def driv

CAR JUMPS CURB, KILLS WOMAN AT BUS STOP An 18-year-old woman was involved in a chase with another driver, when her vehicle jumped a curb and slammed into a woman waiting at a bus stop. Police reported that the woman was killed. It was the second time in a week that a pedestrian was hit and killed by someone suspected of drunken driving. Two people were charged in the early morning incident on August 8, 1997 in the north 4800 block of the Interstate 35 frontage road in Austin. One person was charged with intoxication manslaughter. The driver of the Blazer she was chasing was charged with reckless driving. A few days earlier, a 40-year-old man was run over near a North Austin H-E-B food store as he walked across the parking lot with a bag of groceries. Police charged the 28-year-old driver with intoxication manslaughter in that death. In 1996, 1,244 traffic deaths in Texas were caused by alcohol, and 58 of those killed were pedestrians, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. In Wednesday's case, witnesses said the two vehicles appeared to be in a chase on the west frontage road before the woman at the bus stop was killed. "There may have been some argument or quarrel going on between the two drivers," reported a police officer. "We were told that the 18-year-old had been drinking at a club on East Sixth Street earlier in the night and that she then went home and drank some more." Investigators said that that the two drivers were involved in an argument or "rolling disturbance" that began at 51st Street and the interstate. Officers said the woman swerved her Honda toward the Blazer, causing its driver, her boyfriend, to stop. She then attempted to get out of her car to confront her boyfriend. He sped away, and she pursued him in her Honda. Officers said the vehicles slammed together near the 4800 block of the interstate frontage road, and the Honda jumped the curb, hitting the young woman. The intoxication manslaughter charge is a felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The reckless driving charge against the boyfriend is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine. This concludes Lesson 11: Alcohol and Traffic Safety. Always remember these important facts regarding alcohol and drugs: The bloodstream transports alcohol to all parts of the body, including the lungs and brain where alcohol acts directly. This transportation system is very fast. Always remember: It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that is 0.08% or more. Alcohol makes you less careful and slows down your reactions. All states and the District of Columbia now have 21-year-old minimum drinking age laws. Even if you are old enough to purchase alcohol legally, you are not allowed to drive after drinking. Drinking and driving is illegal, no matter what your age. Alcohol affects a person's liver, heart, stomach, and brain and makes driving extremely dangerous. Time is the only one thing that will remove the alcohol from your system. There are many driving skills affected by blood alcohol concentration. Some include visual perception, motor skills and eye-hand-feet coordination, judgment, reaction time, emotional control, concentration and information processing, alertness and attention. Each of these skills is very important to be able to drive and react to driving situations appropriately. From 2013 to 2014, fatalities in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes decreased by 1.4 percent (10,110 to 9,967 fatalities). An average of one alcohol impaired- driving fatality occurred every 53 minutes in 2014. Don't Drink and Drive. Always use a designated driver, someone who doesn't drink alcohol, to drive you home. First offense charges vary from up to $2,000 in fines and up to 100 hours of time for community service. Your driver's license may be suspended for up to 1 year or you could spend up to 6 months in jail. In the worst case, drinking and driving can result in death. The intoxication manslaughter charge is a felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Allowing a sober person to drive for you is a small price compared to the consequences for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

das;flkadjlklkj

Synergism Between Alcohol and Drugs When you mix alcohol with other drugs, the combination creates a synergism; that is, the effects of the mixture are greater and different than the effects of the ingredients taken individually. Alcohol and drugs taken together does not always mean 1+1=2. The effects of mixing alcohol with other drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, over-the-counter drugs, and others, can be very unpredictable, and frequently quite different from the effects of the alcohol and drugs on their own. Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) The bloodstream transports alcohol to all parts of the body, including the lungs and brain where alcohol acts directly. This transportation system is very fast. Within two minutes after drinking alcohol, brain tissues accurately reflect the blood alcohol level. The liver can metabolize about a half ounce of pure alcohol an hour. A four to five ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce beer, or one ounce of distilled liquor all equal a half-ounce of pure alcohol. However, since our drinks are typically quite generous, it takes our liver more than an hour to metabolize one drink.

