York DMV offers a full course of documents and services via their online site to make keeping up with state regulations easier than ever. If you need to submit a change of address form, you can do that online. If you need a copy of your complete driving record, you can get that online, too. And if you need registration or re-inspection reminders, they can do that for you too.

The whole idea behind the New York State DMV web site is to make it easy for drivers to stay legal on the roads without waiting in long lines at their local DMV branch. In fact, the full course web site menu has led to much shorter lines at the branch offices, so there are added benefits for those users who prefer to do their business in person rather than online.

There simply is no reason to fall behind in your state requirements, whether it’s a driver’s license renewal or a road test transaction. With the New York State DMV web site, you have access to just about anything you might need to stay legal, stay safe and drive defensively.

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

February 21, 2012

New York Helps Younger And Older Drivers

In New York State, first time teen drivers can earn up to a 10 percent discount on their automobile insurance if they successfully complete Traffic School. But that does not mean New York fails to recognize the importance of defensive driving by drivers of all ages.

In fact, the New York Department of Motor Vehicles has a special site geared specifically to older drivers called the Office of the Older Driver. This New York DMV site focuses on skills specific to older drivers, by providing information relevant to their needs.

The Office of the Older Driver web site offers information for drivers whose license may expire while they out of state; how to renew their license; how long their license renewal will last; what skills they should focus on; and how they can contact their nearest department of vehicle directly.

The site also talks about how drivers can assess their own skill level, without the need for an independent judge or test. They provide safety tips for older drivers, resources and information all of which is intended to treat older drivers with the respect they have earned while still providing information that will help them drive safer for longer.

The Office of the Older Driver also provides some easy to recognize signs that your safe driving skills may not be as sharp as they once were. This doesn’t mean you need to surrender your license, however. It is meant to help you understand what your limits are when you get behind the wheel.

According to the New York DMV your driving skills might be declining if:

Look for warning signs. Be alert for any signs of a decrease in driver abilities and skills. Be concerned if you:

* Have a number of minor accidents or “near misses”.
* Cannot concentrate or you have thoughts that wander.
* Cannot easily read standard road signs.
* Become lost or confused on roads you know.
* Notice other drivers often sound their car horns at you.
* Hear concern from family, friends or police about your driving.

If you are an older driver living in New York state, stop in to the New York DMV Office of the Older Driver. You might just learn something about yourself and the way you drive that you didn’t even realize.

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

February 17, 2012

New York Driving Records Available Online

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles makes it easy enough for anyone to go online and access their own driving record with just a few quick clicks of the mouse.

Many states are now turning to the Internet as a way of relieving crowded motor vehicle offices, with long lines and long waits. By using the Internet the DMV can make finding out information about your license, registration; insurance or driving requirements, quick and painless. Since the Internet is open 24-hours a day, you don’t need to make a special trip to get the information you need. If you’d like to ask your questions in the middle of night, the web site is open.

The New York State DMV has a special online service which will even retrieve a driver’s specific driving record. Called MyDMV, the online service makes retrieval of personal records quick and easy.

New York drivers can use the MyDMV online service to submit an address change, sign up for paperless alerts from DMV, monitor their teenagers driving record, restore their license after a revocation, and receive their driving record abstract. New features are planned which will allow drivers to sign up for the organ and tissue registry.

Anything which can help relieve the congestion at local DMV offices is viewed as step in the right direction for most public agencies and the people who use them. By making good use of the latest technology many agencies can use the Internet to alleviate the need for making a special trip to a branch office during a specific time or day.

Of course, defensive drivers understand the importance of keeping their driving record in good standing so as to avoid insurance rate hikes, traffic citations or points added to their license. It’s not difficult to maintain your license in good standing if you are a careful, conscientious driver. Being aware of state law and following all traffic regulations is also a step in the right direction.

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February 15, 2012

Traffic School Helps NY Teens Save Money

Teen drivers are four times as likely as older drivers to be involved in a vehicle collision. Add cell phones and texting to the mix and some report the percentage is even higher. Despite these statistics a new study by the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia shows that fewer teenagers than ever before are completing a driver education course before getting behind the wheel.

Some states require teens to attend a driver education program before getting their license and some do not. In New York, teenagers who successfully complete Traffic School may receive up to a 10% discount on their automobile insurance, making it an attractive offer for their parents who usually foot the bill for car insurance.

There are other benefits to making your teen attend traffic school beside lower insurance rates. Helping them to be safe, defensive drivers is probably the most important because it might make a big difference when they are on the road.

There is no guarantee a driver education program will result in fewer crashes for teens but it certainly is not going to hurt. In states with a graduated licensing program for teens the numbers of teens involved in crashes has decline, although not significantly. This probably has more to do with the fact they are teenagers than it has to do with the effectiveness of driver education in general.

Teenagers are risk takers. They seem fearless in the face of danger because they are still under the mistaken impression that they are indestructible. This, and the goading of friends, distractions and other teen-related experiences often leads them to make poor decisions–decisions they likely wouldn’t make if they were older had more worldly experience.

If you have a teenager in your house anxiously awaiting their turn behind the wheel, do yourself and them a favor and insist on a traffic school first. You won’t just save money on your insurance, you might also save their life.

Image: imagerymajestic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

February 13, 2012

Distracted Driving Law Nets 100,000+ Tickets In New York

A new law in New York giving police the power to stop drivers engaged in using a handheld device while behind the wheel has generated more than 118,000 tickets since it was enacted in July showing that not only is distracted driving prevalent in New York, but that giving police more power to control the activity reaps big rewards for municipalities.

As a direct result of the new law the state has issued 7,495 tickets for texting while driving and 111,262 for using a handheld electronic device while driving since last July. Citations start at $150 and result in three points added to the driver’s license.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicle has been keeping tabs on just where these tickets have been issued and the reports show that Long Island is leading the way with more than 10,000 citations issued in Suffolk and Nassau counties alone.

When Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the new distracted driving bill into law last summer he said in a press release that he hoped the added provisions would do more than just generate revenue for the state. Cuomo said he was hoping that empowering police to make stops for distracted driving violations would increase public awareness of the dangers of using a handheld device while driving.

As it turned out, Cuomo was ahead of the game when it came to warning of the dangers of distracted driving. Just last month the National Transportation Safety Board reported that distracted driving was even more dangerous than driving under the influence, resulting in more traffic fatalities than any other single cause. The NTSB went on to suggest that all states adopt a blanket prohibition on the use of handheld devices by any and all drivers with severe penalties for violators. This suggestion was met with some resentment from law makers who continue to feel the issue is best resolved by municipalities or individual states and that a nationwide ban is overkill.

Bur for New Yorkers, any steps to make the streets a safer place for everyone sounds like business as usual.

Image: Paul Martin Eldridge / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

February 10, 2012

New York Drivers Banned From Using Cell Phones

You may or may not be aware that New York already has a statewide ban on the use of handheld cell phones by drivers, imposing strict fines, points on their license and the possibility of a suspension of driving privileges for violators of the law.

This is not just to raise revenue through the collection of news fees and fines, but also as a public safety measure. The NTSB recently released a report detailing the rise in the number of crashes caused as a direct result of distracted driving. In fact, fatal crashes caused by distracted driving now outpace the number of fatal crashes caused by driving under the influence.

New York takes driver safety very seriously. With a population of more than 19 million people, many of them concentrated in a few specific urban areas, the state has some of the most heavily congested roadways in the world. New York City regularly tops the list of longest commuter routes and most traffic jams.

All this traffic creates a situation which requires the utmost attention if the goal is an increase in public safety. State officials recognized the dangers of cell phone use by drivers several years ago and struggled to find a solution which did little to inconvenience and more to make the roads safer.

In New York, drivers stopped in traffic jams often use their idle time to make business calls or chat with friends. Limiting their use of cells phone while they are behind the wheel was initially seen as an affront to personal liberty. But since the ban went into effect the number of fatal crashes caused by distracted driving seems to have declined. At the very least, drivers have become more aware of the dangers of using a handheld device while they are behind the wheel; parents have begun educating their teen drivers about the dangers of not being fully aware of what’s going on around them while they are cruising to their friends house.

