Texas Driver Safety and Training

From prairie country in the panhandle through dry, arid desert, down to the semi tropical climate on the Gulf Coast, few states have a more varied climate than Texas. With basically nothing more than a barbed wire fence to separate them from winter storms rushing down the eastern slope of the Rockies, the residents of the Panhandle area are somewhat accustomed to blizzards. The residents of the Gulf Coast rarely see snow but this December saw the earliest recorded snowfall in the Houston area and the second year in a row in which snow fell on the Gulf Coast. As its name suggests, the Hill Country can be especially difficult to drive in during a snow or ice storm and the western desert is not a place where a driver would want to be stranded in the snow.

The early snow storm in Houston led to the death of one motorist and serious injuries to a police officer investigating a traffic crash when another driver, attempting to slow down, lost control and crashed into the patrol car pinning the officer between his car and the guard rail. For drivers unused to driving in the snow, these weather extremes can be extremely dangerous. Drivers traveling across Texas in the winter should prepare for the worse.

If you live in an area that rarely sees snow, remember the following safety tips for driving in snow:

• It is important to remember that even a small amount of snow can make the roads very slippery and treacherous. The problem becomes worse when the snow on the road, reduced to slush by passing cars, freezes overnight and turns into a sheet of ice.


• Remember that bridges and overpasses will freeze first.


• Stay home unless it is absolutely necessary for you to go out.


• If you must go out, drive slowly.


• When slowing, don't hit the brakes too hard or fast; it can cause you to spin out and lose control of your car.


• Anticipate areas where there may be pedestrians and drive slowly.


• If your car begins to skid, turn your wheel in the direction of the skid. If the rear of your car starts to skid to the left, turn your wheel to the left. Take your foot off the gas and don't apply the brakes until your car has slowed and you have regained control. Look where you want your car to go and steer gently back and forth until your car is centered in the lane.

If you live in those areas of Texas where blizzards are common, remember the following tips:

• Blowing and drifting snow can obscure the edges of the roadway. Look for snow markers on the edge of the road.


• Whiteout conditions can exist, obscuring all road details and traffic ahead.


• If whiteout conditions exist, treat it like fog. Don't use your high beams; high beams will reflect off the snow making it more difficult to see ahead.


• In whiteout conditions, turn off your radio and listen for the sounds of traffic ahead.

If you are traveling across Texas on the interstates:

• In the desert, there are areas of where freeway exits are more than 100 miles apart.


• Make sure your gas tank is full. Keep it topped off before traveling on those long empty stretches between exits.


• Take extra blankets, power bars, and water in case you are stranded on the interstate between exits.


• If you are stranded, conserve gas. Run your car's engine just long enough to heat up the car and then shut it off.


• While running your engine, be aware of the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure your tail pipe isn't covered by snow and crack a window slightly while running the engine.


• Do not leave your car and attempt to walk. You are safer in your car until rescue personnel arrive.

Labels: driver safety course, driving safety, texas driving laws, winter driving

In today's world, there's technology we can have in our cars that could allow us to function there perfectly, such as in-car DVDs and some people have even gone to the extent as to having microwaves in their cars! But when it comes to cell phones, there are more gadgets and gizmos out there than any other in-car accessory on the market. But whether you use hands free kits or not, it's important you know the risks of driving and using a cell phone, hands-free or not.

Amazingly, 83% of teenagers in America admit to talking on their cell phone while driving, and 68% of teens to texting, but only 43% said they were actually confident in their driving ability while talking, even less when it came to texting while driving.

Studies conducted from the University of Utah shows that when young motorists talk on cell phones, their driving suddenly compares to that of very elderly drivers. They move and react a lot slower, and end up increasing their overall risk of accident. A professor from the university described the change as "Instant Aging", 18-25 year olds begin driving like 70 year olds in a matter of seconds.

Whether you're on the phone or hands free, when you're driving it doesn't matter, you could still be putting yourself at risk. If a driver is part of a conversation, on the phone or otherwise, it will often result in problems in driving, whether it's a lapse in concentration, or driver distraction.

Research conducted in 2003 has also recently proved that motorists that talk on cell phones while driving are actually more impaired than drunk drivers. An experiment was conducted using adults aged 18-25 and 65-74 year olds, they were placed in driving simulators and were asked to talk of cell phones. It was found that the 18-25 year olds reacted a lot slower to brake lights from cars in front of them, and other every-day driving obstacles. The 65-74 year olds, were ever slower.

Drivers who speak on cell phones were an incredible 18% slower when breaking, and had a 12% greater following distance. It might not seem like a lot on paper, but when you think about it, it could make a big difference when it comes to stopping in time if a child runs out into the road.

Even in-car conversations with passengers can effect your driving. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to travel in silence, but complex and long conversations can seriously effect driver concentration the longer the conversation continues. Giving road directions can also cause concentration lapses, if you have passengers in the car with you that will be directing you, it's important to make sure they know exactly where they're going themselves, and can let you know early, giving you plenty of time to react to the direction well before you need to commit to it.

Some states in America have banned the use of cell phones while driving, but some haven't yet, it's up to you to make the right decision when it comes to cell phone use in the car. Hopefully you will be sensible and think about the effects of cell phone use and driving, because one day, your actions might not only effect just you.

Labels: cell phones, distracted driving, driving safety, teen drivers, texting