THE COMMON SENSE OF DRIVING

You are taking this Traffic Violator course because you received a moving violation. That ticket probably ruined your day. But think about this...your day could have been a whole lot worse. Drivers just like you are seriously injured or killed in automobile collisions caused by speeding, running red lights, rolling through stop signs, changing lanes without signaling...the list is endless. If you’re reading this, that means you are still breathing. Congratulations! Maybe you got off easy with only a ticket.

A. OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE IS A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY

Driving is probably the most dangerous thing you do on a daily basis. A simple mistake in judgment or a delay in reaction time could spell disaster for you...or for the person sitting next to you in the front seat...or for that family in the mini van in the adjacent lane. Each driver must respect the law and appreciate the risks inherent in operating a motor vehicle.

1. MOTOR VEHICLE IS A WEAPON

Imagine an object weighing 3,500 pounds moving 100 feet per second. This object is powered by 20 gallons of an explosive chemical. This object is being operated by an individual who is also sipping a hot cup of coffee...or applying mascara...or half asleep...or searching for a radio station...or under the influence of alcohol...or trying to dial a cell phone. Now imagine hundreds of these objects moving together at 100 feet per second, many of them separated only by inches. Seems scary, doesn’t it? Welcome to the freeway.

PASSING

Few drivers enjoy passing on a two-lane road. It is the most dangerous maneuver in all of driving. Many factors need to come together properly in order to safely execute a pass. But make just one mistake, and you might find yourself in a head-on collision.

A. PASSING AND BEING PASSED

Both drivers factor in the equation, the "passer" and the "passee". They must work together for the maneuver to be successfully completed. Please pass the pepper. Too many drivers feel challenged or offended when they are being passed. That’s a dangerous attitude.

1. DEMANDS OF PROPER PASSING

Good Judgment: Drivers first need to assess two things:1) Is it legal to pass?2) Is it safe to pass?

Rapid Decision-making: These questions must be answered quickly and acted on immediately. A safe passing maneuver requires quick thinking and rapid reflexes. Do not be impatient. Judgment suffers when a driver is frustrated. Don’t take chances. When in doubt, stay in your lane and wait for another opportunity.

DEMANDS OF FREEWAY DRIVING

Love them or hate them, freeways are a fact of life. Sometimes traffic flies, sometimes it creeps along in a maddening slow-and-go. Higher and constant speed on the freeway creates a different set of demands on the driver. But staying safe is a simple proposition if you heed the following rules.

Don’t exceed the speed limit.

Always follow at a safe distance.

Signal all lane changes.

The 110 Freeway north into Pasadena was opened in 1939.

A. PLANNING A ROUTE IN ADVANCE

Know where you’re going and how to get there before you get inside your vehicle. Collisions often occur when drivers are lost, disoriented, or unfamiliar with their surroundings. Zooming down the freeway at 65 mph is NOT the time to have a map spread open on your steering wheel.

1. BE FAMILIAR WITH ALTERNATE EXIT

If you are aware of alternate exits and routes, you will be better able to respond when faced with an unexpected ramp closure, detour, or collision on the freeway.

2. GUIDE SIGNS - PLACEMENT OF GUIDE SIGNS THAT INDICATE DISTANCE AND ROUTE DIRECTION

Thank goodness for those large green signs with white letters! They provide vital information to drivers, including exits, and distances to them. Pay attention to guide signs…they give you ample warning about freeway exits.