It seems everyone is talking about the dangers of distracted driving. And that’s a great conversation to have.

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February 10, 2012

School Bus Safety In New York

New York state legislators are looking to increase the fines for drivers who violate school bus safety laws, either passing stopped school buses or failing to slow down.

If state senators have their way,drivers who pass a stopped school bus in New York could end up paying a $1,000 fine, have five points added to their license and have their license suspended for as long as two months.

School buses are usually on the roads only when they transporting students, children, to our from school or school-related events. When their lights flash and they slow or stop they are picking up or dropping off students, children. Drivers who fail to yield for school buses are endangering the lives of children. Usually they do this for no good reason. Maybe they are late for work, or trying to get to the grocery school, but whatever the reason, they are risking the lives of children to do it.

To counter what they see as a real threat to public safety New York legislators want to impose serious penalties on drivers who put children at risk. Passing a stopped school bus is never a good idea-you have no idea what the children may be doing, which direction they are crossing and how many kids are coming out. That’s why you are required to stop until the school bus driver turns off the lights and gives you the signal to move again.

School bus safety to more than just a good idea; it saves lives, children’s lives, every day, by making drivers yield to the vehicles which carry them to and from school. By increasing the penalties for not yielding to school buses state legislators are doing their part to keep children safe. Now all drivers have to do is use their common sense and they can do the same thing.

February 9, 2012

Lower Your Car Insurance Rates Today

Everyone knows the cost of living in New York is higher than it is in a lot of places. With the economy still struggling people are looking for new ways they can save a few dollars, but not many of them know they should be looking at their automobile insurance premiums.

That’s right. If you’re a safe driver and you have been paying your insurance premiums on time every month the chances are you can get a lower rate on your insurance policy right away. And if your current automobile insurance provider won’t give you a lower rate, some other carrier likely will.

Negotiating a lower automobile insurance rate is not difficult. It is a relatively stress free endeavor that can wind up saving you hundreds of dollars every year, just by making a few phone calls.

Start by contacting your current automobile insurance provider and asking them if they can offer you a better deal on your current policy. Yes, it’s that easy. In many cases drivers qualify for a lower rate but the insurance carrier won’t offer it to them unless they call and ask for it. If you’ve been a safe driver, avoided citations and crashes, then you probably already qualify for a lower rate for your current insurance provider.

But don’t stop there. Once they offer a you a lower say “thank you” hang up, and start calling some of their competitors.

We your new promised rate in hand you are already ahead of the game so why not take full advantage of it. You can call other insurance providers, give them the quote you received from your current insurance provider and details about your policy, and ask them to beat it. Just to get your business many insurance providers will automatically offer you a better deal on your insurance needs. This is great for you in two ways: It will lower rate and give you leverage to call your current insurer back and negotiate an even lower rate.

That’s right, call your current provider back and tell them you got an even better quote from someone else and see if they will beat it. You’d be surprised how anxious they will be to keep your business. The best part is you can keep doing this until someone finally says “no.” Then you just take the best policy at the lowest rate, and voila!, you’ve saved yourself some serious dough. Just for being a safe driver.

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February 7, 2012

New York Targets Idle Drivers

New York drivers stopped in front of a school, either to pick up or drop off a student, or for some other reason might be waiting out front, now have one minute to turn off their engines or risk a citation.

The limit on vehicle idling has been in place for more than three decades. Drivers have previously had up to three minutes to turn off their engines rather than allowing the vehicle to idle, emitting toxic fumes which the city says hurts air quality. In 2009 New York City law makers reduced the idle time to just 60 seconds if the vehicle is stopped in front of a school in an effort to improve air quality in those areas.

Despite all these restrictions, however, few citations are handed out. In fact, of the more than 10 million parking tickets the city serves out each year only a few thousand are for idling violations. This has some folks calling for better enforcement of the existing law.

The Environmental Defense Fund, among others, have been calling on New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, to step up efforts at preventing drivers from leaving their vehicles idling instead of just turning them. the issue, proponents say, is both a matter of public health and safety and one of enforcing laws which are already on the books.

The fact is, letting your car idle instead of turning it off does add to the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by your vehicle. If you need a better reason to turn off your motor rather than letting it idle consider this: allowing your vehicle to idle is a big waste of gas. It’s such a waste of gasoline, in fact, that automobile manufacturers such as Honda and Ford has started building systems into their vehicles which automatically turn off the engine every time you stop and re-start the engine when you go again, without creating a feeling of sluggishness.

So if you’re dropping off or picking up your kid at school in New York, do yourself a favor and turn off your motor. It saves gas, protects the environment and, it’s the law.

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February 2, 2012

Super Bowl Means Super Safe In New York

New York State Troopers will be out in force for three days this weekend in anticipation of more drunk drivers on the roads.

Super Bowl weekend is known as a time to gather with friends, have a party (or parties) and watch some football. Unfortunately, some folks feel the need to get behind the wheel after they have a few drinks, increasing their risk of having a collision and injuring themselves or someone else.

This year the New York State police are planning to catch possible drunk drivers in the act. They are increasing patrols and setting up check points around the state in an effort to keep the roadways safe from drunk drivers. Drivers who are believed to be under the influence of alcohol will be stopped and asked to submit to a few roadside sobriety tests. If the driver is unable to successfully complete those tests the officer will place the driver under arrest and transport them to the local jail where a blood alcohol content test will be conducted to determine just how inebriated they are. Drivers who are convicted of driving under the influence face stiff fines, additional points on their license and the possibility of jail time or even suspension of their driving privileges.

Driving under the influence continues to be a leading cause of traffic fatalities around the nation. In 2010 more than 10,000 people lost their lives in traffic crashes caused by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol. Even as distracted driving becomes a greater danger on the roadways the dangers of driving under the influence remain.

Drivers with a blood alcohol content of .08 or above not only run the risk of receiving a citation for driving under the influence, they also increase their chances of being involved in a fatal collision. So if you plan to party this weekend in New York, or any where, do yourself and everyone else on the roads, a favor and arrange for a sober ride home.

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January 31, 2012

New York Targeting ‘Drugged Drivers’

New York Senator Charles Schumer is pushing for passage of a bill which will help fund the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and their efforts to develop adequate testing, roadside, to determine if a driver is under the influence of prescription medication. The bill is called the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act of 2011

New York has seen the number of ‘drugged driving’ arrests sky rocket 35% since 2001, although police suspect the number of drivers who could have been arrested in much higher. The problem for officers is that unlike drivers who are under the influence of alcohol, there is no roadside test to determine if someone is under the influence of prescription medication. Without a blood test there is no way for police to know if a driver is on drugs or not. That means that unless they have some reasonable cause to think they are under of the influence of something, like, they just slammed their car into a tree, there is nothing they can do to stop them.

Schumer believes with adequate funding the NHTSA can help devise a roadside kit police could use in their efforts to control what he believes is a rampant problem. If the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act of 2011 passes, the Department of Transportation will work to provide either increased education or some sort of physical test kit, or perhaps both, to assist police officers in determining when or if a driver may be under the influence of prescription medication.

Schumer has been quoted as saying: “With the explosive growth of prescription drug abuse it’s vital that local law enforcement have the tools and training they need to identify those driving under the influence of narcotics to get them off the road. We have made tremendous progress in combating drunk driving, we cannot allow those gains to be erased by drugged drivers.”

At the moment it is impossible to know just how many drivers might be on the road with prescription medication in their system, either legally or illegally, or how much prescription might might impair their ability to operate their vehicle. If the DOT receives the proposed funding it is quite possible they will be able to devise tools which will help keep drugged drivers off the road and defensive drivers safe.

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January 27, 2012

New York Parking Getting Easier-Maybe

Parking in New York City is a matter of being in the right place at the right time–and lots and lots of luck. Or you can forget the whole luck thing and just be willing to cough up a fistful of dollars for a decent parking space.

Yes, anyone who has tried to park anywhere around the five boroughs knows just how tricky it can be, finding a place to put your vehicle while you eat, dance, see a show, or whatever. But the New York City Department of Transportation is hoping to ease the pain of parking just a little with some Digital Age technology.

