Lose Your Child; Get Kicked in the Teeth

An unbelievable story out of Connecticut, involving a driver with past multiple convictions for DUI's, who is currently serving time in prison for vehicular manslaughter due to striking and killing a 17 year old boy as he was recklessly driving his car at reportedly 85 mph in a 45 mph zone.

He is suing the dead boys' parents for negligence, because he was allegedly skateboarding in the street and not wearing a helmet.  Never mind that he was going way beyond the speed limit at the time. The fact that according to tests performed at the time, he was sober behind the wheel, doesn't lessen the crime.

Driver in Fatal Connecticut Crash Sues Victim's Parents

Apparently, prisoners file lawsuits quite often, but it's usually based on perceived, or maybe actual, injustices that they are undergoing while incarcerated. Rarely do they file suits against the victim or their family.

What do you think after reading the article? Does the man have a valid point? Or is he just using every available means to deflect culpability by raising even the most ridiculous accusation possible?

Distracted Driving: Screaming Babies, Flying Binkies

From the Huffington Post an interesting blog post regarding the hazards of driving while your infant is screaming in the back seat. As David Petrie, the author, points out, most of the attention to distracted driving involves texting while driving. But, there are countless other distractions that could be just as dangerous, but are not given the publicity that texting and driving are.

What do you find are personally distracting to you when you drive?  Please share, you may make someone more aware of a potentially hazardous distraction that they'd never thought of.

Distracted Driving: Are Back Seat Kids Worse Than Texting?

Beware of Predatory Car Loans!

Here's a very interesting article about predatory car loan companies that are an insidious presence in poorer neighborhoods--much like check cashing firms.

It's good to be aware of such dubious practices.

Driven to the Poorhouse

New Study: 17% of Accidents Are Due to Drowsy Driving

Today marks the start of Drowsy Driving Awareness Week. A condition just as dangerous as drunk or drugged driving, but not often talked about. Driving while sleep deprived is the equivalent of driving drunk.

Please folks, if you begin to feel sleepy behind the wheel, pull off the road and rest awhile. It's better to do that than permanently "resting". Isn't it?

Study Says 17% of Fatal Crashes Involve Drowsy Drivers

Drugs and Driving: Important Information

We ran across two very interesting synopses on the effects of drugs, both prescription and illegal, and alcohol, while driving. The articles were written by EMSA of Oklahoma and PA DUI of Pennsylvania.

How do Drugs Affect Driving?

The Effects of Drugs and Alcohol

Their clarity are very helpful in providing a clear understanding of the various effects that drugs and alcohol have on our system, including giving the false impression that normal senses and reaction times are enhanced. Instead what they do is merely (and dangerously) mask the symptoms of fatigue.

Attention to impaired driving is given mostly someone who is under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs. But prescription and over the counter medications can be just as dangerous while driving, and their side effects should be considered at all times when getting behind the wheel of a car.

A Crucial Reminder: ALWAYS HAVE YOUR PERMITS WITH YOU WHILE DRIVING!

Whether your taking your behind the wheel lesson, or practicing with someone 25 years or older sitting beside you, please, always remember to have your Learner's Permit with you at all times! Recently, several of our students could not take their lessons because they did not have their permits as they were in the other parent's car and both car and parent were out of reach.

Not only does it waste your time, but it also wastes The Driver Guy's time, and, per our policy, we will have to charge you $49 for a one hour lesson that you couldn't take.

California Law requires all driving students, whether teen or adult, to have their permits with them when they are behind the wheel of a car. Failure to do so, and getting caught, should a police officer pull you over for some reason, could have serious setbacks to your progress in the form of fines and delay your goal of getting your provisional permit should the DMV decide to suspend your driving privileges for failure to have a learners permit with you when you are behind the wheel.

The learner's permit is like a limited license to drive (with a licensed adult 25 years or older sitting in the passenger seat with you) and should be treated as such.

It's important to develop good driving habits early--including remembering to have permits, licenses, whatever form of license, whether it's temporary or permanent, on your person at all times. They will save you much frustration throughout your driving life.

For more information about Alliance Defensive Driving School, please go to: http://www.thedriverguy.com/index.html

For more information about Alliance Defensive Driving School Teen Program, please go to: http://www.thedriverguy.com/teens.html