Alcohol and Driving: A True Story CAR JUMPS CURB, KILLS WOMAN AT BUS STOP An 18-year-old woman was involved in a chase with another driver, when her vehicle jumped a curb and slammed into a woman waiting at a bus stop. Police reported that the woman was killed. It was the second time in a week that a pedestrian was hit and killed by someone suspected of drunken driving. Two people were charged in the early morning incident on August 8, 1997 in the north 4800 block of the Interstate 35 frontage road in Austin. One person was charged with intoxication manslaughter. The driver of the Blazer she was chasing was charged with reckless driving. A few days earlier, a 40-year-old man was run over near a North Austin H-E-B food store as he walked across the parking lot with a bag of groceries. Police charged the 28-year-old driver with intoxication manslaughter in that death. In 1996, 1,244 traffic deaths in Texas were caused by alcohol, and 58 of those killed were pedestrians, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. In Wednesday's case, witnesses said the two vehicles appeared to be in a chase on the west frontage road before the woman at the bus stop was killed. "There may have been some argument or quarrel going on between the two drivers," reported a police officer. "We were told that the 18-year-old had been drinking at a club on East Sixth Street earlier in the night and that she then went home and drank some more." Investigators said that that the two drivers were involved in an argument or "rolling disturbance" that began at 51st Street and the interstate. Officers said the woman swerved her Honda toward the Blazer, causing its driver, her boyfriend, to stop. She then attempted to get out of her car to confront her boyfriend. He sped away, and she pursued him in her Honda. Officers said the vehicles slammed together near the 4800 block of the interstate frontage road, and the Honda jumped the curb, hitting the young woman. The intoxication manslaughter charge is a felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The reckless driving charge against the boyfriend is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine. This concludes Lesson 11: Alcohol and Traffic Safety. Always remember these important facts regarding alcohol and drugs: The bloodstream transports alcohol to all parts of the body, including the lungs and brain where alcohol acts directly. This transportation system is very fast. Always remember: It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that is 0.08% or more. Alcohol makes you less careful and slows down your reactions. All states and the District of Columbia now have 21-year-old minimum drinking age laws. Even if you are old enough to purchase alcohol legally, you are not allowed to drive after drinking. Drinking and driving is illegal, no matter what your age. Alcohol affects a person's liver, heart, stomach, and brain and makes driving extremely dangerous. Time is the only one thing that will remove the alcohol from your system. There are many driving skills affected by blood alcohol concentration. Some include visual perception, motor skills and eye-hand-feet coordination, judgment, reaction time, emotional control, concentration and information processing, alertness and attention. Each of these skills is very important to be able to drive and react to driving situations appropriately. From 2013 to 2014, fatalities in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes decreased by 1.4 percent (10,110 to 9,967 fatalities). An average of one alcohol impaired- driving fatality occurred every 53 minutes in 2014. Don't Drink and Drive. Always use a designated driver, someone who doesn't drink alcohol, to drive you home. First offense charges vary from up to $2,000 in fines and up to 100 hours of time for community service. Your driver's license may be suspended for up to 1 year or you could spend up to 6 months in jail. In the worst case, drinking and driving can result in death. The intoxication manslaughter charge is a felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Allowing a sober person to drive for you is a small price compared to the consequences for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Alcohol has the following psychological effects, all of which impair driving ability: Causes depression. Enhances aggression. Impairs emotional control. Impairs concentration. Impairs memory. Driving Skills Affected by Blood Alcohol Concentration Visual perception: Seeing objects or people clearly, peripheral vision, markings on the road, depth perception, reading signs, not being blinded by oncoming lights, getting the right color of traffic lights. Motor skills and eye-hand-feet coordination: Steering straight without weaving, smooth turns, steady braking and acceleration, staying on the road. Judgment: Good decision-making about such things as passing other cars or running yellow lights; knowing if your speed is too fast or slow for the conditions; knowing whether you should slow down, stop or speed up in a situation; knowing if you are following too close to another car; deciding whether you should be driving in the first place. Reaction time: Good and quick reflexes. Emotional control: Not letting your emotions influence your driving - such as speeding for fun or because you are mad at someone, tailgating because you are frustrated at how slow someone is driving, cutting cars off because you are angry. Concentration and information processing: Being able to keep your mind on your driving and where you are, not being preoccupied or letting your mind wander, staying aware of when to dim the headlights, being able to make quick or even sudden decisions. Alertness and attention: Noticing traffic signs/objects/other cars/people/conditions, staying awake, not nodding off or going to sleep.

