Coconut Parking

October is ending, and as you know, every month must be ended with a funny driving video. This time it's an insurance commercial showing you how even the most perfect parking can have disadvantages.



Hope you enjoyed,
Nadav

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First Time Driving: Zee

Interesting names and yelling girls are definitely not new for us, veterans of the first time driving part of this blog. Zee is not different. She has an unusual name with the usual pressure and a parent scared to death. Video quality is not great, but you can see something there.



This video was uploaded on October 23, or last week. This means Zee still has a long way to go until she gets her license. All I can say is good luck!

Nadav

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Unsafe Driving: Part 2

In this second and last part, you can see more types of drivers, types that should be banned from the road, but they are not for some reason.



Be safe!

Nadav

nadavs

Test Center Closed - Residents Protest

Dudley residents are furious. Driving students will now start to flood the streets, practice their maneuvers, and cause big traffic problems. That is according to the Express & Star.

The reason for this problem is the closure of a nearby driving center. So far, driving students were limited to the area of the driving center, but now they will start to drive in the streets of Dudley, and the residents are protesting. They want peace and quiet.

I'm with the residents of Dudley. Driving students are a real hazard and problem, and if they have a safe environment, it should not be closed. Safety comes first.

Nadav

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Pass your Permit Test the First Time

The permit test is the first test you need to take before being able to drive, and it frightens many driving students. Fortunately, David P wrote a great article about passing this easy test on the first time.

Practice Permit Test - Your Key to Passing the DMV Learner's Permit Test on the First Try

A practice permit test can be found online, in a good driver education class, or through online driver ed programs. But be careful! All of the online variety are written and edited by people from a variety of backgrounds. An article in a major Sacramento newspaper stated that the owner of one of the top online driver ed courses did have a license...but it was for pest control!

I am the owner of a driving school in Folsom, CA. We have taught driver education and driver training for over 18 years. 10,000 or more students. So we have a pretty good idea of how to prepare our students for the DMV test. In fact we have 2 former DMV Examiners on our staff. Here are some of our recommendations for getting your learner's permit and driver's license...and making sure you are SAFE when you start driving.

• Our first recommendation would be to get yourself into a classroom driver education course. If you take a class as opposed to the online version, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and get clarifications from a living, breathing teacher who can see if you are "getting it" or not. Online? You get it or you don't.
  

• If you can't find a driver ed class in a classroom, then ask around and find the best possible online driving course.

• Regardless of which way you go, be sure you take a practice permit test...or TEN! The only way to be sure you know the rules of the road, and right down to the smallest detail, is to work through as many practice permit test questions as you can before getting to the DMV. You need to find out just what kind of questions will be asked, how they will be worded, and what kind of details need to be learned. The best free practice permit test one we have found is at the link in this sentence. They offer a free sample permit test of 20 questions with no strings, so you can see how you do and see if you like their product. If you are in California, the dmv has a great free practice permit test too at the their site. The dmv practice test is just like the real thing, of course, and is a good prep for you.

Driving is going to be fun, but it does carry a ton of responsibility. Take the right approach now, by starting off with learning the rules and safety issues before getting behind the wheel. An online course can be "Quick" and "Easy" and "Cheap," but this is no time to cut corners.

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Enjoy,
Nadav

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Stop and Rest to Live

As you know, being alert is critical for your driving ability and danger handling. For this reason, it is very important to make a rest stop every once in a while to make sure you are fit to drive. The California DMV made a good (yet somewhat short and not to-the-point) video explaining this topic, which is also explained in my driving test guide.



Be safe!

Nadav

nadavs

Boring Roads: A Great Danger

Lately, on Sundays and Fridays, I started taking buses in very boring ways. You look to the right and see sand and mountains. When you look to the left, you see more sand and mountains. This road is one of the deadliest roads in my country. The reason - it's boring.

This road is a two-way road. One lane going each way, no separation. Combine this with a relatively high speed limit (90 km/h, about 56 mph) and a boring scenery, and you have yourself a disaster.