The plan involves putting electronic sensors in all parking spaces which will alert a network whenever the space becomes empty. Drivers we be able to access the system using any web enabled device or their smartphone, or let themselves be alerted when a space becomes empty.

The pilot program is just being rolled out in the Bronx for now. The little sensors, about the size and shape of a hockey puck, must be able to handle street sweepers, snow plows, construction traffic, regular traffic and everything New York City streets withstand on a daily basis. Officials hope the new sensors will survive the harsh New York winter and a half a years worth of abuse. If the sensors work as promised DOT workers will begin expanding the project around the city in an effort to reduce the amount of time drivers spend searching for an empty parking space. It is possible more sensors could be installed around the city by the end of this year, assuming they work as promised.

A similar program was successfully installed and tested in San Francisco, but the New York environment is quite a bit harsher than California, so officials want to be certain it withstand the rigors of what the northeast can throw at it.

Suffice to say, the hopes and dreams of just about everyone who has to park in New York rest on these sensors.

We’ll keep you posted.

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January 26, 2012

‘Abbagail’s Law’ Crossing Final Hurdle In New York

Abbagail Buzard, 8, died because the supervising adult riding in the vehicle in which she was riding was drunk, and the 17-year-old who was driving violated numerous traffic laws.

Unfortunately, the supervising adult, her father, could not be charged despite the fact he was drunk and had convinced the 17-year-old who had only a learner’s permit to drive him to the liquor store for more alcohol.

Abbagail’s Law states that any individual acting as a supervising driver while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. It also creates a new crime of aggravated supervising a driver while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a Class E felony.

For supporters of the law, it is long over due. Just because you’re a licensed driver doesn’t give you the right to act stupid in a vehicle, whether or not you are driving it at the time. As a supervisory driver you are supposed to be supervising the driver who does not yet have their license.

You just can’t do that properly if you’re three sheets to the wind or under the influence of drugs or texting. People must take responsibility for their actions, most especially when their actions are directly responsible for the actions of someone who is relying on them to be responsible.

Abbagail’s Law passed the New York Senate on a vote of 45-1. It mirrors a law in the state Assembly which was introduced by Assemblywoman Aileen M. Gunther, which also seems likely to pass with nearly unanimous support.

And for good reason. By increasing the punishment on people who shirk their responsibilities, and provide law enforcement the tools to exact this punishment on those who fail in those responsibilities, we send a message to everyone that being in a vehicle, whether you are behind the wheel or just watching over the shoulder of someone who is, you must rise to the challenge.

To do otherwise risks your life, the life of everyone in your vehicle and the lives of everyone who shares the road with you.

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 24, 2012

Wrong-Way Drivers Face Felony Charges In New York

Following approval of legislation passed by the New York Senate, wrong-way and reckless drivers will now face felony driving charges.

Senate Bill 3452 establishes an entirely new crime called “aggravated reckless driving.” These new felony charges may be levied against any driver who drives the wrong way against the flow of traffic either because they were intoxicated or not; drive more than 30 mph over the speed limit while intoxicated or impaired; or those who driver more than 30 mph over the speed limit while they are weaving in traffic, racing or chasing other vehicles.

Supporters of the measure say it is needed as the number of wrong way and reckless driving crashes resulting in injury or loss of life has spiked in recent years. Most notably, in 2010 an off duty New York Police Officer, Andre Menzies, was struck and killed by an intoxicated wrong-way driver on the Northern State Parkway.

Wrong-way driving crashes have also occurred in New Rochelle and in Westchester County.

Under the new law, which has now gone to Assembly for a vote, aggravated reckless driving will become a class E felony, punishable by a prison sentence of up to four years. The legislation will also raise the penalty for reckless driving to a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a prison sentence of up to one year. under current law reckless driving is an unclassified misdemeanor and carries a maximum sentence of up to 30 days in prison.

Around the country, wrong-way driving has killed dozens of drivers who never expected to see another vehicle coming toward them, the wrong way, either in the dead of night or during broad daylight. Sometimes the wring-way drivers were intoxicated or under the influence, and other times they simply had a death wish and sought a head-on collision. Regardless of why they do it, in New York state it is unacceptable and legislators are looking to make the punishment fit the crime.

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 20, 2012

New Yorkers Face Stiff Fines For Texting And Driving

When the National Transportation Safety Board asked every state to ban the use of handheld devices by all drivers, many state legislators saw it as a slap in the face of Freedom.

New Yorkers saw it as business as usual.

Last July, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law allowing police to pull over drivers they saw using any handheld devices while driving. Prior to that bill, police had to find some other reason to pull you over, and then they could cite you for using a handheld device on top of whatever else they pulled you over for.

The new law says drivers in their state cannot even hold a handheld mobile phone, laptop, pager, electronic game, two-way messaging device or any other device used to write, read, send, browse or communicate, much less use these things. Anyone who is busted for this offense faces a maximum fine of $150 for the first offense and three points on their license. The prices go up from there.

The fact is, New Yorkers already understand what the NTSB has been trying to convince everyone else of: distracted driving is the single most serious threat to public safety on the roadways. Period. It’s worse even than drunk driving because when you’re drunk you know you’re drunk and so you might exhibit some caution, but when you’re texting you’re oblivious to the outside world and don’t even realize you’re heading straight for oncoming traffic until you hit something.

There are literally millions of vehicles on the roads of New York every day. This greatly adds to the traffic congestion, confusion and driving nightmares that people experience when they try to get around the state. the last thing they need is some yahoo trying to send his momma a text about being late for dinner while he’s tearing down the Queen’s Expressway. That type of behavior can turn a bad day in traffic into an even worse day in the intensive care unit.

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January 19, 2012

New Parking In New York

Perhaps nothing is more frustrating for a driver than driving a long distance to get to their destination only to find there’s no place to park. Or no place to park that doesn’t cost you a full day’s wages.

Hours can be wasted circling around and around, searching endlessly for one of the precious few places to park on the street where the meter actually works and there isn’t a driveway or a fire hydrant. You can miss your dinner reservation, your movie, your play or your sporting event just spending time looking for a place to park. Or, giving up on someplace reasonable, hand over a wad of cash to park in some dingy garage for a couple hours.

Frustrating is hardly a harsh enough word.

Fortunately there is a new web site which might just open up a whole new way of finding a city parking space that doesn’t cost you reams of cash. The site is called “ParkatMyHouse” and it began in Britain, where parking in the London area is downright highway robbery, but people have little choice.

The idea is to allow those people who actually live in cities to rent their parking spaces to people in need of a place to park. Whether for an hour, a few hours or even overnight, the new site aims to match parkers with people with available parking. This could open up a lot of new parking spaces overnight.

The new service will first become available in the United States only in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, but if it catches on, more states will be added to the roster. In Britain the service claims to have over 40,000 available spaces in and around London and other cities, making it a very popular site with drivers.

So before you waste time circling the streets of New York for a parking space check online. It might just save you a lot of time and a lot of your precious sanity.

Image: Maggie Smith / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 16, 2012

Unpaid New York Parking Tickets Never Go Away

If you think that just because you have moved away from New York those unpaid parking tickets are ancient history, think again.

A 79-year-old Florida man got a rude awakening recently when he attempted to renew his driver’s license and discovered New York had entered his name into the National Driver Register for an unpaid parking ticket he received 40 years ago.

Yes, 40 years ago. That would be 1971.

Luis Velazquez, who has lived in North Fort Myers for the past 13 years, didn’t even remember the parking ticker until he tried to renew his Florida driver’s license. His renewal was denied because New York was still looking for its unpaid parking fine. Needless to say, Velazquez will need to pay his debt to new York before he can renew his Florida license.

So, what is the National Driver Register? It’s intended as a data base of information about drivers who have had their licenses suspended or revoked due to serious infractions such a drunk driving or too many speeding tickets. Managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration it is a way to prevent drivers who have their license suspended in one state from driving over to the nearest state and getting a new one. The information contained in the National Drover Register is supplied by each state’s bureau of motor vehicles and nothing stops them from uploading whatever information they want, and flagging drivers for unpaid parking tickets as well as drunk driving infractions.

