Are you distracted when driving in your car? Maybe you are not on the phone or texting someone, so you think you are just fine. But are you preoccupied with thoughts of the day ahead of you? Do you have lots going on at work or do you think you will be late for a class or late for work? Do you have an errand to run, like stopping quickly at the bank, or maybe you need some milk or baby food and then you look back and see your child has fallen asleep. What do you do? Wake up the child or let them sleep peacefully and run into a store for just a minute. Or, do you arrive at your destination and never look back? Always keep in mind, - Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle.

In areas where you have warm weather most of the year, as well as northern areas where it is hot only several months out of the year, children should never be left alone in a vehicle. The statistics for children dying in a hot car seem to be increasing each year.

The car can be considered a metal box and the hot sun can increase its temperature to be equivalent to an oven.

When the temperature outside is 93 degrees, after 20 minutes the car will be 125 degrees, and after 40 minutes it can be about 140 degrees.

A car parked in direct sunlight can reach as high as 170 degrees even after 15 minutes. At that temperature it takes only a few minutes for children to die or suffer brain, liver and kidney damage.

When caregivers or parents become pre-occupied are in a hurry and have already dropped several children at school or day care and a child falls asleep while sitting in the back in the car seat, they can be forgotten. Try to use something as a reminder to prevent this from ever happening.

Some suggestions include:

• Set your cell phone or blackberry reminder.


• Have your day care call you if your child does not arrive by a set time each day.


• Use a daily checklist that lists everything you need to do, especially when transporting children.

If you are a bus driver or van driver, check the vehicle from end to end. Perhaps use an object that at pick up time you put it in the back of the vehicle, and at drop off, you bring it with you to the front while checking every seat as well as under the seats.

Additional child safety tips include:

• Teach children not to play in or around cars.


• Always make sure all passengers have left your car when you park.


• Make sure to check the temperature of the car seat surface and safety belt buckles before restraining a child.


• Keep car keys away from children and always lock your car, so that children do not look to sneak into the car or trunk to hide or to play.


• If you see children alone in a locked car, try to find the parents, if you cannot locate anyone in a short period of time call 9-1-1.

Although every state has different laws regarding this, many can charge you with a crime that involves a trial, and possible prison time.

Don't be a statistic. Don't get distracted. Concentrate and Focus.
KEEP YOUR CHILDREN SAFE.

Additional Articles:
Summer Heat Warning - Never Leave Children Alone in Cars
Preparing Your Vehicle for Summer Heat

Labels: child safety, driver safety tips, summer car care, summer driving

A recently-published survey by Seventeen magazine and AAA have yielded a surprising result: even through all the months of reminding drivers and most especially teen drivers about texting while driving, the problem persists in our nation's youth.

Not that efforts by various organizations and law enforcement are in vain; these surveys were conducted in May, and given that several states have created new laws to combat this, the numbers in the present may be different. Take Connecticut, for example, where there's a ban for all drivers, teens or not, from using their cell phones while driving, has reported that the new laws are reducing the number of crashes. (http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/theridgefieldpress/news/localnews/66284-new-teen-driving-laws-are-reducing-crashes-says-rell.html)

Let's take a look at the situation, state-per-state, and how it will affect driving behavior in months to come.

Ban for all drivers
Mobile phones for ALL drivers, regardless of age or experience, the states that currently have this are: Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York.

What does this mean? This means that drivers who are caught driving while using/holding/operating a mobile phone may be reprimanded, what differs is how the state chooses to enforce this. For example, in Utah, there is no offense when speaking on a cell phone, unless a driver also commits some other moving violation other than speeding. In Utah, this offense is called careless driving.

Limited bans
In other states, there are bans only for inexperienced drivers. This means drivers who still have their learner's/provisional license, under 18 and are still on their way to getting a full license. States that enforce this are: Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, Indiana, West Virginia and Maine.

This doesn't mean that the law will completely allow full-license holders to go about operating their mobiles while driving. Some states require the vehicle to be in full stop before drivers are allowed to operate their phones.

