Every day, thousands of people die in unnecessary vehicle-related accidents. Here are a few of the biggest deadly driver mistakes you want to steer clear from. Pun intended.

Ignoring the Obvious

There are many driving deaths every day that could have been prevented simply by doing the obvious. That uncomfortable lump of metal you’re sitting on? That’s a seatbelt. You plug it into the other thingy and it keeps you from Supermanning out of your car in the case of a collision.

Taking Risks

Did you know that if you go 75MPH instead of 65MPH for 30 miles, you’ll arrive less than 4 minutes earlier? Less than 4 minutes! You spent twice that amount of time in the shower, standing there, doing absolutely nothing! Speeding doesn’t really save you much time at all.

Distracting Yourself

Whether you’re eating that burger and fries, texting your boo, or constantly changing the song (AKA “DJ Clueless”), distracted driving plays a major role in vehicle deaths. It may be tempting, but with every distraction, you’re putting yourself at a greater risk. And if your boo really can’t wait five minutes for your “I     U” text, well, then, maybe you should look into finding someone a little more self-assured.

Thinking You’re Okay to Drive

Drunk driving is a huge problem in America, and it’s not only people who are completely trashed, getting behind the wheel and driving into the neighbor’s swimming pool. In fact, it’s mostly due to people who wonder if they are okay to drive, and then get behind the wheel anyway. “I’m only going up the street,” or “I’m not THAT drunk” are two of the many ways buzzed people justify drives that could very easily end up in tragedy.

The same goes for tired driving, and even driving when you’re angry, or sad, or just overwhelmed by emotions. Anytime you’re not thinking clearly, you should not be driving. Here’s a handy rule of thumb: If you have to wonder, “Am I okay to drive,” then the answer is, “No. You are not okay to drive.”

Be a Discerning Passenger

Did you know that you can have an impact even when you’re not the one behind the wheel? If your friend (or taxi driver) isn’t in the best state of mind to be driving, suggest pulling over to switch for a while. Perhaps they aren’t thinking as clearly, or as objectively, as you are. Maybe they are being stubborn, but speaking up might just save their life – and yours, too.

You can also help keep the driver safe by being a good passenger. Don’t be a constant distraction. If they are feeling a little bored, engage them in a conversation. They’re driving you all over the place, the least you could do is help make sure you both arrive safely.

What You Should Do

If you really need it spelled out: Don’t break the law. Do pay attention. Treat your car like a loaded gun, because it is. It can take lives just as easily, and as such, should be treated with the very same care and respect.

Like anything else, contesting a traffic ticket has a bit of a risk to it. Rather than asking for forgiveness and leniency (which may result in a reduced fine), you’re telling the court that you were given the ticket unfairly in the first place. Here are a few tips for what to do when you find yourself in that awkward situation.

Poke Holes in the Officer’s Argument

It’s time to put all those years of watching Law & Order to good use. Go back over all the surrounding details, make a note of anything that seems out of place. What are you looking for? Anything that might discredit the officer’s ticket. It may feel like you’re looking for a needle in a haystack, but if you find something, anything, it could convince the judge to toss your case out.

Here are a few things you might want to keep an eye out for:

• Was the speed limit sign/stop sign obscured by bushes or trees?
• Was all of the information on your ticket written correctly?
• When was the last time the officer’s radar gun was calibrated or serviced?
• Does the officer have a record of issuing unfair citations?

Any of these details are good for building the case that you were ticketed unfairly.

When You Are In Court

Does all of this feel a little, well, seedy to you? Welcome to the American judicial system. It’s not so much about who is right or wrong, it’s about painting a picture that’s sympathetic to your cause. In this case, the ticket was unjust, so your goal is to do what you can to ensure you walk out of there without having to pay a fine.

If you feel morally icky about all of this, that’s probably a good thing. But you should know, that’s how the system works, and you can be sure that’s how the officer is playing it. Ask yourself this: Do you want to pay a ticket, or not?

“So wait – I should lie?”
No, of course not. You don’t necessarily have to prove that you were in the right, you just have to prove that the officer was in the wrong about something. Anything. And it could help.

Take a Traffic School Course – Ahead of Time

Don’t pretend you wouldn’t benefit from a refresher course. Taking an online traffic school can be a useful part of your in-court strategy (“Your Honor, I have taken it upon myself to enroll in, and pass, an online traffic school course, in an effort to be proactive with my personal driving safety.”) It’s also a great way to prevent the next ticket from ever happening.

The Next Time You Are Ticketed

Just kidding! Of course, there won’t be a next time. Whether you win or lose, you should be walking away having learned a valuable lesson: It’s always easier to avoid the hassle and simply not get a ticket in the first place.