Sadly, the government isn't doing much to improve the situation. All they do is TV campaigns, but what they really need to do is rebuild this road and make it separated. This way accidents will decrease drastically.

Have a great weekend,
Nadav

nadavs

Yellow Lights - A Critical Decision

Yellow lights are the most annoying lights that can be seen on a traffic light. There is always some feeling of uncertainty when seeing one. Not surprisingly, these lights are the cause for many driving test mistakes. Here is an article I wrote about this subject.

Yellow Lights - The Ultimate Decision for the Driving Test

From all traffic light colors, yellow seems to be the most controversial. Some drivers say that it means stop, others say go, and the funny ones say "green means go, yellow means go faster". The truth is that a yellow light gives the driver the decision whether to stop or go, and that decision must be made with the road situation in consideration. During a driving test, yellow lights can make the difference between passing and failing. Driving students make many mistakes when they see a yellow light, and some of them repeat more than others.

One very serious mistake is not stopping when possible. A yellow light requires drivers to stop if safe to do so. Some driving students, eager to get the test over with, accelerate when the light turns from green to yellow. If they are lucky, they will cross the intersection at yellow light. If they are unlucky and the light turns red, this foolish rush to the intersection will count as running a red light, a mistake that will lead to a failure for sure.

The opposite mistake to the one mentioned above is stopping when unsafe. If a driver can't stop safely before the limit line, he should not try to stop. Many driving students are afraid to run a red light and stop at the moment they see a yellow light. Sometimes this is done when they are too close to the intersection, which causes them to stop inside the intersection. This is highly dangerous and could lead to a mark for unnecessary stop, or worse, the critical error of dangerous maneuver.

Left turns on traffic lights raise many issues when it comes to yellow lights. Some places require drivers to enter the intersection before turning left. Usually there is only a small number of cars allowed in the intersection at once. When the light turns yellow, some driving students don't know how to react in this situation. Some students enter the intersection when they are outside of it, while others remain inside and don't clear it. Both actions are wrong and can lead to failure.

There is one solution to these yellow light mistakes: a guide that shows how to behave with
traffic lights and yellow lights in particular. A guide like this can show driving students the right way to react to different situations, something that is essential in order to pass a driving test.

You can find a guide like this at the Pass Your Driving Test area of my site. This page also includes a free course about more driving test mistakes and tips.

Good luck handling yellow lights,
Nadav

nadavs

First Time Driving: Alicia

Teaching someone to drive is not easy, especially when it's your sister. However, Ashley, Alicia's sister, seems like she is doing a good job. She described the practice as a "wild ride" and "nerve-wracking", but enjoyable. Watch Alicia driving for the first time.



This video was uploaded on October 3 of this year, so Alicia still has a long way to go. However, she is very good, and getting the license will be very easy for her.

Good luck!
Nadav

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Unsafe Driving: Part 1

Safe driving, as everyone knows, is not easy to achieve. Unsafe driving seems to be prefered amongst drivers, and it's clear why. It's much more fun. However, it brings much more risks. Here is a video showing seven different characters who you don't want to encounter on the road.



Hope you enjoyed.

Nadav

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Traffic Court - Quick Charges

The Los Angeles Times brought the story of the traffic judge Donald S. Kennedy, who solved a case in under two minutes. A man went to court to fight a ticket about making an illegal U-turn, claiming that he did not see the sign. Judge Kennedy asked him if he went back later and saw the sign. The man said yes, and this was enough for Kennedy to prove the man guilty.

Not all stories are like this, but Kennedy tells the sad story of Los Angeles county - too many cars on a too-small space. When traffic becomes annoying, more people violate traffic laws. When insurance premiums skyrocket after a traffic fine, no one wants to have one. This leads to a heavy load on traffic courts.

The only advice I can give you is to drive carefully and not break the law. There is no other way to avoid traffic tickets.

Yours,
Nadav

nadavs

Escape Speeding Tickets

Speeding tickets are a nasty business, and no one wants them. One way to avoid them is to drive well, according to the driving test guide. Another way is to read the following article, by John Oleander, and learn how to fight a traffic ticket.

