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Two years later, another sweeping legislative event took place: with the passing of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984, all states were compelled to raise their minimum age for purchase and public possession of alcohol to 21 years. The minimum drinking age of 21 years was in fact recommended less than a year earlier by the 1982 Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving, which was in turn partly influenced by MADD.

Although the federal government did not technically have the authority to force states to adopt a minimum drinking age of 21 years, it was able to compel them by mandating a 10% decrease in annual federal highway funding for states not adopting the standard. The constitutionality of this legislative maneuver was challenged by the government of South Dakota, but upheld. Within four years, all 50 states had adopted a minimum drinking age of 21 years.

Tailgating, especially when done repeatedly or when combined with honking Blocking another vehicle attempting to change lanes or merge Honking excessively, often at road users who are driving safely Ignoring traffic control devices, including running red lights and stop signs, failing to obey turn lane markings, and changing lanes across solid lines

Aggressive drivers are more likely to ignore right-of-way rules that require them to yield to someone else. Rather than anticipating the need to stop and slowing gradually, these drivers would rather endanger others and force them to stop suddenly. Aggressive drivers are especially likely to disregard pedestrians and bicyclists since they know that vulnerable road users are more endangered by the threat of a collision and will have no choice but to get out of their way.

When you first get into your car on a hot day, roll down your windows to cool down your car before you turn on your air conditioner. The hotter your car is when you turn it on, the more work your A/C will have to do. If possible, park in the shade. Your car will be cooler, and you will be more comfortable, when you return. Use the "recycle inside air" feature if your A/C is equipped with it. Reusing the cold air inside your car will take less energy than cooling down hot air from outside.

Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air. Chemicals from factories, dust, pollen, and mold spores, as well as vehicle emissions, may be suspended as particles in the air. In cities, the gas ozone contributes significantly to air pollution, causing the phenomenon known as smog. Many pollutants are poisonous. Inhaling them can increase the chance you'll have health problems, especially among older adults, young children, people with heart or lung disease, and other people with weak immune systems.

In the past several lessons we have discussed how consuming alcohol and drugs will impair your ability to drive. To get behind the wheel, you must be: Completely sober so you can be confident that your ability to drive is unimpaired Alert and attentive enough to notice and respond to potential hazards on the road Able to use the physical skills required to drive safely without difficulty Mentally and emotionally capable of using good judgment and remaining calm and patient behind the wheel Aware of your responsibility to always reduce risk whenever you're operating a motor vehicle

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To make sure you've done a good job reviewing this unit, you must now pass a test. The information in this unit is important: if you do not pass the test, you will have to take the entire unit over again. You can review as much as you wish. Simply return to your dashboard and select the topic you want to review. Do not press NEXT until you are sure you will pass the test. It is very important for you to review carefully and make sure you know how to reduce risk on the road by minimizing stress and treating other road users with courtesy.

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Long-term alcohol abuse can increase your tolerance, causing you to become less sensitive to intoxication. This can have both psychological effects, as the brain responds less to the same physical stimulus, as well as physiological effects, as the liver begins to metabolize alcohol more quickly. Tolerance makes a drug user need larger amounts of a drug to achieve the same effect. However, the user will still experience the medical consequences associated with higher doses. As a person consumes greater amounts of alcohol or a drug, he or she will face a greater risk of harm, overdose, and addiction, as well as growing monetary and social costs.

Alcohol use has dire long-term effects. The liver, stomach, pancreas, esophagus, heart, and brain each suffer when alcohol is repeatedly introduced to your body. Moreover, your immune system and reproductive system are affected by alcohol abuse. Chronic alcohol use can lead to liver failure, heart failure, stroke, and other medical conditions that can be fatal.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage While every driver is legally obligated to have insurance to operate a vehicle on public roads, some drive illegally without insurance, with an expired insurance policy, or with an insurance policy unable to cover all the damages they cause in a collision. Uninsured and underinsured motorist policies provide payments for losses from a collision caused by a driver without adequate insurance or a hit-and-run driver.

A UM/UIM policy will pay for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent and partial disability, as well as vehicle repairs and replacement, for members of the policy holder's family, their passengers, and others driving the policy holder's car with his or her permission. Like PIP coverage, insurers must offer you UM/UIM coverage. In general, a UM/UIM policy offers the policy holder the same amount of coverage as his or her liability insurance policy. If you wish to decline this coverage, or if you want to request a lower amount of coverage, you must submit a specific request to your insurance company in writing.

Alcohol impairs your mental faculties in a number of ways. For instance, it can affect: Attention: Your ability to concentrate, especially on multiple things at once, will be diminished. Memory: With a BAC as low as 0.03%, you will start to become unable to store and retain information. Emotions: As you become more intoxicated, you will lose control of your emotions. Aggression: You will become more prone to aggressive behavior, especially in competitive situations

As we've discussed, alcohol and other drugs do not affect everyone the same way. Indeed, depending on the situation and the kind of alcohol consumed, a single person may have wildly different responses to drinking at different times. However, there are some common effects associated with different kinds of alcohol and drug abuse: Alcohol and other depressants can make depression worse, causing feelings of melancholy or despair to deepen and last longer. Stimulants can cause erratic, overactive, and compulsive behavior without any consideration of the consequences. Various kinds of drugs are associated with extreme stress, insomnia, detachment, and fear.

For some people, the loss of a license will make it impossible for them to conduct their normal business or complete some other essential task. If the license of an individual is suspended for a reason other than physical or mental disability or impairment and he or she can demonstrate to the court an essential need to drive, he or she can apply for an Essential Needs License at the district or county court. If this request is approved, the driver will be restricted to driving for essential purposes only and will be required to carry a certified copy of the court order when he or she drives. This document must be shown whenever a peace officer requests to examine it.

As we've discussed, to operate any motor vehicle in Texas (including a car, truck, motorcycle, motor scooter, or moped), you must register it and have it inspected at an official inspection station. You must renew your vehicle's registration and have it reinspected annually. Find out more about vehicle registration here, and inspections here. Upon moving to Texas, a new resident must register his or her vehicle and have it inspected within 30 days of establishing residency. Before he or she can apply for a drivers license, a new resident must register and provide evidence of financial responsibility for every vehicle he or she owns.

On top of all this, a drug addiction makes having a source of income even more important. Addictions are expensive, and an addict will go to great trouble to support his or her drug habit. Once out of work, you will have to try to borrow money from friends and family, further alienating them. If you can't borrow money, you will have to steal it. Losing your job to a drug addiction begins a deadly spiral of increasing desperation for drugs and money.

As you've seen, there are numerous dangers associated with using alcohol or other drugs—dangers that most people ignore, often willfully, when they decide to drink or use drugs. These dangers are made worse when an impaired person decides to get behind the wheel. Remember, drunk driving collisions change lives forever, and never for the better.

Phone calls. Chatting. Eating and drinking. Combing your hair. Your car is not the right place for these activities. The only thing you should be doing when you're behind the wheel is driving.

Because we're so used to doing many things at once in our everyday lives, it can be easy to think that we're naturally wired to multitask. For instance, you may find it normal to study, check your email, listen to music, and eat a snack all at the same time. Indeed, multitasking is considered a valued skill throughout our culture, especially since people often feel like they don't have enough time for everything they'd like to. If it's so easy for us to do several things at once at other times, how bad can it be to do so while driving?

Gas is drawn from the fuel tank by an attached fuel pump that delivers enough fuel to the engine to keep it working properly. The fuel pump is also responsible for maintaining pressure in the fuel line and making sure that the fuel doesn't evaporate or boil.

Before fuel can be delivered to the engine, it must be mixed with air so that it will combust when ignited by the sparkplug. In order to achieve ideal fuel efficiency, the amount of fuel sent into the cylinders of the engine must be precisely controlled. In most older cars, this process is performed by a carburetor. The carburetor is a tube-shaped device that opens up when the accelerator pedal is depressed. As air flows through the carburetor, a vacuum is created that pulls fuel into the air stream and sends this mixture into the engine.

You may think caring for the environment is too big a responsibility for you to handle. Yet the truth is, we're using fuel, creating air pollution, and generating trash at an unsustainable rate: eventually, we could be left with an environment that is harsh, dangerous, and unhealthy. Conserving energy, reducing pollution, and recycling are all tasks you can easily perform to help the environment now and in the future. As with most driving tasks, we can best reduce the risk of a bad outcome by recognizing the problem and adjusting our actions before it's too late!

Being able to predict potential problems before they occur is one of the most important skills you can have as a driver. That's why you should always establish a substantial visual lead to help you anticipate situations on the road ahead. You should adopt this same attitude when thinking about another road ahead—the future. Whether you're worried about repair costs over the life of your car, or just want to make sure you don't run out of gas on a trip, you can bring about the results you want if you plan ahead.

The most common way that drivers choose to ensure that they can cover the costs of a collision is with a motor vehicle liability insurance policy. However, Texas will also allow you to establish financial responsibility by: Making a deposit worth $55,000 with the state comptroller or a county judge Taking out a surety bond capable of meeting the state's minimum insurance requirements with a licensed agency Obtaining a certificate of self-insurance from the DPS

Between vehicle damage, medical expenses, lost work, and legal fines, the financial costs of a collision are often more than most people can afford. Given the number of collisions that happen daily, the impact of these costs on the economy could quickly become catastrophic if they were directly borne by the individuals involved. As a result, the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act (TRC §601.051) requires every driver to maintain financial responsibility for any vehicle he or she operates on public roads. This means that you must be able to meet certain financial obligations resulting from a collision you cause while driving, or a collision that occurs as a result of your ownership or maintenance habits.

Mirrors Your car must have one inside rearview mirror as well as a mirror on the outside of the car on the driver's side. The mirrors must be positioned to reflect a view of the road for at least 200 ft to the rear of the vehicle. Horn The horn must be audible from a distance of at least 200 ft.

Brakes The foot brake must be able to stop the vehicle within 25 ft when the vehicle is travelling at 20 mph. The parking brake must be adequate for stopping and holding the vehicle. Fuel Cap There must be a cap on your fuel tank. It will be tested using pressurized testing equipment.

Sometimes the situation is more complicated. For instance, after your car's right wheels have driven off the road, you may realize that there is an obstruction like a pole, traffic sign, or guardrail ahead of you on the shoulder. These circumstances require you to make your off-road recovery quickly. In the limited time available to you, you won't be able to slow down or look for an ideal spot to re-enter the roadway.

Check traffic and signal. If you don't think you will have enough room in time, use your horn to let other drivers know that you're coming. Sharply steer left while gripping the steering wheel firmly. The moment your right front wheel touches the edge of the road, counter-steer right. Your success (and survival) in such a critical situation depends on you remaining in control of the steering.

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive and severely harmful drug. Over time, continued use changes the way the brain works. Chronic users may experience restlessness, confusion, paranoia, insomnia, and depression. The body will also change the way it sends signals about things like pain and hunger. This causes chronic aches and itching, and a constant urge to eat.

Cocaine also damages the body's organs. Long-term consequences include: Damaged heart function, from irregular heartbeat to heart attack Damaged respiratory system with possible lung failure Deadly stroke and seizures Coughing up blood Destruction of cartilage separating the left and right nasal passages

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's 2010 World Drug Report, North America ranks above all other regions in annual cocaine use prevalence. The report found that 2% of people in North America age 15 to 64 had used cocaine at least once in the past year. A schedule II drug, cocaine is deadly and illegal. With the passage of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, the penalties for possession of cocaine now include a mandatory five-year minimum prison sentence for the possession of 28 grams of crack cocaine. In addition, there is a mandatory five-year minimum prison sentence for the possession of 500 grams of powder cocaine. Possession of greater amounts carries larger mandatory minimum prison sentences.

Cocaine comes from the coca plant and is known by names such as 'crack,' 'coke,' and 'blow.' It is most commonly snorted in the form of a powder, but is also sometimes rubbed on the gums, smoked, or injected. The short-term effects of cocaine include increased alertness, body temperature, heart rate, and talkativeness. They may also advance to twitching, tremors, irritability, panic, seizure, stroke, heart attack, coma, and death.

Reasoning: You may jump to conclusions too fast, believing you're being rational but failing to consider vital information. For instance, you may decide that you can speed up and beat a red light, but without considering that you'll collide with traffic stopped just after the intersection. Anxiety and Aggression: Stimulants tend to heighten anxiety and aggression, making worse all of the judgmental deficiencies associated with these altered moods.

Common signs of driving under the influence of stimulants include: Risky behavior Tailgating Speeding, especially while turning Frequent passing and lane changes Jerky acceleration and steering Failure to signal Failure to follow traffic signals

Many factors in our culture conspire to create the impression that people are admirable because they drink, rather than that people are admirable because they're conscientious, responsible, and able to stand up to peer pressure. As a result, you may find it hard to refuse a drink even when you know you should.

Consider some social factors that influence people's opinions of drinking: Movies and advertisements portray alcohol as a vital part of a fun and fantastic lifestyle, while rarely depicting the vomiting, the hangovers, the liver disease, and the consequences of drunk driving that inevitably result from drinking. Drinking may be so common among your friends and family that you feel that drinking is a normal part of life—even if you recognize that those closest to you act more aggressively, more irresponsibly, or more unsafely when they drink. Some people think it's cool to break the rules, even when breaking the rules involves doing something that's obviously harmful and self-destructive.

Will my family respect my desire to be a donor? How will my desire to be a donor affect my family? It's important to discuss your desire to be a donor with your family. If your family objects when doctors seek to recover your organs, their decision could override your stated intentions. Even if they only delay the recovery of your organs, the viability of your organs for donation may be affected. If your organs are transplanted, your family will neither be billed nor receive compensation for the procedure.

Do I need to register as an organ donor if I have indicated my intention in my will? Yes. By the time your will is read, it will be too late to recover your organs. The most viable organs come from patients who are brain dead but not yet deceased. The organs of a brain dead person may continue to function for a time even though there's no chance that the person will recover.

From the moment you begin consuming alcohol, it has a particularly acute effect on your brain. Because a significant amount of blood is pumped through the brain, it is especially affected by alcohol when you have a high BAC. Moreover, because of the high concentration of neurons in the brain, it is extremely sensitive to chemicals like alcohol that affect the central nervous system. Alcohol causes neurons to have more difficulty sending signals, meaning that your mental activity will be greatly diminished by intoxication.

Drinking affects your mental abilities and muscular reactions, making you slow and clumsy: First, your higher learning center will be affected, causing a loss of memory, focus, reason, and judgment. Next, your muscle control will deteriorate as your reflexes and coordination are disrupted. With enough alcohol, your brain will become unable to send signals strong enough to control your vital organs, resulting in your death.

Stimulants speed up, increase, or heighten bodily functions. They commonly cause increased energy and alertness, increased heart rate and respiration, and loss of appetite. Examples of stimulants include: Nicotine Cocaine Ritalin Methamphetamine MDMA, or ecstasy Amphetamines, such as Adderall

Stimulants can cause bodily functions to move at a dangerously rapid pace. They can cause: Increased anxiety Overexcitement Inability to focus Poor coordination Tremors Increased heart rate and body temperature, sometimes causing death A false sense of well-being, even in dangerous or painful situations

Rates of alcohol elimination vary depending on an individual's physiology and drinking patterns. Inexperienced drinkers usually have lower rates of alcohol elimination than moderate drinkers, while heavy drinkers have the highest rates. Factors influencing the rate of elimination also include tolerance, rate of consumption, and gender. At an elimination rate of .015% BAC per hour: It takes 3.3 hours to eliminate .05% BAC. It takes 5.3 hours to eliminate .08% BAC. It takes 6.7 hours to eliminate .10% BAC. It takes 10 hours to eliminate .15% BAC.

Drugs can enter the body in several ways, each of which has important differences in absorption rate and side effects. Methods of administration include: Ingestion, or oral administration Injection into muscle or the bloodstream Inhalation into the lungs Absorption—direct absorption through the skin, nasal cavity, lining of the mouth or rectum, or eyes

There are two different types of brakes used in service brake systems: disc brakes and drum brakes. Both types of brakes rely on friction to slow the spinning of the wheels by converting the kinetic energy of the moving vehicle into heat. For a long time, vehicles used drum brakes alone. However, in the 1970s, discs brakes were introduced and soon became standard on the front wheels of all cars, where most of the stopping power is needed. Drum brakes are still used on the rear wheels of most cars, although more and more cars are using disc brakes on the rear wheels as well.

Drum brakes consist of a brake drum that rotates along with the wheel. Inside of each brake drum, there are a set of brake shoes. When the brake pedal is pressed, the brake shoes press against the inside wall of the brake drum, slowing the spinning of the wheel. Drum brakes tend to be less effective in situations that subject the brakes to high stress because the heat created by the action of the brakes tends to be trapped inside the brake drum. Once the brakes are saturated with heat, they become unable to slow the car any further.

Isopropyl alcohol is commonly encountered as rubbing alcohol. Its main uses are as a disinfectant and as a solvent for cleaning electronic devices. Isopropyl alcohol is less toxic than methanol, but a 12-ounce can of it would contain more than enough to kill an adult.

Ethanol is the type of alcohol found in beer, wine, whiskey, and other alcoholic beverages. It is produced by the fermentation of sugar, which typically comes from grapes, barley, wheat, corn, or other fruits or grains. Ethanol is used as a disinfectant, a solvent, a fuel for motor vehicles, and an ingredient in the production of other chemicals. It is toxic to humans, and lethal in high doses. Just like isopropyl alcohol, a single 12-ounce can of pure ethanol—equivalent to 20 cans of beer—contains more than enough to kill an adult. When combined with other drugs, ethanol can be lethal even in low doses. The term "alcohol" is typically used to refer to beverages containing ethanol.

The same rules that apply to cell phones and portable electronic devices apply to laptops, computers, and any other gadget that would divert your attention from the road ahead. As cell phones become more like computers, they represent an even greater potential for distraction. The road is the wrong place for playing games, checking the internet, or finishing your homework on a phone or computer. If you have to look up an address or some other information, pull over first!

Even devices in your car can be dangerously distracting. These include: Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) systems, which should be set before you start your engine so you don't have to move your eyes or hands while you're driving Vehicle devices, including temperature controls, seat and mirror adjustments, and the dashboard display, which should be used only when your car is not in motion In-car video players, which should be visible and audible only to your passengers To use these devices, you'll have to divert your hands, your eyes, or your mind from driving.

On the following slides, we'll provide a timeline of the short-term effects of alcohol. The stages of this timeline will be arranged according to Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). Remember, BAC does not always equate to the same number of drinks. Moreover, two people with the same BAC can exhibit different levels of impairment. Weight, gender, and metabolism can affect the rate at which a person's BAC increases when he or she drinks, while fatigue, mood, and tolerance can influence how impaired a person becomes at a particular BAC.

The Effects of a 0.02% BAC A BAC as low as 0.02% has been shown to affect driving ability. As soon as you start drinking you will begin to become more relaxed, have difficulty concentrating on one thing, and react more slowly. In addition, you will experience: A loss of reason and judgment Altered mood Weakened vision, particularly in tracking objects and scanning Decline in attention, especially when switching between tasks

If you have difficulty seeing lane lines or other aspects of the road surface, drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you. As long as it doesn't hit anything, you won't, either. Be careful when following this advice—you still need to pay attention to the road surface and to traffic around you. Conditions may change by the time your vehicle reaches the same location.

Finally, keep in mind that conditions can sometimes be so severe that driving at all is unsafe. If you can't see past the assured, clear stopping distance ahead of your vehicle, pull over and wait until conditions clear.

To drive a motorcycle or moped, you must obtain a Class M license. In general, drivers must be 18 years old to obtain a Class M license. However: At 16, drivers may obtain a Class M license to operate a motorcycle if they hold a valid license and have completed the 32-hour classroom portion of an approved drivers ed course and a 16-hour DPS-approved motorcycle operator training course. At 15, drivers may obtain a Class M license to operate a moped or motor-driven cycle with a motor of 250cc piston displacement or less if they have completed the 32-hour classroom and 16-hour operator training requirements.

For drivers under 18, the fee for obtaining a Class M license is the same as that for Class A, B, and C licenses, $15. For a fee of $32, a Class M license will be issued to a drivers 18 and over for a period of six years. If you plan to travel both by car and by motorcycle, you may add a Class M endorsement to your valid Class A, B, or C license for a fee of $15. When you next renew your license, it will cost you an additional $8 to renew the endorsement.

Public workers and law enforcement agents with the Department of Public Safety, the Court system, and local police and sheriff departments Workers dealing with the environmental consequences of driving, including hazardous waste disposal workers and chemists improving fuel and vehicle fluid quality Treat the HTS and the people who make it possible with respect. After all, with the number of opportunities the HTS provides, there's a good chance that one day one of these workers will be you!

For more information, visit the websites of the various agencies responsible for the HTS in Texas: The Department of Transportation is the main agency tasked with providing a safe, efficient highway system. The Department of Public Safety is responsible for issuing, renewing, and suspending drivers licenses. The Department of Motor Vehicles is in charge of vehicle registration. The Texas Education Agency establishes guidelines for drivers education

Heroin, hydrocodone, and methadone are derivatives of opium, and have generally the same effects as morphine and codeine, which are the chief mind-affecting chemicals in opium. These drugs are used primarily for pain relief and anesthesia. They are highly effective, but that effectiveness comes with increased risks of addiction and overdose. Other effects include itching, nausea, slowed breathing, depression, and constipation.

Heroin is an extremely dangerous drug. At lower doses, heroin causes itching, nausea, slowed breathing, and depression. At higher doses, the risk of fatal overdose increases greatly. Vomiting, loss of physical coordination, further slowed breathing, and severe itching and depression are all possible. Long-term use of heroin can lead to kidney disease and dysfunction, liver disease, infections in the lungs, and chronic constipation.q

A history of major driving violations can increase your insurance rates even more. Surcharges worth up to 60% of your premium may be added to your insurance costs for: Multiple collisions (the more crashes you're involved in, the higher the surcharge will be) Involuntary manslaughter with a motor vehicle Driving under the influence Criminally negligent driving Driving without a license or with a suspended license If your record is bad enough, an insurance company may refuse to insure you or cancel your insurance. If this happens, you will be unable to drive until you obtain a new insurance policy.

However, discounts on insurance rates are typically available for demonstrating a responsible driving attitude by: Completing a defensive driving course or a driver education course for young drivers Earning good grades as a student Having safety features in your car including air bags, seat belts, daytime running lights, antilock brakes, and antitheft devices Having a good driving record and claim history when renewing a policy Having multiple cars on the same insurance policy Having a concurrent homeowner's policy Consult your insurance agent to find out if you're eligible for an insurance discount.

If you lose steering control, don't panic. Take your foot off the accelerator, and don't brake. Braking may cause your vehicle to steer left or right unpredictably. Activate your hazard lights, and honk or flash your high-beams to warn other drivers. When you've slowed down to 10 to 15 mph, brake gently and come to a stop. Call a tow truck and stay in your vehicle. Only exit your vehicle if you're sure that it's safe to do so.

If you lose power steering, you can still control your vehicle, but it will require much more force. This effect is more noticeable at lower speeds, but is more dangerous at higher speeds. Either way, the best thing to do is to activate your hazard lights, grip the steering wheel, and steer firmly to the side of the road. Pull over and turn off your engine. If power steering is lost due to the engine stalling or otherwise turning off, you'll also lose power braking. Both problems can usually be solved by restarting the engine. If this fails to return your vehicle to normal operation, call a mechanic.

After shifting into neutral, try kicking the accelerator pedal from the side. If that doesn't work, use your foot to pull up on the pedal from underneath. Honk and flash your high-beams to warn other drivers. In some vehicles, simply applying your brakes may bring you to a stop. If pressing the brake pedal fails to stop the vehicle, let go of it: holding on while the car accelerates can burn the brakes out, making them unusable. Do not turn the engine off. This will turn off power steering and power braking, making your vehicle even more difficult to control.

If you regain enough control, steer smoothly off the road and park in a safe place. Call a tow truck—don't drive again until the pedal is repaired. If you can't slow down or regain control, reduce the severity of your impact by hitting something soft, light, or broad. If you must collide with a moving object, a vehicle travelling in the same direction as you will provide a much softer impact than a vehicle travelling the opposite direction.

Abusing or becoming addicted to alcohol or drugs is also a good way to lose your job. The illegal activity, poor hygiene, personality changes, and apathy towards social interactions that causes addicts to alienate their friends and family also makes them into particularly unreliable employees. If you show up to work late, unkempt, fatigued, or unable to pay attention due to your substance abuse problems, it will be hard for you to maintain your job for very long.

If you're dealing with addiction, you may be fired for doing your job poorly, upsetting customers, not getting along with your coworkers, or simply for acting strangely. If, like many employers, your job performs drug tests on its employees, you will lose your job when you inevitably test positive for drugs. Finally, it should go without saying that you can be fired immediately if you're caught drinking or using, buying, or selling illegal drugs while you're at work.

On the following slides you'll see a few good options for getting home safely after drinking. However, there's only one surefire way to bring your chances of causing a drunk driving collision to zero, and it's not complicated: don't drink and drive. That's the simplest, easiest, and surest way to avoid drunk driving. If you have even a sip of alcohol, don't drive. If you are going to drive, do not have even a sip of alcohol.

If you're out with friends and anyone plans to drink, be sure to choose a designated driver before anyone starts drinking. The designated driver's duty is to get everyone home safely. This means he or she can't have a single sip of alcohol. If you're drinking alone, don't bring a car. Always choose a designated driver. It's one of the safest and surest ways to avoid drunk driving deaths.

The low fuel warning light typically comes on when your vehicle has less than one or two gallons of fuel left—check your vehicle owner's manual for information on your own model. You can avoid this warning entirely by refueling before your tank becomes this empty. Many people refill their tanks when they're one quarter full—find what works best for you. When the low fuel warning light illuminates, find a service station as soon as possible. Accelerate slowly and coast as much as possible to conserve fuel.

If your engine becomes overheated, it may stall—it may slow down and stop running. Factors that can cause your engine to overheat include: Driving in excessive heat Driving uphill Towing or carrying a heavy load Repeated stopping and starting Low coolant levels Broken radiator hose, fan belt, or water pump

Your headlights serve two extremely important functions: allowing you to see the road more clearly, and making your vehicle more visible to other drivers. It's not safe to drive without headlights if driving conditions call for them. If your headlights darken while activated, or if they fail to activate, flip all headlight switches repeatedly. If this doesn't work, slow down and pull over. Check your battery warning light—malfunctioning headlights may indicate a dying battery. To prevent further depletion, turn off all unnecessary electronic devices.

If your hood opens while you're driving, don't panic. Take your foot off the accelerator, activate your hazard lights, and try to find a way to see the road. Slouch down and look through the gap at the bottom of your hood, if possible. If you can, try looking around your hood. Pull over to the side of the road. If your trunk opens, activate your hazard lights and carefully pull over to the side of the road. Be particularly careful when changing lanes—you'll only be able to use your side view mirrors. After pulling over, close your hood or trunk tightly and test it by pulling on it. Don't drive again unless your hood and trunk are securely latched.

Underinflated tires wear down and blow out more quickly, and do a poorer job of transferring engine power and steering controls to the road. Overinflated tires are too stiff, reducing traction and making your ride harsher. Both types of improper inflation cause decreased handling and fuel economy in adverse conditions. Check your tire pressure regularly. Tires typically lose about 1 psi each month, and gain or lose about 1 psi for each 10° F change in temperature. Adjusting tire pressure is simple—most fuel service stations have inexpensive, self-service air pumps.

In addition, tires with worn tread—less than about 1/16th of an inch—will provide very poor handling and traction. They are unsafe and should be replaced immediately.

Cancellation During the first 60 days you have a policy, your insurer may cancel your coverage for any lawful reason, including a ticket or collision. However, the company cannot refuse to cover damages that occurred while you were still under the policy. If the company decides to cancel your policy, they must send you a written notice at least 10 days in advance of the cancellation. If you have already paid for more insurance than you received, the company must refund the difference.

In general, your insurance company cannot cancel your policy once it has been in effect for more than 60 days, except if you violate the terms of your contract. Your policy can be cancelled at any time for failing to make premium payments, filing a fraudulent claim, or having your license or registration suspended or revoked.

Gasoline is the most important fluid in your car. Be sure to choose gasoline appropriate for your car. Generally, you should refill your gas before your tank gets less than a quarter full. Never "top off" your tank when refilling the gas in your car: all you'll do is waste fuel. When you are done refueling, make sure the cap on the gas tank is completely secured.

In order to make sure you remember to perform maintenance tasks, you should develop a fixed routine for checking your car and schedule regular visits with a professional mechanic. It's a good idea to set a specific time each week to check the condition of your car. Don't try to check your car when you're feeling rushed or if you've just finished driving, as its components may be too hot to assess accurately.

Because alcohol is a depressant of the central nervous system, it tends to make your bodily functions slow down when you consume it. As you increase the amount of a depressant you consume, your bodily functions will continue to slow down—until they stop completely! Your heart and breathing will stop if you drink too much alcohol. Even if you're with friends, they may not notice if your breathing stops while you're passed out, especially if they're also impaired by alcohol at the time. By the time they sober up, you could be dead.

In this unit, we'll discuss how alcohol harms your physical faculties, including: Your nervous system Your heart rate and blood pressure Your respiration Your vision Your mental skills Your motor skills Your reaction time

Having certain tools on hand can make the difference between safely handling an emergency and being unable to prevent it from turning into a disaster. Because of this, storage space is a very valuable resource to a safe driver. By making use of the space in your trunk, you can prepare yourself for success in a number of different emergency situations.

It can be extremely helpful to carry the following items in your car: Jumper cables can bring a dead battery back to life. Being able to drive your car and use its radio, headlights, heater, and air conditioning is very important both day-to-day and in emergency situations. Road flares can help prevent a single collision from turning into a pile-up. Set up road flares to warn approaching drivers of a hazard.

When your vehicle's right wheels drop off the pavement, the most important thing to remember is: do not panic. Using the off-road recovery technique described in the following slides, you can and will recover from this situation.

It is dangerous to let panic control your actions. For instance, you may immediately steer sharply left to get back to the road as soon as you drive off it. As a result, your vehicle will be thrust into the roadway, cross the center line, and roll over on the other side of the road. Many fatal one-car crashes have been caused by panic-steering instead of allowing the car to slow down.

Before you get on the road, choose a radio station, CD, or playlist that you like. Make changes only when your car is stopped. If you're driving with a passenger, you can delegate responsibility for the stereo system to him or her. However, don't get into an argument about what you want to listen to. In cars that include stereo controls on the steering wheel, you should use these buttons exclusively to make adjustments while driving.

Listening to the stereo can also impair your ability to hear what's happening on the road. Music can muffle or completely drown out road noise that you need to hear to evaluate the situation on the road. Set the volume before you begin to drive. Keep the volume at a moderate setting so you won't need to make adjustments if a loud song or commercial comes on. Before shutting your car down, make sure the volume remains low so it won't overwhelm you the next time you start your car.

The more you become dependent on alcohol, the more you'll feel the need to justify your actions not just to others, but also to yourself. You'll begin to rationalize your actions by coming up with detailed excuses for why your behavior is acceptable. Keep in mind that when you rationalize something, you are simply telling yourself "rational lies."

Many alcohol abusers deny that they even have a problem at all. Many drinkers use denial as a defense mechanism to prevent themselves from realizing just how intolerable and unsustainable their dependence on alcohol really is and just how much it is costing them. Until they admit that they have a problem, rationalizers and drinkers in denial are generally unable to take control of their own behavior and get better.

On average, 43,731 people died each year due to an acute or accidental cause related to excessive alcohol use. These include: 7,787 alcohol-related homicides 7,266 alcohol-related suicides: The CDC reports that these accounted for over 23% of all suicides between 2001 and 2005. 13,819 traffic fatalities: Alcohol-related traffic fatalities accounted for 33.5% of all traffic deaths between 2001 and 2005.

Moreover, an average of 36,643 people died each year from a chronic disease that could be attributed to excessive drinking. These include: 12,219 deaths from alcoholic liver disease 7,055 deaths from cirrhosis 3,857 deaths due to alcohol dependence syndrome In addition, the CDC reports that alcohol accounts for over 2.7 million physician office visits and over 1.2 million emergency room admissions each year.

The Zero Tolerance Laws concerning possessing and consuming alcohol do not apply to people under 21 when they are in the visible presence of a parent, guardian, or spouse over the age of 21. As long as your drinking is supervised by one of these people, you will not be charged for a Zero Tolerance offence.

Moreover: While you're under 21, your parent, guardian, or spouse is legally allowed to furnish you with alcohol as long as he or she remains present when you consume the drink. If you're drinking with friends, you won't be charged for a Zero Tolerance offense if you have to call 911 to report an incident of alcohol poisoning, as long as you are the first to call and you remain on the scene until paramedics arrive.

Pay attention to the quality of the road surface. On some well-traveled but poorly kept roads, ruts will form in the average location of vehicle tracks. These may fill with water, contributing greatly to traction loss.

Most roads have a positive cross slope—they're highest in the center and slope downwards toward the edges. Because of this, standing water will usually be more shallow near the center of the road, but deeper near the edge of the road. Keep this in mind when judging water depth.

Most drivers have a "Do as I say, not as I do" attitude towards aggressive driving. As we discussed earlier, while most drivers consider aggressive driving to be serious problem, many continue to demonstrate aggressive behaviors when they drive. Everyone on the road has the responsibility to avoid driving aggressively. Not only does it endanger other drivers directly, but it also increases the chances that other drivers will act even more aggressively in response.

No matter how genial a disposition you normally have, the pressures of driving can easily turn you into an aggressive driver without you even realizing it! The extreme emotions that cause a driver to act aggressively also tend to blind the driver to the fact that he or she is acting out of character. When your emotions are in the driver's seat, it's easy to forget everything you've learned about driving safely!

Just because one insurance company declines to cover you because of your driving history, you shouldn't despair of ever getting on the road again. Every insurance company has its own guidelines for deciding whether they should insure someone. Some major insurers offer special policies for high-risk drivers. Remember, when you're looking for insurance, shop around. By giving yourself a number of options, you're more likely to find a company willing to insure you at rates you can afford.

Not all drivers will be able to find an insurance company willing to extend them coverage. However, since Texas requires that all drivers have auto insurance, the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA) has been established to provide coverage to drivers declined by other insurers. If you are refused insurance by two insurance companies, you can apply for TAIPA coverage. TAIPA coverage is available through licensed insurance agents, not through TAIPA itself. If you go a year without tickets or crashes, your agent may allow you to apply for a normal policy with lower insurance rates.

When you're drinking with a group, you should also watch for signs of alcohol poisoning among your friends. Signs of alcohol poisoning include unconsciousness, vomiting, slow or irregular breathing, slow heart rate, and low body temperature. If you think a friend is suffering from alcohol poisoning, call 911. Don't panic! Keep your friend on his or her side and, if you're qualified to do so, perform CPR if his or her pulse or breathing is abnormally low. Stay with your friend until medical assistance arrives.

Occasionally, you may end up in a car with a driver who's had a drink or two and may or may not be too impaired to drive. Watch for these signs that the driver is impaired: Gripping the steering wheel tightly Slouching in the seat Driving with open windows in cold weather Sticking his or her head out the window Driving with his or her face too close to the windshield Not turning his or her head to scan Talking or playing music at a high volume If you think the driver is too impaired to continue driving, calmly try to convince him or her to pull over and let you drive or call a cab. Don't be too aggressive: you may end up distracting the driver more!

Motor vehicles even affect the quality of the roads where they're used. For one thing, on crowded roads, you could end up driving in a cloud of exhaust. According to recent research, vehicle exhaust can raise the risk of heart disease, cancer, and mental impairment. Moreover, the weight of constant traffic causes roads to decay and crack, making them less safe and more uncomfortable to drive on. Eventually, the negative environmental impacts of driving could make driving itself impossible!

Once you have a car, it can be easy to jump behind the wheel without giving much thought to what you're doing. Whether you're going to the store, visiting a friend, or just need to clear your head, you may consider your car to be the perfect solution. The truth is, driving too much can be bad for you, your car, your wallet, and your environment. Before you get behind the wheel, consider whether it might not be better to take a walk, ride a bike, catch a bus, or ride with a friend.

In a side-impact collision, the force of impact is transferred immediately and directly to the passenger compartment. Doors and windows will crush and be pushed towards the occupants as the occupants are thrown towards the point of impact. These collisions occur most often in intersections and parking lots, and are usually caused by a blatant disregard for right-of-way. Always obey the rules of right-of-way.

Other important types of collisions and emergencies include rollovers, which often occur when vehicles leave the road. Rollovers produce forces that very easily eject unbuckled occupants. They are one of the deadliest types of collisions. SUVs and other vehicles with a high center of gravity are more susceptible to rollovers.

While you may think that it kills brain cells, what alcohol actually damages are the ends of the neurons, or dendrites. With damaged dendrites, neurons are less able to communicate information across the brain and through the body. Over time, memory problems, confusion, lack of coordination, and amnesia can develop. Alcohol can also change how neurons work without causing actual physical damage the brain. Even these changes can lead to altered behavior and cause a number of psychotic disorders, including paranoia, hallucinations, and major depression.

Over time, the brain adapts to the continued presence of alcohol in the blood. To compensate for the effects of alcohol on the organs, the brain adjusts how they operate so that they'll perform their functions more normally when alcohol is present. As a result of this new equilibrium, however, when alcohol is removed from the system, the user suffers from withdrawal. Withdrawal causes the brain to function abnormally. Trembling is a common symptom of alcohol withdrawal, while anger, confusion, fear, hallucinations, hypertension, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, seizures, and even death are possible.

Some personality traits naturally predispose a person to drive aggressively. A common personality trait among aggressive drivers is egotism—a feeling that no one else matters as much as oneself. Egotistical people generally act as though rules don't apply to them. An egotistical driver is more likely to speed and drive in an unsafe way, and is less likely to yield the right-of-way, make room for merging vehicles, or let other drivers pass.

People who feel contempt or hostility for other people are also more likely to drive aggressively. These negative feelings can be directed in many different ways: at other drivers in general, at drivers of another race, culture, or gender, at older drivers, or at some other arbitrary group of drivers. A driver's hostility may also be directed at society in general. For instance, some drivers may fail to obey traffic signs and road rules because of their attitude towards the law.

Falling rain and altered atmospheric conditions also affect the condition of your vehicle. Rain collecting on your windshield distorts your view through it, while the inside surface of your windows may develop an opaque layer of condensation, or fog.

Rain also typically coincides with clouds that block sunlight and make the roadway dim or dark. As we'll discuss in more detail later, darkness is not only dangerous because the road is less well lighted: it also reduces your ability to perceive depth, color, and detail.

When drinkers develop tolerance to alcohol, they may not appear drunk even if they are greatly impaired. As a result, they may seem more mentally and emotionally fit than they actually are and think that it is safe to keep drinking even when they're already dangerously intoxicated. Some people think that developing tolerance helps them handle alcohol better. In fact, it puts them more at risk of a drunk driving crash: research has shown that drinkers with a high degree of tolerance are no better able to deal with driving emergencies than other drinkers.

Something else that many drinkers fail to realize is that a person's tolerance for alcohol will only increase for so long. For a while, the liver will try to work overtime to eliminate the added alcohol in the system. Eventually, however, the liver will become scarred by the strain and unable to filter alcohol efficiently, making the drinker more susceptible to potentially fatal levels of intoxication.

If another driver insults you or treats you rudely, ignore it. The best thing you can do when you encounter an aggressive driver is to let him or her pass you. There's no reason to endanger yourself because another driver is acting recklessly. Avoiding aggressive drivers is rarely difficult: if you leave them alone, they'll drive away from you themselves. If you try to challenge them, however, you may become the object of their rage and they may continue to harass you for miles, even if it means going out of their way to do so.

An aggressive driver who feels challenged may follow you for miles, regardless of whether or not the challenge was actually intended. If this happens, do not drive home or to work, as you may be showing an emotionally unstable person how to find you in the future. You should: Stay calm Flash your lights and honk your horn to draw others' attention Drive to a safe spot such as a police station or a crowded location Stay in your car If an aggressive driver gets out of his or her car and approaches yours, don't get out of your car. Call the police or, if it is safe, drive away while the aggressive driver is unable to follow you.

When starting your car this way, make sure to press the accelerator fully: if you pump it or press it only lightly, it will increase fuel supply, flooding your engine even further. If holding the accelerator down fails to help start your engine, wait 20 to 30 minutes for the fuel to evaporate. Then try to turn on your engine again, first normally, then by holding the accelerator down.

As discussed previously, your engine may also stall due to a depleted battery. If this happens, you may be able to revive your battery and engine with a jumpstart. If you have a newer battery that died because of a sudden increase in output, for example if you left a light on overnight, a jumpstart should return your battery to full working order. However, if you have an older battery that died because it's wearing out, a jumpstart will only enable you to drive for a short period of time until the battery dies again. Do not jumpstart a car with a corroded battery, and do not use a car with a corroded battery to jumpstart another car.

Alcohol significantly slows your reaction time. Depending on the circumstances, reaction time can be classified as simple or complex. The time it takes to respond reflexively to an immediate situation, such as hearing a gunshot or touching a hot stove, is known as simple reaction time. The time it takes to choose the best of several potential responses to a situation is known as complex reaction time. For instance, a complex reaction time is required when you need to decide whether to brake, steer right, steer left, or perform another action when a car ahead of you stops suddenly. Research has shown that a BAC of 0.04% to 0.08% affects complex reaction time much more than simple reaction time. As a result, an intoxicated novice driver may respond quickly but in an unsafe way.

The SEE IT space management system is one of the most important tools you have for keeping yourself safe when you're on the road. However, when you've been drinking, each step of the system will become harder to perform: Alcohol causes visual impairments and makes you more likely to stare straight ahead, making it difficult for you to search effectively. Because alcohol affects your judgment and makes you more likely to underestimate risk, you won't be able to evaluate the road properly. You lose the ability to control your muscles precisely when you're intoxicated, which can cause you to execute maneuvers poorly.

Never forget that every action has consequences. What you decide to do today will inevitably have an impact on what you're able to do tomorrow. If you plan on driving for a long time, it's your responsibility to develop strategies that will help you remain licensed, develop your driving skills over time, maintain the condition of your car, and stay alive long enough to enjoy the driving experience that you gain.

The ability to drive is a terrific privilege. It's easy to forget how much work it takes to plan, build, and maintain roadways, create and enforce traffic laws and regulations, design, manufacture, sell, and repair vehicles, and perform peripheral services like providing insurance or teaching drivers education. When you drive courteously, you show respect for the work these people do to make sure everyone can use the HTS with confidence

Alcohol is usually taken into the body by ingestion—by drinking it and digesting it. You'll learn more about other ways of taking drugs later, but for now, note that ingestion causes a substance to interact with your entire digestive system: mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines. When you bring alcohol into your mouth and swallow it, you set off a long chain of events that leads to intoxication and impairment. With the first sip, the blood vessels in your tongue and gums already begin to draw alcohol into your bloodstream.

The average rate of alcohol elimination is .015% per hour. This means that if, for example, your BAC reaches a height of .16%, and you are arrested for drunk driving four hours later, your BAC is still not likely to be below .10%. .16% - (4 × .015%) = .16% - .06% = .10% This is above the legal limit and will earn you a DWI conviction.

If you are uninsured and cause a collision, you will be personally responsible for covering the losses sustained by the other people involved. Without insurance, it could take you years to pay for the damages resulting from a collision. Moreover, if there is a judgment against you, you will be unable to reinstate your license until you have satisfied the judgment or have entered into an agreement to pay the judgment in installments. You will have to pay an additional fee of $100 when you have your license reinstated.

The basic policy that you are legally required to obtain as a Texas driver is known as liability insurance. In addition, there are seven other types of coverage you may want to consider: Medical Payments Insurance Personal Injury Protection Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance Collision Insurance Comprehensive Insurance Towing and Labor Insurance Rental Reimbursement Insurance When shopping for insurance, you should understand the benefits of the various coverage options available and decide which policies make the most sense for you.

When you abuse alcohol, you may find yourself facing problems you never worried about before. For instance, alcohol abuse can: Make it harder for you to meet your responsibilities at home, school, or work Put you in physical danger when you drive, play sports, or engage in other activities Lead to problems with your friends and family, as well as the law Make you more likely to get involved in a fight with someone

The earlier you begin drinking, the more likely it is that you'll start abusing alcohol at some time in the future. If you start drinking regularly as a minor, you're much more likely to become an alcoholic than someone who waits to start drinking until he or she turns 21. A person who starts drinking before the age of 15 is four times more likely to suffer from alcoholism in the future. 40% of people who start drinking before the age of 15 eventually develop alcohol dependence, while only 10% of those who wait to start drinking until they're 21 do. Up until the age of 21, each additional year you wait to start drinking reduces the risk you'll become an alcoholic by 14%.

Because driving is such a central part of our culture, it may be easy for you to take your car for granted. In fact, the modern car is a sophisticated machine that relies on ingenious technologies innovated over the course of more than a century. Throughout history, people have used various vehicles to transport them from one place to another. However, it was the development of mechanical propulsion technologies in the 1700s and 1800s that allowed inventors to conceive a new mode of transportation that could propel itself: the automobile.

The first self-propelled vehicle was built in Paris in 1769 by the French engineer Nicolas Joseph Cugnot. It was a heavy, three-wheel carriage that was powered by a large boiler attached to the front of the car.

Coolant is primarily stored in the radiator of your car. Coolant flows from the radiator through passages inside the engine. As the coolant lowers the temperature of the engine parts, the coolant itself becomes hotter and expands. Most radiators have a recovery tank that captures the coolant that has expanded and returns it to the radiator. The radiator cools the warm coolant with radiator fans, as well as by air currents when the vehicle is in motion.

The flow of coolant is controlled by the thermostat, a heat-sensing valve which allows the engine to quickly heat up to the proper temperature. The thermostat also determines whether coolant should be pumped back into the engine directly or should be sent to the radiator first to be cooled. Remember to monitor your engine temperature by checking the temperature gauge as you drive. If your engine overheats suddenly, there may be a problem in your car's cooling system.

During your vehicle inspection, its equipment will be tested to make sure that they are working properly and meet all applicable legal standards. When your vehicle passes its inspection, you will be issued an official certificate that must be placed on your windshield (or on the license plate of a moped or motorcycle). An inspection certificate remains valid for one year from the month of inspection. You must be able to furnish proof of financial responsibility at the time of your inspection. If you do not, you will not be issued an inspection certificate.

The following equipment will be inspected: Windows All glass in your car must be safety glass. Any time you replace a piece of glass, you must replace it with safety glass. Sunscreening devices and window tinting must comply with the applicable state regulations. The windshield wipers must function properly to improve visibility in inclement wea

Different people respond to stress in different ways, all of which can result in unsafe driving. Under stress, you may become: Angry or agitated, causing you to speed, take unnecessary risks, weave between lanes, or antagonize others Withdrawn or depressed, causing you to space out, ignore the driving environment, and react lethargically to situations on the road Frozen with indecision, causing you to respond to hazards inadequately

The key to dealing with stress is learning to recognize when you're stressed, what the causes of the stress are, and how you typically respond when you feel stressed. By understanding your stress, you'll be better able to minimize its influence on your driving and compensate for its affects. You'll also be able to recognize when you shouldn't be driving in the first place. On the next few slides, we'll discuss some common causes of driver stress.

The DPS may refuse to issue or renew the drivers license of a person ineligible to receive a license in Texas because of: A previous suspension, revocation, cancellation, or disqualification in Texas, another state, or a Canadian province A physical or mental incapacity that prevents the safe operation of a motor vehicle A conviction for acquiring fuel without payment (stealing gas) A conviction for certain criminal mischief, such as graffiti A conviction for purchasing alcohol for a minor or furnishing alcohol to a minor In addition, the DPS may refuse to renew the license of a driver who fails to appear in court for traffic violations or other offenses within the jurisdiction of a justice or a municipal court.

The license of individuals under 21 years old may be automatically suspended for any of the following offenses: Alcoholic Beverage Code Violations The possession of alcohol The consumption of alcohol The purchase of alcohol or an attempt to purchase alcohol Driving under the influence of alcohol The failure to complete an alcohol awareness course The misrepresentation of his or her own age

Any loose object in your car has the potential to become a distraction. An object on the dashboard, below a seat, or elsewhere in your car may be thrown into a dangerous position if you have to stop or turn abruptly. You may be tempted to reach for your phone or purse if it is sitting nearby. Trash or clutter in your car can prevent you from reaching important controls and can make it more difficult to concentrate on the road in general. If you have to reach for an object moving around the cab of your car, it can increase the chances of a crash or near-crash by up to nine times.

The presence of a flying insect in your car can be especially distracting. An insect flying into your view or buzzing near your head can make it difficult to focus on driving, especially if it's an insect like a bee that could potentially injure you. However, if you try to kill it, you can end up distracted from the road for a considerable period. When there's an insect in your car, pull over to kill it or let it escape. Don't return to the road until you're sure your car is bug-free.

The air bag warning light indicates that the air bags are malfunctioning. This may happen for a number of reasons, including being improperly reset after deploying. When the air bag warning light illuminates, take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible—your vehicle's air bags may not deploy in a collision.

The tire pressure warning light indicates low air pressure in your vehicle's tires. Low air pressure can be caused by a puncture, a slow leak, cold weather, or simply the passing of time. When the tire pressure warning light illuminates, pull over and check your tire pressure. If none of your wheels is flat or nearly flat, drive to a service station or other establishment with air machines and refill your tires.

Recall the primary causes of collisions: the actions of the driver, the condition of the roadway, and the condition of the vehicle being driven. Driver error plays a part in 95% of all collisions, and consists of poor recognition, poor decisions, poor performance, and "non-performance errors" such as falling asleep.

The two most prevalent types of error are recognition errors and decision errors. Within these categories, the most prominent recognition error is due to distracted driving (18.1% of all driver errors), and the most prominent decision error is due to speeding or aggressive driving (22.8% of all driver errors).

You are eligible for protection under the Lemon Law if: Your car has a serious defect or abnormal condition The problem is covered by a manufacturer's warranty You report the problem to the dealer or manufacturer within the term of the warranty You have given the dealer and manufacturer a reasonable opportunity to correct the problem and sent the manufacturer written notice of the problem The problem persists, causing malfunctions or safety hazards You file a Lemon Law complaint in a timely manner If you have questions about filing a Lemon Law complaint, call the Consumer Affairs Section of the Texas Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division at 1-800-622-8682.

There are different options to choose from when purchasing a new or used car. While it is generally best to pay in full, many car buyers pursue financing arrangements that allow them to make affordable payments every month. In many cases, you may also be able to lease the car without purchasing it outright. Always be careful to read and understand all provisions when signing any financing agreement. Sometimes you can get a better deal by contacting lenders directly rather than accepting the financing offered by your car dealer.

In the event of a collision, the liability insurance of the responsible party will pay for the expenses of others who are injured or killed, or whose property is damaged, in the crash. The insurance company will pay the amount for which a driver is legally responsible, less the deductable, up to the limit of the policy's coverage. By law, you must obtain a liability insurance policy that provides the following minimum amounts of coverage: $30,000 for the injury or death of a single person $60,000 for a single collision that causes the injury or death of more than one person $25,000 for property damage

These amounts are only the legal minimums. Many collision-related lawsuits are settled for much greater sums. If the damages resulting from a collision you caused are determined to be more than your insurance policy will pay, you will be personally responsible for the difference. If your finances will allow, consider purchasing more than the basic amount of insurance. While you may consider it wasteful to spend extra money now for a situation that may never occur, you will be grateful for the added protection if you're ever in a serious collision.

Batteries The kind of batteries used in automobiles, known as lead-acid batteries, contain toxic amounts of lead, which can cause fatigue, chronic pain, kidney damage, physical and mental retardation, and even death. The lead remains inside the battery even after it can no longer be recharged. By law, old car batteries cannot be discarded in a landfill. In general, the retailer who sold you the old battery, or the retailer from whom you are buying a new one, will accept the spent battery for recycling.

Tires When tires are improperly stockpiled or illegally dumped, they trap rainwater and become breeding grounds for disease-carrying bugs and rodents. Moreover, tire piles are a major fire hazard. Burning tires are difficult to extinguish, emit toxic gases, and leave behind an oily residue that pollutes streams and ground water. When you buy new tires, the retailer will usually offer to recycle your old tires for a small fee. Tire material can be used to make roads, running tracks, and rubber mats, among other things.

When you press down on the brake pedal in a car with ABS, you may feel it vibrating or hear a grinding noise. This is an indication that the system is working properly: to prevent your wheels from locking up, the ABS system will pulse the brake up to 15 times a second. Pay attention to your ABS system when you start your car to make sure it is working properly. When you turn on your car, the antilock braking system will check itself. While this test is conducted, the ABS indicator on the dashboard will be lit and you may hear a brief motor or clicking noise. If your ABS is working properly, the warning light will go out when the test is complete.

Tires are rubber coverings that are placed on the wheels of your vehicle. They have two basic functions: absorbing shocks by flexing over the contours of the road, and providing traction so that drivers can accelerate, brake, and steer. Every tire has a distinctive tread. These treads are designed to provide traction and wear away slowly. The grooves in tires are intended to channel water so the tire will have better contact with the surface of the road.

Make sure that you and your vehicle are prepared for any situation that you can reasonably expect to occur while you're on the road. By knowing what potential problems you can expect and figuring out how to avoid them or deal with them if they happen, you can make your drive easier on yourself, your car, and your world!

To avoid encountering stressful situations on the road, you should: Avoid rush hour if possible: In heavy traffic, it will take you longer to arrive at your destination and you will be more at risk of a collision. Plan your route: Determine the exits you'll use and the streets where you'll turn so you don't have to maneuver abruptly at the last minute. Choose an alternate route in case your planned path is closed. Check traffic and weather reports: Don't drive when the weather is bad if you can avoid it. Not only will you find it harder to control your car, but your car can be damaged by water, ice, and extreme temperatures.

Foggy windows can make it very difficult to see out of your vehicle. Condensation develops on glass when the air on one side is significantly more humid than the air on the other side. You can help prevent condensation from forming by keeping your windows and windshield clean, both inside and out. However, if it does form, you'll need to get rid of it.

