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Taiw's defensive driving class is sponsored by New York Safety Program. Only $45.00. Enroll here.
Defensive Driving is driving in a manner that assures that the driver is driving with sufficient alertness to identify hazards of the road.The New York Safety Program focuses on driver values, attitudes and behavior. Taiw conducts New York State approved classes given in Yonkers, NY. With defensive driving classes, in New York, students learn to improve their driving skills by reducing their driving risks by anticipating situations and making suitable adjustments to the scene if front of them. Students are taught to keep a further distance from other cars in bad weather and to take adequate precaution in dry weather. . Conveniently offered by Taiw in Yonkers, New York.
Why take a Defensive Driving Class?
The benefits of taking a defensive driving class vary with each state. In New York this includes a reduction of four points and 10% reduction on insurance costs. In New York four points are reduced and the insurance discount lasts three years by taking the New York Defensive Driving Class. SCHEDULED CLASSES Violation points remain on the driving record of New York motorists for eighteen months. Defensive Driving Classes in New York are six hours..
Taiw offers classes at different times in Yonkers, New York, for your convenience. Approved by New York State DMV..
Collisions Whenever a crash occurs it is not just the people involved in the particular crash, The wife, husband, father, mother, sister brother, relatives, friends and others are affected. It can become very personal. Over 40,000 die each year as a result of traffic collisions, with an additional 4,000,000 injuries. About 38% of all fatal car crashes are alcohol related with another 30% attributed to speeding.
The causes of these crashes, emotional impact and cost in dollars spent on car crashes are covered in defensive driving courses. The goal of good defensive driving is to reduce the risk of these accidents by properly educating students to exercise caution and good judgment while driving. Defensive Driving Class in Yonkers, NY.
Psychological Factors
Taiw stresse Values, Attitude and Behavior after the model of the New York Safety Program. On the roadways, drivers have to deal with several factors that can affect their driving. Though some of them are beyond the control of the driver, psychological factors can be controlled by the driver if he knows what to look for and how to handle it.
Defensive driving courses tend to focus on how drivers can cope with distractions, fatigue, emotional distress and road rage. They also offer instructions for developing a positive attitude behind the wheel and increasing your focus on the driving task. Taiw, follows New York Safety Program, in stressing values, attitudes and behavior.
Drugs and Alchohol and DWI. How much do I have to drink before it affects my driving?
Any amount of alcohol affects your judgment and coordination. The degree of impairment depends upon:
The amount of alcohol you consume
Your body weight
Whether or not you eat before or while drinking
The length of time you spend drinking
What is BAC?
BAC stands for "blood alcohol concentration." It's a measure of the amount of alcohol in your blood. In New York State, a BAC of more than .05% is evidence that your ability is impaired by alcohol (DWAI or driving while ability impaired). A BAC of .08% or more is evidence of intoxication (DWI, driving while intoxicated, and/or driving with a BAC of .08 or more.) Under New York's Zero Tolerance Law, drivers under age 21 may be detained for driving with as little as .02% BAC.
How can I sober up quickly?
There is no quick way. Only time can make you sober. You must wait for your body to metabolize the alcohol. Most people need about one hour to metabolize one drink.
What will happen if I am stopped for drunk driving?
If a police officer believes you are intoxicated, you will be arrested and requested to take a BAC test. If convicted you will face a substantial fine, license revocation, higher insurance costs, legal fees and a possible jail sentence. [See Section 1192, NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law.]
Is plea bargaining possible?
The law prohibits a plea to reduce an alcohol traffic offense to a non-alcohol traffic offense.
What if I don't take the BAC test?
Your license will be suspended by DMV at arraignment and later revoked at a hearing. You are also subject to a civil penalty of $500-750. [Section 1194, NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law.]
Does age have anything to do with penalties?
Yes. If you are under 21 and convicted of an alcohol related offense your license is revoked for at least one year. A second offense while under 21 results in a one year revocation or a revocation until age 21, whichever is longer. [Section 1193.2(b) (6),(7) of the NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law.]
What are the chances that if I drink and drive that I will be caught?
Greater than ever before. The STOP-DWI Law has increased both enforcement and prosecution of drunk drivers. This law returns fine money to counties for anti-DWI programs. Also State and local police are doing blanket patrols and checkpoints to aid in the apprehension of drunk drivers. These enforcement efforts can occur at any place and time.
Can I receive a limited license to drive if I am convicted of drunk driving?
In some cases, yes. Such conditional licenses are available mostly to first time offenders who agree to attend the 16 hour Drinking Driver Program. [Section 1196, NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law.]
SEAT BELTS, CHILD SAFETY SEATS, AND AIR BAGS
No matter how carefully you drive, there is always a chance you will be involved in a traffic crash. You cannot predict when it may happen. Your best protection in most vehicles is a lap belt and shoulder harness in combination with an air bag. Some vehicles also have air bags to protect against side-impact traffic crashes.
