Road Tips
Aggressive Drivers | Child Safety Seats | Collision | Distractions & Caution | Driving While Intoxicated |
Highway Driving | Pedestrians & Bicycles | Safety Belts & Airbags | Underage Drinking | Work Zones |
Traffic Conditions
Aggressive Drivers
Stress, Frustration &
Aggressive Driving
If you've ever been passed on the
wrong side, tailgated, cut off or hemmed in by another vehicle, then you've
been
the
victim of an aggressive driver. Aggressive driving often ends in collisions
and personal attacks.
Drivers can be fined up
to $200 for each moving violation
associated with aggressive driving. In addition, car
insurance companies often
raise
rates for drivers with multiple moving violations.
How
to Avoid Danger
▪ First, be a cautious, considerate driver. Avoid creating a situation
that may provoke another motorist.
▪ Don’t tailgate.
▪ If you are in the left lane and someone wants to pass, move over
and let the driver by.
▪ Do not make inappropriate hand or facial gestures.
▪ Use your horn sparingly. Second, if you do encounter an angry
driver, don’t make matters worse by
triggering a confrontation.
▪ Avoid eye contact.
▪
Steer clear and give angry drivers plenty of room.
▪
Put as much distance between you and the aggressive driver as
possible.
Who Are They?
Here's what we know of them, so far:
▪
These
high risk drivers climb into the anonymity of an automobile and
take out their
frustrations
on
anybody
at
any time.
▪ For them, frustration levels are high and level of concern for fellow motorists is low.
▪
They
run stop signs and red lights, speed,
tailgate, weave in
and out of traffic,
pass on the right, make
improper
and unsafe lane changes, make hand and facial gestures, scream, honk, and flash
their lights.
▪
They
drive at speeds far in excess of the norm which causes them to: follow too
closely, change lanes
frequently
and abruptly without notice (signals), pass on the shoulder or unpaved portions
of the roadway,
and leer at and/or
threaten -
verbally or through gestures
- motorists who are thoughtless enough to be in
front of them.
WHEN CONFRONTED BY AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER:
▪ First and foremost make every attempt to get out of the way.
▪ Put your pride in the back seat. Do not challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold-your-own in your travel lane.
▪
Wear your seat belt.
It will hold you in your seat and behind the wheel in case you need to make an
abrupt
driving
maneuver and it will protect you in a crash.
▪ Avoid eye contact.
▪ Ignore gestures and refuse to return them.
▪
Report aggressive
drivers
to the appropriate authorities by providing a vehicle description, license
number,
location, and if possible, direction of travel.▪
If you
have a cellular phone, and can do it safely,
call the
police.
▪
If an
aggressive driver is involved in a crash farther down the road, stop a safe
distance from the crash
scene,
wait for the police to arrive, and
report the driving
behavior
that you witnessed.
Child Safety Seats
Here's the Law
Texas law states that all children under 17 must be properly secured
in a safety belt or child safety seat,
whether they’re sitting in the front seat
or the back. Children under four years old, or less than 36 inches tall,
must
ride in child safety seats. Children more than 36 inches and at least 4 years of
age, but younger than 17,
must be secured by a safety belt.
Under a year old and less than
20 pounds:
Infant rides in a
rear-facing seat
At least one-year old and 20-40
pounds:
Child sits in a
forward-facing seat
40-80 pounds:
Child sits in a
booster seat
Another Day, Another Death
Every day, in this country, an unrestrained child under the age of five
is killed in a traffic crash. Using the
appropriate child safety
seat is the most effective way to protect a child.
Selecting
the Right Seat is Vital to the Safety of Your Child
▪ The seat should be appropriate for the child's height and weight
▪ Not all safety seat can be installed in all vehicles and seating
positions. (Side-facing jump seat found in
extended cabs of pickup trucks are not
appropriate for a child safety seat under any circumstances)
▪
If a safety seat is more than five years old or has been involved
in a crash, it should be replaced
Common
Mistakes
This most common mistake made when installing a safety seat is the
failure to get a tight fit.
(Hint: Lean into
safety seat while tightening belts that hold the seat in place.)
Just as important, the safety seat
harness that secures the child to the seat should also fit snuggly. The
vehicle's safety belts must be made to lock in order to hold the safety
seat firmly in place. (Locking clips may be
required.) Rear-facing infant seats should be
reclined at a 45-degree angle. The child safety seat registration card
should
be filled out and mailed back to the manufacturer in case the
seat is recalled.
Collision
Here's the Law
If you are in a collision and no one is hurt, it is not necessary to wait
for the police before moving your vehicle.