To clear fog from your windows in cold and rainy weather: Activate your car's defroster and turn off air recirculation. This helps move humidity outside of the vehicle. To clear fog as fast as possible, turn air speed to high and choose the lowest temperature setting. When dealing with mild fog, you can use hot air to evaporate the condensation while keeping the inside of your vehicle more comfortable.

The costs of a road trip can add up quickly. Before you travel, you should estimate how much money you will have to spend on the trip so you can avoid stress and unnecessary costs, or, even worse, finding yourself without enough money to get home. First, calculate the costs of driving itself by determining how much you will have to spend on fuel and tolls. Consult state maps or check with an automobile club to determine to frequency and cost of tolls on your trip.

To figure out how much you'll spend on gas, you'll need to determine: The distance you'll travel: This can be found by consulting a map. Remember to factor in your return trip, and include an extra 50 to 100 miles for driving you might do at your destination. The average miles per gallon (mpg) your car normally gets The costs of gas: Since fuel prices may vary from place to place on your trip, you should use gas prices in your area to make your estimation. For instance, if you're planning to travel 1,000 miles and your car averages 25 mpg, you'll need about 40 gallons of gas. If gas is $4 a gallon, you can expect to pay about $160 for fuel.

An insurance policy is a financial contract between a policyholder and an insurer. The terms of the policy, including the kinds of losses that the insurance company will pay for and the situations in which the insurance company can reject a claim, will be specifically stated in the contract. Before you purchase an insurance policy, you should read the contract carefully. Don't rely on the person selling you the policy to accurately describe its contents, as it may include special terms that would make it harder for you to file a claim.

To obtain insurance coverage, you must pay a premium, which is typically paid every month but may also be paid in a single sum. You must pay the insurance premium regardless of whether you need to make an insurance claim. Moreover, your insurance policy will specify the deductible you will have to pay towards any loss covered by the policy. For instance, if your policy has a $1,000 deductable and you are in a collision that results in $5,000 in damages, you will have to pay $1,000 and the insurance company will pay $4,000. In general, policies with lower premiums have higher deductibles, and vice versa. Choose a policy with a premium and a deductable you can afford.

Lights Your car must have: Two headlights, one on each side of the front of the car, and a beam indicator that lights up when the high beams are illuminated Two electric turn signals in the front of the car and two in back that can be activated by the driver

Two red taillights, one on each side of the back of the car Two red brake lights, one on each side of the back of the car, that activate when the brake pedal is depressed Two red reflectors, one on each side of the back of the car, that are visible from 600 ft and placed at a height of 15" to 60" from the ground (these may be used in combination with taillights)

Be prepared at all times to put on a pair of sunglasses, use your vehicle's sun visors, or squint and look towards the nearest lane line to your right. Keep your windshield clean, both inside and out—dirty windshields illuminate and reflect light into your eyes. A map or other piece of paper placed on the dashboard can also cause a bright reflection when hit by sunlight or another vehicle's high-beams

Unfortunately, some parts of Texas are also susceptible to hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes—and flooding is possible almost everywhere. Earthquakes strike without warning and typically don't last very long, but they can be catastrophically disruptive to the road surface and to the flow of traffic. If you feel the earth shaking, pull over as soon as possible and wait. Park somewhere with nothing overhead, with no danger of landslides or collapses. You'll usually have warning before hurricanes or tornadoes strike. If you do, stay off the road entirely—and if one strikes suddenly, find appropriate shelter as soon as possible. Never attempt to drive through a hurricane or tornado.

Service brakes use a hydraulic system that requires brake fluid to transmit force to the brakes. Because brake fluid does not compress under pressure, it can be pushed through the brake lines to activate the brakes when you press the brake pedal. Brake fluid is usually stored in a reservoir in the engine compartment. Brake fluid levels should be checked periodically. You should refill the reservoir whenever the fluid levels run low. If you run out of hydraulic fluid, your brakes won't respond when you try to stop your car.

Unlike the service brake system, the parking brake relies on a cable rather than hydraulic fluid. When the parking brake is engaged, a steel cable attached to the rear wheel brakes is pulled tight, activating the brake shoes or brake pads. When the parking brake is released, the cable slackens and the brakes disengage. When service brakes fail, it is often because the roadway is not generating enough friction and the pressure of the brake fluid drops, causing the wheels to lock. In these situations, the parking brake can be used as an emergency brake.

The DPS can cancel your drivers license or ID for: Receiving a license suspension or revocation in another state Having the authorization provided by your parent or guardian withdrawn (if you are under 18) Failing to meet the qualifications for a drivers license or ID required by the state of Texas Failing to have provided the required information truthfully on your license application Failing to have completed your required drivers education course The department may also cancel your license if you voluntarily surrender it for medical or insurance purposes.

Upon receiving an order from the court, the DPS can suspend, revoke, or cancel a drivers license for: Delinquent child support A failure to repay any overpayment of food stamps or financial assistance Mental incapacitation Chemical dependence A failure to annually renew one's registration as a sex offender In addition, for drunk driving offenses, a license may be revoked until the driver installs a deep lung breath analysis mechanism, or Interlock Device in his or her ignition system. This device ensures that a driver cannot drive with an illegal BAC by requiring him or her to take a chemical breath test before the car will activate.

You can also increase your fuel efficiency by using your car's technologies wisely: You can improve your gas mileage by 7% by using cruise control on highways. Don't cruise at speeds over 60 mph, and make sure to use cruise control only on flat highways. Cruise control may make your engine speed when driving uphill and slow down when driving downhill. Always choose the highest gear appropriate for the situation, as this will reduce how hard the engine needs to work, decreasing fuel consumption. On the highway, set the transmission to overdrive if the option is available in your car.

Use your air conditioner sparingly. Air conditioning is an energy-intensive process that consumes a lot of fuel. When driving at more than 40 mph, roll up your windows and use your air conditioner. At high speeds, open windows make your car less aerodynamic, lowering your gas mileage significantly. At speeds lower than 40 mph, you should open your windows if you're hot. Using your air conditioner could reduce your gas mileage by 20%.

Avoid alcohol: Boating while intoxicated is a crime. The intoxicating effects of alcohol impair your judgment, balance, and coordination, making it harder to swim well. Alcohol also reduces your body's ability to keep itself warm, putting you at more risk for hypothermia. Don't swim during storms: Cold temperatures, heavy winds, and the potential of lightning all put you at extreme risk if you're in the water. Know how to get help: Always have a plan for who you can call and what you can do if something goes wrong. Read and obey posted signs: These instructions are meant to keep you safe, and can inform you of hazards you may not otherwise notice.

Wear a life jacket: It's estimated that 70% of people who died in accidental drownings would be alive today if they wore a life jacket. On a boat, a life jacket is as essential as a seat belt is in a car. Use an ignition safety switch: Also known as a kill switch, these devices connect the boat pilot to the ignition with a lanyard. When tugged in an emergency (for instance, if you're thrown from the boat), the boat's engine will stop immediately, preventing further injuries. Take a boater education course: Texas Parks and Wildlife offers a course to ensure you know how to operate personal watercraft safely. If you were born after September 1, 1993, you must take a boater safety course to operate any personal watercraft.

Is there a chance my organs will be recovered if I still have a chance to get better? No. Even if you register as a donor, your doctors will make every effort to save your life—including, in some situations, transplanting an organ. The medical team treating you is not even responsible for extracting your organs, and will not contact the transplant team until their life-saving efforts have failed.

What does my religion have to say about organ donation? Organ, tissue, and eye donation are generally considered acts of charity by the standards of most mainstream organized religions. Can I sell my organs? No! The National Organ Transplant Act makes it illegal to sell human organs and tissues in the United States. Violators are subject to fines up to $50,000, imprisonment up to five years, or both.

Although Texas has allowed people to indicate their intention to donate organs for many years, in the past those who filled out a donor card were simply given a sticker to place on their license to signal their desires. Because intended donors are now registered in an official database, their wishes are more likely to be carried out when they die. Consider registering as an organ donor. While it may be hard for you to think about dying, you may be able to help save lives by being prepared for the worst case scenario.

When you apply for your driver's license or ID card, you can indicate your desire to be listed in the registry. However, your decision to be or not to be an organ donor won't affect whether you're licensed. To register as an organ donor, you must be 18 years old. If you're under 18, you must obtain the permission of a parent or legal guardian.

Effects on Your Nervous System Like other drugs, alcohol acts primarily on the nervous system. The nervous system coordinates numerous bodily functions by sending signals from one cell to another or from one region of the body to another. For instance, the brain sends signals to the heart that regulate when it beats. The nervous system coordinates functions such as digestion, muscle control, liver function, sleep, vision, and taste. That means that when alcohol depresses your nervous system, it will affect the way the entire body works.

When you drink, your nervous system's ability to facilitate communication between organs will slow down, making your body like a marionette with loose strings. Not only will your movements be more clumsy and sluggish, but you'll also be less sensitive to pain and may not react quickly enough if you're harmed. Additionally, because of how it affects your nervous system, alcohol will make you sleepy. However, your sleep will be restless and may be interrupted in the middle of the night.

running late

When you get a late start and you're under pressure to get to school or work on time, it's natural to try to make up the time on the way. If you feel rushed, remind yourself that the consequences for arriving late will never be as bad as the consequences of a deadly collision. Don't speed, cut corners, or weave through traffic when you're running late. At best, you'll only save a few minutes anyway. Since you're already going to be late, you might as well relax and enjoy the ride.

Plan to spend more for any theme parks, shows, or other recreational areas you intend to visit, as well as for any purchases you plan to make while you're on your trip. Make sure you have extra funds with you to cover any unexpected expenses. Otherwise, your entire trip may be ruined if you have to deal with a minor problem, or simply because you forgot to factor something in!

When you go on a trip, you may need to bring a significant amount of luggage. Take care not to overload your car. The combined weight of your luggage and the people who will be riding in your car should not exceed the maximum load rating indicated on the driver's side door jamb. Make sure the weight is distributed as evenly as possible. If you overload your vehicle, you'll experience poor handling, be more at risk of a collision or rollover, and potentially cause damage to your suspension system.

Effects on Your Motor Skills When most people reflect on how the brain works, they think of its control over our intellectual and reasoning abilities, while generally ignoring its effects on our motor skills. In fact, the brain coordinates your thoughts, your perceptions, and your movements, allowing you to respond quickly when you notice the need to do so. Good motor skills are essential when you're responding to emerging situations in the constantly changing driving environment. If you've been drinking, your motor skills won't be good enough to keep you safe.

When you're intoxicated, it will be harder to control your car. Alcohol disrupts your coordination: Because it will take more mental effort to get your muscles to respond to commands, the more you drink, the harder it will become to perform even simple feats like turning a doorknob, walking in a straight line, and standing still. Eventually, you may not even be able to pick yourself up off the floor. Alcohol slows down your reaction time: When you drink, it will take your brain longer to see something, longer to understand it, longer to relate it to your current situation, and longer to determine how to respond to it. By the time you get to the end of this process, you may have forgotten what you we're dealing with in the first place—or worse, you may have already crashed.

Nevertheless, a recent survey found that 40% of U.S. drivers between 18 and 29 years old reported that they talk on their cell phones "regularly" or "fairly often" while driving. Additionally, 75% of these drivers reported talking on the cell phone while driving at least once in the past 30 days. You may think your cell phone is indispensable, but it's not. Ignoring your phone while driving is an extremely important part of being a safe driver.

Whether you're reaching for your phone, dialing a number, or having a chat, you're not focusing on driving. Even if you don't have to turn your eyes away from the road, your ability to monitor your surroundings, seek and identify potential hazards, and respond to unexpected situations effectively may be lessened. Conversing takes up considerable mental resources. In a conversation, you have to form and articulate your thoughts, listen to what another person is saying, and remember what you've already talked about and what you still want to say.

People often prefer to eat on the go, especially if they're feeling rushed. The profusion of fast food restaurants makes it easy to think that eating while driving can be safe, especially since you can just reach into your bag and grab some fries or a sandwich without taking your eyes from the road. This is a dangerous attitude. Remember, any time your eyes, hands, or thoughts are distracted from the driving task, you're at a greater risk of a collision. This is one crash diet that's definitely not good for you!

You may think that eating a few chips or taking a sip of soda behind the wheel can't be that dangerous. In fact: Greasy foods can make your hands slippery, impeding your ability to use vehicle controls. Spicy or flavorful foods may cause you to cough, sneeze, or sweat, making it harder for you to focus on the road. To drink a beverage, you may have to bring the cup or bottle to your lips, obscuring your vision. You may burn your mouth if you consume hot food or drinks while driving, making it difficult for you to focus on driving. If you drive over a bump or pothole, you may end up swallowing more of something than you intended or spilling something on yourself. Even the surprise of a little spill might cause you to veer off the road.

Sometimes it can be harder to do than it sounds, but the best thing to do when someone offers you a drink is easy to remember: Just Say No! Whether you decide to explain why you don't want to drink, point out that drinking is illegal, suggest something else to do instead, decide to go elsewhere, or just let others know your decision and leave it at that, all you have to do to stay safe, sober, and smart is simply to decline to drink.

You never have to drink and drive. If you need to drive, don't drink. If you choose to drink, don't drive.

Your decisions as a driver will be strongly influenced by your emotional state. If you don't have the right attitude, you're less likely to notice everything important in the driving environment and more likely to overreact and take unnecessary risks in response to minor annoyances. To be a safe driver, you must consciously choose to stay relaxed, focus on the task at hand, and set aside any emotional preoccupations for as long as you're behind the wheel

You're more likely to make unsafe decisions if you feel: Negativity towards others Overconfidence in your own driving abilities Insecure about driving Impatience Aggression Anxiety Excessive happiness Love or infatuation Exaggerated emotional sensitivity A lack of self-control Grief

The United States consumes over 790 million gallons of petroleum (the unrefined form of gasoline) every day, and passenger vehicles account for 40% of this total. The more gasoline is used, the more the air is polluted with exhaust, the faster the world's supply of oil is depleted, and the more expensive gasoline becomes. However, simply by planning better, driving more wisely, remembering to maintain our cars, and buying cars with better fuel efficiency, we can make a considerable difference. Already since 2005, we've reduced our daily oil consumption by 68 million gallons—though we still have far to go.

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Reasoning and Judgment Alcohol hampers your ability to use reasoned thinking. With poor reasoning skills, you won't be able to evaluate risk properly or react quickly, and you'll be more likely to disregard traffic laws and the safety of others. For instance, when you see that you're approaching a red light, you might convince yourself that you can avoid cross traffic as long as you go fast enough.

` As your ability to reason deteriorates, you'll become unable to judge how to react to situations on the road. With impaired judgment, you can't anticipate what other road users are going to do and you may underestimate how risky your behavior is given current road and weather conditions. Not only that—you won't even be able to recognize and respond to your own intoxication properly!

To make sure you've done a good job reviewing this unit, you must now pass a test. The information in this unit is important: if you do not pass the test, you will have to take the entire unit over again. You can review as much as you wish. Simply return to your dashboard and select the topic you want to review. Do not press NEXT until you are sure you will pass the test. It is very important for you to review carefully and make sure you know how to reduce risk on the road by maintaining your vehicle's components, preventing losses in performance and reliability.

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In the following slides, you'll learn more about reducing risk when faced with adverse weather and lighting conditions. Keep this information in mind while driving, and implement it at the first sign of worsening conditions.

rain is responsible for more fatal traffic collisions than any other adverse weather condition. The NHTSA's FARS data show that 6.9% of all fatal traffic collisions in 2011 occurred during rain. Rainfall has a serious impact on several aspects of the driving environment. Its presence in the air makes it more difficult for you to see, and you may also have difficulty hearing over the sound of rain drops striking your vehicle and the pavement.

One of the reasons that heroin is particularly dangerous is that it is usually taken by injection. While prolonged use greatly increases the chances of the following harmful effects, even a single insertion of a needle into your vein can be enough: Unclean needles can carry infectious diseases. Bacterial and fungal heart infections can develop, as well as HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases. The user's veins may begin to scar and ultimately collapse. The user may also develop sores at sites used for injection. Direct injection into the bloodstream increases the risk of overdose. The entire dose of the drug will reach the brain much faster than through inhalation, absorption, or oral ingestion.

'Cutting', or diluting the drug with a cheaper substance, is also a danger with heroin and some other drugs. Drug dealers cut drugs like heroin and cocaine with substances such as sugar and unscented baby powder in order to make more money. Cutting can be deadly for a number of reasons. For example, baby powder is often made out of talc, a mineral used to make certain types of chalk. Talc does not dissolve in the blood like heroin does. Instead, it stays whole, forming hard deposits in the organs it reaches. Deposits in the heart, brain, and other organs can lead to deadly problems including strokes. Cutting also causes differences in the potency of different batches of the drug. This makes it harder to know how much heroin you're putting into your body, which makes fatal overdose much more likely.

Weather patterns can also affect traffic. If you have any indication that weather might adversely affect conditions along your route, you should also check traffic reports.

Warning signs of imminent rainfall include dark clouds, increased wind, and a fine falling mist. It's particularly important to respond to these signs quickly because when rain first hits the surface of the road, it mixes with oils embedded in the surface and creates a very slippery film. Further rain will typically wash this oily mixture off the road's surface, but the rain itself still presents a danger to drivers.

When you must pull off the roadway, do so as calmly and as safely as possible. While there are many different reasons to pull over, and you must brake or steer differently depending on your situation, there are some actions you should take whenever you can. If you're in an emergency situation, activate your hazard lights. Otherwise, activate your turn signal to indicate that you're pulling over. Maintain control over your vehicle to the greatest extent possible, and change lanes safely as you approach the road's shoulder.

some shoulders are paved and some are unpaved, but even some paved shoulders will be rough or bumpy and provide less traction. Whenever possible, slow down primarily in your lane just before entering the shoulder. However, you should be conscious of traffic behind you—try not to brake so heavily that you endanger other drivers. When the shoulder is unpaved, you'll need to enter it at a slower speed, so you should brake over a longer distance.

Never activate cruise control while driving in the rain or on a wet surface. If you begin to lose traction while cruise control is activated, your car will behave erratically. Modern speedometers determine vehicle speed based on the rate the drive wheels are spinning, not the rate at which the vehicle is moving relative to the ground. These two figures are the same under normal conditions, but disagree when traction is lost. When your drive wheels lose traction, they'll spin faster against the water without a corresponding increase in actual vehicle speed. This can result in the cruise control system executing a sudden cutoff in engine power, throwing your vehicle into an uncontrolled slide.

v Headlights and windshield wipers are essential in rainy weather. When rain or other debris falls on your windshield, turn on your windshield wipers. You need to be able to see clearly through the glass. When clouds make the road dim or dark, and whenever you turn on your windshield wipers, turn on your headlights. You need to be able to see the road ahead of you clearly. Activating your headlights will also help other drivers see you—and avoid you.

Several NHTSA studies have estimated that drivers engage in potentially distracting secondary tasks approximately 30% of the time their cars are in motion. Distractions that can lead to a collision include: Using an electronic device like a phone Actively interacting with your friends Eating or drinking Grooming yourself

1. Any non-driving activity that a driver engages in while operating a motor vehicle is considered a driver distraction. No matter what it is, when you're doing something other than driving, you're distracted from your responsibilities as a driver and more likely to become involved in a collision. Distractions are typically classified as one of three distinct types: • Activities that cause you to take your eyes off the road are known as visual distractions. • Activities that cause you to take your hands off the wheel are known as manual distractions. • Activities that cause you to take your mind off of driving are known as cognitive distractions.

Never expect everyone on the road to be paying attention. Even the most diligent drivers can be distracted occasionally. When you see someone being blatantly irresponsible (e.g. by eating, grooming, or texting behind the wheel), your focus should be on keeping yourself safe by increasing the distance between yourself and the other driver. It's not your job to teach someone else a lesson.

People who are likely to be distracted on or near the road include: Motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians Delivery persons looking for an address Construction workers Tourists, particularly at complicated intersections Drivers looking at a map or for a house number

Fill each tire to the manufacturer's recommended pressure, which can usually be found inside the driver's side door jamb. The pressure indicated on your tires is the maximum pressure they can hold without bursting—disregard this number. Don't follow any rule of thumb related to this number, either. Your vehicle manufacturer has determined the pressure at which your tires are safest, provide the best traction and fuel economy, and wear the slowest. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation at all times, adjusting only for increases or decreases in seasonal temperature. Remember: a 10°F increase or decrease in outside air temperature will result in a 1 psi rise or drop in tire pressure.

A car door left ajar can swing open and strike another vehicle, let high wind and noise inside, or allow personal items to fall out. Worse, it can cause a severe loss of protection in a collision, increasing the likelihood of a fatality. An open trunk can eliminate rear visibility, making a number of maneuvers extremely dangerous. When the door open or trunk open warning light illuminates, pull over as soon as possible and make sure all doors are closed. If your warning light stays on, take your car to a mechanic when it's convenient.

When alcohol is combined with anxiety, it can be the start of a vicious circle. Stress and anxiety can lead to alcohol use, and alcohol can increase anxiety and depression. As a result, these drinkers tend to rely more heavily on alcohol and become less able to cope with life's problems.

A driver suffering from anxiety is more likely to drive in a distracted, worried way. Not only will alcohol increase the driver's sensitivity to these emotions, but it will also make the very act of driving much more difficult and stressful, exacerbating the problem further and putting everyone on the road at risk.

Follow these steps to perform a rolling start: Turn the key to ON and shift into second gear. Press the clutch to the floor and hold it there. Let the car roll forward and gain speed. When the car reaches 5 to 10 mph, release the clutch suddenly. The engine should start. If it doesn't work the first time, press the clutch all the way in, then release it again suddenly. Once the engine starts, be prepared to press the clutch back in or shift gears to prevent the car from stalling.

A flat tire or a blowout—when your tire explodes—can occur because of a puncture, a defect, or improper inflation. Check tire pressure regularly and inspect your treads for embedded nails and screws. When you suffer a flat tire, grip the steering wheel firmly and steer straight ahead. Take your foot off the accelerator, but don't touch the brake pedal, either. Activate your hazard lights and guide your car to the shoulder. When you've reached a low enough speed to stay in control, you may apply the brakes. If one of your front tires goes flat, the car will pull to the side of the deflated tire. If a rear tire goes flat, the car will wobble and sway, and in some cases will also pull slightly to the side of the deflated tire.

As we'll discuss in much more detail later, Texas also has very important laws governing the operation of motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. For now, remember that you may be arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) if your BAC measures .08% or higher, or if you exhibit any signs of impairment. You can also be arrested and charged with a DWI if you're found with any amount of certain controlled substances in your system, or if you're under 21 and your BAC measures higher than .00%.

A law enforcement officer may ask the operator of a motor vehicle to submit to a blood, breath, or urine test to verify their BAC when they are suspected of driving while intoxicated. You may refuse to submit to such a test, but there will be serious legal consequences. According to Texas's Implied Consent Law, signing an application for a drivers license signifies that the applicant agrees to submit to these tests. Drivers who refuse testing will have their drivers license automatically suspended for no less than 180 days.

A wireless radio enables you to hear emergency and weather reports when your car's battery is dead. A battery-operated radio is useful only as long as its batteries are kept in good condition. A hand-charging radio is more reliable over long periods of time and in foul weather. A fire extinguisher can help prevent a minor collision from becoming much more devastating. A five-pound fire extinguisher takes up little space, but can save lives. A first aid kit is essential when a person needs help before paramedics can arrive. A pen and notepad will help you record important information in the event of a collision.

A map will help to prevent confusion, wrong turns, and wasted time. Bottled water and nonperishable food are useful to prevent both boredom and starvation. Duct tape can be used to patch up a broken muffler, bumper, window, or side mirror.

Exemptions Drivers do not need to obtain a CDL to operate any of the following vehicles: A farm vehicles that is controlled and operated by the farmer, used within 150 miles of the person's farm, not used by a common or contract motor carrier, and used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery, or farm supplies A fire-fighting or emergency vehicle whether operated by an official municipal employee or a volunteer firefighter A recreational vehicle (RV) used for personal reasons

A military vehicle or commercial vehicle used for military purposes by military personnel A vehicle owned, leased, or controlled by an air carrier that is driven or operated by an employee of the air carrier on the premises of an airport or on non-public service roads A vehicle used exclusively to transport seed cotton modules or cotton burrs To find out more about obtaining a commercial drivers license, check out the Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Handbook. This guide has all the information you need to know to become a commercial motor vehicle operator.

Avoid flooded areas and flowing water, even if they occur along a road. The road bed may be blocked, disfigured, or otherwise unsafe beneath the water. Don't park your vehicle near a stream or other body of water—flash floods can strike quickly and without notice. Increase your alertness at night, when flooding is less noticeable.

A more common problem than flooding, however, is traction loss. This can happen in wet or dry weather, can be caused in a number of ways, and can affect the front wheels, the rear wheels, or all wheels. When your wheels lose traction against the ground, the way they behave is often called skidding. This refers to a common form of traction loss in which the tire loses rolling friction against the ground and begins to slide, or skid, across its surface.

Even a well-maintained vehicle will suffer occasional malfunctions. The information provided in this lesson will enable you to respond appropriately to many of the malfunctions you're most likely to encounter on the road. Most of the information in this lesson applies across all types of cars, but each car is different. Reading your vehicle owner's manual is essential to understanding your vehicle's warning lights, specifications, and operation.

A number of different conditions can cause the check engine light to illuminate, including problems with your engine's spark plugs, air flow sensor, oxygen sensor, and catalytic converter. Even a loose gas cap can trigger the check engine light. When the check engine light illuminates, drive to a mechanic as soon as possible—your engine could be on the verge of breaking down. Having it inspected immediately can save you from even greater expense and inconvenience in the near future.

When a person's body becomes accustomed to the presence of alcohol or drug in the bloodstream, his or her nervous system adapts to the drug's presence in an attempt to stabilize the body's functions. When the drug leaves the system too quickly or stays gone for too long, the user suffers from withdrawal. The symptoms of withdrawal depend on the person, the drug, and the way the drug was used. Often, the user will suffer effects opposite those of the drug itself—such as lethargy with stimulants, or overexcitement with depressants. Because the body has learned to counter the effects of the drug to adapt to its presence, when the drug is removed, the user feels the effects of the countering forces intensely.

A person suffering from withdrawal craves the withdrawn drug and often believes that he or she needs the drug to function normally. To some extent, this is the case: a person who has consistently kept a significant amount of alcohol in his or her bloodstream for a number of years may die if he or she stops drinking alcohol for too long.

A head-on collision occurs when a vehicle strikes another object directly in front of it. In this case, 100% of the vehicle's speed is directed towards the point of impact. Almost every collision is a head-on collision for one of the vehicles involved. In a head-on collision, occupants are thrown towards the front of the vehicle. As always, seat belts and air bags are extremely important safety measures. The front crumple zone also offers vital protection: it buckles on impact, increasing the duration over which stopping force is applied to the vehicle. This reduces the impulse felt by occupants, ultimately reducing injury.

A rear-end collision occurs when a vehicle is struck by another object from behind. In this case 100% of the vehicle's speed is directed away from the point of impact—the faster the impacted car is travelling, the less forceful will be the impact. In a rear-end collision, occupants are thrown towards the back of the vehicle. Whiplash, caused by the neck snapping forward and backwards, is a common injury in these collisions. The rear crumple zone offers important protection, but some vehicles, like many minivans, have no rear crumple zone.

A rear-end collision can push your vehicle forward. This is especially dangerous when you're waiting at a traffic light, STOP sign, or YIELD sign—you may be pushed into cross traffic. To avoid being rear-ended, check your mirrors often. Keep track of the vehicles behind you. Try to maintain a safe distance between the vehicle directly behind you, and brake early to give the driver advance warning when you slow down or stop. Signal before every lane change to avoid being struck from behind by a vehicle in the next lane. To avoid rear-ending another vehicle, maintain a safe following distance behind it. Look farther than just the vehicle in front of you, so that you can have advance warning before it slows down or stops.

A side-impact collision occurs when a vehicle is struck primarily on the side of the passenger compartment—on or near a side door. These collisions are particularly dangerous because crumple zones don't exist in these locations, and because the impact often occurs much closer to where the occupants are seated.

A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that sobriety checkpoints in particular are an effective way to reduce the impact and prevalence of drunk driving. On average, areas in which sobriety checkpoints are implemented see about 20% fewer alcohol-related traffic collisions. The CDC also found that the results were similar for both short-term and long-term roadblock campaigns. This suggests that the effectiveness of roadblocks does not diminish over time.

A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that sobriety checkpoints in particular are an effective way to reduce the impact and prevalence of drunk driving. On average, areas in which sobriety checkpoints are implemented see about 20% fewer alcohol-related traffic collisions. The CDC also found that the results were similar for both short-term and long-term roadblock campaigns. This suggests that the effectiveness of roadblocks does not diminish over time.

In the event that your license or ID is lost or destroyed, or if your name, address, or other information has changed, you can apply for a duplicate license or ID at your local drivers license office for a fee of $10. Name and address changes should be reported within 30 days. You may request a change of address duplicate license at the Texas DPS website. If your license is expiring in less than 12 months, or your provisional license is expiring in less than 30 days, you should renew your license rather than request a duplicate in these circumstances.

About six weeks before your license is due to expire, you will be mailed a renewal notice card (at the last address you gave to the DPS). You must renew your license whether or not you receive this notice. In general, you will have to renew your license in person at a drivers license office. However, some licensees will be invited by the DPS to renew through an alternate means. When renewing, you will have to answer questions about your medical history, and your case may be referred to the Texas Medical Advisory Board if circumstances warrant. You may check online or by phone to find out if you are eligible to renew by alternate means, such as online, through the mail, or by phone at 1-866-DL-RENEW.

If you're thinking about donating your organs, discuss your decision with your family. Family members may try to prevent doctors from recovering your organs if they're unaware of your wishes, even if you're registered as a donor. By talking about it now, it will be easier for your family to respect your wishes if you die suddenly. Remember, choosing to be a donor is your decision. If you want to modify, update, or revoke your organ and tissue donation status, simply log in to the official website for the Donate Life registry.

According to a 2010 survey by Donate Life America, 43% of people are undecided, reluctant, or do not wish to have their organs and tissue donated after their deaths. While an improvement over the previous year, when 50% reported the same, this statistic suggests that there is an urgent need to continue to promote the importance of organ donation. Reluctance to donate may be based on misconceptions or lack of information on the subject. Review the following slides to better understand the process of organ donation.

Memory, focus, and reasoning begin to decline with the first sip of alcohol—from the beginning, you'll have trouble determining your own level of impairment. At this stage, you're already capable of catastrophically dangerous lapses in judgment. Basic muscle control deteriorates next, affecting everything from your eyes and hands to your ability to breathe and stand on your feet. With a high enough dose, breathing stops, cutting off oxygen to the brain and heart—causing death.

According to the CDC, an average of 43,731 people each year died from acute alcohol-related causes between 2001 and 2005. Average yearly deaths include: Traffic collisions: 13,819 deaths Homicide: 7,787 deaths Suicide: 7,235 deaths Fall injuries: 5,532 deaths Non-alcohol poisoning: 5,416 deaths Fire injuries: 1,158 deaths Drowning: 868 deaths Alcohol poisoning: 370 deaths Hypothermia: 269 deaths Child maltreatment: 168 deaths Other acute causes: 1,109 deaths

Every driver is endangered by aggressive behavior. As the roads become more crowded and more people let their emotions get the best of them, more people are dying as the result of road rage. The exact number of collisions caused by aggressive driving is difficult to determine because it involves the disposition of the driver rather than a specific set of mistakes that can be measured. However, recent research suggests that aggressive driving is responsible for a significant number of fatalities.

According to the NHTSA, in 2011, 9,944 fatal crashes, over 30% of all fatal crashes, involved speeding, the most common aggressive driving behavior. A study conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA) concerning collisions between 2003 and 2007 estimated that over 55% of fatal collisions involved one or more aggressive driving behaviors. This study also found that while 78% of drivers think that aggressive driving is a serious or very serious problem, many of the same drivers admitted to aggressive driving of their own. For instance, almost half these respondents admitted to speeding 15 mph over the limit within 30 days of the survey.

Other victims of drunk driving are even less able to defend themselves. Of the 9,878 drunk driving deaths in 2011, a total of 551 victims were age 65 or older. That's about 1 in 18 alcohol-impaired crash victims. The death of an elderly person is not less tragic because of his or her age. People over 65 often have large extended families including grandchildren. Many of their friendships and other relationships have lasted for several decades.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for children age 5 to 14 in 2011. Children age 14 and younger suffered 1,140 traffic fatalities nationwide in 2011. Drunk drivers caused 181 (16%) of these fatalities. That equates to one dead child every 48 hours. Among all drunk driving fatalities, there was a 1-in-55 chance that the victim was under 14 years old. What's worse, 91 children were being driven by the drunk who caused the crash. No parent should have to bury his or her child.

In addition to organ donation, tissue donation has proven an essential medical procedure for improving people's lives. Tissue transplants help individuals with congenital defects, burns, and other severe conditions and foster a quicker and less painful recovery. Bone transplants aid patients recovering from cancers, spinal problems, facial surgery, and severe trauma. Bone marrow transplants help individuals with many medical conditions, including leukemia, but can only be performed with marrow that exactly matches the recipient's. Skin transplants help people with severe burns resist infection and heal faster. Cornea transplants restore sight to people who were blind by replacing the covering of the eye when it becomes clouded by injury or disease.

According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), more than 110,000 people are currently waiting for an organ. In Texas, over 11,000 people are waiting for an organ. Each year fewer than 15,000 people donate their organs, about half of whom are registered donors who have died. From these donors, more than 25,000 organs are provided each year. About 75% of donated organs come from deceased donors, as multiple organs can often be recovered from a single body. In fact, a single donor can save as many as eight lives.

When operating a vehicle, drivers must carry proof that they have met the financial responsibility requirement. For most people, this will be an insurance card issued to them by an insurance company. However, you may also display evidence of financial responsibility using your cell phone if it is equipped with this capacity. You must provide proof of financial responsibility if it is requested by a law enforcement officer or a person with whom you have been involved in a collision, as well as when you: Apply for or renew a driver's license Register your vehicle or renew your registration Have your vehicle inspected

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, approximately 4,000,000 vehicles, or 20% of all vehicles on Texas roads, are not insured. If you are involved in a collision with an uninsured driver, you may find it difficult to collect the full amount you are owed. To reduce the number of uninsured drivers, Texas has established the TexasSure program that allows law enforcement agents to immediately confirm whether a vehicle is insured. This prevents drivers from demonstrating their financial responsibility with a counterfeit or expired insurance document. If you are stopped by a law enforcement agent, he or she will consult the TexasSure database to determine your insurance status. Nevertheless, you are still required to carry proof of financial responsibility with you whenever you drive.

This important provision, now enacted in some form in all 50 states, establishes a .08% BAC as the per se limit for driving. "Per se" is Latin for "by itself." It is used in this case to mean that, regardless of any visible impairment or influence of alcohol and other drugs, a .08% BAC is, by itself, enough to constitute the offense of DWI. In fact, the arresting officer does not need to witness any driving at all. As a result of these laws, drunk drivers are significantly more likely to be convicted for their crimes.

According to the Texas Penal Code, a driver is considered legally intoxicated if he or she meets one of the following conditions: He or she does not have the normal use of mental or physical faculties because of the introduction of a controlled substance, a drug, a combination of two or more of those substances, or any other substance into the body. He or she has a BAC of .08% or higher. These standards apply both to DWI and public intoxication offenses.

Fortunately, new laws passed in 2005 made it more difficult for drug dealers to purchase many of the chemicals needed to manufacture methamphetamine. This helped to reverse Texas's trend of increasing abuse. However, while methamphetamine-related poison control center calls and drug treatment program admissions have decreased since 2005, deaths related to either methamphetamine or amphetamines have risen from 111 in 2008 to 248 in 2012. Methamphetamine use in Texas is a serious and growing public health concern.

Additionally, the abuse of certain synthetic drugs has become a major problem in Texas in recent years. Bath Salts are dangerous stimulants containing amphetamine-like chemicals such as mephedrone and MDPV. Designed to simulate the effects of meth and cocaine using legally-available chemicals, bath salts could be legally obtained until recently, when they were reclassified as controlled substances in Texas and throughout the U.S. Although they have not been thoroughly studied, bath salts are believed to be as dangerous as other deadly stimulants. Bath salts can cause rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, chest pains, agitation, hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions. Between January and February of 2011, U.S. poison centers received over 250 calls related to bath salts.

Additionally, there is some evidence that cell phone use can limit your peripheral vision. One recent study concluded that: "Cell phone conversations tend to artificially constrict the peripheral awareness as measured by a visual field. This suggests that cell phone use while driving can decrease the perceptual visual field, making the driver less aware of the surroundings and more susceptible to accidents."

Additionally, there is some evidence that cell phone use can limit your peripheral vision. One recent study concluded that: "Cell phone conversations tend to artificially constrict the peripheral awareness as measured by a visual field. This suggests that cell phone use while driving can decrease the perceptual visual field, making the driver less aware of the surroundings and more susceptible to accidents."

The gases produced in the internal combustion process must be expelled from the car. Otherwise, the engine may malfunction or carbon monoxide may build up within the vehicle. The exhaust system carries these gases away from the engine. Remember, carbon monoxide can be deadly. A small leak in your exhaust system can lead to a buildup in carbon monoxide, causing you and your passengers to become sick and impairing your ability to drive safely. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, have your exhaust system checked routinely.

After fuel is exploded within the engine cylinders, the gases it emits are sent through the exhaust system: The spent gases are released into an exhaust manifold that collects them into a single stream. The catalytic converter reduces the amount of pollutants in the exhaust. The muffler reduces the noise emitted in the combustion process. By law, all cars must have a muffler. The tailpipe vents the hot gases away from the vehicle.

To install a spare tire, first park your vehicle, set the parking brake, turn off the engine, and take the keys from the ignition. Park your vehicle on level ground in a place where you won't be in any danger while you replace your tire. Before you do anything else, check your vehicle owner's manual to find where your spare tire equipment is, and where the designated contact points for jacking up your vehicle are.

After reading your vehicle owner's manual, make preparations for the spare tire installation. Remove all equipment you'll need: tire iron, jack, and spare tire. Your jack may require, and include, a metal hand crank for its operation. Check your spare tire's air pressure right away. It may be flat itself, in which case you'll need to call a tow truck. It's a good idea to carry sturdy blocks in your trunk, and to place them on either side of the wheel diagonally opposite the flat to keep it from moving. Large rocks will work if you don't have anything. If the flat tire's wheel has a cover, remove it. If you have reflective warning signs, place them 100 ft in front of and behind your vehicle.

An organ is one of the most generous gifts a person can give or receive. Find out more about organ and tissue donation by visiting the following websites: The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Donate Life America

After the next quiz, you'll watch a movie on water safety. (It's required for all Texas drivers education students.) Drowning is one of the top causes of accidental death in the U.S., especially among young people, and serious injuries related to unsafe behavior on the water are even more common. To stay safe around water, remember the following tips: Know your skills and your limits: Make sure you don't go out on the water unless you know how to swim, or at least tread water. Don't overestimate how far you can swim or how long you can hold your breath. Never swim alone: Always swim with a buddy or in a place where you'll be clearly visible to a lifeguard. Drownings are extremely uncommon when a lifeguard is present.

In addition, drivers often feel anonymous inside their cars, and thus empowered to act as they wish because nobody knows who they are. Inside the protection of their cars, these drivers may feel distinctly separate from others on the road. Even people who are usually mild-mannered may indulge their aggression when they're behind the wheel. Since most people on the road are strangers to each other, a driver may feel that his or her actions won't have significant consequences.

Aggressive driving typically occurs when a driver is occupied with negative thoughts, such as: "Why are these cars going so slow?" "All of these cars are trying to crowd me out!" "Ha! I'll speed up and show him!" "If everyone else is going to be rude, why should I be courteous?" "The car in front of me will speed up if I tailgate!" "We'll never make it in time!" If you find yourself thinking like this, remind yourself, "It's no use getting worked up over someone else's bad driving," or "Relax! I'll get there eventually."

Even at moderate levels of alcohol consumption, the corneas and lenses become less responsive, making your eyes unable to focus properly. Moreover, as their muscles lose their precision, your two eyes will find it difficult to focus on the same object, causing you to see double. Objects at all distances will appear blurry. You won't be able to read speed limits or distinguish between different lanes. Attempts to focus your vision are likely to be painful and ineffective, further distracting you from situations on the road.

Alcohol also affects the pupil's ability to expand and contract, making it unable to quickly or effectively respond to changes in brightness. When a drunk driver is exposed to sudden brightness, he or she may feel pain be temporarily blinded, and shut his or her eyes against the light. When the driver's field of vision becomes dim again, he or she may see only black for more time than normal.

The brain also suffers when other organs begin to deteriorate: A weakened heart and circulatory system can cause blockages in the bloodstream. When these blockages try to pass through the brain, they can cause a stroke. Effects of stroke include permanent brain damage and death. An overburdened liver will release more harmful substances into the bloodstream. If kidney function is impaired, these harmful substances will be even more prevalent. When these substances reach the brain, they can cause a condition known as hepatic encephalopathy, which can have harmful effects including depression, mood and coordination problems, personality changes, coma, and death.

Alcohol and Nutrition Compared with other things you may eat or drink, alcohol is particularly bad for your nutrition. Consider: One ounce of alcohol weighs roughly 23 grams. "One drink" contains about 0.6 ounces of alcohol. Each gram of alcohol contains 7 calories. Thus, the alcohol content in a standard drink contains almost 100 calories. Keep in mind that these calories are only those contributed by the alcohol itself. In any alcoholic beverage (especially beers, wine coolers, and sweet mixed drinks), there will be considerably more calories contributed by the non-alcoholic portion.

Moreover, alcohol lacks any of the other nutrients normally found in foods and drinks, such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. As a result, when you consume alcohol, the body gains no new material for rebuilding cell walls, generating new muscle tissue, or providing energy. Alcohol interferes with nutrition in other ways, too. According to a 2005 NIAAA report, alcohol abuse can trigger overeating and reduce feelings of fullness. The same report links binge drinking with higher levels of obesity.

Alcohol and Your Immune System There are a number of ways that alcohol damages your immune system. When your immune system is compromised, you are more vulnerable to bacteria, viruses, and cancer. White blood cells, which are responsible for fighting diseases, are worse at destroying the cells they attack. So-called "natural killer" cells, a specialized form of white blood cell, suffer a reduced ability to destroy tumors. T-cells, another type of white blood cell, have difficulty developing. Either too many or two few cytokines, which tell bodily tissues how to respond to an infection, are produced. Too many cytokines can lead to tissue damage, while too few leave tissue especially vulnerable to infection.

These numbers are significant. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities, for example, are not a rare occurrence. Between 2001 and 2005, an average of 38 people were killed in such collisions every day—more than one fatality every hour. Alcohol kills on long timescales as well as short ones. In the four years studied, an average of 36,643 people died each year due to chronic causes including alcoholic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, alcohol dependence syndrome, hypertension, and cancer of the esophagus. Consider the information contained in this course before making the choice to drink. It may not be worth the price you pay.

Alcohol and other drugs severely damage your judgment. A number of mental faculties are necessary for good judgment, and they all decline when drugs are introduced into the bloodstream. A special danger of drug use is that you may not realize you are impaired. If you knew you were impaired, you would probably behave with more caution. But on drugs, you'll often believe your abilities have heightened, causing you to behave even more recklessly. This can be deadly.

Heart Damage Your heart is perhaps the most vital organ in your body. Like the engine in your car, your heart powers the system that allows all the other organs in your body to function properly. Your heart completes a single pumping cycle, or pulse, around 100,000 times every day, and must function well in order for the body to remain healthy. When your heart stops beating, your body is considered dead.

Alcohol damages your heart, and the rest of your circulatory system, in several ways. Alcohol causes direct damage to the heart by impairing its ability to contract and increasing the amount of fat that it absorbs. Swelling, elevated diastolic blood pressure, and congestive heart failure are all associated with heavy alcohol consumption. In addition, heavy drinking followed by strenuous exercise has proven fatal, even among relatively healthy young athletes.

Finally, even though you can always control whether you choose to drive after drinking or doing drugs, you can't control what other people do. Be conscious of the possibility of drunk drivers on the road—even in the morning or afternoon. Learn how to recognize and avoid them.

Alcohol generally makes drivers sloppy and aggressive. Learn to recognize these common signs of drunk driving, and avoid drunk drivers to the fullest extent possible while driving safely. Poor lane position—swerving, weaving, drifting, or steadily driving too far to the left or right Tailgating Illegal maneuvers Sideswipes or near misses Speeding or driving too slow Jerky acceleration Failure to signal Slow response to traffic signals Driving with headlights off at nightq

The rates of absorption of alcohol and other drugs depend on many factors, including the method of administration. Injection provides a more immediate effect, because the drug enters directly into the bloodstream, while ingestion requires the drug to pass through the digestive system, delaying the effects. The same drugs may have different forms and may be used in different ways depending on the desired effect. The rates of elimination of drugs from the body vary from hours to days. Nicotine, for example, is eliminated very rapidly, while THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, leaves the body at a slow rate and can be detected for several days after inhalation.

Alcohol is a depressant. After entering your body, it makes its way into your bloodstream, eventually passing through your liver, kidneys, heart, brain, and other organs. Just like other depressants, alcohol causes your bodily functions to slow down and eventually stop. You can never perfectly predict the effects you'll experience after drinking alcohol on a given occasion, but remember that any kind of impairment is unsafe and unpredictable.

When you've been drinking, you won't have the cognitive skills to cope with your emotions adequately. You'll also feel worse, have a harder time focusing, grow impatient quickly, and take longer to notice dangerous situations. Together, these factors can cause you to feel your emotions intensely and it will be impossible for you to maintain a courteous and cautious attitude when you're on the road.

Alcohol is particularly like to heighten aggressive behavior. Many drivers, especially male drivers, have a tendency to view driving as a competitive activity and treat other drivers in an aggressive manner. Under the influence of alcohol, this attitude is amplified. A combination of aggression, loss of judgment, and lack of inhibitions is a recipe for disaster. It can cause a driver to race others, tailgate another vehicle, try to beat a train at a railroad crossing, or pass another vehicle at reckless speeds.

Alcohol and drug use can blind you to the causes of your stress. You may develop a warped understanding of your circumstances and place blame in the wrong places. As a result, you may try to relieve your stress in inappropriate and unsafe ways, or may fail to even realize how your behavior is being affected by stress. This is an especially dangerous attitude to have on the road. It could cause you to harass other drivers, disregard your own driving mistakes, or respond to a frustrating situation recklessly.

Alcohol prevents you from dealing with your emotional problems in healthy and effective ways. When you've been drinking, you're less likely to act rationally and consider what you're doing thoroughly. The more intoxicated you are, the less able you will be to control your emotions. Even if alcohol isn't the thing making you upset, you'll be more at the mercy of your emotions and less able to take advantage of your natural coping mechanisms when you drink.

Effects on Your Circulatory System The circulatory system causes blood to circulate throughout the body, transmitting oxygen, nutrients, water, and other vital chemicals to all of your organs. Your blood, heart, and blood vessels are the primary components of the circulatory system in your body. A healthy circulatory system is vital for preventing diseases, maintaining a consistent body temperature, and sustaining every part of your body. Alcohol suppresses the life-sustaining functions of the circulatory system.

Alcohol slows your heart rate, preventing your organs and tissues from getting the blood that they need. Alcohol decreases your blood pressure, making it more difficult for your circulatory system to move blood around your body. Alcohol damages your heart, reducing its ability to contract and increasing its absorption of fats.

In the last unit, we discussed how alcohol can cause permanent harm to your body. It's important to realize that alcohol can just as permanently change your emotions, your personality, and your reasoning skills. When you consume alcohol, you may be surprised to find yourself doing things you never would have considered before. This can lead you to feel complex emotions like confusion, guilt, or shame. To avoid grappling with these emotions, you may drink more. Eventually, you may come to rely on alcohol just to cope with the basic stresses of life.

Alcohol use is a widespread phenomenon in the United States. In 2012, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 52.1% of Americans age 12 or older reported that they were current alcohol users. In the same report, it was found that 31.0% of heavy drinkers 12 or older were also current users of illegal drugs, compared with only 4.2% of those who were not current alcohol users. This suggests that heavy drinkers are about nine times more likely than non-drinkers to abuse drugs as well.

Alcohol will not solve your problems. In general, the effects of drinking will be the opposite of what you intended. For instance, when you drink alcohol, your behavior won't be what anyone would describe as "cool." Your speech will be slurred, you'll be unable to form sentences, and you'll stumble, vomit, and pass out. Alcohol may make people laugh at you, pity you, or be disgusted by you—but it certainly won't make them admire you.

Alcohol won't make you forget your problems, either. You'll be more likely to dwell on sad thoughts when drinking, and you'll have more difficulty than normal thinking of ways to solve your problems. Alcohol can continue to cause depressive emotions even after you've finished drinking, and can even contribute to major depressive disorder.

While the liver breaks down and alters chemicals to make them less effective and easier to remove from the body, the kidneys perform more of a physical act of filtration. Blood passing through the kidneys is filtered of harmful or inessential materials, including broken-down drugs, which are then sent to the urinary system for excretion. According to the National Kidney Foundation, the kidneys perform their life-sustaining job of filtering and returning to the bloodstream about 200 quarts, or 50 gallons, of fluid every 24 hours. About two quarts are removed from the body in the form of urine, and about 198 quarts are recovered.

Along with removing drugs from the body, the kidneys also need to perform other very important functions including: Removing waste products from the body Balancing pH levels Releasing hormones that regulate blood pressure Producing an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones Controlling the production of red blood cells By overloading the liver and kidneys with extra work, drug users put their entire bodies in danger. We will discuss how alcohol and other drugs cause organ damage in detail later.

Finally, replace your tools. Pick up any blocks or warning signs you placed on the ground, and place them in your trunk with the jack, tire iron, and flat tire. At this point you can drive away, but keep in mind that you're using a spare tire. They don't last as long as proper tires, and they aren't fit for driving above 50 mph. Check your spare tire or vehicle owner's manual for top speed recommendations.

Although it's extremely rare, your accelerator pedal can become stuck in the down position, leading to uncontrolled acceleration. If this happens to you, don't panic. Activate your hazard lights and shift to neutral. If your transmission doesn't shift to neutral, try holding the gearshift in the neutral position. If this doesn't work, you may be able to force your transmission into neutral gear by shifting into Reverse—but be careful: while some vehicles are designed to shift into neutral when Reverse is selected while moving forward, other vehicles will suffer severe transmission damage. Your vehicle owner's manual may contain information on this topic. If you're driving a manual transmission vehicle, press the clutch all the way in and hold it there.

There are a number of other factors that can affect your BAC in complex ways. Many drugs interact with alcohol and your body's metabolism, causing you to absorb alcohol faster or slower than normal. Age, genetics, tolerance, fatigue, and strong emotional states, such as anger or depression, can also lead to different alcohol absorption rates. These are among the reasons that BAC provides a far better tool for measuring impairment than does the number of drinks consumed.

Although no indirect method is perfect, you don't need a breathalyzer to estimate your blood alcohol content. You will need to know the following variables: Weight: your weight, in pounds Alcohol: the amount of alcohol consumed, in ounces Time: the time since you began drinking, in hours .015%: the rate at which BAC decreases per hour 8 or 10: 8 if you are a male, 10 if you are a female

Always eat before you get on the road. Even if you're picking up food to go and have to eat on the run, never try to eat while operating your car. You won't starve if you have to wait a few more minutes to eat, but you can die in a car crash in a matter of seconds. Keep the food in the back seat or the trunk to prevent you from getting tempted on the road. If necessary, find a safe place to park where you can eat at your leisure.

Always eat before you get on the road. Even if you're picking up food to go and have to eat on the run, never try to eat while operating your car. You won't starve if you have to wait a few more minutes to eat, but you can die in a car crash in a matter of seconds. Keep the food in the back seat or the trunk to prevent you from getting tempted on the road. If necessary, find a safe place to park where you can eat at your leisure.

When it comes to road safety, drivers age 15 to 20 are already at a disadvantage for a number of reasons. When alcohol or other drugs are brought into the picture, you can see that young drivers are more in a particularly dangerous position. A few statistics from the United States in 2011 will help illustrate the involvement of young drivers in fatal collisions. A total of 1,059 drivers age 15 to 20 were involved in a fatal collision while they had an illegal BAC of .01% or higher. Of these drivers, 640 (60%) were killed. If you're under 20, consume alcohol, and are involved in a fatal collision, there's a 3-in-5 chance that you'll be one of the fatalities.

Among young drivers involved in fatal crashes who had a BAC of .01% or higher, 57% were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision. These drivers were more likely to be killed in the collision—of all drivers killed, 70% were not wearing a seat belt. Although 24% of all young drivers involved in fatal collisions had a BAC of .01% or higher, these drivers were split unevenly between males and females. Of all males involved, 28% had been drinking at the time of the collision—but only 16% of all females had been drinking.

For the rest of the 18th and most of the 19th century, most self-propelled vehicles were powered by steam or electricity. Finally, in 1885, German mechanical engineer Karl Benz designed and built the first practical automobile using the technology still most common today: the internal-combustion engine. On January 29, 1886, Benz received the first patent (DRP No. 37435) for his gas-fueled car.

Another German engineer, Gottlieb Daimler, was also working on a car, with an improved version of the internal-combustion engine, in 1885. By 1894, motor vehicles were common enough that the first Grand Prix race could be held. However, this auspicious event was soon followed by a tragic one: in 1896, the first traffic death occurred when Bridget Driscoll, a mother of two, was killed by a car when she stepped into the street. Upon her death, the coroner stated, "I trust that this sort of nonsense will never happen again."

When new motor oil is poured into your car, it is stored in an oil pan. The oil is sent to the engine by an oil pump. Eventually, it drains back into the oil pan, where it is mixed with the oil in the reservoir and recycled. Over time, engine oil breaks down and loses its protective properties. To ensure your car continues to operate correctly, motor oil should be drained and replaced regularly according to the schedule printed in your owner's manual. Only change the oil yourself if you know what you're doing and can dispose of the old oil safely. In general, its best to have a professional mechanic perform an oil change.