How to Fight a Speeding Ticket - Save Your Driver's License!

This now becomes a major issue to those delinquent drivers, over speeding violators and even those chanced by a misfortune. If you are one of these people, odds-on, you have asked the same question by now. The moment you are pulled over by an officer due to over speeding, the first thing that comes to mind are: "What am I going to do?", "What will happen to my driver's license?" These questions are just some of the mind boggling and bewildering statements you will exclaim the moment an officer sets his warning signs.

Distressed as you are, you begin to realize that you are indeed faced with a big trouble. Getting a speeding ticket is a serious matter and this requires an immediate attention if you don't want to lay yourself open to possible quandaries. Nevertheless, unless you accept the blame and all the charges laid upon you; you can simply pay the fine and leave. Conversely, if you feel that this is something beyond your doing and you honestly believe that you have nothing to do with the violation that was blamed on you, then this is another story.

Fighting a speeding ticket in the main entails a driver to know his rights and be able to stand and fight for it. If you strongly suppose that all these are but false accusations then prior to hiring a lawyer and bring the matters in court, it would be a good option to attempt for a settlement. As much as possible, say your piece in a professional manner. Too much arrogance and insolence can only lead you to further problems. To alleviate further issues, a polite talk to the officer is a good approach.

If circumstances do not turn to your advantage; this is the time for you to fight your traffic ticket. How all these can be possible? Firstly, hire a good lawyer that will act on your behalf; he should be someone who knows your story and what you are fighting for. You also need to be educated of all the laws, rules and legal affairs concerning your plea. Identifying your violations and the consequences that might befall should also be well considered.

Fighting a speeding ticket also requires a lot of your time, money and effort. Just because you hire a good lawyer at a relatively great check does not mean higher tendencies of winning the case. Triumphing over an accusation necessitates time investment. Realizing that this is a time consuming state of affairs and your presence is indeed a must.

Moreover, waiting for a miracle to happen does not count in your quest of finding for means on how to fight a speeding ticket. You should put things into action; never allow anyone to get in the way given that you know where you stand.

Fighting a speeding ticket is indeed a taxing state that demands a great deal of your time. So, the next time you are pulled over; saving your driver's license can mean saying 'yes' in struggling for what you believe is lawfully right.

Ready to learn How to Fight a Speeding Ticket? Learn how to get out of it 100% with NO FINE and NO POINTS on your record. The method works and is LEGAL!! Go to http://www.trafficticketsaver.com/ now!

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Hopefully, you will never need this advice.

Drive safely!
Nadav

nadavs

What a Traffic Judge Can Do

Violation of traffic fines doesn't always work. Sometimes, you get caught, and worse, go to court. Here is a video from the California DMV, showing what a judge can do. Notice how thoughtful judges can be, so don't panic if you happen to go to court.



Drive safely. Don't go to court.

Nadav

nadavs

Double Parking Craziness

Going to the city is a part of everyday life. We all have to go to the city once in a while, and usually, when going to the city you have to either parallel park or do a perpendicular parking in a big parking lot. However, when you see double parking, you literally go crazy.

Double parking is a situation in which a driver parks on two parking spots, blocking the way for other cars. This is extremely annoying when there is no parking available, but it's clear that the double parker can make room for one more car.

Someone should take control of this situation and fine these drivers. They are wasting the time of other drivers and make them insane.

Have a great weekend, full of parking spots.
Nadav

nadavs

Curbing your Success on the Driving Test

The curb is an important part of the road system. It tells where the road ends and the sidewalk begins. It also marks, using colors, where you can park. However, it has a dark side. During the driving test, the slightest contact with the curb will lead to your immediate failure. Here is an article I wrote about this problem.

The Curb - A Driving Test Enemy

The curb is an integral part of every sidewalk. For pedestrians, it marks the edge of the sidewalk. For drivers who want to park, it shows whether parking is possible or not. For driving students during their test, it's the worst nightmare. Countless people failed their driving test for hitting the dreaded curb. Those situations vary, but they all end up with a disappointed driving student.

