tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4296640718234787242024-03-15T18:10:08.663-07:00Defensive Driving SchoolSafe Driving Is NO Accident! Making our roads safer one driver at a time. Defensive driving habits. Say goodbye to being offensive.Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-48881432509129332652017-02-02T10:48:00.002-08:002017-02-02T18:46:11.610-08:00Top 6 Ways to Stay OUT of the Ditch This Winter<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Slow Down.</span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Now this might
seem a little bit obvious but it’s the #1 thing you can do to safely navigate
snow and ice. Slow and measured actions are safe and prudent. A few years ago I
was driving about 25 mph on an Oregon mountain pass as the snow fell. I was
passed several times by large 4-wheel drive vehicles. One of the very same SUVs
that passed me going around 50 MPH had slid off the road about 5 miles later.
In fact I counted six different 4WD vehicles (in the ditch) that particular
trip. It is better to drive a little slower and get home safe than overestimate
your driving and/or vehicle’s capability and end up off the road. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Accelerate and Brake
slowly and smoothly.</span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Beneath the surface of a light snow pack is often ice. If a
car has some momentum you can usually go straight without too many problems,
however as soon as you turn too quickly or brake too hard that grip is easily
lost. That’s why you see many cars off the side of the road where there are big
turns (on-ramps), or near hills. When the roads look clear but temperatures are
freezing, it’s crucial to slow down, because you can’t always see ice on the
road. Black ice is invisible to drivers and will sneak up on you, especially on
bridges. Since cold air flows underneath them, you can assume the bridge coming
up is frozen and slippery. Proceed with caution and cover your brake.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Winterize your
vehicle.</span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Replacing the water in your radiator with antifreeze will
protect your engine. Keeping your gas tank at least half-full will keep your
car running if you get stuck. A good friend was stuck in I-405 traffic for 5
hours during that major Seattle snowstorm in '08. Luckily, he had enough gas.
However, many people ditched their cars on the side of the freeway and had to
hike to the next exit to get gas. Also, I don’t think I’ve ever valued wiper
fluid as much as I do when I’ve been showered with dirty winter snow from the
big trucks in front of me.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> <b> </b></span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Separation is in
the Preparation.</span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> When Russell Wilson said this he was referring to football;
however, we’re going to apply it to winter driving. Every car should be
equipped with an emergency kit complete with first aid, triangles or flares,
jumper cables, and flashlight/batteries, etc. Also a charged cell phone, a
blanket, granola bar, and water will come in handy while you wait for help to
come. If you go out in the snow, it’s a good idea to throw a small shovel and a
sand/cat litter bag in the trunk in case you get stuck and need to dig yourself
out. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5.<b> Skidding out of control? Steer in the direction you want to
go.</b> Many people that have not experienced a skid get this one
confused. Should you turn into the skid or away? And what does that mean
anyway? Here’s an </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">example: if your back end is sliding to your
right, you need to steer to the right as well. If you steered to the left in
this situation you would end up spinning around.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was driving in upstate New York one winter when a snowstorm hit.
I was doing about 50 MPH and didn’t realize how slick the freeway was and I
started to slide. I steered in the direction of the skid, but the tail of my
car whipped back the other way as soon as I got control. This went on back and
forth five or six times until I was finally able to stop less than a foot from
a cement barrier. I’ll admit, I had to take a break for a minute to catch my
breath from all the adrenaline. The car behind me, who witnessed the entire
ordeal, was clapping as he drove by. I wasn’t trying to look like a stunt
driver, but did slow down considerably for the rest of the trip. I just count
my lucky stars it was a wide freeway and my car didn’t hit anything. Bottom
line: look where you want to go and do whatever it takes to steer yourself
there. The wheel will jerk but you need to hold it steady. If you look off the road,
that's where you'll go. Keep focused on your empty lane ahead and that's where
you'll go. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This guy gets it . . . </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stay home.</span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> What? Did I
really just say that? I’m sure you’re yelling at your screen, “How dare you
infringe on my driving rights”! True, you can try to brave the weather, however
we need to gauge our risk tolerance with our pocket book. The average cost for
a crash with vehicle property damage is around $7,500. Your insurance will pay
for most of that, but they are in business for a reason, and you’ll eventually
pay them back through higher premiums. So if you just want to go out in a
snowstorm for a donut run, you might want to err on the side of caution. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044514794451911781noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-88493938994421928682016-10-06T10:36:00.000-07:002016-10-21T07:34:48.770-07:00Top 5 most dangerous aspects of fall driving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Fall is
a beautiful season with colorful leaves falling from trees and the noticeable
change in the air. For me it's the smell of hot apple cider and the distant
sound of Friday night football games that bring back so many memories. To keep
everyone safe out there, here are some helpful tips on how to navigate the
changing weather and to be safe on the road.</span></div>
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#1 School - As kids go back to school, there is more traffic on the roads early
in the morning and mid-afternoon. Many kids wait for the bus in the dark, so be
sure to slow down in residential neighborhoods. Here are the rules for
school buses flashing their red lights (from the WA State driver's guide page 3-23):<br />
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"You must stop for a school bus that is stopped with its red lights
flashing whether it is on your side of the road, the opposite side of the road
or at an intersection you are approaching. You are not required to stop for a
school bus with red lights flashing when the stopped school bus is traveling in
the opposite direction and the roadway: – has three or more marked traffic
lanes, – is separated by a median, or – is separated by a physical
barrier."</span></div>
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#2 Tire Pressure - When temperatures drop so does your tire pressure. An
under-inflated tire can be dangerous because more of your tread is touching the
ground and that causes more friction. This will wear out your tires faster and
can cause the tread to separate and increases the chance of a blowout. Be sure
to keep your tires filled to the manufacturer’s recommendation, and if you're
unsure most tire shops will check and fill them for free. (Just don't drink
their coffee and eat all their popcorn, too, you cheapskate!)<br />
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# 3 Fog - It's surprising how you'll be enjoying a pleasant sunny September one
day and then the fog will be there the next morning, seemingly out of nowhere.
When navigating the fog, slow down. Studies have shown the human brain
overcompensates for the lack of visibility and drivers actually drive faster in
the fog, weird I know. For headlights, use low beams and/or fog lights. High
beams reflect back and actually decrease your visibility in most cases. If you
need to use a guide, follow the white lines on the right side on the road.
Using the center line as your guide will cause you to move closer to the middle
and oncoming vehicles. And finally, maintain plenty of following distant. You
don't ever want to be involved in the middle of multi-car pileup (caused by fog
and stupid drivers).<br />
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# 4 Rain - Yes, Washington drivers know this one all too well. That first big
rain of the year can be almost as dangerous as ice. The oils that have been
burnt onto the road during the summer heat, are now bubbling up and causing
slippery havoc. After that first big rain, a lot of it washes away. However,
slow down around those corners, which is precisely where many new drivers get
into their first crash.<br />
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#5 Frost - As we approach the winter, there will be mornings when temperatures
drop to freezing levels and create dangerous conditions. Again, careful on the
corners, as this is where many people lose traction. There was a time during
college when I was driving on I-5 and I started to fish-tail. Luckily, it was a
straight stretch of road and by letting off the gas, and steering in the
direction I wanted to go, I was able to regain control. It seemingly came out of
nowhere, however it was over a bridge so I shouldn't have been surprised.
