DL goes high tech but are we ready?

DL goes high tech but are we ready?
Government of India under the e-Governance initiative has issued a circular for issuance of driving licenses on a smart card. This will be implemented in phases and is applicable across the country in all states and union territories. The states of Gujarat, Goa, Jharkhand, MP, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Sikkim, West Bengal, Chandigarh and Kerala are leading the initiative. National Informatics Center (NIC) along with private players have set shop at RTOs and ARTOs for issue of smart card based driving licenses. This high tech end product has its own benefits and provides a fool proof system for holding, verifying and authenticating drivers identity and other details. Equipped with hand held terminals the traffic police officers will now be able to use the smart card driving licenses and perform their duties efficiently and effectively. However, what remains to be rectified is the fact that the driving schools in India continue to provide low grade training and promote corruption by assisting learners to obtain licenses without meeting minimum criteria. The result is compromising road safety. Poor driving combined with low patience produces road rage, which is a daily occurrence on our roads. Bad driving conditions do not help reduce these incidents. Whether driving within city limits or on a highway, all of us must have seen or been an unfortunate victim of road rage. In some instances the matter has spiraled out of hand and resulted in a fatality. And, all this because of bad driving? Sometimes one is forced to think where is India headed for? A major contributing factor for poor driving and Road rage in India is the lack of road or traffic signs coupled with ignorance about their need and usage. Traffic rules are violated by all and sundry. Some people even think that jumping traffic lights, over speeding or over taking from wrong side are in things and must be done regularly to prove your driving skills. The whole process of issuing of Driving Licenses in India needs a revamp. Our model should be based on UK or UAE where getting a passport is easier than obtaining a driving license.

Parthiv is the contributing author to the website: Indiandrivingschools.com-Indian Driving Schools is the first dedicated Indian Traffic Portal-Made to improve road safety through education and information about <a href=http://www.indiandrivingschools.com>Road safety in India</a>, Road rage in India, <a href=http://www.indiandrivingschools.com>Traffic rules in India</a>, <a href=http://www.indiandrivingschools.com>Road accidents in india</a> and online traffic forms in India.

Defensive Driving Tips On Vehicle Lane Changes
Lane changes can be one of the easiest maneuvers with a vehicle, and can be one of the hardest maneuvers at the same time. Changing lanes requires processing information and making a safe decision well in advance to make the maneuver a simple and safe task. The faster your speed is, the faster you have to process information, which in turn makes it a little more difficult. There are important defensive driving procedures you must do, before making a lane change.

Look ahead and plan ahead. If you plan well in advance, the maneuver becomes a lot easier and safer. Checking your path ahead before you consider changing lanes is the number one priority. What traffic and pedestrians are doing ahead of you is the first step in processing information and making a decision. You must always check your path ahead for vehicle traffic changes, and controlled intersections that affect these changes.

There are many potential hazards that you should be looking for. You have to be looking ahead for vehicles slowing down and possibly stopping in front of you, and making sure you?re on the look out for pedestrians that may step off the curb up ahead. Also checking for vehicles that may possibly come out in front of you, or from another merging lane. A good indication of what traffic and pedestrians are going to do ahead of you would be motorist signaling ahead of you with a signal and or brake lights. If their signaling to turn, they have to slow down and possibly stop for other traffic or pedestrians, depending on circumstances where they are turning. All this information is important, because it affects everybody in motion.

While your checking your path ahead, you have to know what is happening behind you. If you use your rearview mirror all the time, you will always know what is happening around you. Using the rearview mirror, gives you a bigger picture than your side mirrors. Checking your rearview mirror should be done at a glance only. Your main concern is in front of you. When glancing at your rearview mirror, you should be glancing for traffic coming up faster than you, also vehicles signaling to change lanes behind you. They may be picking up speed to pass your vehicle.

In order to make a safe lane change, you have to either slow down to let traffic get by you, or speed up to stay ahead of traffic, without going over the speed limit. If you?re doing the same speed as traffic behind you, they won?t catch up to you, unless you start braking. If traffic is doing the same speed, you should accelerate slightly to maneuver over to the other lane, unless there is a good reason not to.

Once you know what is happening both ahead of you and behind your vehicle. The number three procedure is signaling to let traffic know your intentions on the direction you plan on maneuvering. The signaling procedure is for communicating to other drivers. If you signal and let other drivers know what you?re doing, they may slow down to let you make the safe lane change. Warning other vehicles of your intention to change lanes, include vehicles ahead of you and behind you.

