Rush Hour

Rush Hour traffic is a plague on the idea of a timely arrival. For several hours in a day, the roads of Beaumont fill up with anxious drivers leaving for work or speeding home. Between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM, Beaumont experiences high volumes of traffic, because, apparently, a lot of people work the ol’ 9 to 5 grind.

Traffic Accidents

Traffic Accidents can cause major congestion and worsen peak busy hours. In 2014, Beaumont experienced nearly 642 traffic accidents. It could have been less, but people didn’t enroll in their Texas online defensive driving course. With statistics like this, the biggest accident is choosing to drive in the city.

Road Conditions

Road Conditions can bring traffic to a screeching halt. Whether there’s hindering construction, or you drive over a camouflaged pothole that destroys your tires, the condition of the road contributes greatly to the flow of traffic. Beaumont receives countless complaints of the poor road conditions and not enough on the lack of Whataburgers.

Speed Traps

Speed Traps will ruin anyone’s day. Getting slapped with a speeding ticket will force you to cough up hundreds of dollars. It will also make getting through traffic worse. Littered along I-10 are traps set to catch anyone exceeding the speed limit. Drive the speed limit or break your wallet’s limit.

Rush Hour

Rush Hour is expected in large cities. What isn’t expected is how much longer it lasts in Houston than it does in smaller cities, like Beaumont. From 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the city of Houston experiences massive delays in traffic, because of car congestion from busy commuters. Rush hour is longer in the evening, because Houston has a great selection of Whataburgers.

Downtown Traffic

Downtown Traffic is a whole other story. When rush hour stops everywhere else, downtown traffic continues to persevere. Instead of calling it “rush hour,” in downtown Houston, they just call it “rush forever.”

Road Conditions

Road Conditions in Houston are… not the worst. Despite the massive number of commuters, the infrastructure around Space City is in pretty good condition. However, that doesn’t account for road construction, which adds time to anyone’s commute.

Speed Traps

Speed Traps are set up around the city. Except trapping season is all year long. Specifically, police like to target highways when setting up a speed trap. This is to catch people running late for work or trying to get home in a hurry. If you have a honey butter chicken biscuit from Whataburger in your passenger seat, who wouldn’t be in a hurry.

It’s hard to compare the two cities. However, when it comes to traffic, they both have a notorious reputation. The only true way to discover which city has the worst traffic is by visiting the areas. Except we’ve been checking the traffic radar for downtown Houston all day and it’s STILL considered rush hour.

Faster Vehicle Sales?

When a vehicle is sold, it’s standard for this ownership to be transferred from seller to buyer. A new bill, S.B. 1062, aims to speed up bill sales by further streamlining odometer readings. Prior to the bill taking effect, the only way to meet the odometer reading requirement for a sale was to do it on a secure form. Why? Because it prevented any tampering from occurring. After it was done this way, the form then had to be mailed, which could potentially delay the vehicle ownership transfer process by a few days.

Now, it’s no longer a requirement to file the odometer reading this way. Per the bill, electronic forms are the only thing that’s needed today, making for faster transfers. It’s also worth noting that electronic readings may also now be submitted in the case of filing an insurance claim. Sometimes, the waiting is the hardest part – this makes the wait times much more manageable.

No Texting and Driving

Though this involves a law that went into effect in 2017, it’s worth repeating. Texas has joined many other states in the union and has made texting and driving illegal thanks to H.B. 62, which went into effect on September 1, 2017. The statewide ban can result in a misdemeanor offense for those who violate it while operating a vehicle.

According to the law, first-time violators may be fined about $100, with fines doubling for repeat offenders. For context, Texas speeding ticket cost for going one to 10 miles per hour over the speed limit carries a base fine of $97, while speeding 20 miles per hour or more carries a base fine of $200. (We should also note that if you have tickets and points on your license and are interested in getting your insurance premiums decreased, taking courses at a TX traffic school can help.)

In 2015, almost 3,500 died from an accident involving a distracted driver nationwide. What’s more is that nearly 400,000 people were injured because of distracted driving. It’s these facts that are leading many states to take such matters very seriously, and Texas is now no exception. To date, 47 U.S. states ban texting while driving, as does Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

New Weight Limits on Milk Hauling

S.B. 1383 likely doesn’t apply to most Texans, but it’s certainly worth noting when it comes to new driving laws for this year. Specifically, the law has increased the weight limits on the amount of milk that can be hauled in a truck. Prior to 2018, that limit was 80,000 pounds. Now, it’s 90,000 pounds. According to the bill’s sponsor, the last time the milk transportation limits were updated was in 1995, so this was evidently due for a review.

