What I learned in traffic school

As I go out in the world, a proud, grateful graduate of the Traffic School 4 Busy People, I look back on the hour I spent learning that pets should not ride in the front seat, motorized wheelchair users are considered pedestrians and it's a bad idea to get out of your car and challenge incompetent drivers to a fight.

Also, it's not legal to exceed the speed limit when passing (Hah!), the speed limit near senior centers is 25 mph, but don't expect a sign warning you your near a senior center, and try not to hit motorcyclists, even if they're lane-splitting, which is legal but dangerous. SMOG (Signal, check your Mirror, look Over your shoulder and go) before changing lanes.

When I did online traffic school about 15 years ago, it was paced for slow readers. I'd read what was on the screen, then read a few pages of a book while waiting to be able to get to the next screen.

In 2025, I had a choice of many online traffic schools. I picked the cheapest, which promised all tests are open book and first-time pass rates are very high. I was allowed to read at my own pace. There were 12 multiple-choice quizzes before the multiple-choice final of 25 questions. The passing score was 70 percent. And it was open book.

Many, many pages covered the obvious. The faster you're driving the longer it takes to stop. It takes more time to pass a semi. Don't try to eat, text and hand things to your children in the back seat while driving. Pay attention to driving conditions, and slow down if necessary. Above all, don't drive while drunk, drugged, angry or stupid.

Of course, stupidity is the most powerful force in the universe.

I think my depth perception is not as good as it used to be. Neither is my night vision. I am overly cautious backing out of parking spaces. But, as I am neither crazy nor an idiot, I probably rank as a better-than-average driver by California standards.