Last updated 2 months ago
Anything that requires the driver to take his hands off of the wheel or his eyes off of the road is a distraction that should be avoided during driving. These days, one of the leading causes of distracted driving is texting during driving. Watch this video clip to learn more about texting and driving and why the practice should be avoided.
Many drivers assume that they can handle the multi-tasking that is required when texting and driving. But according to research, texting and driving can increase a driver’s risk of getting into a car collision by as much as 230%. This is especially dangerous for teenage drivers, who are statistically more likely to let text messaging distract their driving more often. Check out the video for more information.
The best way to become a safer driver yourself or to enforce to your teenage driver the importance of avoiding text messages while driving is to sign up for a class at a driving school. Call Greg’s Driving School or visit us on the web to see why parents consider us the preferred driving school in Maryland.
Last updated 2 months ago
If you are looking at an SUV for yourself or your teenage driver, you might be surprised to find out that SUVs are not as safe as many people think. Common sense says that the elevated driving position and greater size contribute to improved safety, but this is only a small part of the story. Read on to learn more about the truths and misconceptions about driving an SUV.
Myth: SUVs are the Safest Type of Vehicle
Many people that have made this assumption do not consider the danger of rollovers and how they are more likely to occur in an SUV than many other types of vehicles. SUVs are also roughly 16 times more likely to kill the other driver in a collision than a car.
Myth: The Elevated Ride Height in an SUV Increases Safety
The elevated ride height offered in an SUV increases the SUV driver’s visibility of the road. But don’t mistake increased visibility with increased safety. Because of their higher ride height, SUVs are more difficult to manage than vehicles with a lower center of gravity. Moreover, SUVs obscure the view of the road for vehicles driving behind.
Myth: Teenage Drivers Are Safer In SUVs than in Cars
SUVs are also less safe than cars because they can hold more passengers. According to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, an accident is more likely to take place when a vehicle is filled with teenage passengers. More passengers only increase the likelihood that the driver will be distracted from the task at hand: driving.
No matter what kind of vehicle you or your teenager drives, it’s a good idea to take a driving class at Greg’s Driving School to ensure that you know how to drive safely. Call our driving school at (301) 703-9075 or visit our website for more information on our driving school.
Last updated 2 months ago
Driving under the influence can greatly affect a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle. In addition to endangering lives, driving above the legal intoxication limit comes with major legal penalties. If you have a teenage driver at home, read the following article to find out more about the consequences underage drivers face for driving under the influence in Maryland.
Why the Laws are In Place
According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, 15 to 20 year olds are more likely than drivers of any other age group to get into a fatal crash. Furthermore, the use of alcohol is involved in a staggering 70% of these fatal crashes. In 2010, there were 15 alcohol-related driving fatalities in the under-21 age group, out of a total of 154 fatalities statewide. Maryland’s drunk-driving laws are aimed at reducing the number of these deaths.
What A Driver is Required to Do When Stopped By a Police Officer
Police officers are trained to spot drunk drivers and are obligated to stop and detain any person that they have reason to believe is drunk while driving. When obtaining a driver’s license in Maryland, an individual must agree to submit to a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) test. If a driver violates this agreement, he or she will automatically receive a 120-day license suspension for the first offense and a one-year suspension for the second.
The Penalties of Underage Drinking and Driving in Maryland
If an underage driver is found driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .02 or more—which for many people amounts to consuming less than one beer—the state of Maryland will suspend or revoke his or her driver’s license and issue a fine up to $500. The penalty will be even greater if the driver is transporting a minor: up to a $4,000 fine and up to four years in prison.
To ensure that your teenage driver understands the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving, enroll him in the Safe and Sober class at Greg’s Driving School. Our driving school has been favored among parents in Maryland since 1992. For more information on our driver’s improvement and education courses, call us at (301) 703-9075.
Last updated 2 months ago
Though many drivers think that it’s useful to know how to drive a manual transmission vehicle, the reality is that not many manual transmission vehicles are being produced today. In fact, only 3% of drivers in the United States operate a manual transmission vehicle. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t benefits to learning how to operate a manual transmission.
You might not find yourself in a situation where you need to drive a stick-shift car very often, but it’s helpful to know at least the basics of how to operate one. First, driving a stick shift helps you enjoy driving. Second, it will help you to better understand how vehicle gearing works. And third, it will allow you to drive more a manual transmission car should you ever need to. Watch this video to learn more.
Another way to learn the inner-workings of a car and enjoy driving more is to be a safer driver. If you’re looking for driver’s education classes at a highly respected driving school in Maryland, come to Greg’s Driving School. For more information, call us at (301) 703-9075 or visit our website.
Last updated 2 months ago
When you’re behind the wheel, it can be easy to forget how a vehicle can cause major harm—both to yourself and to other drivers and bystanders. Staying alert and avoiding distractions is key to staying safe. Here’s a quick guide to the dangers of distracted driving and the best ways to stay focused on the road:
Types of Distracted Driving
These days, there seems to be no limit to on-the-road distractions. A full range of gadgets competes with the road for a typical driver’s attention. Smartphones are major culprits. They’re all-in-one distraction tools, giving drivers the ability to make calls, send text messages, and even surf the web when they should be focused on driving. Other common distraction include eating and drinking, adjusting the radio and other interior components, grooming, and talking to other passengers.
Dangers
In 2011 alone, 3,331 people were killed in accidents involving a distracted driver according to Distraction.gov. Nearly 20% of all accidents involving injuries in 2010 were reported as involving a distraction, though the actual figure was likely much higher. Sending text messages while driving presents an especially grave risk. By taking up all of your attention, including your visual, mental, and manual faculties, texting can greatly increase your chances of getting into an accident.
Prevention
The best way to prevent distracted driving is to create awareness through education. If your teen driver is heading out on the road for the first time, make sure that he or she understands the grave threat posed by texting while driving and other distractions. If you’re like most drivers, you could likely do with some periodic reminders yourself. Always try to remind yourself of the need to remain focused and attentive to the road at all times.
A central part of the curriculum at Greg’s Driving School is preventing distracted driving. Our MVA-certified driver’s education and driver improvement courses focus on instilling safe driving habits in teens and adults. Call us at (301) 703-9075 to learn more.