According to the National Motorists Association, Florida is the state “most likely to hand out a traffic ticket” in the U.S. So if you live in the Sunshine State and you’ve got a lead foot, just know that you run a high risk of getting pulled over. How much, exactly? Well, if you add up all the citations that were written for “speeding in a posted zone” violations in 2012, the number comes out to 889,811. This data, collected by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, shows that 5,975 traffic tickets were given out for “driving too fast for conditions” alone.

Speeding isn’t just something you get an annoying traffic ticket for, either. The whole reason speeding is an offense is because it puts other drivers, and pedestrians, in danger. And speeding tickets are meant to deter you from speeding again. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2008, there were 553 speeding-related fatalities in the state of Florida. So how can we get this number down to zero? The obvious answer is that drivers need to slow down and obey the speed limit when they’re on the road, no matter where they are.

In case you need a refresher on Florida speed limits, they are as follows (unless a posted sign states otherwise):

• School zones: 20 MPH
• Municipal speed areas: 30 MPH
• Business/residential areas: 30 MPH
• Rural interstates: 70 MPH
• Limited access highways: 70 MPH

And in general, the speed limit is 55 MPH for all other roads and highways. But again, always be on the lookout for posted signs, because these will indicate what is allowed in any specific area. It can be challenging to know what to do when you’re in a situation where every car around you is speeding. If you go the speed limit, and it’s significantly slower than the speed of others around you, you can actually cause more harm than good. But going too fast can get you in trouble too. Here are some quick tips to help you avoid getting a speeding ticket.

Don’t Make Yourself Stick Out

If you can, try to blend in with the cars around you. The vehicles at the front of the group and at the back are the ones that will get the most attention, so stay in the middle if you can. Don’t do anything that will make you stand out, like weaving in and out of lanes or tailgating.

Keep Out of the Fast Lane

You shouldn’t be driving for long stretches in the far left lane (or fast lane) of the freeway anyway—it’s intended for passing other vehicles. But avoiding this lane becomes even more important when everyone is speeding. Drivers who remain in the fast lane are common targets for speeding tickets.

Utilize Cruise Control

A good way to ensure you’re not constantly speeding up and slowing down (or drawing attention to yourself) is to set your cruise control so you stay at a steady pace. If you do this while following the other tips, you’ll be in good shape.

But if you do find yourself with a ticket, remember that you can always take Florida traffic school to brush up on safe-driving skills, or possibly even dismiss ticket points. Check out our homepage at http://www.trafficschoolonlineflorida.com/ to find out more about your options.

Wondering how much a DUI costs in the Sunshine State? The short answer is: a lot. A DUI in Florida comes with many penalties, both monetary and otherwise. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect if you are convicted of a DUI.

First Conviction

According to Florida DUI laws, the consequences you will face for your first conviction are:

• A fine between $500 and $1,000
  • If your Blood/Breath Alcohol Level (BAL) is 0.15 or higher, or there is a minor in the vehicle, the fine is between $1,000 and $2,000
  • 50 hours of mandatory community service (or additional $10 fine for each hour of community service required)
  • Total probation and incarceration period of up to 1 year
  • Up to 6 months in prison
    • Up to 9 months if your BAL is 0.15 or higher, or there is a minor in the vehicle
    • Impoundment of vehicle for up to 10 days
    • Driver’s license revocation between 180 days and 1 year
    • Completion of a DUI school (visit http://www.trafficschoolonlineflorida.com/ to find out about the courses we offer)

As you can see, it’s a lot more than just drunk driving fines. And if you are convicted of driving under the influence more than once, the penalties are even harsher.

Second Conviction

• A fine between $1,000 and $2,000
  • If your BAL is 0.15 or higher, or there is a minor in the vehicle, the fine is between $2,000 and $4,000
  • Up to 9 months in prison
    • Up to 12 months if your BAL is 0.15 or higher/there is a minor in the vehicle
    • If this is the second conviction within 5 years, you will get at least 10 days of imprisonment, with at least 48 hours being consecutive
    • Impoundment of vehicle for up to 30 days if this is your second conviction within 5 years
    • Driver’s license revocation between 180 days and 1 year
      • Revocation for 5 years if your second conviction occurred within 5 years of your first
      • Completion of a DUI school after conviction

Third Conviction

• A fine between $2,000 and $5,000 (if the third conviction is over 10 years from the second)
  • If your BAL is 0.15 or higher, or there is a minor in the vehicle, the fine is at least $4,000
  • Up to 12 months in prison
    • If this is the third conviction within 10 years, you will get a minimum of 10 days of imprisonment, with at least 48 hours being consecutive
    • Impoundment of vehicle for up to 90 days if this is your third conviction within 10 years
    • Driver’s license revocation for at least 10 years if your third conviction occurred within 10 years of your second
    • Completion of a DUI school after conviction

It’s a good idea to hire a lawyer to help you navigate the legal process when you get a DUI. Sometimes, it is possible to have a plea bargain of “wet reckless,” or a conviction of reckless driving involving alcohol, accepted by the prosecution. This is a reduction from a DUI charge. But the best way to avoid the headache of drunk driving charges? Don’t drive drunk in the first place!

