Category: Driving News

Toyota is recalling about 2.9 million cars in the U.S. because the airbags may not inflate in a crash.

The recall covers certain 2011-2019 Corollas, the 2011 to 2013 Matrix, the 2012 through 2018 Avalon and the 2013 to 2018 Avalon Hybrid.

Toyota says the airbag control computer may not be properly protected against electrical interference. That can lead to incomplete airbag deployment or failure to inflate in a crash.

Toyota statement:

“The subject vehicles may be equipped with an electronic control unit (ECU) from a specific supplier designed to receive signals from crash sensors and deploy the airbags and seat belt pretensioners.  The ECU may not have adequate protection against certain electrical noise that can occur in certain crashes, such as severe underride crashes. This can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the airbags and/or seat belt pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of seat belt pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.”

In most cases, Toyota dealers will install a noise filter between the airbag control computer and a wiring harness. In some cases, dealers will inspect the computer to determine if it needs the filter. The remedy will be at no cost to vehicle owners.

Owners will be notified by mid-March.

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!

A national drug testing company recently published a ranking of the states according to the rates of drunken driving, and Georgia finished in the middle of the pack.

The findings were based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Transportation and FBI crime reports.

Georgia ranked 23rd overall for drunken driving rates in 2018, with 308.7 DUI-related arrests per 100,000 people.

Other metrics cited in the report showed our state has:

• Short-term rate change in DUI arrest rate: 32.4 percent increase from 2014-2018
• Long-term rate change in DUI arrest rate: 12.8 percent decrease from 2009-2018

In the 10-year span from 2009 to 2018, Georgia peaked in 2009 with 398.74 arrests for every 100,000 people.

The United States overall has seen the population-adjusted rate of drunken driving arrests fall by more than 35 percent since 2009. Only three states — Delaware, Washington, and North Dakota — recorded an increase in DUI arrests from 2009 to 2018.

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!

Police said 32-year-old Norcross man Jaafar Bilal was transported to the hospital with serious injuries after the accident.

According to the preliminary investigation, the driver of the Toyota crossed the center line and struck the Mazda head-on. The Mazda spun around and came to rest facing the opposite direction.

The driver of the Ford attempted to maneuver around the collision but struck the rear of the Mazda in the process. The Ford eventually left the roadway on the right shoulder and came to rest against a tree, according to the accident report.

The accident report said the driver of the Toyota did not know what caused the collision and contested leaving their lane. The driver of the Ford told police the Toyota was moving quickly around the curve when it wobbled and struck the Mazda.

Police said additional details are being investigated in this case.

Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Jaafar Bilal. 

Tips And Techniques For Safe Curve Driving

1. Obey Posted Speed Limits: Speeding is at the top of the list for driving in general and if you don’t obey the rules of the roads; you’ll end up killing you or someone else. If there isn’t a speed limit sign near a curve, use good judgment and decrease your speed.
2. Stay In Your Lane: When approaching curves always scan ahead and stay between the lane-lines. Do not hug the curve too closely while driving in the outer lane. If you’re driving in the inner lane, try not to drift outward, which will cause an accident.
3. Decrease In/Accelerate Out: After the midway point of the curve it is good to speed up just a bit. This way you can begin to catch up with the posted speed limit of the area. The opposite is to slow down when entering, which gives you a safer approach by giving the driver more control of the vehicle. Straighten the steering wheel as you come out of the curve.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that an average of 300 people died annually in drunk-driving-related crashes since 2013.

This month is more commonly associated with the holidays, which is the perfect time to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.

While people all over the world are enjoying themselves, they are more exposed to alcohol and oftentimes, other substances. This makes the holidays one of the most dangerous seasons to be a driver or a passenger on the roads!

NHTSA’s 2013-2014 National Roadside Survey revealed that 20 percent of nighttime weekend drivers tested positive for drugs. Those struggling with drug addiction in Atlanta are encouraged to seek treatment for drugs.

The proportion of marijuana-positive drivers involved in fatal crashes increased from 8% in 2013 to 17% the next year(AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety).

The National Impaired Driving Prevention Month is a campaign that highlights the consequences of impaired driving. It reminds all drivers that drunk and drugged driving is considered impaired driving. Not only does it put the driver at risk, but it also endangers everyone sharing the road.

If someone refuses a breath test, it can no longer be held against that person in court. But if you refuse a blood test, it can still be held against you in court. 

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!

Chandler Parsons’ attorneys say the Atlanta Hawks forward suffered “severe and permanent injuries” in a car wreck last week that could jeopardize his career.

Attorneys John Morgan and Nick Panagakis of the firm Morgan & Morgan say the injuries Parsons suffered include a traumatic brain injury, disk herniation and a torn labrum. Parsons was leaving practice when he was hit by a driver who the attorneys say was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Hawks said last week that Parsons suffered a concussion and whiplash. The team has added “associated disk injury” to his list of injuries.

Parsons remains in the concussion protocol. He was not on the bench for the team’s last two games against San Antonio and Detroit.

Parsons’ attorneys said in a statement released that the other driver “admitted drinking, had alcohol in the car with him” and “passed out” following the crash. The attorneys say the driver, who was not identified, is responsible for “seriously injuring and potentially ending Mr. Parsons’ career as a professional athlete.”

The 31-year-old Parsons, acquired from Memphis last summer, has played just five games for the Hawks. He is averaging 2.8 points and is making more than $25 million in the final year of his contract.

Even though it will be a long road to recovery, A-1 would like to keep Parson in our thoughts and prayers. Our condolences to his family and friends.

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.

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

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!