Month: January 2020

Law enforcement is warning drivers before hitting the road on New Year’s that this holiday is one of the most dangerous for commuters.

There will be a huge show of force to deter drunk drivers from putting yours or their own life in danger.

in 2018, nearly 4,000 Southwest Floridians drove drunk, and half of those in Lee County. But, there is no excuse and the potential costs are too great.

“It’s so silly to get a DUI when there’s the advantage of taking a Lift or Uber…I mean it’s just crazy,” said Naples resident Ann Quigle.

Local attorney, Peter Dennis tells us including lawyers, insurance, DUI school, altogether you are looking at around 10-thousand dollars if you are caught drinking and behind the wheel.

All of that compared to Uber surge pricing, which could be a couple of hundred dollars, depending on the length of your trip. While that may seem like a lot, local drivers say spending the extra money is worth it.

All motorists can use the following tips to stay safe, focused, sober and patient while traveling:

DUI Laws | What You Need to Know

The laws make it illegal for drivers of all ages to operate motor vehicles if they have BAC percentages of:

• 0.08% or higher, if they’re 21 years old or older operating regular passenger vehicles.
• 0.04% or higher, if they’re operating commercial vehicles.
• 0.02% or higher, if they’re younger than 21 years old.

Georgia State law also requires clinical evaluation and the attendance of a DUI / Risk Reduction Program that’s certified/licensed by the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services before your driver’s license can be reinstated if you have been charged with any of the following:

1. DUI
2. Drug Possession
3. Other drug offenses
4. Under-age possession of drugs or alcohol

Before getting behind the wheel after having a few, consider the many reasons why you should not.

For more information about DUI School visit www.a1drivingschools.com or call (770) 962-9555!

From everyone here at A-1’s Driving School, we would like to wish everyone a safe, festive holiday! 

Police say the ATV driver was traveling east and tried to go around a car. The fire engine was traveling west. The fire engine had its lights and sirens activated at the time of the crash.

The driver of an all-terrain vehicle involved in a head-on collision with a fire engine in Georgia on Christmas has died.

No firefighters were physically injured.

Police say the ATV driver wasn’t wearing a helmet. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials haven’t released his identity.

While that requires you to check local regulations, generally an ATV or UTV in Georgia must remain on designated roads, trails or in designated areas marked specifically for off-road vehicle use.

There are specific areas in Georgia where riders are permitted to operate an ATV or UTV without a driver’s license.  These areas are specially designated and the driver must be accompanied by a licensed adult.  Outside of these areas, you must have a valid driver’s license to operate an ATV or UTV on public land in Georgia.

You are not permitted to operate ATVs or UTVs on public streets in Georgia.

Consider taking a driving course at A-1 if you are interested in learning more rules and regulations such as these. There is a lot of very useful and informative information in the class and it will apply whether you have been driving for years or you are a brand new driver.

The same safe driving practices that are taught in A-1’s Defensive Driving Class can be applied to be a safe driver in a car and on a motorcycle!

For more information about class schedules or to see A-1’s 19 convenient locations call (770)962-9555 or visit us at www.a1drivingschools.com!

A brake fluid leak on certain Nissan cars and SUVs could lead to a risk of fire prompting the automaker to recall about 394,000 vehicles in the United States.

An antilock brake actuator pump can leak onto a circuit board, causing electrical shorts and fires. Because of the risk, Nissan recommends owners park the vehicles outside and away from buildings if the antilock brake light is on for more than 10 seconds.

The recall covers 2015 to 2018 Nissan Murano SUVs, 2016 to 2018 Maxima sedans and 2017 to 2019 Infiniti QX60 and Nissan Pathfinder SUVs (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

This is the second recall for some of the same vehicles. In 2018, Nissan dealers inspected parts but did not replace the pumps if the fluid wasn’t leaking.

Dealers will now replace pumps on all of the vehicles.

Whether you have been driving for years or you are a brand new driver, A-1 offers classes that will help you brush up on some rules and regulations before it’s too late.

If you have a clean driving record for 3 years, you may take the 6-hour Defensive Driving Program to receive a 10% -15% discount on your auto insurance premium. The insurance discount percentage is determined by your insurance company.

For more information about class schedules or to see A-1’s 19 convenient locations call (770)962-9555 or visit us at www.a1drivingschools.com!

Both a driver and his passenger are facing charges in a hit-and-run incident that killed an 18-year-old northwest Georgia man. 

Emory Ware was crossing a Whitfield County highway when he was hit by a passing vehicle, according to the Georgia State Patrol. A trooper responding to the crash early that morning found the teen’s body at the intersection of Ga. 3 and Maddox Chapel Road. 

The vehicle was gone by the time the trooper arrived. Evidence found at the scene pointed to a gray Buick Century, according to an accident report obtained by AJC.com.

The Buick was eventually traced to driver Eric Shane Moore. The 32-year-old was arrested on charges of homicide by vehicle in the first degree, hit-and-run and failure to report an accident resulting in death.

Moore, who is from Chatsworth, was driving on a suspended license at the time of the crash, authorities said. He is also facing charges of tampering with evidence and giving a false name to police.