Alcohol-related fatalities account for more than 40% of all traffic fatalities. In 2014 there were 9, 967 fatalities in crashes involving a driver with a BAC of .08 or higher-31 percent of total traffic crashes for the year. We must reduce this number -- and the most important person in this effort is you. The law forbids drinking and driving, but the law can't prevent you or someone you know from getting into a car after drinking. Don't Drink and Drive We all know that drinking and driving is dangerous. Drivers who drink are encouraged to act responsibly by not driving when impaired. Have a designated driver, someone who doesn't drink alcohol, with you to drive you home. Or research local corporations, cab companies and non-profits offering ride-home programs. These public offers are not meant to encourage drinking, but responsible behavior.

Give yourself plenty of time to exit the highway comfortably. Plan ahead so that you know in advance what highway exit you wish to take as well as the one that comes before it. To exit safely from the highway, you should: Change lanes one at a time until you are in the proper lane for either a right hand or left hand exit from the highway. Don't get caught having to cross lanes too quickly or wildly. Give others plenty of warning by using your turn signal to let them know of your intention to exit. Adjust your car to the proper speed for exiting-not too fast (so you won't lose control) and not too slow (so the flow of traffic can still move freely).

Avoid passing other cars on two-lane roads. It is dangerous. Every time you pass, you increase your chances of having a crash. Ask yourself if the risk is worth the few minutes you will gain. Remember! Whenever you pass another car on a two-lane road you must enter a lane that belongs to oncoming cars. At highway speeds of 50 to 55 mph, you need a 10 to 12 second gap in oncoming traffic to pass safely. At higher speeds, you will need a larger gap to pass. You must judge whether or not you have enough room to pass whenever you approach: An oncoming car A hill or a curve An intersection A road obstructio

Lesson 9: Driving Emergencies Equipment Problems: Stuck Gas Pedal If your gas pedal (accelerator) gets stuck while you're driving: Shift to neutral. Apply the brakes. Keep your eyes on the road. Look for a way out. Warn other drivers by flashing your emergency lights. Try to drive the car safely off the road. Turn off the ignition when you no longer need to change direction. If possible, free the stuck accelerator by removing the obstruction. You may be able to do this by tapping the accelerator or placing your toe or foot under the pedal and lifting. If you get stuck in mud or snow, here's how to get out: Shift to low gear and keep the front wheels straight. Gently step on the gas pedal. Avoid spinning the wheels. Drive forward as far as possible. Shift to reverse and slowly back up as far as possible. Don't spin the wheels. Shift to low again and drive forward. Repeat this forward-backward rocking motion until the car rolls free. Put boards or tree branches under the tires in deep mud or snow. Never do this when the tires are spinning. You may avoid getting stuck if you always carry chains in your vehicle. Put them on the tires when conditions are appropriate.

Fortunately most vehicle breakdowns are not dangerous. If your car breaks down, slow down and pull off the pavement as far as possible. Always turn on your four-way emergency flashers. At night, if you have flares, put them at least 100 feet behind your car at the side of the road. Flares put beside and 100 feet ahead of your car and at the side of the road will give you added safety. During daylight, you should tie a white cloth to the radio antenna or left door handle and raise the hood as a signal that your car has broken down. Except for an emergency, stay with your car. It is generally best to wait outside your car in a safe place. But when traveling alone at night, it may be a good idea to stay in the car with the windows closed and doors locked. Be cautious of those that offer help. If in doubt, remain locked inside the car and ask that the police be notified. Most car fires occur for the following reasons: Overheated engine Electrical short Fuel leak Oil leak If you smell any burning odor, investigate immediately. And if smoke comes from under the hood: Drive off the road, get clear of traffic, and stop. Do not drive near buildings or gas stations. Turn off the engine and all electrical switches. Get all passengers out of and away from the vehicle. Poisonous fumes may fill the vehicle. With a small fire, you may be able to use a fire extinguisher to smother the fire. Do not use water on gasoline, oil, or electrical fires. With a large fire, however, do not try to put it out. Call for assistance, get far away from the vehicle, and wait for help.

In 2014, a total of 1,070 children 14 and younger, were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Of these 1,070 fatalities, 209 children (19%) died in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. In 2014, all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico had created by law a threshold making it illegal per se to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher.