Unlike regular roads, bridges have cold air flowing underneath increasing the
likelihood of freezing.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you haven’t ever experienced a skid and don't know
how to control one, <a href="https://www.driving-school.com/skid-monster-collision-avoidance/">skid training</a> is a great tool. Otherwise go to a big empty
frozen parking lot and experience it first-hand (just don't let your school
principal or church pastor catch you, they might make you power wash off the
skid marks). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044514794451911781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-38563424677163146972013-08-19T08:44:00.002-07:002017-02-01T17:11:21.332-08:00Mr. Norwegian: Part Three<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://defensivedrivinghabits.blogspot.com/2013/08/mr-norwegian-part-one.html" target="_blank">Mr. Norwegian: Part One</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://defensivedrivinghabits.blogspot.com/2013/08/mr-norwegian-part-two.html" target="_blank">Mr. Norwegian: Part Two</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It's chilly standing in the cold night air speaking with Mr. Norwegian. Part of me is thinking that he’s a very pleasant young man in appearance and manners. And the other part of me is thinking that I need to make sure we get all of his information for the rental company ... in case we never hear from him again. He's talking about having borrowed his friend's car and wanting to pay for damages instead of going through the police and insurance company. And I'm weighing my want to trust him against the possibility of me needing to pay for the collision if I wrongly judge his character.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Unfortunately, Mr. Norwegian was driving his Swedish friend's car. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Fortunately, there wasn't much damage to his car. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Unfortunately, there was significant damage to our car. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Fortunately, his friend has insurance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Unfortunately, having insurance pay for an at-fault collision would raise his friend's premium dramatically and probably ruin their relationship. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Fortunately, he is financially able to handle the cost of the collision if we agree to settle privately.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Unfortunately, we need a police report for the rental car agency.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Fortunately, he respects our decision to call the police.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Mr. Norwegian's Serbian language skills are adequate but when going to jail for causing a collision is on the line, it's important to have a native speaker in your corner. He called his Serbian roommates. As we continue to talk with him, we find out that Mr. Norwegian is in Belgrade</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> working in a hospital emergency room as part of his medical training. He will become a doctor in the next couple of years. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Thinking of the wonderful ER doctor who sewed up Jovana's hand last year, I can totally picture Mr. Norwegian working in the same position. Even in the middle of a crisis, he is both calm and genuine. It’s endearing. He could have driven off. He could have been angry. He could have done a number of things, but instead he decided to get to know us a little better. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;"> I'm sure he </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;">probably never imagined that someone else may go to the ER because of something he did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The police dispatched to our scene arrive. I'm back to sitting in the car and feeling warmer already with the door closed. I look in the back seat. My girls haven't woken up and Anja is patiently sitting. She's never been in a collision before or even been pulled over by the police. This particular situation seems to be an ideal learning ground. Adults all acting mature. It's a relief, really.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jovana starts writing out what happened. Mr. Norwegian takes a </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">breathalyzer</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> test. Clean. The officer taps on out window. Now it's Jovana's turn. She blows into the device. And is also alcohol-free. No surprise there. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">The crash wasn't as bad as it could have been. No one got hurt. Or died. Or even needed the ER. It's just a money issue. That's okay. I believe we were divinely protected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6O34wDHBdHE/Ua-M9QxBH7I/AAAAAAAAKRs/3BQJmdA2dVI/s1600/IMG_20130604_214149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6O34wDHBdHE/Ua-M9QxBH7I/AAAAAAAAKRs/3BQJmdA2dVI/s400/IMG_20130604_214149.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jovana gets hands on training in incident reporting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;">Mr. Norwegian genuinely feels bad to have put a kink in our evening plans. It takes an hour or more to get all the paperwork done and be on our way. He leans in the window and offers to take us all out to dinner to make up for our inconvenience. What? Who does that? The gesture is well received. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;">Did I mention that Mr. Norwegian is good looking? Intelligent. Calm under pressure. Maybe in his mid-20s. Yes, this is the type of guy we want for Jovana. We exchanged phone numbers.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bmed09v3N4c/Ua-Pt-IV2RI/AAAAAAAAKSM/ocvIcZB6pow/s1600/DSC_0383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bmed09v3N4c/Ua-Pt-IV2RI/AAAAAAAAKSM/ocvIcZB6pow/s400/DSC_0383.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jocelyn was surprised to find out the next morning that we'd been in a collision. <br />
She'd gone back to sleep after the initial impact.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to take Mr. Norwegian up on his offer before we were scheduled to go to Slovenia 36 hours later. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Fortunately, we arranged to exchange our smashed car before we left town.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Unfortunately, the smashed car was a Škoda.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Fortunately, names are humorous. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;">Škoda</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> means “darn it” or “bummer” in Slovene.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Unfortunately, we didn't get a copy of the police report to give to the rental agency.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Fortunately, Mr. Norwegian had already been in and arranged payment</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Unfortunately, our rental agency didn't haven any other cars available in the peak season.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Fortunately, rental agencies are friends with each other and loan cars between themselves.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJfzZj-ACS8/Ua-Pdv-QMOI/AAAAAAAAKSE/k-XvoVgD2gY/s1600/DSC_0515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJfzZj-ACS8/Ua-Pdv-QMOI/AAAAAAAAKSE/k-XvoVgD2gY/s400/DSC_0515.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The next morning, my girls and I leave for Slovenia in a roomy Chevrolet</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">While we were gone Jovana and Mr. </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">Norwegian</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> continued to text each other. The timing for meeting up would be tight. Jovana's in her final days of her undergraduate studies. After we return from Slovenia, we’ll only have one free evening before my husband and sons come to join us on our Balkan adventure. Two days later Jovana will take her final exams for college and that same afternoon, we’ll all leave for Macedonia. </span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">When we come back to Belgrade, Jovana will pack her bags and have one day before flying to </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Germany. She'll be gone</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> for 6 months while doing an internship with an insurance company. That doesn't even take into consideration Mr. Norwegian's work schedule. Yikes! Timing this meet up will definitely be tight. And puts a damper on my plans for their happily ever after.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;">Yet still I dream. I picture them at a party together. They looked fantastic. Heads turned as they walked into the room. In a more private moment, someone would ask them how they met. She would say, “on the street” and he would add, “I just ran into her.” They'd look at each other and smile. Because very few people knew the whole truth.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">To my delight, Jovana and Mr. Norwegian meet up a couple of days before we get back. He dresses up. She doesn't. It doesn't matter, they have easy conversation and enjoy each other's company. Interestingly, Mr. Norwegian is familiar with the </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Pacific Northwest</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. His sister lived and worked in </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Bellevue</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">…the same city where the main office to our driving school is located. And where Jovana interned last summer. Sharing a connection over two continents convinces me even more that these two are meant for each other.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">He's 30, she tells me. "Well, at least he looks young," I say. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;">They exchange a few more texts. And then one evening in Macedonia, Mr. Norwegian sends Jovana a Facebook friend request. I push. I plead. "Jovana, did you accept it yet?" She didn't. Not too soon, she tells me. "But </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;">he</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;"> is your destiny!" Bridget, calm down. Nothing will come of this. I'm leaving. He's in Serbia. Then he'll leave. "Jovana! Life if full of challenges and you've just gotten a peek into how this guy handles a crisis. You want someone like that."</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com6Belgrade, Serbia44.8205556 20.46222220000004244.4601056 19.816775200000041 45.1810056 21.107669200000043tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-14907019708501620992013-08-08T07:30:00.000-07:002013-08-13T09:08:59.587-07:00Mr. Norwegian: Part Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://defensivedrivinghabits.blogspot.com/2013/08/mr-norwegian-part-one.html" target="_blank">Mr. Norwegian: Part One</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt;">We
turned left from a dark side street onto the main road a few moments after the
light turned green. Just a few more minutes and we’d be back to Jovana’s
apartment. But, as soon as we entered the intersection we knew we were in
trouble with no way to escape</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Bright headlights were coming straight for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">There was no where to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Squealing brakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><i>Crunching car.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Screaming erupts from the back seat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Our car stalls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jocelyn starts to cry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s her door that’s been smashed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">We look at our light. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s still green.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jovana
jumped out of our car to chase the guy down. Hit and runs in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Belgrade</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"> are common and there was no way she was
going to let this guy get away. Turns out the driver wasn’t going to flee. He got
out of his vehicle, a bit stunned. He missed seeing his red light because he’d
been looking just beyond it at the green arrow marking his reversible lane as
open. An unfortunate, but easy mistake to make. He tries to stop. Or swerve.
Or do something. Anything. But it’s too late. We’ve been hit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Our
situation remains precarious. Like targets, we are sitting in the middle of the
intersection vulnerable to getting hit again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">I get
out, run around to the driver’s seat, put on the hazard lights and try to start
the car. Nothing happens. Yikes! A line of cars slowly begins to go around us.