Per the bill, drivers must have a permit to do so. The permit costs $1,200. Again, this won’t apply to the majority of Texas drivers, but we’re guessing that the increased weight limit is welcomed by drivers and grocery stores. For reference, a gallon of milk weighs about 8.6 pounds. That means trucks will be able to carry an additional 1,162.7 gallons with their load.

Six Flags

That’s right, San Antonio is home to a Six Flags resort with fast track roller coasters, water parks, and plenty of entertainment for the entire family. Taking a day to explore this amusement park is a must for the fun seekers and thrill cravers.

Live Theater

Home to an abundance of historic theaters, San Antonio has got it all when it comes to live entertainment. You can pay a visit to the Charlie McCombs Empire Theater, the dashing Majestic Theater, or even the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club.

So, if you’re trying to entertain your inner thespian, check out some of the programming around San Antonio.

Museum Culture

Art museums, science museums, historic museums, etc. The museum culture is very lively around the San Antonio community. Whichever museum you find yourself visiting, you’ll surely find something that interests you in the vast amounts of options you have to choose from.

Ghost Tours

San Antonio is an old town with a long-standing history in southern culture. Everyone knows that ghosts love history, and, where there’s ghosts, there’s ghost tours. If you have a passion for the occult, then perhaps pay a visit to one of the many ghost tours offered around the area.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, you’ll have a fun, spooky time exploring the historic sights of one of the greatest towns in the south.

Remembering the Alamo

The Alamo is a must see when passing through San Antonio. This significant landmark houses some of the most memorable exhibits in the state of Texas. Also, it’s packed with history about the Confederate soldiers who defended the Alamo during its attack. This memorial is conveniently located in downtown San Antonio.

Breweries

If you’re trying to grab a brew and a bite to eat, then you’re in luck. San Antonio has got you covered with its teeming brewery culture. Even beer snobs will be surprised to find they’re impressed with the amount of options they have at their disposal when visiting.

Beer fanatics will go, ahem, bar nuts over San Antonio’s very own Bar walk, which features a walking tour through the historic bars and taverns throughout the city.

Hiking and Cave Exploration

There’s not just bars and ghosts in San Antonio. There’s also beautiful hiking trails and serene caves available for exploration. Even if you’re looking for something not as intense, the city offers peaceful parks available for relaxation.

Bus Tours

Nothing beats a city tour on the second level of a double decker bus. The best way to see the sights and tourist stops is by taking a bus tour through the city. From architecture to rumored haunted taverns, bus tours will give you a detailed breakdown of everything you need to know about San Antonio while you kick back and watch the city pass you by.

The San Antonio Zoo

There’s no better way to get up close to hundreds of animal species, insects, and fish when visiting San Antonio. That’s because it’s a zoo. If you’re trying to educate the children or just wanting to get up close and personal with a giraffe, you’ll be able to find it all at the San Antonio Zoo.

Golfing

Pack your golf clubs, if you got them, because it’s country clubs galore in San Antonio. There’s practically a golf course on every street corner here. Bask in the sun while striking your wedge through the sand and enjoy one of many golf courses throughout the city.

HIKE SOME NATIONAL PARKS

The Southwest is home to some of the most beautiful national parks in the entire country.

Between seeing the Arches in Utah and the Grand Canyon in Arizona, there’s all kind of wonderful spots to check out – so you can take that perfect insta-selfie.

When taking the I-10 West to California from Texas, you’ll find plenty of stops along the way. So, take a few hours and gander at the natural beauty of the Southwest.

TRY THE FOOD

Driving through the Southwest will take you through small towns teeming with culture. With culture, comes delicious food.

Take a pit stop in a town to taste test some food you might not have the chance to try in Houston. There’s lots of restaurants between Texas and California, so you could find just about anything.

You’ll be traveling along the border, so check out some authentic Mexican dishes.

GRAB SOME SOUVENIRS

Instead of driving past those bizarre small shops on the side of the road, make a pit stop and check out what’s for sale.

You’ll be finding all kinds of unusual and quant shops in the Southwest. Make sure you pack lightly so you can stack your car full of souvenirs you collect along the way. You’ll be glad you made the extra room for gifts and trinkets.

You might find something extremely strange that you could show off to friends when you get back. Who doesn’t want to see something from a mysterious side road shop?

SEE THE SIGHTS IN PASADENA

By taking a small detour off I-10 West, you’ll have the chance to find one of the most beautiful towns in the Southwest.