Another engine fluid that you should periodically check and maintain at safe levels is engine coolant, also known as antifreeze. The chemical properties of engine coolant allow it to absorb excess heat in the engine. Coolant also keeps the engine parts from freezing in cold weather. The friction of moving engine parts and the explosion of fuel in the engine cylinders creates more heat than the engine can convert into mechanical power. Extreme temperatures have the potential to cause catastrophic engine failure.

In many Texas countries, an annual emissions test is mandatory. However, it's a good idea to have an emissions test in addition to your safety inspection even if it's not required, as high emissions don't just harm the environment—they can also mean that something is wrong with your car. Over half of all vehicular pollution comes from 10% of cars on the road, most of which aren't functioning properly. Click here to find an inspection station near you.

Another form of environmental damage that Texas drivers are responsible for is litter. Any garbage not properly disposed of in a trash can is considered litter. When you litter, you increase the amount of debris on the road, making driving more dangerous and the driving environment more unpleasant for everyone. Moreover, while air pollution is an inevitable consequence of choosing to drive, roadside litter only happens when you consciously decide to toss trash from your car.

Memory: Hallucinogens can cause short-term and long-term memory loss. They can also introduce false memories and basic misunderstandings of real memories. Attention and focus: Attention and focus may be lost under the influence of hallucinogens, particularly dissociatives. Reasoning: Your ability to use reason may suffer greatly, even without counting memory loss and inattention.

Anxiety and panic: Hallucinogens can cause extreme levels of anxiety and panic, including feelings of paranoia. This can be the result either of runaway thought processes or of deeply frightening hallucinations. Aggression and depression: Both aggression and depression are possible effects of hallucinogens. In addition, both rapid short-term mood changes and drastic long-term mood changes are possible.

As we've mentioned previously, the penalties for Zero Tolerance offenses also apply to the crime of Driving Under the Influence as a Minor. Any driver under 21 who is found to have been driving with any detectable amount of alcohol in his or her system will face a fine of up to $500, up to 40 hours of community service (or 60 hours for subsequent offenses), and a license suspension of at least 60 days for a first offense, 120 days for a second offense, and 180 days for third and subsequent offenses.

Anyone caught committing a DUI offense will have his or her license suspended or revoked for some period of time, no matter what other penalties they receive. Additionally, if you're caught driving while your license in invalid, your vehicle will be impounded for at least 30 days. Research has shown that vehicle impoundment keeps drivers off the road when their license is suspended. For many, the threat of losing their car is enough to keep them from driving. By taking the vehicles of those who insist on driving while their license is suspended, these drivers are effectively prevented from getting back on the road.

All personal care tasks will distract your attention from the road: Shaving involves sustained use of at least one hand while looking at yourself in a mirror. You may drop your razor or cut yourself with a blade. Fixing your hair involves taking a hand from the wheel and moving it around your head in such a way that your view of the road will be limited. Brushing and flossing your teeth involves removing one or both hands from the steering wheel.

Applying make-up requires far more precision control or attention to detail than you can afford while driving. You may try switching between different cosmetics, and if you hit a bump while applying eyeliner or mascara, you could seriously injure your eye. Adjusting jewelry or a tie will divert your attention from the road. Adjusting your contact lenses requires extreme care. If you drop a contact lens while driving, you'll either have to search for your missing lens or drive with blurry vision in one eye, both of which are very dangerous.

Are you 16 to 20 years old? If so, then you are in one of the most vulnerable age groups. In 2011, drunk drivers killed 1,036 people age 16 to 20. More than 1 in 10 victims of fatal drunk driving collisions were in this age group. Importantly, ages 16 to 20 includes all people eligible for restricted and full privilege licenses in Texas, but under the legal drinking age.

Are you 16 to 20 years old? If so, then you are in one of the most vulnerable age groups. In 2011, drunk drivers killed 1,036 people age 16 to 20. More than 1 in 10 victims of fatal drunk driving collisions were in this age group. Importantly, ages 16 to 20 includes all people eligible for restricted and full privilege licenses in Texas, but under the legal drinking age.

Have you ever heard the expression, "Living well is the best revenge"? Keep this in mind when dealing with an aggressive driver. If you feel insulted by another driver's actions, shrug it off. The best way to get back at aggressive drivers is to laugh at the futility of their behavior once they've passed you. Remind yourself that while they're still irritated by everything around them and at a higher risk of causing a collision, you're capable of relaxing and enjoying the experience of driving.

As a driver, you must avoid behaviors likely to anger others or provoke them to act aggressively. A careless or reckless mistake may cause a tense or stressed driver to lose control of his or her emotions. Remember, aggressive drivers are generally impatient, insistent on having their own way, and critical both of themselves and others. If you make a driving error, even accidentally, it's possible the other driver will try to pick a fight with you.

When you drink, your physical coordination will suffer in the following ways: Your sense of balance will diminish, making you feel as though you're falling even when you're not and causing you to overcompensate when trying to correct minor mistakes. You'll be less able to control your muscles, making it difficult to perform simple physical tasks even when you understand what you're trying to do. Your vision and bodily movements will become abnormally detached from your mental understanding of your immediate surroundings. As a consequence, you're likely to move your body in ineffective ways.

As a driver, your reaction time is extremely important. In many situations, the amount of time it takes you to react can mean the difference between life and death. Being able to react quickly isn't necessary only when you're trying to avoid a catastrophic hazard in the road. Passing a vehicle, stopping at a red light, even making a right turn at a four-way stop—in short, every driving situation—can become deadly if you take too long to react.

Alcohol doesn't just affect your health. It also affects your mood and personality in ways you can't anticipate. The psychological effects of alcohol and other drugs can be extremely debilitating. When you consume alcohol, you'll experience: Impaired judgment Poor concentration Impaired thinking and reasoning Compulsiveness Exaggerated feelings of anger, fear, and anxiety

As a minor, your organs and your body are not mature enough to fully handle the impacts of alcohol on your system. Moreover, you probably haven't had sufficient life experience to consume alcohol in a mature and responsible way and will be particularly susceptible to its psychological effects. Prohibitions against underage drinking are not arbitrary. They're designed to give you enough time to develop so you'll be physically and mentally prepared to handle alcohol when you start to drink.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, over one billion pieces of litter are deposited on Texas roadways every year. In order to educate the public about this problem, the state established the Don't Mess with Texas campaign. This initiative includes events like the annual, state-wide "Trash-Off" litter removal day. There are significant penalties for littering. You can be fined up to $500 for a first littering offense, and may face a fine of up to $2,000 and a jail term of 180 days for subsequent littering offenses.

As a responsible driver, you shouldn't have to worry about litter in the first place. As we've discussed, eating, drinking, smoking, and other activities that would create trash are dangerous distractions and should be avoided while driving. If you do produce trash, keep it in your car in a place that's not likely to distract you until you find a trash can. Look for trash barrels on the side of the road marked with the "Don't Mess with Texas" logo. Waiting to discard trash in an appropriate place will cost you nothing.

However, while automobiles have changed American society in positive ways, they have also caused enduring problems. Cars have led to increased urban sprawl and air and water pollution, and continue to contribute to thousands of traffic deaths in the U.S. each year. Indeed, since 1965, when emissions regulations were introduced and seat belts became mandatory, automobile manufacturers have focused on innovations aimed at reducing the social costs of cars themselves.

As computer technologies become more advanced, advanced systems are becoming more deeply integrated into modern vehicles. Indeed, some researchers want to eliminate the dangers of human error, distraction, and intoxication by developing cars that can guide themselves. Whatever happens, cars are likely to remain central to American society. For many, they provide safe, efficient, and affordable access to opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.

The rate at which the crankshaft in the engine is spinning is displayed on your vehicle's tachometer. In most modern cars, the engine performs best when it is rotating at 5,000 to 6,000 revolutions per minute (rpm). This is equivalent to 100 revolutions every second! Remember, if the needle on your tachometer is pointing to the red area, your engine is moving too fast. Reduce the pressure on your accelerator pedal before your engine explodes!

As more fuel is supplied to the engine, the crankshaft begins to rotate so rapidly that, if it were connected directly to a car's drive wheels, it would produce speeds too fast to drive safely in most situations. The transmission uses a series of gears to adjust the output speed of the engine so that your wheels will spin at the desired rate while peak engine performance is maintained. In a car with a manual transmission, the higher the gear the driver selects, the less the speed of the wheels will be reduced.

Nonrenewal An insurance company can only refuse to renew your policy until you have been covered for at least 12 months. If a company decides not to renew your policy, it must inform you 30 days before your coverage expires. In general, a company's refusal to renew will be based on your behavior as a driver. A company cannot refuse to renew your policy for claims or crashes that cannot reasonably be blamed on you, unless such incidents occur multiple times within a 12-month period.

As soon as your insurance company informs you of its decision to end its relationship with you, you should start looking for a new insurer immediately. You may have to apply for TAIPA coverage if you cannot find another insurer to cover you. If your coverage lapses, you won't be able to drive until you obtain a new policy. By law, an insurance company cannot deny, refuse to renew, limit, or charge more for your coverage on account of your race, color, religion, or national origin. Additionally, age, gender, marital status, geographical location, and disability can only be used to refuse, limit, or charge more for coverage if sound actuarial principles indicate that you present a greater risk of loss to your insurer.

Also be careful not to be distracted by a sneeze. Although there's rarely anything you can do to prevent a sneeze, it's important to realize how distracting a sneeze can be. When you sneeze, you won't be able to see the road or control your car properly. Don't drive if you have a cold or allergy that's causing you to sneeze excessively. If you feel a sneeze coming on that you can't suppress, try to move to a safe road position or increase the space around your car to reduce the risk of a collision.

As we discussed earlier, even using the devices in your car can be dangerously distracting. Don't let yourself get into the habit of fiddling with knobs unconsciously: adjust these controls only when stopped. The stereo system in your car has the potential to be particularly distracting. While drivers will usually wait for a safe time to adjust the temperature or program the GPS, they tend to change radio stations or tracks whenever they feel like it.

Your brakes are your car's most essential safety feature. If other components stop working, you can still use your brakes to stop your car before something worse happens, but if your brakes fail, it will be more difficult for you to get off the road safely. To help avoid such situations, there are two independent braking systems installed in your car: The service brakes, which are activated by your brake pedal, are used to slow and stop your vehicle while driving. Although typically used to hold your car one place while stopped or parked, the parking brake (also called the emergency brake) can also be used to slow your vehicle in an emergency.

As we discussed in Unit 10, the service brakes work by pushing hydraulic fluid through the brake system, causing the brakes to apply enough pressure to each wheel to slow or stop its spinning. In modern cars, the front wheels are controlled by a different set of brakes than the rear wheels. Because the two systems function independently, the brakes controlling one set of wheels are more likely to continue working even when the other set fails.

Currently, according to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, the offense of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is reserved for impaired drivers under the age of 21. Because it is illegal for minors to drive with any amount of alcohol in their system, the presence of any detectable amount of alcohol in a young driver's body is enough to prove that he or she was "influenced" by alcohol. An officer's testimony that he or she could smell alcohol on the driver's breath is enough to obtain a DUI conviction.

As we discussed in the previous unit, Texas has progressive DUI and DWI laws that impose more significant charges on repeat offenders and on those who show an excessive degree of intoxication. In Texas, a driver with a BAC of .15% or higher can be charged as a high-BAC offender. In more serious cases, a minor can be charged with DWI, which involves more significant penalties.

Stress, anger, and other intense emotions can impact your physical state in ways that can be detrimental to your ability to drive safely. These include: Increasing your heart rate and respiration Slowing your metabolism and the process of digestion Producing adrenaline in anticipation of a conflict Increasing the presence of coagulants in your blood, causing your blood pressure to rise and restricting your circulation Inducing nausea, perspiration, and a feeling of exhaustion

As we discussed in the previous unit, physical impairments can distract you from driving and decrease your ability to control your car properly. Additionally, if you can't get your emotions under control, they can have a significant long-term effect on your health. Prolonged or repeated feelings of stress can lead to back and stomach pain, insomnia, weight fluctuations, heart palpitations, and a weakened immune system. Moreover, your decision-making ability will be impaired, making you more likely to act in a risky manner when you're on the road.

If you have trouble getting your insurance company to recognize your claim, try to resolve the problem yourself by talking to your agent or a company representative. Sometimes direct communication is enough to resolve the problem. If the dispute continues, you may be able to receive help by filing a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance. Even though TDI does not have the authority to resolve questions of fact, it may be able to encourage the insurance company to review your problem more thoroughly.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Be an informed and patient consumer when preparing to make a vehicle purchase Make sure your car is legal to drive by having it properly titled, registered, and inspected Recognize the costs of owning and operating a vehicle and adopt habits to reduce expenses Understand the different forms of vehicle insurance and your insurance obligations under the Safety Responsibility Act Know the requirements for filing an insurance claim after you have been involved in a collision

Always strive for the following attitudes when you're on the road: Tolerance for other road users Forgiveness and a recognition that everyone makes mistakes A helpful and courteous attitude towards every driver A sense of humor It's no fun to drive when you're angry! By adopting a positive attitude, you'll make driving a happier, calmer, and safe experience for yourself, your passengers, and everyone else on the road.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Identify your own unsafe driving attitudes and replace them with cautious and courteous driving habits Understand the common sources of driver stress and minimize the influence of stress when you're behind the wheel Acknowledge the risks associated with aggressive driving and road rage and adopt strategies to remain calm while driving Recognize common aggressive driving behaviors and avoid actions likely to aggravate other drivers Treat other drivers with courtesy and understand even when they make mistakes or drive unsafely

The NOAA's active weather alerts website displays alerts such as tornado warnings, flash flood watches, and extreme fire danger alerts. You can learn about your region's specific susceptibility to flooding on the Flood Safety Education Project's website. If you are a resident of San Antonio, Austin, Waco, or Dallas, you're within a large area known as "flash flood alley." Please keep flood safety in mind, prepare yourself for the worst, and understand how to safely deal with flooding.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Prepare for adverse conditions by maintaining your vehicle, checking weather reports, and packing for emergencies Be attentive to changing driving conditions and adjust your driving accordingly Slow down and increase your following distance as soon as driving conditions worsen Realize how adverse conditions can affect traction and understand how to recover from skids Drive safely at night by adopting safe driving strategies and avoiding driving while fatigued

If you become dependent on alcohol, you'll begin to experience unpleasant or painful withdrawal symptoms if you go too long without drinking more. As a result, you may end up drinking in the morning, at work, in your car, or while supervising children. Your life will become oriented entirely around your next drink. If something prevents you from drinking, you'll lash out. Your thoughts will become occupied by your cravings, and the there will be no room for the unique thoughts that once defined you. All that will be left is another stereotypical alcoholic.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Recognize the ability of alcohol to so impair your reasoning abilities that you won't be able to judge your own fitness to drive Fulfill your responsibility to reduce risk by never getting behind the wheel when you've been drinking alcohol Realize that the psychological effects of alcohol can impair your ability to perform essential tasks including multitasking and space management Cope with your own negative emotions by dealing with them directly rather than attempting to address them with alcohol Understand the destructive effect of alcohol addiction on your psychology, personality, and ability to act responsibly

If you have to wait with your vehicle, stay inside unless it's unsafe. Keep yourself safe and comfortable, and remain buckled! In warm weather, roll down your windows and drink water. Don't run the air conditioning constantly, or you risk depleting your battery. For the same reason, in cold weather, only run the heater intermittently. Never sit for extended periods of time in a vehicle with the engine running unless your windows are at least partially rolled down. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and the first symptoms of poisoning may be simply falling asleep—followed eventually by death.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Respond calmly and appropriately when your vehicle malfunctions Review your vehicle owner's manual thoroughly so that you can better understand your vehicle Keep yourself and other road users safe by calling the fire department immediately if your vehicle catches fire Slow your malfunctioning car down as much as possible before entering the road's shoulder Pull over in a safe place, away from traffic, curves, and hills, when dealing with an emergency

In addition to the safety inspection, drivers in many Texas counties are required to have an emissions test performed annually. Gasoline-powered vehicles that are between 2 and 24 years old must receive an emissions test in the following counties: Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, Williamson. Find out more about safety inspection and emissions test requirements on the Texas DPS website.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Understand the importance of regular motor oil changes to the proper functioning of the vehicle's engine Maintain the vehicle's electrical system, including the battery and alternator, as well as the lights and windshield wipers Avoid brake failure by watching and listening for signs of excessive brake wear Improve your vehicle's traction by selecting the best tires for your car and having them rotated regularly Prolong the life of your car by performing maintenance tasks, scheduling professional service, and remembering to have your car inspected

there are a number of resources available to help you avoid drinking. If you want advice for dealing with peer pressure, or if you think someone you know has a problem with alcohol, visit these websites for more information: 2 Young 2 Drink, a resource provided by the Texas Alcoholic Beverages Commission Prevention Resource Centers in Texas Other prevention resources for teens Alcoholics Anonymous Al-Anon Family Groups

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Understand the unacceptable costs of alcohol abuse on individuals and society at large Recognize the causes and tragic consequences of underage drinking Keep your license by abiding by your legal responsibilities under the Zero Tolerance Laws Protect your friends from the dangers of drunk driving by keeping them off the road and volunteering to be a designated driver Consume alcohol legally and responsibly and decline to drink whenever you have to drive

Hallucinogens are not necessarily more deadly than stimulants or depressants, but their use can result in some particularly dangerous situations. Drivers under the influence of hallucinogens may experience the following: Extremely high or erratic speed, or slowing down or stopping in the middle of an expressway Driving along a road or in a direction that does not exist—driving into opposing traffic, completely off the road, or into a wall Failure to respond to any driving conditions, including traffic signals, cross traffic, pedestrians, turns, and stopped cars Feelings of invulnerability, leading to extremely risky behavior or attempts to accomplish things that are impossible Decisions governed by anxiety, panic, or fear

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Understand the ways in which stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens impact your health and ability to drive Stay calm, focused, and coordinated by avoiding stimulants while driving Maintain alertness, coordination, and clarity by avoiding depressants while driving Remain in touch with reality and in control of your emotions by avoiding hallucinogens while driving Remember how dangerous prescription and over-the-counter medicines can be, particularly when combined with alcohol or other drugs

All drugs have the potential to disrupt your driving skills. For this reason, you can be arrested for DWI no matter what drug is causing your impairment. In this lesson, we'll explain how stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens damage your driving skills in different ways. First, we'll discuss two bodily functions that are vital to safe driving: vision and physical coordination.

As you've seen already, good vision and proper use of the eyes is essential to safe driving. Many drugs hamper your vision. Stimulants like nicotine, cocaine, and Ritalin often cause overactive eye movement, resulting in inadequate attention to individual elements in the driver's field of view. Depressants like alcohol, heroin, and muscle relaxants often cause the eye to become less responsive. This results in an inactive stare, which may cause the driver to miss very important information about his or her surroundings. Hallucinogens like marijuana, LSD, and Nyquil often cause hallucinations and inattentive eye movement. In addition to depriving the driver of important information, these drugs can cause the driver to respond to situations that don't actually exist.

In addition, when you abuse alcohol, you won't be able to enjoy or remember your experiences as well. Not only can excessive alcohol use make you sick and cause you to pass out, but you may black out. When you black out, you'll continue to walk, talk, and interact with other, but you won't be able to remember any of it. You could end up embarrassing yourself without even realizing it!

As your former interests and acquaintances disappear from your life, alcohol will take an increasingly central role in your day-to-day activities. You'll begin to spend more time around other drinkers, and most if not all of your recreational activities will become geared around alcohol consumption.

Make sure you have enough gas in your car: If you drive without fuel, you can damage your fuel pump and may end up stranded! Be sure you're carrying important documents: You never know when you might need your driver's license, proof of insurance, or vehicle registration, not to mention extra money or a map. Tailor your vehicle to your task: Make sure your vehicle is properly outfitted for any situations you are likely to encounter, including icy or snowy roads, sunlight, or high altitudes.

Avoid driving in the dark: Even driving at dusk or dawn can be dangerous. Not only will your visibility be impaired, but you are more likely to be drowsy behind the wheel. Use routes you know are safe: Don't try to use an unmarked or poorly maintained path as a shortcut, as road conditions could be dangerous or cause you additional delays. Always allow yourself extra travel time: If you're feeling rushed, you're less likely to drive responsibly and more likely to subject your car to stress.

Tranquilizers include multiple classes of drugs. Benzodiazepines, such as Valium and Xanax, are used to treat anxiety, panic disorders, and muscle spasms. Adverse effects include aggression and slowed breathing. Overdose risk greatly increases when taken with other depressants. Typically available by prescription, these drugs are particularly susceptible to abuse. They are typically prescribed to treat psychological and emotional symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia, as well as physical conditions including alcohol withdrawal and seizures.

Barbiturates, such as Seconal and Nembutal, are another type of tranquilizer. These drugs are used for sedation and anesthesia. Seconal and Nembutal in particular are sometimes used recreationally. Some barbiturates—including Nembutal—are also used for physician-assisted suicide and for execution by lethal injection.

While most personal tasks you might perform behind the wheel involve some degree of visual or manual distraction, if you think you're only in danger when your hands are off the wheel or your eyes are off the road, think again. Indeed, even when you're maintaining a safe driving posture and performing visual search strategies properly you may be completely oblivious to what's going on around you. If you let your mind wander, you may end up looking all around you without seeing a thing.

Because it doesn't involve any physical distraction, daydreaming can be especially dangerous behind the wheel. While most distractions can actively be avoided, when you're lost in thought, it may be some time before you realize that you've stopped paying attention to the driving task. If you find yourself zoning out, try jogging your attention by changing the radio station or opening the window. Make sure you don't let yourself get distracted by thinking about your plans or personal problems, a homework assignment, a funny incident, or anything else while driving.

Because you must be physically and mentally fit to drive, the physical effects of intoxication can significantly impair your driving abilities. For instance: When your vision is impaired, you may ignore traffic signals, follow too closely, or not notice cross traffic approaching. When you can't react quickly, you may make wide turns, start and stop abruptly, swerve across the road. When your concentration and judgment are impaired, you may forget to turn your lights on, turn your turn signals off, maintain a safe speed, or drive in the center of your lane. When your breathing is impaired or you're feeling nauseous, you may be distracted from the driving task and be unable to control your car properly.

Because of the ways alcohol affects your vision, your ability to notice and respond to other vehicles and developing traffic situations is significantly impaired when you drink. For instance, intoxicated drivers can find it difficult to scan the road because their eyes are less able to move in their sockets. As a result, they're more likely to stare straight ahead without checking their mirrors, causing them to ignore surrounding lanes, passing traffic, and objects in their peripheral vision.

The brain and the mind also suffer greatly from prolonged use of alcohol or drugs. In addition to other personality changes and mental impairments that alcoholism causes, heavy drinkers and drug users are also prone to dependence and addiction. These conditions can easily ruin a person's life.

Because people are generally aware that addiction leads to great suffering, few would consciously choose to become an addict. Yet some people think that because they're aware of these risks, they can simply will themselves to avoid addiction by controlling their use. This reasoning is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of how addiction and dependence work. Addiction and dependence are physiological processes that occur naturally as a person's body becomes accustomed to alcohol or a drug. Gradually, his or her body and mind are changed and eventually, he or she becomes a totally different person—an addict. Once a person is addicted, his or her cravings will outweigh the desire to avoid suffering and make it difficult for him or her to think about his or her actions rationally.

Because some activities are carried out more frequently and for longer periods than others, the riskiest actions are not always responsible for the most collisions. For instance, while spending a minute dialing a phone was found to be more dangerous than spending a minute talking on the phone, both activities resulted in approximately the same number of collisions since drivers spent significantly more time talking than they did dialing. Accordingly, the NHTSA has concluded that no single distraction can be definitively identified as the most dangerous. Any time you're not 100% focused on the driving task, you're at an elevated risk of a collision.

Because some activities are carried out more frequently and for longer periods than others, the riskiest actions are not always responsible for the most collisions. For instance, while spending a minute dialing a phone was found to be more dangerous than spending a minute talking on the phone, both activities resulted in approximately the same number of collisions since drivers spent significantly more time talking than they did dialing. Accordingly, the NHTSA has concluded that no single distraction can be definitively identified as the most dangerous. Any time you're not 100% focused on the driving task, you're at an elevated risk of a collision.

Vomiting while drunk can be extremely dangerous. For one thing, most of what's expelled through vomiting is water, which the body needs to perform many of its vital functions. Vomiting excessively without replacing the body's lost water can lead to fatal dehydration. Moreover, even if you pass out, your body may still feel the need to vomit. People who are unconscious or who lack the muscular control to help themselves can draw vomit into their lungs, causing them to asphyxiate—to suffocate or drown.

Becoming dangerously sick after drinking alcohol is known as alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning occurs when you consume more alcohol than your body can safely metabolize. Alcohol poisoning is a particular problem among minors because they have less understanding of their own tolerance for alcohol and have especially poor drinking habits: approximately 90% of alcohol consumed by people under 21 is in the form of binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as heavy alcohol consumption that occurs intermittently. Men who consume five or more drinks and a row, and women who consume four or more drinks in a row, are considered to be binge drinking, especially if this drinking occurs in the span of two hours or less.

If gentle acceleration isn't enough, increase throttle gradually. Sharp acceleration will cause your tires to lose traction against the snow. You may be able to move slightly forward, but fail to break free. If this happens, there are a few things you can do to help: Roll as far forward as possible in low gear, then shift into Reverse gear, and slowly accelerate backwards as far as you can. Shift into forward gear again, repeating this process and 'rocking' your vehicle back and forth until you break free. Place dirt, rocks, tree branches, or boards underneath your drive wheels. This makes it easier for your wheels to gain traction. Turn the steering wheel in different directions—some angles may give your wheels better traction, depending on the contours of the ground beneath them.

Becoming stranded in deep snow can be deadly. You'll have better chances of staying alive and being rescued if you: Stay inside your vehicle. You'll be warmer and have a much better chance of being located. Keep warm. Cover your head to conserve body heat, and perform some physical exercise regularly. Don't consume any alcohol—it lowers your body temperature. Run your car's heater for 15 minutes every hour, and use all available materials to increase insulation.

yments Registration and inspection fees If you're unable to consistently meet your financial responsibilities as a car owner, don't buy a car!

Before deciding to buy a car, you should consider how often you plan to use your vehicle and think about the costs you will face over the life of the car. The following factors should influence your decision to buy a vehicle: Will you drive your car to school, work, or sport activities? Will other family members use your car for transportation? Is there any family vehicle already available that you can use during the hours you expect to drive? Do you have alternatives to driving a car, like taking public transportation or biking? What kind of vehicle will be most appropriate for the tasks for which you intend to use it?

When you're going on an extended trip, first figure out how to get where you're going. Frequently, you'll want to choose the quickest route. However, if you have time to travel, you may opt for a more pleasant trip by using a scenic route. Identify the roads you will take as well as landmarks that you can use to make sure you're on the right path. While planning your route, try to determine if you'll be driving over steep hills, on unpaved roads, or in other difficult situations.

Before leaving on a long trip, schedule a detailed inspection of your vehicle with your mechanic. Ideally, you should have your car serviced two weeks before you travel. By catching potential problems ahead of time, you won't have to deal with them in the middle of your trip. If your car breaks down in the middle of a long drive, it could ruin your entire trip. You may become stranded in an unfamiliar area, your car may need to be towed a significant distance, and you may not be able to drive for several days.

When driving in snowy or icy conditions, slow down, increase following distance, and maneuver gently. The risk of losing traction is even greater than on wet roads, so drive even more slowly than you would in the rain. When you begin driving on snow or ice, test your brake response to check traction. As you drive, continue to pay close attention to the grip of your tires on the road. Drive particularly slowly through turns and near pedestrians.

Before starting your car, scrape any ice or snow off of all windows. Remove chunks and thick layers of snow from all surfaces to prevent them from falling off and striking another vehicle while you're driving. As soon as snow begins to fall, activate your windshield wipers and low-beam headlights.

When you apply for your instruction permit, you must submit: An application for a Texas Drivers License (DL-14A) The instruction permit portion of the driver education certificate (DE-964) verifying your enrollment in drivers ed A VOE form verifying your enrollment in school, as well as a school transcript or report card The application fee Proof of liability insurance Your birth certificate and proof of your social security number

Before you can enter Phase Two of the GDL program, you must complete the instruction requirements associated with Phase One, hold your instruction permit for at least six months, and be 16 years old. To obtain a provisional license and begin Phase Two, you must pass an in-car skills test. You'll be graded on how well you control your car, observe other traffic, position your car, and signal as required. You must hold and meet the requirements for a provisional license for one year before the provisional requirements will be lifted.

All new cars are required by law to have a Monroney sticker attached to the side window that includes information about the car's price and features. In addition, a supplemental dealer sticker may be affixed that indicates dealer-installed options and the price the dealer would like to receive for the car. Most dealers are willing to bargain, often discounting the sticker price of a car by 10 to 20 percent. By knowing what you're looking for, you'll be in a better position to make a deal. If possible, bring an expert to help you negotiate.

Before you decide on the car you want to purchase, you should: Check the most recent car buyers' guides at a library or bookstore, or research car features and prices for yourself on the Internet. You will be better able to compare similar models and may find out how much a dealer will negotiate. Shop around by checking out dealer showrooms and local advertisements. Identify and test drive several options before coming to a final decision. If you know a car model is right for you, consider having a dealer order it for you if you don't see it on the lot. While this may cost you extra money, you'll be happier with the car you really want rather than an available substitute.

When you finance a car, the repayment period and the interest rate will be specified. The following example illustrates a typical financing arrangement: Purchase Price: $15,000 Interest Rate: 7.5% Repayment Period: Four years Monthly Payment: $362.68 Total pay-out = 48 x $362.68 = $17,408.64. Always work out these calculations before purchasing a car. A high interest rate can cause you to have to pay significantly more that the purchase price.

Before you sign a contract to purchase or finance a car, be sure you are making a decision you can afford. Once you and the dealer have signed all the paperwork, get a copy of the signed contract before you take possession of your car. If you fail to make payments that you owe on your car, it can be repossessed. Moreover, your credit history will be damaged, making it more difficult and expensive for you to get a loan in the future. If you finance or lease your car, you may also be required to purchase more expensive car insurance.

After alcohol is consumed, it's absorbed into the bloodstream and circulated around the body. At any given time after consuming alcohol, a person's BAC depends on a number of factors. Weight affects BAC because of differences in body fluid levels. Heavier bodies contain more fluids than lighter bodies, so the same amount of alcohol will produce a lower concentration in heavier people.

Body fat contains far less water than muscle tissue, bones, and many other tissues. All other factors being equal, a person with higher body fat percentage will absorb alcohol faster. Gender also influences BAC. Women's bodies tend to contain proportionally less water than men's bodies, causing their BAC to increase more than men's after consuming the same amount of alcohol.

Before discussing collision types and collision avoidance, it will be helpful for you to recall the physics of car crashes. You don't need to calculate anything, but if you have an intuitive understanding of the basic relationships in play during a collision, it will be easier for you to make decisions that positively affect the outcome.

Both you and your car have momentum, and a tendency to maintain it, called inertia. When the car strikes an object, your body will keep moving until something stops it. If you're wearing your seat belt, it holds on to your body, stopping you at the same rate as the car. But if you're not wearing your seat belt, something else will have to stop your body. This means crashing into the dashboard, the windshield, maybe even the pavement after exiting the windshield—and any of these impacts can be deadly.

When driving through a desert, wear sunglasses, drink plenty of water, and make frequent stops. Pay attention to how you feel, keeping the possibility of heatstroke, dehydration, and exhaustion in mind. If you stop your car in hot weather, roll your windows down—their glass turns the inside of your vehicle into a greenhouse, raising temperatures dramatically.

Bright light can be completely blinding, and can strike at any moment: A curve in the road brings the sun into view, blinding you. A passing car reflects sunlight directly into your eyes. An oncoming driver has his or her high-beams on in the rain, forcing you to narrow your eyes. You emerge from a dim tunnel into bright daylight, and your eyes take a few painful seconds to adjust.

Drug use and abuse can be extremely damaging to the human body. Most people already know they may suffer the following consequences of drug abuse, but many people disregard them: Addiction and dependence Suffering or causing injury or death Criminal convictions and loss of license Financial losses Insurance rate increase Loss of career opportunity Personal costs Bad grades Unhealthy weight gain or weight loss

But why? The answer is complicated and not fully understood, but we can point to a number of factors that increase the prevalence of drug abuse. One of these factors is confusion regarding the line between safe and unsafe drug use. Almost every single person takes some form of drug every day, from coffee and tobacco to alcohol, pain relievers, and cough syrup. For almost any mental or physiological problem, a drug exists that is claimed to solve it. Not everyone is informed and patient enough to know how to safely use medicines and other drugs. In addition, many people take the legality of certain drugs to mean that all drugs must be safe to use. The reality, however, is that every drug can be deadly.

The success of the Ford company and its main competitor, General Motors (which became the world's largest automobile manufacturer) would not have been possible if there had not been concurrent improvements to the nation's roads. In the 1890s, a system of roads began to be built primarily for wagons, coaches, and bicycles. As cars grew in popularity, the U.S. Congress began to pass a series of Federal Aid Road Acts to fund road improvements in the states. By the 1950s, these acts had provided for the creation of a national Highway Transportation System.

By 1930, most of the technologies still used in cars today had been invented, including the electric ignition, multi-valve engines, steering wheels, four-wheel drive, drum brakes, and transmission systems. American manufacturers dominated the automobile industry until the 1970s, when they began to be challenged by the growing sales of Japanese and German cars. Today, while China has become the world's leading producer of automobiles, American manufacturers remain on the cutting edge of automotive innovation.

Perhaps the biggest expense you'll have to regularly deal with as a driver is gas for your car. Gas prices have always been a concern for drivers, but in recent years the price of fuel has fluctuated greatly and become more expensive than ever before. When purchasing a car, make fuel efficiency a priority. Not only will gas cost you a lot of money, but it has significant costs for the planet as well. When you burn fuel, you deplete the vital resource of petroleum and expel harmful toxins into the atmosphere. The less fuel you use, the better!

By adopting responsible driving habits, you can make your vehicle cheaper to run and slow the rate at which it depreciates: Avoid making fast starts and stops and cornering too fast: Not only is this behavior unsafe, but it wears out the tires and brakes, increasing the cost of maintaining your vehicle. Drive more slowly: The ideal speed for maximum fuel efficiency is between 45 and 50 mph. You will use 20% more fuel travelling between two points at 65-70 mph than you would travelling between the same two points at 55-60 mph. Anticipate the need to stop: By watching for stop signs, traffic lights, and congestion, you can slow to a stop smoothly and gently. Quick braking can wear out your brakes and tires. Perform maintenance tasks regularly: Your vehicle will run better and you'll face fewer costly repairs.

If you are involved in a crash where someone is injured or killed, a car is too damaged to move, or a hit-and-run driver was involved, you must contact the police. UM/UIM coverage will only pay for claims involving a hit-and-run driver if the incident is reported to law enforcement. Even if a crash is not investigated, you must file a crash report with the police within ten days for any collision involving injury, death, or property damage worth $1,000 or more. If you're involved in a collision with a driver who refuses to give you his or her insurance information, you can get this information by requesting a copy of the crash report, or by reporting the driver's refusal to the police.

By law, your insurance company must respond to your claim within 15 days of receiving it in writing. Provide as much information as possible, as you may be requested to document your loss. After you submit any requested documentation, the company may accept or reject your claim. If the company accepts your claim, it must send you payment within five business days. If the company rejects your claim, it must explain the rejection in writing. If your claim is rejected, review your policy's language to determine whether the company's decision was valid.

The Texas Legislature passes the laws that govern the HTS. The Criminal Justice Division oversees law enforcement and crime prevention strategies. The Judicial System enforces traffic laws and assigns punishments to violators. The Alcoholic Beverage Commission regulates alcohol consumption and zero tolerance policies. The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Division provides support for people with alcohol and drug abuse problems.

By now, you should have established a comprehensive driving plan incorporating the various lessons you have learned in this course. As you prepare to for your in-car driver training, review the skills that you'll need when you operate a vehicle. You must be able to: Perform pre-drive tasks, including pre-start and pre-drive maintenance procedures performed prior to an after entering the vehicle Utilize occupant protection and correct posture, seating, steering wheel, and hand positions Locate, identify, and respond appropriately to dashboard alert and warning indicators Perform starting tasks including activating the ignition, running the engine, and shifting gears Describe vehicle operating space

Even though modern vehicles produce only 10% as much pollution as vehicles of the 1970s, the sheer volume of traffic today increases the amount of pollution people are exposed to. In the worst traffic corridors in Texas (in the Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth areas), drivers experience over 50 hours of delays a year due to traffic congestion. According to recent research, breathing in street-level fumes for just 30 minutes can affect behavior, personality, and decision making.

By performing regular maintenance operations on your car, you can reduce emissions while you conserve fuel: Keep your car engine well-maintained and use an energy-conserving grade of motor oil. Change your air and oil filters and have your air conditioner serviced regularly. Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned. Make sure vehicle leaks are repaired promptly. Fill your gas tank during cooler evening hours to reduce evaporation. Leave room in the tank. Replace the gas cap tightly. Visit a mechanic if the check engine warning on your dashboard remains lit. Click here to learn more about driving clean across Texas.

Who decides who gets an organ? Are wealthy or famous people likely to get priority? Patients are matched to organs based on several different medical factors, including blood type, tissue type, critical need, time on the waiting list, and geographical location. Race, gender, age, income, and celebrity status are not considered when determining who receives an organ. However, a person whose medical problems are related to a long history of smoking or alcoholism may not respond as well to transplantation and may be less likely to receive a donated organ.

Can I be an organ and tissue donor and also donate my body to medical science? Donating your body to a medical school or research facility can help researchers identify the causes of illness and develop more effective medical treatments, especially if you have a rare medical condition. However, you generally cannot donate your body for research if you register as an organ and tissue donor. If you want to donate your body for scientific research, you should directly contact the medical school or research program of your choice.

Who can become a donor? Anyone can indicate their intention to donate, although donors under 18 must obtain parental consent. However, whether your organs are used will depend on your overall health and the physical condition of the organs at the time of your death. Doctors will only recover organs from a person who has been officially been declared brain dead, although some people may choose to help someone in need of an organ by donating a kidney or part of their liver while they're still alive.

Can I indicate what organs or tissues I am willing to donate? Yes. You can specify the organs (including the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver, and intestines) and tissues (including skin, bone, heart valves, tendons, and corneas) that you are comfortable donating. However, if you wish to donate bone marrow, you must register with the National Marrow Donor Program. You can choose to donate your organs, your tissues, or both. If a person is found medically unable to donate organs, their tissue may still be found viable for transplantation. Up to 50 people can benefit from one tissue donor.

Here are some simple ways to increase vehicle efficiency and save fuel: Accelerate smoothly. Watch your tachometer. If your engine is racing, a lot of fuel is being used. Increase your following distance to avoid having to brake abruptly. Speed up as you approach a hill or curve, not while driving through it. Don't idle for more than a minute. It takes less fuel to start a car than to idle. Keep track of your gas mileage and see a mechanic if it changes suddenly.

Careful planning can also help you conserve fuel and prolong the life of your car. You may find you can avoid wasting fuel unnecessarily by: Carpooling Combining errands Selecting routes to avoid traffic Using public transit where available Driving during non-commute hours Phoning ahead to make sure your trip won't be wasted Selecting an economy car over an SUV if you have the option, especially for long drives

The United States has been fundamentally transformed by the coming of cars. Many cultural shifts have been made possible by the automobile, including: Increased mobility of the US population Accelerated development of remote areas Major population growth in urban areas and the explosion of suburbs Increased access to goods and services, and to better education and health care The replacement of brick streets with asphalt roads

Cars occupy a special place in the American imagination. Cars have long been linked with status, power, and physical and social freedom. Because of these associations, they have exerted a strong pull on young people since the 1950s. Moreover, the automobile industry has also been a powerful force driving the American economy. Countless people work for automobile manufacturers directly, or for the industry indirectly by developing new technologies, producing individual parts, repairing existing cars, and even producing laws to govern automobile use.

The human eye is poorly suited to night vision, suffering impairments in depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision. Judging speed and distance based on visual information is also more difficult in the dark. In addition, features of the driving environment are more difficult to discern. You'll have trouble seeing the contours of the road, lane lines, barriers, traffic signs, obstacles on the road, pedestrians, and other vehicles. Even headlights, necessary in dim or dark conditions, can be blinding and disorienting.

Changes in traffic and lighting conditions also play an important role in altering levels of danger at night. The presence of fewer drivers, pedestrians, and sometimes police may make you feel like you no longer need to follow all the rules of the road. Despite this apparent increase in safety, more than half of all fatal traffic collisions occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. In addition, the darkness of night, and even the dimness of dusk and dawn, all can greatly reduce your ability to properly see the road and its users.

Numerous chemicals not intended for human consumption can be abused as inhalants. Solvents: paint thinners, lighter fluid, felt-tip marker fluid, and glue Aerosols: spray paints, hair sprays, and computer cleaning sprays Gases: butane, propane, ether, and whipped cream spray bottle gases Nitrites: amyl nitrite and nitrous oxide Inhaling one of these drugs can kill you in a matter of minutes.

Combining drugs can be extremely dangerous. For example, taking one dose each of two different depressants can have a much higher risk of death than taking two doses of just one depressant. Drugs can interact in other ways, too. One drug may increase blood flow, causing another drug to be delivered to the brain faster than expected. Or, one drug may slow down the liver's ability to break down another drug, causing it to stay in the bloodstream longer.

Collision Coverage When you are involved in a collision and the other driver is responsible, his or her insurance policy will generally pay the costs of your damages. However, for collisions where you are at fault, you should obtain a collision policy. If your car is damaged in a collision, this coverage will pay to fix the damages or replace it, regardless of who is at fault. The highest amount your insurance company will pay is the current value of your car, less the deductable. A collision policy covers members of the policy holder's family, their passengers, and others driving the policy holder's car with his or her permission. If you lease your car or use it as collateral for a loan, you will be required to obtain collision insurance.

Comprehensive Coverage A comprehensive policy will pay to repair or replace your vehicle following theft, fire, vandalism, damage caused by an animal, or "acts of God" (such as a tree falling on top of it). Like a collision policy, a comprehensive policy will pay up to the current value of your car less the deductable, and it may also pay for the use of a rental car while yours it being repaired. A comprehensive policy will be required if you lease your car or borrow any money against it.

Remember, additional penalties apply when an intoxicated driver is travelling with a passenger under 15, and when the driver injures or kills a person while driving drunk. The offenses of Intoxication Assault and Intoxication Manslaughter are serious crimes and involve significant penalties. The different penalties for DUI and DWI offenses in Texas are illustrated on the following slides.

DUI, 1st offense—Drivers under 21: Class C Misdemeanor Punishable with a fine of up to $500, 20 to 40 hours of community service, a 60-day license suspension, and 30 days of ineligibility for an occupational license DUI, 2nd offense—Drivers under 21: Class C Misdemeanor Punishable with a fine of up to $500, 40 to 60 hours of community service, a 120-day license suspension, and 90 days of ineligibility for an occupational license

Being a responsible driver means recognizing the consequences of your actions. In general, your highest priority will be reducing the immediate risk to yourself and others by realizing how everything from failing to signal, to tailgating, to driving while fatigued or intoxicated, to improperly maintaining your car, can result in a collision. However, it's not just the road users around you who can be affected by an irresponsible attitude. Even otherwise safe drivers can cause harm to their communities, their environments, and even the roads they drive on if they fail to recognize the global consequences of driving.

Consider some of negative effects on the environment associated with automobiles: Vehicle emissions caused by the combustion process decrease quality of life by causing air pollution and damaging the ozone layer. The manufacturing process involves the use of dangerous chemicals that can affect factory workers and nearby communities. The improper disposal of old vehicles, as well as used oil, filters, and vehicle fluids, can pollute rivers, streams, and soil quality. Used tires are not biodegradable and are a fire hazard. Careless drivers toss trash from their cars, lining the roads with litter and debris.

Once you have these variables, you can calculate the following equation on the back of a napkin: % BAC = ((Alcohol × (8 or 10)) / Weight) - (.015 × Time) Or: Multiply the amount of alcohol consumed by 8 if you are male, and 10 if you are female. Divide this number by your weight: this is your BAC without accounting for metabolism. Next, multiply .015 by the amount of time that has elapsed since your first drink, and subtract this number from the previous. The result is an estimate of your BAC without taking other factors into account.

Consider the following example: beginning at 10:00 p.m., a 120 lb female consumes three standard drinks. 3 × .6 ounces = 1.8 ounces of alcohol consumed Based on her weight and gender, she reaches a peak of .15% BAC. (1.8 ounces × 10) / 120 lbs = .15% BAC At 2:00 a.m., she is stopped by a police officer as she drives home. Over the four hours since she began drinking, she has eliminated .06% BAC. .015% × 4 hours = .06% BAC eliminated The police measures her BAC at .09%, above the legal limit. She's still grossly intoxicated, and is arrested for DUI. .015% - .06% = .09% BAC

Because the SEE IT system relies so heavily on your ability to see the road clearly, you won't be able to manage space effectively when your vision is impaired by alcohol. Every decision you make, including the decision to get behind the wheel, will be based on what you can see, or think you can see, on the road. Yet many of the ways that alcohol affects your vision can be difficult to recognize and you may not even realize that your perceptions are distorted. If you've been drinking, you should assume that your vision has been impaired, no matter how well you think you can see.

Consider the ways that alcohol affects your ability to see the road: The muscles in your eyes control the shape of the lenses to allow you to shift your focus between near and distant objects rapidly. Under the influence of alcohol, these muscles are relaxed, affecting how clearly you can see things and making it more difficult for you to focus on objects, especially at higher speeds. Though they are normally coordinated by the brain, the muscles of each eye work independently. When this muscle coordination is disrupted by alcohol, each eye may be directed at different focal points, resulting in double vision.

Police officers, construction workers, and others who must sometimes work near traffic are at a special risk from drunk drivers. Alcohol impairment makes each of the following cases more likely and more fatal: Police offers often have to pull over another vehicle for possible traffic offenses. While walking between vehicles on the side of the road, officers are unprotected and are often struck by other drivers.

Construction workers often must spend several hours a day working on the side of the road. Warning signs are intended to prevent injuries to construction workers, but these warnings are not always seen or heeded. Crossing guards, on-street traffic police, and paramedics also spend time on the roadway as a part of their job. All such workers are at a greater risk of being struck by a vehicle.

Conviction-based Penalties When a driver is convicted of certain offenses, he or she will have to pay an annual surcharge of a pre-set amount for at least three years. However, no points will be assessed for these crimes. These surcharges are assigned as follows: DWI (first offense): $1,000 DWI (second or subsequent offense): $1,500 DWI with a BAC of 0.16 or more: $2,000 Driving without insurance: $250 Driving with an invalid license: $250 Driving with no license: $100

DRP Amnesty and Incentive Programs Under the Driver Responsibility Program, a driver may be able to have the surcharge that he or she is required to pay reduced by meeting certain requirements: Individuals who can provide proof of insurance following the assessment of a surcharge for driving without insurance can have the surcharge reduced to 75% of the original amount. Individuals who have been assessed a surcharge for driving without a valid license can have the surcharge reduced to 75% of the original amount by obtaining the kind of license they should have been driving with.

When a driver is involved in a collision where someone dies or is seriously injured, the law requires that a blood test is administered by authorized medical personnel—even if the driver refuses. The arresting officer may use reasonable force to enable the test to be administered in such a case. Blood may be drawn if the person is unconscious and cannot refuse a test. The results can be legally used as evidence.

DUI and DWI penalties will be covered in more depth in a later section, but for now, understand the scope of the penalties: Fines range from $500 to $10,000. Community service of up to 60 hours may be required. Your drivers license may be suspended for up to two years, and you may have to wait an additional 120 days before becoming eligible to apply for an occupational license. You may face a prison term of up to 10 years. These legal penalties should discourage you from driving with alcohol in your bloodstream. However, they aren't the only penalties a drunk driver will be subject to. Employers, schools, family members, and insurance companies may also punish you for driving under the influence.

DWI, 1st offense: Class B Misdemeanor Punishable with a fine of up to $2,000, a jail sentence between 72 hours and 180 days, and a 90- to 365-day license suspension DWI, 2nd offense: Class A Misdemeanor Punishable with a fine of up to $4,000, a jail sentence between 30 days and 1 year, and a 180-day to 2-year license suspension DWI, 3rd offense: 3rd Degree Felony Punishable with a fine of up to $10,000, a jail sentence between 2 and 10 years, and a 180-day to 2-year license suspension A driver's fourth and all subsequent DUI offenses will be punished at this level.

DWI—With child passenger under age 15: State Jail Felony Punishable with a fine of up to $10,000, a jail sentence between 180 days and 2 years, and possible license suspension Intoxication Assault: 3rd Degree Felony Punishable with a fine of up to $10,000, a jail sentence between 2 and 10 years, and a 90-day to one-year license suspension Intoxication Manslaughter: 2nd Degree Felony Punishable with a fine of up to $10,000, a jail sentence between 2 and 20 years, and a 180-day to 2-year license suspension

As you scan the road and observe the actions of others, watch for drivers acting aggressively and likely to endanger you. If you don't pay attention, you won't be able to protect yourself. Remember, any driver you see committing two or more violations likely to result in a collision, or one violation that requires an immediate defensive action from another driver, is an aggressive driver and should be avoided. Resist the temptation to react to these drivers.

Dangerous driving behaviors that are indicative of aggressive drivers include: Speeding, especially when traffic is slowed Weaving between lanes or changing lanes frequently Suddenly accelerating, braking, or changing lanes, especially when passing another vehicle Failing to signal when turning or changing lanes

Drivers experiencing road rage may: Intentionally hit or appear to hit another vehicle with their own Open a car door to cause an approaching bicyclist to crash into it Exit their vehicle in traffic to threaten another driver Pull close to or cut off another driver Speed up when someone tries to pass Deliberately brake suddenly Tailgate another car These behaviors aren't just dangerous—they're also criminal!

Depending on the disposition of the driver, road rage can take a number of different forms. For example, a driver may: Become verbally abusive, yelling, honking, gesturing, and swearing at others Explode with anger, chasing, blocking, or cutting off another vehicle Quietly seethe or complain to him or herself while rushing or weaving around another driver

Nicotine, one of the most widely used stimulants, is the chief mind-affecting substance in tobacco. In small doses it increases alertness, reduces anxiety, dulls pain, and raises blood pressure. With higher doses, however, it can cause increased anxiety, uncomfortable restlessness, and an inability to focus. Nicotine is highly addictive, and is particularly dangerous in combination with the other chemicals found in tobacco products such as cigarettes and chews.

Depressants slow down, reduce, or dull bodily functions. They can be used to relieve pain, reduce anxiety, lower heart rate and respiration, and induce sleep. Examples of depressants include: Alcohol Antihistamines Muscle relaxants Pain relievers Tranquilizers, such as Seconal and Xanax Opioids, such as heroin and OxyContin

emory: Many depressants will reduce your short-term and long-term memory. Attention and focus: Inattention and lack of focus are two of the deadliest aspects of depressant intoxication. Driving safely requires persistent attention and steady focus. Reasoning: Thought processes and reasoning will be much slower under the influence of depressants.

Depression: Depression and sadness are possible effects of many depressants, and these changes in mood can be very dangerous to the driver. Apathy: Depressants can cause apathy, a feeling of detachment from and disinterest in the real world—both the user's life in general and his or her immediate surroundings. A driver high on opium might not quite understand why he or she should even try to avoid hitting a tree at 90 mph. Sleep: Depressants put the user to sleep. Brain and bodily functions slow down as dose increases, eventually causing unconsciousness. Ultimately, after unconsciousness comes death.

The drunk driving reforms you're now familiar with are not just hopeful or theoretical advances. Especially in combination with changing public opinion and awareness of drunk driving, these reforms have had significant, measurable impacts on the prevalence of drunk driving in the United States and Texas. In the United States in 1982, the year the Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving was established, 26,173 Americans died in alcohol-related traffic collisions. By 2011, alcohol-related traffic fatalities had decreased by 62%.

Despite a growing population and growing numbers of licensed drivers, the number of people who died in alcohol-related traffic collisions in 2011 was 16,295 fewer than died in 1982. These 9,878 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2011 accounted for 31% of all traffic fatalities, which shows that drunk driving remains a huge public health problem. However, this still represents a severe reduction in the prevalence of drunk driving: in 1982, the proportion of traffic fatalities that were alcohol-related was 60%—twice today's numbers. Between the beginning of grassroots organization against drunk driving and 1986, there was also a significant reduction in the proportion of traffic fatalities that were alcohol-related—from 57% in 1982 to 43% in 1986.

As previously mentioned, alcohol is a sedative, a depressant, and a tranquilizer. However, because the earliest effects of alcohol consumption include poor judgment and decreased inhibition, many drinkers of alcohol perceive that they've been energized or stimulated. Don't be fooled by these effects. Alcohol saps your energy, blocks the free flow of thoughts, and degrades your ability to control your own muscles. Any stimulation felt is illusory, caused by a failure to properly understand the current state of your faculties.

Despite its availability and legality, alcohol is incredibly dangerous. According to the NHTSA, at least one driver registered a BAC of .08% or higher in 40% of all fatal traffic collisions in Texas in 2011. Alcohol also presents a problem outside of the automotive world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between 2001 and 2005, an average of 80,374 lives were lost every year due to excessive alcohol use. That's one dead person every six and a half minutes. While 13,819 of these yearly deaths were due to traffic collisions, 66,555 (83%) were due to other acute causes, such as suicide and homicide, or chronic causes, such as liver disease.

Although drivers of all ages are involved in alcohol-impaired crashes, young drivers are involved at disproportionately high rates. According to the NHTSA, drivers under age 21 accounted for roughly 6% of the population of licensed drivers in 2011. These drivers were highly overrepresented among drivers with a .08% BAC or higher at the time of a fatal collision. Drivers under age 21 accounted for 20% of all alcohol-impaired drivers in fatal collisions. This is more than three times their presence among the overall driving population. In addition, the Texas Department of Transportation reports that in 2011, drivers under age 21 accounted for around 9% of all alcohol-related crashes and nearly 10% of all such crashes that resulted in a fatality.

Despite the fact that drivers age 15 to 20 aren't legally permitted to consume alcohol, they're more likely than any other age group to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of a fatal collision. In addition, traffic collisions of all types are already the leading cause of death among persons age 15 to 20, a fact reported by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. Clearly, both traffic collisions in general, and alcohol-impaired driving in particular, present an immense threat to the health of young people in the United States.

