DMV Operator Course Costs

In order to offset cost increases related to the maintenance and delivery of the California Traffic School Operator Program (via DMVOperatorCourse.com), Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) is being forced to increase prices for these professional education courses for original and renewal Traffic Violator School (TVS) Operator license applicants.

We are pleased to announce, however, that TSC will continue to offer generous preferential treatment to those TVSs that participate in our affiliate program. Operators of TVSs licensing TSC's outstanding traffic school curriculum—in any modality—will receive a 50% discount off of the regular tuition price for either course. And you'll naturally benefit from all of the other valuable features of the program: ongoing access to the course reading material (as an always-up-to-date, common-language reference for DMV regulations) and support and guidance from our helpful and knowledgeable affiliate administrative staff.

To claim your discount, simply click the special link to DMVOperatorCourse.com (under the "TVS License Renewal" header) at the bottom of the home page of your CACourseProvider account. This link will take you to DMVOperatorCourse.com and your affiliate discount will automatically be applied at checkout. This is the only way you will be able to claim your affiliate discount on the renewal (4-hour) course.

Furthermore, one original completion certificate will be included in the cost of course tuition. However, duplicate original certificates will be available at a low price.

The new pricing structure will be effective starting January 1, 2017.

Counseling Position Open

As your curriculum provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) is constantly looking for new business opportunities and ways that we can expand our product offerings. We always want to include our affiliate family in these ventures, and even look to partner with individual affiliates for the good of all when an opening presents itself.

Toward that end, TSC is looking for a partner with the following qualifications:

• a bachelor's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, education, or a related field, and a minimum of two (2) years' experience in dealing with family, parenting, and divorce-related issues; or
• a minimum of four (4) years related work experience in dealing with family, parenting, and divorce-related issues.

If you meet these qualifications and are interested in partnering with TSC to expand your business, please contact our Chief Operating Officer, Lawrence Gentilucci, by email at lawrence@trafficeducation.net or by calling 1‑800‑653‑9200.

Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to discussing this project with you!

Winter Driving Tips

Driving in severe weather can be physically and emotionally trying as well as dangerous. If the conditions are too treacherous, it's far better to postpone the trip, if possible. Motor vehicles can easily handle less severe wintry conditions, however, as long as drivers slow down and proceed with caution.

Remind your students of these tips for handling winter weather driving:

General Tips for Winter Driving

The following tips are good general advice for handling winter driving conditions. In fact, some of them are good advice year-round!

• Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage, where carbon monoxide and other dangerous exhaust gasses can accumulate. (In fact…modern engine control computers allow vehicles to run amazingly well even when cold, and idling a vehicle for 20 minutes accomplishes very little beyond converting fuel into pollution. A short warm-up of 30 seconds or so may be a good idea; perhaps even a minute or two if it's really cold.)
• Never mix radial tires with other tire types.
• Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet roads, snow, ice, sand).
• Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle!
• Avoid driving while you're tired. Stay generally well rested before operating a motor vehicle and, if fatigue sets in while you're on the road, pull over in a safe place and take a break (even a short nap) before resuming travel.

Tips for Winter Road Trips

Remind students who are planning long-distance trips in winter weather:

• Check weather reports prior to a long-distance trip or before driving in isolated areas. Delay trips when especially bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination, and estimated time of arrival.
• Make sure your vehicle is in peak operating condition by having it inspected at a reliable repair facility.
• Pack a smartphone, blankets, gloves, hats, food, water, and any needed medication in your vehicle.
• Keep at least half a tank of fuel in your vehicle at all times.
• If you become snowbound, stay with your vehicle! It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don't try to walk in a severe storm. It's easy to lose sight of your vehicle in blowing snow and become lost.
• Don't overexert yourself if you try to push or dig your vehicle out of the snow.
• Run the engine and heater just long enough to remove the chill and to conserve gasoline.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe remains clear of snow, ice, and mud. A blocked exhaust system could cause deadly carbon monoxide to leak into the passenger compartment when the engine is running.

Tips for Driving in the Snow

If a vehicle must be operated on snowy or icy roads:

• Drive slowly. Give yourself time to maneuver on slippery surfaces.
• Accelerate and decelerate smoothly and gently. Don't accelerate aggressively, and take time to slow down/stop for traffic controls and road hazards.
• Increase your following distance, beyond the normal three-second spacing, to up to eight or even ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes.
• Always apply firm, steady pressure when stopping a vehicle equipped with anti-lock brakes.
• If you're vehicle lacks anti-lock brakes, the best way to stop is threshold braking: Keep your heel on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply pressure on the brake pedal just shy of the point where the wheels lock up.
• Don't try to power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill as slowly as possible.
• Don't stop when going up a hill. Traction limitations could make it very difficult—if not impossible—to get the vehicle rolling (uphill) again.
• Stay home. If you don't really have to go out…don't. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can!