Thursday, October 28, 2010

Safe Driving Fine Arts Contest

I took this photo the other day and it reminded me of how slick roads covered with wet leaves can be. If you find yourself in this situation, reduce your speed and accelerate slowly from stopped positions. That will make it easier for your tires to grip the road. 

A Fall Driving Haiku




And it is now my pleasure 
to introduce the first annual
Safe Driving Fine Arts Contest

I've got the contest just for you
Fine art goodness and lyrics, too.
Take a photo, draw a cartoon,
Write a poem and submit it soon.

There are two rules for you to know,
Original work's the way to go,
And also have a safe driving theme.
Be artistic alone or in a team.

Contest Rules:

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Traffic Court 101: What's a Motion? And Other Speaking Helps

Sometimes, listening to regular people (without any knowledge of courtroom language) trying to talk to a judge can be a bit comical. I loved watching Judge Lyon amicably prompt the people into saying the "right" things. She listens well and then makes a comment like,

Thursday, October 7, 2010

New Friends

Welcome new friends to my blog that explores my relationship to defensive driving habits and reconciling my shortcomings as a driver. As the judge said in my traffic court experience this past spring, "you have a perfect driving record!" Thats not entirely true. But it'd be cool if it was. Read on to join the driving discussion and to see some cool things our students have done.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Back Up Camera Blues

Back up cameras are fabulous tools if you use them. They should be used in conjunction with your other tools - like your sense of sight, motion, vibration, sound, etc.

Exhibit A: Check out this photo pair. The toy is behind the car and the back up camera sees it. If you look at the mirror then you see it, too. And when I say "you", I mean me. You I then get out of the car, move the toy and continue on your my way. End of story. Except it's not


Exhibit B:
One of these pedals is not like the other. 
One of these pedals is not the same...  

I have been using a back up camera for just over a year. And for the record, I mean "using" in a loose sense of the term. Meaning it's available for my use if I choose to look at it. I actually prefer to rely on what I can see by looking out the rear window rather than what the camera sees. In reality, I need to be combining what I see with what the camera sees...and since I have children and live in a neighborhood with other children then I need to also do a walk before moving the car. It's the only way to ensure clear passage. The first trike I hit last year had to be trashed. This time I only hit a pedal. Now that it's skewed, it's difficult to pedal without your foot falling off, which equates into some very interesting rides. 

Exhibit C: Rip Rider clearly behind the wheel of the car and totally invisible to the back up camera.

Lesson learned: Use all tools available. Camera + eyes/senses + proper event sequence = success backing.
Proper Event Sequence:
1. Load kids into car. 
2. Open garage door.
3. Driver walks around rear of car and gets in.

Improper sequence:
1. Load kids into car.
2. Driver gets in.
3. Open garage door.
4. Hit toy hiding from camera. 
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