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!

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.

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!

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! 

The Georgia State Patrol post in Gainesville issued 200 citations during the New Year holiday period, and local law enforcement made at least 11 DUI arrests.

Georgia State Patrol Gainesville Post Commander Auston Allen said the post made two DUI arrests. The post had an average of 11 troopers working each day.

Allen did not specify what type of offenses led to the most citations during the holiday period.

According to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office online database, six DUI arrests were made between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

The hotspots for arrests and citations included: Interstate 985/Ga. 365, McEver Road, Martin Road, Winder Highway, Talmo Road, Cleveland Highway, Athens Highway, Clarks Bridge Road, Memorial Park Road, Thompson Bridge Road and Candler Highway.

Hall County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Derreck Booth said there were eight traffic units on Dec. 31 and two units on Jan. 1.

The Sheriff’s Office did not issue a jail log Jan. 2, citing its change to the online database system.

A-1 Driving School in Gainesville

Hours of Operation: Tuesday thru Thursday 10:30am to 6:00pm Friday 10:30am to 7:00pm Saturday 8:00am to 12:00pm

Why A-1 Driving School in Gainsville?

The Gainesville location of A-1 Driving School is located at the corner of Jesse Jewel Parkway and Queen City Parkway. A-1 Driving School offers the Gainesville DUI School – Risk Reduction Program, Defensive Driving Program, and Teen/Adult Driver’s Education Program.

Gainesville DUI/Risk Reduction Class

Our DUI course is a 20-hour course and is offered every week. The Gainesville DUI School class – Risk Reduction course consists of the Assessment and a 20 hour class. The Assessment must be completed before the class is taken and will take between 25 and 45 minutes. The cost of the Gainesville program is $360 and is set by the State.

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

The driver was charged with driving under the influence in Savannah while transporting three elderly patients according to Georgia State Patrol Trooper Jamie Quinn.

The driver, Tahera Croom, 41, was discovered passed out at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Louisville Road while driving a gold Honda Odyssey after concerned motorists called the police to report the vehicle was stopped at a light partially in the intersection.

Quinn said a nearby trooper went to the scene and found the woman asleep behind the wheel.

Inside the van were three elderly female passengers. Quinn said the trooper detected the smell of alcohol and called medical personnel to the scene to determine the woman was not suffering from a medical issue.

Once it was determined that Croom had consumed alcohol and was not suffering from a medical condition, troopers attempted to initiate a field sobriety evaluation which Croom refused to submit to, Quinn said.

According to Quinn, the three elderly passengers who appeared to be suffering from mental disabilities were unable to provide the troopers with any information as to where they were coming from or going.

The women were taken to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah where they were fed and cared for until they were reunited with family.

 Croom was charged with DUI, operating a vehicle without a tag or decal, impeding traffic, improper reduction of speed, and improper display of license plates.

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

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

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!