Bicycle And Pedestrian Safety, Child Passenger Safety, Community Outreach, Highway Safety, Safe Driving Tips

Bus Stop Safety

For twenty three million students nationwide, the school day begins and ends with a trip on a school bus. The greatest risk is not riding the bus, but approaching or leaving the bus. Before children go back to school or start school for the first time, it is essential that adults and children know traffic safety rules.

Drivers

  • When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school.
  • When driving in neighborhoods with school zones, watch out for young people who may be thinking about getting to school, but may not be thinking of getting there safely.
  • Slow down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in neighborhood.
  • Slow down. Watch for children playing and congregating near bus stops.
  • Be alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street with out looking for traffic.
  • Learn and obey the school bus laws in your state. Learn the “flashing signal light system” that school bus drivers use to alert motorists of pending actions:
  • Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.
  • Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped, and that children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.

Children

  • Get to the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
  • When the bus approaches, stand at least three giant steps (6 feet) away from the curb, and line up away from the street.
  • Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says that it’s okay before stepping onto the bus.
  • If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk on the sidewalk or along the side of the road to a point at least five giant steps (10 feet) ahead of the bus before you cross. Be sure that the bus driver can see you, and you can see the bus driver.
  • Use the handrails to avoids falls. When exiting the bus, be careful that clothing with drawstrings, and book bags with straps don’t get caught in the handrails or doors.
  • Never walk behind the bus.
  • Walk at least three giant steps away from the side of the bus.
  • If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver. Never try to pick it up because the driver may not be able to see you.

Parents

  • Teach children to follow these common sense practices to make school bus transportation safer.

 

Highway Safety, Safe Driving Tips, Teens

Teen Gets Prison For Texting While Driving

18-year-old Aaron Deveau will be spending the next 2-4 years in prison, rather than college.  He recently became the first American convicted of vehicular homicide by texting under a new Massachusetts law.

On February 20, 2011, Deveau’s car swerved across the center line and crashed head on into a truck, killing 55-year-old father of three Donald Bowley.  The crash happened at 2:36PM.  Prosecutors in the case reported that Deveau sent a text message while driving at 2:35PM, and received a reply seconds before losing control of his car.

Texting while driving is now illegal in Pennsylvania, as well as 37 other states and Washington, DC.  It’s one of the most dangerous distractions facing drivers today, and also one of the most prevalent.

Having trouble putting the phone down while driving?  There’s an app for that.

Pop Culture

The Sad Passing of Tony Whitfield

I got the sad news this morning that Tony Whitfield has died at the age of 44.

I never had the pleasure, or honor, of meeting Tony in person.  But we talked often by email and instant messaging over the past three years.  He and I had been planning an interview for my website regarding his work with The Kids of Widney High.  An interview that unfortunately never came to be.  I got busy with other projects – work, art and family – and repeatedly delayed the interview.

I found Tony to be relentlessly upbeat, positive, energetic and enthusiastic.  His conversations always managed to brighten my day.  He was an exhaustive promoter, not only for his own projects but also those of his friends.  I enjoyed our fleeting communications, and my existence is less rich knowing he no longer shares it.  R.I.P., Tony.  It was my honor to know you, even in a limited way.

Safe Driving Tips

Feds Want End To Texting While Driving

Today, federal Transportation Secretary Ray La Hood proposed voluntary steps to establish new safety criteria for hands-free calling, navigation and entertainment systems in cars.

“Distracted driving is a dangerous and deadly habit on America’s roadways — that’s why I’ve made it a priority to encourage people to stay focused behind the wheel,” LaHood said.

Distracted driving deaths totaled 3,092 in 2010, the latest available figures show. But LaHood’s agency believes the total could be higher due to the unwillingness of drivers to always admit behavior, lack of witnesses to a crash in some cases, or the death of the driver.

Most U.S. motorists surveyed last year acknowledged few situations in which they would not use a cellphone or text while behind the wheel. However, they supported measures to curb both practices, the Transportation Department said.

La Hood’s proposal recommends disabling in-vehicle electronic devices that the driver could use when a car is moving. This would cover text messaging, Internet browsing, and access to social media.  The National Transportation Safety Board also recommended in December that certain hands-free and communication devices be banned in cars.

Video

Pushing The Driving Limit

I often explain to my students that learning to drive is like learning Kung Fu – you can learn the basics in a couple sessions, but you’ll need to practice and challenge yourself for a lifetime to master it.

Cadillac has created a killer commercial that celebrates this passion for mastering driving – check out the amazing skills demonstrated by expert drivers in the spot below:

 

Safe Driving Tips

Drive For L.O.V.E.

This month, we celebrate Valentine’s Day, the time of year when we all think about love.  That’s a good thing – knowing people love you helps put value on your life and the things you do.  This year, we want to encourage all drivers to consider the ones they love by driving safer.  To help, we’ve unlocked the secret of L.O.V.E. as it relates to safe driving.