Jovana calls out, “don’t move the car!” She wants the police to see everything
in its original position….they’re now on their way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">My
thoughts immediately went back to the driving instructor conversation Jovana
and I had been having literally two minutes prior to the crash. And I chuckle.
I know this collision isn’t her fault. But the irony of it all is pretty
humorous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">While
waiting for the police, another random officer happened upon us. First he
checked to make sure we were okay. Drivers who cause injury to others in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Belgrade</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"> don’t just get a ticket. They go to
jail. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">I
didn’t know for sure but I thought we were. Jocelyn, asleep before the crash,
cried for a minute as it was happening and then fell back asleep. The officer
wanted to make sure she was okay and to call an ambulance, if necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">I got
out to open her door. It was stuck. I put my whole body into it, grabbed the
handle and gave it my best pull. Success! Jocelyn didn’t wake up when I took
her out but nuzzled into my shoulder seeking comfort from the chill night air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
officer directed us to move our car, which thankfully started immediately, onto
the sidewalk and out of traffic. A large back up had already formed and needed
release. After getting everyone in a safe holding pattern, the officer left and
we waited for the officers dispatched to our collision to arrive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LgNYhhwt_0M/UgpZgJB35nI/AAAAAAAALOs/zhN_T9SKIvk/s1600/Jovana+Belgrade+collision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LgNYhhwt_0M/UgpZgJB35nI/AAAAAAAALOs/zhN_T9SKIvk/s320/Jovana+Belgrade+collision.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">While
we waited, the guy who hit us, who we now call Mr. Norwegian (he’s from </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Norway</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">), came over to our vehicle. I got out.
“Do you speak English?” I asked. “Yes,” he replied. We shook hands as introduced
ourselves. “You know there are better ways to go about meeting people,” I said
with a grin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8K2AYiSwZiA/UgMbTmDPQ-I/AAAAAAAALOE/wzxWy543AgE/s1600/Mr.+Norwegian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8K2AYiSwZiA/UgMbTmDPQ-I/AAAAAAAALOE/wzxWy543AgE/s400/Mr.+Norwegian.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Complements of Facebook you now have Mr. Norwegian's photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-33878422761127184312013-08-07T07:30:00.000-07:002013-08-07T07:30:00.450-07:00Mr. Norwegian: Part One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Visibility in the center of Belgrade was low as we winded
our way through the narrow streets headed for home. Jovana and her cousin Anja
had just run in to pick up a take-out pizza. Kira, almost 2, refused to nap earlier
in the day and needed extra amounts of attention. We were anxious to eat and end
the day with a good night’s sleep. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The evening had turned torturous about the time my girls started
throwing dirt from the potted plants at the mall, and got worse when they had
to touch everything in the shops, then broke a necklace, </span>wouldn't<span style="font-family: inherit;"> stop with the
name calling in the car and had overall disobedience issues. A fight had broken out earlier between Jocelyn,
age 4 and Anja, 12. It </span>didn't<span style="font-family: inherit;"> seem to matter that they’d been best of friends since
we had arrived one week earlier. Or that we’d played games together in the
arcade. They definitely </span>weren't<span style="font-family: inherit;"> getting along now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmwfQ53n2JPKYGiJ3f4KiAscSDfL6jhMx_eaKlo-yT97yMF-FPNLEFX5RhrTY7gWE_KVvwGoPb4dO4WtxKp7kEVjQxVPxa7iWzgsS5kBnroZMTimBfW4dd2P06waw4St1otGxmMv32QA/s1600/Anja,+Jocelyn+and+Kira+in+Belgrade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmwfQ53n2JPKYGiJ3f4KiAscSDfL6jhMx_eaKlo-yT97yMF-FPNLEFX5RhrTY7gWE_KVvwGoPb4dO4WtxKp7kEVjQxVPxa7iWzgsS5kBnroZMTimBfW4dd2P06waw4St1otGxmMv32QA/s400/Anja,+Jocelyn+and+Kira+in+Belgrade.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anja, Jocelyn and Kira</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There was a lull in the back seat commotion. Turning around,
I realized the temporary cease-fire came from both Kira and Jocelyn falling
asleep. Jovana and Anja returned. I held the pizza in my lap and felt its warmth.
My stomach growled the moment the aroma hit my nose. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I added Jovana to my rental car policy for times like these.
She’s a conscientious driver and fully capable of getting me and my jet-lagged
girls around. I was her driving instructor and helped her get her first license when
she was an exchange student in our home almost five years ago. She improved her
ability to handle road crazy by going home to Belgrade and learning to drive a
stick shift in city traffic, which is not an easy task. It takes complete focus
to get to any destination and avoid numerous hazards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've<span style="font-family: inherit;"> been trying to devise a plan for Jovana to come back to
Seattle to live. She’s got a clean driving record and has almost had a license
long enough to become eligible to be a driving instructor. Ooh, the perfect set up.
She can come back to live with us and have a real job and earn enough money to
get ahead when she comes back to Serbia. She can make in an hour in Seattle the
same amount as she can make in a day as a student in Belgrade. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I offered her a job as an instructor at my driving school. Jovana’s
dream has always been to teach teens how to drive. Ha ha. I’m not sure that’s
anyone’s dream. But it’s fun and keeps you young. The conversation moved to her
upcoming internship in an insurance company in Germany and what the possible
future may hold. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We turned left from a dark side street onto the
main road a few moments after the light turned green. Just a few more minutes
and we’d be back to Jovana’s apartment. But, as soon as we entered the intersection
we knew we were in trouble with no way to escape. </span></span></div>
Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-4607966573254735272013-06-18T14:00:00.001-07:002013-06-18T14:00:45.561-07:00Poppies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One of my favorite views from the highways of the Balkans are the poppies that grow wild all over the place. They brighten my mood and feel like a bit of hope on an otherwise dusty shoulder. I think the American VFW recognizes the simplicity of their beauty, as well. And the fact that they can grow in what seems to be infertile land. I bought one of their poppies a few months ago. The seeds of freedom are just as hopeful and definitely as prolific as the poppy. </div>
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Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-79235423640980285162013-06-05T12:40:00.000-07:002013-06-05T13:11:19.987-07:00A Taste of Crazy: Driving In Belgrade<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My daughters and I are currently visiting Belgrade, Serbia, the home of our beloved former exchange student Jovana. We rented a car to get around but the first day, I wasn't comfortable driving. It is definitely different driving here than at home.<br />
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Streets are narrow and cars park on the sidewalk. Those backing up don't always yield to traffic on the street. Sometimes 5 roads intersect at the same point and collisions are barely avoided. But everyone seems to be ultra aware of their surroundings and able to react at a second's notice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Busy Belgrade street</td></tr>
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Jovana explained the rules to me. Stop signs are like stronger yield signs. Sometimes, you stop at stop signs, but never if there isn't anyone around. But some are like super strong yields so you definitely need to stop. If you want to change lanes, you turn on your blinker and move over...the other guy will slow down. If you need to stop somewhere and there's nowhere to park, you just pop on your hazard lights (even if that means blocking a lane of traffic) and you run in. No one likes it, but everyone does it.<br />
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Last night, we went for pizza and my girls fell asleep in the back seat. Chubby's Pizza is on a busy avenue with two lanes of traffic in each direction. Jovana pulled up behind someone in the right lane with their hazards on. She turned hers on and got out to go in and order. Sitting in the car, I noticed two more cars stopped in back of us to run in as well. When the guy in front of us left, two more cars pulled into the impromptu parking lane. Jovana was gone about 10 minutes and then we were on our way.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The woman in the maroon car popped on her hazards and ran into the store. Red car is going around her.</td></tr>
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We've been staying in Jovana's family's second home and driving to her apartment daily using gps. While I appreciate the device and technology, I've been frustrated because it takes anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes to traverse between the two homes. Anyone from Seattle would chalk that up heavy traffic...but it's not that. The gps is taking me a different way each time. It's been difficult for me to learn my way by memorizing landmarks. Yesterday, I got a tour of some country road with fields. I'm supposed to be in an urban area, not rural. A couple of nights ago, the gps had to keep "recalculating" my route because I thought the streets it mentioned were driveways...not even wide enough to be an alley.<br />
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Thankfully, Jovana wrote down some instructions for me so that it'd be easier. And the past few trips have been much better.<br />
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One of the hardest parts of Belgrade driving for me is that the traffic signals are maybe 12 feet off the ground and placed on both sides of the intersection. I'm working on retraining my brain to see them since my automatic response is to look high above each lane for signal directions. I don't think I've run any lights. But if I have the Serbians around me have adapted well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the motorcycle going the wrong way?</td></tr>
