SUVs are built to survive punishing roads, reckless drivers, and family road trips. Therefore, you should do everything you can to keep your SUV safe. That way it can withstand the biggest challenge: time itself! Below is a guide to keeping your sport utility vehicle as safe as possible, without locking it in your garage for the rest of eternity.

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We’ve compiled a guide to aide you whenever you’re stuck in a sticky – or snowy – situation. Following the guide below, will help you escape any entrapment – except for quicksand. You’ll need a whip and a low hanging branch to get yourself out of quicksand.

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Let’s face it; we are a scam-paranoid bunch of consumers. And rightly, so. This is especially true since scammers are mastering the art of appearing like legitimate companies offering legitimate deals. Those buying a car have to walk a tightrope through the entire purchasing process, so as not to drive off the lot feeling emotionally nauseous. Such is the case with the now well-known Costco Travel Auto Program.

While it has received national acclaim for being able to save you money while buying a car, many a consumer has added it to their blacklist. Let’s take a closer look at the Costco Travel Auto Program so that you can determine if it’s right for you.

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Highways and Freeways are the backbone of the United States’ infrastructure. Between the toll roads and the rest stops you find the American dream in the form of 3-lane paved concrete road. When you’re traveling in California, it’s nearly impossible to get around without cruising the countryside on one of these famous interstate CA highways.

So, what exactly should you expect during your cross-state road trip?

You may find your share of potholes, detours, crazed mountain folk, and road construction when you’re driving up the PCH or navigating through the desert. So, we’re giving you a road map to what to expect from California’s highways and freeways.

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If you have been wondering where all the humanity in our world went, all it takes is a bit of digging to find the good people. They are everywhere and there was recently a story that popped up from the St. Louis area. A man was driving his 5-year-old niece home from her chemo appointment when he was pulled over by a officer for a routine traffic stop. On the surface, this may not sound like a good story, but the situation takes a positive turn.

Matthew Manley was the man who was pulled over and when he saw the police car, he immediately knew what he had done wrong. He had been delaying the transfer of his new license plates for a bit of time and he knew that this would result in getting a citation, which is something you learn in a MO Driver Improvement course. Manley had been driving his niece back and forth to chemotherapy for cancer treatment every day which did not make the day any easier.

After the officer cited him a ticket for his license plates, he then went back to the police car and started rummaging through his trunk. Manley did not know what to think and even sent a text to his wife Dana because he was a bit scared! He was timid thinking about what was going to happen next. Manley was nervous until the police officer, Shawn Birdsong, returned to his vehicle and had a pink backpack in his hands. He gave the bag to Manley and said that it was for his niece and he hoped that it would help brighten her spirits.

Inside the bag was a note from the officer Shawn Birdsong to Manley’s niece that said he hoped she felt better soon. There were also some clothes, toys, and art supplies contained inside the bag. Manley was so moved by the act that he not only thanked the officer for his kindness, but he also shared the story on his Facebook page and thanked the officer again there. This was such a heartwarming act that meant so much to the Manley family and the little girl.

The Facebook post eventually reached Birdsong again and he then called the Manley family to thank them. Since then, he has called back to check on the little girl 3 or 4 times. He has gone above and beyond his role by showing this compassion for the little girl. He had the backpack in his truck at the time because he was participating in Project Backpack St. Louis which puts together backpacks with comfort items and necessities for children. He saw it as the perfect opportunity to help make the day of this little girl a bit better, especially since she was going through such a trying and difficult time.

If you are looking to stay out of trouble while driving, consider taking a course through the best traffic school online and remember to show compassion to others all season long.

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There’s nothing worse than a traffic jam, especially one that you must sit in day after day. And while some traffic jams are justified by construction or some type of vehicular accident, there are many that aren’t. You look around to see what has caused the delay, but for the life of you, nothing out of the ordinary seems to be taking place. The only reasonable answer is that the traffic gods have, once again, conspired to make you late.

What or Who Creates a Traffic Jam?

If the traffic gods aren’t against you, why is it that everyone is bumper to bumper? Why is traffic moving so slow if there is not even any construction or accident? According to a study published in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportations Systems, there is a mathematical model that demonstrates the problem very well could be the fact that you’re not keeping the right distance from the car behind you. Wait? You’re probably asking yourself, did I just read that right? Not keeping the right distance from the car behind me? How is that even possible?

So, what can you do if you don’t have control over the cars behind you, yet you are supposed to be maintaining an appropriate distance from them? Doesn’t this sound like a recipe for disaster? Truth is, you need to implement your senses to better drive an appropriate distance from everyone on the road and avoid having to go ca traffic school for a traffic violation. Math has shown that when people are able to keep an equal distance between the cars ahead of them and behind them, this equal space helps maintain a more orderly fashion on the highway. In fact, traffic moves almost twice as quickly when equal space between all cars is maintained.

Understanding Emergent Property

Emergent property is the formation of something incredibly complex by smaller entities. Take for example a murmuration; this is when starlings, thousands upon thousands of them, come together and form a shifting blob. The outcome is incredible and beautiful, but most people are left asking themselves, how do the birds move so quickly without flying into one another?

