Category: Driving News

The first couple of years of driving for a teenager are statistically the most dangerous of all. Teen drivers can lower their car crash risk by enrolling in a defensive driving course!

Teen drivers that graduate from a defensive driving course can get the following benefits:

• Learning the fundamentals of driving. Teen drives will learn the traffic rules in a systemic way.
• Builds confidence. The first time behind the wheels can be a scary or stressful experience for a teen driver. Teen drivers can practice in a safe environment, where they can build confidence in their abilities and skills as they learn how to drive with the help of an experienced driver.
• Shows them the risks. Teen drivers need to be aware that driving is dangerous. Being too nervous is dangerous, but if a teen driver is not nervous at all, it means he is not aware of how risky driving can be. Teens will learn how dangerous driving can be and what risks are involved. They will also learn how to avoid those risks.
• Learning the consequences. In this course, teens will learn about the effects of driving under influence (DUI). Teen drivers will also learn they will have to take responsibility for their safety and the safety of others.
• Practice time. Teenagers will practice their driving skills in a safe, supervised environment. Teen drivers can learn driving techniques from qualified instructors and can develop their skills.
• Learn the state’s laws. Traffic laws differ from one state to another. Depending on which state the teen driver is taking the course, he will be presented with the laws of that state.
• Cheaper insurance premiums. Insurance companies place the teen drivers in the high-risk category, thus they have to pay more for their insurance. One way for teen drivers to lower their car insurance rates is by graduating from a defensive driving course.

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

GEORGIA DUI LAWS:

Georgia drivers can be charged with DUI if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 percent or higher.

When you are arrested for a DUI in Georgia, you’ll have to deal with both a criminal case and a separate license suspension. The Georgia Department of Driver Services will handle your license suspension pursuant to the implied consent laws and the GA criminal courts will prosecute the criminal case.

What happens in court won’t have any bearing on the status of your driver’s license and vice versa.

The Georgia courts impose criminal penalties including:

• Fines;
• Jail time;
• Public service.

The Department of Driver Services imposes administrative penalties including:

• Suspension or revocation of your license.

The higher your BAC, the more severe your penalties may be. Multiple convictions will also result in harsher sentences.

The state with the lowest drunken driving rate in the nation? That commendable distinction went to Delaware, with 44.3 DUI arrests per 100,000 people.

Men are far more likely than women to be arrested on drunken driving charges, as males accounted for nearly three in four DUI arrests in 2018, according to U.S. Drug Test Centers.

Additionally, whites accounted for 81.2 percent of DUI arrests in 2018, according to the report.

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

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

Here are some tips to winterize your car:

• Test your battery; battery power drops as the temperature drops
• Make sure the cooling system is in good working order
• Have winter tires with a deeper, more flexible tread put on your car
• If using all-season tires, check the tread on your tires and replace if less than 2/32 of an inch
• Check the tire pressure; tire pressure drops as the temperature drops
• Check your wiper blades and replace if needed
• Add wiper fluid rated for -30 degrees
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze
  

  How to Avoid a Crash: One of the most important winter driving tips: accelerate and decelerate slowly. Mashing your foot down on the gas or the brake while driving in snow can cause your car to lose traction and you to lose control…

  • Avoid using cruise control in wintry conditions
  • Steer in the direction of a skid, so when your wheels regain traction, you don’t have to overcorrect to stay in your lane
  • Accelerate and decelerate slowly
  • Increase following distance to 8 to 10 seconds
  • If possible, don’t stop when going uphill

There is a lot of very useful and informative information in driving 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!

Speeding is more than just breaking the law…

The consequences are far-ranging:

• Greater potential for loss of vehicle control;
• Reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment;
• Increased stopping distance after the driver perceives a danger;
• Increased degree of crash severity leading to more severe injuries;
• Economic implications of a speed-related crash; and
• Increased fuel consumption/cost.

Speeding behavior and aggressive drivers may not only affect the speeder—it can also affect other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Here are some tips for encountering speeders on the road: 

• Give speeding drivers plenty of space. Speeding drivers may lose control of their vehicles more easily.
• Adjust your driving accordingly. Speeding is tied to aggressive driving. If a speeding driver is tailgating you or trying to engage you in risky driving, use judgment to safely steer your vehicle out of the way.
• Call the police if you believe a driver is following you or harassing you.