If the vehicle can be driven, the law
requires you to move it out of the flow of traffic. If there is damage to the
vehicle, Texas law requires you to stop and exchange information. If someone is
hurt, you also must render aid
and notify the police or sheriff. If you hit an
unattended vehicle, the law requires you to find the driver or write
your name
and address on a note that explains what happened. (You also must include the
owner’s name and
address if the vehicle you are driving doesn't belong to you.)
What To Do After a Crash
First, check for injuries. If people are hurt, tend to
them. If the vehicles cannot be moved, protect the scene
with flares or a raised
hood. Otherwise, move your car to a safer place, where you can exchange names,
addresses, phone numbers, vehicle identification numbers, vehicle license plate
numbers, insurance
information and driver’s license information. In addition,
make sure you note the location of the crash and get
the names, addresses and
phone numbers of any witnesses. If the vehicles cannot be moved, protect the
scene
with flares or a raised hood
When to Call The Police
Always call the police when an injury or
fatality is involved. The police should also be notified under several
other
circumstances:
▪
When the cars cannot be moved
▪
When one of the drivers is intoxicated
▪
When one of the drivers has no insurance
▪ When one of the drivers leaves the scene of the crash
When an Accident Report is Necessary
Accident reports can be obtained from the Police Department and
should be filed with the Department of Public
Safety within ten (10) days. You
are required to file a report under certain conditions:
▪ When there are injuries or a fatality
▪ When property damage exceeds $500
▪
When a driver is intoxicated, unlicensed, has no insurance, or
attempts to leave the scene
 Cell Phones &
DrivingPeople who use wireless phones while driving have a 34% higher risk of a collision than those who do not talk and drive. Even using a hands-free phone can be dangerous, because talking on the phone diverts your attention from driving. Long, complex conversations make you four times more likely to have car crash. Pull safely off the road if you need to make a call. |
Wake Up and See the
Road
Texas Highways have
more than 100 rest stops where motorists can take regular safety breaks. In
addition,
drowsy drivers can take these precautions:
▪
Avoid driving during late night and early morning hours
▪
Set realistic travel goals
▪
Eat healthy meals and avoid alcohol and drugs
▪ Switch drivers every
two hours, even if you do not feel tired
▪
Stop every two hours to stretch
A Car is Not a Boat
Flash flooding is the number one cause
of weather related deaths in Texas. As little as two feet of flooding will
float most vehicles. Avoid flooded roads, streets, and low areas.
▪
You can be fined up to $200 for driving around barriers blocking low water
crossing (Move or tamper with a
barricade, and you can be fined up to $1,000 and/or jailed up to two years in
jail.
▪
Never try to
walk, swim, or drive through swift water
▪
Stay informed about weather conditions when you are driving
▪
If your vehicle stalls in deep water, leave it and move to higher ground, if
you can do so safely
Railroad Crossings
Texas
law requires motorists to yield the right of way to trains. It is also against
the law to cross tracks if a
train is visible or to drive around gates that have
been lowered at a railroad crossing. If the gates are down and
no train is
coming, the road is closed.
(WARNING: Not all railroad crossings are marked with
gates or flashing signals, especially in rural areas.)
▪
In a collision
with a train, you are 40 times more likely to be killed than if you were in a
collision with
another car
▪
Reduce speed
when approaching crossings, look both ways and listen for the sound of a train
▪
If red lights
are flashing or if crossing arms have been lowered, stop
▪
Never stop on
tracks. (A train going 50 miles per hour needs a mile and a half to stop.)
▪
Be sure all
tracks are clear before crossing. (There may be more than one set of tracks.)
NOTE: School/transit buses and trucks carrying
hazardous materials must come to a complete stop at all railroad crossings.
Don’t rear-end
vehicles that stop before crossing tracks.
Driving
While Intoxicated
The Legal Limit
In Texas, the legal limit
for intoxication is .08 BAC (blood alcohol concentration). However, drivers can
be
stopped and cited for impaired driving due to alcohol or other drugs
regardless of BAC. Whether you're the
driver or the passenger, you now can also
be fined up to $500 for having an open alcohol container in a vehicle.
How Much is Too
Much?
Impairment begins with the first drink. Gender, body
weight, the number of drinks consumed and the amount
of food in one’s stomach
affect the body’s ability to handle alcohol. Women, younger people and smaller
people,
whether male or female, often have lower tolerances.
What Happens If
You're Stopped
If a law enforcement officer asks you to take a blood
or breath test to measure how much alcohol is in your
system, you should comply.
If you refuse, you are subject to an automatic 180-day driver’s license
suspension.
Punishment for DWI varies depending on the number of times you've
been stopped.