Lesson 11: Alcohol and Traffic Safety PAGE 3 of 30 LESSON LENGTH 40:00 TIME SPENT 12:30 Going Great Physiological Effects Drawing 15 Alcohol's effect on a person depends in part on his or her body size. Alcohol affects a person's liver, heart, stomach, and brain. The effects on the brain are both short-term and long-term. Alcohol can also cause a person to become sleepy because it is a depressant. A given amount of alcohol does not affect everyone the same way. The charts below show how the BAC zones vary for people of varying weights, and the number of drinks and time periods involved for people of different weights to become impaired and then intoxicated in the eyes of the law. HOW TO USE THIS CHART: Find the column that includes your weight. You can quickly tell if you are at risk of being arrested from drinking a specific number of drinks in one hour. If your BAC level is in the "IMPAIRED" zone, your chances of having a collision are 5 times higher than if you had no drinks, and 25 times higher if your BAC level falls into the "LEGALLY" zone. Note: These charts are intended as guides and are not legal evidence of the actual blood alcohol concentration. Although it is possible for anyone to exceed the designated limits, the charts have been constructed so that fewer than 5 persons in 100 will exceed these limits when drinking the stated amounts on an empty stomach. Actual values can vary by body type, sex, health status, and other factors. DRINKS BODY WEIGHT IN POUNDS INFLUENCED 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 0 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 NOT 1 .04 .03 .03 .02 .02 .02 .02 .02 POSSIBLY 2 .06 .06 .05 .05 .04 .04 .03 .03 3 .11 .09 .08 .07 .06 .06 .05 .05 IMPAIRED 4 .15 .12 .11 .09 .08 .08 .07 .06 5 .19 .16 .13 .12 .11 .09 .09 .08 6 .23 .19 .16 .14 .13 .11 .10 .09 LEGALLY 7 .26 .22 .19 .16 .15 .13 .12 .11 8 .30 .25 .21 .19 .17 .15 .14 .13 9 .34 .28 .24 .21 .19 .17 .15 .14 10 .38 .31 .27 .23 .21 .19 .17 .16 REMEMBER: "One drink" is a 1-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor (even if it's mixed with non-alcoholic drinks), a 4-ounce glass of wine, or 8 ounces of 5.7% beer. If you have larger or stronger drinks, are tired, sick, upset, or have taken medicines or drugs you can be UNSAFE WITH FEWER DRINKS. Once you've had a drink, there is only one thing that will remove the alcohol from your system: time. Although eating food will slow the absorption of alcohol into your system, it in no way reduces the actual concentration in your body. And forget about coffee or a cold shower. They don't work either. Remember, wait at least one hour for every drink you've had before attempting to drive. It is a serious crime if any person gets hurt or killed because you were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. You will be punished with fines, jail, and license suspension or revocation. You could also face a civil lawsuit that could result in a financial disaster for you. It is illegal to consume alcohol while operating a motor vehicle in a public place.

There are two types of restraints, active and passive. A safety belt that must be buckled manually is an active restraint. A passive restraint does not require fastening or action by the passenger. An air bag or automatic seat belt is a good example of a passive restraint. The use of your safety belt is required by law. If your car was originally equipped with front anchors, it must have a safety belt in good working order. You and your passengers must wear a safety belt while the car is moving. If not, you or your passenger (age 15 or older) may be given a traffic ticket for not wearing a safety belt. Under Texas law, all children younger than eight years of age must be secured in a approved child passenger safety seat, unless the child is at least 4 feet 9 inches in height. Here are some additional tips for child safety: The back seat is generally the safest place in the car for all children 12 years of age or younger. Babies should not be placed in the front passenger seat if the vehicle has a passenger-side air bag. Make sure the vehicle's seat belt is put through the correct slot in a safety seat. Incorrectly fastened safety seats defeat their purpose and can result in injury. Safety belts can reduce injuries and deaths. Many studies and actual crash tests have proven this. If you wear only a lap belt when driving, your chances of living through a collision are twice as good as those of someone who isn't. If you wear a lap and shoulder belt, your chances are three to four times better. You must wear both your lap and shoulder belt if the vehicle is equipped with both and if the vehicle is equipped with air bags. Most drivers, no matter how carefully they drive, will be involved in at least one traffic crash during their lifetime. The chances of being injured or killed are greater than you might think. About one person in three will be injured or killed in a traffic crash. Since there is no way a driver or passenger can completely eliminate the possibility of being involved in a collision, the best thing to do is to increase your chances of surviving by always using seat belts.