To avoid getting fatigued on an extended trip: Do your driving during the day. At night, your visibility will be limited and you'll be more likely to fall asleep. Take a short break from driving every two to three hours, as well as an hour-long meal break in the middle of the day. Plan your breaks so you can avoid driving between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., when you'll have a natural tendency to feel sleepy. If you're driving through the desert, plan to travel during the cooler morning hours. Get a good night's sleep before you start your trip.

Determine how long you expect your trip to take by figuring out how many miles you'll travel daily. On average, you can expect to travel about 100 to 110 miles every two hours at highway speeds. If your route takes you through urban, residential, or mountain roads, it will take you longer to travel the same distance. Before you leave, let a family member or friend know how to reach you in an emergency and how long you expect your trip to take. When you reach your destination, contact this person to let him or her know you've arrived safe and sound.

Stimulants A person taking stimulants may do so in an attempt to heighten focus and thought processes. However, focus will be more difficult to sustain, and thought processes will be less predictable and may go off course more easily. Anxiety and panic may develop and influence decision-making. In addition, muscle twitches, itching, and loss of physical coordination will make it more difficult to carry out decisions.

Different drugs affect your judgment in different ways. These will be explained in more detail later. For now, consider a few basic scenarios: Alcohol and Other Depressants Depressants slow down your mental processes and physical coordination. This causes you to be far less capable of judging your current situation and responding to it. This loss of ability includes also the ability to understand your own current mental state. You will haphazardly try to accomplish one thing or another without considering your intoxication.

Traffic volume, personal and professional stress, immature driving attitudes, and the normalization of disrespectful behavior in society have all contributed to making aggressive and violent behavior more common on the road. Remember, emotions can be contagious. The unfortunate fact is, as more drivers act aggressively, others begin to see such behavior as normal and necessary to compete with others on the road.

Different people are provoked by different things. For instance, some people are more likely to drive aggressively in certain conditions (such as rainy weather or at night). Others may overreact when another driver acts in a careless way. While some people are more likely to drive aggressively than others, anyone can become an aggressive driver in the right circumstances. Always remember to monitor your mood: you may become irritated gradually and not realize that you're driving aggressively until it gets you into trouble!

You'll encounter many interesting as you drive that may capture your attention and make you forget to focus on the driving task. Don't become preoccupied looking at: Billboards: While some advertisements may make you think, they won't tell you anything that will help you prevent a collision. Exotic cars: Only pay attention to other cars to the extent necessary to drive safely. Animals: Unless their presence poses a threat to you, don't concern yourself with the activity of animals. Interesting buildings, landmarks, or events: Anything worth your attention is worth taking the time to stop for. People: Even when you're behind the wheel, it's not polite to stare at others.

Don't let yourself get distracted when driving in an unfamiliar place. Use only brief glances to look for a street address. Avoid slowing down until you're nearing your destination. If you miss an address the first time, you'll only need to make a few extra turns to get back to the right place, but if you miss a hazard because you're staring at the side of the road, you won't have a second chance to avoid a collision!

Other Physical Effects Alcohol has a number of other short-term effects on your body: Alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach, increasing acidity and potentially causing vomiting. Alcohol impairs the livers ability to filter waste and other toxins while it is processing alcohol, making you more susceptible to illness and disease. Alcohol can cause intense headaches and hangovers that leave you feeling achy, nauseous, and worn out for a day or more.

Drinking too much alcohol will make you sick and cause you to vomit. While vomiting will cause you to expel what you just drank, helping to prevent further intoxication, the alcohol that caused you to be sick in the first place will still be in your bloodstream and waiting to be absorbed into you intestines. Even after you've vomited, the only way to recover from the effects of alcohol is to wait.

You can recognize an impaired driver by the following common behaviors: Driving too fast or too slow Sudden, sharp steering, acceleration, or braking Poor vehicle positioning, including driving on the curb, straddling lane lines, weaving between lanes, crossing into opposing lanes, or driving onto the shoulder Stopping in the wrong place or at the wrong time Signaling incorrectly, or failing to signal Driving with headlights off in darkness or dim light

Fatigued drivers are more difficult to recognize, but a few signs will reveal them: Drifting across lane lines, then suddenly steering back in Gradually slowing down, then suddenly speeding up Late response to green lights, red lights, and STOP signs Bent or nodding head If you see a fatigued or impaired driver, pull over and call the police.

To drive a vehicle larger than those permitted by a Class C license, you must obtain a Class A or Class B license. A Class A license permits a person to operate a vehicle of over 26,000 lbs while towing a vehicle of over 10,000 lbs, as well as to drive any vehicle permitted under Class B and Class C licenses. A Class B license permits a person to drive a vehicle of over 26,000 lbs while towing a vehicle of less than 10,000 lbs, a bus with a seating capacity of 24 or more occupants, including the driver, and any vehicle permitted under a Class C license.

Drivers must be 18 years old to apply for a Class A or Class B license, or 17 years old if they have completed an approved drivers education course, including all classroom and in-car instruction. Drivers under 18 years old must pay a fee of $15 for a Class A, B, or C license that will expire when they turn 18. Licenses are issued for a period of six years to drivers over 18 for a fee of $24. Please note that you will also be charged an administrative fee of $1 every time you conduct business with the DPS.

Impeding a driver's path is one of the surest ways to aggravate him or her: Don't drive more slowly than cars behind you. Even if you're driving 60 mph in a 60 mph zone, other drivers seeking to travel faster may build up behind you. Move to the side to let others pass, or speed up if it is safe and legal to do so. Don't speed up, slow down, or slam your brakes to prevent someone from passing or entering your lane. Don't slow down immediately after passing another car.

Drivers tend to be especially irritated when others fail to obey traffic control devices, even if they aren't personally endangered by the violation. Don't run red lights or rush through yellow lights. Always come to a full stop at a STOP sign. Don't turn in places where turning is not permitted. Stay inside the lines: don't pass others by crossing double solid yellow lines or change lanes across a solid white lineDon't cut into another driver's lane. Always signal your intentions to change lanes and only move over when it's safe. Don't wait at a green light if it's safe to proceed. However, if there's someone in the intersection or crosswalk, don't proceed even if drivers behind you are honking at you. Don't wait to turn right at a red light if it's safe and legal to turn. Don't stop in the middle of the roadway to talk to a pedestrian or other road user or to ask for directions.

Health and Safety Code Violations A failure to complete a required tobacco awareness class A drug offense An offense under the Chapter 481 of the Health and Safety Code (The Texas Controlled Substances Act) Family Code Violations Delinquent conduct Truancy

Drivers who consistently demonstrate unsafe driving behaviors or who are guilty of certain significant offenses may face additional surcharges under Chapter 708 of the Texas Transportation Code, The Driver Responsibility Program (DRP). These surcharges are based on convictions that are recorded on a person's driving record. The surcharges that a driver faces can be based on the number of moving violation points the driver has accumulated, or on specific amounts associated with particular offenses.

It's not hard to figure out why drivers can become so angered by another driver's mistakes: traffic violations force them into a situation where they have to act quickly to avoid a collision. When you endanger another driver, don't be surprised if he or she tries to retaliate with aggressive behavior. Remember that other drivers are actual people who may become deeply upset if they feel that their lives are in danger.

Driving in an inattentive or overly intrusive way can also increase other drivers' anxiety. If you're driving in a way that's not immediately dangerous but which makes others overly aware of your presence, they may become more tense and more likely to lash out. An ideal driver is one that other road users are unlikely to notice for more than a moment. If you're not focusing enough on your own driving, or deliberately calling attention to yourself, you may find yourself the subject of unwanted attention.

It's impossible to eat or drink without taking at least one hand off the wheel. Moreover, if you try to eat a food that requires a utensil, there will be no way for you to steer your car safely. You may try to make it easier for yourself by steering with your elbows or by placing your food in your lap, but these strategies will only reduce your control and distract your attention further. Not only does the driver's seat make a poor dining room, but if you try to eat while you're in it, it won't be a good place to control your car, either!

Driving is difficult enough. Unwrapping food, screwing and unscrewing bottle caps, balancing your drink so it doesn't spill, leaning and reaching for food, wiping your mouth, holding a sandwich together, and switching between foods will only make things harder. Moreover, if you try to eat while driving, you may end up gulping down your food. To enjoy your meal, you must be able to focus on the flavors and textures in your mouth, not what's happening on the road ahead. What's the point of risking your life for a meal you won't even be able to savor?

In 2011, there were 9,878 fatalities in alcohol-impaired* traffic collisions. These accounted for 31% of all traffic fatalities nationwide. The same year, Texas suffered 1,213 alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities—40% of its total. That's 439 more fatalities than the next-highest state, California, which has a larger population than Texas. In the ten years from 2002 to 2011, the United States saw 122,265 people die in alcohol-impaired traffic collisions. * "Alcohol-impaired" means that at least one driver registered a BAC of .08% or more.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs is extremely dangerous. Judgment, vision, hearing, attention, and memory are all greatly impaired. Alcohol and other drugs also damage your physical coordination. You may have trouble standing upright, let alone making fine movements to steer a 3,000-lb vehicle. Next, we'll explain in detail the laws governing impaired driving, the consequences of impaired driving collisions, and how to stay safe from impaired drivers on the road.

Finally, young drivers often subject themselves to more distractions than other drivers. These include cell phones, music, friends, and even mental distractions such as anxiety. Distractions take your hands off the steering wheel, your eyes off the road, and your mind off the driving task. Avoid all distractions not necessary to the driving task. Listen to music only at a level that allows you to hear the noises of the road, and urge your passengers to help you maintain a calm driving environment. Set mental distractions aside, and don't drive if you can't focus. Above all, never use your cell phone while driving.

Driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs will have severe consequences for you personally. While impaired, you are much more likely to wreck your car and die. If you wreck and survive, you may have to live with brain damage or paralysis for the rest of your life. In addition, you may have to live with the guilt of having killed another human being.

A passenger can distract you by: Yelling or talking loudly, drowning out road noise and increasing your level of anxiety Arguing with you, bringing up a personal problem, or trying to deal with an emotional matter, diverting your attention from driving Eating while you're hungry, making it hard for you to concentrate Pointing out something on the side of the road that would require you to take your eyes off the roadway Partially hanging out the window or yelling at people outside your car Unexpectedly adjusting your stereo or other vehicle controls Second guessing your decisions or offering commentary on your driving

Driving with passengers is especially dangerous for teens. Studies have shown that the greater number of similarly-aged passengers in a car, the more likely a collision is to occur. Indeed, the NHTSA has suggested that passengers only substantially increase the risk of a collision for drivers under 18. Remember, you may not drive with more than one passenger under 21 who is not a family member until you turn 18 or have held your provisional Texas drivers license for at least 12 months without a violation, whichever comes first.

People that will not be allowed to renew their license by alternate means include: Drivers whose license has been suspended, cancelled, revoked, or denied Commercial, occupational, or provisional license holders Licensees with restrictions concerning driving ability or medical condition Licensees who do not have a social security number or photo on file Individuals subject to sex offender registration requirements Individuals over 79 years old

Driving without a license is a serious crime. By driving without a license, you demonstrate disrespect for other drivers, the licensing system, and, if your license has been suspended or revoked, law enforcement and the court system in the state of Texas.

Drug Administration: Inhalation Another method of drug administration is inhalation. When a person inhales a drug, smoke or vapors of the substance are drawn into the lungs. The drug's chemicals are then absorbed into the bloodstream through the pulmonary alveoli. Along with the effect of the drug itself, inhalation can cause life-threatening damage to the respiratory system. Those who inhale drugs like marijuana and tobacco risk developing throat and lung cancer, in addition to reducing their ability to receive oxygen from the air they breathe.

Drug Administration: Absorption The last method of drug administration we will discuss is direct absorption. Methods include: Intranasal: through mucous membranes in the nose Oral: through the lining of the mouth Rectal: through the lining of the rectum and large intestine Transdermal: through the skin

For more extremely snowy or icy situations, driving safely requires the installation of snow chains. Attach one set to each of your vehicle's drive wheels, and to all four wheels when conditions are bad enough. Snow chains must be matched to your tire's diameter and tread width. They won't work if they're loose, and they'll break if you drive too far on dry pavement. Snow chains aren't for driving at full speed on snow and ice. Drive slowly and with extra caution when conditions call for snow chains.

Finally, remember: conditions may become so severe that it's not safe to drive. If you can't see farther than the distance it would take you to stop your vehicle, find a safe place to wait for conditions to clear. If snow, ice, or other conditions make controlling your vehicle too difficult, pull over.

Drug Administration: Ingestion Many drugs are ingested through the mouth. Drugs taken by ingestion include liquids like coffee, beer, and cough syrup, as well as solids like Tylenol pills, ecstasy pills, and peyote buttons. When you swallow a drug, it immediately begins to be absorbed through the lining of your mouth. The drug's chemicals are absorbed into the bloodstream starting in the stomach, but continuing into the intestines. Once in your bloodstream, the chemicals are carried throughout your body to your organs.

Drug Administration: Injection Some drugs are taken by injection, bypassing the digestive system and entering the bloodstream directly. These drugs include heroin, morphine, and methamphetamine. Injection is especially dangerous: not only will veins collapse after repeated puncturing, but even a single injection can transmit devastating diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS. In addition, the increased potency of drugs entering the bloodstream directly greatly increases the chances of a lethal overdose.

Cocaine, PCP, tobacco snuff, chewing tobacco, and many other drugs can be administered through direct absorption. The principle danger of direct absorption is cancer of the affected region, but there are specific dangers related to each method. Oral and transdermal absorption can result in a strong discoloration of the teeth and skin, while the specific dangers of intranasal absorption, or snorting, include destruction of the nasal septum—the cartilage that separates the left and right nostrils—and permanent loss of sense of smell. Finally, rectal absorption can cause increased risk of overdose, since the large intestine is much more efficient than the stomach at pulling chemicals into the bloodstream.

Drugs are removed from the body in a similar manner to the expulsion of food and drink—the liver and kidneys filter drugs out of the bloodstream and convert them to inactive chemicals, while the skin, lungs, and digestive system excrete them through sweat, exhaled breath, and other means. The liver metabolizes, or breaks down, complex molecules into simpler parts and allows them to be carried out of the body as waste. The chemicals found in drugs are more complicated and rare than what the liver is used to processing—the nutrients found in food. As a result, the liver has to repeat its process multiple times before the drug fully leaves the body. As long as any molecules of the drug remain in the bloodstream, they are carried to the body's brain and other organs and act on them.

Drunk driving has a devastating social impact. Even if you've never known someone who was killed by a drunk driver, every victim has friends, family, and other community members who care about them. What if a friend of yours died in a drunk driving collision today? How would you feel hearing the news? Would you speak about him or her at the funeral? Would you try to console his or her family? How would you feel hanging out with your other friends, permanently short one member?

Drunk driving fatalities are particularly devastating to families. Think about your own family: do you consider anyone expendable? Even when family tensions are high, the finality of death makes relatives forgive each other. The death of one family member will leave a permanent, painful scar in the memory of all surviving members.

Many drivers consider aggressive driving to be the most serious safety issue they face on the road. AAA has suggested that 40% of people think aggressive driving is the most dangerous behavior on the road, while only 33% think that driving under the influence is the most dangerous. The majority of aggressive drivers are male and between 18 and 26 years old. Aggressive drivers involved in collisions are frequently experiencing personal problems at the time of the crash.

Due to the risks associated with aggressive driving, anyone caught driving in an aggressive way can have their driving privilege suspended or revoked for a long time. Depending on the severity of the offense, aggressive drivers may also face large fines and other penalties. Drivers who commit road rage on another motor vehicle, a bicyclist, or a pedestrian are guilty of criminal assault and may receive an extended jail sentence.

Each of the following can influence how you drive: A parent may tend to get frustrated on the road, take his or her aggression out on other drivers, or fail to devote his or her attention to the driving task. Your peers may drive recklessly, show off to their friends, or simply have immature driving habits. Depictions of driving in the media may make risky driving behaviors look less dangerous than they really are and promote a desire to look "cool" while driving. As a result of these influences, you may already feel that certain behaviors are normal and proper, even if you've been taught otherwise. You must learn to counter these influences and adopt an appropriate driving attitude.q

During your behind-the-wheel lessons, practice commentary driving with your instructor by discussing what you see, what you're thinking, and what you're planning to do as you drive. A professional instructor can identify any dangerous attitudes or poor habits you have and help you develop safe ones to replace them. If you rely solely on your parents and peers to teach you to drive, you may pick up some of their bad habits without even realizing it. While practice is important, if you're not careful it can just as easily reinforce bad habits as good ones!

Drugs in different schedules carry different consequences when a person is charged with their manufacture, possession, or sale. They are also subject to different levels of scrutiny and control in the medical and manufacturing sectors. For example, pharmacies in Texas are required to transmit prescription information to the Department of Public Safety (DPS). This enables the DPS to more quickly identify inappropriate dispensing or accumulation of drugs. Finally, note that although alcohol and tobacco are not placed in any of the five schedules, they are still highly addictive and deadly when used chronically or abused.

Earlier, we discussed the effects of stimulants. Recall that stimulants speed up, increase, or heighten bodily functions. This class of drugs includes nicotine, cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines. Common side effects include anxiety, overexcitement, inability to focus, poor coordination, shaking, and a false sense of well-being. In the following slides, we'll provide more detail on the use and abuse of a few important stimulants: cocaine, nicotine, and methamphetamine.

Effects on Your Judgment One of the first and most dangerous effects of alcohol is a decline in judgment and ability to reason. It is extremely important to remember that alcohol gives you bad judgment. Even if alcohol had no other harmful effects, you'd still be incredibly endangered by impaired judgment. It will make you capable of doing things that you'd recognize as stupid and dangerous if you hadn't been drinking. Even worse, it will make you unable to judge just how drunk you really are!

Effects on Your Memory and Alertness Alcohol will also decrease how well you can evaluate and understand your current situation. This occurs as the result of three different ways that alcohol affects your brain: Alcohol disrupts your memory, causing you to forget where you are, where you're going, what you were talking about, why you're doing something, and much more. Alcohol distracts you from the present, causing you to think about unimportant things that are unrelated to your current situation. Alcohol makes you less alert, reducing your ability to perceive and think ahead. You'll think less often and less critically about both the short-term and long-term implications of your actions and the events going on around you.

To complete your drivers education requirement, you must demonstrate that you have acquired the understanding and skills necessary to obtain a drivers license and begin the life-long process of learning to reduce risk on the road. When you have mastered the lessons you've learned in drivers education, you'll be able to: Accept driving as a privilege with responsibilities, obligations, and potential consequences and apply knowledge and understanding of Texas traffic laws, including traffic control devices and right-of-way laws

Employ pre-drive tasks, utilize and require passengers to utilize occupant protection and restraint systems, utilize vehicle symbols and devices, employ starting tasks, perform vehicle operation and control tasks, employ post-drive tasks, utilize baseline and progress assessment tools to evaluate your behind-the-wheel skill level, and formulate a driving plan Sustain visual attention and communication, utilize reference points, manage vehicle balance, and execute vehicle maneuvers Employ legal and responsible driving practices to limit and manage fatigue and aggressive driving Predict, analyze, and minimize risk factors and employ a space management system Identify and analyze driving environments and minimizing environmental risks

A Class A CDL permits a person to drive any combination of vehicles weighing over 26,000 lbs, with the towed vehicle or vehicles weighing over 10,000 lbs. A Class B CDL permits a person to drive any single vehicle over 26,000 lbs and to tow a vehicle of no more than 10,000 lbs, and to operate a vehicle designed to transport at least 24 occupants, including the driver. A Class C CDL permits a person to drive any vehicle or combination of vehicles which do not require a Class A or Class B CDL that is designed to transport between 16 and 23 occupants or that is used to transport hazardous materials requiring placards as specified in 49 C.F.R., Part 172, Subpart F.

Endorsements Certain commercial vehicles, which have special hazards associated with them, may only be operated by drivers with the appropriate CDL who have applied to have special endorsements added to their license. These endorsements include: H: The driver may transport hazardous materials N: The driver may transport a vehicle towing a tank P: The driver may operate a vehicle carrying passengers S: The driver may operate a school bus T: The driver may transport two or three trailers over a specified weight X: The driver may operate vehicles requiring both H and N endorsements

Pancreas Damage The pancreas is primarily responsible for managing blood sugar levels and for aiding digestion in the small intestine. According to a report from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol damages your pancreas by causing it to release some of its digestive enzymes internally, rather than in the small intestine, and by exposing it to abnormally high levels of the toxic byproducts of the breakdown of alcohol. Because of these effects, the pancreas can become inflamed, causing a condition known as pancreatitis. Those with pancreatitis may suffer from nausea, vomiting, improper digestion, and severe abdominal pain. They may also experience complications such as diabetes, pancreatic cancer, and death.

Esophagus Damage When you consume alcohol, it must pass through the esophagus, which connects the mouth to the stomach. As a component of the digestive tract, the esophagus is susceptible to toxic effects both immediately, when it initially comes into contact with alcohol, and later on, when it receives blood suffused with alcohol's metabolic byproducts. A metabolic byproduct known as acetaldehyde can cause particularly severe damage. Acetaldehyde interrupts gene sequences within individual cells, promoting excessive cell growth and increasing the likelihood that genes will mutate and that those mutations will be replicated. As a result, alcohol damages your esophagus—and your mouth, pharynx, larynx, stomach, and intestines—and increases the chances that a fatal cancer will develop.

Although you may consider these laws to be particularly severe, remember that they exist for two important reasons: to minimize the harm to others caused by underage drinkers, and to protect these drinkers from the consequences of their own irresponsible actions. Never forget that immaturity and alcohol use can both contribute to a deadly lack of judgment. While it's easy to convince yourself that one drink won't do you any harm, you'll find it almost impossible to reverse the consequences if you're wrong. If your future means anything to you, you'll wait until you turn 21 to drink and always act responsibly when you decide to consume alcohol.

Even if you avoid ruining your health by drinking, you may not be able to manage the social and legal consequences of your bad behavior. Alcohol and drug convictions are taken very seriously by employers, educational institutions, insurance companies, certification boards, and the courts. If you're convicted of an alcohol or drug offense, you may be: Fired from your job Expelled from or denied entrance to a school, college, or university Required to pay higher insurance premiums Ineligible for certification as a doctor or lawyer Subject to increased fines and jail time for other convictions

Remember, alcohol also affects your: Night vision: Alcohol decreases how well the eyes can control the amount of light entering them, impairing glare resistance and recovery and the ability to discern low-contrast objects. Peripheral vision: The more you drink, the more impaired your peripheral vision becomes, making you less likely to notice situations to your sides. Color distinction: Alcohol can make it difficult to distinguish between colors, potentially confusing you and causing you to miss important warnings.

Even if you could see clearly, you'd still be unable to complete the other steps of the SEE IT system. For one thing, it can be difficult to determine where "search" ends and "evaluate" begins. Both steps require mental fitness as well as visual acuity. Since alcohol affects the brain's ability to sort information, identify risks, and make predictions, drunk drivers can scan the road without understanding what they're seeing, make multiple observations without recognizing how they fit together, and pursue a course of action without consciously making a decision.

Many modern vehicles use advanced engine technologies that allow them to run partially or entirely on electricity, natural gas, ethanol, hydrogen fuel cells, or other alternative fuels that are generally cheaper and cleaner than gasoline. While these vehicles often cost a bit more, in some cases you can save $1,000 to $2,000 a year on fuel, especially when gas prices are high. Moreover, these cars can cost less to maintain and produce much less air pollution. Consider one of these cars when you're planning to buy.

Even if you don't want to invest in an alternative energy vehicle, modern engineering have made it much easier to find a car with excellent fuel efficiency. Keep in mind that it takes more energy to power larger, heavier vehicles like SUVs, so they typically have poor fuel efficiency. Additionally, some fuels include additives that make them better for your engine while reducing hazardous emissions. For instance, most cars can use a fuel known as E10, which contains one part ethanol to nine parts gasoline. Ethanol is an alternative fuel source derived from corn.

Have Fun Another way to avoid driving drunk is to avoid drinking. You'll have more fun that way—you'll be yourself. Drinking will slur your speech, impair your coordination, and give you embarrassingly bad memory. Vomiting, passing out, and generally being unable to carry on a conversation aren't fun—or cool. When you're out with friends or even strangers, you'll have more fun by just being yourself. If you're drunk, that will be impossible.

Even if you make the smart decision not to drink and drive, your friends may have other ideas. In 2011, a total of 6,507 drivers with a BAC of 0.08% or more died behind the wheel of a car. If each of them had been with friends who cared enough and were aware enough to stop them from driving, none of them would have died. If your friends choose to drink, don't judge them or make them feel bad. Nevertheless, even if it's difficult or awkward, don't let your friends drive drunk. There's a good chance you'll be saving their lives.

Even if you don't hold the health and well-being of others in high regard, you should understand that you're hurting yourself by driving drunk. It's important to realize that 2/3 of the people who die in drunk driving collisions are the drunks driving the vehicle! Even if you're lucky enough to survive, you're likely to be arrested. In 2012, almost 600 Texas drivers under 18 were arrested for driving under the influence. Most of those arrested are convicted, and must contend with fines, jail time, community service, license revocation, and worse.

Even if you're smart enough not to get behind the wheel when you drink, you should realize that there are a number of other significant costs associated with underage drinking. These risky behaviors have considerable costs for society, including: Risky sexual activity: $5.2 billion Property crimes: $5.1 billion Fetal alcohol syndrome: $1.3 million (in medical costs and reduced productivity) Alcohol poisoning and psychosis: $657 million Alcohol abuse treatment: $2.6 billion

The DPS is authorized to suspend or revoke the license or driving privilege from any driver, after offering an opportunity for a proper hearing, for: Driving with a suspended license Causing a serious collision while driving a motor vehicle Becoming incompetent to drive Habitually driving recklessly or negligently Fleeing or attempting to flee an officer Repeated traffic law violations (4 or more convictions within a 12-month period, or 7 or more convictions with a 24-month period)

Failing to complete a required drug education program Failing to provide medical information when requested Failing to take or pass an exam when requested Failing to stop for a school bus (after a second offense) Failing to obey the terms of a probation order set during a previous hearing In addition, the DPS may suspend or revoke your Texas license for any offense committed in another state that would be grounds for suspension or revocation in Texas.

Even if you do want to get rid of your addiction, you may find yourself unable to do so. Many addicts who try to quit drinking or using drugs may succeed for a short period, only to eventually become overwhelmed by renewed cravings. Soon, they'll start using again—often suddenly and without being able to explain their actions. It's this impulsive, inexplicable behavior that frequently causes friends and family to abandon addicts. When addicts can't be reached through moral, social, and logical persuasion, there seems to be no hope.

Eventually, your life as an alcohol or drug abuser may drive away everyone who cares about you. The long term consequences of substance abuse, like ill health, unemployment, poverty, and legal trouble, will make people want to stay away from you. In addition, you will care less and less about the people in your life, and more and more about your next fix. When your friends and family start abandoning you, you may not even care enough to ask them to stay.

If you steer too sharply for your momentum, excessive centripetal force will pull you too far into the curve. In the inside lane of a curve, this will pull you off the road. In the outside lane, this will pull you across the centerline and into oncoming traffic. What's more common is an excess of centrifugal force. If you drive too fast considering your weight and angle of steering, excessive centrifugal force will pull you into a straighter line, failing to turn enough. In the inside lane of a curve, this will pull you across the centerline and into oncoming traffic. In the outside lane of a curve, this will pull you off the road.

Every collision is different, but the specific way a collision occurs has a drastic effect on its consequences. Generally, for example, head-on collisions differ from side-impact collisions in very important ways. It's important that you understand the basic effects of each type of collision so that you can assess a potential or immediate crash risk and respond appropriately.

You probably already know that the term "drug" includes both legal, readily-available medications such as aspirin, and illegal, restricted substances such as heroin. You probably also know that an overdose of either of these drugs can be fatal. But did you know that even caffeine and nicotine can be fatal in large doses? It's scary, but true: the chief psychoactive, or mind-affecting, ingredients in coffee and tobacco are lethal in large doses. In fact, the amount of nicotine contained in a single pack of cigarettes is enough to kill an adult when consumed quickly enough.

Every drug is different, but it's possible to organize all drugs into three distinct types: stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens. Not every drug fits perfectly into a single category, but most drugs do fit very well into a single category. Understanding the differences between these categories of drugs will help you understand exactly how each can be helpful or dangerous to your health.

Every week, you should also check your tire pressure and look for any signs of tire wear or damage. Check each tire for heavy or uneven tread wear, cracks, or debris stuck in the treads. Making sure your tires are properly inflated is one of the easiest things you can do to increase their longevity and improve your car's gas mileage. Keep a tire gauge in your car to check your tire pressure. If your tires need to be inflated, you can usually find an air pump for that purpose at a local gas station if you don't have one of your own.

Every month or two, take a look under your hood during your weekly maintenance check. While you should leave most under-the-hood tasks to a professional, it's your responsibility to monitor: The level of motor oil on the dipstick Transmission fluid levels Brake fluid levels Coolant levels Windshield washer fluid levels Battery connections The tension and condition of the drive belts The condition of the air and oil filters Consult your owner's manual to find out how to perform these maintenance checks.

When you identify a poor driving habit, you must determine the best way to correct that behavior and continuously practice the right way to drive until it becomes automatic. Proper driving techniques will only become second nature if you practice them repeatedly. Remember that as you become used to driving, even good driving habits can deteriorate. As you gain experience, continue to monitor your driving attitude and correct any unsafe habits you begin to develop.

Every person is an emotional being. Our emotions influence every thought we have and every action we perform. Indeed, if you try to suppress them, you'll find yourself more affected by your emotions than ever! Driving under the influence of intense emotions can have severe consequences. Anger, fear, anxiety, depression, discouragement, sorrow, and even excitement have the potential to make you an unsafe driver.

Get ready before you get in the car. Make sure you change your clothes, comb your hair, and finish eating before you begin to drive. If you're not prepared for an exam, don't try to cram while you're driving: a bad grade can teach you to plan ahead next time, but you won't be able to learn anything if you're dead. Even if you're waiting for a call so you can finish making plans, once you enter your car you need to set everything aside. If something is so urgent that it requires an immediate answer, pull over so you can devote your full attention to responding.

Every time you drive, you'll probably encounter some potential distraction, like an insect in your car, bright glare from the sun, or an unexpected event near the road. Make sure you're prepared to manage these distractions when they occur. As you become a more experienced driver, you'll begin to perform most driving tasks reflexively. If you don't develop an appropriately attentive attitude now, you'll only become more susceptible to distraction in the future.

Be especially careful when driving in places where children may be present. Children are especially likely to be distracted from what's going on around them. Watch carefully for children on cell phones crossing the street. These children look both ways 20% less often and take 20% longer to cross. Children on cell phones are up to 43% more likely to be hit by a vehicle.

Exercise caution in complex risk environments. In high-speed traffic, limited visibility, and adverse weather conditions, you must be even more watchful for people not paying attention. Expect drivers to become distracted in urban areas or other places where there's a lot of activity going on. When you see a distracted person, slow down and give him or her some space. Consider how much you have to lose if you try to claim the right-of-way from someone who may not even notice you approaching.

Tires All tires must be in proper and safe condition and have a tread depth of at least 2/32nds of an inch. Front seat belts Seat belts are required in all vehicles in which they were part of the original equipment.

Exhaust and emission system Your car must have a muffler and exhaust system to help reduce noise and air pollution. License plates All cars must have one valid license plate at the front of the car and one in the rear.

All of your vehicle's components are important to safe operation, but some are affected more than others by adverse conditions. External lights are another example of this. Dirty or age-worn lenses on headlights, turn signals, and taillights can make your vehicle's lights nearly impossible to see in darkness or bad weather. Keep them free of dirt, and have them replaced if the lenses obscure your lights even when clean.

Extreme temperatures can negatively affect your vehicle's fluids, rubber components, engine, starter motor, and battery. Make sure these components are kept in good condition. Many types of bad weather conditions also require the use of windshield wipers and wiper fluid. Replace worn wipers and check your wiper fluid reservoir regularly to ensure you can always see clearly through your windshield. Finally, keep your windshield clean, both inside and out. Dirty glass reflects light, obscuring your view when sunlight or other bright light shines through it.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Effectively manage centripetal and centrifugal forces so you can stay in your lane as you drive through a curve Understand the consequences of different types of collisions and develop effective strategies for responding to each of them Handle your vehicle carefully in an emergency so you can avoid catastrophic losses to traction or balance Determine and choose the safest way to enter a collision when it's impossible to avoid one completely Act promptly and responsibly to prevent further injury following a collision

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Alcohol doesn't make you forget your problems, either. You're more likely to dwell on sad thoughts when drinking, and you'll have more difficulty than normal thinking of ways to actually solve your problems. The depressing effects of alcohol persist even when you're done drinking, and can contribute to major depressive disorder. Eventually, there may seem to be no way out at all. Don't doom yourself by making this mistake—don't think for a second that drinking will make you forget your problems.

Finally, drinking alcohol to escape social pressures against nondrinkers is also a harmful mistake. Some people will always pressure you if you're around them—pressure you to drink, to smoke, to drive too fast, or to do any number of other dangerous things. Giving in to one type of pressure will not help you escape these people. Instead, it will make them pressure you more. Once you show that you are impressionable, people will know that they can influence you. People engaging in dangerous or illegal activity want company, so that their life choices appear more "normal". Don't give in to peer pressure—you'll only expose yourself to increasingly forceful and dangerous influences.

If you can't find a safe way to get home, then don't go home—stay where you are. Whether you're at a friend's house or a stranger's, just find a couch and go to sleep. If you're not at a house, find a motel. If all else fails, keep in mind that even a park bench or a bus stop will be safer than a car driven by a drunk. It's nice to wake up at home in the morning, but anything is better than not waking up at all. If you can't find a safe way home, just stay where you are.

Finally, even if you haven't had anything to drink, don't get into a car if the driver has been drinking. The life you save may be your own: in the United States in 2011, 1,612 people were killed while being driven by a drunk driver. That number represents about a quarter of all people killed in drunk driving collisions. If you care about your life, don't ride with a drunk driver. If you care about your friend's life, do everything you can to keep him or her from driving. Friends don't let friends drive drunk.

Texas's 911 Lifeline Law gives protection to persons under 21 for providing help to victims of alcohol poisoning. Under this law, if a person under 21 calls 911 because he or she believes another person may be experiencing alcohol poisoning, the caller can't be charged for possessing or consuming alcohol in connection with the event. To receive this protection, the caller must wait for and cooperate with law enforcement and emergency crews. Only the first person to call 911 in each case is eligible.

Finally, insurance companies also enforce their own penalties on people who choose to drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. On top of the court penalties and other fees you'll already have to pay, the price of insurance greatly increases with a DUI or DWI conviction on your driving record. Your insurance policy may even be cancelled at the end of its term because of the conviction, especially if you're currently in a dispreferred health class.

Cold temperatures also affect your vehicle's fuel, engine and other system hoses, and battery. If your vehicle isn't well maintained, you may suffer an unexpected breakdown when the temperature drops. Remember to keep your windows free of fog by turning on the defroster, turning off air recirculation, turning up fan speeds, and adjusting air temperature.

Finally, keep in mind that snow and ice don't just make it more difficult for you to drive—everyone else on the road is susceptible to these conditions in the same way. Watch out for other drivers losing control, taking longer to come to a stop, and having difficulty seeing the road or even your vehicle. Drive cautiously to avoid being struck by another driver.

Pay attention to the road at all times. You must avoid many different sources of distraction, including music, passengers, food, and collisions on the roadway. Noticing hazards at the last second won't help you avoid them—you must actively search the driving environment for potential and imminent conditions. Never speed or drive aggressively. Always drive at a speed appropriate for current driving conditions, never more than the posted speed limit. Be courteous to other drivers and obey the law at all times. Maintaining a safe following distance is extremely important to your ability to recognize, understand, and safely react to changing road conditions.

Finally, pay attention to other drivers. Never make any assumptions concerning another driver's intentions, sobriety, alertness, or respect for the law. Treat every road situation as new and unpredictable. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. Over time you'll encounter a great number of drivers on the road, so expect them to make mistakes, and have an escape plan for when they do. Make a habit of thinking ahead and you'll find there's a lot you can do to prepare for possible and imminent changes in the driving environment.

Mud, puddles, and even wet leaves also present a serious threat to your ability to control your vehicle. Puddles can affect a single wheel at a time, causing your vehicle to swerve. They may also hide large potholes. Mud and wet leaves can cause a sudden loss of traction. Mud is particularly dangerous because it may stick to your tires and splash onto your headlights or windshield, reducing their effectiveness.

Finally, remember that in any adverse weather condition, other road users are faced with the same conditions as you. When you have difficulty seeing and your tires suffer reduced traction, other drivers experience the same issues.

An illuminated oil pressure light indicates that your engine's oil pressure is too low or too high. Both can cause serious damage to numerous engine components. When the oil pressure light illuminates, pull over onto level ground and turn off your engine. You may not be able to get an accurate oil depth reading on an incline. Wait a few minutes for the oil to settle, then check your dipstick.

First, locate your dipstick. Most use a metal or plastic ring, often yellow, as a grip. Carefully remove the implement from its shaft, then wipe it clean with a cloth or tissue. Insert the dipstick back into its shaft, and push it down to the starting position. Wait a few seconds, then remove it again. Look near the bottom of the dipstick: if the top of the oil level appears beneath the lower mark, add one quart of oil to your engine. If oil levels are too high, or if they're normal but the oil pressure light stays on, call a mechanic. The oil on your dipstick should appear smooth, glossy, and somewhat transparent. If you see dirt, sludge, brown bubbles, or a crusty brown residue, your oil needs to be changed entirely.

These safe driving practices will help you avoid emergencies, but they can't completely prevent them. Driving in rainy weather increases the probability of a number of different emergencies, including skidding, hydroplaning, and floods.

Floods are a serious issue, and we'll devote more time to this special situation in a later section. For now, consider the National Weather Service's advice: Turn Around, Don't Drown®. This phrase is also the name of a campaign to provide drivers with safety tips and early warning of floods. The National Weather Service recommends that you follow these rules to stay safe against flooding: Monitor a news or radio source, such as the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Radio, for weather conditions. Move to higher ground when flooding occurs.

If you feel tired on the road, it's best to pull over and take a nap. If this is impossible, or if for any other reason you continue driving, you can help avoid a fatal collision if you: Sit up straight. If you lean forward, you'll have less control over your car and be more likely to fall asleep. Keep your eyes moving and check your mirrors frequently. Avoid overheating your car, even in the winter. Slow down and increase following distance so you'll have more time to react. Hum a song, chew a stick of gum, or have light conversation with passengers. Engaging your mind, but without distracting yourself from the road, can help you maintain awareness. Buckle your seat belt.

Fog can easily make driving extremely unsafe. When you encounter fog, be prepared to pull over. Fog can be unsettling and confusing to you as a driver. You may not be able to see past 100 ft, or even past 10 ft in the worst fog. The absence of sky, road, and environment can be extremely disorienting. Your windshield and rear and side windows may become foggy. Remember to turn the defroster on, recirculation off, fan speed up, and temperature down to quickly restore visibility.

As we discussed in Unit 27, when you are involved in a collision you must exchange information with the other parties involved. In addition to your names, addresses, and license information, you must exchange the names of your insurance companies and your policy numbers. This information can be found on your insurance card. Be sure you record the company name and policy number printed on the other driver's insurance card accurately. Insurance company names are often similar and can cause confusion.

Following a collision, your insurance company requires you to: Notify the company promptly and provide the names and addresses of witnesses and injured persons. To ensure your claim is paid in a timely manner, first make a report by phone, and then follow up in writing. Send the company copies of any notices or legal papers you receive concerning the collision. Cooperate with the company's investigation. A proof-of-loss form and a medical exam may be required.

Dehydration, a reduction in bodily water, also causes an increased alcohol absorption rate. Carbonation, as in beer, champagne, and mixers such as soda or energy drinks, may also cause higher BAC measurements. The gas suspended in these drinks increases pressure inside the stomach, raising the absorption rate.

Food contained in the stomach while digesting alcoholic beverages does not absorb or neutralize alcohol. However, it may initially coat the stomach lining and slow absorption to a small degree. This affects only the stomach, and not the intestines, where the majority of the body's alcohol absorption occurs. Rate of consumption also has an important effect on your level of impairment. One standard drink of beer contains the same amount of alcohol as one standard drink of vodka, but if you consume the vodka in a single shot, your BAC will rise much more sharply than if you consume the beer over 15 minutes.

When driving, your eyes must be focused on the road ahead. As long as your vision remains focused on a point ahead of you, you won't have to refocus your eyes significantly when you use your mirror to see behind your car. To look at your own reflection, however, you must refocus your vision on a much closer object. Accordingly, when you look back to the road, it will take time before you can focus on anything adequately enough to notice a hazard on the road.

For all tasks not directly related to driving, use a mirror at home. Remember, your rear and side view mirrors were designed to help you see the areas behind and to the sides of your car, not to help you finish getting ready when you go out. Additionally, grooming is an activity that lends itself to frustration if you don't have the time and patience to do it properly. If you care about the results, you'll never attempt to groom yourself behind the wheel.

The authority of DPS to suspend or revoke an individual's drivers license extends to that person's driving privilege regardless of whether or not they are actually licensed at the time of the violation. If a driver commits a violation while driving without a license, either because he or she has not obtained a license, is driving with an instruction permit, or has had his or her license suspended or revoked for a previous violation, the department will suspend or revoke his or her driving privilege. In this situation, the driver will not be able to apply for or restore his or her drivers license until the terms of the suspension or revocation have been met.

For certain offenses, the DPS will automatically suspend your license: Driving while intoxicated (DWI) by alcohol or drugs Intoxication manslaughter Intoxication assault Boating while intoxicated Committing a serious drug offense Failing to stop and render aid (hit-and-run) Causing death or serious injury while operating a motor vehicle Overtaking and passing a school bus Evading arrest Racing a motor vehicle on a public street Vandalizing property with graffiti Committing any offense punishable as a felony under Texas motor vehicle laws

If you're following another vehicle to your destination, make sure you don't fixate only on that car's bumper while ignoring the rest of the roadway. You may face different hazards than the other driver, and may fail to notice a problem if your attention is too narrowly focused. If you need to confer with the driver in the other car, pull over. Don't try to talk with them while you're both on the roadway.

For the most part, distracted driving is so easy to avoid that it is troubling how frequently it is the cause of fatal collisions. To remain consistently focused on the road, you must simply choose to ignore any potential source of distraction. If there is a situation you need to attend to urgently, pull over so you can give it the attention it deserves. When you drop something, hear a phone ring, or have to deal with a crying child, you might feel a reflexive or even panicked urge to respond without thinking about the situation. Take a deep breath, assess the situation, and, if necessary, get off the road to deal with the problem.

At lower doses, marijuana can cause the user to feel detached from his or her current situation. Memory loss, panic, depression, drowsiness, a loss of physical coordination, and an altered perception of time are common side effects. At higher doses, all of these effects will be heightened. In addition, the user may experience visual or auditory hallucinations. However, partially because of the large number of chemical compounds in marijuana, and partially because of differences in how many of these chemicals behave from one person to another, the effects the drug has on users can be highly variable.

For this reason, it is not even safe to assume that the experience a person has with the drug on one occasion will be quite similar to his or her experience on another occasion. Many people consider marijuana a depressant and would prefer it to be officially classified as such in order to make medicinal marijuana legalization efforts more defensible. However, partly because of its strong hallucinogenic effects, and partly because of the strength of the federal government's restrictions against the possession and sale of the drug, it is still generally classified as a hallucinogen.

Many of these driver errors are heavily influenced by certain factors: Intoxication and fatigue cause inattention, poor vision, bad judgment, lack of coordination, and possible loss of consciousness Distraction causes inattention, rushed decisions, and hesitant actions Speed gives you less time to see objects on the road, less information before making a decision, and less control when executing a maneuver Aggression causes distraction, bad judgment, and poor coordination Intoxication, fatigue, distraction, speed, and aggression are some of the most influential factors leading to fatal collisions.

Fortunately, it's not difficult to prevent a lot of these errors before they have a chance to occur. By consciously making better choices and practicing safe behavior behind the wheel, you can keep yourself in the best position to avoid collisions on the road. Remember never to drive if you're even slightly impaired due to alcohol, drugs, or fatigue. Impairment quickly destroys your ability to determine how impaired you are, then makes you prone to recognition, decision, performance, and non-performance errors.

Staying in control means making sure that basic driver controls—steering, acceleration, and braking—remain in agreement with the road itself. To maintain this agreement, driver input is communicated to the road surface through your vehicle's tires. It follows that maintaining healthy tires is of utmost importance when driving in adverse conditions.

Fortunately, there are a lot of things you can do to prepare yourself. The first of these is something you should already be doing: keeping your vehicle properly maintained. Adverse conditions place more strain on your vehicle's engine, tires, and other components. Keeping these components in good condition will help you stay in control of your vehicle when the going gets rough.

Motor Oil, Antifreeze, and Brake Fluid Automotive fluids are highly toxic and should generally be disposed of by a professional. Do not dispose of these fluids in a sink, septic tank, or storm drain, as they can poison the soil and water and damage waste treatment facilities. These fluids can generally be recycled at a service station or hazardous waste facility. If you choose to drain these fluids yourself, make sure you follow the instructions carefully. Avoid mixing fluids together. To prevent spills, use a funnel to drain the fluid into a sealable container.

Gasoline, Power Steering Fluid, and Windshield Wiper Fluid: Unlike motor oil and some other fluids, these fluids should be used up in the normal operation of the car and do not usually need to be drained and replaced. However, if you must dispose of them, make sure you store them in separate sealed containers and recycle them at a hazardous waste collection location. Car parts: Mufflers, transmissions, oil filters, and other plastic and metal car parts can be salvaged and reused. Contact your local government or recycling center to find out more about recycling car parts.

After you've been drinking, you may want to get home, or visit a restaurant, or drive your friends around. You may even feel the need to drive somewhere because of the consequences if miss your curfew or disappoint your friends. Yet none of these reasons are worth risking your life. Ask yourself, which is worse: Getting punished by your parents, or dying in a wreck? Having to explain to your date that you were drinking, or killing a stranger with a car? Upsetting your friends, or killing them? The choice is clear. Don't drink and drive.

Get a Ride Home One of the most effective ways to ensure that nobody in your group drives drunk is to choose a designated driver. It is the designated driver's responsibility to have not even one sip of alcohol, and to drive everyone home safely. When choosing a designated driver, be sure it's someone you trust to act responsibly and not take advantage of the situation. A designated driver must protect his or her passengers from themselves and others, and must protect others from them.

Parking Because it involves dealing with pedestrians, drivers entering or exiting the road, and other road users, searching for a safe place to park can be stressful. When there are few parking spots available, you may feel increasingly frustrated the longer it takes to find a place to park. Stress isn't going to make more parking spots appear. Getting upset over situations you have no control over will only make you less able to drive safely.

Getting Lost Becoming disoriented can be especially stressful for drivers. When you're lost, each decision you make can make the problem even worse, increasing your stress as you get farther and farther away from a place you're familiar with. You may stop paying attention to other drivers or how you're controlling your own vehicle as you try to identify a way back to a known road. When you're planning to drive in an unfamiliar area, plan your trip ahead of time. Always keep maps in your car so you can find your way back when you get lost.

In order to be prepared for any potential legal issues in the future, following a collision you should always get the names and addresses of everyone present at the collision scene, including all drivers and witnesses. If possible, make a sketch or take a photo of the collision scene. You should record as many facts related to the collision as possible, such as the time, date, location, weather, and driving conditions, as well as the name of the hospital where the injured are taken and the badge number of the police officer at the scene.

Give accurate facts to the police when they arrive. When speaking to the police following a collision, you should never attribute fault to the other driver or yourself. Do not leave the scene until all relevant information has been shared with all parties involved. Seek medical attention promptly. You may have been injured in a way that is not immediately apparent. Contact a mechanic about any necessary repairs. For insurance purposes, you are generally required to get two estimates concerning the cost of repairs. Mechanics must report any vehicle that arrives at their shop showing evidence of a collision. Notify your insurance agent as soon as possible. Your insurance company may refuse to pay your claim if you do not contact them within the time specified in your policy.

Strong winds can push a vehicle out of its lane—or off the road. Your vehicle will be less stable, and you'll have less control over it. Vehicles that are light, long, or tall are particularly vulnerable to strong winds. Some effects of strong winds may not less obvious at first. Wind can blow leaves and other objects through the air, reducing visibility, and can blow objects onto the road, causing hazards. It may even be difficult to hear over strong winds.

Gusts of wind may strike suddenly as you pass large trucks, leave forests, ridges, or plateaus, or exit from an underpass or tunnel. Pay attention to the connection between your car and the ground, and watch for swaying trees or airborne objects. When driving in strong winds, slow down and increase following distance. Drive in the center of your lane, and grip the steering wheel firmly to keep control over your position.

Hallucinogens Finally, a person under the influence of hallucinogens can have wildly reduced or altered judgment. First, he or she may suffer some of the same depressing or stimulating effects of other drugs. But beyond that, more complex intellectual effects may come into play. The user may feel as if he or she is experiencing time in a new way, or may feel a detachment from their personal identity and situation. These may occur to such an extent that the person feels that time has stopped. Worse yet, a person under the influence of hallucinogens may experience sights, sounds, and other sensations that have no real-world cause.

Hallucinogens Finally, a person under the influence of hallucinogens can have wildly reduced or altered judgment. First, he or she may suffer some of the same depressing or stimulating effects of other drugs. But beyond that, more complex intellectual effects may come into play. The user may feel as if he or she is experiencing time in a new way, or may feel a detachment from their personal identity and situation. These may occur to such an extent that the person feels that time has stopped. Worse yet, a person under the influence of hallucinogens may experience sights, sounds, and other sensations that have no real-world cause.

While many pain relievers are available without a prescription, some are not. Opium and its related chemicals are particularly dangerous, and their availability is tightly controlled. An overdose of any type of pain reliever can be fatal. Aspirin, Tylenol, and Advil are used to combat pain, fever, and inflammation. Excessive use can cause liver damage. Morphine and codeine, which are the chief mind-affecting chemicals in opium, are used to relieve pain. They are highly effective, but that effectiveness comes with increased risks of addiction and overdose. Other effects include itching, nausea, slowed breathing, depression, and constipation. Heroin, hydrocodone, and methadone are derivatives of opium, and have generally the same effects. These include increased risks of addiction and overdose.

Hallucinogens alter perceptive and emotional faculties. They can cause hallucinations, delusions, mood swings, loss of sense of time and self, and other intellectual distortions. Examples of hallucinogens include: Cannabis, or marijuana Psilocybe, or "magic" mushrooms LSD Salvia divinorum Mescaline, found in the Peyote cactus Dissociatives, such as phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine

Generally, the effects of many depressants on the driving task are similar to those of alcohol. Here are some ways in which other depressants differ from alcohol: Antihistamines are often more likely to produce dizziness and confusion before significant loss of physical coordination. Many pain relievers cause poor pupil function more quickly. Tranquilizers used to treat anxiety, like Valium and Xanax, tend to have stronger effects of detachment or aggression. Tranquilizers used to sedate the body, like Seconal and Nembutal, tend to cause a more severe loss of muscle control.

Hallucinogens are extremely dangerous to the driver's judgment. They can cause anxiety, depression, fear, panic, impaired memory, delusions, and hallucinations. All of these can increase the time it takes for the driver of a motor vehicle to react to conditions on the road. In addition, the common effect of detachment from reality is especially dangerous, and can make the driver fail to react at all.

TAIPA offers only liability, PIP, and UM/UIM policies, and only to the minimum limits required by law. As with regular insurance companies, if you do not want PIP or UM/UIM coverage, you must decline it in writing. For almost all drivers, TAIPA insurance will cost more than coverage provided by a private insurance company. In addition, when you receive a ticket or are involved in a collision, you will be charged a substantial surcharge. Under TAIPA, you may face a surcharge as expensive as your premium for a severe violation!

Having an insurance policy isn't a license to be reckless on the road. If you demonstrate poor driving habits, your insurance company may decide to stop covering you by cancelling or refusing to renew your policy. Cancellation refers to a company's decision to terminate your policy before it expires. Nonrenewal refers to a company's decision not to renew your policy when it expires. If a company cancels or does not renew your policy, or declines to extend you a policy, it must explain its reasons in writing and indicate the incident or risk factor that informed its decision.

Heavy Traffic or Bad Weather Any time you have more decisions to make and more hazards to deal with, you're likely to feel more stressed. As a result, road work and bad weather, traffic, and road conditions can be very stressful, especially if you're in a hurry. In these situations, always remember that there's nothing you can do to change the situation. If possible, use an alternate route with better conditions. If not, just try to concentrate on the road and drive in a safe and courteous manner.

Heavy Traffic or Bad Weather Any time you have more decisions to make and more hazards to deal with, you're likely to feel more stressed. As a result, road work and bad weather, traffic, and road conditions can be very stressful, especially if you're in a hurry. In these situations, always remember that there's nothing you can do to change the situation. If possible, use an alternate route with better conditions. If not, just try to concentrate on the road and drive in a safe and courteous manner.

When you think a friend is too drunk to drive, it's your responsibility to convince him or her, patiently but firmly, not to get behind the wheel. Try to persuade your friend that someone else should drive or offer to call him or her a cab. Tell your friend that he or she would be doing you a favor by letting you help him or her get home safely. Try to convince your friend to give you his or her keys as soon as you think he or she might be drinking too much. As he or she becomes drunker, your friend might become more hostile and less likely to listen to reason.

Help make sure your friends get home safely by offering to be a designated driver ahead of time. As a designated driver, you must: Remember not to drink any alcohol Know who you're responsible for before anyone starts drinking Know where to bring each passenger and who to call in case of an emergency Communicate your rules for passengers before anyone starts drinking Make sure you don't offer to drive more people than can safely fit in your car Make sure that no one else has access to a vehicle. Don't let anyone else handle your keys. Reach an agreement about gas money, food, and possible cleaning costs with your passengers before they start drinking

Many drivers have an immature attitude or lack appropriate values and boundaries. Such drivers may be compulsive and competitive and will frequently make decisions without considering them fully. Because these drivers are less able to regulate their mood and may not understand how to deal with others courteously, they can be driven to unchecked anger by the stresses of the road.