First Offense
▪ Up to a $2,000 fine
▪ 72 hours to 180 days in jail
▪ Driver's license suspension - 180 days to 2 years
Second Offense
▪ Up to a $4,000 fine
▪ 30 days to 1 year in jail
▪ Driver's license suspension - 180 days to 2 years
Third
Offense
▪ Up to a $10,000 fine
▪ 2-10 years in jail
▪ Driver's license suspension - 180 days to 2 years
Repeat Offenders
For two or more DWI convictions within 5 years, your driver's license
is automatically suspended for a year. At
the end of this suspension period -
and during the following year - you are required to install a special ignition
switch on your vehicle which prevents it from being operated if you've been
drinking. Say goodbye to the
prospect of an occupational license during this
period as well.
Thousands of Texans are injured or killed by drunk drivers each year. Don't drink and drive. Ever.
Freeway driving requires special skills. Motorists are often asked to make
complex decisions at critical moments. And they must do so quickly, starting
with the moment they enter a freeway.
How Fast Is Too Fast?
The maximum daytime speed limit on interstate and state highways in Texas is 70 miles per hour. At night, the maximum speed limit is 65 miles per hour.
Observing speed limits means more than driving faster or slower than the
posted speed. It means driving to conditions. When it’s raining or foggy, when ice is on the road, when traffic is heavy, when road construction is ahead, adjust your speed accordingly.
Sharing the Road With Trucks
Know a trucker’s “blind spots.” The “blind spots” or “no zones” around a truck
are the areas where cars are invisible to trucks. If you can’t see the driver’s
face in his/her side-view mirror, the driver can’t see you.
▪ Truck/bus drivers cannot see cars directly behind them; avoid tailgating
▪ Truck and bus drivers making wide turns cannot see cars squeezing in
between them and the curb
▪ To pass safely, wait until you can see both truck and headlights in your
rearview mirror
▪ Never cross behind a truck that is backing up
Right Is
Right
Watch for signs on Texas multi-lane highways that read “Left Lane
For Passing Only.” These signs let you know
that the left lane on a
divided highway is not a “fast” lane. It is a passing lane. Impeding the
flow of traffic by
continuing to drive in the left lane is a Class C
misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $200.
Pedestrians & Bicyclists
Share
the Road
Sharing
the road with pedestrians and bicyclists requires mutual respect and awareness.
Remember, cyclists
have the same rights and responsibilities on the road as
automobiles. Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians
should obey all traffic laws,
from stopping for red lights and stop signs to paying attention to lane markers.
What
Drivers Can Do
▪
Stop for bicyclists
and pedestrians in crosswalks.
▪
When pulling away
from a stop sign, yield the right of way to bicycle and pedestrian cross
traffic.
(NOTE: When turning left, oncoming bicycle traffic is often
overlooked or its speed is misjudged)
▪
Give cyclists and
pedestrians plenty of room when you are passing or turning.
(NOTE: Bicyclists are not restricted to the right lane of traffic)
Good Ideas for Bicyclists
▪
Wear a properly
fitting helmet to reduce the chances of head injury and death
(In some places, city or county law requires it)
▪
Always check brakes
and tires before riding.
Good Ideas for Pedestrians:
▪
Always cross at
intersections.
▪
Look for traffic when
stepping off a bus or from behind parked cars.
▪
Get in and out of
cars on the curb side of the street.
Make
it easier for drivers to see you.
Wear light colors or reflective clothing when
walking or riding a bicycle.
The
Law for Bicyclists
▪
Ride near the curb,
traveling in the same direction as the traffic
▪
Have a light on the front and a red reflector on the
back of your bike while driving at night.
(You may also add a rear red light)
▪
Keep at least one hand on the handlebars; two hands are
safer
▪
Brakes must be capable of making the braked wheel skid
on dry, level pavement
▪
Use proper hand and arm signals when you want to stop or
turn
The Law for
Pedestrians
▪
Pedestrians must yield to a vehicle on the roadway if crossing the street at a
place other than a marked
crosswalk or pedestrian tunnel or crossing
(NOTE: If you are hit while
jaywalking, the driver may not be liable, and his or her car insurance may not
cover your injuries)
▪
Stay on sidewalks and the right-hand side of crosswalks;
pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks
▪
On a road without sidewalks, walk on the left side facing traffic
How
to Save a Life
Lap/shoulder safety
belts offer the most effective means available (combined
with air bags) for
reducing fatalities and serious injuries in traffic collisions.
But only if
everybody wears them. Every time. Regardless of the length of the
trip or the
weather.
▪
Lap belts should fit
snugly across the hips, not over the stomach
▪
Shoulder belts go
over the shoulder and across the center of the chest
▪
Never tuck a shoulder
belt under the arm or behind the back
Where to Sit In a Car With Air Bags
Air bags
inflate at a rate of about 200 miles per hour. The risk zone for drivers in the
path of an inflating air
bag lies within the first two to three inches of the
steering wheel. Placing yourself ten inches from the bag
(measured from the
center of the steering wheel to the breastbone) provides a clear margin of
safety.