So what can you do about it? Be a good defensive driver New York. If you get a citation, whether it’s for speeding or double parking, pay it. Don’t just assume that if enough time goes by everyone will forget all about it. This is the Digital Age. They can store millions of records on a disc the size of an old .45 rpm, I think they’ll have room to fit your unpaid parking tickets.

In the meantime, if you think you might have left some unpaid tickets in a former state, don’t wait for them to catch up with you. It will save you a lot of hassle if you contact the BMV in your former state and check the status of your license–even if you don’t have that license any longer.

Remember, New York defensive driving means watching out for anything which can impede your ability to get anywhere by car. Not being able to renew your license is just one of those hazards.

January 13, 2012

New York Considers Dropping Eye-Exam For Drivers

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles had planned to stop requiring eye exams for drivers who were renewing their license last fall, but public safety concerns prompted them to put their plan on hold.

The idea was to make the process of renewing your license easier by not requiring an eye exam. Drivers could simply renew their license online or by mail, without the need to visit a DMV office or wait in line. This seemed like a good idea in theory, but in practice some driving professionals questioned whether or not it was a good idea to just assume everyone’s vision had not gotten worse since the last time they renewed their license.

When it comes to defensive driving New York, it is probably a good idea to be able to see what’s going on around you. If your vision is good, no problem. But if your vision is failing, or failed, then an eye exam is not a good idea for you, but also for anyone who might be sharing the road with you or riding in your vehicle while you drive.

Look, the DMV is not in business to make our lives more difficult. It’s there to help keep us all safe as we drive around the country; our cities, our towns and our states. They have requirements because driving a vehicle is a very serious thing to do. A car is a 5,000 pound missile made of metal, plastic and glass, that can travel at speeds in excess of 100 mph.

And it’s not just the car you are driving which is dangerous. There are numerous new traffic signalling devices, signs and roadways which require you to have quick reflexes and excellent vision to find your way around. New York defensive driving is not a sport, it’s the only safe way to get from one point to another.

Until New York DMV decides to make eye exams optional, you’ll still be required to have one to renew your license. And even if they don’t require them, you should still consider it if you feel your eyesight just isn’t what it used to be.

Image: Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 12, 2012

Insurance Companies Get Serious About Distracted Driving

A recent study by automobile insurers shows that efforts by New York state to get drivers to put down their handheld devices and focus on driving by imposing strict fines, seems to be working. New York and Connecticut both instituted new bans on the use of handheld devices by drivers, and the results have so far been positive.

Automobile insurers also credit a flurry of public awareness programs and increased police vigilance for helping to curb the use of handheld devices. We would like to take a little credit for the increase in New York defensive driving, but whatever works makes us happy.

Insurance companies in New York already offer a discount for drivers who successfully complete a defensive driving course NY program. This can be as high as a 10 percent discount for some drivers, making a defensive driving course an attractive option.

The fact is, recent studies have shown that more than 10 percent of all accidents in the United States happen as a result of distracted driving. The driver is usually texting, talking on a cell phone or using some sort of handheld device while trying to navigate their way through busy intersections or just tooling down the road. Distracted driving is more dangerous than driving under the influence simply because drivers think they’re just fine chit-chatting away, and stop being cautious altogether, whereas a drunk driver might actually express some desire to stay out of the way, usually by driving on the sidewalk.

We’re not here to argue whether distracted driving is worse than drunk driving, however. We think they’re both just about the worst possible thing to do behind the wheel. And as the owners of MyImprovNewYork.com we know a lot about defensive driving.

So do yourself a favor, don’t risk a ticket and don’t risk your life just so you can send your friend a text message telling what you could tell them in person when you get there safely.

Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 12, 2012

Veterans Need To Re-Adjust To Driving At Home

The New York Times this week released a report by major national insurer USAA, which specializes in providing insurance for veterans and their families, which seems to indicate that soldiers returning from active duty in the Middle East often have trouble adjusting to driving back home in the United States.

In fact, The New York Times reports that accidents in which a service member was at fault went up nearly 15 percent after their return from deployment. That’s enough to make the statistic an alarming account of both the effects of deployment on soldiers and their impact once they return.

With a population of more than 9 million people, New York has a fairly large population of returning service members, meaning drivers need to be aware of who they are sharing the road with, and more patient. Not everyone just finished attending traffic school. At least a few of the drivers sitting beside you in traffic likely have some inexperience to deal with.

Soldiers who might be readjusting to life behind the wheel in the United States might want to consider taking a defensive driving course New York. In New York they can receive a possible 10 percent discount on their annual insurance premiums if they do, and it might just help them get back into the swing of things. Because let’s face it, learning to drive in the U.S. is nothing like driving in a war zone, no matter how much we might think it is. Not even Los Angeles is a war zone! So it’s perfectly understandable if soldiers need a little time to get re-acclimated to life at home.

Erratic driving is the most common problem facing returning soldiers, many of whom learned to drive in the middle of the road while serving on active duty, to avoid roadside bombs. Once they get back home, that urge to stay safe in the middle is hard to overcome. In the meantime, everyone else just sees some guy driving down the center of the highway and wonders what his problem is.

For returning soldiers, life is difficult and there’s always going to be an adjustment period. A New York defensive driving course would definitely help, but so would the patience of everyone around them. Unless they’re driving right toward you on the highway–then it’s perfectly OK to blow your horn.

January 11, 2012

New Yorkers Loathe Red Light Cameras

In this way New Yorkers are like just about everyone else in America: They hate red light cameras.

They hate them so much, in fact, that they regularly write their local newspapers complaining about the machines, complain to the police departments and complain to the city government officials who have paid to have them installed. All of this complaining has fallen on deaf ears however, because the city plans to install another couple dozen of the infernal machines this coming year.

To be fair, they are not red light cameras, or “gotcha cameras” or infernal machines. They are technically referred to as automated enforcement technology systems and as of today they are being used in nearly two dozen states around the nation. While being widely despised by drivers they have generated millions of dollars in revenue for the communities in which they are installed, without requiring the need for additional police patrols or radar guns. The camera does all the work, snapping a picture of the license plate of any vehicle which crosses through the intersection after the light has changed against them. The ensuing ticket is sent automatically and the fine is usually about $50.

In New York the cameras have been at work in Yonkers where motorists have already spotted them at Odell and Nepperhan Avenue and Central Park Avenue. Believe it or not the cameras serve a purpose other than generating money from citations: They help ensure public safety.

Defensive driving New York is hardly a recreational sport. It’s a serious business. With literally millions of cars on the road, drivers need to use the utmost caution getting from point A to point B. If an automated enforcement technology system can help to make a specific intersection a little bit safety, you can bet the city government is going to go for it. And so are a lot of NY defensive drivers who care about safety.

Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 10, 2012

More New York Drivers Busted For Texting

We should start calling it TBTW: Texting Behind The Wheel. Or driving stupid.

Whatever you call it, more New York drivers are getting busted for it, now that the state has started cracking down on drivers who spend more time with their eyes on their handheld device than on the road in front of them. This is good news for the state which pockets an extra $150 for every citation handed out–and police are handing out more now than before the law went into effect last year–but it’s bad news for anyone who wants to drive in New York, because it appears drivers there haven’t learned how dangerous it is.

According to numerous studies, distracted driving is even more dangerous than driving under the influence. And you can’t get much distracted than trying to send a text message while driving down the highway at 65 mph. New York defensive driving is all about using common sense and caution every time you get behind the wheel. However, thinking you can drive defensively while tapping out “hey what’s on tv tonight? I’m bored” is just plain stupid.

There simply is no safe way to text and drive. Having a friend hold the wheel while you key in letters is the height of stupidity. Call it stupidity times 2, and don’t do it.

New Yorkers have enough problems without worrying about whether or not the oncoming driver is looking at the road ahead of them or the picture of a dog in a monkey suit someone just sent them. Defensive driving is not an accident. It’s a habit. A carefully groomed habit which requires you to practice, concentrate and perform at your optimum level every time you get behind the wheel. Not just when you feel like it.