Drivers negotiating to maneuver out in front of you may stay where they are, if they see your signal to move over, possibly into the lane that they want to maneuver into. People do not always do what there suppose to do, so anticipate the worst. Take nothing for granted! It may be a safer lane change beyond traffic waiting to come out, if you have time. You also have to consider not surprising the vehicles close to your vehicle by signaling as they approach the corner side of your vehicle. They may panic and brake, thinking you?re moving over sooner. Wait until they are beside your vehicle and your signal is out of their sight before you signal to warn other traffic behind your vehicle. This seems like a lot of info for just a signal, but communicating with other drivers are important in defensive driving.

After you have signaled and you know everything is clear ahead of you and behind. Take a quick glance over to your blind spot, and make sure there is nobody sitting along side your vehicle. Stay in your lane, if it is not safe. When you check your shoulder, it?s only supposed to be a glance. You still have one more important procedure before maneuvering into the other lane.

Recheck the lane ahead of you, just before you turn the steering wheel to make sure nobody is stopping or coming out into your path. Once you have glanced over your shoulder and looked forward, gradually maneuver over right away with a slight adjustment of the steering wheel. Only if it?s safe! You do not want to be maneuvering over, if there is a vehicle stopping in front of you, or coming out in front of your intended path. If you cannot make the maneuver right after the shoulder check, cancel everything and start over. The worst scenario would be traveling an extra block in town.

Do not make lane changes at intersections. Make sure lane changes are done before and after intersections. Intersections include any crossroad, side road, lane or street.

Constantly planning well in advance and constantly using your mirrors, will help you become a better defensive driver.

I hope these defensive driving tips help your goal in becoming a safe driver.

For more information on this topic, please consult with a family member and a recognized Driving School on defensive driving techniques.

Owned and operated a Driving School for several years. Taught over 2000 kids and adults how to drive. Now operating a Discount Tee Time site at <a href="http://www.golfanchor.net" title="http://www.golfanchor.net" target="_blank">http://www.golfanchor.net</a> and a golf site at <a href="http://www.golfanchor.com" title="http://www.golfanchor.com" target="_blank">http://www.golfanchor.com</a>

Driving School Check List: Are You Getting Ripped Off?
I?ve got a confession to make. Sometimes, I drive to fast and I speed. I?ve done it before and I?ll probably do it again. And guess what? I?ve gotten speeding tickets. If you think that I?m a bad actor and as far as driving to fast is concerned, you?d be correct (though this isn?t a normal occurrence for me. Really!). However, I haven?t had to actually pay a speeding ticket recently due to the fact that (at least in the state of Texas), citizens can often take defensive driving instead of paying the fine (and the resulting insurance rate increase). This is often left up to the judge?s discretion as to who is granted permission to take defensive driving and some states have requirements that you cannot take defensive driving more than once during a certain time period (say 1 year or 6 months).

However, I?ve noticed that the different types of defensive driving school courses vary wildly in cost and type. If you?re ticketed for speeding, by all means check your local laws to see if defensive driving is even offered in your state.
But, if you think defensive driving might be an option for you to pursue, use this quick checklist to make sure you are researching all of your potential options.

1)Look at online options. Did you know that in some states, you don?t even have to go to a physical classroom. You can take your defensive driving course entirely online. Do you really want to spend your time driving back and forth to some random training facility for 8 hours a day trying to pass a quiz and get relieved from your ticket? I sure don?t. I?ve taken defensive driving courses online and they are really great. Usually there is a quiz at the end of a section and many of the educational scenes are displayed in graphics. It?s almost like watching a cartoon. The cartoon might not be the funniest thing you?ve ever watched, but it?s certainly nice to watch the entire course from the comfort of your home.

2)Go for the comedy option. If you can?t do it online, you might as well have a little comedic interlude in your driving school. Several cities? comedy clubs augment their incomes (I think) by having defensive driving school at their clubs when their regular business isn?t in full session. Reports of the comedy option range from the sublime to the awful (much like comedians themselves), but if you can get a good recommendation of a place in your city, try it out. You might find it to be a delightfully funny experience.

3)Locations are fine and dandy, but if you don?t learn anything, you?ll quickly find yourself being ticketed again. In fact, parts 1 and 2 are almost unimportant as compared to the meat of the defensive driving experience. Learn the important parts. It can save lives. And once you know all about driving correctly you?ll save yourself a lot of time and money in the future.

