March 10th, 2020

Athens DUI Treatment Court Recognized as National Academy Court

The ACC DUI Treatment Court is one of four courts selected by the National Center for DWI Courts and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It is the only court selected on five consecutive occasions.

According to their website, the mission of the Athens court is to improve public safety in Athens while saving lives and families through their program based on support, supervision, and accountability. National Academy Courts are identified as “exemplary DWI courts,” according to the NCDC website. These courts host foundational trainings, participate in research and media and “serve as a national model for DWI courts.”

Lee Rushton, the coordinator for the ACC DUI Treatment Court, said they have about 70 participants in the program at a time with a graduation rate of 53%. Participants stay under the supervision of the court for at least 14 months or until their probation expires, at which point they can continue to seek counseling through local agencies. This accounts for many of the people who do not officially graduate from the program.

“Athens has prioritized people’s well-being. It has fostered an environment for people to seek stability and reach their full potential,” said Judge Charles Auslander, presiding judge of the Athens court, during his closing remarks at the ceremony.

A-1 Driving School has helped thousands of drivers with DUI School and Risk Reduction classes, Defensive Driving courses, Driver’s Education/Joshua’s Law programs, and Teen/Adult Driving lessons.

With 19 convenient locations in and around the Metro Atlanta area, offering both day, evening classes, and online classes, we make traffic school efficient and easy.

As advocates for safe driving practices, we would like to congratulate the amazing job that the ACC DUI Treatment Court has been doing and will continue to do!

March 2nd, 2020

What To Do When You See An Ambulance?

State law is very clear: If you see an emergency vehicle coming from either direction, you are required to pull over to the right as best you can to make way.

The penalty ranges from a $50 fine for the first offense to a year in prison and license suspension for subsequent offenses. And worse, you may not be risking not only your life, but that of the emergency crew, other drivers, and, of course, the patient.

Ambulance drivers receive training from their departments, which could include defensive driving strategies and simulator training.

The driver of an ambulance is barraged by incoming information that demands attention: the condition of the patient and what’s happening with treatment, road and weather conditions, control of the lights and siren, the chatter from two or three radios, the emotional status of a family member riding in the passenger seat, and the actions of other drivers.

While it might seem like the ambulance is speeding down the road, in most cases, drivers aren’t exceeding the speed limit.

Let’s say you’re driving down the road and an ambulance comes up behind you or towards you. What does state law say you are required to do?

Oh, did we mention your answer could be a matter of life or death?

a) Immediately come to a full stop.

b) Pullover as far as you can to the right side of the road then stop.

c) Stay in your lane but slow down to less than 20 mph.

d) Keep driving fast enough to stay ahead of it.

If you answered anything but (b), you need to review your driving lessons.

For more safe driving information or safe driving practices, A-1 Driving Schools has 19 convenient locations around metro Atlanta that all offer defensive driving courses! For more information please call (770)962-9555 or visit us at www.a1drivingschools.com!

March 2nd, 2020

Man Killed in Tesla Crash Was Playing Game on Smartphone While Automated Driving was Engaged

The man was identified as Apple engineer Walter Huang.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Huang was on his phone playing a game while the vehicle’s autopilot system was engaged. The SUV swerved and hit a concrete barrier on the freeway in Mountain View, California.

The SUV also accelerated to 71 mph just before the crash. The car’s forward collision avoidance system didn’t alert Huang and the automatic emergency braking system didn’t engage, the National Transportation Safety Board found.

Despite the technology, the National Transportation Safety Board found Huang didn’t take control of the vehicle either by not steering or braking before impact.

The National Transportation Safety Board is not sure why the automation didn’t try to avoid the crash, looking at possible of faded lane lines and bright sunshine that affected the cameras, as well as closer-than-normal vehicle in the lane in front of the SUV.

The vehicle wasn’t the only thing found at fault. The cushion at the end of the barrier had not been fixed after a crash less than two weeks before.

The big takeaway National Transportation Safety Board issued though that a self-driving mode like Tesla’s Autopilot doesn’t mean that the car can fully be operated while the driver is doing other things.

“You can’t read a book, you can’t watch a movie or TV show, you can’t text and you can’t play video games,” National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt said.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system—anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.

Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.

Driving practices and rules that are taught in A-1’s Defensive Driving Class can be applied to be a safe driver. 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!