Traffic tickets are not one of the top ten things we like to think about. They are a hassle, cost money and time, and are stressful. However, they are also about keeping the roads, streets, and sidewalks of Wisconsin safe for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

Plus, after you receive a ticket and do whatever it takes to satisfy the court, you'll still be haunted by higher car insurance premiums.

Top Getting a Ticket

If you are written a traffic ticket, read it carefully. Don't throw it away, and don't shove it into your glove compartment and forget about it. You can find all the information you'll need to take care of paying your traffic ticket or going to traffic school to keep the infraction off of your record.

Top Driving Record

Wisconsin uses a point system, where a certain number of points are entered against your driving record each time you commit a violation that is within the points system. These types of violations do not include parking tickets or minor violations such as having the light over your license plate burned out or other very minor violations.

If you have received a letter from the DMV, notifying you that you face a license suspension due to the number of points on your license, you might want to consult with an experienced traffic ticket attorney before any court dates or the deadline date on your notification letter.

Top Safe Driving Tips

There's one great way to avoid the cost and hassle of traffic tickets, and that's by being a safe driver. Stress is one of the biggest causes of traffic incidents and these days, the increased number of cars on the road can make it even more difficult to remain calm, but do try.

Learn some basic defensive driving techniques and a few get some relaxation tips. A safe driver is a low-stress driver, just as a low-stress driver is a safe driver!

No Road Rage

Anger, aggression, and rude driving are some of the leading causes for automobile accidents today. Drivers tend to "read" other people's driving maneuvers as a personal affront or insult and become upset and angry over what was nothing more than carelessness or an error. Unfortunately, by trying to "get back" at the perceived insult, drivers may behave in a manner that endangers themselves and others, such as some of these dangerous reactions:

• Tailgating.

• Stopping suddenly in front of a tailgater.

• Speeding.

• Swearing, threatening, or shouting.

• Passing from behind, then re-entering the lane too close to the vehicle being passed.

• Passing on the shoulder of the road

• Flashing the bright headlights repeatedly.

• Cutting off another vehicle.

• Running red or yellow lights and stop signs.

• Making rude hand gestures at other drivers.

• Repeatedly honking the horn.

• Running up on the rear of the car ahead.

As much as you might like to do any or all of these things in a given driving period, do everything you can to avoid them. If necessary, get off of the freeway for a few minutes until you calm down. Practice a little behind-the-wheel yoga or meditations (eyes open, please) and allow your fellow motorists a little slack.

Forgive what you might interpret as a slight, since it may have just been a little oversight. Bottom line, other people's bad driving is nothing personal, and it's certainly not worth getting upset over.

Mind the Three Second Rule

Don't know the three second rule? Here it is, so you can begin to practice it next time you drive:

• Pick a fixed object on the road ahead of you, such as a shadow crossing the road, a tree, a street sign, or an overpass.

• As soon as the vehicle ahead of you passes the object, begin counting "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two."

• Your vehicle should not reach or pass the object before you can count to "one-thousand-two."

• If it does, you are too close to the vehicle in front of you. Slow down, then find another object and start counting again.

Keeping your distance from the vehicle ahead is the only way to avoid a rear-end collision. The three second rule gives you room to stop in plenty of time if the car in front of needs to hit the brakes with little warning.

Be Awake and Alert

Sometimes awake and alert are not necessarily mutual states. We can have our eyes open and give an appearance of not sleeping, but be so tired that we really cannot focus on what's going on. Driving tired is a major cause of collisions.

So many things can cause a disruption in your sleep schedule including a new schedule, new medications, a new baby, different work hours, certain illnesses and of course, the consumption of alcohol or certain drugs.

If you know that you are too tired, do not drive. Stop and rest, or if someone else in the car ask them to drive for a while.

Slow Down

Speed is indeed a demon, and too many of us find ourselves driving faster than we should be, since today's cars are built so well and drive so smoothly.

You not only risk accidents by driving fast, but you increase the likelihood of causing a fatality if you are involved in an accident at high speed.

Our content is updated based on input from users like you. Help make it better!