To stay safe on the road consider taking a defensive driving class. A-1 offers classes virtually and at 19 locations where you can learn more tricks and tips such as these!

A 19-year-old Rockmart woman, Alyssa Jackson, has been charged with DUI after a wreck that sent her and three others, including a juvenile boy, to the hospital with serious injuries.

Reports said Jackson was driving her Nissan Sentra south on Shiflett Road when her car left the shoulder and went down an embankment, flipped numerous times, and landed on the hood.  The vehicle came to a stop near a driveway at 6390 Rockmart Road.

The front seat passenger, Malorie Bradfield, 19 of Rockmart, was sent to a local hospital with serious injuries. She is listed in stable condition.

A backseat passenger, Aaron Tanner, was taken to Floyd Medical Center where he is listed in critical condition Monday.

Reports went on to say that a 16-year-old male juvenile was airlifted to Scottish Rite hospital in Atlanta with life-threatening injuries.

Both males were ejected.

Jackson has been treated and released from Floyd Medical Center.

Jackson was charged with DUI.  Additional charges are pending.

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.

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

What To Do If An Animal Runs In Front Of Your Vehicle

• Scan the road and shoulders ahead of you.
  • Looking ahead helps provide enough reaction time if an animal is spotted.
  • Also, remember some animals move in groups, so when there is one, there are usually more in the area.
• Use high-beam headlights if there’s no oncoming traffic.
  • Wildlife may be spotted sooner when using high beams. This will give the driver time to slow down, move over or honk the horn to scare the animal away.
  • High beams also help in spotting some animals’ reflective eyes.
• If a collision is unavoidable, apply the brakes firmly and remain in your lane. 
  • Swerving to avoid an animal can often cause a more serious crash or result in drivers losing control of vehicles.
• Be extra cautious at dawn and dusk.
  • Most animals, especially deer, tend to be more active early in the morning and at dusk.
• Slow down and use extra caution when traveling through areas with a high and active wildlife population.  
  • Be aware of increased wildlife movement in some regions during certain times of the year, such as hunting or mating season.
• Drivers should always wear a seat belt and remain awake, alert, and sober. 

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!

Penalties for DUI in Georgia are related to the number of prior offenses:

When someone has a first DUI in Georgia they face the following potential penalties:

• 12 months of probation
• A minimum fine of $300 plus court costs and surcharges
• Between 1 – 10 days in jail, which many times can be waived
• At least 40 hours of community service
• Substance abuse counseling
• Attendance of the DUI Risk Reduction School (commonly referred to as DUI School)
• Attendance of a Madd Mothers Victim Impact Panel
• Drivers License Suspension, with a limited permit to drive

When someone has a second DUI in Georgia, they face the following potential penalties:

• Between 12 – 36 months of probation
• Fines of between $600 – $1000, plus all applicable surcharges and court costs
• Between 90 days – 12 months in jail, all of which can be done through probation except for at least 3 days that must be served in jail.
• 30 days of community service (240 hours)
• DUI School
• Driver’s License Suspension
• Red stripe on license
• Installing of an ignition interlock device, after a “hard license suspension” of 120 days
• Surrender of license plate
• Mandatory substance abuse counseling
• Potential DUI Court, in jurim
• Photo publication in the legal organ of the county in which the offense occured

When someone is charged with DUI Drugs in Georgia, they face the following potential penalties:

• The penalties for DUI Drugs in Georgia are essentially the same as alcohol-related DUI cases
• The main difference is that those convicted of DUI Drugs do not qualify for a restricted license or limited permit

When someone is charged with Prescription Drug DUI in Georgia, they face the following potential penalties:

• The penalties for Prescription Drug DUI in Georgia are the same as with any other DUI in Georgia
• The difference is that people convicted of DUI while impaired by any drug may not qualify for a limited permit or restricted license.
• The other main difference is that there is often more sympathy for this from of driving under the influence, and as a result, some prosecutors are more flexible in their evaluation of the case

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

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