A shoulder harness is worn across the shoulder and chest, not under the arm. Wearing the harness the wrong way could cause serious internal injuries in a crash.
If you are wearing a seat belt, your chances are at least 50 percent less of being killed or seriously injured in a traffic crash than if you are not wearing one.
All children under age 16 must also wear them, no matter where they ride in the vehicle. All children under age four must ride in federally-approved child safety seats, or if also over 40 pounds in weight use an appropriate child restraint system such as a booster seat. Beginning March 27, 2005, all children under age 7 must use an appropriate child restraint system, unless they are more than four feet nine inches tall. If your vehicle has side impact air bags, please refer to your owner's manual for additional safety tips. Persons 16 and older are responsible for buckling themselves up, and can be fined if they do not. If a passenger under 16 is not properly protected, the driver can be fined. The maximum fine for each seat belt violation is $50. The fine for a violation involving a person under age 16 is at least $25, and can be up to $100.
New York is a "primary enforcement" state. A law enforcement officer can stop you and issue a traffic ticket just for failure to wear a seat belt or to make sure child passengers are properly buckled up or in safety seats. The law applies to out-of-state visitors as well as New York State residents.
New York's seat belt law applies to drivers and occupants of all vehicles except authorized emergency vehicles, taxies, liveries, buses (except for bus drivers), and 1964 and older model cars. Rural letter carriers are also exempt while delivering mail. Individuals who qualify for a medical exemption due to a physical disability which prevents seat belt use must carry a letter of exemption. This letter must be written on a physician's letterhead or prescription blank and signed by the physician. The DMV strongly recommends that medically exempted passengers ride in the back seat.
Whenever you drive, you should make sure everyone in your vehicle wears a seat belt. In the event of a crash, a person without a belt becomes a projectile, and a danger to everyone else in the vehicle. Make sure every child under age four in your vehicle is properly using an approved safety seat, and that the seat is properly installed.
We all share the financial burden of deaths and injuries due to traffic crashes. As you practice the safe driving techniques in this manual, make buckling up part of your routine - a habit as automatic as turning the key in the ignition or turning on the radio.
Here are some facts to encourage you to buckle up:
If you are thrown out of a vehicle in a crash, your chances of being killed are 25 times greater than if you stay inside.
Eight of ten crashes happen at speeds of less than 40 mph (64 km/h), and people have been killed in crashes at speeds as low as 12 mph (19.2 km/h). About 75 percent of crashes occur within 25 miles (40 km) of the driver's home. Wear your seat belt even on short trips or when traveling at low speeds.
Do not worry about being trapped by your seat belt. Less than one-half of one percent of all traffic crashes involve a fire or a vehicle going underwater. Even in these rare incidents, a seat belt keeps you from being knocked unconscious or being too badly injured to escape. It only takes a second or two to unfasten the belt so you can get out of the vehicle.
A seat belt can help you avoid a crash. It helps you stay in position behind the steering wheel and near the brake pedal if your vehicle goes out of control. With a belt on, you may be able to regain control. Without it, you may not even be able to stay in the driver's seat.
For added protection, adjust your vehicle's head rest, lock the doors and keep loose, heavy objects out of the passenger area. Put them in the trunk instead.
Air bags provide an extra degree of protection against injuries when used with seat belts. They are meant to work WITH seat belts, not to replace them. An air bag protects a front-seat occupant in a head-on crash by inflating upon impact and cushioning the occupant from colliding with the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield. The combination of a seat belt and an air bag offers maximum protection, partly because they help the driver maintain control of the vehicle and help avoid secondary collisions.
The air bag deploys rapidly from the steering wheel and/or dashboard. Most adults who are properly buckled up are safer in a vehicle with air bags, but the force of an air bag deploying may injure those who sit too close to it. You should sit with at least 10 inches between the center of your chest and the cover of your vehicle's air bag. Also, place your hands on the steering wheel at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions to keep them out of the way if the air bag deploys.
IMPORTANT: NEVER PUT AN INFANT IN A REAR-FACING CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A VEHICLE THAT HAS A PASSENGER AIR BAG. Crashes are Preventable
Vehicle crashes are almost always preventable. The combination of speed, place of impact and size of object being impacted can determine the severity of the crash. In every accident, however, the act of one vehicle hitting another vehicle or other object is not the only collision that can occur.
The concept of the second collision, in which the driver and other passengers collides with the windshield, seat or other object within the car when not wearing a seat belt can be just as dangerous as the initial collision. Everything inside the car will move at the same speed as the collision impact.
Defensive driving courses address the issue of vehicle crashes and second collisions by listing the elements of a crash and illustrating how the forces of impact can be avoided or limited.
Aggresive Driving WHAT IS AGGRESSIVE DRIVING?
Aggressive driving can refer to any display of aggression by a driver. It is often used to describe more extreme acts of physical assault that result from disagreements between drivers. "Road Rage" is a term believed to be coined by the American media, originally to describe the most violent events.
