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Driving Safety Re-Education 101

by the Social Diary Safety Educator Columnist Monica Zech
Column #7, February 15th, 2006

In driving, to be a safer driver, you must be 100-percent alert behind the wheel. Be prepared for the unexpected by making sure you and your passengers are correctly buckled up for the ride. And make sure you have very good "un-insured" motorist protection in your insurance coverage. Why? A growing problem is the number of uninsured motorists sharing the roadways with the rest of us. More reasons to be concerned are listed below thanks to research provided by the AAA Foundation.

Unlicensed Drivers in the United States
Did you know?
o Drivers who operate a motor vehicle without a driver's license are believed to be the most dangerous drivers on the road.
o About 20% of fatal crashes involve at least one unlicensed driver .
o According to one AAA study, nearly one death an hour from 1993-1999 can be attributed to unlicensed drivers. - Check this out
o One study found that 30 to 70 percent of drivers whose licenses have been suspended or revoked continue to drive.
o Some unlicensed drivers are actually more careful because getting stopped may have severe consequences.
o Many unlicensed drivers are also uninsured.
o In contrast to insured drivers, if you are in a collision with an uninsured driver, even if it's their fault, you may not be reimbursed for damages.
Major findings from AAA Foundation Reports:
The Problem
o One in five fatal crashes involved at least one driver who did not have a license.
o The proportion of invalidly licensed drivers varied widely by state, from 6% in Maine to 23% in New Mexico. Other high-risk jurisdictions included the District of Columbia, Arizona, California, and Hawaii.
o Not only were their licenses invalid, 28 percent of them had received three or more license suspensions or revocations in the three years before their crashes.
o Drunk driving is associated with unlicensed driving.
Note: Also know that a very large number of uninsured motorists are apprehended at D.U.I. checkpoints. Another reason not to be upset if you're delayed at a checkpoint. Just another way our Law Enforcement Officers are making roadways safer!

Please be safe! - Monica Zech

For additional fire safety information visit El Cajon Fire.com or for a safety lecture contact me at (619) 441-1615.

* Monica Zech is the Public Information Officer and Safety Educator for the City of El Cajon and for El Cajon Police and Fire Departments. For safety tips please visit El Cajon Fire.com In community work, Zech is the Vice President on the board for the Trauma Research Education Foundation-TREF and a board member with Communities Against Substance Abuse-CASA. In March, Monica received the County's 2005 Individual Health Champion Award for her safety lectures in the community and throughout the county.Email mzech@ci.el-cajon.ca.us and visit Zech's Web Site

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