Amy Metz is the author of ?Defensive Driving School Can Save Lives.? Grab your free copy at <a href="http://www.drivingschoolzone.com" target="_blank">http://www.drivingschoolzone.com</a>.

Online Drivers Ed Course for Teen Driver Education - DMV Permit Test Practice Preparation
7-11driversed offers driver education course online, a hassle free experience to get your approval certificate for driver education online. Our California drivers ed course is especially designed for teen driver education where you can get dmv permit test practice sitting at home, on the Internet. You are not required to miss your regular schools and study-classes neither you have to miss out on any sunday with your friends and family. You can take your teen driver education sitting at home on the Internet, whenever you are available for it, its so easy! 7-11driversed offers advance & affordable driver education home study program, which can be completed all online without fearing to fail. No time-table is to be followed. You decide the best time for yourself to take on with the driver s ed course you last left from. The entire drivers ed course is divided into various small chapters and you have all the time to understand each assignment and proceed to next chapter only when you are fully content and have satisfactorily cleared the simple questionnaire asked for that chapter. The top level flexibility of 7-11driversed courses is that even if you are unable to clear the questions asked, you may re-attempt for the same chapter as many times as you finally pass the exam and clear for the next stage for completion. Teen Driver Education helps in many ways to: - Develop driving skills and experience - With 7-11driversed s online DMV permit test practice course you help better understand important driving rules and regulations and can learn defensive driving techniques, ensuring the safety of others when you are behind the wheels, tomorrow! Log on to www.7-11driversed.com and take latest, advance & affordable driver education course, which can be completed sitting at home on Internet. Your driver education completion certificate will be issued as soon as you clear the final test of your driver ed online course.

Hot Tips To Ace Your Driving Test
Undergoing the driving test is the most important criterion to getting your license. This test is usually conducted by Department of Transport of your country.

Usually the test consists of two sections, namely the theory and the practical.

If you?d like to get ?high score? in the driving test to beat the test taking game, you should go through the driver?s license test guide written by actual driving experts before appearing for the test.

You should study those books on road rules to get maximum marks in your driving test. You can easily grab a copy of the book by visiting the http://www.amazon.com and obtain it within 3-4 days.

Before taking your written driving test, practice answering the example questions available in test booklets and guidebooks. You can also enroll yourself in Driving Knowledge Tutorials, which are readily available in on-line. This is a good way to get a good grasp of the written test.

While doing practical driving training sessions, it is highly recommended to drive your car on roads of different standards. You can also attempt to go for hill driving. This will boost up your confidence while doing your driving tests.

The vehicle, which you are going to use for your test, should be roadworthy and all tires should have a minimum depth of 1.6mm. Everything should be in perfect working order, e.g., mirrors, indicators, windscreen wipers, etc. The interior and exterior of your car should be clean. Do remember to display L-plates on your car on the day of your test drive.

The driving test authorities can ask you to do a technical check of your vehicle. Sometimes they will ask you to remove a tire by using a jockey. So you should be well versed in this aspect.

On the test day, you should arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes prior to your turn. When your name is called and you are brought in, your test officially begins. Good luck!

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Why Do I Have A Driving Record?
Your driving record is one of the most important records that is available. Even though this does not seem like that big of a deal your driving record can be used for numerous different reasons.

First off, when you are looking to get car insurance your driving record is going to be requested from your states department of motor vehicles. If you happen to have any accidents or violations on your record you are going to end up paying a higher premium. Driving records are accessible by all insurance companies so there is really no way around this outside of stating out of trouble and accident free.

Also, a lot of people are probably not aware that driving records go a long way in deciding on whether or not you get hired for a job. If you are applying for a position that will require you to do a lot of driving, especially with company vehicles, you will be in deep trouble if your driving record is tarnished. Companies do not like to hire people who may be a major insurance liability. Companies may also decide to run your driving record even if you are not going to be using a company vehicle. They do this to see how responsible you are. If you have something like a driving under the influence violation on your record you may be in trouble. That is why it is important to do everything in your power to keep things like this off of your record. Even if something does happen, be sure to ask the court how to get the record expunged.

It is also possible to take courses on safe driving and state run courses that help to bring up the reputation of a tarnished driving license. These courses add points to a drivers license as opposed to accidents, tickets and other traffic violations equal a docking of points from a license.

