The In's and Out's of Photo Radar

There is tons of debate over the use of Photo Radar i.e. Photo Enforcement at traffic signals.

You may be asking "What is Photo Radar?" Photo radar are traffic signals with a camera attached that acts as a police officer and is mainly looking for red light violations. This camera takes photos of drivers, the vehicle and the license plate. The driver will receive a ticket in the mail with the photo if a traffic law has been broken. These cameras are normally placed at intersections with high traffic volume and work 24 hours per day, seven days per week, in all types of weather conditions.

Citations are only issued on vehicles that enter the intersection after the light has turned red.

Challenges to the photo radar strategy include the following:

1. The driver of the vehicle may not be the owner of the vehicle yet the ticket is sent to the vehicle's owner.

2. The ticket is sent to the registered vehicle's address - which may be inaccurate.

3. The ticket may be sent weeks or months after the violation.

4. There is no proof that photo radar deters bad driving behavior. There are claims that they do not improve highway safety, deter accidents, or improve traffic flow.

Seatbelts Save Lives

Safety belt laws vary by State. Some states have primary seatbelt laws and some have secondary seatbelt laws. The different is that primary laws allow police offers to pull over a driver that is not wearing a seatbelt soley for that reason. Secondary law states require another offense to be pulled over and then the driver can be ticketed for not wearing his/her seatbelt.

28 states plus the District of Columbia are "primary states" and another 21 are "secondary" states. The debate between primary and secondary states has become more critical since federal funds are available to those states that enact primary driver safety belt laws.

No matter what the case of "primary" vs "secondary" seat belt use saves lives. The bottom line is fatalities decrease when safety belt use increases. Seat belt use is at an all time high use of 83% and thousands of lives could have been saved had drivers and passengers worn their seat belts.

Mature Driver Discounts - Do you qualify?

Did you know that 35 states plus the District of Columbia offer discounts for drivers 55+ in age? Yes, you can save 5% or more by taking a safe driver course. These are state mandated discounts so your insurance company must adhere to the law and offer you the discount. Each state is different so check with your respective state's motor vehicle division for details.

Even if your state does not mandate an insurance discount, try calling your insurance agent and asking them if they would accept a certificate from a safe driver course for a deduction. Some insurance companies offer this as part of their quote.

Safe2Drive offers mature driver discounts in several states. Go to our website (Safe2Drive.com) and select your state of residence and see the programs offered. It's a great way to sharpen your driving skills and save money.

Military Requiring Motorcycle Training

The military has seen increased deaths and injuries from servicemen and women using motorcycles over the past year. Research completed by the Pentagon showed that more Marines were killed stateside in motorcycle accidents than in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is now pushing military personnel owning a motorcycle to take training courses on proper safety techniques.

Military personnel come home from the Middle East with a surplus of money and since motorcyles are reasonably priced and provide a "risky" venture, they choose this route of transportation. The thrill of riding a motorcycle fast can many times be deadly. These military people have survived war conditions and then come home and get killed on a motorcycle. The military has finally taken notice and is taking action.

This motorcycle training is definately more comprehensive than what a normal citizen would be required to do. Their training includes "a psychological self-assessments aimed at identifying and stopping high risk practices." (USA Today Home Page 5/7/09) Of course, this is in addition to classroom and training courses.

Choosing the Right Car for Mature Drivers

As we age we become more fragile and it becomes more difficult for our bodies to withstand a car accident. Fatal injuries occur increasing more in accidents with older people than younger.

It is important to have made a good choice when purchasing a vehicle because your choice can make a difference in driver safety.

1. Safety belts - make sure safety belts fits correctly

2. Safety - make sure airbags and head restraints are standard.

3. Exterior Color - a lighter colored vehicle is easier for other drivers to see...especially at night.

4. Anti-lock brakes - a necessity to control steering and stopping

5. Mirrors - side mirrors are used when changing lanes and driving defensively

6. Adjustable drivers seat - make sure you have yourself properly situated in the drivers seat so if you are in an accident the airbag can work properly. Proper position is also necessary for being able to see over the steering wheel.

Child Car Seat Safety - What should I know?

As a parent, your number one concern is the safety of your child especially in a moving vehicle. It is important to choose the right car seat for your child depending upon your type of vehicle and the size/age of your child. After you have chosen the car seat it is important to install it correctly. Many police departments have experts in car seat installation and would be a good resource in case the installation is challenging for you.

Infants should always ride rear-facing until they are atleast one year old AND atleast 20 pounds.

Toddlers, once they meet the requirements listed above, can be moved forward facing but must reamin in the backseat of the vehicle.

School-aged children will graduate to a booster seat. A child should remain in a booster seat until the safety belt fits them according to the safety manual. A child is usually between the ages of 8-12 (depending upon the child's size) when he/she can move out of a booster seat.

Once a child has outgrown their booster seat they should remain in the backseat of the vehicle until they are atleast 13 years old. Of course, they should always wear the lap and shoulder belt.

If you travel via airplane with your children it is important to check the carseat and make sure it it air travel compliant. Check with your airline if you are concerned about your car seat as regulations do exist.

Motorcycle Safety

It seems that a day doesn't go by without hearing about a motorcycle injury or death. Just in the past several days I have had a friend's husband crash in Alpine, California and another friend's husband die in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Neither accident involved another vehicle as the cause of the accident. Both were sober, experienced motorcycle operators, and trained in motorcycle safety.

What are the causes of most motorcycle crashes? (Motorcycle Safety Foundation, 1999)

1. Lack of basic riding skills

2. Failure to appreciate the inherent operating characteristics

3. Failure to appreciate the limitations of the motorcycle

4. Failure to use special precautions while driving

5. Failure to use defensive driving techniques

6. Lack of specific breaking and cornering skills

7. Failure to follow speed limit

Other things to consider:

Wearing the right clothing and footwear,

Selecting the appropriate motorcycle for your needs (physical needs and type of riding),

Reading the owner's manual,

Taking a Motorcycle Safety Training Class,

Practicing safe driving,

Obeying the laws of the road,

Being courteous,

and Driving Defensively!