▪
Move seat to the rear as
far as possible while still comfortably reaching the pedals.
▪
Slightly recline back of
seat.
▪
If steering wheel is
adjustable, tilt it downward, away from head.
Kids Go In The Back
Never put an infant
in a rear-facing safety seat in front of an air bag. An infant or child in the
front seat could
be seriously injured or killed by an inflating air bag, even
when the child is properly secured. As a result, the
safest place for children
12 and under is secured in the back seat. Don't let children
under 18 ride in the open
bed of a pick-up or on a flatbed truck. Not only is
it dangerous, it's now also against the law in Texas.
Exceptions are for
parades, beaches and families whose pick-up is their only vehicle.
Here's The Law:
Texas law requires
every person sitting in the front seat of a vehicle to wear a safety belt. The
law also states
that all children under 17 years old must be secured with a
safety belt, or in a child safety seat, whether they
are sitting in the front,
or the back seat. A child less than four years old, or less than 36 inches
tall, must be
secured in a child safety seat. Drivers can be stopped and
ticketed for a safety belt violation if they, or any of
their passengers under
17 years old, are not buckled up or properly restrained. A safety belt violation
can result
in a fine of $100 to $200, or mandatory attendance at a traffic
safety education class dealing with child safety
seats and safety belts.
Unrestrained drivers - and passengers 15 and over who
are not wearing safety belts in
the front seat - can be ticketed directly.
Fines range from $25 to $50.
If you’re a minor,
here’s what happens the first time you are found in possession of alcohol
Any amount of beer,
wine or liquor will trigger the penalties.
▪
30-day driver’s
license suspension
▪
Up to a $500 fine
▪
8 to 12 hours of
community service
▪
Mandatory attendance
in alcohol-awareness classes
A second or third offense can lead to suspension of your driver’s license for 90
to 180 days. If you’re 17 or
older, you also can be fined as much as $2,000 and
go to jail for up to 180 days for a third offense.
If you’re under 21,
here’s what happens the first time you are stopped for drinking and driving
▪
60-day driver’s
license suspension
▪
Up to a $500 fine
▪
20 to 40 hours of
community service
▪
Mandatory attendance
in alcohol-awareness classes
Get caught drinking and driving a second or third time, and the penalties increase, including suspension of your driver’s license for up to 180 days. That’s called zero tolerance. It means “zero” alcohol. And that’s the law in Texas.
If you’re 17 and over, here’s what happens if you’re
stopped for drinking and driving with a blood alcohol
concentration of .08 or
greater
Some people, particularly teenagers, can reach a .08 BAC
with two or three beers an hour.
▪
Up to a $2,000 fine
▪
72 hours to 180 days
in jail driver’s license suspension of 90 days to one year
Here's The Law:
If you are under 21,
it is illegal for you to purchase, attempt to purchase, possess or consume
alcohol. It’s also against the law to misrepresent your age to try and obtain
alcohol.
If you are under 21, it is illegal for you to drive with
any detectable amount of alcohol in your system.
Caution:
Road Work Ahead
In
a typical year, the state of Texas has more than 1,000 highway projects under
contract. As
a result, drivers are likely to encounter a variety of work zone
conditions, including uneven
pavement, narrow lanes, concrete barriers, slow
moving equipment and loose gravel.
About
100 people, most of them motorists, are killed in work zones across Texas
each year.
Travel Tips
Allow extra travel time. Plan ahead by checking the web for state
construction sites where
travel may be delayed.
Give Us a Break
The number one cause
of work zone crashes is excessive speed, followed by the failure to remain alert
while
driving. As a result, one in three work zone crashes is a rear-end
collision.
▪ Observe all work zone warning signs
▪ Keep a safe distance between your vehicle, other vehicles, traffic
barriers, construction workers and
equipment (Extra caution is required when driving in an active work zone at
night.)
▪ Pay attention to flaggers in orange vests directing traffic
▪ Merge at the first notice of a lane closure or change
▪ Avoid distractions (Don’t use cell phones, refill your coffee cup or
change radio stations, tapes or CDs.)
delays your journey by only one minute.)
TxDOT
Road Condition Disclaimer
These reports reflect
TxDOT's best information at the times filed. Conditions can change rapidly. No
warranty
of accuracy or completeness is expressed or implied.
Note: Every
effort is made to insure the information provided on the pages is timely and
correct. However, users should keep in mind that this
information is provided
only as a public convenience. In any case where legal reliance on information
is required, the official records of the City of
Van Alstyne should be
consulted.