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While driving in Belgrade is crazy and often like an obstacle course or driving video game where you try to avoid the hazards popping out all over, it's got an upside, too. Here, my mind has been 100% on the driving task. Part of what keeps me present and in tune with the car and road is driving a manual transmission. The other part is that there is no friendly allowance for zoning out. You zone out and you've crashed or maybe hit someone. It's intense.<br />
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I believe Americans are too comfortable behind the wheel. Traffic is well regulated and roads are wide and smooth, making driving too easy. Our brains insist on being active (or falling asleep - not good for the driving task) so we look to our phones and other distractions to stay engaged. While dodging other cars, pedestrians and potholes may not be ideal, I do believe these drivers are more focused on driving than we are at home.<br />
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Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-80325344246942266472013-05-21T23:38:00.001-07:002013-05-21T23:38:46.506-07:00Drive It Home Seattle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.driveithome.org/" target="_blank">Drive It Home</a> came to Seattle tonight and put on some pretty humorous sketches about teens and driving. A comedy troupe put on a Dr. Bill television show with commercials. My favorite were the commercial skits.<br />
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For the more serious part of the program, a mother spoke about her son being killed by an inexperienced driver who should never have been driving friends (he had a provisional license). That was rough.<br />
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The main take-aways for the evening include:<br />
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1. After licensing, continue to drive with your teen at least 30 minutes per week. See for yourself where their skills are and coach them on skills to improve. Be the authoritative parent. Set rules and ensure they are followed.<br />
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2. Before you let your teen drive on their own at night, or in the rain or snow or on the freeway or where ever, make sure they drive in those conditions with you first. Then you'll see what they know and where they need help. The number one killer of teens is car crashes. The number one reason for these crashes is inexperience (not texting or alcohol). Help your child get a variety of driving experiences before turning them out on their own.<br />
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3. Set the example. Drive the way you want your child to drive.<br />
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4. From the mother who lost her 14 year old son: Talk to your kids early about riding with others...when to speak up when something dangerous is happening...when to not get into someone else's car. Those conversations happen frequently for older teens. But younger ones need the same conversations.<br />
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5. And for the grand finale of the take-aways: Determine your child's readiness for driving before they take driver's education. What kinds of decisions are they making? Are they responsible? Considerate? Chances are they will make the same kinds of decisions when driving. So make sure they are ready for the challenge.</div>
Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-19158352100036795592013-04-12T15:02:00.000-07:002013-04-12T15:02:17.495-07:00Doh! Texting Demotivational Poster<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-86204577842279821562013-03-25T10:00:00.003-07:002013-03-25T10:00:38.994-07:00Velva Jean Learns To Drive<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: left;">Book Review: Velva Jean Learns To Drive by Jennifer Niven</span></div>
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Velva Jean is a poor young girl growing up in the Appalachian Mountains in the 1930's. She has a beautiful voice and dreams that one day she will make it to Nashville to sing on stage at Grand Ole Opry decked out in rhinestones. Velva Jean temporarily forgets her dream and marries at age 16. A couple of years later she inherits an old truck. It sits in her yard many months before she rekindles her dream and teaches herself to drive. I was so completely wrapped up in Velva Jean's story that I was sad to see it end. The good news is that there is a sequal about learning to fly and another one after that (both of which are on the hold list for me at the library). I understand that book four will be out later this year.<br />
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Velva Jean's world doesn't have many cars in it. The people are isolated in the mountains and very few come in or out of them. There weren't many cars and even fewer drivers. Her sister was so afraid of automotive technology that she refused to ever get into a car and would never think of driving one.<br />
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Driving was considered a man's activity. A stereotype though long gone from the United States, is tightly adhered to in other parts of the world. I am reminded of the fight currently going on for <a href="http://saudiwomendriving.blogspot.com/">women drivers in Saudi Arabia</a>. Interestingly enough, religion plays a huge role in Velva Jean's husband forbidding her to drive just as it does for the Saudi women.<br />
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Driving equates to freedom and independence just about everywhere and it was no different for Velva Jean. While she understood that she needed to have a teacher when learning to drive, she also knew that she would never have that luxury. So she took her destiny into her own hands.<br />
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The books Velva Jean studied contained numerous lists of things you had to do while driving. They reminded me of the ones that modern day driver's ed teachers use. For example, when getting in the car there are hundreds if not thousands of acronyms in place to help you remember to put the key in the ignition, adjust your seat, adjust your mirrors, get the car in gear, release the emergency brake and get down the road. There are more to help you lane change. More to help you scan the road, drive in reverse and park the car. Each teacher has their favorites and there's great debate in whose are better and why. While building habits in new drivers is important, memorizing a bunch of lists is not. Hence, most of my students get out of my car only memorizing the lane changing procedure.<br />
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Velva Jean's brain was so overwhelmed with the endless lists in her book that if it weren't for her raw determination to learn, she would have quit immediately. She closed the books and started the truck to see if all hell would break loose like they wrote would happen. It didn't. She stalled the car. A lot. She gave herself small goals, like drive around the house once, then 5 times, then 10 times to measure her success.<br />
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Her method for figuring out the clutch was to read a little, try a bit and then read some more. Building skills incrementally prepares the brain to receive more insight for the next round of practice. And there's no substitute for experience.<br />
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Not only did Velva Jean's story captivate me on a personal level, but I also appreciated her incremental method of learning how to drive.<br />
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Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-19321633895627073292012-12-06T15:00:00.000-08:002012-12-06T16:24:23.044-08:00Texting While Driving Turns Sneaky<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been thinking a lot about prohibitions since my fellow Washingtonians voted to legalize marijuana. Effective today State law allows anyone 21 or over to have up to an ounce on them...but they can't smoke in public.<br />
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While smoking pot may have its own implications on driving safety, it's not what keeps running through my mind right now. Decades ago, making cannabis illegal led to an incredible black market for it. Just like it did with alcohol during Prohibition. Back then, it was how fortunes were made. Al Capone and his mob ruled. And in more modern times, the war on drugs has made for some powerful cartels and corruption in governments around the world.<br />
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As well meaning as it may be, prohibition doesn't seem to work very well. Prohibition of alcohol. Prohibition of cannabis. Prohibition of just about anything . . . I'm pretty sure it's because people are rebellious by nature and if you tell them what to do then they may just do the opposite. But they don't stop there, they also give demand for a black market trade to develop. There are a couple parts to human nature that transcend political, cultural, religious and ethnic boundaries. First, people are rebellious. And second, they're notorious for their creativity in finding ways to get around laws.<br />
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So what about the prohibition of holding a cell phone to your ear or texting while driving? Have the number of fatalities on our roads decreased since we made our anti-cell phone laws? Do the laws actually save lives? It'd be great if the answer was yes. But it's not. It's "<b><i>we don't know</i></b>."<br />
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In 2010 the way distracted driving statistics were collected changed so that cell phone use as a distraction factor is now counted by itself instead of being grouped with the others. The 2011 numbers haven't been released to the public yet so we can't even do a two year comparison. <a href="http://www.distraction.gov/">NHSTA</a> calculates that in 2010 there were 3,092 crash deaths due to texting and cell phone use while driving. That's a lot. But it's not the 10,228 that alcohol had.<br />
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I see drivers on cell phones every day. It still amazes me because they don't make any effort to hide what they are doing. When I'm at stop lights or on the freeway I frequently see drivers texting. These drivers are a lot sneakier than the phone users. Texters used to have their phones up high on the steering wheel ... so even though what they were doing was risky, at least they had some peripheral vision or general idea about traffic conditions.<br />