If you have a disposition that makes you more likely to drive aggressively, it's essential that you recognize this fact and take any necessary actions to avoid putting others at risk. Of course, not all personality traits can be changed and not all dispositions that could lead to aggressive driving are necessarily bad in all situations. A responsible driving attitude simply requires that you don't let your emotions make your decisions for you when you're behind the wheel. If you don't think you can do that, you shouldn't drive.

Most cars respond immediately to a driver's commands, yet behind these smooth operations are many complex components that have been carefully designed to work together in an efficient and apparently seamless way. While learning how these parts work together may seem challenging, understanding automobile systems will help you appreciate the importance of maintaining every part of your car. Moreover, a solid grasp of how your car works can make you a more confident and conscientious driver.

Historically, cars have been built around rigid ladder-like frames, usually made out of steel, designed to handle a great amount of stress and keep the car's components in alignment. The body-on-frame approach allows manufacturers to make changes to the bodywork and interior while keeping the chassis unchanged. While frames were found universally in older automobiles, today many cars use lighter and more crash-resistant unibody designs that do not need a frame. Frames are now used mostly in truck and bus construction.

Drunk driving continues to be a huge problem in the United States and in Texas. State laws exist to punish you for making the mistake of getting behind the wheel while impaired. The first laws against drunk driving were adopted in New York in 1910, but for the next 44 years, police officers had to rely on visual signs to determine intoxication. Only with the invention of the breathalyzer, in 1954, did police officers have a portable and non-invasive way to accurately and numerically measure blood alcohol content (BAC). Since then, chemical tests measuring the percent of alcohol in a person's bloodstream have been an important aspect of drunk driving law enforcement.

However, even with the advent of the breathalyzer, weak laws and a lack of research led many governmental and regulatory agencies to accept long-standing BAC limits as high as 0.15%. These limits proved ineffective due to the extent of impairment possible below this level of intoxication. Drunk driving continued to account for the majority of traffic fatalities—in 1982, 60% of all traffic fatalities were alcohol-related.

Listening to the stereo while driving is not necessarily dangerous. Indeed, it can have many benefits, including: Lessening the monotony of driving with pleasant music and engaging programming Providing access to important news, including updates on weather and traffic conditions Keeping the driver's mind engaged so that his or her senses do not become dulled or fatigued

However, operating a stereo or music system can turn out to be more complicated—and dangerous—than it looks. Using a stereo or music player requires making a number of adjustments with controls that are small and difficult to manipulate while your car's in motion. Moreover, you may end up using them for more time than you intended if you can't find a song you like or the playlist you're looking for. One of the safest strategies you can adopt for listening to the stereo in your car is to accept what you're listening to. Who knows, you may even discover a new favorite song!

If you demonstrate certain limitations as a driver, the DPS may place restrictions on your license requiring that you drive only if these restrictions are met. These restrictions aren't meant to interfere with your driving but to make sure you're as safe a driver as possible. A code letter will be placed on your license indicating the type of restriction. These codes include: A: The driver must wear corrective lenses B: The driver must be accompanied by a licensed operator over 21 who must remain in the front seat C: The driver must drive only in the daytime D: The driver must not exceed a speed of 45 mph E: The driver must not drive on expressway P: A specific restriction will be stated on the license

I: The motorcycle driver is restricted to vehicles with no more than 250cc piston displacement J: The motorcycle driver must ride in sight of a licensed operator at least 21 years old K: The motorcycle driver is restricted to operating a moped N: The driver must operate a vehicle equipped with an Ignition Interlock Device S: The driver must employ an outside mirror or hearing aid T: The driver must use a vehicle with an automatic transmission U: The driver must use the specified prosthetic device W: The driver must use a vehicle with power steering Z: The driver must use the specified vehicle device To remove a restriction from your license, you must contact your local drivers license office or a drivers license trooper. Drivers license troopers are the agents of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) responsible for issuing licenses and maintaining licensing records.

Teenagers are especially likely to feel the desire to ignore safe driving strategies and act recklessly to impress other teenage passengers—even when no one asks them to. When you give in to peer pressure, you endanger yourself and your friends. Never visit with friends in other vehicles or let your passengers interact with people outside your car. You could become dangerously distracted or irritate other drivers if you try talking to someone in another vehicle.

If a passenger is distracting you, you must feel comfortable telling him or her to stop, even if you know that he or she will give you a hard time for doing so. If a passenger wishes to have an emotional discussion, ask him or her to wait until you're done driving. If he or she is insistent, pull over before having the conversation. If a passenger continues to be a nuisance even after you have asked him or her to stop, you must decide whether to pull over and ask him or her to get out of the car.

According to the Good Samaritan law: A person who in good faith administers emergency care is not liable in civil damages for an act performed during the emergency unless the act is willfully or wantonly negligent. You should provide any emergency care you are capable of providing. You will not be held responsible for any damages that accidentally result from your care unless you expect payment, are aware that injury will result from your treatment, or are found responsible for the collision.

If anyone is injured or killed, you must call the police immediately. You and any other drivers involved in a collision must share certain information with the police and each other, including: Your names Your addresses Your drivers license numbers Your license plate numbers The names and addresses of your insurance companies—if you only get the company name, you can get the rest of the information by calling 1-800-252-3439 You should also note the names and addresses of any passengers involved in the collision, as well as where they were sitting and the extent of their injuries.

You are legally required to determine who was involved in the crash and whether anyone involved has been harmed, and provide assistance to anyone who's been injured. However, you should provide medical aid only if you know what you're doing. Improper medical care will often make the situation much worse. In most cases, assistance will consist of calling for an ambulance or paramedics. Be sure that you identify the place of the collision clearly and precisely when you call 911. If the injury is not severe, you may offer to transport the injured party to medical care yourself.

If it is safe and you are competent to do so, you should attempt to provide medical aid to anyone who is seriously injured. Even basic medical care provided in the first few minutes after an injury can mean the difference between life and death. Help anyone who is not already walking and talking. Firmly apply thick cloth pads or bandages to bleeding wounds. These pads should be as clean as possible. Begin artificial respiration at once on anyone who appears not to be breathing, if you are certified to do so. If you have completed a certified first-aid course, you may also attempt to treat severe bleeding or shock. Do not move an injured person unless they are in a burning vehicle or in other imminent danger—it may make their injuries much worse.

Do not get into a vehicle unless the driver has had nothing at all to drink. If no completely sober driver is available, call your friends and family members until you reach someone who can come pick you up. Even if they're upset, remember that they'd be much more upset if you killed yourself driving drunk. Whenever you can, call a friend to drive you home safely.

If nobody you call can give you a ride, call a cab. Not only can it save your life, but it will be less expensive than paying for a DUI—and cab seats are much more comfortable than jail cells. Don't risk your life to save a few bucks. Just call a cab. It will safely and quickly deliver you to your home.

Tranquilizers, also called antianxiety agents, treat both the psychological and the physiological symptoms of anxiety, among other things. They are used to treat depression, anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and muscle spasms. Many tranquilizers are highly addictive. Harmful effects of tranquilizers include slowed breathing, reduced heart rate, and coma. Personality changes, such as increased aggression and irritability, are possible. Because of their high potential for abuse, most tranquilizers are available only by prescription. All tranquilizers have a serious potential for addiction and withdrawal. They can be fatal with overdose or in combination with other drugs

If prescribed benzodiazepines by a doctor, you should only ever take the prescribed dosage. Because these drugs have similar effects to illegal depressants and narcotics, you should only drive after taking benzodiazapines if your doctor, and the warnings on the bottle, indicate that you can drive safely while using the medication. Remember, if you feel too impaired to drive safely, don't drive!

Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency! If you or your friends are drinking, watch out for anyone who: Is unconscious or semiconscious Doesn't respond to pinching Exhibits slow or irregular breathing Has a slow heart rate Has bluish, pale, cold, or clammy skin Vomits while passed out If someone seems to be suffering from alcohol poisoning, they could die if they don't get help. Call 911, even if only some of these symptoms are present.

If someone seems to be suffering from alcohol poisoning, try to keep them conscious or, if they've passed out, wake them up. If someone won't wake up, don't panic! Call 911 for help. Keep them on their side Perform CPR if their pulse is less than 40 beats per minute or their breathing is less than 8 breaths per minute. Don't try to help by feeding them food or coffee, making them vomit, giving them a cold shower, or letting them "sleep it off." Remember, under the 911 lifeline law, a person under 21 who calls 911 to report potential alcohol poisoning cannot be charged by the police for possessing or consuming alcohol. This immunity only applies to the first person to call for medical assistance.

Lost Productivity due to work that couldn't be performed because of death, disability, or incarceration Other Social Costs, including property damage, criminal activity, and demands on the justice system As the charts indicate, lost productivity accounted for the majority of these costs.

If the trends governing the increase in the costs of alcohol and drug abuse have remained consistent, by 2009 they would have totaled over half a trillion dollars! That averages to a cost of over $1600 for every man, woman, and child living in the United States! While some of these expenses are borne by the abusers themselves, federal, state, and local governments are significantly taxed by the costs of abuse. Moreover, society loses out on a considerable amount of potential when anyone, especially a young person, is killed or permanently disabled in a DUI collision. When you drink and drive, everyone pays the price!

Drivers licenses are typically accepted as the standard form of identification around the country, and are often required to fly on planes, purchase alcohol, etc. Individuals who do not wish to drive may obtain an official state identification card (ID) at the drivers license office for a $15 fee. The ID will expire after six years. Once an individual turns 60, he or she will have to pay a $5 fee the next time that his or her ID needs to be renewed, and will not have to renew the ID again.

If you abuse your driving privilege, the DPS or the court system in the state of Texas may decide to take action against your license. A suspension is a temporary withdrawal of a drivers license or the driving privilege for a specified period of time. A revocation is a termination of a drivers license or the driving privilege for an indefinite period of time. The driving privilege may only be restored when all requirements associated with the revocation have been satisfied. A cancellation is a withdrawal of a license or the driving privilege until the driver can requalify. A denial is a withholding of a license or the driving privilege because the person is ineligible. The individual must meet the eligibility requirements before he or she can acquire a license.

Drunk driving carries serious legal consequences. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, nearly 1.3 million people were arrested for driving under the influence in 2012. That makes up more than 10% of the total number of arrests made that year. In Texas alone, over 85,000 people were arrested for DUI or DWI in 2012. Of these, 592 (7%) were under 18 years old at the time.

If you are lucky enough to survive the wreck you cause by driving drunk, your troubles are far from over. The penalties for DUI and DWI convictions alone are severe. The penalties for DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide, however, are far worse. If convicted of manslaughter or homicide, you will be fined up to $10,000 and imprisoned for up to 15 years. If you also leave the scene of the crime, you may be imprisoned for up to 30 years. If you were convicted and sent to prison at age 18, you would remain in jail until age 48.

When you go out with friends as a designated driver, you should identify yourself as such to your servers. At many eating and drinking establishments, the servers will remember not to provide you with alcohol and may offer you complimentary non-alcoholic beverages. Designated drivers must possess a valid license and should be at least 21 years old so they can accompany their friends when they go out to drink legally. If you choose to be a designated driver, you must take your responsibility not to drink that much more seriously.

If you choose to be a designated driver, don't expect your task to be problem-free. Dealing with a car full of drunks is more than enough for one person to handle even if other factors don't come into play. You may have to clean your vehicle at the end of the night. You should be prepared to deliver a drunk person to his or her parents safely and responsibly, even if they're upset to be woken up in the middle of the night, or to find their child intoxicated.

As we've discussed, in Texas, underage drinking is governed by Zero Tolerance laws. Under these laws, it is illegal for you to possess or consume alcohol or to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol in your system. Until you turn 21, you may not: Purchase or attempt to purchase an alcoholic beverage: You can be charged for trying to buy alcohol even if no money changes hands. Possess an alcoholic beverage: You can be found guilty of possession just for being in the vicinity of alcohol. Consume an alcoholic beverage: Drinking alcohol is illegal no matter how you acquired the drink. Be intoxicated in public: You will face penalties for being intoxicated in a public place.

If you commit any alcohol-related offense as a minor, you are guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. If found guilty, you could: Have to pay a fine of up to $500 Be required to perform 8 to 12 hours of community service Be required to attend an Alcohol Awareness course Lose your license for 30 days or more Face more penalties from your parents, school, and insurance company If you are convicted of subsequent offenses, you will face additional penalties including up to 40 hours of community service, a fine of up to $2,000, a lengthier license suspension, and even possible jail

If you're not able to provide evidence of financial responsibility, you will be unable to continue driving. You must present evidence of financial responsibility when: Applying for a drivers license Registering a motor vehicle Obtaining a motor vehicle inspection certificate Renewing a license plate Requested by a law enforcement officer or by another person involved in a collision with which you are involved

If you fail to show proof of financial responsibility when requested by a law enforcement officer, you may receive a citation. If you can show proof that a liability insurance policy was in effect when the citation was issued, the court will dismiss the charge. The first time you're convicted of failing to provide proof of financial responsibility, you'll be fined between $175 and $350. For a second offense, penalties will include a fine between $350 and $1,000, suspension of your license and vehicle registration, and impoundment of the vehicle driven at the time of the offense for 180 days. The car will not be released from impoundment until evidence of financial responsibility is provided.

Remember that when you first begin to drive, you must abide by the requirements of the Graduated Drivers License Program. In Phase One, you can obtain an Instruction Permit. The Instruction Permit will allow you to operate a vehicle while you are accompanied by a licensed driver who is over 21 years old. Since you have now completed your required 32 hours of classroom training, you must now complete 14 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and 30 hours of supervised driving before you can continue to Phase Two. In Phase Two, you can obtain a Provisional Drivers License that will allow you to drive without supervision. During this phase, you must not drive with more than one passenger under 21 or during the night between midnight and 5 a.m.

If you haven't yet visited your local drivers license office to obtain an instruction permit, you must do so before you can begin the behind-the-wheel portion of your training. You must be at least 15 years old to qualify for an instruction permit. When you apply for an instruction permit, you will have to provide a thumbprint and submit to a vision test. You will also have to pass a written examination on road signs and the rules of the road.

If you drive on a suspended license, you are guilty of Driving While License Invalid. Your suspension will be extended for the same amount of time as the original suspension and you will be fined up to $500. In addition, you'll be fined up to $2,000 and face up to 180 days in jail for driving without a valid license if: You have a previous conviction for the same offense on your record You are also found to be driving without insurance Your suspension was imposed for a drunk driving offense If, while driving without a valid license or insurance, you're responsible for a crash in which someone is injured or killed, you will be fined up to $4,000 and face up to a year in jail.

If you intend to drive a vehicle for business or employment, you must obtain a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) rather than a classified license. A driver must be 18 years old to obtain a CDL valid for driving within Texas, and 21 to obtain a CDL valid for interstate commerce. You can obtain a Class A, B, or C commercial license. The vehicles permitted under each of these classes are similar to those permitted under the corresponding classified license. CDLs must be renewed every five years for a fee of $60.

If you hit a parked vehicle or another form of property, try to find the owner. If you cannot find the owner, leave a note with your name, address, and phone number under the windshield, as well as a description of the circumstances of the collision. Report the collision without delay to the police. You should follow this same procedure if your car rolls away and hits another vehicle after you have parked it.

If you kill or injure an animal, pull over to the side of the road and stop. Try to find the owner. If you cannot find the owner, call the Humane Society or the police. Do not try to move an injured animal, but never leave an injured animal to die—it is inhumane and cruel.

If you have been the victim of a collision, the other driver's insurer may attempt to get you to sign a settlement, or may refuse to pay if the other driver denies fault. Don't sign a release unless you are satisfied with a settlement. You may want to ask your doctor about your anticipated medical costs, and consult a lawyer, before making a decision. Get the personal information of independent witnesses to the crash and provide it to your insurance company. This information may be necessary to resolving the dispute.

If you need to make a claim against your own insurance policy following a collision, you should: Make sure you get an appraisal for car damages. Your claim will be considered by an appraiser that you hire and one hired by your company, as well as an arbitrator. An appraisal is the best way to determine the value of your loss. Find out how your claim will affect your insurance rates when you renew your policy. Any crash reported on your driving record may affect your rates in the future. Be prepared to negotiate with your insurance company concerning the worth of your car and the value of the damages. A company might raise its offer if you can show that your car could sell for a higher price in your area.

It's important to remember that any minor who consumes, possesses, or attempts to purchase alcohol is a criminal. If you commit an alcohol- or drug-related crime, you will face severe legal consequences, including a prolonged term in prison. If you're sent to prison, your education may be delayed, you may find it harder to get a job, and you may even lose the right to vote. You may be separated from everyone important to you for years, and by the time you see them again, it may be too late to revive your relationships.

If you think no one really gets arrested for alcohol- and drug-related offenses, think again! According to the FBI, 12.2 million people were arrested in 2012. Of these, 3.8 million, or about 31%, were arrested for a crime that involved alcohol or drugs: 1.28 million were arrested for a drunk driving offense. 1.55 million were arrested for a drug abuse violation. 441,000 were arrested for a liquor law violation. 511,000 were arrested for public drunkenness.

You may be tempted to have a drink so others won't give you a hard time. Yet giving into one type of pressure will not help you escape from people who want to influence your behavior. Once you've demonstrated that you're impressionable, others will recognize that they can manipulate you and make you do things even if you don't want to. Every time you give in, it will become harder for you to stand up for yourself in the future.

If you want people to respect you, know your own mind. By understanding your own desires and motivations, you can prevent yourself from doing something that you feel uneasy or concerned about. Don't let others actively or passively bully you into drinking. Only by standing up to people who try to pressure you will they come to understand that you're fine without they're approval and their attempts to influence you have no power. Eventually others will leave you alone—or even admire you for your convictions.

Your temporary anonymity won't protect you if you cause a collision. You'll be forced to reveal your name, license number, and insurance policy number to the police and the other driver, and you'll be fully accountable for any damage or injury you cause. If you value your anonymity, calm down and avoid unsafe actions when you're behind the wheel. You may end up with more publicity than you bargained for if you cause a collision: your name may appear in your local newspaper's crime blotter, or even among its obituaries.

If you're feeling stressed or angry before driving: Try taking a walk while breathing deeply. Talk to a friend or family member to help you work out your emotions or at least take your mind off them. Close your eyes, count backwards from ten, and think about the things in life you'd miss if you were seriously injured or killed in a collision. If you can't calm down, don't drive. It's never worth risking your life.

If you're overly emotional, you won't be able to perceive or react to changes within the driving environment. To drive safely, you must be: Emotionally stable and unlikely to overreact Able to make complex, split-second decisions in response to road conditions and traffic Considerate of others Able to recognize and perform the most appropriate action Able to use good judgment Attentive to the driving task Patient and calm in stressful driving conditions

If you're overly emotional, you won't be able to perceive or react to changes within the driving environment. To drive safely, you must be: Emotionally stable and unlikely to overreact Able to make complex, split-second decisions in response to road conditions and traffic Considerate of others Able to recognize and perform the most appropriate action Able to use good judgment Attentive to the driving task Patient and calm in stressful driving conditions

Before taking an extended trip, you can make sure you're ready for trouble by having certain emergency equipment in your car: A tool kit including a flashlight, first-aid kit, screwdriver, adjustable wrench, socket set, and pair of pliers A car jack, a spare tire, a lug wrench, wheel blocks, and better jumper cables Emergency flares or triangles A fire extinguisher Warm clothing, food, and water

If you're taking a trip in the winter, there are extra precautions you should take: Keep the fuel tank full. Don't let it get below half full before refilling it, as low quantities of fuel are more likely to freeze. Make sure your tires have adequate tread depth and inflation. Cold temperatures lower tire pressure. Equip your car with any additional equipment you might need, such as chains or snow tires, extra coolant (antifreeze) and wiper fluid, and a window scraper. Remember to carry drinking water, high-energy bars, warm clothing, gloves, and a blanket.

If your choice to drink is motivated by the reasons we've just discussed, you'll be making a decision that's truly motivated by no real reason at all. While drinking is something that responsible adults can enjoy in moderation for its own sake, no reasonable person has ever thought that alcohol is a good way to solve a problem.

If you're willing to drink for foolish reasons, you're probably not responsible enough to drive. You may deal with complicated situations on the road by driving recklessly, taking shortcuts, ignoring other road users, and disregarding the potential risks of your actions. Ultimately, you may end up solving all your problems in the worst way possible: if you're killed in a collision, you'll never have to worry about anything again.

When choosing where to pull over, find a place that minimizes the hazard your vehicle presents to others on the road. Try to stop as far over on the side of the shoulder as possible. Don't stop near curves or hills—they may hide your vehicle from traffic in one direction or both. If drivers can't see your vehicle for at least 100 ft from both directions, place warning devices at that distance.

If your engine has stalled and you're driving a manual transmission vehicle, try to come to a stop in a place where it will be easier to perform a rolling start. A long, clear downhill stretch will work best. When you've found an appropriate location, pull off the road, come safely to a stop, and park your vehicle. Remember to set the parking brake even in emergency situations. Turn your engine off and take your keys from the ignition.

If your engine temperature remains abnormally high or seems more erratic than usual, you may have a leak in your radiator or your coolant may need to be replaced. Breakdowns, collisions, and costly repairs can be avoided by keeping your cooling system in good working order. This involves regularly checking under your car for coolant leaks, maintaining the proper amount of coolant, and changing it according to the recommendations of your vehicle's manufacturer.

If your engine temperature remains abnormally high or seems more erratic than usual, you may have a leak in your radiator or your coolant may need to be replaced. Breakdowns, collisions, and costly repairs can be avoided by keeping your cooling system in good working order. This involves regularly checking under your car for coolant leaks, maintaining the proper amount of coolant, and changing it according to the recommendations of your vehicle's manufacturer.

Much like rain, winter weather increases the probability of traction loss. Recovering from a skid on snow or ice works much the same as a skid on wet pavement, but it can be far more difficult. Skids on snow or ice happen more easily, are less predictable, and are more severe. Because of the increased probability of traction loss, you must keep in mind that the actions of other drivers are less predictable. Go much more slowly and give other drivers much more space in order to avoid being involved in a collision.

If your vehicle becomes stuck in deep snow, keep calm. Before attempting to free your vehicle, find your exhaust pipe and clear snow away from the area around it. A blocked or smothered exhaust pipe can cause a deadly buildup of carbon monoxide inside your vehicle. To free your vehicle from the snow, point your front wheels straight ahead, shift into a lower gear—2nd in a manual transmission, or D2 in an automatic—and press the accelerator very gently. Press too hard and your wheels will spin freely against the snow without gaining traction.

Most vehicle fires start in the engine compartment. If you see smoke or flames coming from under your hood, pull over immediately. Vehicle fires are particularly dangerous, typically involving burning fuel, oil, electronics, plastic, and numerous other materials. The combustion of these materials produces extremely toxic fumes.

If your vehicle begins to catch fire, quickly pull over in an area clear of plants and other flammable materials. Avoid service stations and other businesses. Unless you're properly equipped to fight the flames, all occupants should move at least 100 ft away from the vehicle. Call the fire department immediately. If you have a chemical fire extinguisher and the fire is very small, it may be a good idea to attempt to put it out. Cover your hands with gloves or rags, and keep your face low and away from the heat of the flames. If you can't quickly extinguish the fire, stop trying. Leave the hood down and move away from the vehicle.

Single-vehicle collisions occur when a single vehicle strikes an immobile object, usually off the road. Maintain control of your vehicle and, above all, stay in your lane. Unless debris or another hazard blocks your path, you will not suffer a single-vehicle collision if you stay in your lane. Unfit drivers are often at fault in their own single-vehicle collisions. Consider the typical collision suffered by drowsy drivers: a single vehicle leaves the road and collides with a stationary object at a high speed, while the driver makes no attempt to avoid the object. These collisions are extremely deadly and are easily avoided by those fit to drive.

If your vehicle falls into deep water and begins sinking, leave it behind and concentrate on your safety and the safety of the other occupants. If your car enters water deep enough to sink in, immediately roll down all windows. This will help it fill with water, which is actually a good thing. If your vehicle becomes submerged with its windows rolled up, the pressure of the water on your doors may be too great to allow you to open them. If you open your windows late, the rush of water may make breathing and escaping more difficult. Unbuckle yourself, breathe in as much air as you can hold, and exit the vehicle.

Additionally, under the Zero Tolerance laws, it's illegal for you to misrepresent your age to buy alcohol, whether you use a fake ID or simply state that you are over 21 when asked. Moreover, if you use a drivers license in an illegal way, you will face additional penalties including a fine of up to $2,000, a license suspension for up to a year, and a jail term of 72 hours to 180 days.

Improper use of a drivers license includes: Displaying or possessing a license knowing it is false, cancelled, revoked, suspended, or altered Lending a drivers license or ID to someone else Representing another person's license or ID as your own Failing to surrender a cancelled, suspended, or revoked license Having more than one valid license Using false information to obtain a license

When people die or permanently ruin their lives due to alcohol abuse, they don't just rob the world of themselves now—they also destroy all the years of contributions to the world that they would have made had they lived. Accordingly, the CDC reports that annual deaths due to excessive alcohol use cause a loss of over 2.5 million potential years of life. Even if each victim of alcohol use contributed only $4,000 to the domestic product annually, these deaths would represent a loss of over $10 billion.

In 2000, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism released a study that estimated the annual economic costs of alcohol abuse. This study found that in 1998, alcohol abuse cost the United States approximately $185 billion. This study also showed that DUI collisions cost the U.S. over $15 billion in property damages alone. Keep in mind that this amount doesn't include the costs associated with injuries or deaths caused by the collisions. Additionally, the Office of National Drug Control Policy published a study in 2011 that estimated the annual cost of drug abuse in the United States. The study estimated that in 2007, drug abuse cost the nation over $193 billion.

Impaired drivers also put pedestrians and bicyclists at greater risk of death or serious injury. In 2011, there were 4,432 total pedestrian fatalities. Of these fatalities, 710 (16%) were caused by drivers with a .08% BAC or higher. Children under the age of 14 were the victims of 25 of these fatal impaired driving collisions with pedestrians. If you're driving impaired and you strike and kill a pedestrian, there's a 1-in-28 chance that you will be killing a child.

In 2011, there were 677 total bicyclist fatalities. In 251 (37%) of these fatalities, either the bicyclist, the driver, or both were under the influence of alcohol. In 210 (31%) of these fatalities, at least one of the vehicle operators had a BAC of .08% or higher.

Alcohol can destroy lives before they even begin. Fetal alcohol syndrome occurs when a woman uses alcohol during her pregnancy. The child of a woman who drinks during pregnancy is likely to be born with permanent physical or mental disabilities, or both. In the most severe cases of fetal alcohol syndrome, the child will likely be born with abnormal facial features, growth problems, problems in the central nervous system, and memory, attention, and communications deficiencies—if the child is born at all. Frequently, alcohol use during pregnancy results in the death of the fetus. There is no safe amount of alcohol to drink during a pregnancy. According to some estimates, as many as five children in every 1,000 are born with some disability or medical problem due to their mother's alcohol use during pregnancy.

In 2012, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that almost 60 million Americans had been binge drinking within the 30 days of the survey. These binge drinkers account for almost half of the 135.5 million Americans who consider themselves current drinkers. Remember, binge drinking can be incredibly dangerous. If you think you're not a problem drinker just because you only drink when you're out with friends, think again: many people who start as social drinkers end up becoming problem drinkers.

The most well-known American manufacturers of steam-driven automobiles were the Stanley brothers of Massachusetts. They produced their Stanley Steamers from 1897 until after World War I. Within a few years, however, American manufacturers would begin to mass produce cars with internal-combustion engines. These men included Henry Ford, who founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903, proclaiming, "I will build a car for the great multitude."

In October 1908, Henry Ford made good on his promise, introducing the Model T at a price of $950. By 1927, the year it was discontinued in favor of other models, the price had reached as low as $280, a single car could be assembled in 93 minutes, and over 15 million Model Ts had been sold in the United States alone. The Model T heralded the beginning of the motor age. By the 1920s, the automobile had evolved from a novelty used mostly by the well-to-do to an essential form of transportation for the ordinary citizen.

Remember, alcohol is a poison and it has toxic effects on your body as well as your mind. What could be more foolish than becoming so dependent on a toxic substance that your body comes to rely on it to function properly? As a person becomes more emotionally dependent on something so obviously destructive to his or her health, he or she must begin to rationalize the addiction or simply choose not to think at all. As his or her ability to reason deteriorates, the drinker becomes more susceptible to the influence of extreme emotions.

In Unit 17, we discussed how different forms of stress can affect your performance as a driver. For example: Increased nervousness and anxiety can make you worry excessively, drive too slowly, or attempt to avoid dangers that don't exist. Depression and general distraction can make you miss turns and exits, forget to check blind spots or signal, or fail to observe the situation on the road. Irritability can cause the driver to overreact to minor delays and mistakes, leading to aggressive and reckless driving.

You must provide documents from two different agencies. Acceptable documents include: A valid, unexpired Texas voter registration card, vehicle registration or title, or concealed handgun license A valid, unexpired medical card, selective service card, or insurance policy or statement A current deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement, or rental/lease agreement A utility statement, bank statement, credit card statement, pay stub, or mail from a government agency less than 90 days old A school transcript or tax earnings statement for the current year Current documents issued by the U.S. military, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service

In addition to licensed Texas residents, the following drivers are legally allowed to operate a motor vehicle on Texas roads: Any nonresident of at least 16 years of age who is in possession of a valid (Class C or M) drivers license issued by his or her home state. Nonresidents over 18 years old may operate a vehicle in Texas that they are licensed to drive in their home state. Properly-licensed drivers who have moved to Texas within the last 90 days. After 90 days, a new resident must obtain a Texas drivers license. Any person temporarily driving or operating a road machine, farm tractor, or instrument of husbandry on a highway, unless the vehicle is a Commercial Motor Vehicle.

There are too many different drugs to list or count, but they can be grouped into three useful categories: stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens. While we will consider each of these kinds of drugs in more depth soon, it's easy to remember the basic differences between these categories: Stimulants speed you up. Depressants slow you down. Hallucinogens alter your thought and perception.

In addition to these categories, you may have heard the term "narcotics" before. This term is generally used to describe all drugs that relieve pain, dull the senses, and induce sleep. This includes opioids, barbiturates, and pain relievers. When used in reference to crimes and law enforcement, "narcotics" generally means "controlled substances." These include heroin, cocaine, marijuana, LSD, and methamphetamine.

It's illegal for drivers or passengers to have an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a vehicle. Even if the car is parked or you aren't the one driving, you'll face a fine of up to $500 simply for being in possession of an alcoholic beverage with a broken seal or with some contents removed. However, this law does not apply to passengers in a vehicle for hire (like a limo, taxi, or bus) or in the living quarters of a motor home, or alcoholic beverages locked in the glove compartment, the trunk, or another secure area.

In addition, significant legal penalties are associated with: Furnishing alcohol to a minor: An adult who sells alcohol to or purchases an alcoholic beverage for a minor is guilty of a Zero Tolerance offense. He or she can be punished by a fine of up to $4,000 and a jail term of up to a one year. Drug convictions: In addition to the other penalties you may face, your license can be suspended for up to six months if you are convicted of violating the Texas Controlled Substances Act.

Moreover, alcohol use diminishes the ability to distinguish individual objects if they are dimly lit, even when you only drink a little. This will make driving at night, or in rainy or foggy weather conditions, much more dangerous. The effects of alcohol on the driver's ability to distinguish contrast are powerful. This is one of the main reasons that drunk drivers contribute so heavily to the number of crashes that occur at night. The unfortunate fact is, people tend to drink at the very times when they're most endangered by the negative effects of intoxication.

In addition, when you've been drinking: Your peripheral vision will be decreases, giving you tunnel vision and making it harder for you to notice what's going on around you. Your depth perception will be impaired, making it impossible for you to judge distances and maintain a safe space around your car. As we've discussed, vision is the sense drivers rely on most when driving. Being able to see is as important to driving safely as having functioning brakes. You wouldn't get on the road if your brakes couldn't stop your car, so why would you drive when you can't properly see what you're doing?

Perform vehicle operation and control tasks at various speeds to accelerate, decelerate, and steer, move forward and back, turn left and right, perform lateral and turnabout maneuvers, stop, and park Perform blind spot and mirror checks Perform multitask performances using countermeasures to compensate for divided attention Communicate and sustain visual attention while executing maneuvers Utilize a space management system Perform post-drive tasks including stopping, engine shut-down, post-drive maintenance, and exiting and securing the vehicle

In addition, you must be prepared to adopt a mental disposition appropriate for driving whenever you get behind the wheel: Be courteous to other road users by communicating properly, yielding the right-of-way, and helping other drivers when they seem agitated or distracted Recognize the particular risks associated with different kinds of road users and road and weather conditions and adjust your driving appropriately Make sure you're fit enough to operate a vehicle by staying off the road if you're too sick, tired, or emotional to drive safely Stay focused on the driving task by keeping your eyes moving across the roadway and avoiding activities likely to distract you Never get in the driver's seat when your mental and physical skills are impaired by alcohol, drugs, or anything else

Once you leave home, you and your parents must decide if you should remain listed on their insurance policy. Unless you plan to obtain your own coverage, you should probably remain on your parents' policy if still visit your parents (and use their cars) occasionally. Your parents should inform their insurance company if you are going to school away from home. If you bring a car with you, your rates may be adjusted to account for your new location. On the other hand, if you're away at school without a car, your parents may be eligible for an insurance discount.

In general, insurance companies do not wish to insure drivers who have demonstrated high-risk behavior on the road. When you apply to purchase or renew an insurance policy, the insurance company will review your driving history and assess your risk factors. If you are deemed a risky driver, the company may decline to approve or renew your policy. Many companies use the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) to learn about the insurance claims you have filed in the past. You can review the auto and personal property report that insurance companies use to determine your eligibility online. Federal law allows you to request one free copy of this report every 12 months.

Alcohol can amplify your emotional distress, affecting your performance behind the wheel: Anger can cause you to see other drivers as your enemies, and can make you drive in ways that are designed to upset or offend others. Impatience can cause you to make unsafe decisions about lane changes, passing other vehicles, running red lights and stop signs, and many other things. Sadness can distract you from the road and delay your judgment and reaction time. Worry can also be very distracting, causing you to spend mental energy thinking about problems other than those in front of you.

In most normal situations, you can deal with strong emotions by sorting out your thoughts, determining what is bothering you, and choosing to ignore it to the best of your abilities. Any drug or any amount of alcohol has the potential to worsen any type of emotional distress.

To jumpstart a car, you need a car with a dead battery, a car with a healthy battery, and a set of jumper cables. First, park the vehicles near each other and turn them off. Their engine compartments need to be close enough for the cables to reach, but the vehicles must not make physical contact with each other.

Next, open both hoods and attach the jumper cables. One cable, usually red, is for positive current, while the other, usually black, is for negative current. You must connect the cables in this exact order: Red cable to positive terminal on dead battery Red cable to positive terminal on good battery Black cable to negative terminal on good battery Black cable to grounded surface in engine compartment of car with dead battery

If your engine stalls or is turned off, you will lose power steering and power brakes. Compensate for this by turning the steering wheel and pressing the brake pedal gently but much more strongly than usual. Gently pull the emergency brake if necessary. When your engine stalls, shift into neutral. Let your vehicle coast to a stop—braking hard can cause you to lose control. While coasting, try turning the ignition switch and restarting your engine. If this fails, pull over and turn the engine off.

In older engines with carburetors, and sometimes in newer engines with fuel injection technology, the engine can become flooded with fuel. Normally, each piston only needs a momentary burst of fuel mixed with air. When the engine floods with fuel, it will typically stall, and can suffer serious damage. If the engine turns over without difficulty but fails to ignite when you turn the key all the way, it's probably flooded. You can start a flooded engine by turning the key all the way and holding it there while you press the accelerator all the way to the floor and hold it. Both cars with carburetors and those with fuel injection are designed to cut off fuel supply when the throttle is held wide open in this way. Your pistons will be flushed with air, allowing the fuel-air mixture to return to an appropriate level.

You should also inspect under the hood and underneath the car for any signs of a problem. Look for signs of oil or fluid leaks in the engine compartment and try to make sure that nothing has been removed. Activate the engine and check under the hood for abnormal smells and clattering and hissing noises. Look on the ground beneath the car for fluid leaks. Check underneath the car for rust, scrapes, and loose or missing parts such as bolts or cables.

In order to ensure that the car works correctly, take it for a test drive. While driving the car, watch for any warning lights on the instrument panel and ask yourself: Does the engine start, run, and idle smoothly, accelerate without hesitation, and demonstrate sufficient power? Does the transmission system allow you to shift gears smoothly and without grinding or jerking? Do the brakes (including the parking brake) stop the vehicle adequately without pulling to one side? Does the steering system work smoothly and correctly? Do you hear any noises when you turn the wheel? Do advanced systems like antilock brakes and four-wheel drive function as expected?

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Recognize how manual, visual, and cognitive inattention can affect your driving performance Stay away from your cell phone while driving to avoid the temptation to talk or text Perform tasks that could distract your attention like eating, grooming, and smoking at appropriate times rather than on the road Understand and minimize the influence of potential distractions in and outside of your car Respect other road users by maintaining an attentive attitude while anticipating mental lapses in others

In the past several lessons we have discussed a number of potentially risky situations that you will face as a driver. When you are behind the wheel, you must be able to: Anticipate the specific risks associated with different driving environments and adjust your driving appropriately for current conditions Understand the need to avoid risky driving behaviors like speeding, violating right-of-way, and tailgating Maintain a sufficient level of fitness to drive safely, including by never driving when you're dangerously fatigued Minimize the influence of emotions on your driving and take care not to drive aggressively Develop a strategy to eliminate potential sources of distraction and prepare for distracting situations on the road

Some drivers incorrectly believe that it's safe to talk while driving as long as they use a hands-free cell phone. However: When you're having a conversation, you may direct your gaze at objects without being aware of what you're seeing, regardless of what technology you're using. The sound and connection quality of speaker phones can be poor, requiring you to devote more attention to making yourself clear and interpreting the person on the other end. Because drivers think they're safer with a hands-free device, they're more likely to ignore the effects of distraction.

Indeed, researchers have suggested that drivers are at a higher risk of a collision not only when they're on the phone, but also in the few minutes after they've ended the conversation. This suggests that the act of talking is less responsible for distracting drivers than is the driver's mental preoccupation with the content of the conversation. In other words, if you talk on a cell phone, you'll be distracted from driving even if you think you're paying attention to the road.

By being a smart consumer, you're more likely to end up with a policy that provides the coverage you need at rates you can afford: Buy only from a licensed agent or company. Answer the agent's questions truthfully: wrong information may result in an incorrect quote, rejection of your application, or cancellation of your policy. Get price quotes from several companies for the same amount of coverage. Consult independent agents who can give you multiple quotes at once. Consider factors other than price, like a company's financial rating and its complaint index. This information can be found at the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) website. Get an idea of the insurance rates you can expect based on your driver profile by visiting the TDI "Help Insure" website.

Inexperienced drivers generally have to pay significantly more for insurance. Typically, an inexperienced driver will have to pay approximately 250% of normal rates in his or her first two years of driving, and approximately 200% in his or her third year. While you may wonder why you should pay so much for insurance as a young driver, consider this: without insurance, driving could be restricted to people with enough money to pay for any damages they cause. By paying more now, you can get on the road earlier, gain experience, and have your rates reduced as you improve.

Many common antihistamines, including Benadryl, Dramamine, Zantac, and Clarinex, are also available without a prescription. These drugs are used to treat allergic reactions, such as runny nose, watery eyes, itching, and inflammation. Undesirable effects include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and depression. Antihistamines can dangerously affect the body's ability to process other chemicals, making them especially risky in combination with other drugs. A non-lethal dose of alcohol, for example, may become lethal while taking antihistamines.

Inhalants are chemicals that are often found in household products, the sale of which is typically unregulated. These chemicals emit toxic vapors that have effects much like depressants. Hallucination, loss of sensation, and unconsciousness are possible with short-term use. Long-term use can lead to permanent hearing loss, limb spasms, nervous system and brain damage, and bone marrow damage. Death from heart failure or suffocation is possible from an overdose of inhalants.

Positive Ways to Cope As a teenager, the problems you face may seem insurmountable and it may feel as though you'll never be able to overcome them. The truth is, most problems are temporary, and all you need to solve them is a little more experience, perspective, and maturity. Dealing with your problems in an intelligent and healthy way won't just improve your life and make you less likely to use alcohol as a crutch, it will also make it easier for you to focus on and enjoy the act of driving.

Instead of drinking, follow these simple strategies to help you cope with your problems: If you're burdened by sad, anxious, or pessimistic thoughts, talk about them with a friend, family member, or other person that you trust. Another person can offer you sympathy and understanding, and may have a perspective on your problem that you haven't considered. If you don't feel comfortable talking about your problems, try writing about them. Putting your troubles into words can help you think about them more clearly. If you're feeling overwhelmed by strong emotions, cry if you have to. It's better to relieve the tension you're feeling in private rather than taking it out on others when you're on the road.

Your car should drive without difficulty at first, but when battery charge becomes too low, it may stall and suffer damage. If the battery warning light illuminates when certain electronic components are active and turns off when they're deactivated, your battery is still running low. Have it inspected as soon as possible. If your engine won't turn on and the battery warning light remains illuminated, you may need a jumpstart to recharge your battery. We'll discuss this process in detail in a later section.

Internal combustion engines rely on exploding fuel to produce power for your vehicle's wheels. One byproduct of this process is a large amount of heat, which is normally dissipated with the help of an engine coolant. If the coolant fails to keep up with the heat produced by the engine, a number of components may suffer damage. When the engine temperature gauge or light indicates excessive heat, pull over, turn off your engine, and raise the hood. Park in the shade if possible.

These are among the many reasons that alcohol is a particularly harmful drug. It's not impossible to drink responsibly, but it is very easy to drink in a way that results in falling off a ladder, dying from alcohol poisoning, causing a fatal collision, or causing severe liver damage later in life. Take alcohol seriously. Don't underestimate its capacity to cause harm.

It's difficult to objectively measure impairment due to alcohol. As you'll soon see: Two drinks of the same size may contain different amounts of alcohol. Two people consuming the same amount of alcohol may absorb different amounts into their bloodstream. Two people with the same amount of alcohol in their bloodstream may experience different levels of impairment. The bottom line is that it's typically not possible to predict the exact effects that a person will experience after drinking alcohol on a particular occasion. You should never assume that you know how impaired you are, or will be, after drinking.

In fact, if you drink to avoid your problems, the situation and your own ability to cope with it will only deteriorate, and eventually you may reach the point where there seems to be no way out. Since alcohol will also impair your ability to evaluate risk, your desperation could cause you to do something incredibly dangerous and reckless. If you actually want things to get better, you must be willing to confront your problems directly.

It's equally foolish to drink to conform to social expectations and avoid feeling pressured by others. There will always be people who try to pressure others into dangerous activities like drinking, smoking, or driving too fast. Sometimes these people want others to act like them, and sometimes they simply want to force others into an uncomfortable situation.

Don't even consider interacting with electronic devices while you're driving. Driving requires 100% of your attention: there's simply no time to be looking at anything other than the road around you. When you have to look at your GPS screen or another system display as you drive, be sure to look away from the road only briefly. Remember, any time a task requires your attention for more than half a second, you should continue switching your focus between the task and the road until the task is completed.

It's not only digital technology that's dangerous. You may find it hard to believe, but some drivers attempt to operate their cars while reading a newspaper or a book. Some even attempt to use their phones to find an address with one hand while writing down directions with the other. In cases like this, it's no mystery why collisions happen: no one is driving the car! Reading and writing will distract you from driving, regardless of whether the technology you're using is as modern as a smart phone or as traditional as a pen and paper.

A safe and efficient Highway Transportation System is an important part of the economy of the United States. Not only does the HTS make it possible to sell produce grown on the other side of the country and to construct sophisticated machines out of parts manufactured in distant regions, but it is directly responsible for thousands of jobs in Texas and around the country.

Job opportunities created by the HTS include: Vehicle manufacturers and professional mechanics and technicians Vehicle engineers, including systems engineers, communications engineers, and computer programmers Professional drivers, including commercial truck drivers, bus drivers, taxi drivers, and delivery workers Road construction and maintenance workers

Mushrooms, or magic mushrooms, come from the genus Psilocybe. Their effects are also similar to those of LSD, with possibly increased risks of abnormal or dangerous behavior. Additionally, the use of Salvia Divinorum can cause hallucinatory experiences. These drugs are all prohibited in the state of Texas. Marijuana, from the Cannabis plant, is also a prototypical hallucinogen. We'll discuss its effects in more detail in the following section.

Ketamine, a prescription medicine also used recreationally, has effects similar to those of PCP. It is less potent and its effects wear off more quickly. Dextromethorphan is an active ingredient in Robitussin, NyQuil, Dimetapp, and Vicks. It also has similar effects to those of PCP, but is less potent.

Hallucinogens can be divided into two distinct groups: dissociatives and the prototypical hallucinogens. Those drugs most often referred to as "hallucinogens"—what we call here the prototypical hallucinogens—are taken primarily for their hallucinogenic properties. Their effects tend to last for several hours even with small doses.

LSD, or acid, is derived from a fungus that grows on grains such as rye. It is typically used for its ability to cause delusions, hallucinations, and an altered sense of time and self. LSD increases body temperature and heart rate, and causes loss of appetite, sweating, sleeplessness, and shaking. Peyote is a cactus containing mescaline, a chemical with effects similar to those of LSD, but with different types of hallucinations.

Lung Damage Not even your lungs are safe from the effects of alcohol! Alcohol damages your lungs and their ability to maintain themselves. The lungs of a chronic alcohol user are more susceptible to such dangerous conditions as pneumonia, collapsed lung, and acute respiratory distress disorder.

Like your heart, your brain is extremely important to your survival and incredibly vulnerable to the long-term effects of chronic alcohol consumption. Alcohol damages your brain, both by physically affecting brain tissue directly and through its chemical interactions with neurons. Alcohol causes brain cells to shrink, reducing brain mass and enlarging internal cavities. Some areas of the brain may develop holes or abnormal growths, impairing brain functions including motor coordination, sleep, mood, learning, and memory.

Being able to drive can improve your life in countless ways, but only if you recognize its built-in risks and adopt an appropriate attitude towards driving. If you act carelessly or recklessly behind the wheel, you may find that becoming a driver was the worst thing that ever happened to you. The first step is completing your drivers education requirement. Once you've obtained your license, you will have demonstrated that you have the basic skills and willingness necessary to be a safe and responsible driver. By mastering the lessons of drivers education now, you'll have a solid foundation on which to build a lifetime of driving experiences.

Limit and manage driver distractions and required multitask performances Adopt zero-tolerance practices related to the use of alcohol and other drugs by recognizing and understanding the laws, regulations, penalties concerning alcohol and other drugs, as well as of the consequences of alcohol and drug use on your lifestyle, your driving, and your license Manage adverse conditions resulting from weather, reduced visibility, traction loss, and emergencies Assess and manage vehicle malfunctions, perform preventative maintenance, and plan trips Attend to vehicle requirements by making wise consumer decisions regarding vehicle use and ownership, vehicle insurance, environmental protection and letter prevention, and anatomical gifts

It's always preferable to attend to a situation before it becomes a problem. For instance, by regularly changing the oil in your car, you can prevent severe engine damage later on. Any time that a component in your car seems to be acting unusually or a warning light on your instrument panel remains active, you should have a professional check your car. While going to a mechanic may be inconvenient, acting now may allow you to correct a problem before it becomes expensive or dangerous.

Maintaining your car starts by making sure that your car is clean and well-fueled whenever you get on the road. Keep your car clean inside and out. When your car is clean, dirt is less likely to be sucked into the engine compartment and you will be better able to see the road. However, if you wash your own car, don't waste water and be sure you use cleansers that are safe and appropriate for the task.

When other drivers get agitated, you must respond by remaining as calm as possible. As long as you're able to think clearly, you'll remain in control of the situation. Give an aggressive driver plenty of space. Don't attempt to engage the other driver's attention or signal to him or her in any way, unless it's essential for your safety. To someone overwhelmed by anger, even a friendly smile can be misinterpreted.

Make every attempt to get out of the way of an obviously aggressive or dangerous driver. Put enough distance between yourself and the aggressive driver to ensure your safety, even if it means changing routes to do so. Avoid making eye contact. To an already negative driver, eye contact can be interpreted as a challenge. Don't try to correct the other driver's behavior or teach him or her a lesson by honking, speeding up, tailgating, etc. Interfering with aggressive drivers will probably not bring them to their senses. It's much more likely to anger them further.

Regardless of how you plan to use your car, your priorities should include safety, reliability, and fuel economy. Moreover, you should tailor your purchase to your driving habits: If you're going to be sharing your car with other members of your family, select a car that meets everyone's needs rather than the one you like the most. Choose a smaller car if everyone plans to use it at different times. If you chose a larger car, try to consolidate your trips as much as possible. If you plan on carrying heavy loads, choose a larger car or a truck. Excess weight can put undue stress on smaller cars and lead to vehicle damage. Different car models have different insurance, maintenance, and fuel costs associated with them. Be sure to choose a car you'll continue to be able to afford.

Make sure you don't choose a car for superficial reasons. Buyers often focus too much on features that have nothing to do with how they'll be using their car: for instance, color is the main factor that people consider when buying a car. If you choose a car because you like the way it looks, you're more likely to find yourself complaining about its performance or its costs sooner or later. You're most likely to be satisfied for a long time if you focus on factors like safety and performance when buying a car.

Remember that you must activate your headlights any time between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise. You must also activate your headlights whenever you're unable to see people or vehicles clearly from 1,000 ft. More than that, it's a good idea to activate your headlights whenever you have any difficulty seeing the road because of darkness. Use your high-beams when the road is dark enough and the air is clear, but not within 500 ft of an oncoming vehicle or 300 ft of a vehicle you're driving behind.

Make sure your headlights are aligned properly. Misaligned bulbs can shine into other drivers' eyes and fail to illuminate the road ahead of you. Low-beams should illuminate the road surface 100 to 150 ft ahead, and above the road 300 to 500 ft ahead. If you can't see past your low-beams, the highest safe speed is 40 to 45 mph. High-beams should illuminate the road surface 300 to 350 ft ahead, and above the road 500 to 1,800 ft ahead. If you can't see past your high-beams, the highest safe speed is 55 to 60 mph. Above these speeds, you're overdriving your headlights—creating an area ahead of your vehicle that is not illuminated and which you would enter before coming to a complete stop in an emergency braking situation.

Once the engine starts, let it run. Disconnect the cables in reverse order: black cable from ground source, black cable from good battery, red cable from good battery, red cable from dead battery. Close both hoods. Keep the engine running for 20 to 30 minutes with electronic devices off. This lets the battery acquire enough charge to start the engine again after being turned off. If your battery was in good condition before losing its charge, your car's behavior should be back to normal.

Manual transmission vehicles with stalled engines sometimes can be restarted using momentum. Rolling downhill or being pushed at 5 to 10 mph, the power of the turning wheels can be directed into the engine, causing it to start. This won't work if the battery is completely dead. To perform a rolling start, you'll need a clear downhill stretch of road or a few friends willing to push your vehicle along flat ground. Never attempt a rolling start without a person in the driver's seat at all times, controlling the brakes and steering wheel.

Another law requires the mandatory revocation, suspension, or delay of eligibility for a drivers license of a minor found guilty of certain alcohol, drug, or tobacco offenses. The penalties include a fine of up to $500, community service of up to 40 hours, and a driver's license suspension lasting from 30 to 180 days. Note that we are not yet talking about driving under the influence. Even simple possession of an alcoholic beverage may cost you your license, not to mention other serious legal consequences.

Many of Texas's counties have special laws concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages. In Texas's 22 "dry counties", no sales of alcoholic beverages are legal. In 46 "wet counties", all alcoholic beverage sales are legal. If your county is one of the 186 counties not listed on the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's website, review local laws to find out what types of alcoholic beverage sales are legal where you live.

Dextromethorphan, the active ingredient in over-the-counter cough medicines like Robitussin and NyQuil, has effects similar to those of PCP. Taking the recommended dose can cause drowsiness and loss of focus, while taking more than the recommended dose can cause hallucinations, violent behavior, and seizures. Dextromethorphan abuse often causes feelings of strength, power, and invulnerability. This makes you aggressive and foolish, and can cause you to engage in extremely risky—often deadly—behavior. Finally, like many other over-the-counter drugs, dextromethorphan is much more dangerous when taken with alcohol. Drowsiness increases, and less of each drug is needed for a fatal overdose.

Many pain relievers are available without a prescription. The pain relievers Aspirin, Tylenol, and Advil are used to relieve pain and reduce fever and inflammation. Harmful effects of pain relievers include oversensitivity to light, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, liver damage, thinning of the blood, and deterioration of the stomach lining. An overdose of any pain reliever can be fatal.

But why is drinking such a problem among teens in the United States? Some teens drink because they want to seem "cool". Some drink because they want to forget about their problems. Others drink to avoid social pressures against nondrinkers. Teens drink for many reasons, but they are often misguided or pressured into drinking. Before you put any alcohol in your body, understand that you always have a choice. Nobody can force you to drink—you're the only one in control of that.

Many people drink for the wrong reasons, or drink based on a misunderstanding of the drug. Alcohol will not solve your problems. It will only make matters worse. Alcohol will not make you seem "cool" to anyone. It will cause slurred speech, an inability to form sentences, stumbling, vomiting, and unconsciousness. Alcohol may make people laugh at you, pity you, or be disgusted by you—but it will certainly not make them think you're cool.

Marijuana comes from the Cannabis plant, which has been used by humans for thousands of years but has only recently begun to be cultivated with startlingly higher potency. Marijuana's most abundant psychoactive chemical is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. It is important to note that over 400 other chemicals can be found in the plant, making its effects widely variable.