One common situation that causes curb hitting is right turns. Sometimes driving students are not proficient enough in making turns, which causes them to make their turn too tight. When it happens, the car goes on the curb. Even if there is nothing on the sidewalk at that moment, the test has one way to go from there - to a failure.

Backing up is also a major cause for hitting the curb. The back up test can be as simple as driving back in a straight line. However, some student drivers don't have the skills to move the car properly. They turn the wheel the wrong way and end up hitting the curb. When this happens, the examiner has nothing to do but fail the student.

Parking lots also pose great threats to the car-curb relationships of driving students. When entering the driving lot, driving students should be careful not to hit the cement block at the end of the parking spot, or worse, the sidewalk at the end of the spot. If the student driver does hit it, he will probably fail at the last seconds of the test.

Parallel parking is a great driving test killer. When backing up, many student drivers don't estimate distances well. This unfortunate fact makes them back up straight into the curb, or worse, the car behind. A sad case like this leaves the student wondering where did all the parking skill go.

There is a solution for hitting the curb: a guide that shows exactly how to perform all the necessary driving tasks with maximum accuracy. A good guide will prevent those curb hits and help the driving student reach the desired license as fast as possible.

You can find a guide like this at the Pass Your Driving Test area of my site.

Have a great, curbless weekend,
Nadav

nadavs

First Time Driving: Emily

Usually, when learning to drive, the last thing you need is a panicking parent and bicycles ahead of you. Unfortunately for Emily, she had both of them. Watch her drive through this impossible situation rather well.



According to YouTube, this video was uploaded on August of 2007, so Emily probably has her license by now. Good job!

Nadav

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Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving: Part 2

Last week I put the first part of a video series about alcohol, drugs, and driving. Today is the second and final part. Please watch this part as well, it's as important as the first one.



Don't drink and drive!

Nadav

nadavs

Fail and Go to Court

Failing a driving test gives a bad feeling. Being sued for that gives a worse feeling. That's what happened to a woman from Portsmouth who wrecked her car during her driving test.

During her test, the woman backed into a parked car. Apparently, she was doing so very fast, because she was injured. Furthermore, the examiner is suing her for medical expenses and lost work days.

Lesson: be sure you are prepared for your driving test before you take it. Also, don't forget to back up slowly and look for parked cars.

Nadav

nadavs

Drive Fast? Lose your Driver's License

Everyone wants to pass their driving test to get their license. However, after getting the license, there is still plenty of room for authorities to take it back. Here is an article by Dirk Bristol, a speed lover, who tells how he nearly lost his license. It's a little bit informal, but it's interesting.

Traffic Tickets - Can You Lose Your Drivers License?

It seemed like every cop had my GPS signal. Every where I went I seemed to get another traffic ticket. The points were adding up on my drivers license. Could I get my drivers license revoked for traffic tickets? You Bet!

I'm a speed demon. I have convertible, I put the top down, play my favorite tunes then bam! the bubblegum lights. As I said, they seem to know were I am... even on deserted country roads. I even got one speeding ticket where the County Sheriff added Reckless Driving... she said I crossed the center line. I think it was because I was rollin' about 90 mph. Now I had 8 points on my drivers license. Rats! I found out you could only get 12 points in 12 months and 18 points in 18 months. I already had a traffic ticket for speeding ... 3 points. Too close to 12!

I remember going online to find a driver improvement course for traffic tickets. I discovered a bunch of online traffic schools that offered a Traffic Ticket Dismissal/ Point Avoidance Course. I took the online traffic school course and completed it in five hours. The Ticket Dismissal Course was fairly easy, it held my interest, time seemed to fly by. Not only was my speeding ticket points removed, the reckless driving points were gone. The other benefit was my fine was reduced by 18%. No small chunk of change. If you are not sure that this is the course you need to take see Ticket Dismissal Course for the course qualifications and course outline.

I found out doing the course that there were plenty of ways to lose points... not just speeding. Any moving violation will get you dinged 3 points. Open container(driver) ding! 3 points. Passing a stopped school bus ding! 4 points. There plenty of other violations that will lose you points. Reckless driving, driving during restricted hours and improper equipment to name a few.

