Browsing Tag

driving

Learning to Drive Again After An Accident

Car accidents can leave you incredibly shaken and whether it was your fault or not, the event could leave you with a great deal of apprehension when it comes to getting back behind the wheel. We often here people say that if you fall off the horse you need to get back in the saddle, but that is far easier said than done. After my accident last year, a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who was dealing with my claim told me that I should only drive again when I felt ready, and it was a long time before I felt truly confident behind the wheel. If you have been involved in an accident, here is how to gradually find your driving shoes again. 

Consider a Lesson

A great piece of advice which I heard, unfortunately this was after I had started driving again, is to pay for a driving lesson. The reason that this is such a good idea is that the driving instructor will have brakes under the passenger seat, should they feel that you need to slow down or stop. Secondly a driving instructor can help you to give you the confidence to drive again, without any pressure at all. If you call the driving instructor and let them know your situation, they will also be able to tailor a route which will help you to experience different situations on the road.

Short Journeys 

When you get started behind the wheel of the car again, it is important that the first journeys which you take are very short, and in areas with a low speed limit. The key here is getting used to other road users, and hazards which occur whilst driving. You should start off taking these small trips just once per day, gradually building up your confidence.

Support

Having someone in the car with you for morale support is a very good idea which can help you to get that confidence back. Make sure that the person in the car is not a nervous passenger or a backseat driver, but someone who will be respectful, quiet and non-judgemental. Once you feel confident with someone in your car, it is time to go it alone, and build up your own self esteem when it comes to deriving the car alone.

Nighttime

During your road to recovery you should only be driving in the daytime, but once you have found your feet again, it is time to take some trips after dark. When you drive in the dark you need to be more aware and more alert than during the day, which will be the perfect ultimate test to see just how far you have come since the accident.

You will feel confident once again if you take your time on the road and gradually, you will feel comfortable driving, just like before the accident took place.

The Easiest way to prepare for the DMV written exam

There is nothing more American than cars. From ford to Chevy, from trucks to muscle cars, cars have always been a mainstay of America. But to enjoy the wonderful world of cars, you need to get past the DMV, The Department of Motor Vehicles. You need to pass that driver’s license. It can be a very frustrating thing to do, you have to learn a lot of rules and information, and then pass a test. Very often you need a trip to the DMV to pick up a test preparation guide. A small paper booklet that you have to memorize to make sure you can pass their fairly confusing test. Luckily enough you can save at least one trip and get that DMV handbook online for any state you need, as well as a lot of other information that will help you pass the exam.

Step 1 – Actually read the manual

As silly as it seems, you actually need to read the manual. It is not going to absorb into your brain by just having it on your desk or coffee table. Read it. It is a lot of information, but none of it is very difficult. When you download it, sit and read through it once in a single sitting. Read the whole thing, don’t skim and skip and say you know all this. Everyone thinks they know the rules of the road, but an amazing amount of people fail the written exam, even though the DMV makes it simple and they want you to pass it. So read it, and keep reading it, until you are bored of it and know what every page says.

Step 2 – Take practice tests

The best way to avoid test anxiety, which is actually a real physiological condition similar to stage fright, is to take practice tests. After you read the manual one time, take a practice test to see how much you think you know. Some things will be very easy but some will surprise you and it is better to be surprised in a practice test than at the DMV. After you realize you don’t know everything by osmosis, then you can start to re-read the manual again and again, until you can answer any questions in your sleep.

Step 3 – Study early

So you downloaded the manual today and took the practice tests today and your exam at the DMV is tomorrow, really? This is not high school, so start studying long before you need to go take the test. You should know the material a week before, and only just do refreshers before the exam. The refreshers you do aren’t to learn anything, they are there give you confidence that you will own that exam. If you miss any question in the refreshers then you are not ready.

Step 4 – Take your time

Make sure you give yourself enough time to be at the DMV. Don’t try and take the exam on a 15-minute donut break. Make sure that you are not hurried and rushed. Get there with plenty of time, an take your time on the exam itself. Read every question carefully and slowly. If you get stuck and can’t remember one, skip it and move to the net one. if you suddenly forget everything, inhale deeply, breathe out, and relax. Picture the manual that you read 50 times (right?) in your head, imagine page by page until you are bored again, then the answers will flow.

Written driver’s license exams are not that hard, but you do need to take them seriously. It is a small price to pay to get that magnificent license that will let you drive that American muscle car or truck. Having a driver’s license is a privilege, not a right, but it sure feels like it should be a right as it is so ingrained into the American culture. So remember to read, study early, take practice tests, and take your time. So let’s rev the engine to celebrate when you pass.

Travel

3 Safety Factors for Your Next Road Trip

Are you ready to head out on a road trip? If so, how safe of an experience do you expect it to be?

For millions of Americans hitting the roads, it is imperative their trips focus on safety. That said is safety always of prime importance to you?

Making for a safe road trip doesn’t have to be like pulling teeth.

By having commonsense, along with vehicle safety features, you can oftentimes avoid accidents.

So, are you prepared to get going on your next adventure on the roads?

Making Safety Your Number One Priority

When you make safety your number one priority, good things oftentimes happen.

That being the case, remember these all-important safety factors:

1. Your vehicle

What you drive ends up playing a major factor in keeping you and your loved ones safe on the roads. That said does your vehicle have all the safety features it needs?

One feature that may get overlooked yet plays a major role in keeping people safe is a backup camera system.

If you do not have one on your vehicle, the idea of installing a wireless backup camera system is a good decision.

The system helps remove what are blind spots. Those blind spots can end up being major factors in accidents. Even accidents at low speeds can prove quite destructive in more ways than one.

Once you have a wireless backup camera system, you are better prepared to see the following:

· Other vehicles nearby

· Individuals moving behind your car or truck

· Stationery objects like concrete walls or even poles in the ground

By making sure your vehicle is as sound as possible, you can reduce the chances for an accident.

2. Your driving

As it relates to your driving, be sure to follow the rules of the road whenever you start your vehicle. Even a momentary lapse in judgment can end up having devastating consequences.

For instance, if road rage gets the better of you, you could end up with more than an accident. In some cases, drivers and/or passengers have died when a situation got out of control.

In the event someone is causing you angst, it is best to get away from the situation as soon as possible.

If another driver continues to cause issues, do whatever you can to alert authorities. Although using your cell phone when driving is not a good idea, you may end up having to call 911.

With commonsense; chances of being in an accident or other negative situation decrease.

3. Your trip

As much as you want to avoid accidents and road rage they unfortunately can occur. That said do your best to focus on your road trip.

In concentrating on your road trip, be sure to plan your itinerary as completely as possible.

This means having your vehicle ready to roll and also making sure that you avoid:

· Drowsy driving – It only takes a second to lose control of your vehicle when you nod off.

· Drinking and driving – There is never an excuse for having one too many and getting behind the wheel.

· Reckless driving – From speeding to always changing lanes, don’t be the one everyone hates.

When the time comes for your next road trip, are you going to be as safe as you can be?