If you get busted for texting while driving in New York, you’ll get a $150 fine and three points added to your license. You can take our defensive driving course New York to get the points off your license, but we can’t fix stupid.

Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 6, 2012

New York Adding Traffic Lights To Ease Congestion

Some New York cities are trying hi-tech traffic lights to help ease traffic congestion. Mount Pleasant is the first New York community to try using the new traffic lights which have been shown to reduce delays by as much as 30 percent.

This is good news for defensive drivers who might have worried about the mental health of their fellow drivers, stressed out from the long commute. Defensive drivers know that they need to relax behind the wheel and focus on the destination (arriving safe and sound) instead of the journey.

The Mount Pleasant Town Council Bids and Purchases Committee approved the purchase of an InSync Adaptive Traffic Control System for eight intersections along five miles of U.S. 17. The lights had already been tested on a smaller portion of U.S. 17 where significant decreases in travel time were seen as a result.

The new lights are designed to better time the flow of traffic through intersections, using special digital sensors and computer aided technology to make it as close to perfect as possible.

The InSync Adaptive Traffic Control System is manufactured by Rhythm Engineering. The information is updated every second and fed down the line of integrated traffic light so vehicle scan move more easily through the chain of intersections. The cameras and cables will keep track of traffic at each of the intersections so it will “know” how fast vehicles are moving and whether or not something needs to be changed to accommodate a better flow. The company says the new traffic signal system can reduce up to 90 percent of stop-and-go traffic, leading to a 30 percent reduction in the release of greenhouse gases as a side benefit. Of course what drivers want is to get home from work sooner and avoid delays from having to sit at traffic lights half the time.

New technology is no substitute for good New York defensive driving, however. Drivers still need to care to avoid driving during rush hour (if possible) and if they do get stuck in traffic, to keep their cool. Remember, you won’t be stuck in traffic forever; you will get where you are going eventually, unless you try to run the light and get sideswiped by a tractor-trailer. Then no traffic light is going to help.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 6, 2012

New York Commute Still The Toughest

In what will surely not come as a shock to New York drivers, NYC has once again reached the top of the list for cities with the longest driving commute for workers.

Year after year, as more drivers hit the roads, populations expand and roads (for the most part)stay exactly as the day they were built decades ago, traffic gets heavier and heavier.

Sure, there are a few cities gaining on New York’s lead, but it’s still Number One when it comes to traffic. A Census Bureau report indicates that 40 percent of all New York workers spend 45 minutes or more sitting in traffic for their daily commute to and from work.

That’s long enough to bake a cake, assuming your car is equipped with an oven and a chef. It’s also more than long enough to induce some drivers to fill with rage, get upset at the space between the driver ahead of them and the car ahead of them; miss an exit; speed in an effort to make up what they consider “lost time” and generally disobey any traffic signals which they believe might make their daily commute even longer.

Of course being on time is no excuse for dangerous driving, especially when there are millions of other drivers on the roads in the exact same situation as you. If everyone decided to just do their own thing when it comes to getting where they want to go in a timely fashion it would be sheer chaos on the roads. The odds are more people would end up in the hospital than would end up at work.

New York defensive driving doesn’t mean taking aim at the other drivers. It’s not a free for all. Defensive driving NY means being smart about the way you get from one place to another.

First, avoid driving during the rush hour, first of all. If you don’t need to be on the roads during drive time, stay home. It will make life a little easier for the folks who do have to be on the road.

Second, try using the roads outside the five boroughs, where traffic is less likely to be heavy.

Third, relax. There is no point in getting upset about something that is not within your control anyway. You will get there when you get there and whoever is waiting for you will wait.

Fourth, if you can switch your car for public transportation, give it a try. If everyone used public transportation just one day out of every month it would take thousands of cars off the road, making life a little easier for the people that are still driving.

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January 5, 2012

New York Senior Driver Safety

For older drivers the mere suggestion their driver privileges could be curtailed or taken away completely is tantamount to taking away their freedom. And rightly so. Public transportation, while readily available in the New York City area is still quite limiting in terms of where you can go, when you can get there and what you can bring with you.

Fortunately there are an abundance of options for drivers who have reached a certain age which can help them continue to hone their driving skills, stay current on traffic laws and be safe, defensive drivers.

The first idea is to attend and online defensive driving school New York. A defensive driving course, even when it’s taken online, can help sharpen skills that might have grown rusty, familiarize a driver with changes in traffic laws and help instill a sense of confidence in someone who has grown doubtful of their own abilities. Because the course can be taken online there is a real sense of privacy, nobody but you and your insurance agent need to know you successfully completed the course. Plus, your insurance company is very likely to offer you a 10 percent discount for taking and completing the course (that’s why you should tell your insurance agent.)

It also helps if a senior driver can restrict themselves to driving only when conditions are safest. During daylight hours, in nice weather is the best time for senior drivers. Visibility is best during the days and when there is no inclement weather. Plus, in the event of a breakdown, it is much easier to find assistance during the day time than it is at night, or in the middle of a snowstorm.

Senior drivers might also find it easier if they plan their driving in advance, trying to make the shortest trips possible, or limiting their driving only to a family member’s home and only after telling the family they are on their way. This way if there is a problem, like the driver getting lost, there is someone who knows to be on the lookout for them. They should also stay on familiar roads and avoid traveling to places they have never visited before. This will help ensure they know where they are and where to go at all times.

Defensive driving NY doesn’t just have to be for the young. Once drivers reach a certain age it is true their motor skills can become impaired, but not every elderly driver is affected the same way. It is important every driver be treated as an individual and given an opportunity to improve any skills which they might have lost during the process of raising a family, working hard and being good citizens.

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January 3, 2012

NY Teens Most Likely To Drive And Text

We have all seen the well reported results of the effects of distracted driving, especially when the driver is trying to text as they cruise down the road. The often tragic results of this behavior prompted the National Transportation Safety Board to recommend all states ban the use of any handheld devices by all drivers.

Unfortunately, few have readily made the connection between use of cell phones and distracted driving. In fact, teenagers are texting more every month than any other group, but factor of ten. The average teen sends thousands of text messages every month to their friends and family. If they are old enough to drive you can bet that a fair number of those texts were sent from behind the wheel as they cruised down the road, singing along to the radio and not paying nearly enough attention to the hazards of driving.

In New York statistics show that while teenagers make up only 6 percent of all licensed drivers they are involved in nearly 20 percent of all fatal accidents. With millions of drivers on the road on any given day, defensive driving NY requires you have be constantly aware of what is going on around you at all times. You cannot take eyes off the road for a second, much less long enough send “LMAO! just saw mark’s hat!” on your cell phone.

A defensive driving course New York can get points off your license and even help you keep insurance premiums low (insurance companies in New York offer a 10 percent discount to drivers who successfully complete a defensive driving course) but it can’t heal broken bones or bring your teenager back to life if they’ve been killed in a crash because they were texting and driving.

The best idea is to teach your teens the importance of NOT using their cell phone in the car at all; tell them to put it in the trunk so they aren’t even tempted to answer it if it rings or beeps. In most cases teens are not known for being overly bright, but if you keep repeating the message they might just listen to you. Eventually.

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January 2, 2012

Staten Island DUI Arrests Jump

The fact that arrests for driving under the influence jumped more than 18 percent last year over the prior has more to do with increased patrols than it does with an increase in distracted drivers.

The New York Highway Patrol and Police have focused on Staten Island this past year when it comes to DUI surveillance, increasing patrols and checkpoints in an effort to reduce drunk driving.

Despite the increase in drunk driving arrests in Staten Island, the other four boroughs saw a significant decline, about 13 percent. In Brooklyn, DUI arrested dropped even more than they increased in State Island. Brooklyn DUI arrests were down almost 20 percent and in the Bronx they were down about 16 percent.

New York defensive driving is all about be cautious and not being stupid. Stupid driving is what you do when you down a few drinks and then get behind the wheel of a 5,000 pound missile made of steel and plastic and glass and step on the accelerator. There simply is no excuse for driving under the influence of anything.