The Traffic Ticket Dismissal course was well worth the time. Pete, my college room mate, said it was pretty much the same course outline as the one he took online in Texas. Just a few questions were different, about Texas Traffic Laws. You have to love the internet.

Well, I have slowed down. I don't play any tunes that are jammin', I found out my speed increased when I was rollin' with the heavy tunes. I didn't lose my drivers license... the online traffic school ticket dismissal course took care of the problem.

Dirk Bristol has become a Florida Traffic School expert. Get tips and see all the traffic school courses outlines on his site. Also see my Guardian Angel on the link below.

Visit- Florida Online Traffic School-Tips.com

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Conclusion: be careful, you can lose your license much faster than you got it.

Nadav

nadavs

Accident Procedure

Accidents are a nasty business. No one wants to be involved in one or hear that his relatives or friends were involved in one. However, there is no way to prevent them. There is a way to handle them. Here is a video by the California DMV that describes what to do in case of an accident.



Be safe!
Nadav

nadavs

Of Speed and Joy

Cars are made for speed, but humans are not. That's something every driver should know before getting behind the wheel. However, there is a problem. Speed is fun.

Lately, I am catching myself driving over the speed limit. When I see that, I slow down as fast and safely as possible. The last thing I need now is a speeding ticket which can do me much more trouble than just the fine (job related trouble).

The reason I go over the speed limit is basically road conditions: empty two-lane roads just deserve 100 or 110 km/h instead of 90 km/h, but lawmakers think differently. In my opinion, they are wrong. By lowering the speed limit they just create more crime, not reduce the number of accidents.

To reduce the number of speed related accidents, drivers should be more professional, something which comes with experience. The only thing that can be done about it is providing a safe enough environment for new drivers to gain experience, something that modern roads don't provide.

If you have any opinion about this subject, I'd really like to see it in the comments section.

Have a great weekend!
Nadav

nadavs

Braking Errors and your Driving Test

Braking, as you know, is a critical part of driving. You can't drive well if you don't know how to brake. Unfortunately, bad braking is responsible for many driving test errors. Here is an article I wrote about this painful subject.

Braking Errors That Can Fail Anyone in a Driver's License Test

Cars can't keep going at the same speed for eternity. Eventually, every driver has to stop or slow down. The way the slow-down, or brake, is done is critical for the desired result and the safety of the driver and the passengers. During the driving test, braking has to be precise just like needed in real driving. However, some driving students make many braking mistakes, and some of them repeat more often than others.

Slow braking happens when the student reacts too slowly to the surroundings. The student just presses the brake pedal very slowly, thus lengthening the brake distance to a sometimes dangerous one. If the brake is slow beyond proportion, the examiner might put an end to the test.

Fast braking is the opposite of slow braking, and it is often done for emergency stops. Sudden braking is also included in the category of fast braking. This stopping method can be more dangerous than slow braking. If there is a car behind the student's car when he makes the sudden brake, an accident could happen, and many accidents already happened for sudden brakes. If there is no reason for a sudden brake when it's made, the examinee can fail.

Uneven braking is one of the examiner's most hated way of braking. It happens when the drivers don't keep their foot on the brake pedal and keep taking it on and off. This makes the car "jump", and it also throws the passengers back and forth in the car. Uneven braking is a very bad braking habit that should be used only in cars with no ABS system, and even then, only when absolutely necessary.

A symptom of fast braking is a too-early stop on intersections. Drivers, especially students on their driving test, should stop on limit lines or wherever necessary. If they brake too fast, they may stop ahead of the line. If the driving student is a "slow braker", he may stop beyond the line. Each error is marked, and too many of them could fail a student on the test.

The only way to brake properly is practice. Every driving student should get some good practice, with a good guide. Not just going out on the road and seeing what happens.

You can see some good guides that help with braking at the Pass Your Driver's License Test area of my site.

Hope you learned something.