Another example is when you see bats in movies fly out a small hole in a cave. Millions of them can exit a small hole in a small amount of time without ever flying into one another. Berthold Horn, a famous author, states, “the assumption is that they’re actually aware of bats all around them, not just in front, and that’s why hundreds of thousands of them can come out of a very narrow cave and not collide.” It is important to note, however, that bats have the luxury of using both echolocation and their sight to achieve their emergent property capabilities. Therefore, it is pertinent for us to start using everything at our disposal to improve traffic flow on the highway, with some of the most notable methods being to take advantage of today’s advanced technology.

Without the use of technology, a human doesn’t have the capability to calculate distances both in front and behind them simultaneously. Control systems that can perform these calculations are essential to avoiding an emergent property catastrophe. Have you ever heard of adaptive cruise control? This feature helps follow cars ahead of you at a certain distance, and when side and back sensors are added, this can help maintain equidistance. And while this seems like a viable solution, it must be realized that for this to work well, most cars on the road would need to be taking advantage of this equidistance technology.

Is equidistance technology the next big thing? Find a traffic school near me to learn more.

The post Math Calculates that You’re the Reason Behind Traffic Jams appeared first on MyImprov.

The Ventura fire in California is causing massive devastation for residents and travelers. Hundreds of thousands of people are having to evacuate the area and flee their homes, and unfortunately, for now, there is no relief in sight.

On Thursday morning, December 7, 2017, the weather included strong winds combined with dry conditions and low humidity, making the problem completely exacerbated; these conditions create a prime environment for the fire to grow and spread. And to make things even worse, weather conditions for the week are predicting winds up to 80 mph, which will only spread the fire even more.

The Ventura fire, formally known as the Thomas Fire, has already grown to encompass more than 140 square miles, causing nearly 300 schools in the LA area to close their doors for several days. Even residents who are several miles away from fires have been encouraged to stay indoors, and when traveling outdoors, they have been instructed to wear masks to fight the bad air quality.

Many travelers in the area, both locals and visitors, including those who are in town for ca traffic school, are not sure what to expect out of the Thomas Fire, especially regarding LAX flight schedules. It is important to note, though, that US 101, which is California’s longest highway, has been closed from Ventura to Carpinteria because of the fires. Regarding LAX, the airport, as of now (December 9, 2017), is completely operational. Still, because of the partial closure of US 101, traffic is horrible. And in addition to the partial closure of US 101, the 405 Freeway has been closed as well, further aggravating traffic conditions. For those who are flying in and out of LAX, it is recommended to allow plenty of time for traveling to and from the airport.

Also, for those who are traveling by the FlyAway Shuttle to the airport, delays have been reported. As of Thursday, December 7th, 2017, the delays were being reported as normalized, but that could change at any time. If you are traveling by the FlyAway Shuttle, make sure to check for any possible delays and come up with an alternate travel option in case the fires do cause shuttle delays.

What to Expect at LAX: Arrival and Departure Delays?

As of December 9, 2017, there are minimal flight delays regarding arrivals and departures at LAX, and so far, none of these delays have been directly caused by the nearby fires. Another airport located near the fires, the Burbank Airport, has not reported any delays either because of the fires. It is recommended, however, that anyone traveling out of LAX or Burbank Airport to check their flight status. If the Thomas Fire was to worsen and spread, then there is a high likelihood that LAX and the Burbank Airport will be affected as well as any other airports that are nearby. If you happen to be traveling by Southwest or JetBlue and want to change your travel plans because of the fire, you can do so with your fare differences and change fees being waived by the airlines.
Make sure you to check local news to stay up-to-date with the latest information on the Thomas Fire in Ventura County.

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Want a straightforward way to tell if red light cameras are working in Florida? Just drive through any intersection and check your mailbox in a few weeks. No ticket? No problem.

The BEST way, of course, is to obey all traffic laws and focus on safely stopping, which is often the stated reason why Florida cameras were even installed.

Unfortunately, the Sunshine State has created confusion about its camera programs. While some municipalities appreciate the revenue Florida traffic cameras have generated, some citizens don’t like the idea of an unmanned machine watching them in the privacy of their car, and then issuing a huge fine without giving them a chance to legally defend themselves.

The topic is discussed at city, county and state levels, and the Florida Legislature has gone back and forth over the lengthy lists of pros and cons. Several lawsuits are pending and the Florida Supreme Court has also offered little in the way of firm rulings and guidance, but plans to tackle the issue in early 2018.

In the meantime, this has created a patchwork of areas and communities where there are plenty of active cameras (currently about 60); areas where there are cameras but they aren’t in use; and areas where cameras have been removed and locally banned.

Because each municipality controls its cameras and policies, it also can create all sorts of possible fines. Essentially, as one traffic magistrate pointed out, enforcement and size of the fine and penalties vary widely. Even the Miami Dade Clerk can dismiss an infraction if someone signs up for a defensive driving course.