  • L IS FOR LISTEN: We can learn a lot about our driving environment by just listening to what’s around us.  Often, the first warning of impending danger comes as a sound – maybe it’s the screech of tires, a car horn or an emergency siren.  Don’t play your music so loud you can’t hear the world around you, and don’t let yourself get so engrossed in music or conversation that you tune out the world outside your car.  Recognizing the danger posed by a particular sound could allow you to react slightly faster than if you waited until you saw it, and that could mean all the difference.
  • O IS FOR OBSERVE: Avoid tunnel vision.  Keep scanning the entire environment around your car, not just the road ahead of you.  Check your mirrors (side and rearview) often, and always check over your shoulder when merging or changing lanes to clear your blind spot.  And remember not to linger in someone else’s blind spot – make sure other drivers can observe you too.
  • V IS FOR VALUE: Value your own life, and value the lives of others in traffic around you.  We’re all important to someone, and we all have things to contribute to this world.  Try not to get upset with the mistakes of others, and instead correct your driving behavior to accommodate them.  Try to be the best driver you can be, so your chances of arriving alive are as high as possible.
  • E IS FOR EXPERIENCE:  Get as much of it as you can.  While you’re learning to drive under supervision, experience as many road types as possible, and as many challenging situations as possible.  Learn from your experiences, your accomplishments and your mistakes.  Vow to never make the same mistake twice.  Once you have your license, periodically assess yourself for bad habits, and try to use your experiences to correct them.
Bicycle And Pedestrian Safety, Highway Safety, Safe Driving Tips

PA Bicycle Rules Change

PA Gets A Safe Passing Law

On February 2, 2012, Governor Corbett signed House Bill 170 into law, making a few changes to the rules of the road concerning bicycles.  PA’s new “Safe Passing” law is intended to protect bicyclists on the roads, and takes effect in 60 days.  Here’s what you need to know about the new law.

  • If you’re passing a bicyclist, you MUST leave at least 4 feet between your car and the bicycle, and you MUST pass at a reasonably reduced speed.  In other words, slow down and leave plenty of room when passing a bike.
  • As a car driver, you CANNOT interfere with the path of a bicyclist.  This means you CANNOT pass a bicyclist and then immediately turn right in front of them.  If you need to turn right, slow down and do so after the bike clears the intersection.
  • As a bicyclist, you MUST keep your bike as close to the right edge of the road as possible to allow faster traffic to safely move around you.
Community Outreach, Highway Safety, Safe Driving Tips

Super Bowl Safe

This Sunday, February 5, the Giants take on the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.  The game starts at 6:30PM and will air live on NBC.  For those of you planning to have a few drinks during the game, or know someone who will, please make sure you’ve got a designated driver you can trust before the game starts.

In 2010, fatalities in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes accounted for 31 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities.

Fans Don't Let Fans Drive DrunkIf football fans plan to drink during the Super Bowl, designating a sober driver can help increase the chance of avoiding an alcohol-impaired-driving crash.

Let’s be clear – drunk or buzzed driving is not an accident, and it certainly isn’t a victimless crime.  10,228 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2010 in which a driver had a B.A.C. over the legal limit.

There are just too many drivers out there who believe that having just a few drinks and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle is harmless. But numbers don’t lie.  Drinking and driving can result in loss of life or serious injury.  These not only affect the lives of the impaired driver but can affect other families as well.

When you choose to drink, drink responsibly, and pass your keys to a sober driver.  Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired is not worth the risk. If you know of someone who has been drinking and is planning to drive, please remember Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

Highway Safety, Safe Driving Tips

Watch Those Snowplows

Drive Safely Around Snowplows

We’ve had our first snowstorm of 2012, but winter is far from over.  Each year, many drivers and passengers are injured in collisions with snowplows.  To reduce your risks, follow these basic tips:

  • Use caution when approaching, following or passing a snowplow.  They sometimes need to take evasive action to avoid stranded cars or roadside obstacles.
  • When traveling behind a snowplow, allow a longer follow distance.  Snowplows travel below the posted speed limit and may stop suddenly.
  • Don’t brake suddenly in front of a snowplow.  Like other trucks, they have a long stopping distance, and road conditions warranting a plow truck only make that worse.
  • Don’t crowd a snowplow.  Besides erratic manuevers and sudden stops, plows are also usually spreading anti-ice materials out the back.  Keep your car a safe distance away – 200 feet should be plenty.
  • Don’t travel next to a snowplow.  Remember, they may need to shift left suddenly to avoid roadside obstacles.
  • Check carefully before passing a snowplow.  Figure out to which side it’s discharging the snow to avoid getting coated in debris and losing visibility.  Remember, plows are generally larger than your car, and you may not be able to see all parts of the truck clearly.

Drive Better