Florida speeding laws are strict – and for good reason. The state is well known for its street and drag racing history, so set rules are in place to curb this kind of behavior – and speeding in general – while driving on public roads. Still, no matter what traffic laws are in place, drivers find ways to break them. And in the process, points are added to their driving record, insurance premiums tick upward, and more accidents happen because of their reckless behavior.

Taking Stock of Speeding Laws

The state’s basic speed rule is simple: No one shall drive their vehicle at speeds that are greater than reasonable. And, drivers must be cautious behind the wheel at all times no matter what conditions they’re driving in. It’s pretty straightforward stuff. Drivers must also keep in mind the following statutory speed limits whenever they’re in gear:

• 70 mph on limited access highways
• 55 mph in all locations except as noted
• 30 mph in business and residence districts
• 20 mph in school zones

If drivers stick to these rules, there’s really nothing to worry about. A good part of the whole driving experience is rooted in responsibility. You’ve heard the saying, “There’s no need to speed.” Pay attention to that one, and let it be you’re mantra whenever you’re in the driver’s seat. It’ll save you from getting pulled over by a police officer, cited and fined.

Fines Vary by County

Speed demons with no regard for speed limit laws are bound to take a hit for their actions. And, it’s important to know that the penalties involved are often steep.  It’s also good to know that fines vary by county. For example, driving 6-9 mph over the speed limit in Orange County costs you around $129.00, while in Miami-Dade County the same violation is a whopping $151.00.

Plus, each traffic violation has a predetermined number of associated points attached to it. This is what really affects your driving record since points increase you insurance premiums, and racking up a lot of them in a short period of time often leads to a suspended license or permanent revocation. What’s more, you’ll have your license suspended if you accumulate the following points:

• 12 points within 12 months
• 18 points within 18 months
• 24 points within 36 months

As you can see, there’s no reward attached to the risks involved with speeding.

Slow Down and Drive Safely

The best way to avoid fines and penalties associated with speeding laws in Florida is to curb your need for speed. Give yourself plenty of time to get wherever you’re going. If you have trouble keeping a punctual schedule each day, leave your home early if you must in order to arrive on time. And, unless you’re a drag strip devotee or a track racing weekend warrior, don’t race others public roads. Why go through all the trouble that’s involved with speeding and reckless driving just to get somewhere faster or prove point that your ride’s superior. But if you just can’t resist the urge to push the needle on your speedometer past what’s legally allowed and get busted by the police, you always have the option to keep your driving record in good standing by taking a traffic school course at http://www.trafficschoolonlineflorida.com/

When you receive a traffic ticket in Florida, it will usually be accompanied by two consequences. Most infractions will come with a moderate monetary fine, which must be paid by a certain date.  Additionally, moving violations in Florida typically come with the addition of 3, 4, or 6 demerit points to your Florida driving record. Too many of these points building up in a short period of time will lead to license suspension and potentially other more severe consequences.

Many drivers believe that paying the ticket will remove the points from your record. On the contrary, paying the ticket is an admission of guilt and will most likely just ensure that the points are enforced. To stop the points from affecting your record, you will either have to contest the ticket in court (and prove your innocence) or take an approved Florida traffic school course, which is available either in person or online.

Florida traffic school is available for most drivers, so long as it is not taken too frequently, and will effectively nullify the points and/or fines associated with a ticket. If you are interested in keeping demerit points off your Florida driving record, talk to the courts and see if Florida online traffic school is right for you.

Florida driving regulations allow overtaking or passing of a slow-moving vehicle so long as you pass on the left, do not exceed the posted speed limit, allow at least 3 feet of space between you and the other car, and properly signal when shifting lanes. The lane on the left has to be clearly visible and free from oncoming traffic. There are also situations where passing on the right is allowed, such as when a vehicle is stopped and waiting to make a left turn. When you pass, you need to give yourself plenty of space in front of your car at the onset of passing, or else your vision of the road ahead will be limited.
Stay Focused Behind the Wheel
Whenever you’re passing or changing lanes in Florida, careful attention must be paid to the lane markings on the road. Remember that white lines denote lanes traveling in the same direction, and yellow lines mean traffic is travelling in the opposite direction. You can’t cross a solid unbroken line, even to pass, and doing so is grounds for a ticket, which will require attendance of Florida traffic school to keep points off your record.