Enjoy,
Nadav

nadavs

First Time Driving: Chris

For today, we have another "we are going to die" sister. You know them, the ones that sit on the back and keep commenting until they get out of the car and kiss the ground. Today we have Chris as our driver, and I think he should receive an award for driving with his sister in the car.



Remember: don't take screaming sisters when you drive for the first time. Seriously. Practice in a comfortable, silent environment. Also make sure your instructor does not panic at any time.

Besides that, Chris still has a long way to go. This video was uploaded on September of this year, so there are still many months until Chris can get his license. Hopefully his sister will be more quiet by then.

Nadav

nadavs

Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving: Part 1

Alcohol, drugs, and driving don't mix. We all know that. I'm also sure you've heard enough about the dangers of drunk driving and driving under the influence of drugs. However, it's never enough.

Usually I focus on funny, entertaining, or very "pure driving" videos for the Wednesday post. On this post and the following one, I want to ask you one thing: please watch these videos. I know you heard this lecture a million times, but please make the effort to hear this lecture one more time. It can save your life.



Don't drink and drive!
Nadav

nadavs

California Changes Laws Again

GPS devices may be placed on the windshield beginning January of 2009, according to a new law Governor Schwarzenegger signed recently. Until now, it was illegal to place GPS devices on the windshield, something which annoyed some drivers. Beginning 2009, this is going to changes, so keep up on this.

However, Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that prohibits driving while there is an animal on your lap. He didn't give a reason, but Californians can breathe now: dogs can still continue to drive with them.

Nadav

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The Dangers of Driving

Driving is dangerous. Everyone knows that. But do you know exactly what is dangerous? James Ross, who already has some articles in this blog, knows. Here is an article he wrote to let you know what to watch out for (my driving test guide has more detail and more dangers, and it's also focused for the test itself).

Road Test Success Depends on Being Alert to the Dangers of Driving

Becoming a good driver depends on how you are able to adapt to what you are faced while driving. Being able to appreciate what could happen on the road will surely prevent you encountering dangerous situations and enable you to handle them safely if they should occur.

If you have studied the rules of the road and are able to drive with competence, you should always deduce that your most imminent danger is coming from other drivers. Your driving instructor whether a pro, friend or family member will have reminded you over and over again that there is no way you can tell the state of mind of other drivers on the road. For all you know, an oncoming vehicle could be driven by a over zealous teen or a drunk in his middle age. Or it might have boisterous kids who are prone to distract their mother or a youth who is dangerously chatting on the phone not realising what is around. This is why you must be alert and expect the unexpected from vehicles you. Accidents can occur that you cannot avoid whatever happens but you will avoid many more if you are very alert to the drivers around you.

Keeping your car in good condition is always something that you should strive to do. Do all routine maintenance and always make sure that you change the oil regularly. An old banger that coughs plumes of smokes as it sputters along is not only a danger to other drivers but also to yourself. The brakes could suddenly fail and end up with you ploughing into the back of another car. If your wipers fail to work you will be completely blinded to what is ahead (this is especially dangerous if it happens on a high way). Moreover a poorly maintained car will sooner rather than later be spotted by traffic police and end up with you paying a fine or worse.

The weather plays a big part in ensuring you are safe while driving. Heavy and persistent rain will make roads very slick and hard to see and brakes don't work as well. Then if it's cold road could ice over making them extremely dangerous. Snow will make visibility very poor and make your car or motorcycle very hard to handle. Avoid driving on roads if there are warnings against using them and install necessary tire chains if you live in parts of the country where they are necessary. Study carefully what to do in case your vehicle skids so that you do not lose control.

You should always be able to plan ahead ensuring you know what to do should a dangerous situation while driving comes up. Keeping the required distance between yourself and vehicles ahead will always ensure that you will never rear end them regardless of how fast they brake. You will never react in time if you tail end cars and you will be at fault if they break.

Teenagers are a group of drivers that should be watched closely. They tend to take more risks are they think they are invulnerable. Joy riding claims the lives of many of them each and every year, as does drink driving and driving under the influence of drugs. How many times have you read about entire group of friends killed because of the driver's stupidity?