Driving records are very important. It is crucial that people realize that a bad-driving record can harm you in more ways than one. Keep your driving record clean from now on!

Nati Robert is the editor of <a href="http://www.instantdrivingrecords.info">Instant Driving Records</a>. Driving Record Guide. Find information about drivers license records from the DMV.

<b>You Can't Do that When Your Driving…</b>
USING a mobile phone while driving became an endorsable offence in the UK at the end of February 2007 and GEM Motoring Assist ” formerly The Guild of Experienced Motorists - (GEM), that is concerned for the safety of all road users, has issued a useful list of things you can and cannot do while driving a vehicle.

It says that apart from using a phone that is not fitted with a hands free device motorists need to remember that they cannot eat or drink while at the wheel. The driver can smoke, but lighting the cigarette while on the move can prove a challenge as if both hands are taken off the steering wheel the driver may not be considered to be in proper control of the vehicle.

Disposing of the cigarette by throwing it out of the open car window is also an offence as it may hit or distract another motorist or motorcyclist. In fact ejecting any rubbish from a vehicle contravenes litter laws.

Most recently GEM has noted that a health and safety inspector was stopped by police in Perthshire, Scotland while shaving as he overtook a line of rush hour traffic at between 60 and 70 mph, setting a particularly bad example as he was late on his journey to deliver a first aid course. He was banned for six months and fined 300 ($570).

Chief Executive of GEM, David Williams, points out that fines for using a hand-held mobile can be as much as 1,000 ($1,900) with an increase to a potential 2,500 ($4,750) for drivers of vans, lorries, buses and coaches. You also may not use a hand-held mobile while stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic, he said. It is also against the law to use a mobile while supervising a learner.

Other offences which are also regularly witnessed are drivers reading maps while driving and women applying make up on the move. Both these activities could lead to substantial fines and penalty points being awarded, said David.

Although it is not an offence as such, GEM recommends that no one should drive with a dog on the front seat of a car, said David. Not only is it a potential distraction but if you have an accident there is a very good chance the pet will be injured or killed as well or it may become protective and frustrate any rescue attempts to help an injured or trapped driver. Dogs should be secured with a harness or a cage in the rear of the vehicle.

David said GEM welcomed the fact that three penalty points will be added to the licence of a driver caught using a mobile phone, that is not hands free, while on the move. All evidence points to the fact that a person on the phone whether hands free or not is much more likely to have an accident and the safest option is to turn the phone off as soon as you enter the car.

Established in 1932, GEM Motoring Assist is the leading UK driver based road safety association. <a href="http://www.motoringassist.com">GEM Motoring Assist</a> provide a wide range of driver services including low cost <a href="http://www.motoringassist.com"> car breakdown cover and vehicle breakdown recovery.</a>

Car Safety
In this day and age, who isn’t concerned about car safety. Why, it seems that every day, you read about a new terrible and tragic car accident on the roadways, which is enough to practically make you want to become a hermit. No matter how much attention you put into car safety, it never seems like enough, as the safest drivers in the safest cars still sometimes get struck by a tragic fate. Although there is no perfect solution to this or any other problem, nonetheless, your car safety can be maximized and your chances for disaster minimized if you are willing to take some simple precautions.

One of the best things you can do to help increase your automotive safety is to learn defensive driving. A lot of defensive driving is really a matter of common sense and courtesy, nonetheless courses can be taken to improve your driving skills. Although a car with a good automotive safety rating is a great investment, it is a moot point if you can manage to avoid having a collision to begin with.

Unfortunately, no mater how safe your driving, we all know that sometimes, through someone else’s carelessness, or through bad luck, accidents can still happen. That is why car safety means, above all, having a safe car. There are many excellent resources which will rank car safety in the most popular model. My favorite of these is consumer reports, which shows NHTSA crash ratings for all of the leading cars, and gives you an overall breakdown of car safety, value, and customer satisfaction.

Then again, it is important not to overlook the most important factors in car safety: wearing your seatbelt and making sure that your car is in good operating order. If you are in a crash, your chance of survival, according to some experts, more than doubles if you are wearing your seatbelt. And one of the leading preventable causes of tragic car accidents is a car that is inadequately maintained and fails because its equipment fails. Be conscious of car safety and don’t drive on bald tires or a misaligned or failing suspension. Don’t put off that oil change and risk having that engine seize up on you! Above all, your car safety is your safety, so don’t put your life on the line just because you haven’t gotten around to getting those necessary services for your car!

