As of July 1, 2011. California Department of Motor Vehicles will be tracking driver safety violations. The courts will no longer be allowed to “dismiss” infractions after a driver attends Traffic Violator School (TVS).

Up to now, when convictions were stamped “dismissed”, it was equivalent to a verdict of “not guilty” so it appeared as though there were no violations. Frequent offenders have been able to use this loophole as a way to repeatedly attend a Traffic Violator School.

Under the new law, (AB 2499), a driver who attends a Traffic Violator School will have their (first) conviction masked and aviod a negative mark on their driving record. However, if they accue additional violations within the 18 months, the convictions will appear on their driving record as a “neglient operator”, points will be assigned and their insurance company will be notified.

A Traffic Violator School conviction (will not) be masked if:

• There is a prior TVS dismissal or conviction within the previous 18 months.
• The conviction is a major (2 point) violation (DUI or Reckelss Driving).
• The driver holds a commercial driver licence or was operating a commercial vehicle at the time of the violation.

Registration for Continuing Education Seminars for California Driving and Traffic School Owners, Operators, Instructors.

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles regulations require Re-Testing or the Completion of 18 hours of Continuing Education every 3 years.

Each of our seminars is 6 hours towards the 18 hour requirement.

According to the California Vehicle Code Section 11105, Paragraph of subdivision B, states: Satisfactory completion of an examination once during each succeeding 3 year period, after the initial issuance of a license certificate.

Instead of an examination for renewal of the license, the Department of Motor Vehicles will accept evidence of Continuing Professional Education. Professional Education used in this subdivision means: satisfactory completion of courses related to Traffic Safety, Teaching Techniques or the teaching of Driver Education acceptable to DMV.

Go to either:

www. ContEducationSeminars.com ~ Or

www.JacobsensDrivingSchool.com and Click on Services and follow the directions

Operation LifeSaver was started in Idaho in 1972 by a concerned railroad employee over high injuries and fatalities with train and pedestrians. With the help of the Idaho’s Governor’s Office, the Idaho’s Peace Officers and the Union Pacific Railroad started a six week awareness education campaign called Operation LifeSaver to promote high-way rail grade crossing safety. Idaho’s crossing related fatalities that year fell 43%.

In 1972, there was over 12,000 collisions at US highway-rail-grade crossings annually.

In 1973, Nebraska adopted their own Train and Pedestrian Safety Program.

In 1974, Georgia and Kansas adopted their own Train abd Pedestrian Safety Program.

In 1986, Non-Profit Operation LifeSaver Program was created in providing public education programs to prevent collisions, injuries and fatalities on and around railroad tracks and highway-rail-grade crossings. Within 10 years, this program spread throughout the United States.

Today, Operation LifeSaver is a network of certified volunteer speakers and trained instructors offering free rail safety education programs in all 50 States and internationally. We speak too: School Groups, Driver Education Classes, Community Groups, Professional Drivers, Law-Enforcement Officers and Emergency Responders.

Our programs are co-sponsored with federal, state and local government agencies, highway safety organizations and America’s railroads. Together, we promote the three E’s. Education, Enforcement and Engineering – keeping people safe around the tracks and railway crossings within our communities.

Education: Includes not only free public presentations, but also public service annoucements, videos, brochures and other related materials.

Enforcement: If existing laws governing trespassing are not enforced, more people will continue to be hit, seriously injured or even killed on railroad property and along railroad right-of-ways.

Engineering: Operation LifeSaver endorses the continous safety improvements at highway rail-grade-crossings through design and technology.

The U.S. Department of Transportation projections is calling for big increases in rail transport over the next 3 decades. It  means that we along with rail safety partner’s in the rail industry and at the federal, state and local levels, at Operation LifeSaver, we are committed to raising awareness and improving public safety on and around highway-rail grade crossings and tracks through public awareness and education.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO SAVING LIVES!

EVERY 3  HOURS A PERSON OR VEHICLE IS HIT BY A TRAIN!

A typical locomotive weighs approximately 200 tons. You add 100 railcars. Now, you have a train weighing over 6,000 tons. The ratio of a train to a automobile is 4,000 to 1 and like a automobile to a can of soda.

Trains can not swerve!

Trains can only go one way! On the tracks. It takes a mile or more to stop.

Despite warning signs, crossing gates and signals. Many collisions do occur at highway-rail crossings each year.