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Now that it's illegal, hand-held devices have been lowered below the window line.Yikes! Reading a message in your lap cuts out any peripheral vision a driver would have had if the phone were higher. It's like driving blind.<br />
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So what's the solution? The fact is that most drivers are able to manage their daily distractions without being involved in a collision. They don't crash every day. Or every year for that matter.<br />
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Should law enforcement focus on dangerous driving maneuvers that were actually committed (like drifting out of their lane, speeding, tailgating, etc.) or continue to micro-manage distractions that may or may not result in a collision? Is the ban on cell phones enough? Should we also ban eating, looking at a map or GPS or adjusting the audio system? How about talking to passengers or driving children around?<br />
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What if anti-cell phone laws were put in place like drunk driving laws? So a person had to be over 21 (or have a driver's license for at least 5 years) to use their phone or engage in other distractions.<br />
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Maybe we should make our driving test more difficult. As is, it takes less than 15 minutes and tests our ability to not crash. Why not test a driver's ability to drive well? And throw in a distracted driving element, too. Why not be true to real life and test how well someone drives with a baby crying in the back seat, adjusting the radio at least once and changing the air flow from the dash to the floor? And the examiner should come equipped with questions for the test taker to answer just to prove that they can talk and drive safely at the same time. The test should definitely include the freeway and busy city driving. And looking for an address in an unknown city. Not all of these suggestions are practical, but oooh imaging the possibilities is so fun!<br />
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What do you think? Does the cell phone ban work? Is there a better way than our current system to approach traffic safety? What will it take to get traffic fatalities down to zero?</div>
Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-9755578579556029172012-12-05T08:30:00.000-08:002013-01-14T17:09:32.401-08:00Avoid DOL Wait Times With 5 Simple Steps<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Washington's recent changes to the process of getting your driver's license can be a little tricky to navigate at first but they should also save you time by not waiting weeks on end for a road test appointment. For most applicants, the testing facility will be closer to home, which gives an added convenience. </span></span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In order to address lengthy Department of Licensing wait times, the State Legislature approved a bill which allows approved driving schools the ability to act as third-party testers. Defensive Driving School now offers drive test appointments, many within a few days.</span></span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The DOL created a new online database (License Express), which gives the public not only an ability to manage their driver's license or ID card, vehicles and addresses online but also a way to avoid a physical trip into their office. Driving school employees also access the system to insert test scores for driver license applicants. </span></span></b><br />
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.4309632987715304"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what do you need to do to use our testing services and minimize trips to the DOL? </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>If you already have a learner's permit: </b> </span></span><br />
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<li><span id="internal-source-marker_0.4309632987715304"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Register for License Express</b> on the<a href="http://www.dol.wa.gov/" target="_blank"> DOL's website</a>. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the end of the process, you will be given a PIC # (Personal Identificat<span style="font-weight: normal;">ion Code) which is a combination of letters and numbers. Write this number down as it will be required to enroll in both Knowledge or Skills test. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Study the <a href="http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/docs/driverguide-en.pdf" target="_blank">Washington Driver Guide</a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> to prepare for the Knowledge Test. Take our <a href="http://driving-school.com/phone_app.php" target="_blank">practice test here</a> with your smart phone.</span></span></span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pass the <a href="http://www.driving-school.com/adult_lessons_dol_drive_test.php" target="_blank">Knowledge Test</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Register for the test on our</span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="http://www.driving-school.com/adult_lessons_dol_drive_test.php" target="_blank">secure website</a>. We accept Visa and MasterCard payments. When we receive your order, our office will call you to set up a testing appointment for you. <i>(If you do not already have a learner's permit, you can go to the DOL the day after you take the knowledge test with us and get one.)</i></span></span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Practice driving every day</b>. Drive so often that your confidence and skill will overcome any<i> test anxiety</i> that may hit you.<b> </b></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Pass the on-road Skills Test</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Register for your on-road </span><a href="http://www.driving-school.com/adult_lessons_dol_drive_test.php" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">Skills Test</a><b> </b>and our o<span style="font-weight: normal;">ffice staff will help you schedule a convenient test time at the location of your choice. If you need an appointment as soon as possible, we often have weekday openings between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm in our Bellevue location. </span></span></span></li>
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.4309632987715304"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The final step in getting your driver's license, which cannot be totally eliminated is:</span></span></span></div>
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.4309632987715304"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Go to the DOL office <span style="font-weight: normal;">nearest you to complete the Licensing application process. This includes paying an application fee, having your picture taken and receiving your license. Some documents you will need to bring include:</span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<li><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proof of Identity,</span></span></b></li>
<li><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Traffic Safety Course Certificate<i> (if applicant is 16 or 17 years old)</i>, </span></span></b></li>
<li><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social Security Number (<i>actual card not necessary</i>),</span></span></b></li>
<li><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proof of Residency.</span></span></b></li>
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.4309632987715304"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>If you do<i> not</i> already have a learner's permit and <i>are enrolled</i> in driver's education</b>, we will provide you with a test waiver (handed out on the first day of class) for you to take to the DOL. You will need to show the waiver, along with your identification, birth certificate, proof of residency and parental permission to get a permit. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Additional Training</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you would like to take advantage of our training services, please visit our </span><a href="http://driving-school.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">website</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for a list of our locations and class information.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Best wishes as you prepare for a lifetime of ticket and collision-free driving. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Defensive Driving Is NO Accident!</b></span></div>
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Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-12415554910868444272012-12-04T13:43:00.002-08:002012-12-05T05:36:08.280-08:00When can you talk on the phone while driving?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We all know that driving while talking with a phone to your ear is illegal in Washington. But, did you know that there are exceptions to this rule?</span></span></div>
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<li><b>The law doesn't apply to authorized emergency vehicles.</b> RCW 46.61.667 states that a person operating a motor vehicle while holding a wireless communications device to his or her ear is guilty of a traffic infraction. However, the law doesn't apply to authorized emergency vehicles or tow trucks responding to disabled vehicles. Don't be alarmed if you see a police man chatting away with his phone to his ear.</li>
<li><b>You can talk on your phone if it's in hands-free mode.</b> RCW 46.61.667 does not apply to a person using a communications device in hands-free mode. Set your phone to speaker mode and you're good to go.</li>
<li><b>The law doesn't apply to you in certain emergency situations. </b>RCW 46.61.667 states that the law does not apply to people who are using their phones to:</li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Report illegal activity</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Summon medical or other emergency help</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prevent injury to a person or property</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Relay information that is time sensitive between a transit or for-hire operator and that operator's dispatcher, in which the device is permanently affixed to a vehicle</span></li>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393093623276684124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-45762402226759953962012-10-26T11:09:00.003-07:002012-10-26T11:17:26.313-07:00Shared Space: Road Signs Are For Idiot Drivers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A few months ago, I had no idea there was a movement going to get rid of road signs. And pavement markings. And traffic lights. It sounded counter-intuitive at first ... like collisions and congestion would increase. It's called Shared Space and in the real world, cities that removed their traffic control devices have shown us that it can be done with positive results. The more I learn, the more I like it.<br />