Traffic School Online Florida is proud to be a leading provider of the 4-hour Florida Basic Driver Improvement Course (BDI), 8-hour Florida Intermediate Driver Improvement Course (IDI), and 12-hour Florida Advanced Driver Improvement Course (ADI). Our courses have been used by thousands of Florida drivers to learn the principles of responsible driving, keep points from appearing on their records, and reinstate or prevent the loss of driving privileges. Our customers are consistently satisfied with the quality and responsiveness of our online course material, and frequently refer us to their friends in need of driving school.

The Best Course Design
Our courses stand out above the crowd because of how user-friendly and straightforward they are. Many other online traffic schools are DHSMV-approved like us, but the manner in which they present their content can be dull and confusing. Long blocks of uninterrupted text, esoteric terms, and excessive redundancy can easily turn a simple lesson into a mind-numbing chore. Traffic School Online Florida makes use of a pleasant mix of text, video, graphics, and animations to keep the courses fresh and exciting throughout, while appealing to a wide variety of learners and personalities. No other course offers courses as varied and exciting as we do. Plus, the time sure goes by a lot faster when you’re having fun along the way.

Competitive Pricing
We are also among the lowest-priced courses out there. A lot of other online traffic schools will try to sell you the same BDI, IDI, or ADI course for a much higher price in the hopes that you will automatically assume that more money means higher quality, or more legitimacy in the eyes of the DHSMV. In reality, as long as a course has been officially approved by the Florida DHSMV, in their eyes it doesn’t matter where you take it. Course completion is course completion, so far as they are concerned (however, if you mistakenly take a course which is not approved, your time will have been wasted and your certificate of completion will be worthless). You could easily end up paying 2 or 3 times as much as you need to for a course which lacks all the friendly features of Traffic School Online Florida.

Online Is the Way to Go
Taking an online course like ours really is a superior option for most Florida drivers out there who can’t fit the entire duration of the class in one block of time. Our online service allows you to log in at any time from any computer with Internet access and continue wherever you last left off. Proceed at your own pace and on your own time, instead of dealing with a forced group classroom setting where you may be way ahead of the crowd or left in the dust entirely. We know you won’t be disappointed with the quality of service and great price TrafficSchoolOnlineFlorida.com has to offer.

Different states in the U.S. use different demerit point systems for their drivers. However, infractions committed in one state will usually affect your record in your home state as well. When out-of-state drivers commit an infraction and receive a Florida traffic ticket, they will be subject to Florida law like any resident. This means that to get the points dismissed from your record and prevent them from following you home, you will need to take a Florida DHSMV-approved traffic school course.

Thankfully, you won’t have to drive all the way back to Florida to take your traffic school course. Florida visitors can enroll in any approved online traffic school course and take it from home. The Florida DHSMV will be notified upon your completion and take care of removing the points and/or fines from there. This should update your driving record across the country and ensure you have a clean history wherever you go.

Of all the driving tickets in Florida, red light camera tickets are perhaps the most annoying. You may not even realize you’ve run a red light, or maybe you didn’t see the flash from the camera go off, but sure enough, a short while later in the mail you receive a ticket with a picture of your car in the intersection. A lot of people don’t realize that they can contest a red light ticket just like any other ticket, so they just pay them without giving the matter any further consideration. The process for fighting these tickets can be different, and even simpler, than fighting a traditional ticket.

Contesting a Florida Red Light Cam Ticket

The first thing you should do upon receiving a ticket is ensure that it is in fact your car and your face in the picture. Mistakes happen all the time. Florida red light camera law says that if you are not the one driving the car in the picture, you cannot be held legally responsible for another person’s actions. You will need to notify the Florida DHSMV of your intention to contest the ticket by the date printed on your ticket. You will be appointed a court date to testify and present your case for innocence.

As with any other kind of traffic ticket, it is a good idea to take notes and gather evidence of your innocence. Be prepared to explain and demonstrate to the court that you were not driving the car, or that you did not actually run the red light. A lot of tickets are dismissed due to lack of proper notification of cameras at an intersection. Furthermore, because no accusing officer was actually present at the moment of the alleged infraction, many Florida drivers are let off on the grounds that there was no actual witness to the crime. You may get off free if no one is present to accuse you.