Driving is a skill we should cherish and the responsibility that goes with it should always be at the fore front of our minds otherwise we might as well be playing Russian roulette with our lives each time we turn on the ignition.

Unique video series not available anywhere else show you how to Get Ready To Pass Your Road Test.

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Hope you learned something from this long, long article.

Nadav

nadavs

The Consequences of Drinking and Driving

As everyone knows, drinking and driving is not a smart combination. However, many drivers ignore that and keep doing whatever they want. The consequences for such action can be harsh - from suspension to criminal action. Here is a video by the California DMV to make things more clear.



Be safe! Don't drink and drive!

Nadav

nadavs

Railroad Crossing Charges

Railroads are out of bounds for cars, but there are some places where they cross each other: railroad crossings. However, when trucks try to cross where they can't, problems occur.

Three years ago a truck driver tried to cross railroad tracks in a place with no crossing. The result: the truck got stuck on the tracks and the train hit it and derailed. Some people were killed, hundreds were injured. You'll never guess who was blamed for this accident.

The train company was blamed for this accident. Why? Because the train driver was supposed to stop. Maybe the judges forgot that it's quite hard to stop a machine that weighs a few tons and goes at 60 mph (100 km/h). These decisions can really make me upset.

When I need to cross railroad tracks, it's always on designated crossings. Trains are too big to hit and stay alive.

Have a great, train-crash free weekend.
Nadav

nadavs

Freeways - The Fun Way to Fail

Freeways are fun. Although many driving students are scared to death by them, there is no better way of traveling by car. However, during a driving test, these huge roads cause huge problems. Here is an article I wrote about this subject.

Freeway Mistakes That Could Kill Your Road Test

Freeways are the most efficient way to transport many cars over a long distance. They are also the fastest method for it. On a road test they are very rare, but when an examinee is asked to go on a freeway, he is usually scared beyond reason. There are some mistakes driving students make on freeways that repeat more than others during road tests, and there is a way to avoid them.

One simple mistake is not signaling. Sometimes the students just forget to signal in one of the many places that require a signal. Not signaling is a minor error, but many minor errors, especially if they repeat in high frequencies, can fail a student in the test.

Another mistake is not knowing how to merge well. Some students signal properly, but when it comes to actually changing lanes, they almost freeze. This is very dangerous since merging lanes often end very quickly and not moving away from them can cause a hazard for the driver, the examiner, and other traffic.

Low speed is also a failing factor in driving tests. On the freeway the drivers are expected to drive at the speed limit. However, some students drive much slower than that on their driving test. Most examiners will fail a student for driving too slow, and if the speed issue is not so critical, they might only mark a minor error. But when minor errors accumulate, it becomes a major failure.

Mirrors are a must when driving on the freeway. Some student drivers don't use their mirrors while on the freeway and just stare straight ahead. This is a bad demonstration of their driving skills. Examiners are not too impressed when a student doesn't use the car's mirrors, and might fail an examinee for that.

Freeway exits are a big issue as well. Students have as much trouble on exits as they have on merging. Exits are about changing lanes, and if the student driver isn't skilled with high-speed lane changes, he is going to have a very hard time exiting the freeway and getting a good result on the driving test.

In order to drive well on a freeway, the driving students should get the proper guidance. A parent or friend sitting on the passenger seat and giving them instructions is just not enough for good freeway driving.

You can see some good guides that will help you pass your driving test at the "Pass Your Road Test" section of my site. They all have a special chapter just for freeways.

First Time Driving: Ana

Remember last week's nervous driver? Apparently, there is no limit to nervousness when driving, as Ana proves. Watch how she swings the car and then goes at about 10 mph, scared to death.



According to YouTube, this video was uploaded on September 8 of this year, so Ana still got a long way to go before she gets her license. Hopefully she'll have more control over the car by then.

Good luck Ana!
Nadav

nadavs

British Leyland: Part 4

Today, in the final part of British Leyland, the Top Gear guys test which car goes the furthest when filled with water and sum everything up. You'll never guess how much one of them earned.



Enjoy,
Nadav

nadavs