City/County Confusion

The Miami Dade County area is a good example of the uncertainty of Florida traffic cams. In 2016, county commissioners approved a ban on the cameras in unincorporated areas, which includes the greater Miami area. It reversed a 2011 ruling allowing Miami traffic cameras, but they were never powered on. But 16 cities in the county now permit these.
Surrounding counties also has offering conflicting policies. In summer 2017, the cities of Pembroke Pines and Boynton Beach voted to reactivate cameras and begin ticketing drivers. Boynton Beach is the only one of 39 municipalities in Palm Beach County to activate these cameras.
Policies in other communities also vary. In 2016, Tampa traffic cameras were extended for two years, while the Jacksonville City Council voted to end its program in summer 2017. Orlando has allowed them and then banned them. St. Petersburg has banned theirs.

Bigger Fights

The Florida House approved a statewide ban on red light cameras in the 2017 session by 2021, but the bill died in the Senate. Lawmakers had mixed things to say about cameras. They lowered the number of pedestrian accidents but increased the number of rear-end accidents inside intersections, often triggered when people brake suddenly. Supporters of the cameras also say local cities should determine their own policies.

A similar bill is expected to be introduced for the 2018 session.

At the same time, the state’s judicial body is considering the constitutionality of receiving red light tickets. The Florida Supreme Court plans to hear arguments in February 2018.
This case revolves around how the City of Aventura uses cameras, while neighboring city Hollywood, doesn’t. The camera contractor is accused of reviewing footage to find possible violations, and then sending out tickets, which by law should be a task for law enforcement.

Until the matter is settled, Florida drivers, especially those enrolled in online traffic school and learning to drive, should be aware of red light ticket cameras still in operation through the state.

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If you have received a traffic citation, you may be eligible to take traffic school or a defensive driving course. Taking one of these can help reduce the number of points on your license. This can help to lower your insurance rates, which may increase due to the ticket, and prevent your license from being suspended if you receive too many tickets. Each state has different requirements as to when and if you can participate in traffic school or a defensive driving course. Here is some information about traffic school eligibility in Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky and New York.

Most schools offer traffic school or defensive driving courses to help you reduce minor traffic tickets from your driving record. However, the requirements for this vary from state to state. If you have received a traffic ticket, check with your state to find out what programs you may qualify for to help get the ticket removed from your record. This can help keep your insurance rates as low as possible.

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Some people absolutely dread the morning and evening commutes to and from work, school and elsewhere. Others look forward to it as an escape from the workday grind and the responsibilities of the home. Everyone can agree on one thing: A commute that takes half an hour or longer certainly tests the nerves. This is especially true for those who reside in or near busy metropolitan centers.

Location, Location, Location!

The length of time it takes you to get to work largely hinges on the amount of traffic along your route. If you reside and work in a rural or remote suburban area, you probably do not mind your commute. Roads in rural and some suburban areas tend to have comparably light traffic. Those who reside in populous suburbs or dense cities typically have longer and more stressful commutes.

The bottom line is the more vehicles that traverse your route to and from work, the longer your commute will be. Traffic has significantly spiked in major cities across the past couple of decades as population growth and urban sprawl have spiked. If big city driving gets the best of you and you end up with a speeding ticket, don’t panic. Attend a defensive driving course and it will help calm your nerves while behind the wheel, keep your driver’s license in good standing and prevent your automobile insurance rates from soaring.

Timing is Everything

The time your work day begins plays a major part in the length and quality of your commute. In an ideal world, you would be able to set your own hours, showing up and leaving work whenever you like. Unfortunately, most people must be at work by 9 AM and leave around 5 PM. These are the worst times to be on the road as most workers abide by the same 9 to 5 schedule as just about everyone else.

You can get a head start on the traffic crowd by starting the day a bit early or leaving work after the rush our subsides. Those who show up to work between 6 and 8 in the morning don’t have to battle as nearly as much traffic as the 9 to 5 worker. It also helps to head home around 6:30 PM or later. If you don’t want to work a 10-hour work day, consider joining a gym near your office or head to a nearby park for some exercise. Get your daily exercise out of the week in the hour or two after work and you will face significantly less traffic during your ride home.

Other Key Factors to Consider

Experienced drivers know each daily commute poses unique challenges. There are all sorts of dynamics in play when it comes to the morning and evening commute. Keep your radio tuned to a local news station so you are aware of accidents or other traffic disruptions along your travel route. It also helps to listen to the local news updates on radio or TV while going through your morning routine. If possible, listen to these updates at work or take a moment to check Google Maps and other real-time traffic update websites before leaving for the day.

Don’t forget about weather! Anything from rain to winds, snow, hail and other inclement conditions can affect your traffic commute. The savviest drivers check the weather forecast a couple times per day. It really does help to have an idea as to what sort of conditions you will face when you get behind the wheel and head to work or back home for the evening. Even a light rain has the potential to make the roads slippery and result in nasty accidents that case mile-long traffic congestion.

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