Research has found that lap/shoulder seat belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent. But there also are some problems with airbags that you should be aware of. Inflating air bags have caused some serious injuries and deaths. Serious airbag inflation injuries occur most often when people are incorrectly positioned within the car when airbags begin inflating. Being too close to an airbag when it inflates can be dangerous, no matter what your size or age. Seat belts help you maintain the proper position and distance from airbags. Not surprisingly, most airbag deaths have involved people who weren't using their seat belts or who were using them incorrectly. The problem is that without a seat belt on -- or with one that's not properly employed -- you place yourself at risk of moving forward during hard braking or other violent maneuvers that occur before crashes. If you become positioned too close to, or on top of, an airbag during inflation, you can be seriously injured or killed. Understanding that airbag injury risk is related to position leads to a few simple steps that can eliminate the risks without sacrificing airbag benefits. For adults or children over the age of 12, move your seat back as much as possible to allow the maximum distance between you and the airbag at impact. You should make sure you have at least 10 inches between you and the airbag.

Entering a highway can be dangerous. You are trying to merge into a fast-moving stream of vehicles with limited visibility and with pressure from the cars behind you that are also eager to merge. Always enter a highway at or near the speed of traffic. (Remember that the maximum speed allowed is 75 mph on most highways.) Do not stop before merging with highway traffic unless absolutely necessary. Since highway traffic has the right of way, adjust your speed to compensate for the other drivers who are already on the highway. Any time you change lanes, enter a highway from an entrance lane or merge with traffic on another road, you need a gap of four seconds between oncoming vehicles. That gives both you and the car behind you a two-second following distance. Don't try to squeeze into a space that is too small. Leave yourself a big enough space for a safety cushion. Watch for vehicles around you. Use your mirrors and turn signals. Turn your head to look quickly to the side before changing lanes. Leave two seconds of space between you and the vehicle ahead. Make sure you can stop safely if you must. If you have to cross several lanes, take them one at a time. Filter slowly through traffic. If you stop to wait until all lanes are clear, you will tie up traffic and you may cause a crash.

Whenever you cross or enter traffic from a full stop, you need a large enough gap (from cars approaching in either direction) to get up to the speed of the other vehicles. You need a gap that is: About half a block on city streets About a full block on the highway When you cross through traffic, you need enough room to get all the way across. Stopping halfway across is only safe when there is a median (center) divider large enough for your car. If you are crossing lanes or turning, make sure there are no cars or people blocking the path ahead or the path to the side. You don't want to be caught in an intersection with traffic coming at you. Even if you have the green light, don't start crossing traffic if there are cars blocking your way. Make sure that both cross-traffic and traffic in your lane has cleared the intersection before you enter the intersection. It is against the law to enter an intersection unless there is space to get completely across it. You can receive a citation if you block other traffic. Never assume that another driver will share space with you. Don't turn just because an approaching car has a turn signal on. The driver may plan to turn just beyond you. The signal may have been left on from an earlier turn. This is particularly true of motorcycles. Their signal lights don't always turn off by themselves. Wait until the other driver actually starts to turn before you continue.