In New York City drivers are constantly confronted by a near endless gauntlet of dangerous driving situations. From rush hour traffic, to poor weather conditions to thousands of out-of-state drivers who have just arrived in the city and trying to find their way around. There is no where near enough space in this blog to list all the dangerous conditions New York drivers face on a daily basis. When you add distracted drivers, or drunk drivers to the mix, the recipe is nearly perfect for one kind of daily disaster or the other.

Defensive driving New York is not just about being clean and sober when you get behind the wheel (although that is a necessity, and the law) it is also all about taking precautions and being constantly aware of your surroundings. New York State Police and city police are doing a good job keeping a fair number of drunk drivers off the road, but they can’t be everywhere at once. Besides, as adults, we are responsible for our own actions, meaning driving safe is not a lucky chance, but a well-honed skill that we should utilize every time we get behind the wheel.

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December 30, 2011

New York Has Millions To Spend Fighting DUI

New York is already crowing about lower traffic fatalities, now they plan to take their efforts aimed at distracted drivers one step further, allocation $3 million toward police anti-DUI efforts.

This week New York City transportation officials announced they had fewer traffic related fatalities in 2011 than they had since 1911. That’s a heck of a statistic, and certainly one worth bragging about.

The money will spent reimbursing New York counties for the costs of installing interlock ignition devices on those convicted of driving under the influence. The interlock device forces a driver to pass a self-administered breathalyzer test before the motor will start. If the driver does not blow into the attached device, or fails the test, they cannot start the vehicle. The devices cost the offender hundreds of dollars to install plus another $80 a month in maintenance fees. They have also been an effective tool in the fight against driving under the influence.

Since 2010, anyone convicted of a misdemeanor or felony drunk driving charge has been required to install an interlock device.

That’s hardly the only effort New York has made when it comes to increasing driver safety. In 2009 the state passed the Child Passenger Protection Act which makes it a felony offense drive a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol with a passenger who is under the age of 16. In the past two years more than 1,500 people have been arrested under the law, making it another effective tool in the war against DUI.

NY defensive driving is hardly a difficult skill to master. All it requires is a good dose of common sense, and perhaps an online defensive driving course NY. Whatever you do, avoid getting behind the wheel when you are under the influence of anything except a desire to arrive at your destination safe and sound with all your passengers intact.

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December 30, 2011

NY Traffic Deaths At A 100 Year Low

Since they started keeping records in 1910, New York City has now logged the fewest ever annual traffic deaths.

That means, although there are now more cars on the road than ever before, it is also safer for drivers and pedestrians than it has ever been before. I would like to think defensive driving has at least a little something to do with that.

Defensive drivers are always avoiding distractions, following all the safety laws and all the rules of the road. Defensive driving NY means being patient (which is a good thing to have in abundance if you drive in NYC); being careful and methodical in everything you do behind the wheel.

Speeding around from place to place won’t get you there much sooner, but it will make you use more gas and possibly result in a speeding citation. A New York defensive driving course can help you avoid the points from adding up on your license, but if you lose control of your vehicle and hit a tree, a defensive driving course won’t fix a busted head.

This past year saw a whopping 13 percent reduction in the number of traffic fatalities. Despite this marked decline more than 235 people died as a result of a traffic accident in NYC, and more than half of them were pedestrians. Although pedestrian deaths as a result of a traffic accident are also at an all time low.

Among the things which have led to the reduction in traffic fatalities are new slow speed zones, bicycle lanes, pedestrian crossing areas and improvements in roadway designs. The NYC police have also stepped up enforcement of existing DUI laws, handing out more than 1 million citations for moving violations in the past year alone.

This concerted effort by city planners and police has created a much safer environment for everyone on NYC streets. NY Defensive drivers and those with a little less experience can all share in the joy of getting to their destination knowing they are just a little bit safer than they were last year.

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December 28, 2011

Don’t Drive Drunk (With Or Without A Deer In Your Trunk)

A New York man was recently arrested for drunk driving after police stopped him and found a dead deer in his trunk.

According to police, the driver, Andrew Caswell, 29, said he had struck the deer but not killed it. Afraid the animal was suffering, Caswell decided to take the hurt animal to the local hospital. That’s when police caught him, the deer was dead in the trunk and Caswell tested positive for alcohol. In fact, his blood alcohol content was .16, twice the legal limit.

This is definitely not a case of NY defensive driving success. In fact, I would call this an epic fail of the highest magnitude.

We can laugh at the absurdity of a drunk man driving around with a dead deer in his trunk, looking for a hospital, but really, it’s tragic.

Obviously Caswell doesn’t understand how important it is to drive safe and sober, or he wouldn’t have climbed behind the wheel after downing a few. Drivers who get behind the wheel drunk, or even buzzed, risk a citation, a suspended license and even death because they are not fully in charge of their faculties. Reaction times are slowed after you’ve had a few drinks. So is your judgement, your reflexes and common sense. Hence putting a dying deer in his trunk and heading for a hospital.

Defensive driving starts before you ever get inside your car. It requires you to fully acknowledge your ability (or lack thereof) for driving. It means handing over your keys to a friend if you’re too tired, or too drunk, so you don’t wind up making a bad decision. Distracted driving, whether you are fiddling with your radio, checking your hair in the mirror or drunk, greatly increases your chances of having a serious crash. And it might not be a deer you hit, but an unsuspecting pedestrian.

Photo compliments of Freephoto.

December 27, 2011

New York City Braces For Influx Of Tourists

If you are planning on ringing in the New Year in the Big Apple, you might want to leave your car at home and take a train. Or, drive defensively.

New York City transportation officials expect this holiday week, already one of the busiest tourist weeks of the year for the city, to be even more busy this year. The holiday spirit has gripped the nation and hotels are reporting a surge in new bookings.

New York defensive driving experts know they should plan ahead before any long trip or one that involves someplace they might have never been. Doing a thorough safety check of your vehicle is a great idea. Make certain your tires are in good shape and are properly inflated. Also, given that you might encounter poor weather this week especially, it’s a good idea to check your windshield wipers. If they look worn, or don’t seem to the job you need done during a light rain they will likely be little to no help during heavy rain or snow, both of which are common this time of year in New York.

It is also a good idea to make certain your vehicle meets or exceeds the minimum requirements of vehicle inspection laws in NYC. New York State requires annual inspections of all vehicles on their roadways, and this level of safety extends to anyone who visits their state as well, so be certain your car is in good working order. Don’t cross the state line dragging your bumper or you’re likely to create a scene and get a citation.

Most of all, make certain you know exactly where you are going and where you can park when you get there. Defensive driving NY can be tricky, at best. There are likely to be millions of people doing the exact same thing you are, so don’t anticipate finding a convenient place to park unless you already have a reserved space or plan on getting there a few days in advance. You don’t want to spend hours driving around the city looking for a place to park when you could be snuggled up warm and cozy in one of the many pubs, enjoying yourself.

Which brings me to my final point: Don’t drink and drive. Don’t get buzzed and drive either. New York has one of the toughest drunk driving laws on the books and police will be out in force to make certain the roadways are free of drunk drivers. Plus, it’s just not safe. If you care about your life, the lives of your passengers and the lives of the people you will be passing on your ride home, drive sober.

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December 27, 2011

New York Expanding “Move Over” Law

New Yorkers will start the year off with much singing, dancing and celebrating; and a new law intended to make the roads safer for everyone.

New York already has a “move-over” law which requires drivers to move to the far lane and slow down when approaching emergency vehicles with flashing red lights stopped along the side of the road. This has resulted in a decrease in accidents involving emergency workings. The law is similar to laws which exist in several other states.

Unfortunately the law did not apply to vehicles which did not have flashing red lights, like tow trucks and construction vehicles. These vehicles are also required to stop along the side of the road, leaving their passengers susceptible to vehicles which do not yield. Tow truck drivers and construction workers have each suffered their share of fatalities and injury as a result of careless drivers who do not move over.

Starting January 1, 2012, New York will expand the reach of the existing “move over” law to include vehicles with amber lights such as highway maintenance workers, construction workers and state HELP vehicles.