Waiting
Some states are still waiting for official laws to be enacted, although with the current flood of distracted driving statistics, alerts, news, along with petitions from concerned drivers/citizens, it is only a matter of waiting for a law to pass. These states are: Montana, North and South Dakota, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii, Florida, South Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Locales
Aside from state-wide bans, various local jurisdictions have found out that they may or may not need state authority to impose a ban. Localities that have placed restrictions include: Oahu, HI; Chicago, IL; Brookline, MA; Detroit, MI; Santa Fe, NM; Brooklyn, North Olmstead, and Walton Hills, OH; Conshohocken, Lebanon, and West Conshohocken, PA; Waupaca County, WI; and Cheyenne, WY.

AAA is aiming for a texting-ban on all 50 states. Which might not be all that surprising, given all these facts and surveys. Keep the phone in the glove compartment or pocket when driving.

Labels: avoid distracted driving, texting, texting and driving

“You see a red light, you stop.” It's one of the first things they teach in driver's ed. To raise awareness and for everyone's safety, August 1-7 is designated National Stop on Red week.

The National Stop on Red campaign was spearheaded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) with the hopes of keeping collisions due to red-light running to a minimum.

The facts from American Traffic Solutions: (http://www.atsol.com/StopOnRedWeek.html)

• In 2007, red-light running led to 154,000 injuries and more than 900 deaths across the United States (source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - IIHS).


• 96 percent of drivers are afraid of being hit by a red-light runner, yet nearly 56 percent of Americans admit to running red lights (Old Dominion University, Virginia).


• Motorists are more likely to be injured in crashes involving red-light running than in other type of crashes (FHWA).


• Occupant injuries occur in 45 percent of red-light running crashes, compared with 30 percent of other crash types (IIHS).


• A nationwide study of fatal crashes at traffic signals estimates that 20 percent of the drivers involved failed to obey the signals (IIHS).


• 40 percent of all crashes are intersection related (FHWA).


• The number of fatal motor vehicle crashes at traffic signals is rising faster nationwide than any other type of fatal crash (FHWA).

The truth is, stopping on red is the simplest way to prevent accidents on the road. It ranks up there with drunk driving, distracted driving and not wearing safety belts as one of the leading causes for crashes, yet it is only up to the behavior of drivers to observe the rule to change that.

The National Stop on Red campaign is one of the tools available to local traffic enforcement to be able to educate motorists that needless vehicle crashes do not need to occur, as long as traffic rules are obeyed.

Along with the week's educational campaign, there will also be traffic enforcement officers on constant patrol to combat red-light running. To aid them are traffic cameras, to monitor any red-light runners. Though the word “camera” makes a motorist feel like he/she is under constant-watch, these cameras are really put into place for their own safety. Most especially with the Interstate Traffic cameras, since, as mentioned above, 40% of all crashes are intersection related. For those driver's that have received a traffic ticket for running a red light in Florida it is now mandatory to take traffic school.

This year's National Stop on Red Week theme is “Engineering Safer Intersections.” This means that, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) also plays a hand in keeping the roads safer. They are constantly collecting data and seeing a big picture of how an intersection works in order to come up with an engineering solution for stopping red-light runners.

Communities are playing their part in informing citizens of how to drive safer by education campaigns, increased enforcement and other activities. Pay attention to traffic lights, stop on red, and treat every week as if it is Stop on Red week.

Labels: red light

With the risks associated with drunk driving, there has been an increase in the number of professional designated driver services. These are either companies dedicated to having professional drivers sent to where a client is and have them driven home in their own car, or extensions of transportation or chauffeur services or sometimes local volunteer organizations to prevent drunk driving.

If you plan to attend an event where there will be alcoholic drinks, consider a driving service in your area similar to some of these highlighted below in Washington, Texas, Georgia, California, Pennsylvania and North Carolina:

Zingo, several states
(http://www.callzingo.com/) - When you call up Zingo, insured professional drivers will arrive in a foldable bike, store the bike in your trunk, take your keys and drive you home. Fees are $20 for initial pick-up and $2/mile plus tip. Services are available Tues-Wed 9PM – 2AM and Thurs-Sat 9PM – 4 AM otherwise, the service is closed on Sundays/Mondays. What's great about Zingo is that their services are available in several states.




