Construction Zones

Each year in Texas, there are approximately 15,000 crashes and more than 100 people killed in highway construction and maintenance zones. The two leading causes of work zone crashes are excessive speed and the failure to remain alert while driving. As a result, one in three work zone crashes is a rear-end collision. In 2009, there were 3,871 distracted driving crashes in Texas work zones, involving 7,837 vehicles. These distracted driver crashes resulted in 27 fatalities. Don't mistake the orange barrels for slalom poles. They're not meant for you to weave in and out of them. They're meant to separate you and the workers from danger.
At any one time, there can be more than 1,000 Texas highway work zones in operation. With so much construction, motorists frequently encounter work zones. Please keep the following tips in mind when driving through work zones:
 Slow down and always follow posted work zone speed limits. Speeding is one of the major causes of work zone crashes. Remember, traffic fines double in work zones.
 Pay attention. Workers and heavy equipment may only be a few feet from passing vehicles.
 Be patient. Delays from highway construction can be frustrating, but it only takes a few extra minutes to slow down for a work zone.
 Plan ahead. Leave a few minutes early when traveling through a work zone in order to reach your destination on time.

Comedy Driving Inc has 5 Houston Locations as well as our online defensive driving course!

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ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH

The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the scene as possible, immediately return to the scene of the accident if the vehicle is not stopped at the scene of the accident and remain at the scene of the accident until the operator complies with the requirements of rendering aid as stated by the Texas Transportation Code. It's called a “scene” because some people like to act like they're injured and you really should get back there as quickly as possible so they don't have a chance to make up a story for their one-man play.
An operator of a vehicle required to stop the vehicle must do so without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. If it can be moved by your own means then you should move it. Otherwise, unless you happen to have Superman in your back pocket to move your upside-down vehicle to the side of the road, you should just get yourself out of the way of traffic as quickly as possible.
A person commits an offense if the person does not stop or otherwise comply with the laws for rendering aid and accidents involving personal injury or death. Such an offense is punishable by imprisonment in the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for not more than five years or confinement in the county jail for not more than one year, a fine not to exceed $5,000 or both the fine and the imprisonment or confinement. Stick around at the scene of the accident and help out where you can so you can use that time and money to get your clunker fixed.

Comedy Driving Inc has 5 Houston Locations as well as our online defensive driving course!

Humble | Katy Freeway | League City | Sugar Land | Willowbrook

Smart Phone, Dumb Driver

Have you ever been stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the freeway and thought, “I wish I knew what was goin' on up there?” Of course, you have. That's what everyone thinks when they're struck in traffic. As if by knowing what's going on will somehow make it all go away and you can continue on you way.
These days there are actually quite a few tools most people have at their disposal that could help them find out that sort of information. Although, most of the tools are the very same thing that cause the accidents that, in turn, cause the traffic to be backed up so badly. These tools are your cell phones. There are a lot of great uses for a cell phone when you're driving: GPS, traffic updates and taking pointless pictures of yourself driving to put on Facebook instead of having both hands on the wheel to make sure you don't become the cause of the traffic being locked-in at a standstill.
When you're using one of the tools on your smartphone to find out about the traffic in your area, you should only do so when your car isn't and shouldn't be moving. Do it in your driveway or in a parking lot before you get moving. Stop some place away from traffic like a gas station or restaurant to double-check the information or update the route on your GPS. There's no point is having a smartphone that has all those capabilities if you're just going to make dumb decisions. Be smarter than your phone.

Comedy Driving Inc has 5 Houston Locations as well as our online defensive driving course!

Humble | Katy Freeway | League City | Sugar Land | Willowbrook