Although the media currently seem to refer to all aggressive driving as road rage, the New York State Police have pointed out that there is an important difference. "Road Rage", such as using the vehicle as a weapon or physically assaulting a driver or their vehicle, is NOT aggressive driving. Such acts are criminal offenses, and there are laws to deal with these violent crimes.
The New York State Police define an Aggressive Driver as one who:
Operates a motor vehicle in a selfish, bold or pushy manner, without regard for the rights or safety of the other users of the streets and highways.
AGGRESSIVE DRIVING SEEMS TO BE INCREASING
Part of the problem may be the roads themselves. The roads are more crowded. The number of vehicle miles driven each year is up 35% in the past ten years, and there are more vehicles on the roads. Yet the number of miles of roadway has increased by only 1%. Also, people are busier. Time is at a premium, and road congestion causes frustration.
According to the media, there are numerous events of aggressive driving or "road rage" on the public highways. There is growing concern among motorists about this problem. The American Automobile Association (AAA), Potomac Club commissioned a survey in early 1996 to determine what issues drivers were concerned about in the Washington, D.C. area. The largest group of drivers, 40%, felt the major traffic safety threat was the aggressive driver.
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Programs & Solutions
Aggressive Driving
Index & Overview (Top)
THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE AGGRESSIVE DRIVER PILOT PROGRAM
Over the July 4, 1997 holiday weekend, the New York State Police an aggressive driver pilot program on Long Island and in the southern Hudson Valley. The State Police define the aggressive driver as one who:
Operates a motor vehicle in a selfish, bold or pushy manner, without regard for the rights or safety of the other users of the streets and highways.
Since 1995, the State Police have had an anti-aggressive driver program "without fanfare". The Hazardous Violations Program was initiated in an effort to cut down on aggressive driving behaviors, in particular excessive speed and reckless driving, throughout the state. Now the State Police have initiated an enforcement and public information and education campaign which specifically targets the aggressive driving behaviors listed below.
Aggressive driving may be characterized by the following traffic violations:
Excessive Speed
Frequent or Unsafe Lane Changes
Failure to Signal
Tailgating
Failure to Yield the Right of Way
Disregarding Traffic Controls
Impaired Driving
As already noted in the Introduction, the NYS State Police have pointed out that there is a difference between aggressive driving and so called "road rage". "Road Rage", such as using the vehicle as a weapon or physically assaulting a driver or their vehicle, is NOT aggressive driving. These are criminal offenses, and there are laws in place to deal with these violent crimes.
If you encounter an aggressive driver...
The New York State Police recommend these basic tips for dealing with an aggressive driver:
Remain calm
Keep your distance
Do not pass unless you have to
Change lanes once it is safe (don't jump lanes without looking)
If you cannot change lanes and an aggressive driver is behind you, stay where you are, maintain the proper speed and do not respond with hostile gestures.
You may call 911 (or *911 from a cell phone) to report an aggressive driver or a driver you believe may be impaired.
(Of special note: If you witness an act of aggressive driving, the police cannot issue a ticket simply because you've gotten a plate number. A police officer must witness the infraction and positively identify the driver of the vehicle in order to issue a ticket. However, if you travel a route on a regular basis and witness aggressive behavior at certain times, or all of the time, the State Police would be interested in knowing about the locations.) When confronted by an aggressive driver:
Avoid eye contact.
Stay calm and relaxed.
Make every attempt to get out of the way safely. Do not escalate the situation.
Put your pride in the back seat. Do not challenge an aggressive driver by speeding up or attempting to hold your position in your travel lane.
Wear a seat belt and encourage your passengers to do the same.
Ignore harassing gestures and name calling, and do not return them.
Report aggressive drivers to the appropriate law enforcement authorities by providing a vehicle description, location, license plate number, and direction of travel.
If you are being followed by an aggressive or threatening driver, do not stop or get out of your vehicle. Drive directly to the nearest police station.
If an aggressive driver is involved in a crash, stop a safe distance from the crash scene. When the police arrive, report the driving behavior you witnessed. To avoid becoming an aggressive driver:
Allow enough travel time to reach your destination on schedule.
Alter your schedule to avoid driving during peak highway congestion periods.
If you're running late, call ahead so you can relax.
Do not drive when you are angry, upset or overly tired.
Make your vehicle comfortable. Listen to relaxing music and avoid situations that raise your anxiety.
When driving, relax and remain aware of your posture. Sit back in your seat, loosen your grip on the steering wheel and do not clench your teeth.
Give others the benefit of the doubt; be polite, courteous and forgiving.
You can control your own reactions to other drivers. If someone else drives aggressively, do not retaliate.
If you have the right-of-way, do not think of it as an absolute right. Be prepared to give up the right-of-way to avoid a crash or prevent confusion. Waiting a few seconds for another driver is far better than risking a crash. Knowing you were "in the right" will not make up for the expense or pain of a collision.
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