Marijuana is primarily inhaled as smoke, but it can also be eaten after being infused in food. Inhalation takes the drug to the brain in a matter of seconds, while ingestion delays the effects for half an hour or more. Since there are so many different chemical compounds in marijuana, the body takes longer than normal to metabolize it completely. Many metabolic byproducts are created and stored in body fat, then slowly excreted. This allows THC levels to be measured after as many as five days after administration in light smokers—and much longer in moderate and heavy smokers.q

Hallucinogens can greatly disturb the mind and dangerously disrupt vital organ functions. Possible effects include: Anxiety, depression, fear, and panic Impaired memory and loss of coordination Nausea, vomiting, and sweating Lethally increased heart rate and body temperature A false sense of well-being Delusions, hallucinations, and psychosis To a greater extent than other drugs, the effects of hallucinogens depend on the specific personality and mental state of the user. For this reason, their effects vary widely from person to person.

Marijuana is the most widely used hallucinogen in the United States. It is primarily used for its ability to cause hallucinations, a false sense of well-being, and an altered sense of time and self. It is also used to relieve pain and to increase appetite. Disorientation is one of the most important harmful effects of marijuana. It makes the user unable to understand and react adequately to his or her current situation. Other harmful effects include impaired memory, fear, panic, psychosis, increased heart rate, and loss of coordination.

` A number of other hallucinogens can be classified as dissociatives. Dissociatives have a weaker version of many of the effects of the prototypical hallucinogens. In addition, they have stronger effects of dulled senses, loss of sense of self, and sedation. Phencyclidine, or PCP, causes anxiety, delusions, hallucinations, and feelings of detachment. It also causes feelings of strength, power, and invulnerability. It is addictive and can cause violent behavior, vomiting, constipation, seizures, and coma.

Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, arrests for possession of marijuana numbered above 69,000 in Texas in 2011. Marijuana is primarily used for its ability to cause hallucinations, a false sense of well-being, and an altered sense of time and self. It is also used to relieve pain and to increase appetite.

Alcohol's effect on judgment can make even basic driving tasks difficult, even among experienced road users: a BAC as low as 0.02% can adversely affect the judgment of bus drivers trying to guide a bus through a narrow passage. Young, less experienced drivers are particularly affected by a loss of reasoning skills. Because their self-imposed restraints are less developed, it can be easy for an intoxicated young driver to lose his or her inhibitions and drive in an extremely reckless way.

Memory Alcohol damages your ability to store and retain information, even with a BAC as low as 0.03%. Not only will your short-term awareness of the road around you be affected, but your ability to consider the situation in the context of your long-term driving experience will also be weakened. If you can't remember what you've seen and what you're doing, you may forget where you're going, forget what lane you're supposed to be in, forget what street you just passed, or forget that you're in the middle of a turn.

Sense of speed, sense of distance, and depth perception: Stimulants often cause you to make extremely risky decisions based on perceived speeds and distances. You may think you can drive 110 mph and be in control of the car, but you'll be dead wrong. Vision: You may scan the road too much, paying insufficient attention to what you see.

Memory: If you're not too distracted to remember things correctly, you may have trouble determining what is relevant, and remember too many things to be able to function properly. Attention and focus: Overexcitement and a high volume of thought can destroy your ability to pay attention to your surroundings or focus on any particular thing.

It's a big problem in Texas and the rest of the United States: according to a 2013 report from the University of Texas, the drug accounted for 10% of all admissions to drug treatment programs in Texas in 2012.

Methamphetamine abuse is also associated with the use of additional dangerous drugs. The University of Texas reports that clients entering treatment for methamphetamine use also reported secondary problems with marijuana (29%), alcohol (17%), and cocaine (8%). Overall, 67% of clients reported at least one secondary substance abuse problem. One drug particularly linked with methamphetamine use was GHB: in 2010, of all clients in treatment who had a problem with GHB use, more than half (57%) reported that their primary drug problem was with methamphetamine.

Although tobacco use can cause many different types of cancer, the principle cause of death from chronic tobacco use is lung cancer. Tobacco causes lung cancer due to a number of reasons: Nicotine weakens the immune system's ability to fight cancerous growths. The smoke inhaled from a cigarette contains over 60 known carcinogens, or cancer-causing chemicals. Some of these chemicals have been purposefully added to the cigarette, often to give it a particular flavor. In addition, smoking a single cigarette means drawing about ten 2.5-ounce doses of tobacco smoke into the lungs. Many smokers consume far more than this every day. This exposes the lungs to carcinogens over and over again, day in and day out.

Methamphetamine is a synthetic drug that is also known as 'speed,' 'ice,' 'crank,' and 'meth' or 'crystal meth.' It is usually smoked or injected, but is also snorted. The immediate effects are very similar to those of cocaine. They range from increased activity, talkativeness, and increased heart rate to severely increased body temperature, convulsions, and death. The body has more difficulty removing methamphetamine from the bloodstream than it does cocaine. This allows the drug to stay in the body much longer, continuing to produce its effects.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Minimize the impact of air pollution and the costs of gasoline by maximizing your vehicle's fuel efficiency Keep the roads and the environment clean by remembering not to litter or dispose of vehicle waste improperly Make sure you are ready for surprises on a long trip by estimating your expenses, loading your vehicle safely, and taking risk-reducing precautions Travel with maps of any area where you'll be travelling so you can orient yourself if you get lost Acknowledge the need for organ donation and inform your family of your intentions if you choose to become an organ donor

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When multiple drugs are in a person's bloodstream at the same time, their effects can combine in one of three different ways. In additive combination, both drugs affect the user as normal, with all effects of each drug being felt. In antagonistic, or subtractive combination, the effects of one drug cancel or diminish the effects of another. In synergistic, or multiplicative combination, the effects of both drugs together are greater, faster, or more complex than the effects of each drug added together.

Mixing any two or more drugs can be dangerous, but alcohol in particular has an especially wide range of interactions with other drugs. In addition to increased risk of overdose, these include: Antihistamines: heightened drowsiness and dizziness Benzodiazepines: slowed breathing, loss of coordination, heightened drowsiness and dizziness Pain relievers, especially Tylenol: ulcers, stomach bleeding, increased heart rate, fatal liver problems Antidepressants: increased depression, heightened drowsiness and dizziness Opioids: reduced heart rate, slowed breathing, heightened drowsiness and dizziness

a bad mood can make even people who are normally calm and cautious drive aggressively: No matter what its cause, anger is one of the most dangerous emotions to feel on the road. If it becomes focused on another driver, anger can quickly turn into road rage. Stress can be distracting and cause you to overreact to small problems. When confronted with additional stressful situations on the road, you may snap. If you're feeling rushed and impatient, you may feel that you don't have time for courtesy, especially if the roads are congested. You may take dangerous shortcuts that won't actually save you much time, endangering others in the process. Remember, a bad mood is only temporary, but if you let it affect the way you drive, the consequences won't be!

Moreover, some built-in parts of the driving task itself can lead some people to act aggressively on the road. For instance, on crowded roads, more cars have to compete for less space. As more drivers interact, the possibility of encountering an aggressive driver increases, especially as tension and impatience grow. Some people may become increasingly irritable the more they feel closed in by other cars.

Experience: A person with less experience will be less able to deal with being impaired and less likely to realize when he or she is too drunk to drive. Fatigue: Alcohol acts much more quickly on a person who's physically or mentally tired. Medications: When combined with prescription or over-the-counter drugs, alcohol can have amplified or unpredictable effects. Illness: If your immune system is already compromised, drinking alcohol can be especially dangerous Psychology: Alcohol can have severe effects on a person suffering from depression or other psychological problems.

Moreover, the way a person responds to alcohol is influenced by his or her degree of psychological tolerance. As we've discussed, over time, a person who drinks regularly will need to consume greater amounts of alcohol to achieve the same effects. These drinkers can develop psychological mechanisms to mask the effects of heavy alcohol use. They may avoid activities that might reveal their impairment or learn to recognize and compensate for alcohol's effects on their emotions. Conversely, they may begin to drink more to express emotions that they suppress in everyday life.

Everyone knows that smoking can kill you by damaging your lungs and other vital organs, including your brain, heart, and spine. Yet it's important to realize that smoking can also cause your death by distracting you behind the wheel. When you smoke, one of your hands will be constantly occupied with your cigarette, making it impossible for you to maintain control of your steering wheel with both hands.

Moreover, tobacco is a drug that can influence your mental state and physical abilities. The chief psychoactive ingredient in tobacco is nicotine, a central nervous system stimulant that can cause shaking, restlessness, and compulsive movement. It can also lead to nervousness, anxiety, and distractibility. Cigarette smoke also contains carbon monoxide. If your windows are closed, the combination of carbon monoxide from your cigarette and your car's exhaust could cause you to become dangerously unfocused or fatigued.

The total financial cost of a DWI conviction differs from case to case, but it will always be high: Up to $5,000 in increased insurance rates Up to $10,000 in fines As much as $1,500 or more in attorney's fees $500 or more in court fees, license reinstatement fees, substance abuse assessment and treatment fees, alcohol awareness course fees, etc. For a grand total of $17,000—not counting any medical expenses or the cost of a new car.

Moreover, your drunk driving collision will cost the city, county, and state a great deal of money. This money will have to come from taxpayers. Sources of these costs include: Costs of fatalities, including a life of lost productivity Costs of injuries and medical care Costs of insurance Costs of public service announcements Legal Costs (Courts can't be used for other things) Travel Delay Property Damage Law Enforcement Ultimately, in a very real sense, everybody in Texas will have to pay for your mistake.

Your owner's manual will also tell you when to have a comprehensive tune-up performed. In general, tune-ups should be performed every year or so, though the amount of time between tune-ups can vary significantly for modern cars due to advances in vehicle technology. For instance, drivers used to be encouraged to get annual tune-ups was because spark plugs needed to be replaced frequently. However, cars manufactured today typically need their spark plugs replaced only once every 100,000 miles.

Moreover, your mechanic will typically check the following systems every 30,000 miles: The exhaust system The fuel filter The engine valves The drive belts The automatic transmission system The ignition system, including the spark plugs (unless they are designed to last 60,000 miles or more) The battery

Liability Coverage Your liability insurance will cover damages and injuries you cause up to the amount specified in the policy. Liability insurance can be used to compensate the injured party for medical costs, funeral costs, lost wages, car rental, repair and replacement costs, as well as to cover punitive damages awarded by the court. Typically, liability insurance can also be used to pay attorney fees if you are sued because of the crash.

Most liability insurance policies cover the policy holder as well as members of the policy holder's family. Frequently, a liability policy will cover you and your family members when driving cars your family owns as well as cars (such as rental cars) being used temporarily. However, cars you don't own but have regular access to (such as company cars) are usually not covered. A liability policy may also cover other people driving your car with your permission. Be sure you review the terms of your liability policy carefully. Some policies will not cover other people, including your family members, unless they are specifically named in the policy.

There are several different types of maps available to drivers. Depending on where you're travelling, you may want to use more than one kind of map: National maps display major routes across the entire country. Regional maps display several states within a single geographical area (such as the southwest). State maps display the primary and secondary routes within a single state. City maps display in detail the streets and roadways that pass through a city.

Most maps contain a chart or legend that explains the markings and symbols used on the map: Different colors and line widths are used to identify different kinds of roads, such as interstates, toll roads, divided and undivided two- and four-lane highways, and roads that are unpaved, scenic, or under construction. Different symbols are used to indicate federal, state, secondary, and county roads. Specific icons are used to designate camp grounds, rest areas, toll roads, airports, and more. Black and red numerals show the distance between major points. A mileage scale indicates how to determine the distance between any two points. For instance, one inch on the map may correspond to a distance of five miles.

Get in the habit of performing these maintenance checks at the same time even though some fluids will only rarely need to be refilled. You're more likely to forget to check something if you have a different schedule for performing each maintenance task. When fluids in your car need to be replenished, you can take your car to a professional or perform the task yourself. If you decide to do the job yourself, be sure you choose a product that will work in your car and follow the procedure recommended in your owner's manual.

Most vehicle fluids are available in many varieties. Don't mix fluids with different chemical compositions, as they could interact in unpredictable ways and damage your car's components. Even though they may be more expensive, you can save money in the long run by investing in high-quality fluids that will protect your engine better. Keep extra motor oil and vehicle fluids around so that you are prepared if you find that your car is running low.

But what are the factors that put young drivers at a particular disadvantage? To begin with, many young drivers lack driving experience. As a result, they encounter more situations in which they're unsure what the best course of action is. Making the right decision takes longer, and fine control of the vehicle comes less easily. To help overcome any lack of experience you may have, you must first recognize that you have a deficit. Take your training seriously, and treat every driving experience as a lesson to be learned.

Most young drivers also lack experience in the consumption of alcohol and other drugs. This can make them worse both at predicting future impairment and assessing current impairment. Any amount of impairment makes you unequipped to safely drive a motor vehicle, whether you've suffered a decline in muscle control and vision, or a decline in judgment alone. The solution to this problem is applicable to drivers of all ages. Never combine driving with alcohol or other drugs, period. If you're going to drive, don't drink. If you're going to drink, find a designated driver or take a taxi.

Organ Damage The circulation of alcohol throughout the bloodstream carries it to every organ, endangering their ability to function properly. Some organs are more susceptible than others to the toxic effects of alcohol. The kidneys and liver, for instance, process alcohol directly, drawing it in and filtering it from the blood. Every organ is affected differently. As a result, while some effects (such as liver damage) are more common, there are many ways your body can be destroyed by alcohol abuse.

Nervous System Damage In addition, changes in the balance of chemicals in the nervous system can devastate your health and your ability to interact with other people. These changes include tolerance to, dependence on, and addiction to alcohol. In addition, prolonged alcohol abuse can cause a loss of intellectual capacity, personality changes, memory loss, and many other harmful effects.

Drive in the center of your lane, and make sure to signal early so that your actions don't surprise other drivers. When driving near snow plows, give them extra room. The width of their plow may be difficult to determine. If you must pass a snow plow, do so only when you're sure it's safe, and only very carefully.

Never drive on ice if you can avoid it—you'll have almost no control over your vehicle's movement. Note that the road surface will be colder where buildings, trees, or other objects cast a shadow. Ice is more likely to form in these areas, and to remain icy even when other parts of the road have melted. Bridges and expressway overpasses will also freeze more quickly than other parts of the road. When it's cold out, slow down before driving over raised roadways.

Hurricanes, regular rains, and the severe storms that often accompany tornadoes, can all cause flooding. Flooding is a big problem in Texas: according to the Flood Safety Education Project, Texas leads the nation in deaths caused by flooding, and most of these deaths are vehicle-related. Roads aren't made to be submerged in water, and your vehicle isn't made to drive through it. When faced with flooding, stay out of the water. It's more important to find high ground than to go home—your best bet is to wait until conditions become stable, then find a safe way home.

Never drive through water unless you're sure that it's less than one foot deep and not moving quickly. Partially-submerged objects can help you gauge water depth, but gradient and irregularities in the road surface make water deeper or shallower in some places than in others. Remember that the center of the road will usually be its highest point. Obey all warning signs. If a warning sign tells you to turn around, do so. Do not underestimate the power of standing or rushing water. Don't park near streams or rivers during rain or flooding.

Before purchasing a vehicle, research the market and decide if you want to buy a new or used car. The advantages of a new car include low initial maintenance costs and superior fuel economy and safety features. Moreover, the cost of vehicle repairs will be covered by the manufacturer's warranty for at least a year. However, the purchase price and cost of insurance will be significantly higher for a new car: according to the National Automobile Dealers Association the average price of a new car sold in the U.S. in 2013 was $30,000.

New vehicles are too expensive for most young drivers, leading many of them to opt for a used car. Used cars can be purchased at most car dealerships as well as from private owners. However, when you buy from a private owner, you are unlikely to receive any assistance if you have problems with the car, whereas most dealerships will provide some sort of warranty.

Once you've pulled over and turned off your vehicle, your first priority is the safety of all vehicle occupants, then the safety of passing road users. If you or any of your passengers are harmed, administer first aid or call an ambulance. Move away from your vehicle if it's on fire, and make sure your vehicle presents as little hazard as possible to passing drivers. Next, tend to your emergency, whether it's a flat tire, an overheated engine, or an open hood.

Next, you may need to place a phone call. Use your cell phone if you have one, or a call box if it's near and safe to walk to. If you've been in a collision, call the police. If your vehicle catches fire, but it is not the result of a collision, and there are no injuries, call the fire department immediately. If your car breaks down without injuries, a collision, or a fire, you may need to call your insurance company, a tow truck, or another automobile rescue service.

Moderate doses of cocaine can make drivers reckless, jittery, and compulsive. At higher doses, cocaine causes shaking, irritability, loss of focus, and panic. Higher doses can also cause seizure, stroke, heart attack, coma, and death. As the effects of cocaine wear off, the driver may become drowsy, inattentive, or depressed. Crashes involving drivers with cocaine in their bloodstream often involve the driver speeding, losing control, or turning in front of other vehicles.

Nicotine is the chief mind-affecting substance in tobacco leaves. The World Health Organization reports that consuming tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide—over one billion people consume nicotine regularly, causing nearly six million deaths each year. Tobacco is most commonly smoked, but is also sometimes snorted, in snuff form, or absorbed in the mouth, in chew form. In small doses it increases alertness, reduces anxiety, dulls pain, and raises blood pressure. With higher doses, however, it can cause increased anxiety, uncomfortable restlessness, and an inability to focus. In combination with the other chemicals found in tobacco products such as cigarettes and chews, nicotine is highly addictive.

There are several reasons that young drinkers are especially at risk of becoming dependent on alcohol. For one thing, as a minor, your organs aren't fully formed, making them more susceptible to alcohol's effects. If your organs mature in the presence of alcohol, you'll be much more likely to develop tolerance for alcohol sooner and continue to rely on it to function normally. Moreover, if you develop the habit of dealing with your problems by drinking while you're young, you'll never develop healthy ways to cope. As a result, you're more likely to deal with adult problems (with your marriage, your job, your money, etc.) with alcohol as well.

No matter what you're planning on doing with your life, if you become dependent on alcohol you could see all your dreams drowned by your addiction. If you begin to abuse alcohol: You'll become less interested in extra-curricular activities that used to mean a great deal to you You'll be much more likely to engage in the dangerous practice of binge drinking Your grades may decline steeply and rapidly Your relationships with your friends and family will suffer You'll begin to experience problems with the authorities at your school (for truancy and other violations) and in your community (for illegal possession or use of alcohol)

Perform a more thorough maintenance check twice a year. Every six months you should assess: The air pressure in your spare tire The operations of your parking brake The hinges, latches, locks, and weather strips on your car's doors The drain holes in the body and doors designed to keep moisture from accumulating inside your car

Not every maintenance task that should be performed on your car is something you can do yourself. You should regularly have service procedures performed on components that are likely to wear out quickly or fail suddenly, such as: A professional oil change Oil filter replacement Tire rotation In the past, it was recommended that cars should be serviced by a trained mechanic at least twice a year, or every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, but many modern cars can go longer without service. Consult your owner's manual to find out when you should take your car to a mechanic.

Changes in noise level, abnormal amounts of fumes, and rattling sounds coming from underneath your car can signal problems with your exhaust system. If your exhaust system seems to be acting erratically, have it checked for leaks and loose connections. In most cases, it is illegal to make modifications to your exhaust system or to install a bypass device to increase the noise level of your vehicle. If you make exhaust modifications, your vehicle may not pass inspection.

Now that you better understand the systems that provide power to your vehicle, it's time to consider the steering system that allows you to control the direction that it moves. The steering system consists of the various components that connect the steering wheel to the front wheels of the car. Together, these components allow you to change where your car is going by pointing the front wheels in the direction that you indicate with the steering wheel.

Next, jack up your vehicle and remove the flat tire. Place the jack in the location recommended by your vehicle owner's manual, or indicated on the underside of the body. Jack up the vehicle to take weight off the tire, but stop before the tire leaves the ground. Using the tire iron, loosen each lug nut, but don't remove them yet. Finish jacking up your vehicle, leaving the tire about two inches above the ground. Remove all lug nuts in a five-pointed star pattern and place them where they won't roll away. Remove the flat tire and place it where it won't roll away. Don't leave your tire on the road—this is littering, and can result in a heavy fine.

Now you can install the spare tire and return your vehicle to the ground. Grasp the spare tire on the outside and place it on the wheel's hub. Put the lug nuts back on with the tapered ends facing in, and tighten them a few turns. Lower the car back down until the wheel is just touching the ground. Tighten all lug nuts as much as possible, in a five-point star pattern. Finish lowering the car. Remove the jack. Make sure all lug nuts are secure.

Finally, remember that excessive braking and steering can cause your vehicle to lose balance. If you brake hard and steer sharply to one side, your vehicle may roll over towards the opposite side. Such a complete loss of control can have devastating consequences. You must keep all four wheels on the ground and maintain good traction with the road in order to successfully handle your vehicle in an emergency.

Occasionally the right wheels of your car will drive off of the paved roadway inadvertently as the result of a temporary loss of control or the need to avoid an immediate hazard. While the shoulder will sometimes even and in good condition, in many situations, the shoulder will be lower than the roadway and unpaved. Upon rolling off the roadway, the front wheel of your car may suddenly drop down, which can disrupt the distribution of weight and balance in your vehicle. Moreover, the unstable surfaces of the unpaved area make traction unreliable. Generally, you will have to respond immediately to avoid more significant risks. However, attempting to re-enter the roadway by braking hard or turning sharply can cause your vehicle to move across the road into oncoming traffic and roll over.

Driving while intoxicated is a national problem, but its impact is felt with extra strength in Texas. According to the NHTSA, in 2011, Texas had the highest number of fatalities in collisions involving a driver with a BAC of .01% or higher. In Texas, 1,397 people were killed in a collision involving a driver with some degree of intoxication. In comparison, in California, the state with the next highest number of fatalities, only 886 people were killed. This means that almost 60% more people were killed in drunk driving crashes in Texas than were in California, despite the fact that the state has only 2/3 the population that California does.

Of the 1,397 people killed in a drunk driving collision, 62% were drivers with a BAC over .01%. This means that in Texas, over 500 non-drivers were killed by drunk drivers in 2011. All of these deaths were preventable. In every case, if the drunk driver had simply chosen not to get into the driver's seat, there would have been no collision and no deaths. And deaths aren't the only serious result of drunk driving collisions: the NHTSA estimates that over 250,000 people are injured in alcohol-related traffic collisions each year.

One of the emotions that affects drivers most is stress. Stress is a feeling of agitation or anxiety that typically occurs when a person feels overwhelmed by the demands placed on him or her. Driving is considered a stressful activity because it frequently requires you to notice, remember, and formulate responses to multiple situations at the same time. If you're already stressed when you get behind the wheel, you may not be able to respond safely to the additional stresses of driving.

Often, stress can motivate you to act or improve how well you perform essential tasks. For instance, stress may make you study harder for an exam or sharpen your concentration when you're competing in a sporting event. Nevertheless, too much stress can affect your mood, your concentration, and your judgment. If you let yourself become stressed while driving, you may react inappropriately and cause a collision

It's also important to remember that, as the most valuable piece of property you own, it's also your possession most likely to attract the attention of desperate people with criminal intentions. Protect your investment! Always keep your car's doors locked whether it's parked or on the road. In general, your windows should be rolled up far enough that no one can reach in. At night, travel on streets that are busy and well-lighted. Keep your purse and other valuables out of sight when you're driving and when your car is parked. Identify safe places on your normal route that are likely to be open at all hours, such as gas stations and police stations.

On average, a car is stolen in the United States every 44 seconds. Nearly one in every two cases of vehicle theft is due to carelessness by the driver, such as leaving the doors unlocked or the keys in the ignition. Always keep your doors locked and windows closed, park in safe and heavily-travelled areas, invest in anti-theft devices, and take your keys with you. If your car is stolen, report it to the police immediately. Also notify law enforcement if you recover your car yourself, as you may be arrested for driving your own car if it's still considered stolen.

Find a clean, unpainted metal surface, such as the engine block or a bolt head, to ground the black cable. Do not attach this cable to the negative terminal on the dead battery—it may cause an explosion. Make sure the cables aren't touching any fans, belts, or other components that will move when the engine starts.

Once the cables are in place, start the engine on the car with the good battery. Let it run for a few minutes to charge the dead battery, then start the engine on the car with the dead battery. If the engine doesn't start right away, hold the ignition switch all the way to ignition for a few seconds, but no more than five seconds—this may damage the ignition. Try this a few times. If the engine doesn't start, let the car with the good battery run for another five minutes, then try again. If you still have no success, detach all cables in reverse order, then reattach them, trying to get a better connection between their metal teeth and the metal on the battery terminals. Then try to start the engine.

Impaired driving deaths are not a private matter, either. They often end up in the news, or announced at school or work. What's more, if you die on the road, there are a number of people who are forced to handle your corpse. Police arriving on the scene of the crash will have to look at your body and make a preliminary decision about whether it's possible for you to be resuscitated. Paramedics and firefighters who arrive later will have to remove your body from the wreckage—including picking up any severed body parts. If you're not dead yet, you'll be taken to a hospital trauma center, where doctors and nurses will work as hard as they can to save your life.

Once you're dead, a coroner or medical examiner will study your corpse to determine cause of death and test for the presence of alcohol and other drugs. Your dead body will be stored in a morgue and handled by morgue attendants when a family member comes to identify it. A mortician will then clean and dress your body, unless it has been too severely dismembered or disfigured. Finally, there will be a funeral. If your face is still recognizable or can be reconstructed, there may be an open casket. Friends, family, and funeral workers will be present to see your corpse or your coffin. Before getting behind the wheel when you're impaired, think about how many members of your community will have to see your corpse when you die in a wreck.

If you must drive a distance before pulling over, turn air recirculation off, air temperature up to high, and air speed up to high. This will help remove heat from the engine. If your vehicle has a belt-driven radiator fan, you can help cool the engine by shifting to neutral and pressing the accelerator lightly. Most front-wheel drive vehicles do not have belt-driven radiator fans, but many rear-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles do.

Once you've pulled over, wait for the engine to cool. Next, check your coolant reservoir, which can typically be found above the radiator. Add coolant if necessary. Water will work as a last resort, but should not be relied on as a long-term solution. Never unscrew your radiator or coolant reservoir cap before letting the engine cool down. You may be sprayed with boiling coolant.

Depressants can slow the body's functions down until they shut off. Short-term effects include: Drowsiness and lethargy Paralysis and loss of sensation Poor coordination Slowed digestion Lethally reduced heart rate and respiration A false sense of well-being

One highly prevalent category of depressants is pain relievers, or painkillers. Pain relievers reduce or eliminate feelings of pain. They often also reduce fever and inflammation. Harmful effects of pain relievers include oversensitivity to light, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, liver damage, thinning of the blood, and deterioration of the stomach lining. As with other drugs, an overdose of pain relievers carries serious risk of death.

In other words, you can be charged with DWI if you have any drug in your system and are functioning at anything other than normal capacity. In this case, "any drug" includes legal and illegal drugs, prescription and over the counter drugs, alcohol, tobacco, coffee, etc. However, because of the "per se" limit, the results of a chemical test are also sufficient for demonstrating a driver's intoxication. This limit was determined based on the fact that all drivers are particularly likely to be impaired at this level.

One important consequence of the per se limit is that it allows wider use of sobriety checkpoints. Sobriety checkpoints are publicized roadblocks dedicated to finding drunk drivers and taking them off the road. Police officers assess the condition of drivers and perform breath tests to determine intoxication. As long as a law enforcement agency operates a sobriety checkpoint according to certain rules, it has the support of the Supreme Court to randomly check drivers for impairment. These rules include that decisions must generally be made by a supervisor rather than by individual police officers, and that the selection of drivers for testing must be random.

When you take a road trip, you should hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Anything can happen when you're on the road, and if you're far from home, it will be much more difficult for you to deal with a problem. On a trip, it's useful to bring: Coins for tolls and telephone calls (in case your cell phone dies or can't get a signal) Maps of every area you plan to visit, with your intended route and alternate routes indicated A list of emergency phone numbers, including your insurance company or motor club, as well as roadside assistance A list of phone numbers for places where you have reservations Your owner's manual, vehicle registration, and insurance information An extra set of keys

One of the most common mistakes that drivers make on long trips is spending too much time on the road. If one person will be doing all the driving, he or she should drive no more than six to eight hours in one day. You can make your trip pass by faster and keep yourself from zoning out by sharing driving responsibilities with someone you trust. However, even if you have someone to split the driving with, the total time you spend on the road should not exceed 10 to 11 hours in a single day.

If the trends governing the increase in the costs of alcohol and drug abuse have remained consistent, by 2009 they would have totaled over half a trillion dollars! That averages to a cost of over $1600 for every man, woman, and child living in the United States! While some of these expenses are borne by the abusers themselves, federal, state, and local governments are significantly taxed by the costs of abuse. Moreover, society loses out on a considerable amount of potential when anyone, especially a young person, is killed or permanently disabled in a DUI collision. When you drink and drive, everyone pays the price!

One of the most serious problems related to alcohol use is underage drinking. People under 21 years old are especially at risk of becoming binge drinkers and damaging their own development. Traffic collisions, accidental injury and illness, intentional illness and other crime, the need for rehabilitation programs, and suicide are all increased significantly by the problem of underage drinking.

Liver Damage The liver has many functions. It breaks down both nutritious and poisonous chemicals into substances the body is better able to manage. This process, which also occurs in other organs, is known as metabolism. In addition, the liver stores some nutrients, such as sugar, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, the liver produces substances that fight infections, help blood clotting, and maintain health in general.

One of the poisons the liver must break down is alcohol. Around 80% of all alcohol ingested orally will be broken down by the liver. With chronic abuse, alcohol damages your liver severely. Because it must perform extra work to break down and filter alcohol out of the bloodstream, it is unable to get rid the byproducts of alcohol metabolism quickly. This extra work also prevents it from properly processing more common substances like fats and proteins.

A study of drivers 16 to 19 years old determined how different BAC levels increase the driver's risk of dying in a single vehicle collision. The results suggest that: A BAC of 0.015% to 0.049% increases a young driver's risk of dying in a single vehicle collision 2.5 times. A BAC of 0.05% to 0.079% increases a young driver's risk of dying in a single vehicle collision 9 times. A BAC of 0.08% to 0.099% increases a young driver's risk of dying in a single vehicle collision 40 times. A BAC of 0.10% to 0.149% increases a young driver's risk of dying in a single vehicle collision 90 times. A BAC of 0.15% or greater increases a young driver's risk of dying in a single vehicle collision 420 times.

Organ Damage The circulation of alcohol throughout the bloodstream carries it to every organ, endangering their ability to function properly. Some organs are more susceptible than others to the toxic effects of alcohol. The kidneys and liver, for instance, process alcohol directly, drawing it in and filtering it from the blood. Every organ is affected differently. As a result, while some effects (such as liver damage) are more common, there are many ways your body can be destroyed by alcohol abuse.

In general, you should avoid blocking or impeding traffic in any way unless you'd have to perform an unsafe or illegal action to allow others to proceed. Even if you're not in a hurry, you should always proceed in a timely manner so that drivers behind you don't become frustrated and tempted to break the law. Remember to drive in the rightmost lane if you're travelling slower than the flow of traffic. Never drive slowly in the left lane.

Other road users are also likely to become annoyed or angered by: Speeding more than 10 mph over the limit Cruising in a lane designated for passing Failing to activate or deactivate your turn signal when appropriate Failing to yield the right-of-way Tailgating Weaving between lanes Taking up more than one parking space Double parking

If you decide to purchase a used car, ask a mechanic that you trust to assess its condition and address any repairs that need to be made. Find out the car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) before purchasing so you can get a full history report that shows if the car has ever been in a collision or damaged in any way.

Other than a house, a car is the most expensive purchase that most people make. Before you settle on anything, research the available options so you can make an informed decision. The age, type of vehicle, and optional features included with the car will all affect the price. Determine how much you are willing to spend and whether you need extras like a GPS system or four-wheel drive. By being a patient and informed consumer, you will be less likely to be pressured into a decision you can't afford!

The Adopt-A-Highway program is a great way to take pride in your community while bringing your group or club together as a team. When your group adopts a highway, it agrees to care for a two-mile stretch of highway for a minimum of two years by picking up litter at least four times per year. Your group's name will printed on signs posted in your adopted section, and the group will be provided with safety vests, litterbags, and safety training. Help keep Texas roads beautiful. Click here to find out more about adopting a highway.

Over time, many of your car's components will deteriorate. These include batteries, oil filters, tires, and mufflers, as well as the fluids your car needs to run. When you need to replace a vehicle part or fluid, make sure that the old materials are disposed of properly. Car parts and by-products must generally be handled in special ways. They must not be dumped on the ground, thrown in the garbage with normal trash, or poured down the drain. These materials must be disposed of at a car repair shop or a hazardous waste collection location.

While it's difficult to estimate how much it will cost to own and operate a car, you should consider all potential expenses when deciding what vehicle to purchase. The amount you spend on your car will be based on costs that fluctuate depending on how much you actually drive (such as gasoline, replacing tires and other components that wear out, and oil changes) and costs that remain relatively stable even if you don't use your car that often (such as insurance, registration, and depreciation).

Over time, your car will become worth less and less because of normal wear and tear and the availability of newer vehicles with more advanced technology. This process is known as depreciation. As soon as you drive your car off the lot, it becomes a used car rather than a new one, and you won't be able to sell it for as much as you paid. Cars depreciate especially rapidly during the period immediately after buying a new car, and then more slowly as the car gets older. Even if the number of miles you travel remains relatively low, your car's resale value will decrease over time.

Many drugs are available "over the counter," or without a prescription. They are available without a prescription because they are more widely useful than prescription drugs, and because their potential for harm and abuse is relatively lower. Drugs available over the counter include antihistamines, cough syrups, pain relievers, acid reducers, and sleeping aids, among others. Over-the-counter drugs are not always safe, and they will impair your body and mind. You'll be just as dead after an overdose of Benadryl as you will after an overdose of heroin.

Over-the-counter medications are especially dangerous when taken in large doses or in combination with other drugs. However, they can still be dangerous when taken alone and in the recommended dose. Many medications, such as antihistamines, cough syrups, sleeping aids, and pain relievers, can cause drowsiness. This reaction depends on the user's particular body chemistry, and can be severe in some users. Before taking any over-the-counter medicine, read the label in its entirety. Always comply with every direction given on the label, but don't trust that this will keep you completely safe. Understand the medicines you use, and never risk harmful effects by combining drugs or operating heavy machinery, such as a car.

It's important to remember that when a doctor prescribes a medicine to someone, the doctor decides that the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks. This decision is based on a professional medical consideration of the complexities of the drug and the patient's medical condition. Before prescribing anything, a doctor considers the patient's health, their personal and family medical history, and their current drug use. When a drug prescribed to one person is taken by another, the doctor's assessment no longer applies, and the drug may be very unsafe. Even an attempt to use another person's prescription at its intended dosage can have fatal consequences.

Oxycodone, for example, is prescribed in some cases to treat severe pain. At lower doses it causes memory loss, fatigue, dizziness, headache, anxiety, itching, and pupil constriction. At higher doses, oxycodone causes slowed or stopped breathing, lowered heart rate, and low blood pressure, which may lead to unconsciousness and death. Additionally, oxycodone can cause blood to stop flowing in particular areas of the circulatory system. When this happens in the heart, it is almost always fatal. When it happens elsewhere in the body, it can cause loss of muscle control, organ failure, and gangrene.

Your vehicle's center of gravity can be affected by how you pack it. For instance, luggage stored on top of your car (e.g. in a car-top carrier) will raise your car's center of gravity, adversely affecting your ability to brake and steer. Pack the heaviest items closer to the floor and closer to the center of the vehicle. If you're not travelling with anyone else in your car, make sure you don't overload the rear of the vehicle.

Pack the items you're most likely to need while driving in the most accessible spots so you'll be able to retrieve them quickly. However, remember that you should never reach for an item while operating your car. If you need to store luggage within the passenger compartment, opt for soft items such as pillows and blankets. Pay attention to how your visibility is affected by items packed in your car. Don't pack items in a way that impedes your view of the road ahead of you, to your sides, or in your mirrors.

Most modern vehicles are manufactured with a power steering mechanism. Without power steering, the driver has to exert considerable force to turn the steering wheel. This is especially true in large vehicles, as increased vehicle weight and length make steering more difficult. In vehicles with power steering, a hydraulic piston or electrical motor provides most of the energy needed to move the wheels, allowing any driver to steer the car with relatively little effort.

Pay attention to the condition of your steering system. If your wheels don't respond properly when you steer, or if you have difficulty steering even when your tires are properly inflated, there may be a problem. Steering problems may cause your car to shimmy, wobble, shake, or pull to one side unexpectedly, and to produce squealing sounds when you turn. Not only is it costly to repair a broken steering system, but if the steering wheel stops working while you're driving your car, you may not be able to avoid a collision.

Medical Payments (Med-Pay) Coverage In the event of a collision, a medical payments policy will provide compensation for medical treatment or funeral expenses for the policy holder and his or her family members, as well as passengers in his or her car, regardless of who is responsible for the crash. It also protects members of the policy holder's family who are hit by a car as a pedestrian or bicyclist. Payouts are generally provided for minor injuries, the use of an ambulance or ER, and the deductable on a major medical insurance policy. However, it is not intended to cover all medical bills and you are not required to obtain it. In addition, you will not be allowed to collect from two separate policies for the same medical bills.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage Like a med-pay policy, a personal injury protection policy covers the costs of reasonable and necessary medical expenses when the policy holder or his or her family members are involved in a collision. In addition, PIP policies will pay up to 80% of your lost income as well as the cost of hiring a caregiver if you are too injured to perform regular household tasks. When you purchase an insurance policy, the company is required to offer you $2,500 in PIP coverage, though you can purchase more. If you don't want PIP coverage, you must decline this coverage in writing.

Children Child passengers can become restless easily, especially on long trips. Children can get anxious being stuck alone in the back of the car and may demand that you pay attention to them, as they won't understand your responsibilities as a driver. Don't turn around to communicate with or discipline a child while driving. If a child insists on attention, pull over to the side of the road. Keep books, games, or other activities in your car to help children fend off boredom.

Pets Pets can also be especially distracting, especially if they're not restrained in a pet carrier or portable kennel. A roaming pet can block your view of the road, jump on your lap, rest under your feet, or otherwise distract or physically hamper you. Moreover, the experience of riding in a car can be very stressful for some animals and they may start making loud noises of distress. Only drive with a pet except when absolutely necessary, and make sure the pet is safely restrained before you begin to drive.

Some drugs are only available for purchase when prescribed by a doctor for a specific use. These drugs are helpful in treating the injury or illness, but have a relatively high potential for harm or abuse. The conditions they treat are often more rare than conditions treated by over-the-counter drugs.

Prescription drugs are often just as dangerous as illegal drugs. The barbiturate Nembutal and the pain reliever codeine are extremely lethal. It is possible to die after taking only three times the prescribed dose of codeine. What's more, many drugs that are often referred to as "illegal drugs" are available by prescription. Opium, methamphetamine, and cocaine can be prescribed by doctors if they believe the drug is needed.

The grooves in your tires should be at least 2/32 inches thick. You can measure the grooves in your tire with a tread depth gauge or by checking the tire wear bars. For quick reference, you can insert a penny into the groove with Lincoln's face facing you. If you can see all of Lincoln's head while looking at the side of the tire, the treads are too shallow for driving in wet weather and the tire should be replaced.

Properly inflated tires will help you control your car better and maintain good gas mileage. Over-inflated tires are more likely to wear out quickly, while under-inflated tires flex too much and tend to overheat, which can potentially cause a blowout. Keep a reliable tire gauge in your car and check your tire pressure regularly. Cold tires should be inflated to the pressure recommended by your car's manufacturer in the owner's manual. Don't inflate your tires when they are warm, as the pressure will drop as they cool.

When you hydroplane, or when your wheels spin against ice or another slippery surface, it may be more difficult to notice. Pay attention to the connection between your steering wheel and the actual steering of your vehicle. If steering feels loose, you may be losing traction. A sudden, unexpected rise in engine RPMs and speedometer reading without a corresponding increase in accelerator pressure or vehicle speed can also indicate that your wheels are spinning freely against water.

Recall how to safely recover from a skid: Release the accelerator and the brake pedal. Look, and steer gently, in the direction you want to go. When you feel your vehicle regain traction, gently apply the accelerator or brake. If your vehicle overcorrects and turns too far in one direction, keep looking where you want to go, and steer gently in that direction.

Alcohol's toxic effect on the tissues of the heart can cause one or both sides of the heart to enlarge, resulting in a condition known as alcoholic cardiomyopathy. In a person suffering from alcoholic cardiomyopathy, the physical structure of the heart becomes progressively altered to compensate for the heart's weakened ability to pump blood. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is especially dangerous because sufferers sometimes show no symptoms—until, suddenly, a heart attack occurs, which is especially likely to be fatal because it is unexpected. When symptoms of alcoholic cardiomyopathy do exhibit themselves, they typically include body swelling, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, fatigue, lack of concentration, and irregular heartbeat.

Regular alcohol use can also cause hypertension, or high blood pressure. Effects of hypertension include eye damage, arterial damage, reduced bone mass, sexual dysfunction, heart disease, aneurism, kidney failure, heart failure, dementia, and stroke. Other effects of regular alcohol use on the circulatory system include: Thrombocytopenia, in which the blood's platelets suffer hindered production and a reduced ability to survive and function. Symptoms include fatigue, excessive bleeding, and spontaneous development of blood blisters in the mouth. Macrocytic anemia, in which blood cells become enlarged and less able to carry oxygen properly. Symptoms include shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, bone deformities, increased heart rate, and enlargement of the heart.

Attention and Focus Alcohol reduces your ability to pay attention to your surroundings and focus on particular objects, situations, or other road users. Drunk drivers tend to stare straight ahead without checking around them for cross traffic or pedestrians. Concentrating on multiple situations is especially difficult for impaired drivers, even when they've had only a small amount of alcohol. For instance, a drunk driver may have to focus so hard on staying within his or her lanes during a turn that he or she forgets to activate the appropriate signal.

Remember, drivers must divide their attention between a great number of things, including other road users, weather conditions, traffic control devices, and vehicle controls. For an intoxicated brain, braking, steering, and scanning the road simultaneously can be too much to handle. With decreased focus, it will take you longer to notice when something needs your attention, longer to remember what you should do, and longer to shift between tasks. As a result, when you notice a potentially dangerous situation, it may take you so long to react that you'll be unable to avoid a collision.

Driving is a task that requires maturity and patience. Regard for the safety of other people and regard for the law can't be forced upon you. If you refuse to have respect for the law and compassion for other human beings, that's your choice. However, you must also recognize that if you make that choice, you'll be responsible for any consequences that result from it.

Remember, the law exists to protect you. Any time you disregard the law, you endanger yourself at least as much as you endanger anyone else. It's very likely that the person most seriously injured in a collision caused by your behavior will be you. Even if you escape unharmed, there are severe financial, legal, social, and physical consequences to aggressive driving and road rage. You may be convicted of assault or manslaughter and sentenced to years in prison.

Another reason to avoid placing or taking calls when you're driving is that you can never know how a conversation will go. A single call can leave you too excited, anxious, or upset to drive safely. If you're dealing with an urgent situation or anxiously awaiting a call, don't drive! You'll be too distracted to drive even if you don't receive the call.

Remember, until you turn 18, you're legally prohibited from using any wireless device such as a cell phone while driving. Additionally, it's illegal for any driver to use a handheld device when driving in a school zone whenever reduced speed limits are in effect. If a law enforcement officer sees you talking on a cell phone while driving, he or she may pull you over. If you cause a collision because you were talking on your cell phone, you will face more severe legal penalties.

Employ pre-drive tasks, utilize and require passengers to utilize occupant protection and restraint systems, utilize vehicle symbols and devices, employ starting tasks, perform vehicle operation and control tasks, employ post-drive tasks, utilize baseline and progress assessment tools to evaluate your behind-the-wheel skill level, and formulate a driving plan Sustain visual attention and communication, utilize reference points, manage vehicle balance, and execute vehicle maneuvers Employ legal and responsible driving practices to limit and manage fatigue and aggressive driving Predict, analyze, and minimize risk factors and employ a space management system Identify and analyze driving environments and minimizing environmental risks

Remember, when you first get behind the wheel as a licensed driver, you will have demonstrated only the minimal level of skills necessary to share the road with other road users. Only with experience will you develop the driving ability necessary to be considered an excellent driver. As you gain experience, you will learn more not only about controlling your car and recognizing dangerous situations on the road—you will also come to have a better understanding of your own attitudes, anxieties, and abilities.

You will also be allowed to specify certain preferences and medical conditions on your drivers license. All licenses provide a space for the licensee to indicate any drug allergies the license holder may have. On the reverse of the drivers license, the DPS is required to print the statements Directive to physician has been filed at telephone # and Emergency contact telephone #. You will be able to fill in this information and there will be space to indicate for what purpose the number applies. There will also be space on the license for you to voluntarily list health conditions that may impede communications with a peace officer.

Remember: When you visit the drivers license office, you'll be offered a Donate Life Texas pamphlet that explains organ donation. You'll be able to indicate whether you intend to become an eye, tissue, or organ donor. Male drivers over 18 will be asked to register for selective service when they visit the drivers license office, if they have not already done so. Visitors to the drivers license office will be invited to complete a voter registration form.

In addition to potential sources of distraction in your car, you can also be distracted by anything going on in the driving environment around you. This includes situations you must be aware of as a driver, including collisions, construction zones, and traffic control devices. If you become preoccupied with any one situation for too long, a reasonable amount of attention can quickly becoming a dangerous level of distraction. Only look at situations on the road for as long as is necessary to drive safely.

Resist the unseemly and dangerous practice of staring at the scene of a collision or other roadside drama even as you pass by it. Known as rubbernecking, this practice slows the flow of traffic and results in more collisions because it diverts drivers' attention from the road itself. As you scan the road, identify the site of any collision or other potentially hazardous situation in advance. Briefly glance at the hazard enough times to avoid it, but don't stare.

When aggressive drivers become so overcome by anger that they lose all conception of the potential consequences of their actions, they may use their car as a weapon to ram another vehicle or threaten a pedestrian. They may even get out of their car to confront another driver with a tire iron—or a gun! This form of extreme aggressive driving is known as Road Rage. Whereas typical aggressive drivers act recklessly without considering how their actions affect others, drivers experiencing road rage actively seek to harm others.

Road rage is usually sparked by a specific incident on the road. For instance, an already agitated driver may experience road rage when he or she feels that another driver has acted disrespectfully. Most events that spark road rage are relatively insignificant and would be quickly forgotten by most drivers. When a driver is overwhelmed by road rage, however, the situation can quickly escalate into violent, criminal behavior. An enraged driver may lash out at anyone, even someone who wasn't involved in the event that initially set him or her off.

Schedule III drugs are available only by prescription. Prescriptions for these drugs may not be refilled more than five times, or after a period of six months since the most recent renewal. Drugs controlled under this schedule include: Anabolic steroids Ketamine Marinol, a synthetic form of THC Some less potent barbiturates, including talbutal and butalbital

Schedule III drugs are determined by the DEA and the FDA to have any one of the three following attributes: They have a currently accepted medical use in the United States that is safe under medical supervision. They have a lower potential for abuse than drugs in schedule I or II. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

Schedule IV drugs are determined by the DEA and the FDA to have any one of the three following attributes: They have a currently accepted medical use in the United States that is safe under medical supervision. They have a lower potential for abuse than drugs in schedule III. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or moderate psychological dependence relative to drugs in schedule III.

Schedule IV drugs are available only by prescription. They are controlled in a manner similar to schedule III drugs. Drugs controlled under this schedule include: Benzodiazepines, including Xanax, Valium, and Rohypnol Some less potent barbiturates, including phenobarbital Modafinil

Schedule V drugs are determined by the DEA and the FDA to have any one of the three following attributes: They have a currently accepted medical use in the United States that is safe under medical supervision. They have a lower potential for abuse than drugs in schedule IV. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or moderate psychological dependence relative to drugs in schedule IV.

Schedule V drugs are sometimes available without a prescription. They may not be distributed or dispensed for nonmedical purposes. Drugs controlled under this schedule include preparations containing small amounts of opium or codeine, including Robitussin AC.

Sense of Speed Alcohol adversely affects your ability to judge your absolute speed as well as your speed relative to other drivers on the road. Moreover, due to the other mental effects of intoxication, you're less likely to remember to check your speedometer regularly. You may feel as though you're driving safely at 35 mph when you're actually travelling faster than 60 mph. You may even think that you're driving with the flow of traffic only to realize too late that you're about to hit the car in front of you!

Sense of Distance Under the influence of alcohol, you'll be less able to judge the distance between objects, causing you to make turns that are too wide or too sharp, misjudge braking distances, or collide with another car when you attempt to change lanes. Because alcohol affects your depth perception, you'll find it harder to determine how far you are from other vehicles and objects on the side of the road. As a result, you may crash into a tree before you have time to realize that it was much closer to the road than you thought!

Depressants slow down your nervous system, bringing you closer and closer to sleep. Depressants can cause lethargy, dizziness, and depression. Each of these will increase the time between the driver's first seeing or hearing something and then understanding it. The length of time between understanding and acting will also be abnormally long. All this adds up to an increased reaction time that can very easily prove fatal.

Sense of speed, sense of distance, and depth perception: It will be difficult to judge speeds and distances while under the influence of depressants. In addition, inattention and slowness of thought will make you unaware that these calculations even need to be made. Vision: Many depressants will reduce small muscle control, making it harder for the eye to scan, focus, and stay still. Slower pupil contraction and dilation will make changes in brightness painful and temporarily blinding.

Sense of speed, sense of distance, and depth perception: Under the influence of hallucinogens, time and space may appear distorted. Estimations of speed, distance, and depth may prove impossible. Vision: Eye muscle control may be either overactive or slowed. In addition, hallucinations may be so extreme as to be completely unrelated to the actual physical input received by your eyes. Or, instead, they may be so subtle that you are unable to distinguish between the real and the unreal parts of what you appear to see.

Sense of speed, sense of distance, and depth perception: Under the influence of hallucinogens, time and space may appear distorted. Estimations of speed, distance, and depth may prove impossible. Vision: Eye muscle control may be either overactive or slowed. In addition, hallucinations may be so extreme as to be completely unrelated to the actual physical input received by your eyes. Or, instead, they may be so subtle that you are unable to distinguish between the real and the unreal parts of what you appear to see.

It's very important that you react to fog and slow down as soon as you see fog, and maintain a low speed even when driving in clear patches between fog banks. Some of the most deadly multiple-car collisions in the history of the United States happened when drivers speed up in a clear section of patchy fog. Above all, remember that if you can't see past the assured, clear stopping distance ahead of your vehicle, it's neither safe nor legal to continue driving. If visibility is poor enough, pull off the road. Park your vehicle outside of all lanes of traffic, activate your hazard lights, and turn the ignition to OFF. If your taillights remain visible, a confused driver might drive off the road thinking you were in a lane of traffic.

Similar in some ways to fog, particles like dust, sand, and smoke can also present serious problems to drivers. After slowing down, roll up your windows and recirculate air to prevent these particles from irritating your eyes and lungs. In dust or sand storms, road surface traction will be reduced. Settling particles may also obscure lane lines and the contours of the road. Turn on your low-beam headlights to allow yourself to see better, and to increase your vehicle's visibility to other drivers. After driving through dust, sand, or smoke, take your vehicle to a mechanic—these particles can cause serious damage to a number of engine, fuel, and ventilation components.

Texting and e-mailing while driving are more widespread than you might think. A recent survey found that 52% of U.S. drivers between 18 and 29 years of age reported that they text or e-mail while driving "regularly" or "fairly often". Moreover, over 25% of these drivers reported texting or e-mailing while driving at least once in the past 30 days.

Simply reading a text message requires you to take at least one hand from the steering wheel and your eyes off the road. You will be even more endangered if you have to look around your car to retrieve your phone before using it. It should be obvious that composing a message is even more dangerous! Not only will your eyes and at least one hand be occupied by the act of typing the message, but you'll be focused on what you're writing rather than on the driving task.

Although the term "drug" includes alcohol, you will see alcohol singled out and discussed as a separate topic. This is because alcohol presents a special danger to public health in general and to drivers in particular. It is easy to find, relatively inexpensive, accepted in many social circles, and, for those over 21 years of age, it is legal to buy and consume. These factors are among the reasons that alcohol is so dangerous. Remember this: alcohol is a sedative, a depressant, and a tranquilizer. The effect of alcohol on the human body is to dull sensations and to slow down bodily functions, including breathing, heartbeat, and brain activity, until eventually they stop.

So that you can understand exactly what chemical makes up alcohol, we'll quickly discuss the three most commonly occurring types of alcohol: methanol, isopropyl alcohol, and ethanol. Methanol is the simplest alcohol molecule. It is principally used in the production of other chemicals, but is also used as fuel for motor vehicles and as antifreeze. Methanol is also extremely toxic: a single 12-ounce can of pure methanol would contain enough to cause permanent blindness in 36 people. One ounce of pure methanol can be fatal.

Aggressive driving is defined as any continuous sequence of dangerous driving acts that may endanger people or property, as well as any single intentional violation that requires a defensive reaction on the part of another driver. Aggressive drivers are often in a hurry to get somewhere and willing to intentionally disregard traffic control devices, the rules of the road, and the safety of other roadway users, in the process. Their behavior endangers everyone on the road.

Some basic examples of aggressive driving include: Running a red light while speeding Braking unexpectedly to make a tailgater slow down Rolling through a stop sign when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk Each of these behaviors endangers the driver who performs them and everyone else on the road.

Of course, it is possible to take medicine in a responsible way: An emergency room doctor can decide that a patient with a broken arm would benefit from a dose of morphine. A pharmacist can prescribe the occasional use of a muscle relaxant to a person with a back injury. A person can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve pain and reduce fever. These are examples of safe and legal drug use. Medical professionals are qualified and permitted to consider a person's current health and medical history and determine a specific, safe, and beneficial use of a drug.

Some drugs, like acetaminophen, are approved for public use because they are more likely to be needed immediately when a headache or fever strikes, and they are less likely to cause severe negative effects. But in all of these cases, the very same drug given to the very same person in a larger dose could have devastating—even deadly—effects. Remember, every drug can be dangerous. Every substance, no matter how beneficial it can be at low doses, becomes a poison at high doses.