Feeling sleepy is especially dangerous when you are on the road. Sleepiness slows your reaction time, decreases awareness, and impairs your judgment, just like drugs or alcohol. In fact, people who are very sleepy behave in similar ways to people who are drunk. Experts think that many fatal night-time single-vehicle crashes are caused by the driver falling asleep. Most people know how dangerous it is to drink and drive. But driving drowsy can be just as deadly as driving drunk. Fatigue can set in at any time. Perhaps you went to bed late, or your day at work was too long. Maybe you work full-time and go to night school. The reason for being tired doesn't really matter. Driving while fatigued can be dangerous. When you are tired, your ability to react, concentrate, and make complex driving decisions is impaired. You do not control your own sleep. You may feel awake, but if you are tired, you could fall asleep at any time. Here are some symptoms of sleepiness to look for. If you have any of them, pull off the road as soon as possible and find a place to sleep. You have trouble keeping your eyes open and focused. You can't keep your head up. You daydream or have wandering, disconnected thoughts. You yawn frequently or rub your eyes repeatedly. You find yourself drifting from your lane or tailgating. You miss signs or drive past your exit. You drift off the road and hit the rumble strips. If you have even one of these symptoms, you could be sleepier than you think. Pull off the road and take a nap. If you can avoid driving while fatigued, do so. If not, let yourself rest periodically. Avoid allowing the "hum" of driving to lull you to sleep. Change radio stations or turn up the volume. Open your windows or set your air conditioning on "high." Avoid concentrating on any specific object in the road, such as the lane dividing line. Allow for ample space between your car and the other cars on the road. If you can, let someone else take the wheel. It also helps to drive during your normal waking hours. If you drive at times when you're normally asleep, you will be fighting your natural sleep rhythms and have a greater likelihood of falling asleep at the wheel. When taking longer trips, remember that you should make efforts to fight a condition called "highway hypnosis." "Highway hypnosis" is a condition of drowsiness and unawareness that overcomes drivers, particularly on long, dull journeys. It can be caused by the steady sounds of the engine, the wind or the tires on the road. All drivers should be aware of its danger and of the methods for fighting it: Stop often. Even if you are feeling well you should stop at least every two (2) hours or every 100 miles. Get out of your car and walk around. Allow your muscles to relax. Do not drive more than eight (8) hours per day. Keep shifting your eyes. Look at different objects: near and far, left and right. Read the road signs as you approach them. Check your rearview mirror.

To be able to drive properly, we all have to learn the rules of the road and obey them. Not knowing driving laws reduces your ability to react to a driving situation in a manner that others can anticipate, thereby increasing the chances of traffic crashes. Knowledge of driving laws and procedures helps you to answer the following questions: How will you and others react on the road? What rules are you and other drivers supposed to follow? If you can't answer these questions for yourself, you will not know how others will answer them. Remember these major driving errors: Failure to obey traffic laws. Failure to maintain your vehicle. Discourtesy to other drivers. Lack of driving knowledge. Bad judgment/poor decision making.

YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENT CONVICTED OF OFFICER'S DEATH On June 2, 1995, a police officer was directing traffic at a collision near the East 51st Street overpass in Austin, Texas when a drunk driver ended his life. A 22-year-old university student was convicted in September 1996, of intoxication manslaughter in the death of the officer and was sentenced to five years in prison. From its beginning in the early morning hours of June 2, this case revealed how social drinking among a group of young people at a birthday party could end in devastation for two families, the officer's and the student's. Three of the student's friends told jurors during the case that she drank all or part of eight alcoholic drinks at three bars in the seven hours before her car struck the officer. Even though they knew how much she drank, the student's friends thought that she seemed sober. As they approached the scene of a five-car crash shortly before 2 a.m. near the East 51st Street overpass, motorists on the highway were pulling in to the right lane to avoid the site. The student did not. Instead, she drove straight into the crash scene, slamming into the officer from behind with such force that he was thrown across the top of her car. The officer's head hit the windshield crushing the back of his skull. His patrol car key, flashlight and other personal items were found later inside the student's Mazda. Witnesses testified that the flashing lights on the police cars, a fire truck and wreckers at the scene illuminated the area well enough to warn any motorist driving north on the interstate. So why didn't the student see and act properly in this situation? She was driving drunk. Sadly, her own actions were responsible for the officer's death. A blood sample taken from the student at the time showed that her blood-alcohol level was .16 -- more than 50% above the legal limit at the time and 100% above the current legal limit. In Texas, a person driving a car with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher is considered intoxicated. Now the officer's wife must go on living without her husband, his baby without her father.

Your physical condition can have a dramatic effect on your ability to drive safely and legally. Fatigue, illness, stress, and aging all bring on difficulties in performing the driving task. But there are signs to watch for and remedies to most situations. Remember! It's better to know your limitations and learn how to compensate for them than to be the next victim of a car crash. Please review the chart below as you may receive a question regarding this information later in the course. Look at the statistics for your age group, compare the statistics with other age groups and understand the importance of safe driving at any age. Please review the chart below. Notice that most drivers involved in fatal crashes include men and women who are between 16 and 24 years old.