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The very idea that we hide behind signs or justify our driving behavior because of them intrigues me. Do I alter my behavior because of a sign? Unfortunately, I believe the answer is yes. If the light is green , I usually go through it without a second thought. What I should be doing is scanning the intersection for safety.<br />
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A similar case can be made for red light and school zone cameras. Instead of focusing on where the children are in a school zone, I go through ours looking on my speedometer and making sure I'm going under 20 mph. If I was a mile or two above then I check the rear view mirror to make sure the camera's flash didn't go off. After all, I don't want a ticket. Have I lost sight of what's most important? Yes, noticing unpredictable young children going to school is more important than not getting a ticket.<br />
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In the UK, they have integrated a Shared Space concept for traffic control. Segregation vs integration. Watch this 2 minute video for a short introduction on it. Notice how they use road surface materials and the camber of the road to affect the driver behavior and alert the senses.<br />
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Perspectives of Germans in Bohmte where traffic control devices were removed. I like that motorists think for themselves and communicate more with others. <span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">When I was in Belgium last month, we sought out the town Oostende, which has a Shared Space area. We found it, but it was early on a Sunday morning and we didn't see much traffic, nor need for traffic control. A man with his dog walked by and we asked him about the project. He'd never heard of it. Hmmmm, I think we would have better observed Shared Space in Bohmte. We did observe some signs and roadway markings, but the intersections in this neighborhood were uncontrolled.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-577tXPmkT24/UIrOfWi8eSI/AAAAAAAAI-g/4QEkmZZ-rMc/s1600/Oostende,+Belgium+Shared+Space+Empty+Street.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-577tXPmkT24/UIrOfWi8eSI/AAAAAAAAI-g/4QEkmZZ-rMc/s400/Oostende,+Belgium+Shared+Space+Empty+Street.JPG" width="285" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">And we saw some fantastic road users and great advertisements. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2JkyEm8lQBg/UIrOtRlsKsI/AAAAAAAAI-o/p7uKVYow5c4/s1600/Oostende,+Belgium+Shared+Space.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2JkyEm8lQBg/UIrOtRlsKsI/AAAAAAAAI-o/p7uKVYow5c4/s400/Oostende,+Belgium+Shared+Space.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I would love a follow up on how Shared Space is working now. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Google can only find articles from 2008. There ought to be more information now that it's 2012.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> So if you are from Bristol, Bohmte, Oostende or another Shared Space city, please update us in the comments! </span></div>
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Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-71705048017105978772012-10-09T23:19:00.001-07:002012-10-10T10:15:10.257-07:00Do You Have A Counterfeit Airbag?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This sounds ridiculous, but if you have had your airbag replaced in the last three years, you may need to verify that you have a <em>real</em> airbag.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WYbDtxt92JbzClLDuNz024OlSeqxZSsQ8G0OulQTMkZ9LHzwsdDsQQGF7LQU4i7AY7lQ_JPPysanT3Ui_quj5l7IGevgP7lR2nb3eFs7MkotE1TIV6N4A8Qg3Ei_hyphenhyphenC2JQLXzUt59aE/s1600/Airbag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WYbDtxt92JbzClLDuNz024OlSeqxZSsQ8G0OulQTMkZ9LHzwsdDsQQGF7LQU4i7AY7lQ_JPPysanT3Ui_quj5l7IGevgP7lR2nb3eFs7MkotE1TIV6N4A8Qg3Ei_hyphenhyphenC2JQLXzUt59aE/s400/Airbag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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According to the Associated Press, the Obama administration is preparing to warn us that counterfeit bags may have been installed in your cars.</div>
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A public announcement will be made on Wednesday, October 10, 2012. <a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/">NHTSA</a> will ask car owners to check a government website, Safercar.gov, or call their manufacturer or local dealership to learn if their car model is among the number of models in which counterfeit airbags have been installed.</div>
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The counterfeit airbags are made to look like airbags made by automakers and usually include a manufacturer's logo. They were marketed to auto dealers as the real thing. However, they are far from the real thing. In at least one case, instead of deploying properly, the bag fired shards of plastic on impact. Yikes. That does not sound good.</div>
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*Update 10/10/12</div>
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NHTSA's <a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2012/Safety+Advisory:+NHTSA+Alerting+Consumers+to+Dangers+of+Counterfeit+Air+Bags" target="_blank">counterfeit air bags press release</a> including makes and models of vehicles which may be affected. </div>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393093623276684124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-10318910894048727072012-10-04T11:47:00.000-07:002012-10-04T11:48:10.430-07:00Pump, Crank, Reverse: Rocking Out In The Desert<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last month, I accompanied my husband on a business trip to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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As part of a team building exercise with his colleagues from other countries, we went on a desert safari. Let me tell you that riding around in the desert made me a little bit nauseous. We drove straight up dunes and slid down the back side sideways. Several times the sand flew over the top of the vehicle and I was profoundly grateful for roll bars but also perplexed as to why the vehicles weren't rolling down the dunes.<br />
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I thought I knew how gravity worked. Apparently not, because the rules in sand seemed to operate completely different than what I expected. Just look at the sand spray in the photo above. That's what sliding down sideways looks like. Now look at the lead vehicle in the rear view mirror shot. How does it not flip? What do these drivers know that I don't???<br />
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A couple of days later, I got to find out. While my husband attended his business meetings, I headed to Dubai to attend a desert driving class with <a href="http://www.edi-uae.com/home.aspx" target="_blank">Emirates Driving Institute</a>.<br />
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Wow. This class was the highlight of my trip and I'm so happy that they accommodated my request for a class since the only day I could do it was a week before their official desert driving season began. (It's too hot to do a class in the desert in the summer heat.) I was the only student that day, which was perfect. I could ask all the questions I wanted to and got a few hours of actual driving time in the desert. And the weather was...well hot...over 100 and we immediately started sweating if we got out of the vehicle.<br />
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The first thing my instructor Rafiq did for me was drive straight into the side of a dune and get stuck. As in wheels spinning. No traction. Then we traded places and he told me to get our vehicle out. Nice. Notice the sand on the windshield. And half the front wheels disappeared into the sand. I've never worked so hard behind the wheel in my life. I pumped that clutch and cranked that wheel from side to side until the sand lost its hold on me and I could reverse out of there.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RChJBi1qXfs/UGvWChe6yJI/AAAAAAAAI4o/XbSV4eSlDoE/s1600/EDI-UAE+Desert+Driving+stuck+vehicle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RChJBi1qXfs/UGvWChe6yJI/AAAAAAAAI4o/XbSV4eSlDoE/s400/EDI-UAE+Desert+Driving+stuck+vehicle.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Properly trained drivers get unstuck through driving techniques. Inside the car. With air conditioning. Rafiq told me that those who teach themselves through trial and error often find themselves outside of the vehicle trying to dig themselves out when they get stuck. Although sometimes I like to figure out new skills for myself, I'm grateful I didn't in this circumstance. I would have died without Rafiq's expertise coaching me.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rafiq and his trainer, the driver of the second vehicle (a safety net).</td></tr>
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<b>How Gravity Really Works</b><br />
Vehicles can drive across slopes, even though it seems like gravity would pull them down. They are being pulled toward the earth. I understood gravity better through this experience...especially since the concept was hard for my mind to wrap around. But like electricity, I don't have to understand how it works exactly to use it. The digest version is this: If a desert driver slides down a dune and turns the wheels to the top then the vehicle will roll. But if the driver goes with the natural downward flow of the land then the sliding doesn't actually defy gravity. Nice.<br />
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I got us stuck several other times during the course of my training and my back was fairly sore at the end of the day from working so hard but I am confident that I can get out of most sticky situations. This photo shows the worst situation I got into.<br />
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I almost fell out of the vehicle when I opened the door. We're sideways. My foot is deep in the sand. I tried to get us unstuck, but had a lot of trouble. We ended up getting out of the vehicle and stepping on the sand to encourage it to roll down the side of the dune. Then Rafiq got us out...it was the only time he took control of the wheel.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--2m_-jpVOys/UG3VO33JC2I/AAAAAAAAI5Y/-Tia5jYghxs/s1600/Camels+Hatta+Desert+UAE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--2m_-jpVOys/UG3VO33JC2I/AAAAAAAAI5Y/-Tia5jYghxs/s400/Camels+Hatta+Desert+UAE.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Random camels grazing on a small oasis of bushes.</td></tr>