Frequently, when you purchase a new car, it will be covered under your existing insurance policy. If you are replacing an old car, your new car will automatically have the same coverage as the car you replace. If you are purchasing an additional car, it will usually have the same coverage as the car already on your policy with the broadest coverage. For instance, if you own two cars, but only have additional collision and comprehensive coverage for one, your new third car will have those additional coverages as well. Read your policy to find out whether it will cover an additional or replacement car automatically. When you purchase a new car, you must inform your insurance company immediately to ensure that it is covered.

Some insurance companies allow you to purchase endorsements for your policy that provide extra coverage for specific situations: A stereo equipment endorsement provides coverage if stereo equipment that is not permanently installed in your car (such as a cell phone, CB radio, stereo, or CD or MP3 player) is damaged or stolen. If you plan to drive within Mexico, it's generally best to purchase a tourist endorsement from your insurance company, or to buy Mexican liability insurance from a licensed agent in Texas. Some insurance companies offer a limited tourist endorsement for free, but it may not be sufficient to meet Mexican legal requirements.

Flashing lights can be installed around a vehicle to be used for warning other traffic of hazards in the road. Flashing lights must be amber or white in the front of the car and amber or red in the back of the car. All flashing lights must flash simultaneously. Up to three additional lights can be mounted on the front of the car. These lights must be between 12" and 42" above the surface of the road.

Some optional equipment that can be installed in your car is considered unsafe and is prohibited by the state of Texas: A red light or flashing red lights that show from the front of the vehicle, unless it is an emergency vehicle A bell, siren, or exhaust whistle, unless the vehicle is an emergency vehicle A radar interference device designed to disrupt a radar or laser reading of the vehicle's speed Anything that extends more than three inches beyond the left side or six inches beyond the right side of the body, running boards, or fenders of a vehicle A muffler cutout You must not modify or weight your vehicle in a way that causes the bottom of the body to sit below the lowest part of the wheel rims.

If you're physically or mentally tired, you'll be much more sensitive to alcohol's effects. The depressant qualities of alcohol can combine with fatigue to make you overwhelmingly sleepy. As a result: Your alertness to your surroundings will be severely diminished. You'll be less vigilant for hazards and changing road conditions. Your perception and judgment will be weakened further, making you less aware of what you see and hear and less able to find meaning in those things you do perceive. Your vision, physical coordination, and reaction time will all be impaired. You may be unable to focus, especially sensitive to light, and clumsy and slow when using vehicle controls.

Some people drink because they want to seem "cool". Some drink because they want to forget about their problems. Others drink so they aren't ostracized for not drinking. People drink for many reasons, but almost all of them are misguided. Often, people simply feel pressured into drinking, if not by anyone in particular, then by the expectations of their peers and of society. Before you put alcohol in your body, remember that you always have a choice. The only one who can force you to have a drink of alcohol is you.

If you're preoccupied with your own thoughts and mentally dealing with business, school, or family problems while driving, you are adding to your total cognitive workload. As a result, you may make poor driving decisions, take more risks, react more slowly to hazards, and have difficulty judging the speed and distance of oncoming traffic.

Some strategies for reducing the influence of emotions on your driving include: Knowing when you're not emotionally fit to drive and taking a break or asking for the help of another driver Remembering that other drivers are just as likely to have a bad day as you and treating their mistakes with patience Identifying situations likely to cause you emotional stress and avoiding them when possible Understanding that your emotions and the actions they cause can be contagious, increasing the stress of others Refusing to get upset at another person, even if you're annoyed by something they've done

Two white or amber parking lights in the front of the car and two red parking lights in back that can be activated by the driver A white license plate light that illuminates the rear license plate whenever any other lights are activated While it's also a good idea to have two white backup lights, one on each side of the back of the car, that activate when backing up, this equipment is classified as optional by the state of Texas.

Some vehicles, including government vehicles and antique and classic vehicles, may be exempt from some of these regulations. In addition to these requirements, slow-moving vehicles (such as tractors, construction machinery, animal-drawn vehicles, and other vehicles designed to travel at 25 mph or less) must display a slow-moving vehicle emblem (pictured).

Also in 2009, the NHTSA reports that 18% of fatally-injured drivers tested positive for at least one drug other than alcohol. The true figure, however, is probably significantly higher. Consider the following: Only a blood sample will show the presence of many drugs. Although the per se limit for certain controlled substances, such as marijuana, is a minimum positive amount, there is no per se limit for some impairing substances, such as caffeine or nicotine. Testing for every possible impairing substance is impossible, given the vast number of such drugs.

Soon we will discuss in more detail the victims and other tolls of drunk driving, but for now, consider this: the NHTSA estimates that 3 in 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related traffic collision in their lifetimes. Given these tolls, it should be no surprise that traffic collisions cost Texas over $3.5 billion a year—over $200 per licensed driver.

In most communities, you can also call a cab or catch a bus, even when it's late at night. These services will make sure you get home safely, quickly, and comfortably for a modest fare. If your life is worth more than a few dollars to you, don't hesitate to call a cab! Even if there's no public transportation available, you can often call a friend. Your friends care about you and would rather you got home alive, even if they're irritated by your request. Make sure you only call someone who hasn't been drinking. Don't worry about leaving your car behind if you have to get a ride. It will be much easier to get your car back home safely the next day when you're sober.

Stay Where You Are If you can't get a safe ride home, just stay where you are. If you're worried about the discomfort of sleeping on a sofa or the floor, remember that the pain of a collision will be much worse! If you're worried about inconveniencing your friends, think about how much trouble you could cause to other drivers on the road! When you drive drunk, you endanger many lives other than your own. There's no need to put other people's lives at risk. Just spend the night and drive in the morning.

Different drugs affect your judgment in different ways. These will be explained in more detail later. For now, consider a few basic scenarios: Alcohol and Other Depressants Depressants slow down your mental processes and physical coordination. This causes you to be far less capable of judging your current situation and responding to it. This loss of ability includes also the ability to understand your own current mental state. You will haphazardly try to accomplish one thing or another without considering your intoxication.

Stimulants A person taking stimulants may do so in an attempt to heighten focus and thought processes. However, focus will be more difficult to sustain, and thought processes will be less predictable and may go off course more easily. Anxiety and panic may develop and influence decision-making. In addition, muscle twitches, itching, and loss of physical coordination will make it more difficult to carry out decisions.

Many drugs also damage your physical coordination, making you incapable of safely performing many essential driving tasks. Stimulants often cause shaking, restlessness, and compulsive movement. Depressants often cause slow movements, numbness, and loss of sense of balance. Hallucinogens can cause both shaking, restless movements and slow, imbalanced ones. They can also make the user feel a loss of sense of time and self, detaching them from their immediate situation. In all cases, the driver will be clumsy and unable to properly coordinate his or her physical movements.

Stimulants overload your nervous system, destroying your ability to use proper judgment on the road. Drivers under the influence of stimulants may experience increased anxiety. They may find it difficult to focus and easy to be distracted. They may take too long to realize that the red light in front of them means stop, or they may not even see the light because they're busy reading the bumper stickers on the car ahead.

When your liver is forced to process alcohol continually, it begins to develop some or all of the following diseases. Together, these conditions constitute alcoholic liver disease: Fatty liver involves a buildup of fat deposits on the liver. This enlarges the liver, making it more susceptible to inflammation and impairing its ability to function. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Discomfort, enlargement of the liver, a buildup of fluid in the abdomen, mental confusion, and even liver failure and death may occur. Cirrhosis is a condition in which liver cells break down, scar, and die. Symptoms and complications include bad breath, skin discoloration, abnormal enlargement of the breasts in males, impotence, infertility, coma, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.

Stomach Damage Like anything you consume, when you drink alcohol, its first stop is your stomach. Alcohol erodes the mucous protecting the lining of the stomach from the acids used in digestion, causing gastritis, or stomach inflammation. Gastritis symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pain, and bloating. Moreover, alcohol damages your stomach by relaxing the esophageal sphincter, allowing bile to enter the stomach and esophagus. This can lead to heartburn and stomach ulcers, both of which are worsened by further alcohol consumption.

When you encounter rainy weather while driving, slow down. This is the easiest and most effective action you can take to reduce risk. The faster your vehicle's wheels spin, the less traction they have against the road's surface. When the road is wet, traction is reduced even further. By slowing down, you increase traction, enabling you to accelerate, brake, and steer reliably.

Sudden or excessive acceleration, braking, and steering can also cause a loss of traction. Plan ahead and expect your maneuvers to take longer. Step softly on the accelerator and brake pedal, and make longer, softer turns rather than short, sharp ones. When the road is wet, it takes much less braking pressure to lose control. Always brake earlier than you would on dry pavement—it's far safer to brake softly and avoid skids entirely than to rely on ABS.

If you see someone throw trash from his or her car, you can report the offense to the Texas Department of Transportation by visiting this page. Keep in mind that only a law enforcement officer who witnesses an incident of littering can ticket a driver for the offense. When you report a litterer, the violator will receive a "Don't Mess with Texas" litterbag and a letter reminding them of the state litter laws.

Texas also tries to keep its roads clean with the Adopt-A-Highway program. This program allows local organizations such as social clubs, scouting organizations, large and small businesses, and even individual families to take responsibility for keeping a specific stretch of highway clear of litter. In 1985, the world's first Adopt-A-Highway program began here in Texas. Since then, nearly 90,000 groups in all 50 states, as well as in foreign countries like Canada, Australia, and Japan, have helped their communities by adopting a highway.

The procedures performed at your tune-up will be determined by how long it has been since each procedure was last performed. In general, your mechanic will check the following systems every 15,000 miles: The brake system, including brake pads and shoes and the parking brake The cooling system and potential sites of coolant leaks The steering system, especially the gear box The suspension system, including the springs and shock absorbers The air filter

Texas law requires you to prove that your car is in good condition by passing a safety inspection annually. Your tires, brakes, exhaust system, lights, seat belts, and more will be inspected. If you pass the test, you will be issued an inspection sticker that will remain valid for one year. If you fail the inspection the first time, you can have your car reinspected at no additional cost if you return within 15 days with the problems fixed. However, by planning ahead and having your car serviced before your inspection, you can avoid this needless hassle.

Additional laws exist to help you make safe and responsible choices about alcohol and minors. In most cases, it is illegal to provide alcohol by any means to persons under 21. Exceptions are made for the minor's parent, guardian, or spouse of drinking age, and only if the provider of alcohol is visibly present while the minor possesses and/or consumes the alcohol. If you are under 21, or are not the minor's parent, guardian, or spouse, you may not provide him or her with alcohol, even on your own property or with the minor's parent's permission. Breaking this law is a class A misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $4,000 and/or up to one year in jail, and a mandatory 180-day drivers license suspension.

Texas's civil liability laws regarding the intoxication of minors hold adults responsible if they knowingly provide alcohol or allow alcohol to be served on their property. If a person under the age of 18 becomes intoxicated as a result of consuming this alcohol, those who furnished the alcohol will be held responsible if the minor is: injured or dies as a result of alcohol poisoning involved in a fight, a fall, or a sexual assault responsible for damaging another person's property involved in a traffic collision resulting in an injury Adults are held responsible even if the minor involved is their child.

Alcohol and drug abuse is a serious problem in the United States. Thousands of lives are needlessly lost or ruined each year due to irresponsible or excessive alcohol use. Alcohol use doesn't magically become safe when you turn 21: while underage drinking and illegal drug abuse are major problems, the majority of people whose lives have been ruined by alcohol were drinking legally. No matter how old you are, always remember to make responsible drinking decisions that will keep you safe and healthy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between 2001 and 2005, an average of 80,374 lives were lost every year due in the United States to excessive alcohol use. That's the equivalent of one person dying from alcohol use every six and half minutes. On average, 57,852 male drinkers and 22,522 female drinkers died from excessive alcohol use.

The Effects of a 0.05% BAC The probability of a crash rises significantly once your BAC reaches 0.05%. You may begin to feel euphoric, relaxed, and especially sociable. However, your hand-eye coordination and ability to track objects will become impaired. In addition, you'll experience: Further impaired judgment and alertness Compulsive, exaggerated behavior Reduced physical coordination, including trouble steering A significant increase in reaction time Further weakened vision, including trouble focusing and adjusting to changes in brightness Dulled sensory perceptions

The Effects of a 0.08% BAC A BAC of 0.08% is the legal limit for drivers 21 and over in the state of Texas. With a BAC of 0.08%, you'll become increasingly talkative and excited, but you'll experience difficulty processing information and focusing on and performing driving tasks like steering, braking, speed control, and gear shifting. In addition, you'll experience: Significantly increased reaction time and difficulty executing a series of actions Reduced awareness of your surroundings and ability to control your speed Overconfidence and a tendency to engage in high-risk behavior Further impaired judgment, alertness, and memory Further reduced physical coordination, including poor balance, speech, vision, and hearing

The Effects of a 0.10% BAC When your BAC reaches 0.10%, your behavior will be characterized by poor coordination, slurred speech, impaired attention and perception, and a loss of inhibitions. In addition, you will experience: Further increased reaction time Further impaired concentration and judgment Sharply decreased control of your vehicle Reduced ability to maintain your lane position and brake properly

The Effects of a 0.15% BAC The higher your BAC rises, the more your judgment will become impaired and the more your behavior will become unrestrained. At a 0.15% BAC, you will experience: Near complete loss of muscle control and balance Nausea, vomiting, and a potentially fatal drop in body temperature Life threatening reductions in respiration and heart rate Inability to control your vehicle Severe detachment from and inability to understand the current driving environments.

Overall, the .08% BAC limit, the minimum legal drinking age of 21 years, and numerous other important drunk driving reforms have made our roads much safer. However, even a single alcohol-related traffic fatality is too many. Research and policy continue to develop in response to an increasingly deeper understanding of the problem of drunk driving. Please help your community and your nation by understanding both the human risks and the legal consequences of impaired driving.

The NHTSA estimates that drivers with a BAC of .05% are about five times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than drivers with no alcohol in their bloodstream. Drivers with a BAC of .08% are estimated to be about nine times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision, and for drivers with a BAC of .15%, the estimate is 20 times the risk of sober drivers. In 2011, excluding the perpetrators themselves, drunk drivers killed 3,371 people. This includes: 1,612 passengers in the drunk driver's vehicle 1,049 occupants of other vehicles 710 pedestrians, bicyclists, and others not occupying a motor vehicle

Make yourself visible. Activate your hazard flashers, tie a bright cloth to your antenna, and periodically turn on headlights and cabin lights at night. Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Clear snow from your exhaust pipe regularly, and don't run the engine unless a window is opened slightly.

The NHTSA's FARS data show that in 2011, almost half (46%) of all fatal traffic collisions occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight. The most dangerous period of time was 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.: more than 4,700 fatal traffic collisions occurred during these hours in 2011, over 25% more than the average number among all other times of day. These tragic fatalities occur even despite the fact that nighttime is entirely predictable—night never comes without warning.

When you're distracted, your response and reaction time will be significantly slowed. Even a slight delay in reaction time is enough to make the difference between a near-crash and a fatal collision. Moreover, if you're distracted while travelling at high speeds, you're more likely to have problems staying in your lane, endangering yourself and others on the road.

The brain can potentially become overloaded even by the necessary multitasking you must perform as a driver. For instance, when you're focused on what your feet are doing, you'll be less able to process what's happening 20 seconds ahead of you on the road. Learning to manage your time and space and use your driver controls reflexively are crucial for minimizing the number of actions you'll need to perform. Whenever you have to shift your attention, you may miss something important on the road.

Another important factor is disregard for the law. Some people are comfortable breaking the law when they believe they'll be happier doing so. Many people who do this argue that they're not hurting anyone by abusing drugs, but they're wrong. Not only are they hurting their friends and family by ruining their own lives, but they're potentially directly hurting others by driving while impaired, or committing other crimes while drunk or high. Finally, many people are reluctant to accept that the consequences of drug abuse can happen to anyone—not just other people; not just underprivileged or criminal people, but anyone.

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 required all states to raise their minimum age of purchase and public possession of alcohol to 21. Many state laws also specifically prohibited alcohol consumption by those under age 21. In Texas, selling, giving, or serving alcoholic beverages to persons under age 21 is prohibited by law. Additionally, it is illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase, attempt to purchase, or consume alcohol. Persons under 21 may not be intoxicated in public or misrepresent their age to acquire alcohol.

The consequences of chronic tobacco use are severe and wide-ranging. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 480,000 deaths in the United States each year can be attributed to chronic tobacco use. That's almost 20% of all deaths in the United States. In the words of the CDC: "More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined."

The average age of death for tobacco smokers is 10 years younger than that of nonsmokers. This huge increase in risk of death is primarily caused by damage to the heart and lungs, but there are numerous other harmful long-term effects of smoking. These effects include: Cancer of the lungs, kidneys, throat, mouth, head, neck, bladder, pancreas, and stomach Emphysema, a very deadly condition caused by destruction and malfunction of the lungs Heart disease and stroke, as well as other circulatory damage Impotence, infertility, and stress

Perhaps you've heard the expression, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This statement is especially true of automobiles. Regular maintenance is like preventative health care for your car. By consistently performing low-cost maintenance tasks, you can avoid high-cost repairs and prolong the life of your car's tires, brakes, and other vital systems. Moreover, regular maintenance can prevent vehicle malfunctions and emergency breakdowns that could endanger your life in the future.

The best source of maintenance information about your car is your vehicle owner's manual. A list of maintenance services, including the intervals of mileage or time after which they should be performed, is included in every owner's manual. Your car's manufacturer wants to help you keep it in good condition, but no carmaker can know exactly how every vehicle will be used. Because of this, every owner's manual contains different maintenance schedules for different driving conditions.

Don't let yourself be distracted by your cell phone, the driving environment, eating or drinking, or anything else. Don't stray from your lane into another driver's operating space. Don't honk unnecessarily or make rude gestures in response to others' mistakes. Don't play music loud enough for others to hear it. Don't attach bumper stickers to your car likely to offend drivers who don't share your opinions or sense of humor. Don't use your high beams when they're unnecessary or you're approaching another driver. Don't be oblivious when another driver wants to pass you.

The best way to avoid angering others is to be conscientious and aware of how your actions can affect others. Drivers will find it much easier to remain calm if they don't have to worry about other drivers impeding, annoying, or endangering them. Every action you take when you're on the road should be governed by the golden rule of driving: always treat other drivers the way you want to be treated. By doing so, you'll make the road safer for yourself and everyone sharing it with you.

Snow and ice, in their various forms, have severe effects on driving conditions. Ice on the road makes it even more slippery than when it's wet, greatly reducing traction and increasing stopping distance. As snow and ice melt, they leave a less-uniform mixture of ice, water, dirt, and oils from motor vehicles. Falling snow reduces visibility and can cause bright glare as it reflects sunlight. When snow begins to cover the ground, it can obscure lane lines, potholes, and the contours and boundaries of the road.

The cold air that comes with these conditions also affects your vehicle's tires in significant ways. For every 10° F that the temperature drops, pressure in your tires will fall by roughly 1 PSI. If you inflate your tires to have the correct pressure when the temperature is 70° F, they'll be significantly underinflated in 30° F weather. Underinflated tires greatly increase the risk of losing control and skidding. When inflating your tires, be sure to adjust them so that they'll have the correct pressure while they're actually operating on the road.

Keep in mind that because your driving privilege can be suspended or revoked if you commit a traffic violation or cause a collision, driving carelessly or recklessly now will only delay the process of gaining experience. If you can't drive for six months to a year, your reflexes will get rusty and you're likely to forget important lessons—especially if you haven't been driving for very long. By the time you finally get back on the road, your driving skills may be significantly diminished, even though you'll have aged and matured in other ways.

The consequences of a single suspension can affect your driving for years. Due to the lapse in driving experience, you'll be more likely to commit more violations and face more—and longer—suspensions in the future. Eventually, while driving may become second nature to your friends, you may find yourself struggling to keep up! Remember, even without experience, you can significantly reduce the risks you face as a driver by applying the lessons you've learned in drivers ed. By driving carefully now, you won't have to worry about being left in the dust.

While you must pay a premium (monthly or annually) to maintain your insurance policy, the cost of this premium can vary considerably from driver to driver, even for the same level of coverage. Insurance companies use a process called underwriting to determine how likely a policy holder is to make a claim on his or her insurance. Drivers who are deemed to be statistically more likely to cause a collision will be charged a higher premium for a liability insurance policy, as these drivers are likely to cost the insurance company more. Each insurance company uses its own underwriting formula for assessing risk factors, so get quotes from several companies before deciding which policy is right for you.

The cost of your insurance premium is based on a number of factors, including: Age, gender, and marital status: Male drivers under 25 and unmarried women under 21 have the highest rates. Generally, a driver's insurance premiums decrease as he or she gets older and gains driving experience. Geography: Drivers in urban areas typically have higher rates due to the increased risk of theft or collision. The value of your deductable: Drivers with higher deductibles generally pay lower rates.

In unibody cars, all the vehicle's components are attached to the body and floorpan that provide the vehicle's structure. Because a heavy frame is unnecessary in these designs, they weigh less and can be built more cheaply. Traditionally, the body of a car was built of steel sections, although modern car bodies often make use of lighter materials, including aluminum, durable plastic, and carbon fiber. These lighter materials make for better fuel efficiency while still ensuring that vehicle occupants remain well protected.

The engine produces the drive power that propels a vehicle forward or backwards. Today, engines can be found in many configurations, including 4-cylinder, 6-cylinder, and 8-cylinder (V8) engines. The more cylinders there are in an engine, the more power it will have. Each cylinder has its own piston, each of which is connected to a single crankshaft that propels the vehicle.

Vehicle type: You will pay more to insure an expensive car or a car that costs more to repair. Usage habits: Your rates will be higher if you drive your car to and from work regularly, or if you use your car for business. Credit score, education, and occupation: While not directly related to driving, these factors have been statistically correlated with an individual's chances of being involved in a collision. However, an insurance company cannot deny you coverage based solely on your credit history.

The factor most likely to raise your insurance rates is a record of careless driving. You will have to pay more for insurance if you are cited for traffic violations or involved in a collision. When you are found at-fault for a collision and an insurance claim is filed for damages, your rates will be higher for at least three years. A history of driving while uninsured can also lead to increased insurance premiums. If you operate a vehicle without insurance for more than 30 days in the 12 months before you apply for insurance, you will face increased rates.

Most drivers understand that they wouldn't be able to drive safely in darkness with their headlights off, no matter how hard they tried. But many believe that, by force of will, they can drive safely when fatigued. This faulty conception leads to great loss of life on America's roads. Fatigued driving is an even more prominent problem in Texas than in many other states: more than 1 in 20 Texas drivers involved in fatal collisions are drowsy at the time of the crash. This figure is among the highest in the United States.

The first thing you should do to increase safety when driving at night is simply to slow down—you'll have more time to see what you're driving toward, past, and next to. You'll also have more time to react when you see a STOP sign, pedestrian, or expressway exit. If you're driving behind another vehicle, increase your following distance to four or more seconds. Stay in the center of your lane and signal early before you turn or change lanes.

As you inspect the car, you should check: The body: Look for signs that the car has been repainted or that body panels have been repaired or replaced. The tires: Inspect the condition of each tire, including the spare, making sure that their brand, size, and tread width are consistent. The suspension: Make sure the car sits level. Bounce each corner of the vehicle to see if any responds differently or makes a creaking noise.

The frame: Check inside the trunk and wheel wells and under the sides of the vehicle for signs that the frame has been straightened following a crash. The interior: Make sure that all seat belts, window cranks, door locks, dashboard controls, seat adjusters, interior lights, and accessories are present and operate correctly. Check the upholstery, dashboard, and carpet for signs of damage. The gas cap and filler neck: Remove the gas cap to check inside the filler cap. Make sure the gas cap is tightly secured when you replace it.

Most modern cars have fuel injectors instead of carburetors. Fuel injection works by atomizing fuel that is received from the fuel pump and forcing it through a tiny nozzle at high pressure. This allows for more precise control over the air/fuel ratio supplied to the engine. Cars with fuel injectors typically have better fuel efficiency, start more reliably, and require less maintenance than those with carburetors.

The fuel-air mixture is transported to the intake valves of the engine by means of an intake manifold. The intake manifold pulls the fuel-air mixture from the carburetor or fuel injector and distributes it evenly to each cylinder in the engine. Even fuel distribution helps the engine operate efficiently.

Beware of potholes or debris in the road such as shredded tires, fallen trees, and other objects on the road. Watch for any obstructions to your path of travel and adjust your driving to avoid them. Don't let the novelty or surprise of seeing a foreign object become a distraction. A safe driver must pay close attention to what surrounds his or her vehicle, but must also know when to stop looking at any one thing.

The highways of Texas pass through expansive vistas, picturesque communities, and bustling cities. Most of the things you'll see as you drive will have nothing to do with the driving task—and you can become distracted by any of them. Scenic views may be inspiring, but the beauty of a landscape doesn't make driver distraction any less dangerous. While you're staring at scenery, you could drift into another lane—or oncoming traffic.

Type of drink is potentially one of the most important factors affecting your BAC. One 'standard drink' is equivalent to: A 12-ounce bottle of 10 proof* beer A 5-ounce glass of 24 proof wine A 1.5-ounce shot of 80 proof hard liquor Each of these drinks contains .6 ounces of pure ethanol. To determine how much alcohol is in a drink, divide the proof in half, and then divide that number by 100. Multiply the result by the number of ounces in the drink. See the chart on the next slide for examples. *"proof" means twice the percent of alcohol

The idea of a standard drink can be helpful when determining how much alcohol you've consumed, but a few factors make this more difficult. To begin with, the alcoholic content and beverage size may differ from these standard figures. If the beer you drink is 9% alcohol instead of 5%, or if the hard liquor you drink is 45% alcohol instead of 40%, you've had more than one drink. Similarly, depending on the container you drink out of, you may have 16 ounces of beer when you think you're having 12. Mixed drinks bring even more confusion into the equation. A single mixed drink may contain two or more shots of hard liquor, a carbonated mixer, and a lot of sugar—sweet flavors can mask the taste of alcohol. After consuming a single mixed drink, you may absorb the equivalent of three standard drinks without realizing it.

The driver of an official motor vehicle in the service of the U.S. or state military service, unless the vehicle is a Commercial Motor Vehicle Any nonresident on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces with a valid license from his or her home state as well as his or her licensed spouse and children. Anyone on active duty who was issued a valid license by the U.S. Armed Forces while in a foreign country may operate a motor vehicle in Texas for up to 90 days after returning to the United States. The Texas drivers license of a resident who enters or is in the U.S. Armed Forces will remain valid as long as he or she continues to serve and remains outside of Texas, and for up to 90 days after he or she leaves the Armed Forces or returns to Texas, unless the license is suspended, revoked, or cancelled sooner.

The license that most Texas drivers obtain is a standard Class C classified drivers license. Applicants for a Class C license must be 18, or 16 if they have completed Phase One of the GDL program. The Class C license allows a person to drive a single-unit vehicle that weighs no more than 26,000 lbs, and to tow a trailer of no more than 10,000 lbs. A driver with a Class C license may also operate a farm trailer of no more than 20,000 lbs. However, this license does not allow the operator to drive a motorcycle or moped.

Over the past several decades, advances in scientific, surgical, and medical technology have made it possible to prolong many lives with organ and tissue transplants. Among the organs that can be transplanted are: The kidneys: Each year, more than 15,000 kidneys are donated, which is a more effective treatment for kidney failure than dialysis. The pancreas: Over 1,000 people every year receive a pancreas transplant, one of the most successful treatments for severe diabetes. To get the best results, kidney and pancreas transplantations are often performed together.

The liver: Around 6,000 livers are transplanted each year, many into children born with congenital defects. The lungs: Without a transplant, the best someone with severe lung disease can hope for is being hooked up to an oxygen tank 24 hours a day. Today, around 1,700 lungs are transplanted every year—up from just 33 in 1988. The heart: Although artificial hearts and other treatments are used to treat severe heart disease, the only effective long-term treatment is transplantation. Over 2,000 hearts are transplanted every year.

Many collisions happen in places where it is dangerous to stop, such as ramps, shoulders, medians, or intersections. If the collision occurs in a place where it is likely to significantly interfere with traffic, you can move to a designated investigation site nearby as long as all vehicles can be moved safely. The site must be agreed upon by all drivers involved in the collision.

The presence of a collision in the roadway or on the side of the road can increase the chances that another driver may become distracted or need to react suddenly, causing another collision. In order to prevent further damage, turn on your hazard lights if possible and set up flares or reflectors at least 100 ft in front of and behind your car (or 500 ft in high-speed traffic). If these devices are unavailable, you can try to warn traffic by standing ahead of the site and directing vehicles around your car. Never position yourself in a way that would endanger yourself or others. If there has been a gas spill, avoid the use of flares as well as other potentially dangerous activities like smoking.

It's extremely dangerous to cover your ears with headphones while driving, and illegal to drive with both ears covered by headphones. Headphones will completely impede your ability to hear the road. If you choose to use headphones while you drive, you must keep one ear uncovered.

The presence of passengers has the potential to become incredibly distracting. While passengers can help you in many situations, they can also divert your attention from the driving task, especially if they're behaving in a disruptive way. Remember, when you carry a passenger in your car, you're taking responsibility for his or her safety. This means that you must always drive in a way that will get you and your passengers to your destination safely, even if it means giving them less attention than they'd like.

Fixate on a single driver, refusing to leave him or her alone Claim the position another driver seeks to occupy or resist another driver's attempts to claim the right-of-way Act like everyone on the road is an obstacle to be circumvented, crossing several lanes at once, ignoring road signs, and claiming the right-of-way without checking to see if others are waiting Believe that every situation can be solved through violence and be ready to pick a fight at any time

To avoid instigating aggressive behavior in others, you should always drive in a safe and courteous manner. You must also know how to recognize aggressive drivers and what to do if there's an aggressive driver on the road. Learn to keep your own emotions in check. Even if you become angered by the behavior of another driver, remember to remain calm and avoid behaviors likely to increase the risk you and other drivers face.

After you purchase a car, you must make sure the car is titled in your name. The title certifies that you are the legal owner of the vehicle. Once the title has been registered in your name, you will receive a Certificate of Title from the Texas DMV. Sometimes, more than one owner may be listed on the title. For instance, if you have a car loan, the bank that issued the loan may be listed as an owner until your loan is paid off. This will allow the bank to repossess your car if you fail to make payments.

The procedure for obtaining a title for your car differs depending on whether you purchase the vehicle from a dealer or an individual: If you buy a car from a dealer, the dealer is required to file the title paperwork on your behalf. If you buy a car from an individual, you must accompany the seller to your county tax office to make sure the title is transferred to you. You will also be responsible for paying the motor vehicle sales tax (6.25%) on the car at this time. The title must be assigned to the buyer within 20 days of purchasing a vehicle (or 45 days if the vehicle is being financed by the dealer).

In general, you will be able to receive insurance coverage through your parents' policy, especially if you plan to share a car with other family members. While this will significantly increase the rates your parents pay, it will be cheaper than if you purchased a separate policy for yourself. In order to be covered by your parents' insurance, make sure that they list you on their policy as soon as you start to drive. If you try to make a claim on a policy on which you are not explicitly listed, you may be charged for missed premium payments or your claim or coverage may be denied.

The rates your parents are charged for putting you on their policy are determined in part by the car you choose to drive. If you only drive cars that are primarily used by other family members, your rate will be based on the household car that is most expensive to insure. If you are the principal driver of a particular family car, your rate will be based on that car. If you end up purchasing your own car, you may be required to obtain a separate policy for yourself.

Even with activated and properly-aligned headlights, you must remain alert and actively search the driving environment for information. In particular, you should: Pay attention to the contours of the road, making sure to stay in your lane and drive at a safe speed at all times Look for other road users, including pedestrians, animals, slow-moving vehicles, and unlit vehicles Find and obey all relevant traffic control devices, including STOP signs, lane lines, crosswalks, and expressway exit signs

The road may feel more lonely at night, but it's not empty. There will always be pedestrians, other motor vehicles, or even police officers along your route. Obey the rules of the road just as you would in heavy traffic. Some road users are more common at night than at other times. Importantly, these include large trucks, drunk drivers, and fatigued drivers.

Fortunately, every year more people are being saved by donated organs. In the past 25 years, the number of donors and transplants have both more than doubled. By 2010, 79 people were receiving an organ donation every day. However, another person is added to the waiting list for an organ every 10 minutes. Because so many people are added to the list daily, the gap between the number of available organs and the size of the waiting list continues to grow.

To encourage people to register as organ and tissue donors, in 2005 the Texas legislature approved the creation of a state registry where people can indicate their intention to make an anatomical gift when they die. Today, this registry is known as the Glenda Dawson Donate Life — Texas Registry after the state representative who led the effort to create the registry after successfully receiving a donated kidney.

The steering wheel is connected to a steering column that extends down to the front axle of the car. The ignition switch and control levers, among other devices, are typically mounted on the part of the steering column that extends into the cab of the car. In older cars, the steering column was a rigid metal bar that had the potential to impale the driver in the event of a serious collision. To minimize this risk, most modern steering columns are designed to collapse on impact.

The steering column is connected to the front wheel axle through the steering gear box. The gear box converts the rotary movement of the steering wheel into the lateral movement necessary to point the front wheels in the desired direction. For instance, when you turn the steering wheel to the right, the gear box will cause the steering mechanism on the front axle to shift towards the left. As it does so, it will pull the back of the right wheel inward and push the back of the left wheel outward according to how far you have turned the steering wheel. If you turn the wheel too far, you could jam the steering mechanism.

The engine works by burning fuel in each of the cylinders, which are also known as combustion chambers. This process is known as a four-stroke combustion cycle. In each cylinder: The piston moves down, drawing in a fuel-air mixture. The piston moves up, compressing the fuel-air mixture to make it more explosive. The sparkplug ignites the fuel-air mixture, causing an explosion that pushes the piston down with great force, turning the crankshaft that powers the car. The piston rises, forcing out the burned fuel in the form of exhaust. The piston in each cylinder fires at a different time in accordance with the engine firing order.

The timing belt coordinates the operation of the valves that allow fuel into and exhaust out of the engine cylinders. The timing belt connects the crankshaft to the camshaft, which is responsible for opening and closing each valve at the proper time. The timing belt is subject to consistent wear over time. Generally, a timing belt becomes unreliable after 60,000 miles and should be replaced. If the timing belt breaks while you're driving, your engine may be permanently damaged.

If you realize that a collision with another vehicle or a stationary object is imminent, you can minimize the force of impact in the following ways: Slow down as much as possible before impact Strike the softest object you can Strike a vehicle moving with the lowest speed relative to you—preferably a vehicle moving away from you Strike an object at a wide angle rather than head-on Strike a broad object instead of a narrow one Strike a loose object rather than a fixed one

The way you're sitting inside your vehicle also affects how much injury you suffer. Sit up straight at all times, with your head resting against the headrest. Keep all body parts at least ten inches from where any air bag will deploy. Take your foot off the brake pedal just before the moment of impact: tremendous forces on your vehicle's wheels can be transmitted up through the brake pedal, breaking your leg. Brace yourself against your seat and the steering wheel, if possible. Tighten your muscles to help guard against organ damage.

Warning signs that you're fatigued include: Blurred or unfocused vision Sore or tired eyes Difficulty keeping your eyes open Sore or tired muscles Difficulty keeping your head up Soreness or a tired feeling at the back of your head Stiff joints Difficulty concentrating Difficulty staying in your lane Lapses in short-term memory—such as being unable to remember what happened a few seconds ago

There are a number of myths about fatigue and driving, but here are the facts: Coffee won't keep you awake. You won't always know when you're about to fall asleep. Even a small amount of fatigue can be deadly when you're driving. A few hours of sleep isn't enough to keep you going through the following day and night. Music and open windows won't keep you from falling asleep. You can't force yourself to stay awake or alert indefinitely.

Driving without insurance is a serious crime: The first time you are convicted of driving without insurance, you will be fined between $175 and $350. You will be fined up to $1,000 for subsequent violations of the state's financial responsibility law. If you are convicted of driving without insurance more than once, your license and registration will be suspended and your vehicle may be impounded. If you drive without insurance and without a valid drivers license, you will be penalized with a fine of up to $2,000, a 180-day jail sentence, or both. The penalties for driving uninsured and unlicensed will be doubled if you cause a collision that results in serious injury or death.

There are long-term consequences for driving without insurance. A single offense can end up costing you over $1,000: after being convicted of driving without insurance, you must pay an annual surcharge of $250 for three years to maintain your license. Your license and vehicle registration will be suspended if you are convicted of driving without insurance more than once. This suspension will remain in effect until you obtain insurance and file evidence of financial responsibility. When reinstating your license following an insurance-related suspension, you will have to submit an SR-22 form to the DPS that requires your insurance company to monitor and report any changes to your policy for up to three years. If you cancel your policy or let it lapse during this period, your license will be suspended immediately.

Remember, until you turn 18, you're legally prohibited from using any wireless device such as a cell phone while driving. Additionally, it's illegal for any driver to use a handheld device when driving in a school zone whenever reduced speed limits are in effect. If a law enforcement officer sees you talking on a cell phone while driving, he or she may pull you over. If you cause a collision because you were talking on your cell phone, you will face more severe legal penalties.

There are many situations you might encounter while driving where you may legitimately need to use your cell phone. For instance, you may need to call law enforcement, emergency services, or roadside assistance. However, even in these situations, you should pull over before placing the call unless you'd endanger yourself or someone else in doing so. Remember, although it's legal for you to use a cell phone while driving to place an emergency call, you'll still be at a greater risk of a collision as long as you're using your phone.

To steer and brake smoothly and effectively, you must be well coordinated enough to quickly move your body in response to emerging situations and the actions of other drivers. Alcohol has a debilitating effect on the motor skills you need to drive safely. Your physical coordination will be as limited as your vision, and your reaction time will suffer greatly as a result.

There's a reason that police ask you to walk in a straight line or to close your eyes and touch your fingers to your nose when they suspect you may be drunk. These things are very easy for sober people, but quickly become difficult as alcohol enters the bloodstream. These tasks are much simpler than the tasks you must perform as a driver. If you can't even walk in a straight line, you obviously don't have the ability to maneuver your car safely.

For many drugs, such as alcohol, ibuprofen, and Ritalin, possession and use are legal in certain circumstances. These drugs differ from drugs like marijuana and LSD, which are prohibited by federal law for all uses except, in rare cases, scientific research. Even legal drugs are often subject to some restrictions. For example, you may not purchase alcohol until you turn 21, you may not purchase large quantities of drugs containing pseudoephedrine, and you may not purchase codeine without a prescription.

These restrictions exist even for "legal" drugs because all drugs have the potential to be abused or to cause unhealthy side effects or long-term damage. In the following slides, we'll discuss two general classes of "legal" drugs: those available by prescription only, and those available without a prescription. We'll then discuss inhalants, a particularly deadly type of legally available drugs. It's important to remember that while each drug is unique, even drugs provided by your doctor can be dangerous. Abuse, overdose, and chronic use of many legally available drugs can cause severe physical and mental damage.

In 2000, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism released a study that estimated the annual economic costs of alcohol abuse. This study found that in 1998, alcohol abuse cost the United States approximately $185 billion. This study also showed that DUI collisions cost the U.S. over $15 billion in property damages alone. Keep in mind that this amount doesn't include the costs associated with injuries or deaths caused by the collisions. Additionally, the Office of National Drug Control Policy published a study in 2011 that estimated the annual cost of drug abuse in the United States. The study estimated that in 2007, drug abuse cost the nation over $193 billion.

These studies divided the costs of substance abuse into three categories: Health Care, including long-term care, hospitalizations, and research, prevention and treatment programs Lost Productivity due to work that couldn't be performed because of death, disability, or incarceration Other Social Costs, including property damage, criminal activity, and demands on the justice system As the charts indicate, lost productivity accounted for the majority of these costs.

The problem of underage drinking is a costly one. A 2010 study conducted by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation estimated the costs associated with underage drinking. The total cost of underage drinking in 2010 was $62 billion. This represents an average cost of $200 to every U.S. resident. Among the consequences of underage drinking, alcohol-attributable violent crime was responsible for the greatest costs to society, accounting for $35 billion, or 56% of the total costs

These trends have grave implications when underage drinkers get behind the wheel. According to the NHTSA: 28% of male drivers under 21 involved in a fatal collision had been drinking. 16% of female drivers under 21 involved in a fatal collision had been drinking. 37% of drivers age 16 to 20 killed in a crash had been drinking. 51% of drivers age 21 to 24 killed in a crash had been drinking. According to the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, the costs of traffic collisions involving underage drunk drivers added up to $10 billion. These costs include medical and emergency services, lost productivity, insurance, administration, workplace, and legal costs, travel delays, and property damage.

Finally, even if you manage to properly search and evaluate the road, you'll have difficulty executing maneuvers correctly: Your muscle movements will be clumsy, leading you to weave across the roadway, brake too hard or not hard enough, and steer in unsafe ways. Your hand-eye and foot-eye coordination will be disrupted, causing you to use vehicle controls earlier or later than you should. Your response time will be slowed, making it difficult to avoid a hazard even if you notice it in time.

Throughout this course, we've discussed the importance of being in a good mood whenever you get behind the wheel. Driving is not something you can do safely when you're angry, agitated, or anxious. To be a safe and responsible driver, you must have a positive attitude towards driving. If you can't respond courteously to other road users or apply your knowledge of the driving task correctly, you'll place everyone on the road, including yourself, at risk.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Understand the extent and seriousness of the drunk driving problem Protect all potential victims of drunk driving, including pedestrians, police officers, and seniors, as well as your own passengers Be aware of, and combat, the alcohol-related risk factors affecting young drivers Motivate yourself to avoid the personal, social, legal, and financial consequences of drunk driving Use any means necessary to avoid driving after consuming alcohol or other drugs

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If you've consumed alcohol, don't think that you'll be able to drive safely just because your vision is clear or your reflexes seem normal. By the time you start experiencing significant physical effects, your judgment will already be too impaired for you to make the right choices when you drive. Nothing can save you from your own bad decisions! If you've been drinking and you hear yourself say, "I'm sober enough to drive," you should realize your judgment is already dangerously impaired. When you've consumed alcohol, there's only one driving strategy that will reduce risk: don't drive!

To be a safe driver, your mind needs to be alert at all time. Yet when you drink, the cognitive capacities you need as a driver will be clouded, confused, and reduced. From the moment alcohol touches your lips, your mood will be altered and your judgment will begin to deteriorate. As you drink more, your behavior will become exaggerated and you will become less alert and able to react quickly. Eventually, your vision will become blurred, your memory will become hazy, and you'll have less ability to control your emotions.

In 2011, 3,331 U.S. traffic fatalities (10% of all 2011 traffic fatalities) could definitively be attributed to driver distraction. Keep in mind that in many collisions, it's impossible to know whether the driver was distracted at the time of the crash. As a result, many distracted drivers may not be represented in these statistics. According to some estimates, driver inattention may be responsible for as much as 80% of all collisions in the United States.

To better understand how distraction affects drivers, the NHTSA conducted a study on a sample of drivers in which each driver's actions behind the wheel were monitored by cameras and other sensors. Researchers found that distraction was a factor in approximately 23% of all collisions and near-collisions. This study allowed them to determine how much each distracting action increased the risk of a collision and what percentage of all distracted driving collisions could be attributed to that action.

In Texas, there were 1 million arrests in 2012, accounting for 8.3% of the national total. The only state with more arrests was California. 351,719 Texans (35%) were arrested for an alcohol or drug related crime in 2012. Moreover, three of the six crimes with the most arrests in Texas in 2012 involved an alcohol or drug violation. 85,436 were arrested for a drunk driving offense. 133,110 were arrested for a drug abuse violation. 21,803 were arrested for a liquor law violation. 111,370 were arrested for public drunkenness.

To buy or use alcohol or drugs illegally, you'll have to consort with other criminals. You may even be tempted to induce otherwise law-abiding citizens to break the law by helping you get alcohol or joining you as you illegally drink or use drugs. Remember, anyone who acquires, manufactures, transports, or sells drugs does so illegally. If you choose to associate with such criminals, you can end up in legal trouble and be implicated in crimes you may not have had anything to do with. You also put yourself at risk of extortion, assault, and even kidnapping.

Clean fuel is important to ensuring that your engine functions properly. Carburetors and fuel injectors have many small jets and passages that can become clogged or damaged by impurities in the fuel. To ensure this cleanliness, fuel filters are installed in the fuel line between the fuel tank and the injection system. Moreover, all gasoline sold in the United States is now required to contain certain additives to help prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel system.

To create the fuel-air mixture used in the internal combustion process, your car draws air from the environment, through the car hood, and into the engine. As with fuel, foreign materials in the air can cause problems if they are allowed to enter the engine. As a result, air filters are installed in the fuel system to separate dust and other particles from the air before it enters the carburetor or fuel injector. Replace your car's air filter at each tune-up to help minimize wear to your engine.

Vision When your vision is blurred, you'll find it hard to discern details both on objects close to you, like your dashboard, as well as on the road ahead, like traffic lights. Alcohol has particularly adverse effects on the your ability to observe objects in motion, even when your BAC is low and your vision does not otherwise seem blurred or impaired. Because of the speeds involved with driving, it can be almost impossible to evaluate the road effectively when you've been drinking.

To determine how alcohol consumption affects driving skills, researchers have conducted driving simulations in which they tested the same drivers while sober and with predetermined amounts of alcohol in their systems. They determined that the drivers in their study were more likely to: Overreact to skids Brake rather than steer away from a potential hazard Increase their speed unconsciously Misjudge the position of their car in the lane

If you are a Texas resident, you must have a Texas drivers license in order to operate a motor vehicle. When you apply for a drivers license or ID card, you must demonstrate that you are a resident of the state of Texas and lawfully present in the United States. If Texas is the location of your fixed, permanent home, or if Texas is the place you live most of the time, you may apply for a Texas license.

To establish Texas residency, you must present two acceptable documents containing your name and residential address. One of these documents must prove you have lived in Texas for at least 30 days, unless you are surrendering a valid, unexpired drivers license from another state. If you cannot provide two documents proving your residency (e.g. because you are living with a family member or roommate), you must complete a Texas Residency Affidavit.

Like drum brakes, disc brakes are attached to the wheels and rotate along with them. However, instead of containing the brake components within a drum, disc brakes consist of a spinning rotor and a small caliper that is lined with brake pads. When the brake pedal is pressed, the caliper clamps the rotor between the pads, slowing the spinning of the rotor and the wheel. Because the rotor of the disc brake is exposed to air rather than contained within a drum, the heat of the braking process is allowed to dissipate, making overheating much less likely.

To make sure that your hydraulic braking system works when you need it to, your brakes should be inspected and maintained according to the manufacturer's specifications: The most common type of service required for drum brakes is shoe replacement. Some drum brakes have an inspection hole on the back so you can see how much material is left on the shoe. The most common type of service required for disc brakes is pad replacement. When the friction material on the brake pads has been worn away, a wear indicator becomes exposed that causes a squealing sound when it contacts the brake rotor. If you hear this squeal, you need new brake pads. Consult your owner's manual to learn how to take care of your brakes, especially if you aren't sure what kind of brakes you have.

The concept of insurance was introduced in America by Benjamin Franklin, who established a company called "The Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insuring of Houses from Loss by Fire" in 1752. Every member agreed to make equal payments to the company, which would cover the losses of any members whose property was destroyed in a fire. Insurance policies today work the same way. Each policy holder pays a relatively small amount. In exchange, the insurance company will compensate the holder a much larger amount in the event of a loss.

Today, individuals can insure pretty much anything to protect themselves from a potentially catastrophic financial loss. Some forms of insurance include: Homeowner's insurance Renter's insurance Life insurance Health insurance Dental insurance For instance, a homeowner may pay an annual premium of $600 for an insurance policy that will pay up to $250,000 in the event of a fire or natural disaster.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Recognize alcohol's short-term effects on your health and your physical and mental fitness to drive Understand that alcohol consumption is dangerous even if you're not driving and can cause alcohol poisoning Acknowledge that when intoxicated your vision and motor skills will be too impaired to drive safely Know how different levels of intoxication affect your physical and mental skills and remember that driving at any level of intoxication is unsafe Realize that long-term alcohol consumption can have severe and permanent consequences for your health

To make sure you've done a good job reviewing this unit, you must now pass a test. The information in this unit is important: if you do not pass the test, you will have to take the entire unit over again. You can review as much as you wish. Simply return to your dashboard and select the topic you want to review. Do not press NEXT until you are sure you will pass the test. It is very important for you to review carefully and make sure you know how to reduce risk on the road by understanding how alcohol affects your body, making you unhealthy and unfit to drive.

The sheet that your registration sticker is attached to is known as the registration receipt. Keep the registration receipt in your glove compartment. If you buy a used car, make sure you get the vehicle's registration receipt from the seller. You must present the registration receipt to a law enforcement officer if asked. Your registration must be renewed every year. You may renew by mail, in person, or, in some counties, online. Once you submit your renewal application and pay the registration fees, you will be sent a new registration sticker and receipt.

To save you time, you are allowed to renew your vehicle registration for up to three years when you submit the renewal application. You will receive a single registration sticker that will remain valid until your registration has to be renewed again. Your renewal application can be refused for a number of reasons, including the condition of your car, a lack of vehicle insurance, or a failure to pay traffic tickets or other fines.

In 2011, impaired drivers killed 2,661 people either in the impaired driver's car or in another vehicle. Think about what this means: 1,612—the number of people who got into a car thinking the driver was not too impaired to drive, and who then died in a crash 1,049—the number of people who were in their own vehicle and were struck and killed by an impaired driver 156—the number of children age 14 and younger who were killed when the vehicle they were in was involved in a collision caused by an impaired driver

Today, every car is manufactured with safety systems including seat belts, crumple zones, and air bags. But none of these can change the fact that 3,000 lbs of metal and plastic moving at 60 mph is an extremely dangerous thing. Impaired driving puts everyone on the road in danger.

Most maps contain a chart or legend that explains the markings and symbols used on the map: Different colors and line widths are used to identify different kinds of roads, such as interstates, toll roads, divided and undivided two- and four-lane highways, and roads that are unpaved, scenic, or under construction. Different symbols are used to indicate federal, state, secondary, and county roads. Specific icons are used to designate camp grounds, rest areas, toll roads, airports, and more. Black and red numerals show the distance between major points. A mileage scale indicates how to determine the distance between any two points. For instance, one inch on the map may correspond to a distance of five miles.

Today, there are a number internet mapping services you can use to generate a step-by-step set of directions between your starting point and your destination. These services allow you to review your route in advance and print out the directions to take with you on your trip. However, it can be dangerous to rely on these services exclusively, as they're not always accurate and don't always represent current road closures. Moreover, these maps don't provide a lot of information about landmarks or other roadways in the area where you'll be travelling.

Before you purchase a car, you should inspect the vehicle in person to make sure its condition is as advertised. This is especially true when buying a used car. When you go to check out a car, bring a notepad, pen or pencil, and list of questions you have about the car, as well as a flashlight and magnet to facilitate your inspection. Bring a knowledgeable friend or expert if possible. For practice, you should inspect a vehicle your family or a friend already owns so you can familiarize yourself with the inspection process. Your inspection will be more successful if you know what to look for.

Try to arrange with the seller to see the vehicle after it has been sitting overnight so you can see how it starts first thing in the morning. You should always inspect a vehicle during the day, when there is plenty of light. If you have scheduled an appointment with a private seller, try to arrive 15 to 20 minutes early as the seller may be preparing the vehicle for your visit. Do not be afraid to ask the seller to show or demonstrate features of the car. Always ask to see maintenance records.

By the end of the 1970s, American citizens frustrated with the prevalence of drunk driving began organizing into action groups. The first of these grassroots organizations, formed in New York in 1978, called itself Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID). Their mission was to reduce drunk driving and underage drinking, to advocate for victims of drunk driving, and to promote the enactment and enforcement of effective DWI/DUI laws.

Two years later, in 1980, the nation saw the birth of perhaps the most prolific and well-known grassroots action groups against drunk driving: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD). Its first mission statement was "To aid the victims of crimes performed by individuals driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to aid the families of such victims and to increase public awareness of the problem of drinking and drugged driving." Since then, its mission has expanded to include stopping drunk driving altogether, as well as preventing underage drinking.

When a person becomes addicted to alcohol or a drug, he or she can become completely dependent on it and begin to crave it constantly. He or she feels compelled to acquire and abuse the drug, despite the personal harm and the harm to others his or her behavior will cause. Frequently, a drug addict will need to take increasingly powerful doses of a drug to satisfy the body's craving for the drug and to maintain the high that he or she desires. This not only increases the risk of harmful short- and long-term effects, but also further increases the user's dependence.

Ultimately, addicts don't behave in a way they would have considered rational before their addiction. Even in the face of the worst physical consequences, addicts are heedless in their pursuit of the next high. A drug addiction can cause you to lose sight or even to ignore potential symptoms of liver failure, heart failure, cancer, brain damage, and death. Consider these consequences before you start using alcohol or a drug. Otherwise, they may mean nothing to you when you should be worrying about them the most.

In addition, minors may legally be in possession of alcohol if it is in the scope of their job to handle alcohol (e.g. a waiter or grocery clerk). Minors are not, however, permitted to consume alcohol at their place of employment.

Under Texas law, you must be of a certain age to be employed in a position that requires you to handle alcohol: You must be 16 to sell beer or wine at a retail facility (e.g. a liquor or grocery store) where alcohol is not consumed. You must be 21 to sell spirits at a retail facility where alcohol is not consumed. You must be 18 to work as a server or bartender providing alcoholic beverages to customers at a restaurant or bar where alcohol is consumed.

According to the CDC Youth Behavior Surveillance report, published in 2012, 39% of high school students admitted to drinking in the 30 days prior to the survey. The potential for underreporting suggests that more than half of high school students may have actually consumed alcohol during this period.

Underage drinkers tend to engage in especially risky behaviors. Nearly 22% of high school students reported binge drinking in the last 30 days. More than 24% of high school students reported riding with a drunk driver in the same period A frighteningly large number of high school students, over 8%, reported driving drunk themselves in the past 30 days.