With children 12 and under, there is one general rule: place them in the rear seat! This area will be safest for your children at all times and avoids any problems that can occur with airbags. Never put a rear-facing restraint in the front seat if it has an active airbag. Starting with the first trip home from the hospital, put an infant in the center back seat. Make sure the child safety-seat is tightly secured to the vehicle with an adult safety belt and that the baby is buckled in snuggly. If you have no choice but to put the baby in the front seat, deactivate the passenger-side airbag system and secure the baby in a child safety-seat according to the manufacturer's instructions. If a medical condition requires you to provide constant attention to your child, have an adult sit in the rear seat with the child if at all possible. If not, follow the general safety guidelines presented for protecting younger passengers. But before you do this, remember that the back seat is safer. Even without airbags, kids riding in back are much less likely to be killed. Now riding in back is even more important because it keeps children away from inflating airbags. As children grow and begin to use adult seat belts, proper restraint use still is essential. Don't put the shoulder strap behind a child or under the arm. You should either use a booster seat or a seat belt adjustment mechanism that allows for proper use of the lap and shoulder portions of the belt. See Video Below

Everybody has probably heard the old slogan, "alcohol and driving don't mix." This statement is painfully true. Of the 9, 967 people who died in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in2014, 6,391 (64%) were drivers with a BAC of .08 or higher. The remaining fatalities consisted of 2,752 (28%) motor vehicle occupants and 824(8%) nonoccupants. To avoid this hazard, you should not drive a vehicle after consuming alcohol. It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that is 0.08% or more. However, a BAC below legal limits does not mean that it is safe to drive. Almost all drivers show the effects of alcohol at levels lower than the legal limit. You must always drive attentively and carefully. You must not drive after you have taken any drink or drug that affects how you drive, makes you less careful, or slows down your reactions.

TEXAS LAW AND ISSUES Routine Inquiry Law In Texas, the Routine Inquiry Law was implemented in January 1988. Similar to the required request statute of the federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, Routine Inquiry requires hospital personnel to make sure that organ and tissue donation is offered as an option to families who have lost a loved one. If the patient has not indicated his wishes concerning donation, it is up to the family to make the decision. Currently, although the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act says that anyone with a signed donor card is a donor, it does not happen in practice. The reason is that procurement agencies and hospitals hesitate to go against the wishes of living family members even though the law allows for recovery to occur. As a result, donors who have not told their families of their wishes to be donors usually do not become donors.

More than 100 children die each year because they are left unattended in or around motor vehicles. Never leave children alone in a car and never allow them to play in or around vehicles, "not even for a minute." Not only is it against the law to leave a child unattended in a vehicle, but it is extremely dangerous for children in the vehicle and for anyone around the vehicle. If, at any time, you are concerned about the welfare or safety of a child (or an adult), please contact the police. If the children are safe, wait for the parents or caregiver to return to the vehicle if you can. A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly: Leaves a child in a motor vehicle for longer than five minutes, knows that the child is (1) younger than seven years of age and (2) not attended by an individual in the vehicle who is 14 years of age or older. An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. If the child is injured the charge is then child endangerment which is a felony. The penalties are six months to two years in jail and a fine up to $10,000. Never leave your vehicle unlocked or let your children play in or around any vehicle(s). Unlocked vehicles pose serious risks to children who are naturally curious, even if there are no keys in the ignition. Car trunks can be a tempting, secret place to hide. Teach children about the dangers of a car and never leave car keys within the reach of children. See video Below

Five causes account for the vast majority of collisions in Texas. Knowing them and avoiding them will help you and your fellow drivers from being included in the sad statistics we just mentioned. Speed Unsafe -- Over limit or under limit. Failure to yield right of way. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Disregarding stop and go signals and signs. Following too closely. Knowing these causes and avoiding them will help you and your fellow drivers from being included in the sad statistics we just mentioned.

Speeding or driving too fast for conditions is a devastating contributing factor to motor vehicle crashes in the United States. In 2014, 9,967 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. These alcohol- impaired-driving fatalities accounted for 31% of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the United States. Our roads are safer from intoxicated drivers than they used to be, but we're far from out of the woods. Penalties have gotten stronger, and enforcement is better than ever. But the real responsibility starts with each and every one of us. We need to make the right decision before we get into a car. Are you safe to drive? If not, don't do it. Call a cab, a friend, or just wait until your body has had a chance to break down the alcohol.