Authorities are also seeking charges against Moore’s passenger, identified by the GSP as 32-year-old Nathan Joe Call of Dalton. Call was arrested on felony charges of tampering with evidence and hit-and-run.

Both men are being held in the Whitfield County Jail without bond.

Remember, when you are a pedestrian at night the last thing you want to do is blend in.  By wearing bright colors that easily reflect light, such as white or yellow, you will stand out and become far more visible to drivers.  This can also be accomplished by wearing reflectors often found on bicycles, helmets and reflective vests.  Reflectors can make you visible in a car’s headlights for up to 500 feet!

What Are Georgia’s Rules for Crossing Intersections? 

Pedestrians must cross intersections at a crosswalk. While most people consider a crosswalk as the pathway across the intersection denoted with white lines (i.e., a marked crosswalk), it is important to note that there are both marked and unmarked crosswalks.

An unmarked crosswalk is a line between one side of the roadway and the other. The only way this differs from a marked crosswalk is that there are no distinguishing marks.

If a pedestrian is in either a marked or unmarked crosswalk, he has the right-of-way. Drivers must yield to pedestrians already inside these crosswalks, regardless of whether the driver has a green light or not.

What Responsibilities Do Drivers Have?

According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, motorists must stop and stay stopped for pedestrians at crosswalks. Drivers must stay put until the pedestrian has vacated the driver’s side of the road.

Georgia law also holds that a driver cannot overtake another motorist who has stopped for a pedestrian.

The same safe driving practices that are taught in A-1’s Defensive Driving Class can apply to be a safe driver in a car and on a motorcycle. There is a lot of very useful and informative information in the class and it will apply whether you have been driving for years or you are a brand new driver.

For more information about class schedules or to see A-1’s 19 convenient locations call (770)962-9555 or visit us at www.a1drivingschools.com!

A woman who recently appeared on an MTV reality show was arrested and charged with DUI.

Tyranny Todd, who appeared on MTV’s Are You The One?, was arrested by the Georgia State Patrol on a DUI charge and texting while driving charge in Augusta.

Todd was on the fifth season of the series, which takes a large group of single adults and charges them with finding the perfect match for them.

The bonus on top of finding “true love” is a $1 million cash prize that is split between the “perfect couple.”

Georgia State law requires clinical evaluation and the attendance of the DUI program that’s certified/licensed by the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services before your driver’s license can be reinstated if you have been charged with any of the following:

1. DUI
2. Drug Possession
3. Other drug offenses
4. Under-age possession of drugs or alcohol

Tyranny Todd will be able to complete this at any of A-1’s 19 convenient locations.

For more information visit www.a1drivingschools.com or call (770) 962-9555!

University of Georgia sophomore running back James Cook was arrested for having an open container of alcohol after police found an unsealed 1.75 liter glass bottle of Hennessy Cognac behind the driver’s seat of the 2017 Dodge Charger he was driving.

A Bulldog offensive lineman was in the passenger seat next to Cook when the vehicle was pulled over, according to an Athens Clarke-County police report.

An officer patrolling on East Clayton Street observed the vehicle’s dealer tag, but could not see the expiration date. When the police moved behind the vehicle, Cook changed lanes.

The officer felt “the driver was attempting to evade me checking the temporary tag,” the report noted. The car pulled into a handicapped space and police noticed that the temporary tag number indicated an unknown insurance status.

After he was pulled over, Cook told the officer he did not have his driver’s license and he was a Georgia football player. The officer later learned Cook’s license was invalid.

The officer smelled burned marijuana, the report noted. Cook said there wasn’t any marijuana in the vehicle because he smoked it.

However, a marijuana “shake” was seen on the center console, according to the report.

Cook is Georgia’s fourth-leading rusher. Coach Kirby Smart and the school have yet to comment on Cook’s arrest.

DUI Laws | What You Need to Know

The laws make it illegal for drivers of all ages to operate motor vehicles if they have BAC percentages of:

• 0.08% or higher, if they’re 21 years old or older operating regular passenger vehicles.
• 0.04% or higher, if they’re operating commercial vehicles.
• 0.02% or higher, if they’re younger than 21 years old.

Georgia State law also requires a clinical evaluation and the attendance of a DUI / Risk Reduction Program that’s certified/licensed by the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services before your driver’s license can be reinstated if you have been charged with any of the following:

1. DUI
2. Drug Possession
3. Other drug offenses
4. Under-age possession of drugs or alcohol

Before getting behind the wheel after having a few, consider the many reasons why you should not.

Cook will be able to complete the following at A-1’s Athens location.

For more information about DUI School visit www.a1drivingschools.com or call (770) 962-9555!

14 people in Georgia, including two in southwest Georgia, lost their lives in traffic crashes over the just-completed 54-hour Christmas holiday travel period, according to reports by the Georgia Department of Public Safety.

That number was down significantly from the Christmas 2018 travel period when 26 people were killed on Georgia roadways. The 2018 travel period, however, was more than twice as long, covering 126 hours from 6 p.m. Dec. 21, a Friday, until midnight on Dec. 26, a Wednesday.

This year’s Christmas travel period, as recognized by the state’s DPS, opened at 6 p.m. Tuesday and ended Thursday night at midnight.