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After lunch we found our way to a new area and went cruising up and down the dunes. It was really fun...we picked up so much speed that I could shift from first to second gear! There was something different about our this new area. Not only were camels grazing nearby (Rafiq's never had a student take so many photos), but the slopes were quite a bit gentler and I never got stuck.<br />
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I asked Rafiq about the ease of the course. It would make sense to me to start off with the easy and then build up to the harder terrain. His answer has kept me thinking for the last couple of weeks.<br />
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"If I had started you out here, you would have given up when we got to the really hard places."</blockquote>
Hmm...I've used that same logic when advising parents to have their teens learn to drive in the fall and winter. Those students are rarely afraid of driving on a dark and rainy night. When driving in adverse conditions, new drivers can relax knowing that their driving instructor is sitting next to them, and prepared to help when their own inexperience threatens their lives. Thank you Rafiq. There is wisdom in your teaching style.</div>
Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-12016103518633365382012-09-29T07:53:00.000-07:002012-09-29T07:54:55.757-07:002012 Video Contest Winners<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 20px;">Announcing the 2012 Video Contest Winners: Thanks again for everyone's hard work on these videos, they were all excellent! The scores were all very close, there was even a tie for third place. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;">Bogui Adjorlolo "Please be safe"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;">Ty Leet "Road Rage"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3rd Place</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;">Maddie Gwinn "Drunk Driving"</span><br />
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Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-14429436900961178292012-09-17T16:25:00.001-07:002012-09-25T05:44:19.151-07:00Child Passenger Safety Week 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's Child Passenger Safety Week once again! </div>
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<a href="http://www.safercar.gov/parents/TRS/Bottle.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.safercar.gov/parents/TRS/Bottle.png" width="224" /></a><a href="http://www.ktsro.org/images/CPS/stackingtoy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.ktsro.org/images/CPS/stackingtoy.png" width="303" /></a></div>
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Car crashes are the number one killer of children 1 to 12 years of age in the US according to the NHTSA, so let's protect our children by making sure that our little ones are using the right seats, at the right time, and in the right way. They are counting on us!</div>
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Visit <a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS">www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS</a> for advice on choosing a car seat, installation tips, and instructional videos. There's a welath of information over there!</div>
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If you're not sure whether you've got it right, check the <a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm">Child Car Seat Inspection Station Locator</a> to find out where you can get your car seat inspected free of charge.</div>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393093623276684124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-12897353263908387232012-08-23T08:00:00.000-07:002012-08-23T08:00:06.641-07:00Will Self-Driving Cars Really Be the Norm?Can you imagine driving down the freeway in the driver's seat reading your Kindle or catching up with your friends latest posts on Facebook, without the worry of getting into a collision? It seems strange, but self-driving cars could make that possible much sooner than we ever imagined.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaK69UcaFu3AQkekK4rlzKQlDKb9O-Se4QhCD_o3SKL9xo9mktPLBeQZZ5zoLbYYMprpImikRVoeDAm3EkUMHVWBVXMtjlkx9bvOByXu_GIZLxOuW3VM9vA3qaTrAe5XeAQX1YACATevo/s1600/Distracted+Driving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaK69UcaFu3AQkekK4rlzKQlDKb9O-Se4QhCD_o3SKL9xo9mktPLBeQZZ5zoLbYYMprpImikRVoeDAm3EkUMHVWBVXMtjlkx9bvOByXu_GIZLxOuW3VM9vA3qaTrAe5XeAQX1YACATevo/s320/Distracted+Driving.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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According to <a href="https://www.kpmg.com/US/en/IssuesAndInsights/ArticlesPublications/Pages/self-driving-cars-next-revolution.aspx">this </a>recent report published by <a href="https://www.kpmg.com/US/en/Pages/default.aspx">KPMG </a>and the <a href="http://www.cargroup.org/">Center for Automotive Research</a>, the auto industry is on the cusp of revolutionary change, and the revolution will be characterized by the introduction of self-driving vehicles. It sounds far fetched, but industry leaders envision a fully self-driving vehicle as early as 2025.<br />
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The KPMG report suggests that the marketplace will not only accept self-driving cars, but will be the "engine pulling the industry forward." However, I am not convinced. As a consumer, I can't say that I would fully trust my life to a "driving computer" no matter how great the technology. Humans are not perfect, but we like to make decisions for ourselves. I also think there's a lot to say for driving because you enjoy it. Nobody likes being stuck in rush-hour traffic, but I'd bet a lot of people enjoy driving down the open road. Not to mention that the cost of these types of technologies may far exceed what many people would be willing to pay. Perhaps things may change down the road, but I think it's going to be a <em>long </em>time before your average person will be purchasing a fully self-driving car.<br />
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I would welcome autonomous driving technologies, but I can't imagine sitting back and reading the newspaper while my car makes all the decisions. I agree with Tom Baloga, BMW's U.S. vice president of engineering, in that "We will always be the ultimate driving machine."<br />
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What do you think?<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393093623276684124noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-26435764800571589782012-08-20T18:24:00.000-07:002012-08-20T18:24:23.780-07:00Teach Your Teen: What Your Lane Position Says About You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Lane Positions: Getting on the Same Page</b></div>
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If you're like me, you spent most of your life not knowing anything about lane positions. Then I became a driving instructor. Now you're teaching your teen. So it's time to put a name to something you don't even realize you already know....There's actually a name for your car's position on the roadway. The names aren't very original. But that's okay. They're easy to remember.</div>
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<ol><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lU2suwjQicQ/UDKdbj6CWWI/AAAAAAAAFwk/2Epd4mViJPk/s1600/Lane-Positions-Defensive-Driving-School.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lU2suwjQicQ/UDKdbj6CWWI/AAAAAAAAFwk/2Epd4mViJPk/s400/Lane-Positions-Defensive-Driving-School.png" width="195" /></a>
<li>Driving in the center of your lane is technically referred to as driving in lane position one (LP1).</li>
<li>Hugging the left side of the lane is LP2.</li>
<li>Hugging the right edge of the lane is LP3.</li>
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I'm only giving you three, but keep in mind that some fanatics add a fourth and fifth as you cross the lane lines on either side.</div>
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<b>Drivers alter their lane positions for many reasons.</b> </div>
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If you are driving in the center of your lane in normal conditions, the position and speed of your car tells other roadway users that they can trust you. If you pass a parked car or bicycle and move to LP2 and reduce speed, you show that you are considerate. When you see that oncoming traffic includes a mobile home on a large truck and you move to LP3, you indicate comprehension that bigger vehicles will squash you if there was a collision.</div>
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Bottom line, you will intuitively trust or be wary of other drivers depending on the cues their driving habits send you.</div>
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<b>Vehicle Body Language VS. Verbal Language</b></div>
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We're all familiar with distracted drivers who put on their turn signals to change lanes and then forgot to turn it off. It's almost like they're saying, "Hey I'm turning, yup gonna turn any second, just you wait, I'm getting ready to turn." We adjust our driving to give them space but the signal keeps blinking while they're oblivious. After a few seconds we don't trust them anymore. We don't trust them because body language (position of the car) always trumps verbal language (blinkers).</div>
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I know a car is going to turn right at a stop sign when it gets into LP3, slows down, the wheels are turned to the right and the driver makes a head check. It doesn't matter if he has a turn signal on or not. His body language tells me exactly what to expect.</div>
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<b>Help Your Teen Recognize What Specific Behaviors Mean.</b></div>
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<li>Drivers who weave in and out of traffic, maintain high speeds relative to traffic flow, and tailgate are aggressive and should not to be trusted. Let them pass you. You'll breathe a lot easier without the pressure building behind you.</li>
<li>Drivers looking down frequently may be texting, looking at a map or even reading. Build your space cushion around you (especially on the freeway) so that if their distraction causes a collision then you won't be a part of it.</li>
<li>Drivers who turn left from LP1 or LP3 may be unfamiliar with their destination or not have much driving experience. Show them extra caution since they may do something unexpected.</li>
<li>Drivers who don't slow down at stop signs will either not stop or will stop well over the stop line. Be careful if you are a pedestrian.</li>
<li>Drivers who pass bicycles by crossing the center line (essentially giving them ten feet of space) do not understand how big their vehicle is. The average lane is 12 feet wide. The average car is 6 feet wide. A semi-truck is 8 feet wide. Hugging LP2 while passing a bike will give the rider approximately 6 feet of space, which is double the minimum 3 feet required by law.</li>