The Problem! Driver Impatience! Driver Inattention! Errors in Judgement! Too many drivers forget or ignore the safe driving procedures at railroad crossings. A approaching train can create an illusion that it is moving slower than you think. Modern trains are more quieter than ever with no telltale “clackety-clack” noise. Remain patient, pay attention and exercise sound judgement can help prevent you from colliding with a train.

Here are some basic Railroad Safety Tips:

Slow down when approaching a highway-rail gate crossing. Signal the driver behind you that you are slowing down by using serveral taps on your brake pedal. If the gates are down or warning lights are flashing, stop and wait until the gates goes up and the warning lights stop flashing. Stop no closer than 15 feet from a railroad crossing. If the crossing is equipped with flashing red lights and they are flashing. DO NOT attempt to cross the tracks. If the crossing is NOT equipped with flashing lights or crossing gates, then use extra caution when crossing.

Turn off the Radio! Take off Head Phones! Turn off Cell Phones! NO Tex Messaging! STOP Talking to Your Passengers! Lower your car windows so that you can hear the train coming. With the windows up, you can not hear the sounds coming in. DO NOT assume that you will be able to hearthe train coming. NEVER try to beat a train to the crossing, whether controlled or uncontrolled. NEVER attempt to cross the railroads if warning lights are flashing or trying to go around the ends of the lowered crossing gates. SLOW DOWN! LOOK! LISTEN! and if there is no train insight, proceed to cross the tracks quickly and safely without stopping. Always wait for the vehicle ahead of you to clear the tracks before you start across. To avoid being trapped at a crossing, NEVER stop on or near the railroad tracks.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE 15 FEET ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TRACK!

After the train has passed. Look left and right to see no other trains are coming. BE CAREFUL! A second train could be along side or behind the first one or coming from the opposite direction.

IF YOUR VEHICLE STALLS ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS!

IMMEDIATELY! Look left and right for any oncomming trains. Get everyone out of the vehicle. RUN towards the train at a 45% angle so that you and your passengers DO NOT get hit from flying debris should the train collides with your vehicle. Call the emergency number located on the cross buck mast or near the crossing and call the local law enforcement or 911. Provide the operator with the 6 digit and letter that identifies the crossing. The number is unique to that crossing and may be located on the cross buck mast, fence or electrical box. If no train is coming and you have a clear view of the train tracks in both directions. Try to start the engine. If you can not start your vehicle and you are sure that NO trains are coming. Then try to push your vehicle off the tracks far away.

RAILROAD CROSSING SAFETY TIPS!

NEVER rely on crossing signals or gates to warn you of an oncomming train. Just like any thing else, they can break. There is no substitute for SLOWING DOWN! LOOKING! LISTENING! Always wait for the vehicle in front of you to clear the tracks before you go. You DO NOT want to be stuck behind a car or truck if it stalls in the middle of the railroad crossing. NEVER pass another car, no matter how slow it is going at a railroad crossing. Be extra careful following motorcyclists or bicyclists crossing railroad tracks. They may lose their traction on the slippery tracks or lose control if their tires get caught in the tracks crossing the roadway at an angle. Be prepared for the cyclist to swerve to cross the tracks at a right angle. When you follow buses, trucks or other vehicles carrying flammable or other hazardous cargo, always increase your following distance. Be prepared to stop behind them when they get to any railroad crossing. NOT just ones with warning signs and signals. Trains travel at ALL HOURS of the day or night. It is NEVER too late or too early for a train to be running. Be especially careful at night at uncontrolled railroad crossings. If the train is moving slowly enough or if the weather limits your ability to see or hear, you may not realize that it is there. DO NOT assume that the tracks are never used just because they appear to be in bad condition and overgrown with weeds. Even if certain stretches of the track are not often used. Railroad companies may run maintenance trains down these tracks from time to time.

LOOK! LISTEN! LIVE!

Mature Driver Improvement Course
55 and Older
Lower Your car insurance payments up to 15%
Take Our Online Course to receive your Discount
Approved by the State of California
Mandatory Insurance Discount for 3 years per California Insurance Code Section 11628.3
Tune up your driving skills and up date your knowledge of the Rules of the Road
Learn about normal age-related physical changes and how to adjust your driving to allow for these changes
Reduce your traffic violations, crashes and chances for injuries