<a href="http://www.yescontentisking.com">YesContentIsKing!com</a> is committed to quality articles that help you. Read more articles or submit your great articles anytime. Copyright 2006 Bobbie McKee. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

Keeping Your Driving Record Clean: Online Traffic School
Keeping Your Driving Record Clean: Online Traffic School No one wants to go to traffic school ” after all, eight hours in a stuffy room, sitting on uncomfortable chairs and watching outdated, gory videos of the devastating results of reckless drivers isn t exactly an ideal way of spending a Saturday afternoon. Sure, sometimes an instructor is fun and witty, making the experience bearable, maybe even enjoyable. But, most people aren t willing to relinquish a whole day. Time is simply too precious a commodity. Mike P. Welch knows all too well the realities of some walk-in traffic school experiences, having completed traffic school in August of 2005. In addition to an uncomfortable facility, Welch had to contend with disinterested fellow students and grossly outdated course materials. The instructor had us watch a video that was from the 1970s and a big segment was on call boxes, which I felt was irrelevant, considering the majority of the population now has cell phones, he says. Instead of fostering an atmosphere of learning, half of the students didn t want to be there and were distracting to the learning process, Welch says. I didn t appreciate the social stigma of having to reveal my violation in front of a classroom of people. I felt like I was there to be punished, instead of improving my knowledge of traffic laws. Fortunately, those who are ordered to traffic school or to a defensive driving course, in exchange for wiping points off their driving records, have an alternative to a long day of traffic school. Online traffic and defensive driving schools are becoming exceedingly popular, particularly in California (including among Los Angeles traffic school and San Diego traffic school), Florida and Texas. Skeptical? Those who have never taken an online course will quickly find it s a fast, easy and effective way to complete traffic school. In fact, statistics prove that online traffic school works. In 2004, more than a third of the 500,000 people ordered to complete traffic school in Florida did so online. Ninety perfect of those who completed the online traffic course passed the final exam. Compared to Welch s experience with walk-in traffic school, Travis experience with online traffic school was so effective and so inspiring that he founded Ticket Relief Traffic School (TicketRelief.com). Not only was the course a breeze, but I actually refreshed my knowledge of California driving and learned a couple new driving laws I didn t know about, he says. As he researched and learned more about online traffic schools, his belief in the effectiveness of online traffic school was only reinforced. I found several studies that showed students were able to concentrate better with an online class versus a traditional walk-in school. The studies showed that students who used a computer to take an online traffic school course exhibited a smaller amount of distractions compared to a classroom setting. The students using the computers produced a higher level of concentration and higher test scores than the students in a classroom setting. Indeed, more and more people are discovering the vast advantages of fulfilling their court requirements by completing online traffic school: It s easy. Simply register, pay for the course and get started. It s safe. Many online traffic schools, such offer 128bit encryption to ensure safe credit card transactions. Save time. Students can complete their online course in as little as six hours, sometimes less. Finish the course at leisure. With online traffic schools like students can save their work and return to it at a later time, unlike traditional traffic school when all work is completed in one session. Of course, those who want to complete the course in one sitting are welcome to do so. In fact, many students have access to the course for 160 days from the time they register. Use any computer. Start the exam on the library s computer and finish it on a home computer. As Long as you have a computer and internet connection, the course can literally be done anywhere. Save money. Online traffic schools are typically much cheaper with rates ranging from $17 to $50. Discounts. Some traffic schools such as Ticket Relief offers discounts to senior citizens, students, members of the military and AAA members. Consistency. A few online traffic schools promise students each time they take the course they receive only the highest quality reading material, quizzes and final exam. It s comprehensive. Students will receive a refresher course, covering traffic laws and other pertinent information. Many courses include five sections, each ending with a quiz that allows students to gauge their level of comprehension of the course material. The quizzes also help students prepare for the final exam. Worry-free. Students who fail the final exam needn t worry as some traffic schools allow the retaking of the exam with a 160 day time limit. Students who have never taken an online course needn t worry. Most traffic schools provide customer service either via a toll-free number or email, or both.

Need to take an online traffic shool class, defensive driver education or traffic safety course? Then don t delay and come and visit us today And yes we are certified in most states including Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Cruz Traffic School and many more.