Pasadena is home to exotic wildlife, captivating sights, and gorgeous greenery that you won’t get anywhere else in the country. This cozy town is a popular spot for people to visit and it has great culture.

VISIT LOS ANGELES

If you’re going to Northern California, make sure to take a day stop in Los Angeles. From major tourist destinations such as Hollywood to the nightlife and its culture, Los Angeles has something you’ll find entertaining.

You can check out one of the famous museums or get cut off by a celebrity in traffic. It’s the entertainment capital of the world. You can’t not be entertained!

DRIVE SAFE

How could we almost forget the most important part of the entire trip?

It doesn’t matter if you are driving more than 2,000 miles or under 30 kilometers on your road trip, you must be prepared to encounter some dangerous drivers out there. Always drive safe, which includes not being distracted by the sites!

It also means be aware of the speed limit and traffic laws of each state you aren’t familiar with. You do not want to end up taking a TX defensive driving course to dismiss a ticket. Be prepared and display some of the best defensive driving Houston will ever see. Not just Houston, but New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

West Texas

West Texas is notable for stunning vistas, an absence of vegetation, and an extremely hard geological substrate. Repairs to roads in this area are really needed and long-lasting. All the same, on-ramps and on ramps to Interstate 10 will be closed between Zaragoza and Eastlake, near El Paso, until further notice. There is also construction going on with the Fabens Bridge Project for FM 76. This road is completely closed at this time, and have been since October. They intend to be done with this project by mid-February of 2018.

East Texas

East Texas is characterized by soft, silty soil deposited by the process of sedimentation. Although East Texas is not densely populated by the standards of most states, the pine forests and rolling hills are home to a substantial number of Texans. Major highway closures in this area include FM 1878 near Nacogdoches. They are in the process of rebuilding the road, and there is a detour around the affected area in both east and westbound directions. There are also closures on FM 850 until the end of March, and the accident damage done to the bridge on FM 849 will take until July to repair. Both closures are around Tyler.

North Texas

North Texas lies on an enormous plateau known by the name of the Llano Estacado. This is empty and unforgiving terrain, but the highways that wend their way across these enormous plains and arroyos are noted for their durability. There are few construction closures or slowdowns in this area, and maintenance is generally excellent. However, the railroad bridge that crosses FM 145 near the small town of Farwell has been damaged, requiring the closure of the road into New Mexico and a detour on to an alternate route.

Urban Texas

There is another major area in Texas, and it is mostly found in the triangle that stretches between Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston. This is urban Texas, and area characterized by enormous population density, brutal traffic, 24-hour pressure on the roads every day of the week, and millions and millions of people waiting for full use of road. Closures and constructions in these areas are often exacerbated by these issues. For example, the famous MOPAC project in Austin has been under development for a decade.

More than a million people have moved into this town during the time that the highway was built, putting a level of pressure on the MOPAC Improvement project that was never imagined by its designers and implementers. Although they have finally completed basic construction on the stretch from Enfield Road to Parmer Lane, there are still major issues with concrete structures, maintenance on areas improperly built, and landscaping. Construction should be expected along these areas well into 2018.

Speeding to the Hospital to Have a Baby

You can never prepare for the exact time a baby will arrive, which is why it’s important to have the hospital bag packed and waiting by the door to grab as you run out the door around the due date. But what happens when your wife goes into labor at home and you’re in such a rush to get to the hospital that you forget her? That’s what happened to one of our former students, as he was pulled over by the police for speeding. When he explained that he needed to get his wife to the hospital to have a baby, he expected the police officer to say, “Follow me,” and light up the squad car. But the officer gave a bewildered reaction and calmly proclaimed, “I think you may have forgotten something.”

In the end, mom made it to the hospital with time to spare and gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Um, That’s Not the Stick Shift

One of our students was taking their driving test in a manual transmission vehicle. The driving test instructor, per the usual, was sitting in the passenger’s seat. Things were going well until the student mistook the driving instructor’s thigh for the stick shift. Though a bit awkward at first, both the student and the instructor had a good laugh about it once they realized what had happened. The student wound up passing the test. Wink, wink.

Traffic Jam Karaoke

Though traffic jams aren’t usually met with excitement and laughter, that wasn’t the case with a recent student of ours. She was caught in rush hour traffic, combined with a traffic accident that blocked two of the three lanes of highway she was driving on. Needless to say, traffic wasn’t going anywhere fast as all the vehicles had to go from three lanes down to just one. But instead of letting the traffic jam get to her, this student cranked up the radio, rolled down the windows and changed the channel until she found a song she knew. Before she knew it, she realized that other drivers around her had done the same thing, and were belting out the same song. If you can’t beat the traffic, you might as well join it… in full-fledged song.

