So That's How They Park in the Ukraine!

We came across this interestingly amusing article, complete with pictures, about a tight parking spot! Wonder how they did get the car up there!

Any ideas?

Now THAT'S A Tight Parking Space!

New Funding For Sacramento PD for DUI Checkpoints

Here's an interesting article about the California Office of Traffic Safety awarding a grant of $240,900 to the Sacramento Police Department to continue their DUI Checkpoints.

Apparently Sacramento has the highest DUI death and injury than any other city in California.

If the situation is so prevalent in California's capitol, one would think that lawmakers would try to push for tougher laws...or not?

What is your opinion? Do you think tougher laws would work, or would they backfire?

Do you think harsher laws should be implemented when somebody has multiple DUI's. Or what do you think the best solution would be?

Sacramento Gets More Cash to Combat DUI

AT&T Joins Texting and Driving Awareness

Finally, it seems that major communications companies are starting to become aware that, if texting and driving continues unabated, their precious customer base will rapidly dwindle to extinction due to highly preventable accidents.

AT&T seem to be taking the lead in actively educating young drivers about the dangers of texting and driving through simulators taken around schools. So far, the kids seem to be impressed and receptive to the idea of the shocking dangers of texting and driving.

They offer one method that seems to be the best of all suggestions offered thus far:

Turn off the phone when driving!

If you can't hear the phone even when it's in vibrator mode, you won't be tempted to look to see if you've received any messages.

And, yes, as a study conducted by the University of Michigan recently stated:

It is still considered texting and driving, if you look at your phone to see if you've received messages, even if you don't respond to them.

That's because you are taking your eyes off the road instead of giving your full undivided attention to driving. Split second critical errors are made when the brain is suddenly engaged in activities not related to the task at hand--driving!

It Can Wait: AT&T Shows Teens the Dangers of Texting and Driving

Yellow Arrows Causing Confusion

It seems like more than a few people are confused about the role of the relatively new yellow arrow that is supposed to be an added safety improvement, but because of it's slow implementation across the nation, it's causing confusion among motorists, with at least one accident already attributed to the yellow arrow.

From the gist of the article, it seems as though DMV's and transportation departments are inadequately advising motorists on how to obey the yellow arrow. It seems like a massive campaign to better explain the role of the yellow arrow is in order, if only to prevent further miscommunications that result in preventable accidents.

Do Drivers Have the Right of Way At This Yellow Light?

A Squirrelly Excuse

We found this irresistible DUI nugget today.  The squirrel no doubt something was dangerously amiss with this fellow, and tried to stop him any way he could!

Wonder whatever happened to the squirrel.

And, much more importantly, why is this man still able to get behind the wheel with his sky high blood alcohol level reading?

Reckless Driver Tells Cop Squirrel Was Eating Him

No Smiling Please....

Interesting article about the DMV in New Jersey not wanting it's driver licence applicants to smile on their photo. It's due to the fact that the Department's facial recognition software goes haywire when someone smiles.

According to the same article, New York's DMV facial recognition software does not have that problem, and people can go ahead and smile, frown, look bored, neutral...whatever.

But as the article correctly points out--how many of us want to smile after waiting interminably in a long line at the DMV before finally getting our turn to do our business?

This State Says: No Smiling!

Another Terrible Reminder

It happens more frequently than it should. A parent, not aware of where their young child is, starts the family car, backs up, and doesn't notice that their child has toddled to the back of the vehicle, striking him or her. The consequences are nearly 100% fatal. What follows is a lifetime of anguish fo the entire family.

Please, please, parents, make sure, before you get into your vehicle, to look around, in front, to the sides, and back, to make sure no one is around the car that could be in the way. Make sure that your child, pets, other adults, are clearly visible to you.

This tragedy should not have to happen to anybody.


Boy, 2, Struck By Pick Up Driven By Father

Car Fix Fails

We found this collection of peoples attempts to fix their vehicles too tempting to be ignored. It goes without saying that all of the so-called fixes are totally illegal in the State of California, and no doubt the rest of the US, if not the world.

Enjoy, but, please, do not even think these remedies are in any way safe!

Ridiculous Car Fix Fails 

Our Newest Graduates!

A very hearty congratulations to Breanna, Lana, and Emma for passing their DMV Behind the Wheel Test. Great going girls!

Way to go Breanna!

Other Drivers Driving You Crazy? There's an App For That!

Appropriately called "Drive Me Crazy". One can report lousy driving straight from their iPhone, and soon from their Android phone, according to this article in the Los Angeles Times.

Did That Driver Cut You Off? Report Him with "Drive Me Crazy" Mobile App

The California DMV has it's own mobile app, but this sounds like it would be a nice adjunct!

If anybody has it on their iPhone, please let us know how it's working for you, and whether you would recommend it or not.

TEENS: A Tip; Don't Do This, You'll Regret it!

Here's an article that ought to give pause to anyone without having first reached 151/2 years old, plus completed Driver's Ed., and obtained a Learner's Permit.

Teen On Joyride Crashes Grandmother's SUV Into 4 Cars; Flees On Foot

This sort of behavior is not going to endear you to the DMV (as well as various other law enforcement agencies), who can be a bit persnickety on people driving without the proper training, permits and licenses. After all, that's what they were set up to do; make sure everyone is fully capable of safely operating a motor vehicle.

Needless to say, this young man is in serious trouble. He will most likely have a juvenile arrest record, which will make it harder, and a lengthier process, for him to get his first license in the future.

Remember, you have a lifetime of driving privilege ahead of you once you do get your license. Believe it or not, one day, after your 10 thousandth time of sitting in slow moving traffic, gnashing your teeth, trying to get to where you are going, ironically thinking way back when you were a teen driver and super eager to get your license so you could have freedom to go where ever you wanted to whenever you wanted, you'll be muttering, "This is freedom!?"

An Expensive Reminder of the Dangers of Drinking and Driving

A very good article in the New York Times by David Updike about what can happen if you are caught drinking and driving. It deals with the financial aspects of having a drunk driving arrest on your record. It's definitely something to keep reminding one self.

Drinking, Driving and Paying

The best rule of thumb is, if you are going to a party, and you know you are going to be driving afterwards, the best course of action is to abstain from alcohol completely.

After all, as the article admits, you don't need alcohol to have a good time! Being surrounded by friends and laughter, and enjoying being in each others' company is what makes a good party.

Announcing two more successful graduates from Alliance Defensive Driving School

Lauren has just passed her driving test with 100% accuracy! Very impressive. The Driver Guy said she was a fun, smart, energetic student, who made the lessons fun!

Congratulations Lauren!

The next successful grad is Jennifer. Another fun student! Great job Jennifer! Congratulations!

We hope you'll keep in touch with us!

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

Driverless Cars in the News Again!

Another interesting report, this time by a team led by Italian engineering researchers, that involves two vans traveling 8,000 miles from Italy to China, ending in Shanghai. One of the reasons for the experiment, explained the engineers who designed the computerized system, was to be able to help motorists reduce accidents with advanced technology.

Sounds wonderful...and, for now at least...expensive...

Four Vans Travel 8,000 Miles Without Drivers