Drivers who violate the “move over” law can suffer steep consequences including a fine up to $250, court costs of $85 and a possible 15 day stay in jail. The driver might also receive an additional three points on their license.

An New York defensive driving course can help you get the points off your license, but nothing can restore a life lost due to careless driving.

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December 23, 2011

NY Students Pledge Not To Drive ‘Stupid’

You might call it distracted driving, but I call it ‘driving stupid.’

Driving stupid is what you do when you are not being a good defensive driver. You might be fiddling with the radio, talking on your cell phone; getting behind the wheel after you’ve had a few drinks or trying to text and drive. You might think you’re being cool, but you’re really just showing your ignorance.

To help educate future drivers about the dangers of any form of distracted driving, students in West Seneca, New York, started a new club called “Students Against Destructive Decisions.” It encompasses avoiding doing anything which might lead to yourself or someone else being hurt as a result of your bad decision.

A defensive driving New York course is a great way to learn the importance of avoiding distractions while you drive. It can also help you understand the importance of following every traffic law, not just the ones you like and not only when you feel like following them.

Insurers agree that young drivers are the most at-risk group of drivers on the road today. This explains why they pay a higher rate than drivers who have reached a certain age–matured, if you will. This is partly to do with their level of inexperience and partly to do with the impulsive behavior commonly seen in humans during their teenage years.

If you have a young driver in your household, you need to sign them up for a defensive driving NY course. It will help them become good, defensive drivers and, as if protecting their life isn’t enough of a benefit, insurance companies in New York will offer you a discount on your premiums if you do.

This makes defensive driving a win-win scenario, and a great lesson for every student, no matter where they live.

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December 22, 2011

New York State Police Crack Down On Texting

In the midst of a very public national debate about the dangers of texting while driving, New York State Police launched an initiative to enforce their state’s tough anti-texting and driving law.

That’s right. New York already has one of the toughest anti-texting and driving laws in the United States. According to a recent report by InsuranceQuotes.com they are considered to have the fifth-toughest law against texting and driving.

Since 2010 drivers caught texting behind the wheel the first time receive a $150 fine, plus a state tax of $85. If they actually get caught in the act they also get two points on their driving record.

Judging by the more than 800 texting and driving citations handed out by NYSP over the Thanksgiving weekend, the law is still not much of a deterrent. But it is a good start.

While NYSP were handing out citations to people who were found to be texting while driving, even more tickets were being handed out to people for other driving infractions like drinking and driving, speeding and ignoring traffic signals. When you think about all these distracted drivers on the streets you might wonder how anyone made it home safely for Thanksgiving.

Defensive driving NY has a lot to do with that. Defensive drivers understand the risks of distracted driving. They don’t allow anything to come between them and their focus on driving safely. They maintain the proper speed, obey all traffic signals and definitely take their eyes off the road to update their Facebook page or send out a Tweet.

The fact is, New York defensive driving will get you home safe because defensive drivers are the most likely drivers to arrive at their destination safely.

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December 20, 2011

New York Traffic Hotspots

There are humorous top ten lists aplenty, but this isn’t one of them. At least, it’s not funny for folks who live and work in and around the New York City area.

A new study conducted by the NYU’s Rudin Center for Transportation Policy & Management and based on U.S. Transportation statistics, lists the top 10 worst traffic spots in New York City. In what is surely not a surprise to the folks who live there, the worst areas not located within the five boroughs of NYC, but in the areas just outside; around the periphery of the heart of NYC. This makes perfect sense, as drivers look for routes that avoid what they believe to be the worst traffic areas, they actually create new worst areas.

Of course defensive drivers in New York understand that traffic or no traffic, it makes sense to allow plenty of time to get to your destination so there’s no reason to give in to the temptation of speeding. Safe driving becomes not so much an accident (pardon the pun) but a habit.

Anyone who has completed an defensive driving NY online course also understands the importance of defensive driving, so they can avoid further driving citations.

The new study offers a list of the most congested areas and the worst possible times to be driving through them. The best idea is to avoid these areas during certain times of day. And if you do get caught in a heavily congested area just relax, take it easy and try to be patient.

Here is the complete list and times of day when the traffic is heaviest:

Whitestone Expressway: Exit 14/Linden Place to Whitestone Bridge (When to avoid: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Hutchinson Parkway: Cross-Country Parkway to Mamaroneck Road (When to avoid: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.)

Pulaski Skyway: I-95 to Tonnelle Avenue (When to avoid: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.)

I-84 near Waterbury, Conn.: Interstate 691 to Austin Road (When to avoid: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Major Deegan Expressway: Van Cortlandt Park to I-95 (When to avoid: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

I-95 in the Bronx/Manhattan: Exit 13/Conner Street to Fort Lee, N.J. (When to avoid: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Conn. Turnpike in New Haven: Marsh Hill Road to Ella Grasso Blvd (When to avoid: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Major Deegan Expressway: I-278 to I-95 (When to avoid: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

FDR Drive 34th Street to 116th Street (When to avoid: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Henry Hudson Parkway: 72nd Street to George Washington Bridge (When to avoid: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

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December 20, 2011

Save Yourself From High Insurance Rates

Times are tough. The economy is still struggling, people are still out of work and you’re still getting that whopping big car insurance bill every month.

Two of those things you can’t do much about unless you’re a Congressman, but the third thing, your monthly automobile insurance bill, THAT you can control. Taking a defensive driving course is a good place to start. Insurance providers in some states will actually lower your premiums if you successfully complete an online defensive driving NY course every three years. In nEw York that amounts to a 10 percent savings every year. In New Jersey it’s a little lower at 5 percent, but a buck’s a buck when you’re looking save money.

If insurance providers in your state don’t offer a discount for completion of a defensive driving NY course there are other ways to cut your insurance premiums. They all start and end with you being a safe driver.

1. Use caution and drive defensively. Avoid crashes at all costs. You probably think you already do this, but do you really? Do you slow down when you see a deer crossing or school zone sign? Do you keep your headlights on during the day AND night? Studies have shown running your headlights during the daytime has decreased traffic accidents in countries where it is the law.

2. Buy a safer vehicle. That shiny little sports car might look like fun, but it’s probably not very safe. Look for something with added safety features like anti-lock brakes, driver’s side and passenger side air bags, plus side curtain airbags. Traction control helps your tires grip when you need them to. You might also consider a vehicle with electronic stability control to keep it upright and in control automatically even when you’re not able to.

You might also consider a vehicle with preventative safety measures included, like a rear-view wide angle video camera or a heads-up display night vision. Anything that makes it easier for you to see where you’re going at all times is bound to help keep you safe. (Plus, studies have shown that they.)

3. Watch your speed. You might feel like you’re “sticking it to the man” every down you fly down the highway at unsafe speeds, but all you’re really doing is showing your insurnace company that they probably aren’t charging you enough for your insurance. The more speeding tickets you get, the more points you get on your license. the more points on your license, the higher your insurance premiums are going to go. The sky’s the limit when it comes to automobile insurance rates!

So, complain about the economy, or the unemployment rate or the stock market if you want to. But don’t complain about your insurance rates because that’s nobody’s fault but your own.

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December 16, 2011

New York Traffic Safety Officials Try Haiku

Never let it be said New Yorkers lack a sense of humor and an appreciation for the art of brief poetry. Specifically, I am speaking of the new Haiku inspired traffic safety signs New York City safety officials have installed near cultural institutions and schools where vehicle crashes are most common. The more than 200 new signs offer simple safety tips in the form of an illustration accompanied by a brief Haiku explaining the need for caution in the area.

It is still too early to determine if the signs are having any impact, but they are aimed at pedestrians, drivers and bicyclists, so the chances are good that someone in at least one of those groups will be inspired by the quirky verse to drive, walk or bike in a safer manner when they see it. Which is a good thing.

There are so far more than 50,000 for-hire vehicles cruising through New York City on any given day. Add to that thousands of buses and tens of thousands of personal vehicles and you get an idea of just how busy the streets are in this 465 square mile region of the United States. New York City is the most populous region in the U.S. and on any given day it seems as if all of them are in their cars driving around, maybe taking in the sights or simply going to work.