Ultimate Sledding

What do you get when you mix teenage hijinks with extreme sports? Ultimate sledding! One of our students told us a story about how he and his friends used to attach a sled and rope to his friend’s truck hitch and then they’d take turns sledding through neighborhoods after a nice snowfall. His fun came to an end one day when a resident phoned the police. They got off with nothing more than a warning, but were told that if they were caught again they wouldn’t be as fortunate. Oh well, albeit a bit dangerous, it sounds like a fun way to shovel the snow!

JJ Auto Body

Located in Houston, JJ Auto Body is one of the most trusted auto body shops in the area. They even offer online estimates so you can get a good idea of what a repair would cost without even coming in. When needed, they even have a wrecker service to get your vehicle to the shop for repair. They focus on high quality work as well as customer service, so you get the best available in all areas.

Midtown Auto Service

Located in the midtown area, Midtown Auto Service provides a lot of services for auto owners. They have been serving the Houston area since 1987 and are one of the most well-known shops in the area. They even are recognized as a Recognized Auto Repair and Emissions Repair Facility by the State of Texas.

Yale Automotive

You can always trust Yale Automotive to not only provide you with an honest assessment for your vehicle repair but also for a reputable company within the community. They are involved in many community service projects and will only recommend repairs for your vehicle that you actually need. They offer preventative care as well as repair services, so they can take care of your vehicle no matter what you need.

RMS Auto Care

Located in Houston, RMS Auto Car specializes in auto repair as well as collision repair. They have a BBB rating of A+ as well as a lot of other awards in the community. They offer a 3 year and/or 36,000-mile warranty on all repairs that they do in the shop which is better than you will find in the area and may be a huge selling point for vehicle owners.

Hare Repair

Located in the Uptown area of Houston, Hare Repair focuses on getting the job done as quickly as possible while saving you as much money as possible. They are great at recommending cheaper ways to repair a vehicle while still maintaining quality service and repairs. You can trust that they are a simple and honest auto repair shop.

Montrose Automotive Center

Located in the museum district of Houston, Montrose Automotive Center has been operating in the area for more than 35 years. They not only offer auto repair but also tire services, including replacement. They are also a AAA auto repair facility, so you can get even more of a discount as a AAA member. They promise the highest quality repair to keep your vehicle running longer.

1. Avoid Distracted Driving

Though many states have laws against texting while driving, it still happens. And this, combined with eating, talking on the phone, checking e-mail and more, can all take its toll on safe driving. Avoiding any sort of distraction while you’re driving is key to safely operating your vehicle. The same goes for driving impaired – just don’t do it. Not only is it illegal, but it could cause serious harm – or even death – to you or someone else.

2. Use Your Turn Signals

Turn signals are a standard feature on your vehicle for a reason – they help other drivers that you share the road with know of your driving intentions, whether it’s a turn or changing lanes. Speaking of the latter, though many vehicles now come with lane change assist features, you should still always manually check your blind spots before moving over. Technology helps make driving safer, but try to think of it more as a complementary feature than a full-blown safety solution.

3. Use Extra Caution Around Intersections

Intersections are parts of the road where accidents are more likely to occur. They typically occur when people run red lights or turn when they’re not supposed to. Always use extra caution around intersections. A good tip is to check both ways when your light turns green to make sure that nobody is blowing a red light, and everyone is stopped.

4. Focus on the Big Picture

While it can be common for drivers to only focus on the vehicle directly in front of them, we encourage you to look more at the big picture on the road. Try to keep your vision horizontal and see the road ahead of you – not just the car that’s right ahead of you. Doing so will keep you better alert to any hazards that have the potential to cause a traffic accident. On that note, always make sure you’re following at a safe distance to give yourself enough time to stop.

5. Use Common Sense

Finally, don’t underestimate the role that common sense plays when it comes to safe driving. For instance, if you see a vehicle driving erratically, make sure that you distance yourself from it. The same goes for if someone is driving aggressively – stay away from that vehicle and don’t make eye contact with the driver. Just being aware of the conditions and other drivers on the road can go a long way toward good, safe driving. Another common-sense tip: wear your seat belt! Though a legal requirement, you’d be surprised just how many people don’t do it. Simply put, seat belts save lives.