Although some people don't consider pedestrians and bicyclists equal to motor vehicles, it is essential to remember that we share the road with them and that they have rights and responsibilities, just like automobile drivers. In 2013, 4,735 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 66,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the United States. On average, a pedestrian was killed every two hours and injured every eight minutes in traffic crashes. When you wear your seat belt and are properly seated in front of an air bag, you are quite likely to survive numerous crash situations. The same is almost never true of pedestrians and bicyclists. They lack the armor and other protections you get in your vehicle. This concludes Lesson 2: The Traffic Safety Problem. Don't forget these important facts: The two leading causes of traffic fatalities are driving too fast for conditions and driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Even though safety belt usage is up, and the number of deaths and injuries on America's roads has been reduced, you should be aware of the following facts about collisions: Traffic crashes result in death and injuries that cost us billions of dollars. In Texas, the majority of collisions are caused by speeding, failure to yield right of way, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, disregarding signals and signs, and following too closely. A drivers age greatly influences percentages of traffic deaths -- younger drivers are less experienced, and older drivers tend to have diminished reflex responses. Sometimes collisions involve Pedestrians and Cyclists - they share the same rights as automobile drivers, but they are not equally protected from collisions. Remember to be cautious when driving!

Whether you are calm, nervous, or hot-tempered, your emotions affect the way you drive. Strong emotions can interfere with your ability to think and reason, reducing your ability to make decisions. Don't let your emotions interfere with safe driving. Use good judgment, common sense, courtesy, and safe driving rules to ensure your safety and the safety of others. While attitude and driving skills are important, good driving habits enable a driver to stay away from danger and react correctly in an emergency. Here are five important driving habits: In normal driving, your left foot should be firmly placed on the foot rest Stay away from problems as you drive Use the brakes to slow down and change gears separately after braking Keep good separation from other vehicles Be able to stop in the distance you can see ahead Rage, impatience, over-confidence. These are all emotions and attitudes that can negatively affect your driving because they can cause you to concentrate on a single event and not your driving task. They frequently lead to: Unsafe Speed - the number one cause of crash fatalities Aggressive Driving Overly Risky Driving Loss of Control Don't drive when you are upset. Recognize when you are not fit to drive. Your emotions also affect the way you relate to others. If you are in good condition emotionally, you will be able to judge whether your passengers are giving you good or bad driving advice. If you are upset, you may follow a friend's bad advice because you are not thinking clearly. If you feel good, your judgment will be better than if you are angry.

Different lanes have different purposes. Knowing these different purposes will help you drive in the proper lane as you head down the road. Some lanes are for through traffic, that is, continuing forward without turning: Many roads have two or more lanes going in your direction. Broken white lines separate these lanes. You must choose which lane to use. Drive in the right-hand lane or the lane that has the smoothest flow of traffic. The left-hand lane should be reserved for passing. If you can choose among three lanes on your side of the road, pick the middle lane for the smoothest driving. If you want to go faster, pass, or turn left, use the left lane. When you drive slowly, enter, or exit the road to the right, use the right lane. If only two lanes go in your direction, pick the right lane for the smoothest driving. Don't Weave -- Stay in one traffic lane as much as possible. Before changing lanes, check your mirrors for vehicles that may be ready to pass you; also turn your head and CHECK BESIDE YOUR VEHICLE to see if any vehicle is in your blind spot. Before changing lanes, always make sure that there is enough room for your vehicle in the next lane. Don't Hesitate -- Once you start through an intersection, keep going. If you start to make a turn, follow through. Last second changes may cause crashes. If you missed a turn, continue to the next intersection and work your way back to where you want to go.

of your tires blows: Hold the steering wheel tightly and steer straight ahead. Slow down gradually. Take your foot off the gas pedal slowly but don't apply the brakes. Slow to a stop off the road. Turn on your emergency flashers. Apply the brakes when the car is almost stopped. If your power steering goes out: Turn the steering wheel hard, with both hands on the wheel, to get to the side of the road. Use your horn and emergency flashers to communicate your emergency to others. Lift your foot from the accelerator. Do not brake. Braking could cause your front wheel to turn sharply. Shift into low gear.