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THE COMMON SENSE OF DRIVING
Keeping a point off your DMV record is not the only thing that occurs when you successfullycomplete this Traffic Violator Course. You will increase your knowledgeof California's driving laws as well. Why is that important? When yoursafety is at risk, raising your driving consciousness is alwaysbeneficial. The unfortunate truth is many drivers get tickets simplybecause they are not paying attention or have forgotten some rule of the vehicle code. In other words, what you are about to read can saveyou money by helping you to avoid breaking the law, receiving a trafficcitation, and having to pay the penalty. But more important, what youare about to read can easily save your life… or someone else's.
A. THE SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY OF OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE
When you get behind the driver seat, you’re not just driving a car. You are driving a 2,000pound plus piece of machinery. The lives of your passengers and all other drivers andpedestrians around you on the road are at risk. Driving is the most dangerous thing you do ona daily basis. One little mistake at any speed, whether at 65 mph or 35 mph, can be deadly.As a driver, your responsibility is not only to respect the law but also to appreciate the riskswhen you operate your vehicle, risks both to yourself and to the other drivers with whom youshare the road. Yes, the key word here is SHARE.1. MOTOR VEHICLE IS A WEAPONYou don‘t believe that? Any object that weighs as much as a car does and is fueled by 20gallons of a flammable liquid while moving down the street at 50 feet per second has thepower to do some serious damage. Remember all weapons, including cars, can kill people. Theproblem is that we have become so used to driving our vehicles, that we tend to take them forgranted. If you get up every morning at the same time, get dressed the same way, go aboutyour morning routine, and then head for your car, you may be tempted to drive in a routine orcomplacent manner. The problem inherent in adopting a set routine is that we can becomecomplacent and take things for granted. For example, just because there wasn’t a child behindyour vehicle yesterday as you backed out of your driveway, that doesn’t mean there isn’t achild hiding behind your car today. But how often do we walk around to the back of the vehicleand check for hiding children, their toys, obstructions, etc.?2. THE DANGER OF THE CAR IF NOT OPERATED PROPERLYAutomobile collisions are responsible for more deaths than the total lives lost in every war theUnited States has ever fought. It is an enormous number, and a tragic one. We all need towake up to the fact that the automobile is truly the deadliest weapon in America. You need totreat your automobile with respect and caution as you would any dangerous weapon. Moreand more people illegally carry a gun in their car "for emergencies."
3. PARKING RESPONSIBILITIES
 
When parallel parking, your wheels should be no further than 18 inches away from the curb.Be sure to set the parking brake and put the car in 'park' if you have an automatictransmission. If you have a standard transmission place in 1st gear and apply the parkingbrake. When parking on an uphill slope always turn the front wheels away from the curb androll backwards, so the rear of the front wheel stops against the curb. Set the parking brake.When parking downhill turn the front wheels toward the curb and roll forward, so the front of the wheel stops against the curb. Set the parking brake. When parking uphill or downhillwhere there is no curb, turn the wheels toward the shoulder so the car will not roll onto theroad if the brakes fail. Also, you may not park and leave your vehicle unattended within 15feet of a fire hydrant.
B. OBEY THE LITERAL MEANING OF LAWS
If all drivers obeyed all traffic laws all of the time, the majority of traffic collisions would beeliminated. You may not agree with certain laws. Maybe you think the speed limit on yourfavorite street should be raised...or lowered. But we can all agree on this: these laws serve apurpose. They demand a code of behavior that insures the safety and well being of everydriver, cyclist, and pedestrian.It is every driver’s obligation and responsibility to not only know the law, but to obey it aswell. It's important to become familiar with all regulatory signs and traffic controls, but moreimportant to do what they tell you according to the law. Staying safe and legal on the road iseasy to do if one wants to. It’s a comforting thought: If you always drive at the posted speedlimit, you will never get a speeding ticket. (Unless you are in violation of the Basic Speed Law- more on that later.)1. WHY MUST WE STOP COMPLETELY AT STOP SIGNS?Stop signs are posted for a very important reason. Intersections are the most dangerousplaces on the street. Stop signs help prevent cross-traffic collisions. Always come to acomplete stop at every stop sign. You should stop at the limit line, if marked, otherwise beforeentering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. If there is no limit line or crosswalkpresent, the driver shall stop at the entrance to the intersecting roadway or railroad gradecrossing.A handy tool is to count to three before starting up again. While you are counting,look left, right then left again. Confirm there are no pedestrians in the crosswalk or about tostep into the crosswalk.2. WHAT DOES ‘YIELD’ REALLY MEAN? ‘Yield’ means letting the other driver or pedestrian proceed before you. Reducing speed mightbe enough to let one car proceed. But if you have to yield to more than one car, a completestop may be necessary.
 
C. COMMON COURTESY IS A KEY TO SAFETY
Rude drivers tend to be unsafe and many times, even reckless. A lack of concern for others inmost circumstances may be only mildly unpleasant; but at 65 mph it could be deadly.Common courtesy is absolutely essential to stay safe on the road. Some drivers who areordinarily quite polite in face-to-face encounters with strangers are prone to behaving rudelywhen they are driving because they feel a certain sense of 'invulnerability' inside theirvehicles. After all, they are surrounded by 2000 lbs of metal. Nothing can hurt them, right?There is also something to be said about "courtesy breeds courtesy". The driver you are niceto may just pass it on. Fluids are the key to battling the common cold.1. THE ROADWAY IS SHARED BY ALL DRIVERSMany people drive as if they own the road. They think they are the only ones on the road.Sometimes this can be an expensive mistake, as well as a deadly one. We are not alone onthe road. Just look around! Streets are crowded with cars and trucks, vans, SUVs andmotorcycles. There are many different kinds of vehicles, some fast, some slow, some big,some small. Every driver must be aware of the distinctiveness that these vehicles have.Motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars and should be followed at a greater distance.Plus, they are smaller and sometimes difficult to see. On the other hand, large trucks are easyto see; but cutting off one in traffic is extremely dangerous because of the longer stoppingdistance required. Always drive with an awareness of where the other vehicles are around you.Leave yourself an adequate space cushion on all four sides.2. COURTESY MAKES ORDER OUT OF CHAOSDriving in a crowded urban environment is a highly demanding and stressful activity, to saythe least. It seems like rush hour is more like rush day. Traffic is crawling along and you needto be somewhere quickly. Now, just imagine what would happen if every driver acted on theiranger and frustration behind the wheel. Not a pretty picture, is it?Road rage is on the rise and has been the cause of many more problems than needed. Whenyou feel that urge to vent your anger on those around you on the road, take deep breaths andcount to ten or put some soft relaxing music on. It sounds silly but may make the difference.You can avoid falling victim to another driver's road rage by not cutting off other drivers. Youshould always be checking to ensure you have enough room to maneuver and alwayscommunicate your intentions by using your signals. Also try to avoid tailgating; drivers tend toget angry when they are being followed to closely. If you find yourself in a situation with a"road raged" driver avoid any and all eye contact. Other drivers can even take a smile as athreat or challenge. Try to get away from the driver as quickly as possible.3. TREAT OTHER DRIVERS THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATEDRemember the Golden Rule? Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Drivingwith common courtesy is common sense. If you are a rude, inconsiderate driver you will be
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