Haiku has been a popular form of Japanese short-poetry for more than 1,000 years. It is still almost as relevant today as it was in the 9th century, with tens of thousands of people still actively creating new Haiku every day.

Can Haiku make a difference when it comes to traffic safety? That’s a good question. Haiku is an art. Defensive driving New York is also an art. Bringing the two together might just result in a safer experience for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists, helping them learn to share the road in peace and harmony. But only time will tell.

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December 14, 2011

NY Drivers Lack Common Sense (Like The Rest Of America)

When it comes to safe drivers New York has about as many as any other state in the Union, which definitely isn’t enough.

New York drivers pride themselves on their ability to safely navigate the near endless construction zones, heavy traffic and a dizzying array of street signs, one-way streets and traffic signals both living (traffic cops) and automated. They take driving seriously, as they should, given they spend a good portion of their lives sitting behind the wheel of their cars.

New York certainly hasn’t cornered the market on New York defensive driving, but then again, neither has anyone else. Defensive drivers are still in the minority every time they hit the road. The number of defensive driving course graduates is increasing every year, as insurance companies begin offering discounts for those who complete the course and as a result of driving citations. Traffic school is a great way to escape the accumulation of points on your license, but it is also a great way to improve your driving skills so you can avoid getting more citations in the future.

Not too long ago the New York Daily News posted an article on its website with a headline which read in part: “New York drivers dumbest in the nation…” The article cited a recent survey by GMAC which seemed to indicate New York drivers were the least knowledgeable about local traffic laws. In their defense, most states didn’t finished much better.

Much has been said about which state has the best crop of drivers, but the fact is, most Americans still have a lot to learn when it comes to defensive driving. If your skills are lacking, or you feel it might be a good idea to brush up on your defensive driving NY skills, don’t wait to be sent to traffic school, do yourself a favor and sign up now.

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December 14, 2011

Texting And Driving Can Cost You More Than Your License

Text And Die

Want to know what’s worse than drinking and driving? Texting and driving. Yup. You read that right. The guy who downs a several beers before getting behind the wheel and driving home is actually a better bet than the teenage football star who is trying to text his buddies on the way home from school.

Studies have repeatedly shown that texting and driving is the most distracting thing a driver can be doing while they are supposed to be DRIVING. It requires the driver to not only take their eyes off the road, but their brains shift focus away from driving as well, making it doubly dangerous.

Now, we’re not suggesting drunk drivers are ok. No. We’re suggesting that texting and driving is a recipe for disaster.

NY defensive driving means paying attention to what is going on around you at all times. Being a good defensive driver in New York means being twice as vigilant as you would someplace that wasn’t home to more than 19,000,000 people.

New York is a great place to live, but if you want to go on living, especially if you drive, you need to be smart. Don’t allow yourself to become distracted by digital devices that draw your attention away from the road. The road is where the danger is, not on your phone. Whoever is calling you or texting you will call you back. Or, you can call them back when you get to where you are going, assuming you even want to talk to them at all. There is no need to endanger your own life and the life of everyone you share the road with by trying to do anything other than driving.

Defensive driving New York is an important skill to have for anyone hitting the roads today, or any day. It can help you understand the risks you take every time you get behind the wheel. And unfortunately, there are many, no need to make texting one of yours.

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December 14, 2011

Speed Kills: No Driver Is Immune

Before you get behind the wheel of a 3,000 pound car, or an 8,000 pound SUV, remember this: You are actually getting behind the wheel of a deadly weapon.

When you step on that accelerator your car launches like a rocket. Sure, you can steer and control your vehicle at safe speeds, but when you push the limits you risk losing control, and perhaps losing your life.

This one of the key lessons learned in traffic school. Defensive driving is all about behaving in a way which lets people know you understand just how dangerous your vehicle really is. It’s not a toy. It is a deadly weapon that can hurt or kill you, someone you love or someone you’ve never even met before but just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In NY defensive driving is no accident. It requires careful study, attention to detail and a full knowledge and understanding of the traffic laws in places you will drive, the limitations of your vehicle and your own limitations as a human being. Once you understand the rules of the road and how you must follow them, you stand a much better chance of arriving at your destination safe and sound than if you just jump into your car and go.

A defensive driving course is a good idea for anyone who spends a lot of time behind the wheel; first time drivers or drivers who could use a refresher. There is no shame in taking a New York defensive driving course, but there is shame in disregarding the traffic safety laws and hurting yourself or someone else.

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December 14, 2011

Insurers Embrace Defensive Driving

Defensive Driving Brings Big Savings

Insurance companies are trying to push through a graduated driver licensing program in all fifty states. Most estimates show that improved driver safety in teenagers, either through attendance in a defensive driving course NY (which can greatly decrease your premiums in New York and New Jersey) or a graduated driver licensing program, reduce property damage and deaths from automobile crashes. There is real evidence of the effectiveness of a two-tiered approach, but emphasis on defensive driving is the key.

Defensive driving does not mean you need drive faster than everyone else, or have your middle finger ready to ward off tail-gaters. It means be aware of the importance of focusing your full attention on the road ahead of you and not allowing yourself to be distracted while driving.

There is no substitute for the level of confidence driver’s can get by successfully completing a NY defensive driving course, but a graduated driver’s licensing program does help.

Right now Congress is considering a series of new health and safety measures as part of a comprehensive highway and infrastructure budget spending bill. Insurers and the National Safety Council hope they will consider making a graduated driver licensing program a federal law enforced in all 50 states. Most of these programs, enacted already in several states, involve a three step system for teenagers looking to get their hands on a driver’s license. The first step involves the teen passing a qualifying test to get their learner’s permit. With their learner’s permit they will only be allowed supervised driving privileges with an adult in the vehicle. Once they complete the requisite number of supervised driving hours they will receive an “Intermediate License” which will allow them to drive only during certain hours, with a limited number of passengers and limited, if any, use of cells phones in the vehicle. Once their time with an Intermediate License is complete they will graduate to a full driver’s license.

In states which use a graduated driver’s license program the number of teenage drivers involved in crashes shows a marked decline. Even with these controls, however, more teens are involved in vehicle accidents than any other demographic. This means the use of a defensive driving course coupled with a graduated driver licensing program will only serve to make the streets even safer for teenage drivers and anyone who shares the road with them.

Image: Pixomar / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

December 14, 2011

Drunk Driving On The Rise In NY

It’s Down Everywhere But Here

Although the incidence of drunk driving deaths are down nearly 5 percent nationwide, the same is not try when you zero-in on specific regions. New Hampshire saw a more than 50 percent increase in drunk driving fatalities last year and New York saw a 14 percent increase. With a population of almost 20 million people it doesn’t seem too much of a stretch to imagine there are probably more bars and general opportunities for drinking alcohol there than someplace less populated, but this still doesn’t excuse an increase in the number of people who get behind the wheel of a 4,000 pound missile without their brain.

Anyone who has completed a NY defensive driving course understands just how dangerous distracted driving is. So does every state trooper, police officer, EMT paramedic and firefighters because they are the first on the scene when some inebriated driving wraps his vehicle around a street light, or even worse, someone else’s vehicle.

Traffic school is great for lowering your insurance premiums, keeping points from accumulating on your license or teaching you how to be a safe, defensive driver. Unfortunately it won’t heal broken bones or bring someone back to life if they’ve been struck by a drunk driver.

Despite an increase in the number of public service announcements aimed at anyone who even flirts with the idea getting behind the wheel after tossing back a few beers, drunk driving is still prevalent on a regional basis. Just as once upon a time people thought nothing of driving away without first fastening their seat belt, there are still a large number of people who think nothing of driving while under the influence of alcohol or some other mind-altering substance.

Defensive driving NY means taking responsibility for your own actions and avoiding distractions that might keep you from focusing on the task at hand: driving.

There is no excuse for drunk driving, just as there is no excuse for allowing your mother-in-law to redecorate your Man Cave. So don’t do it.

Image: Stoonn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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