<li>Of course, each driver and situation is different. The more frequently you work with your teens on assessing the driving behavior of others, the better they will learn to evaluate their own driving and make corrections as needed.</li>
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<b>Anticipate Other Drivers Actions</b></div>
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How do you know a car is really going to stop at an intersection? Or turn? Or make a lane change? Look at the following factors to help you know how to adjust your own driving:</div>
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<li>Vehicle speed (too fast, too slow, just right) </li>
<li>Direction of the tires (straight or turning)</li>
<li>Lane position (LP1, LP2, LP3)</li>
<li>Signal lights (turning, braking, backing)</li>
<li>The eyes have it (Do other drivers see you? The pedestrians? The bicycles? The road construction?) </li>
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Practice answering these questions about other drivers for the next week. Does their behavior show they know what they're doing? Or are they putting out mixed signals? Knowing the answers will build years to your experience level in just a few short days.</div>
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<b>So, just what does your lane position say about you? </b>
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Whether or not I should trust you, of course.</div>
Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-32073209413365897552012-08-08T08:29:00.000-07:002012-08-08T22:24:35.926-07:00Why Don't School Buses Have Seat Belts?How come children on school buses don't need to buckle up? I couldn't leave the birth center without a car seat for my infant. I struggle to get my 3 year old to leave her belt buckled. We stress safety...but when my 5 year old gets on the bus to go to school for the first time, he learns that he doesn't always need to buckle up. We're sending our children mixed signals. Mine in particular are confused. They actually unbuckle as soon as we pull into our neighborhood and say, "we don't have to wear our seat belts as soon as we pass the mailbox." And I'm left wondering where they got that impression and trying to get them back in their seats.<br />
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If seat belts truly save so many lives (and I believe they do), then it's time to apply the seat belt laws across the board. My kids spend more time on the school bus than in my car. Busses should be equipped with safety belts and children secured.<br />
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The <i>anti-seat-belts-on-school-buses</i> crowd says buses are safer than cars. They're big. They're yellow. They have better crash rates. Bus drivers are also supposed to focus on driving rather than making kids buckle up. Plus it'd be too expensive to put seat belts into buses. Ehem. Really? That's a lame argument. Just ask any parent who's lost a child.<br />
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The <i>pro-seat-belts-on-school-buses</i> crowd says those crash rates are misleading. Most serious crashes happen at night and on weekends, as well as during the months of July and August. School buses usually don't operate during those times and private vehicles do. Thus the numbers don't give a fair comparison. Dr. Arthur Yeager has made it his life's work to change the status quo. His argument to <a href="http://www.ncsbs.org/testimonies/seat_belt_background.htm" target="_blank">install school bus seatbelts</a> is quite convincing. Compartmentalizing children in thickly padded high back seats does nothing to cushion kids from side impact and roll-over collisions. It only works if the kid stays in the compartment. Like they do when wearing a seat belt.<br />
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About 20 years ago, <a href="http://www.ncsbs.org/testimonies/testimony_ayeager.htm" target="_blank">New Jersey mandated that all new school buses be equipped with seat belts</a>. It turns out that having kids buckle up reduced behavior problems...and bus drivers spent more time focusing on the driving task and less time disciplining. I find the same thing is true when my kids aren't crawling over seats and kicking their siblings while I'm driving.<br />
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So, back to the main question. Why don't school buses have seat belts? Because we haven't banded together to make it happen. Consider visiting the <a href="http://www.ncsbs.org/index.html" target="_blank">National Coalition for School Bus Safety</a>'s website and joining their cause. That or drive your kids to school every day. Just take into consideration that one is easier to do than the other.Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-68916163347085301082012-07-30T08:00:00.000-07:002012-08-06T14:56:02.879-07:00We have a new video!<div style="text-align: center;">
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I love our new promo video. It even makes me tear up a little. </div>
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It might be because that's my son playing baseball in the video. </div>
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I can't stand the thought of him growing up and driving. </div>
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But, when he does, I sure to want to make sure </div>
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he gets a good driving education to keep him safe on the roads!</div>
</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393093623276684124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-50242515071568935542012-07-12T16:56:00.000-07:002012-08-06T14:56:51.919-07:00Drive Free CarsIf you're in the market to buy a car, the first question you might be asking yourself is whether you want to buy new or used. There are many factors to consider, including that great new car smell that you won't get in a used car. <br />
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I think for most of us, it really comes down to price. When buying, it's helpful to know that <br />
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<li><strong>New cars depreciate approximately 25% when driven off the lot, and</strong></li>
<li><strong>New cars lose approximately 70% of their value in the first four years</strong>. </li>
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When you buy used, the previous owner has already eaten that depreciation cost and you can get a car for a great price. The trade-offs of course are that you may have more maintenance costs, you are not the first owner and may not know the entire owner and accident history, you may not have the same warranties you would have with a new car, and you won't get that great new car smell.<br />
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Whether you're interested in buying a car or not, you may find this <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/home/">Dave Ramsey</a> video on how we could all be driving free cars interesting. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BKyV8CTHeJ0?fs=1" width="459"></iframe></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393093623276684124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-31216247529284158232012-07-04T00:11:00.001-07:002012-07-04T00:14:31.598-07:00You May Need A Driving Lesson If...<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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You may need a driving lesson if you've ever ...</div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">hit a trashcan while backing out of your driveway</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">felt rumble strips while unwrapping a cheeseburger</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">confused stop <b>signs</b> with stop <b>lines</b></span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uAes8hIxYOM/T_Prw8q89xI/AAAAAAAAFa0/mbl8viOosX8/s1600/Defensive+Driving+School+Stop+Sign+Crash+.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uAes8hIxYOM/T_Prw8q89xI/AAAAAAAAFa0/mbl8viOosX8/s320/Defensive+Driving+School+Stop+Sign+Crash+.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collision last week down the block from our Everett driving school. </td></tr>
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<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17064616370181183885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429664071823478724.post-88827279152926233242012-06-22T19:09:00.001-07:002012-06-22T19:09:34.101-07:00Buckle up the toddler or the gas can?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-h56x1hjI1l1xmRyOAt4t8kDRFJ3rmT_4IrZM94dWAwZvRPCTfQUA9KBIb8-FubyFcsOKqsBpa7ceMftMTOT2Y7QgNVVK1QvKsFm3BcnTjqNiZJHl-uFF-o_hw11AqHGIRjB1VNDiBo/s1600/20120605__cdot_click_ticket_aurora~p1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-h56x1hjI1l1xmRyOAt4t8kDRFJ3rmT_4IrZM94dWAwZvRPCTfQUA9KBIb8-FubyFcsOKqsBpa7ceMftMTOT2Y7QgNVVK1QvKsFm3BcnTjqNiZJHl-uFF-o_hw11AqHGIRjB1VNDiBo/s640/20120605__cdot_click_ticket_aurora~p1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Colorado woman was cited for a seatbelt violation when she decided to strap up her gas can instead of her toddler. Poor kid.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The controversial photo above was posted on the Colorado Department of Transportation's Facebook page. According to <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20804668/cdot-pulls-gas-can-car-seat-photo-from?source=pkg">denverpost.com</a>, the photo sparked hundreds of comments and more than 1,000 shares on Facebook, and was taken down.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The CDOT stated the following on their Facebook page after taking the photo down:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">"Dear Facebook Friends and Others- We have decided to take down the post of the child sitting next to the gas can buckled in the child safety seat. Please know that we very much believe the photo served as an educational opportunity for child passenger safety and we hope that parents will utilize the information sources available to understand the laws and requirements to protect their children wh</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">ile in vehicles. However, our resources are limited and we can't continue to monitor comments at the level necessary to ensure that any harassing or profane posts are removed promptly. We're trying hard to provide resources for you regarding traffic safety and transportation in Colorado, and want you to feel safe and comfortable posting or asking questions. Thank you for understanding!"</span></span></span></div>
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</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393093623276684124noreply@blogger.com0