Sober Rovers, Washington State (http://www.soberrovers.com/index.php) – Available in Washington state, Sober Rovers are scooter-riding professional drivers who pick up a client and deliver them safely home for $3 pick-up fee and $7 per mile. ($5 per mile after 10 miles) There's even a special promo for a Rover Miles card, which lowers the rate to a flat $5 per mile.

My Private Driver, several areas in Texas and L.A. Orange County (http://www.myprivatedriver.com/designated-driver-service-dallas-fort-worth-austin-texas-los-angeles-orange-county.html) – This is a new service offered by My Private Driver, a transportation company. There are currently 2 options for their designated driver service: Option 1 "On Demand", which is currently only available in Addison, TX. Once a call has been made, a driver will be dispatched to a client's current location, deliver the client in their car to their home, and the company will send in someone to pick up the driver. Option 2 "Personal Designated Driver", is basically hiring a driver for the night, meaning that clients won't even have to get in the driver's seat for a night out. The service will start from the client's home and will end in the same location. Rates are $28 per hour.

The Pear Transportation, Pittsburgh (http://www.thepearcares.com/) - Touting themselves as the only designated driver service in Pittsburgh. For a pick-up fee of $20 and $2 per mile, a professional driver is dispatched to where a client needs to be picked up, drives the client in their car home and then The Pear will send a runner for the driver.

Buzzed Home, Asheville, North Carolina (http://www.getbuzzedhome.com/Home.php) – Upon contact, a driver will be sent to the client's location in a foldable scooter, drive the client home in their car and leave using the scooter. This service is available only in Asheville, with their schedules being Thurs-Sat, 8PM – 2:30AM. Rates are $25 for up to 4 miles and $3.50 per additional mile, plus driver tip.

There are other services available, varying in how they dispatch drivers and location operations. The companies all state they use a methodical screening process for how they pick their drivers. These services may cost a little bit more than a cab ride home, but it beats the alternative of potentially driving under the influence. This also ensures you do not have to leave your car parked overnight, potentially accumulating overnight parking fees, and you having to pick it up the following day.

Be responsible; consider a designated driving service over the alternative to help keep our roads safe!

Read more about additional Technology to Prevent Drunk Driving: Disposable Breathalyzers

Labels: designated driving service, drunk driving, dui, prevent drunk driving

We are well into the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season and have already experienced one hurricane in the western Gulf of Mexico. Based on predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this season has a high probability of above normal activity and NOAA is predicting:

• 14-23 Named Storms,


• 8-14 Hurricanes


• 3-7 Major Hurricanes

The late summer months traditionally see the greatest amount of hurricane activity so it's a good idea for residents of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to prepare now and consider what needs to be done, especially in regard to remaining safe on the road in the event of an evacuation.

Plan ahead - Fortunately, unlike other natural disasters, hurricanes give us plenty of advanced warning. When planning for an evacuation you should:

• Gather important papers such as homeowner's insurance policies and other documents that you can’t afford to lose.


• Make sure the vehicle you plan to take is in good mechanical condition. Keep oil changes up to date and make sure the fluid levels are topped off.


• Make sure your tires are in good condition. You will be driving on rain soaked roads and excessively worn tires could make driving conditions treacherous.


• Ensure you have a full tank of gas and, as the hurricane approaches, top it off. Gas stations may quickly run out of gas as the hurricane nears.


• Make sure you have some cash available. Power may be knocked out to your bank and debit cards may be difficult to use.


• Plan your evacuation destination. Inland hotels will fill up quickly and you may not be able to get a room without a prior reservation. Many hotels may not allow pets.

Evacuate Sooner rather than later – Driving conditions will be dangerous and the roads will be packed. In 2004, Hurricane Jeanne, a storm that only reached category 2 status, made landfall in south Florida but downed trees and caused flooding and massive power outages in NE Florida almost 200 miles away.

• As the high winds approach, bridges and causeways leading inland may be closed.


• Major interstates and highways will be closed to incoming traffic and all lanes will be open to outgoing traffic only.


• Power outages will effect traffic lights causing further delays.


• Obey the orders of law enforcement and National Guard personnel. Their directions carry the force of law.


• Tune your radio to those stations that carry the Emergency Broadcast System and listen for reports.

Exercise patience and caution while driving – Be especially watchful of other drivers and road conditions.