Additionally, it's dangerous to try to operate a vehicle while handling a map, which can be physically awkward to deal with and difficult to read quickly. If you get lost and try to orient yourself while you're driving, you'll probably just stress yourself out more, and could end up in a collision. Before consulting a map, pull over to the side of the road. If you don't take your time finding a reliable route the first time, you may lose your way again. This is true whether you're using a fold-out map, your cell phone, or a GPS installed in your car.

Up Next: A Movie In a moment, you will watch a film on the dangers of texting and driving. Pay attention to the stories of the people you will see. None of them thought they would wreck their car while texting—they all believed that they could operate their car just fine. Right up until they lost control. We would like to thank AT&T for providing this film to help us teach young drivers about the dangers of texting while driving. You can find more resources provided by AT&T here, as well as a video of reactions of students who have just watched the movie you're about to see.

Avoid getting frustrated even if you're running late, stuck in traffic, or irritated by another person's disrespectful driving. Be patient when other drivers make mistakes. Remember, you're not the only person on the road. When you're stuck in traffic, so is everyone else around you, and they probably have places to be just as urgently as you. If you drive aggressively, you're likely to annoy other drivers who have managed to avoid becoming aggravated by the exact same situation.

Use the following strategies to avoid becoming aggravated on the road: Make sure the temperature inside your car isn't too hot, as this can make you quicker to anger, as well as cause drowsiness. Keep a light but firm grip on the steering wheel. You may make yourself feel more tense when you unconsciously grip the wheel tightly. Make sure you're not clenching your teeth, as this can also make you feel tenser. Listening to some of your favorite music at a safe volume can help take your mind off your emotions. If you feel yourself becoming frustrated, take some deep breaths. Even if you feel like you have to blow off some steam, remind yourself that it's wiser to remain calm as long as you're behind the wheel.

The NHTSA found that in 2011: Teenagers (between 15 and 19 years old) accounted for 305 (9%) of the 3,331 distracted driving deaths that occurred. 11% of all teens who died in collisions were killed in distracted driving crashes. 11% of drivers responsible for distracted driving deaths were teenagers.

Using your cell phone is one of the most dangerous things you can do while driving. Recent research suggests that: In 2011, 385 traffic fatalities (1% of all traffic fatalities and 12% of distracted driving fatalities) involved a driver using a cell phone. Using a hand-held or hands-free cell phone while driving will delay a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. Drivers using cell phones devote 37% less brain activity to the task of driving

The brake warning light indicates that the parking brake is set, or that brake fluid pressure is weak or lost. When the brake warning light illuminates, make sure your parking brake is released. If it's not, gently test your brake pedal. If there's little or no response, try pumping the pedal a few times to build pressure. If necessary, gently use your parking brake. Slow down, pull over, turn off your engine and call a mechanic.

Vehicles with antilock brakes have a separate ABS warning light that indicates when this system is malfunctioning. When the ABS warning light illuminates, be prepared to prevent skids while braking. Brake earlier and more gently than you would with active ABS. Pump the brakes if you feel your wheels locking up.

Some antidepressants, such as Prozac and Zoloft, are a type of tranquilizer. They are primarily used to treat depression, anxiety, and some personality disorders. While they can be very helpful in certain circumstances, these antidepressants can also cause sexual dysfunction and further depression, and may increase suicidal tendencies. They also alter the body's metabolism of some other drugs, causing them to have stronger or weaker effects.

We discussed the effects of hallucinogens in a previous lesson. Recall that hallucinogens alter perceptive and emotional faculties. This class of drugs includes marijuana, psilocybe, LSD, mescaline, and PCP. Common side effects include anxiety, panic, loss of coordination, nausea, increased body temperature, delusions, and hallucinations. In the following slides, we'll provide more detail on the use and abuse of marijuana, the most widely used hallucinogen in the United States. We'll also discuss more generally dissociatives and the prototypical hallucinogens, which have importantly different effects.

Point-based Penalties For every moving violation a driver commits, a certain number of points will be added to the driver's record by the DPS: Two points will be assessed for a moving violation committed in Texas or another state Three points will be assessed for a moving violation committed in Texas or another state that resulted in a crash

When a driver has accumulated six points, a surcharge of $100 will be assessed. For every additional point over six that a driver accumulates, the surcharge will be increased by $25. A driver's record will be reviewed annually. If the driver has at least six points at that time, he or she will be required to pay the surcharge. The number of points on a driver's record will increase every time he or she is convicted of a traffic offense. However, convictions are generally removed from a driver's record after three years. In general, the driver will be required to pay the surcharge annually for the three years that the offense remains on his or her record. However, drivers may also choose to pay the entire three-year amount in advance.

Moreover, many modern cars are equipped with GPS technology that can guide you to your destination. While these devices can reduce your stress in unfamiliar places, remember that they can distract you from the road. Never attempt to program a GPS device while driving. Even if you have a GPS device or set of directions from the Internet, you should always carry fold-out maps in your car for any areas where you'll be driving. They may prove essential if you get lost or need to find an alternate route, or if your GPS device malfunctions.

When applying for or renewing your drivers license, you'll be encouraged to register as an organ and tissue donor. As a registered donor, when you die your organs will be recovered and transplanted into people who need them urgently. Even though many people support organ donation and register as organ donors, a dire shortage of organs and tissues continues to prevent many people from getting the life-saving procedures that they need. On average, 18 people die in the United States every day waiting for an organ transplant.

Every tire is assigned grades according to the Uniform Tire Quality Grading system (UTQG) to help consumers make better choices. These ratings are indicated on the tire's sidewall. Treadwear ratings indicate how long a tire is expected to last. Tires are rated against a control tire assigned a grade of 100. A tire graded 200 should last twice as long as a tire graded 100. Traction ratings indicate how well a car can brake on wet roads. Tires can have a traction rating of AA, A, B, and C, with AA being the best and C the worst. Temperature ratings indicate how well a tire can endure extreme heat. Tires can have a temperature rating of A, B, and C. Tires rated "C" should not be used on very hot roads. The NHTSA has provided more information on tire ratings here.

When changing your tires, consult your owner's manual and ask for professional guidance to ensure that you choose the tires most suited for the kind of driving that you do. Use the information printed on the tire sidewall to help you find a tire that meets the manufacturer recommendations for your car. You should replace your tires when they become worn or cracked or when the tread depth is low. Generally, it's best to replace tires in sets of four.

When it comes to smoking, the safest thing you can do is avoid it altogether. The more you smoke, the more likely it is that you'll have to deal with lung cancer, emphysema, or other potentially fatal health complications in the future. However, even if you choose to smoke, resolve never to light up when you're behind the wheel. If you have to smoke, wait until you reach your destination.

When drivers are in a hurry, they may decide to put off certain tasks they think they can complete behind the wheel. Frequently, drivers will wait until they're on the road to finish combing their hair or applying make-up because it's the activity they can most easily defer. Unfortunately, personal grooming is one of the most dangerous things you can do while driving. With your eyes on your mirror, your hand on a brush, and your attention on a stubborn cowlick, how will you be able to respond to a dangerous situation on the road?

You can decrease the stress you feel behind wheel by adopting a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle. Learn to express your feelings in appropriate ways and calm yourself when you're feeling anxious. Share your ups and downs with a parent or close friend. By getting plenty of exercise, sleeping at least eight hours every night, eating properly, and liking who you are, you'll be better able to drive safely. Always decide on a route in advance so you can avoid situations likely to agitate you, especially if you're emotionally preoccupied.

When drivers let their emotions get the best of them, Aggressive Driving may be the result. It doesn't take much for a driver who is stressed or angry, or one who naturally has a negative disposition, to become an aggressive driver, especially if he or she is frustrated by the situation on the road or the actions of other drivers. Any deliberate and dangerous behavior motivated by impatience, annoyance, or hostility is considered aggressive driving.

It's important to avoid ice, but you may not always be able to see it. Black ice is a form of ice that develops very quickly, finishing smooth and almost completely clear. Black ice is often invisible from more than a few feet away. Prepare for this extremely treacherous form of ice by driving slowly at all times. Pay attention to the outside air temperature, and to road features like shadows and bridges.

When driving in consistently cold weather—with daytime temperatures near 45° F or lower—you should consider equipping your vehicle with snow tires. Regular, "all-weather" tires typically are made of a rubber compound that stiffens and provides less traction as it becomes colder. Snow tires are composed of a different type of rubber that performs best in cold temperatures, providing better handling and braking ability. In addition, snow tires typically use a tread pattern that cuts through snow, ice, and water more efficiently, increasing traction and reducing the risk of skids. You can recognize approved snow tires by a symbol depicting a snowflake on a mountain.

To recover safely when your car's right wheels have rolled off the road, you need to perform the following tasks: Hold your steering wheel firmly and continue to move straight ahead towards a safe target area. Relax pressure on the accelerator and slow down until you are moving about 5-10 mph. Avoid braking abruptly. Position your vehicle so that it straddles the edge of the roadway. Look for an appropriate place to get back on the roadway. You should find an area where the pavement and the shoulder are at about the same level. Check for traffic on the road and in your blind spot and activate your left turn signal.

When it is safe, start your off-road recovery by steering sharply left. The more severe the drop-off, the more you will have to slow down and turn sharply to get back on the pavement. As soon as your right front tire comes back onto the pavement, counter-steer sharply right to straighten your vehicle. Finally, position your car in the center of the lane, cancel your turn signal, and adjust your speed to the traffic flow. If traffic is heavy when you drive off the roadway, you should leave the roadway entirely and wait for a large gap in traffic before you start to reenter.

You may be able to avoid a rear-end or side-impact collision by speeding up and steering out of the way. In a rear-end collision, increase your speed to reduce the force of impact and make the damage less severe. In a side-impact collision, speed up or slow down to change the point of impact to your engine compartment or rear end, which will reduce damage to the passenger compartment. As long as it doesn't point you towards another danger like a cliff or oncoming traffic, steer away from the oncoming vehicle. This will reduce the force of impact and make the point of impact closer to the rear end.

When performing emergency maneuvers, your vehicle's traction and balance may be pushed to their limits. Remember that hard or sudden braking, as well as sharp steering, may lead to a loss of traction, causing you to lose control of your car. You must often brake to avoid a hazard, but steering is important, too. If you cause your vehicle to skid, there may be no way to avoid running straight into a hazard you could have avoided by steering. If your braking and road conditions cause you to enter a skid, remember how to respond: take your foot off the accelerator and the brake pedal, look and steer where you want the car to go, and make minor adjustments to prevent oversteering after recovering.

The condition of the road itself changes in very important ways when rain begins to fall. These changes have drastic effects on your ability to accelerate, brake, and steer your vehicle. Water on the surface of the road reduces traction. Your vehicle's wheels will suffer a diminished ability to transfer engine power, braking power, and steering controls to the pavement.

When rain first begins to fall, it mixes with oils on the road surface and creates a slippery film that can easily cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Even when not mixed with oil, standing water resists forward movement and buoys your vehicle up and away from the road, further reducing traction. Many cars will begin to float in as little as one foot of standing water.

To make sure you've done a good job reviewing this unit, you must now pass a test. The information in this unit is important: if you do not pass the test, you will have to take the entire unit over again. Do not press NEXT until you are sure you will pass the test. You can review as much as you wish. Simply return to your dashboard and select the topic you want to review. It is very important for you to review carefully and make sure you know how to reduce risk on the road by understanding how drugs other than alcohol make you unhealthy and unfit to drive. Remember the dangers of combining drugs, and never drive while impaired by any substance.

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Hydroplaning is a more severe form of traction loss. When a wheel drives over a layer of water, it must push the water out of the way so that the rubber can gain traction against the road surface. When the wheel is spinning too fast and the tread fails to push water out of the way quickly enough, the wheel spins freely against the water without touching the road. This results in a severe loss of control.

When reacting to a loss of traction, early recognition of the emergency is crucial. The most intuitive way to detect a loss of traction is by road feel—the physical connection between your body and the car, and between the car and the road. When you begin to skid, you'll feel the difference in control. Overall, skids on dry pavement are typically easier to notice. They involve hard breaking, heavy acceleration, or turns taken too sharply or too fast. When you skid on dry pavement, you'll feel your tires scraping against the ground and sliding in an unexpected direction.

Awareness of the driving environment is extremely important when dealing with an emergency. Seeing hazards will help you avoid them, but seeing hazardous situations and understanding them will help far more. Scan the road and consider the most likely consequences of the conditions you observe. Prepare responses to possible situations: make room for motorcyclists passing you from behind; brake gently if a vehicle far ahead of you brakes suddenly; look for space in an adjacent lane if a vehicle ahead is broken down in your lane.

When responding to an emergency situation, change the way you handle your vehicle only just as much as is needed to safely avoid hazards. If you jerk your steering wheel to one side or slam on the brakes when it's not necessary, you may make the consequences much worse. When avoiding a head-on collision, always evade to the right unless you're sure that evading to the left is the only way to avoid the collision. If the other driver corrects his or her mistake, the vehicle will move to your left—so you don't want to move there. Further, if you successfully evade the other vehicle, you should try to end your maneuver in your own lanes of traffic rather than in opposing lanes.

In fact, recent research has demonstrated that multitasking is a myth: "Human brains do not perform two tasks at the same time. Instead... brains can juggle tasks very rapidly, which leads us to erroneously believe we are doing two tasks at the same time. In reality, the brain is switching attention between tasks—performing only one task at a

When trying to focus on more than one activity, your brain may become overloaded by the need to process information from two or more sources. Moreover, whenever you switch between tasks, your brain must spend time and energy redirecting its attention rather than thinking. The more information your brain has to sort at once, the more likely you are to suffer "inattention blindness" and miss important clues about the condition of the road. To be a safe driver, you must develop the mental discipline to remain focused on a single task as long as you're on the

As you become addicted to alcohol or a drug, your personality will begin to change and your priorities will shift, possibly without you even realizing it. Things you once thought important, like your family, your performance at school, or your career goals, will seem meaningless as cravings for alcohol come to occupy your thoughts. You may even come to feel that getting drunk or high is more important than eating, sleeping, bathing, or taking care of yourself. You could end up so indifferent to your own health that you end up gravely ill—or even dead.

When you abuse alcohol or drugs, you can become selfish, egotistical, irritable, or angry about your life and everything around you. You'll find it more difficult to control your moods and emotions and may do self-destructive things you wouldn't normally have done. Eventually, friends and family may find it difficult to recognize who you are and distance themselves from you. Even if they try to help you, you may become defensive and further alienate yourself. You'll tell yourself you don't care, and drink more to make up for the relationships you've lost.

No one expects to get into a collision when they get on the road, yet hundreds of collisions happen every day. The chances are good that eventually you'll be involved in a collision, too. If you're involved in a collision, don't panic. While shock and anxiety are natural responses, you must remain calm until the immediate situation has been resolved. You could make the situation worse if you are unable to think clearly. Moreover, you may be less prepared to complete the tasks you are legally required to perform in a collision.

When you are involved in a collision, the first thing you must always do is stop immediately. Failure to stop is a serious offense. You may be charged with a hit-and-run. Immediately following a collision, move your vehicle to the side of the road away from the flow of traffic unless it is so damaged that it is impossible to move. Turn off the engine. Once you have safely stopped the vehicle, exit your car cautiously to identify yourself to all parties involved and aid anyone injured in the collision.

Being a safe driver requires you to employ a large number of safe driving strategies. In order to reduce risk, you must be able to: Remember to wear your seat belt, keep your headlights on, follow all applicable traffic laws and traffic control devices, and maintain a safe distance from other road users Apply defensive driving strategies such as adjusting your speed for conditions, keeping your hands at the 9 and 3 or 8 and 4 positions of your steering wheel, positioning your vehicle to maximize your visibility, and employing a space management system Pay attention to the maintenance of your vehicle, road, weather and traffic conditions, the actions of other people using the road, and your own physical and mental fitness to drive

When you consume alcohol, you'll be less able to perform the tasks required of you as a driver and less likely to remember your responsibility to reduce risk. For instance, intoxicated drivers tend to forget to perform even the most basic tasks like turning on or dimming their headlights, activating their turn signals, or fastening their seat belt. As a result, they're more likely to be involved in a collision, and more likely to be seriously injured as a result.

Even small amounts of alcohol can degrade your psychological fitness to drive. Your judgment and reasoning, awareness and comprehension of the road, concentration, coordination, and reaction time will all be harmed if there's alcohol in your system. Even if your motor skills and ability to search and evaluate the road were not compromised, alcohol's effect on your decision-making skills would be enough to make you a dangerous driver. If your ability to identify and choose to execute the safest action is impaired, you won't even realize when you're putting lives—even your own life—in danger!

When you drink, you're more likely to: Underestimate the degree of risk in your actions and disregard the physical laws that govern driving Overestimate your own abilities and the capabilities of your own vehicle while refusing to accept responsibility for your own bad decisions React to your emotions rather than consider the consequences of your decisions Become distracted by passengers, devices in your car, or a situation on the road

Your car's frame, body, engine, and transmission are suspended above the wheels by a system of springs known as the suspension system. The suspension system keeps the vehicle stable and allows the wheels to maintain contact with the road while rising and falling independently of the rest of the car. Your suspension system may need to be checked if your car does not appear to be level when it is parked or bounces more than usual when you drive. Uneven tire wear can also be a sign of suspension problems.

When you drive over a road, irregularities like debris and potholes can jar the car up and down, causing the wheels to lose contact with the road and come slamming down. Springs in the suspension system absorb this up-and-down movement so the wheels can follow the road without affecting the whole body of the car. However, springs alone would cause the car to bounce and sway every time they absorbed the energy of a bump. In order to improve the comfort of people in the car, shock absorbers are installed to reduce this effect.

Aggressive drivers are more likely to ignore right-of-way rules that require them to yield to someone else. Rather than anticipating the need to stop and slowing gradually, these drivers would rather endanger others and force them to stop suddenly. Aggressive drivers are especially likely to disregard pedestrians and bicyclists since they know that vulnerable road users are more endangered by the threat of a collision and will have no choice but to get out of their way.

When you encounter an aggressive driver, you must not take his or her actions personally, even if they're directed at you. Aggressive drivers are reacting to their own bad moods, and there's nothing you can do that will make them start thinking clearly. Ultimately, the only driver you're responsible for is yourself. Don't challenge an aggressive driver. Instead, treat him or her as just another hazard on the road to be avoided.

A large impulse can be very deadly, which is why braking, air bags, and crumple zones on your vehicle all increase crash safety. When you brake, or impact an air bag, or come to a stop more slowly as the front or rear of your vehicle collapses, the impulse of your collision is reduced. For this reason, side-impact crashes are often more deadly to occupants than head-on or rear-end collisions. Front and rear crumple zones slow down the impact, but a strike against a vehicle's door or B-pillar transmits the force of impact over much less time. Keep this in mind when a possible collision is imminent.

When you enter a turn or a curve, your car's inertia tries to keep it moving in a straight line, while the angle of your wheels causes friction that tries to move it towards the curve. These are called centrifugal and centripetal forces. When you enter a curve, you balance centripetal force (driving into the curve) against centrifugal force (being pulled out of the curve). An imbalance in these forces will cause you to leave your lane.

To make sure you've done a good job reviewing this unit, you must now pass a test. The information in this unit is important: if you do not pass the test, you will have to take the entire unit over again. You can review as much as you wish. Simply return to your dashboard and select the topic you want to review. Do not press NEXT until you are sure you will pass the test. It is very important for you to review carefully and make sure you know how to reduce risk on the road by meeting your legal obligations as a Texas drivers license holder.

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While you're particularly at risk while you're still a novice driver, make sure you don't become overconfident in your own driving skills as you gain experience. If you go several years without causing a collision or committing a traffic violation, you may become less conscientious in your approach to driving and stop attending as vigilantly to situations on the road. Remember, a collision could happen at any time! As long as you remain a driver, it's your responsibility to pay attention to how you're driving and make sure you don't develop any unsafe driving habits.

When you make a mistake while driving, you can affect not only yourself, but also your friends, your family, and everyone else on the road. By accepting the social responsibilities associated with driving, you can improve your own quality of life, make other road users (especially vulnerable road users) feel safer, and avoid adding additional strain on law enforcement, medical services, and the economy at large.

You can find out more about vehicle registration requirements here. You should receive a registration renewal notice in the mail before your current registration expires. To renew your registration by mail, you must return this form, along with the registration fee and proof of insurance, to your county tax office. If you don't receive a renewal notice, you are still required to renew your registration. You must visit the county tax office in person with your license plate number, VIN number, or registration receipt from the previous year. If you move, you should notify the DMV of your new address immediately to make sure you receive your renewal notice.

When you receive your license plates, you will also receive a registration sticker for your car. This sticker, which indicates the month and year that your current registration expires, should be affixed to the lower left hand corner of your windshield. If you buy a used car that retains its original license plates, you must renew the car's registration by the date indicated on the current registration sticker. Depending on when the owner last renewed the registration, it could be anywhere between a couple of weeks and nearly a year before the current registration expires.

Towing and labor coverage will pay for towing a car following a wreck or breakdown, or for performing labor on your car (such as changing a tire) at the location where it became disabled. Rental reimbursement coverage will pay for a rental car when the policy holder's vehicle has been stolen or is being repaired.

When you rent a car, you will need to obtain additional insurance coverage for any damages you may cause to the rental. In general, you can purchase this coverage from the rental agency, although some rental companies will offer a collision damage waiver in place of insurance. If you don't own a car but borrow or rent cars often, you should obtain non-owner liability coverage. A non-owner policy will pay for any damages or injuries you cause while driving a borrowed or rented car, other than damages to the car you are driving.

Use the following strategies to avoid becoming aggravated on the road: Make sure the temperature inside your car isn't too hot, as this can make you quicker to anger, as well as cause drowsiness. Keep a light but firm grip on the steering wheel. You may make yourself feel more tense when you unconsciously grip the wheel tightly. Make sure you're not clenching your teeth, as this can also make you feel tenser. Listening to some of your favorite music at a safe volume can help take your mind off your emotions. If you feel yourself becoming frustrated, take some deep breaths. Even if you feel like you have to blow off some steam, remind yourself that it's wiser to remain calm as long as you're behind the wheel.

When you see a driver who appears to be tense or agitated, treat him or her with extra courtesy rather than react out of irritation. If a flustered driver wants to enter your lane, give him or her plenty of space. A single act of courtesy is often enough to remind other drivers that nobody's out to get them and that they also have an obligation to drive safely. Moreover, by helping a driver who's more anxious than you are, you can feel better about yourself and take your mind off your own frustrations.

The road may become damp and slippery in fog, reducing traction. Pay attention to the feel of your car's grip on the road. Other drivers may behave very differently. Some may pull off the road and stop, some may drive very slowly, and some may drive the speed limit. Some drivers may even become confused and drive against the flow of traffic. The air often becomes much dimmer in fog, presenting many of the same challenges as driving in darkness.

When you see fog, slow down and increase following distance. Drive in the center of your lane and maneuver gently to avoiding losing control. Keep track of lane lines to prevent yourself from straying outside them. If water forms on the outside of your windshield, activate your wipers. Turn on your low-beam headlights as soon as you enter fog—high-beams will only illuminate the fog, making it more difficult to see. In areas with particularly poor visibility, turn off any music and roll down your windows to listen for nearby vehicles.

One reason that underage drinking is such a significant problem is that people think it's more normal than it actually is, causing them to feel more pressure to drink in social situations. A study conducted at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill found that: Students and others greatly overestimate the amount of drinking on college campuses. These overestimates lead people to mistakenly conclude that frequent and excessive drinking is normal on campuses. The belief that "everyone" drinks increases the pressure students feel to consume alcohol. Don't fool yourself into thinking that underage drinking is normal. If you do, you could end up regretting your decision for the rest of your life.

When you take your first drink, you should recognize that you could be embarking on a long, downhill journey towards alcohol abuse. While getting too drunk or being cited for illegal alcohol use once isn't usually considered abuse, once you start down that road, you may find it hard to turn around. You should realize that, before you turn 21, any time you consume any quantity of alcohol it is considered abuse. Don't drink until you're physically and emotionally prepared to handle the effects of alcohol!

The electricity needed to power many of the devices in your car, including the lights, dashboard indicators, and computer systems, is produced, stored, and distributed by an elaborate system of circuitry and electrical components. Your vehicle's primary source of electrical power is the battery. The battery supplies the electricity needed to start the engine and used to run auxiliary devices such as vehicle lights and the stereo system when the engine is off.

When you turn your key in the ignition switch, the battery sends energy to activate the starter motor. The starter motor sets the engine in motion and activates a sparkplug to ignite fuel in the combustion chambers, bringing the vehicle to life. In cars that rely on a traditional internal combustion system, the engine does not need additional electricity once it has been set in motion. However, starting your car requires more electricity than any other task.

To ensure your safety on the road, your concentration must be focused exclusively on driving. Emotional distraction can impair your driving as much as a physical impairment, fatigue, or intoxication. Avoid driving when you are: Emotionally distressed by a personal or professional situation Experiencing a high degree of tension or anxiety Unable to focus your attention on situations relevant to driving More susceptible to losing focus when emotional due to inexperience

When you're experiencing intense emotions, you're more likely to respond drastically to a situation. If you enter your car angry, you may respond more aggressively when you encounter frustrating behaviors or conditions on the road. If you enter your car anxious, you may hesitate to act or be excessively cautious, confusing and frustrating other drivers. If you enter your car bubbling over with enthusiasm, you may not drive with the necessary amount of caution and may see your actions as less risky than they are.

Look at this picture as though you were a driver approaching the intersection. Try to memorize the details.

When your brain is forced to filter information due to overload, you won't be aware of the information that's been filtered out. Information won't be stored in your memory and you'll miss critical information about potential hazards. Look at the picture again. Certain details in this version have been omitted. Did you notice them? This is the kind of information you might easily miss if you're thinking about something other than driving.

Your car's kinetic energy increases as weight increases, and increases with the square of speed. If you slam on the brakes or crash into a wall, your car must absorb energy equal to its kinetic energy before coming to a stop. Importantly, this means that stopping distance and force of impact increase with the square of speed. Driving at an appropriate speed, and slowing down as soon as you see hazards ahead, are some of the most effective actions you can take to increase maneuverability and reduce crash severity. Remember: stopping distance at 50 mph is four times that at 25 mph, and a crash at 75 mph has nine times the force of impact of a crash at 25 mph

When your car expends or absorbs energy to speed up or slow down, you may feel a pull or a jolt, called impulse. Impulse increases as the energy or force increases, and increases as the duration of the force decreases. You'll feel a harder jolt if you speed up or slow down suddenly. Consider: coming to a stop from 60 mph in ten seconds doesn't hurt you or your vehicle because the force of this event is spread out over a long time. But if you hit a wall and come to a stop in just half a second, you'll feel twenty times the impulse, causing severe damage.

Effects on Your Pulmonary System Also known as the respiratory system, the pulmonary system is responsible for getting oxygen into your blood and getting carbon dioxide out of it. The main organs in the pulmonary system are the lungs, while other components include the nose and mouth, the trachea, the bronchial tubes, and the diaphragm. The functioning of these organs is impaired by alcohol. Alcohol slows down your respiration, reducing the amount of oxygen that enters your bloodstream.

When your organs don't receive enough oxygen, they begin to shut down. The brain, already impaired by alcohol, will be further damaged by the lack of oxygen. Moreover, the kidneys and liver will become less efficient at removing alcohol from your blood, meaning that the effects of alcohol will become even more pronounced. Eventually, your pulmonary system can become so disrupted that you may find it difficult to breathe. If you stop breathing, you will die.

When taking a trip, you may rent a different type of vehicle such as a moving truck or Recreational Vehicle (RV). Because such vehicles accelerate more slowly, have larger stopping and turning distances, have bigger blind spots, and are longer, higher, and wider than other vehicles, make yourself familiar with the new vehicle, its operations, and its internal instrumentation before setting out. If you rent a car from an agency, inspect it before you leave. Adjust your seat and mirrors before taking the car on the road.

Whether planning a trip out of state or trying to locate an address in a nearby city or your own home town, using a map can make driving less stressful. Maps are available from state and city offices, motor clubs, book stores, many service stations, and the Internet. Many collisions are caused by drivers who suddenly hit the brakes or change lanes as they realize that they are just about to miss their turn. You can avoid being one of these drivers by knowing how to use a map correctly.

Because of the way your nerves are affected by alcohol, when you've been drinking, you won't be able to make appropriate decisions and react quickly to unfolding situations. Consider the ways alcohol increases your reaction time: Weakened memory makes it difficult to anticipate turns, red lights, and other normal driving situations. Poor vision makes you unaware of your surroundings, sometimes causing you to fail to react to an important hazard. Slower understanding and reasoning causes you to make decisions like when to apply the brake much more slowly. Poor muscle control and physical coordination makes you unable to act on your decisions with normal speed and accuracy.

Whether they're conscious of it or not, many drinkers change their behavior according the situation they're in and the environment where they're drinking. They may act more relaxed and sloppy, or more aggressive and compulsive. The effects of intoxication can vary from person to person and from situation to situation. When you drink in a large group or with other underage drinkers, you may become more prone to reckless behavior, while if you drink alone, you may quickly become depressed.

When you drive, you'll usually be travelling on familiar routes and may not think to plan ahead. If you're going to be driving to a destination regularly, get in the routine of using the safest and easiest way of getting there. Don't take it for granted that the same trip will always take you the same amount of time. Whenever you're planning to drive, check weather and traffic reports while you still have time to leave early if there are going to be significant delays.

While a road trip can be fun, it can quickly turn into a miserable experience if you're not prepared for the unexpected. If you're planning to travel by car for an extended period of time, you should: Check the condition of your car Anticipate the costs of your trip Load your car properly Remember to pack emergency supplies and equipment Bring enough money for any contingencies

When you test drive the car, try to drive at 20 to 30 mph beside a pavement line or side wall so you can test the wheel alignment. Roll down the window so you can hear if the car is making any unusual noises. Whether you're buying a new or used car, you should take the time to perform the inspection to your satisfaction. Don't let the seller rush you or pressure you into a decision. If you make the wrong decision, you could be stuck with the consequences for a long time.

While a thorough inspection process is generally sufficient for detecting problems, sometimes a car's defects may not be apparent until after you've paid for it. In these situations, you may be protected by the manufacturer's warranty. If a dealer sells you a car but refuses to fix a problem while it is still under warranty, the Texas Lemon Law can help you. The Texas Lemon Law applies to new and used vehicles that are still covered by the original manufacturer's warranty, as well as used vehicles with a persistent problem that developed under warranty.

Effects on Your Vision Alcohol hampers your vision greatly, making it harder to perceive things in detail and causing you to be more detached from your surroundings. Alcohol disrupts the mechanisms that allow you to see: The ability of the eyes to move in their sockets and scan the field of vision The ability of the pupils to expand and contract, letting in an appropriate amount of light The ability of the corneas and the lenses to focus and render objects clearly

While alcohol's effects are particularly pronounced in the brain, since it circulates in your blood it impacts every organ in your body. Even in the short term, alcohol can seriously disrupt how your body functions. The human body treats alcohol as a poison. Your liver does its best to break down alcohol molecules, while your kidneys remove it from your blood as fast as they can. Unfortunately, your body can't filter alcohol fast enough to protect your organs completely. In addition, the process of filtering alcohol can damage your liver and your kidneys permanently.

When you drive, leave your phone off so you're not tempted to use it except when absolutely necessary. If someone calls you about something important, they can leave a message. A true friend will understand that getting to your destination safely takes priority over a conversation you could have at any time. If you must use your cell phone, find a safe place to park before placing or taking a call. By taking a short break from driving, you can refresh your attention and motor control while you have your conversation.

While all distractions can endanger a driver's safety, texting can be particularly dangerous because it involves visual, manual, and cognitive distraction. Texting while driving is a national epidemic and considered as dangerous as drunk driving. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), in 2008, an estimated 200,000 crashes involved texting or e-mailing.

The Effects of Higher BACs In addition to the other effects we've just discuss, you'll face additional impairment the more intoxicated you become. With a 0.20% BAC, you'll experience a loss of alertness and an onset of drowsiness and lethargy. With a 0.30% BAC, you'll fall into a stupor and risk falling into a comatose state. With a 0.40% BAC, you'll be at risk of death caused by suppressed respiration or an erratic heartbeat. With a 0.50% BAC, breathing and heart functions can become so depressed that they cease and death from alcohol poisoning becomes very likely. A male who weighs 150 lbs and consumes twelve drinks in the span of two hours can increase his BAC to 0.50%.

While any level of intoxication can increase the chances of a fatal collision, drivers who are over the legal BAC limit are especially at risk of dying in a crash. According to the NHTSA, 85% of the drivers involved in a collision after consuming some amount of alcohol had a BAC of 0.08% or higher, while 57% had a BAC of 0.15% or higher. Indeed, a BAC of 0.15% increases a driver's chances of causing a fatal collision by more than 300 times.

Remember, you will only be granted the privilege to drive as long as you abide by any restrictions placed on your license and avoid committing any traffic violations. During the GDL program, your ability to drive will be suspended or revoked if you violate a zero tolerance law, use a wireless communication device while driving, or are convicted of two or more moving violations within 12 months.

While getting your drivers license is a significant milestone, don't let yourself think that your most important obligations are behind you. Your true responsibilities as a driver are only just beginning. In the following sections, we'll make sure you understand the restrictions and responsibilities associated with the license you're about to receive. By reviewing this material carefully, you'll have a better idea of the privileges associated with a drivers license, the different licensing options available, and what you need to do to make sure you don't lose your driving privileges.

Blankets are useful when your vehicle breaks down at night or on a cold day. A change of clothes will be very helpful if you have to exit a disabled vehicle in the rain. A flashlight is indispensable when stranded in a dark area. Towels are useful for drying things off, cleaning up dirt, and keeping people warm.

While it's possible for adverse conditions to strike unexpectedly, you can usually gain advance notice before getting on the road. Keep abreast of local weather patterns, and check weather reports whenever you're unsure of what to expect. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website is one of many resources that can help you determine likely weather conditions along your route.

Just as it can adversely affect the physical and mental skills you need to perform the various tasks that go into driving safely, alcohol can also have a negative effect on your mood. If you've been drinking, it may be impossible for you to maintain a positive driving attitude. Remember, when you're behind the wheel, you must be able to devote your full attention to the task of driving. If you're already feeling stressed or tired, alcohol will only make you more sensitive to your problems and completely eliminate any chance you had of driving safely.

While the physical effects of alcohol are relatively consistent, drinking can alter different people's moods in radically different ways. Alcohol's effects on mood and emotion can be influenced by: Personality: Alcohol will affect outgoing people, shy people, competitive people, reckless people, and other types of people differently. Mood: The mood a person is in when he or she starts drinking will affect how he or she responds to alcohol. For instance, anger affects the same part of the brain as alcohol, so if you drink when you're angry, you'll feel both your anger and the effects of alcohol more strongly.

You may find it hard to believe that every one of these attitudes has the potential to impair your driving. How could overconfidence or excitement actually hurt anybody? When it comes to driving, any extreme emotion can be dangerous, regardless of whether it's positive or negative. If you're emotionally preoccupied, you're not paying attention to the road. Even a second of inattention is long enough for you to miss a car approaching dangerously from the side and suffer a severe collision.

Your emotions can affect the mental skills you need to drive safely. Emotional drivers may: Be unable to think clearly and make decisions quickly Fixate on situations not related to the immediate task of driving Take out their feelings on other drivers Ignore or fail to recognize the degree of risk associated with their actions Pay only slight attention to the driving environment Process information in an erratic or inconsistent way

While you're a novice, every driving task will take more time and concentration to perform than it will once you've acquired experience. Moreover, teens generally don't have the mental discipline needed to avoid becoming distracted by irrelevant situations. As a result, teen drivers are almost twice as endangered by distracted driving as are drivers in general. According to the NHTSA, in 2011: Among all licensed drivers, 15 out of every million were involved in a fatal distracted driving collision. Among licensed teenage drivers, 25 out of every million were involved in a fatal distracted driving collision.

While you're a novice, every driving task will take more time and concentration to perform than it will once you've acquired experience. Moreover, teens generally don't have the mental discipline needed to avoid becoming distracted by irrelevant situations. As a result, teen drivers are almost twice as endangered by distracted driving as are drivers in general. According to the NHTSA, in 2011: Among all licensed drivers, 15 out of every million were involved in a fatal distracted driving collision. Among licensed teenage drivers, 25 out of every million were involved in a fatal distracted driving collision.

Your friends and family care about you, but you run the risk of alienating them if you abuse alcohol or become addicted to drugs. At first, your best friends and your closest family members may try to help you get rid of an addiction. But despite their help and encouragement, and despite the fact that your body will be steadily deteriorating, you may not even want to stop. Ultimately, it will be your responsibility to get sober. If your friends and family think that it's impossible to get through to you, they may eventually give up trying.

While you're high or intoxicated, you'll function at a low capacity. Your personality and behavior will change in any number of ways—you may become irritable, inarticulate, nonresponsive, aggressive, compulsive, or loud. People addicted to alcohol or drugs are often unable to keep appointments, carry on conversations, maintain personal hygiene, behave ethically, or give proper attention to those they care about.

Leaks in your fuel system can cause fires or expose you to toxic gases. These leaks can occur in the fuel tank, fuel lines, and fuel pump, as well as in the carburetor or fuel injector. Leaks can even occur if you fail to securely reattach the cap to the fuel tank after you refill your gas It is extremely dangerous to drive a car with a fuel leak. If you can smell gasoline in the cabin after filling up, you should get out of the car and have a maintenance technician check it for leaks.

While your engine is powered by fuel, motor oil is what keeps it running. Oil provides lubrication for the hundreds of moving parts in your engine, such as like the pistons, crankshaft, and camshafts, helping to minimize wear by ensuring they don't grind against each other. As it lubricates, motor oil also cools and cleans debris from the parts, improving the performance of the engine.

Should my age or medical condition prevent me from registering as an organ donor? No. If you'd like to have your organs donated when you die, make sure your intentions are indicated in the Donate Life registry. At the time of your death, medical professionals will determine whether your organs, tissues, and eyes are in a viable condition to be donated. Due to medical advances, more people than ever can be donors, and tissue can often be transplanted even when organs cannot. Tissue has even been recovered from people in their 80s.

Will the organ recovery process mutilate my body? Will I still be seen as a "whole person" at my funeral? Organ donation does not disfigure your body, change the way it looks in a casket, or force your funeral to be delayed. Organs, tissues, and eyes are removed surgically in a routine procedure, and your body will be carefully reconstructed to conceal the effects of the procedure.

Consider how alcohol affects your ability to perform essential driving tasks: With a BAC of at least 0.02% to 0.05%, your information processing skills will be reduced and you'll be less likely to notice traffic control devices, vulnerable road users, and important information on the dashboard. With a BAC of at least 0.02% to 0.06%, you'll start to feel drowsy, increasing the chances that you'll doze off or experience a microsleep while driving, especially if it's late at night and you're already fatigued.

With a BAC of at least 0.02% to 0.08%, you'll become less capable of multitasking as you drive. The more things you have to deal with, the more likely you'll forget about something important or make a mistake when you have to perform a maneuver. With a BAC of at least 0.05% to 0.08%, your ability to keep your vehicle in your lane (which is known as tracking) will decrease. Because you'll have less muscle control, you'll be more likely to steer erratically, cross into another lane, run off the road, or attract the attention of a police officer.

Not only are cell phones often difficult to manipulate and hard to read quickly, but the constant motion of your vehicle will make it even more difficult to focus on your phone and keep it steady. It's hard to imagine a driving situation more dangerous than this. Even drunk drivers can remain somewhat focused on the driving task, but if you're reading or writing on a phone, you'll be completely oblivious to what's happening on the roadway.

Writing, sending, or reading text-based communication on a wireless communications device is illegal for drivers under 18 and all drivers when travelling inside a school zone. Additionally, some municipalities, including Austin, San Antonio, Galveston, and El Paso, have passed local laws prohibiting all drivers from texting or using their mobile devices on the road. Before getting on the road, be sure to find out if any laws concerning mobile device usage while driving are in effect where you live. You could face penalties of $500 or more if you are found violating a local mobile phone or texting law.

Public intoxication is also a crime. If a person meets the legal standard of intoxication and is found to be behaving in a way that endangers himself or herself or other people in a public place, he or she may be found guilty of public intoxication and fined up to $500. Minors who are publically intoxicated will be charged as a Minor in Possession (MIP). A minor with prior MIP convictions may be punished with a fine of up to $2,000, up to 40 hours of community service, and/or a jail sentence of up to 6 months.

Years of alcohol-related casualties on the road have led governments to adopt more rigid policies for the safety of their citizens—for example in 1984, when the legal drinking age in the United States was raised to 21. In 2000, when the federal government began strongly encouraging all states to reduce the per se BAC limit while driving from .10% to .08%, there were over 16,500 alcohol-related fatalities on the road. In 2011, that number had been reduced to fewer than 10,000.

You should also replace tires that have been on your wheels for more than six years, even if they do not seem worn, and always buy tires new. The quality and safety of tires decrease with time, even if they are never used on a car. Sometimes, there is no visual indication that tires are ageing (their tread may look fine), but chemical reactions within the rubber can make tires unsafe. At high speeds, the treads of old tires can separate and cause a deadly collision.

You can prolong the life of your tires by rotating them regularly. Refer to your owner's manual for the recommended rotation interval and pattern for your car. The rotation pattern varies from car to car, but an interval of 6,000 miles is generally recommended. Tire rotation also gives you the opportunity to make sure your tires and wheels are balanced. Normal wear and road conditions can throw off a car's alignment. At least once a year, you should have a qualified technician check your car's alignment and inspect the condition of your tires.

In 2000, Congress passed the Department of Transportation (DOT) Appropriations Act. Far-reaching and impactful in a similar manner to the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, this piece of legislation aimed to standardize the maximum legal limit for alcohol intoxication while driving at .08% BAC. The DOT Appropriations Act mandated the temporary withholding of a small percentage of federal funding for highway construction for all states that failed to adopt this new standard. Any state not in compliance by October 2007 would have lost these withheld funds permanently. Within five years, all 50 states had adopted a .08% BAC as the legal limit for drivers. Since then, the number of drunk driving fatalities has decreased by about 20%, both in Texas and the United States as a whole.

You may be confused by the fact that the criminal offense of drunk driving is referred to both as Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Originally, all drunk drivers were charged with the crime of DUI. However, these laws tended to be more difficult to enforce, as they often required officers to prove that the driver had been significantly impaired, allowing some drivers to avoid conviction. Under current DWI laws, a person can be convicted simply by presenting the results of a chemical test showing that the person was driving with an illegal BAC or any positive amount of certain controlled substances.

Remember that fatigue can cause impairment similar to what you'd experience when drunk or drugged. If you fall asleep, there's nothing to stop you from driving into oncoming traffic at 90 mph. But even if you stay awake, your judgment, focus and reaction time will be decreased—you won't be fit to deal with the increased dangers of driving at night. Next we'll discuss the causes of fatigue, as well as warning signs, myths, and coping mechanisms. This information may save your life one day.

You may become fatigued while driving if: You haven't had enough sleep You recently expended a lot of physical or mental energy You're driving for a long period of time or in a monotonous environment You're under stress You're ill or medicated You've just had a large meal Your vehicle is very warm

Passengers While the presence of passengers can often make driving easier, it can sometimes make you feel more pressured: You may feel compelled to show off by speeding or taking added risks. Passengers may try to attract your attention while you're trying to focus on the road. You may unconsciously act differently in the presence of friends or family members.

You may feel tenser in dangerous situations because you feel added responsibility for the safety of your passengers. Passengers may comment on the driving situation or second guess your decisions, increasing your anxiety, especially when you're already stressed by driving. Remember, you may not drive with more than one passenger under 21 until you've completed Phase Two of the Graduated Drivers License Program.

As discussed earlier, if you lose brake response, take your foot off the accelerator and shift into low gear. Pump your brake pedal to build brake fluid pressure. If this fails, gently pull your emergency brake. Remember: your emergency brake doesn't have ABS technology, so you'll have to consciously avoid locking your wheels. If you're unable to brake, activate your hazard lights and try to avoid a collision. Hold the steering wheel firmly while honking and flashing your high-beams to warn other drivers. Do what you can to reduce the severity of a coming impact.

You may lose power braking if your engine stalls. Without power braking, you'll have to use more force to press the brake pedal. Apply pressure slowly but firmly, bringing your vehicle to a controlled stop. Pull over and turn your vehicle off. You may regain power braking after restarting your engine. If you're in a safe area without other cars or pedestrians, test your brakes. If power braking remains lost, pull over and call a mechanic.

There are several reasons that the effects of alcohol on your psychology can quickly spiral out of control. Alcohol is considered a gateway drug. Once a person starts drinking, he or she becomes more likely to abuse other drugs. Because anyone over 21 can buy large amounts of alcohol from any number of stores, and because images of alcohol are culturally pervasive, it's easy to get into the habit of drinking. People who drink more are more likely to seek the company of other drinkers and avoid those who abstain from alcohol. Alcohol causes people to ignore risks, so drinkers tend to become less concerned about its effects the more they drink. Alcohol abuse is not sustainable. The more reliant on alcohol you become, the harder it will be to overcome your dependence.

You may wonder why some people who drink become addicted to alcohol, while others are able to control their habits responsibly. The chances a person will become dependent on alcohol are informed by: Genetics: A person with a history of addiction and dependence in his or her family is more likely to face similar problems. Environment: If someone grows up where alcohol is consumed freely, he or she will come to see that behavior as normal. A person whose parent uses alcohol to cope is more likely to model that behavior when he or she faces problems as well. Peer groups: The more a person spends time around drinkers, the more likely he or she becomes to adopt similar habits. Only rarely is a person influenced by only one of these factors. Most drinkers are affected by a combination of these forces.

Individuals who receive a surcharge for intoxication, driving with an invalid license, or an accumulation of at least six points can have the surcharge reduced to 90% of the original amount after one year and to 80% of the original amount after two years. They must have a history of compliance and must commit no additional offenses following the original conviction or convictions.

You must not drive if you have not met the financial responsibility requirements specified by the Safety Responsibility Act, either by obtaining a liability insurance policy, or by some other means. Remember, every driver is required to have the following minimum amounts of coverage: $30,000 for the injury or death of a single person $60,000 for a single collision that causes the injury or death of more than one person $25,000 for property damages These amounts frequently prove insufficient to cover the damages caused in a collision. You will be personally responsible for paying any claims over the amounts provided by your policy.

If you kill or injure an animal, pull over to the side of the road and stop. Try to find the owner. If you cannot find the owner, call the Humane Society or the police. Do not try to move an injured animal, but never leave an injured animal to die—it is inhumane and cruel.

You must turn in a report whether or not you are responsible for the collision. If a driver is incapacitated in a collision, this report should be filed by a passenger if there is one capable of doing so. These reports are confidential, but available to all parties involved. They are only meant to indicate involvement in a collision and cannot be used in civil cases. At the scene of the collision and when filing this report, you should not admit or attribute fault. Fault will be determined in court or by the insurance companies of the drivers involved.

As a driver, you should remember that one of the most important harmful effects of marijuana is its disruption of the user's connection to his or her surroundings. This makes the user unable to understand and react adequately to his or her current situation. Other harmful effects include impaired memory, fear, panic, psychosis, increased heart rate, and loss of coordination. These effects make driving after consuming marijuana extremely dangerous.

You should also realize that synthetic marijuana, also known as K2 or Spice, is illegal in Texas. While these drugs claim to work through a mixture of legal herbs, in fact, this hallucinogen uses dangerous synthetic cannabinoids to achieve effects similar to those of marijuana. Although K2 could be legally obtained until recently, early research suggests that this drug may be more dangerous than marijuana itself. Synthetic cannibinoid use has been linked with severe and prolonged psychosis, and it is believed to be significantly more addictive than marijuana.

If you encounter intermittent patches of fog while driving, slow down just as you would for a consistent blanket of fog. Many of the most deadly and most damaging multiple-vehicle traffic collisions in the history of the United States have occurred during fog. Often, drivers report that they had been driving full speed through patches of fog, when visibility suddenly dropped nearly to zero. Fog is dangerous and unpredictable. Don't underestimate it.

You should also respond quickly when lighting conditions begin to dim. Activate your vehicle's low-beam headlights when the sky becomes darker due to cloud cover or sunset. Driving without your headlights on in dim light endangers yourself and other drivers, and is illegal.

Call the police immediately after a collision if one of the drivers involved is intoxicated, has no insurance, or leaves the scene of the crash. Uninsured motorist insurance policies will pay for your damages only if the crash is reported to the police. You must report any collision that you're involved in to your insurance company, no matter how much damage it caused. You may be fined $350 and your license may be suspended if you are found to have been driving without properly meeting your financial responsibility requirement.

You will face severe penalties if you are guilty of a hit-and-run. If you leave the scene of a collision which you were involved in without stopping to render aid and exchange information, you may face penalties including a license suspension and: A jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $10,000 if someone was killed or seriously injured A jail term of up to five years and a fine of up to $5,000 if anyone received an injury A jail term of up to 180 days and a fine up to $2,000 if there was $200 or more worth of property damage A $500 fine if there was less than $200 worth of property damage

However, because impairment is dependent on the concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream, this measurement can be used to estimate a person's likely level of impairment. The concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream is measured with a figure called Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). This figure is determined by dividing the volume of alcohol by the volume of blood in a given sample. For example, if a person's blood is found to have 8 parts of alcohol for every 10,000 parts of blood, he or she registers a .08% BAC: 8/10,000 = .0008. This is equivalent to 8 grams of alcohol per 100ml blood.

Your BAC is dependent on a number of factors, including your weight, the amount of alcohol you consumed, and how quickly you consumed it. It gives a better approximation of impairment than number of drinks consumed or even amount of alcohol consumed, and is used by law enforcement as part of the process of determining impairment in drivers. The law will be discussed in more detail later, but for now, remember that it's illegal to drive with a .08% BAC or higher. If you're under 21, it's illegal to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in your blood. Importantly, it's also illegal to drive if you're even slightly impaired by alcohol. If your behavior shows signs of impairment, you may be charged with a DUI even if you register a .01% BAC.

However, what happens to you is ultimately up to you. You can choose to consume alcohol responsibly. You can choose not to get behind the wheel if you've been drinking. You can choose to stay away from parties where people will be drinking, or to be a designated driver to help everyone get home alive.

Your actions can affect your entire community. When you drive drunk, you don't get to choose who dies: you may kill yourself, your friends, your family, or complete strangers. You may kill an old person enjoying retirement, or a child with a whole life to look forward to. You can avoid these outcomes by applying the lessons you've learned in this course and considering the consequences of your actions. Remember, the easiest, healthiest, and surest way to avoid driving drunk and the dangerous effects of alcohol is simply not to drink!

In a car with a standard brake system, when you slam on the brakes, you can lock the wheels before your car's kinetic energy has been absorbed, causing a skid. In this situation, you must release the brake pedal (to unlock the wheels) and pump the brakes rapidly (to restore pressure to the hydraulic fluid). To prevent this problem, most modern vehicles use an Antilock Braking System (ABS) to help keep your brakes from locking. In cars equipped with ABS, the system will automatically pump the brakes when you firmly press down on the brake pedal. If you have ABS, you should never pump the brakes yourself.

Your car's antilock braking system can detect when a wheel is about to lock up and activate valves to reduce pressure on the brakes before the wheel stops spinning completely. When the wheel begins to pick up speed again, pressure is reapplied. This process is repeated continually as long as you keep your foot on the brake pedal. ABS also improves your ability to perform evasive maneuvers because it allows traction to be maintained when you brake suddenly. This allows you to guide your car to a safe road position while reducing your speed.

When your car is running, the electrical power is provided by the alternator rather than the battery. The alternator converts some of the mechanical energy produced by the engine into electricity that is then distributed throughout the vehicle. Some of the electricity the alternator produces is used to recharge the battery. This is why a car can generally run so long on a single battery and why the battery is most likely to be drained when you leave electrical components (such as vehicle lights) on when your engine isn't running.

Your electrical system must be properly maintained. Without electricity, none of vehicle devices controlled by a computer, including power steering, antilock brakes, and stability controls, will work. Moreover, if you get into a collision, your air bag will fail to deploy and you won't even be able to open your electric windows or door locks. The alternator or serpentine belt must be replaced if cracked, soaked or glazed in oil, badly worn, or otherwise damaged. The tension of the belt should be adjusted in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer's guidelines. Keep the battery connections clean, particularly around the area where the cables connect to the positive and negative poles. Fall is generally considered the best time of year to have battery terminals checked.

When you apply for your provisional license, you must submit: Your instruction permit The drivers license portion of driver education certificate (DE-964) verifying your completion of a licensed drivers education course A log documenting your 20-hours of supervised driving practice A VOE form verifying your enrollment in school, as well as a school transcript or report card The application fee Proof of liability insurance

Your license will remain provisional until you have completed Phase Two of the GDL program. When you turn 18, you will receive a license that is not marked as "provisional." Remember to record your license number once you've obtained your license. Always carry your license with you when driving. You are required to show your license whenever requested by a peace officer or agent of the court, and to anyone with whom you are involved in a crash.

Extreme heat presents a number of unique problems, and not just to older cars. High temperatures can cause discomfort and sleepiness, hindering your judgment and reflexes. You may also become dehydrated, which can cause a severe inability to concentrate. Your vehicle will also suffer from extreme heat. Components containing rubber or pressurized fluids will behave differently and wear more quickly. Tire pressure rises as air temperature increases, which can deform the shape of your wheels and reduce traction.

Your vehicle's engine and battery will be taxed more than usual in hot weather, especially while running the air conditioning system. Engine stress, use of electronics, and high demands for cold air can cause your engine to stall or your battery to die. Drive smoothly in hot weather and use air conditioning judiciously. Change your route and avoid hills and slopes to save your engine some of the strain of accelerating and maintaining high speeds.

In a vehicle with an automatic transmission, the best gear for travelling at a given speed will be selected automatically. Today's automatic transmissions are highly complicated and contain mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical systems, as well as computer controls. Remember to check your fluid periodically to make sure there are no leaks. If you notice an oily spot under your car that is pinkish in color (transmission fluid is pink or red), have a mechanic check your transmission immediately.

Your vehicle's fuel system delivers the gasoline and air to the engine that are required for combustion. Gas is stored in the fuel tank, which is usually located near the rear wheels of the vehicle. Fuel is transported from the fuel tank to the engine via a reinforced fuel line that is designed to be relatively resistant to wear.