• Understand that the roadways will be packed with evacuees and driving conditions will be very slow. Don’t allow your temper to get in the way of safe driving behaviors.


• Hurricanes spawn tornadoes. If a tornado approaches, get out of your car and seek shelter in a substantial building or in a low-lying area such as a ditch or culvert.


• Watch out for flooded roads. If the road ahead is flooded, turn around and find an alternate route.


• Flooded roads may hide the fact that the roadway is washed out underneath.
  
• The roadway could collapse under the weight of your vehicle.


• As little as six inches of rushing water can force your car off the road.

If you can, avoid coming back home until the roadways have been cleared and power is restored. For more information on hurricane preparedness visit:


Additional Safety Tips for: Hurricane Seasons and Flooded Roads

Labels: driver safety, hurricane preparedness, hurricane safety, hurricane season

Most DUI related collisions resulting in death or major injuries are caused by drivers who have never been arrested for DUI before. Many of these drivers had driven with alcohol levels above the legal limit before but, having never been caught before, continued to drive after drinking. A couple of factors contribute to this. One is the attitude of “It’ll never happen to me.” The other is the fact that alcohol affects the judgment center of the brain and many don’t realize just how drunk they are.

The biggest deterrent to drunk driving is the fear of being caught but, when someone’s judgment is altered by alcohol, that fear may not exist. Trying to take away the keys and prevent someone in that state from driving can be difficult if not impossible. There are some technologies available that could help.

Disposable Breathalyzers – A company called Alcotesters.com sells a variety of breathalyzers but the most interesting is a disposable, very cheap, breathalyzer that can be used by anyone. They use a chemical process to detect alcohol in a person's breath and are small enough to fit on a key-chain. They can be purchased in any one of four settings from zero tolerance, set at .02 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), to measure any amount of alcohol in a person’s system, up to a .08 BAC setting that measures the legal limit for all 50 states.

Instead of trying to reason with a friend who may be too drunk to drive, these tiny breathalyzers provide an independent accurate measure of a person's alcohol level. They are so effective that the US Army is now issuing these key-chain breathalyzers to its troops and are encouraging the troops to use them to watch out for their buddies when they are out for a night on the town.

They may also be an effective tool for parents to use. It is difficult to overcome peer pressure when a teen is out of sight but, knowing that they may possibly face a breathalyzer test when they get home, may be enough to keep a teen from drinking at all.



Interlock Devices – Most people are aware of interlock devices required by the court to be installed in the vehicles of convicted drunk drivers. These breathalyzers require that the driver blow a clean sample before the car can be started. To prevent a drunk driver from asking a passerby to blow a clean sample, they require the driver to blow a clean sample at random times while driving; if the driver fails to comply, the engine shuts down.

Most states require the interlock device to be installed after a second DUI offense but drunk driving victim advocacy groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are pushing for legislation to require their use after a first conviction for DUI.

Interlock Devices as Standard Equipment - An amendment to the 2010 Motor Vehicle Safety Act, calls for $40 million over the next five years to develop alcohol detection sensors and could lead to sensors becoming standard equipment in all new vehicles in as few as 5 to 10 years.

These sensors are far different from the interlock devices installed in the vehicles of convicted DUI offenders today. The research being funded will look into skin sensors in the vehicle's steering wheel that could detect the presence of alcohol in the driver's sweat, or sensors located in the driver’s headrest that can detect alcohol in the driver’s breath or perspiration. The sensors will be set to require detection of a .08 BAC level before it locks the vehicle’s ignition system.

The American Beverage Association considers this measure to be a form of “Big Brotherism” but victim advocacy groups such as MADD and driving safety organizations such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety see the legislation as a positive step to prevent drunk driving.

Low Tech Approaches – Of course the safest and most effective approach to preventing drunk driving is to not drink and drive. If you make the decision on how you will get home, either by using a designated driver or calling a cab, before you go out for a night on the town, chances are pretty good that you will stick with that decision. But, if you wait until after you have been drinking and your judgment abilities are diminished by the alcohol's effects, you may find yourself driving into a lot of trouble. Technology is great but it can’t replace good common sense.

Additional Articles:
How to Deal with Underage Driving: Tips for Parents
Tips for Safe Summer Driving: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving

Labels: drunk driving, dui, prevent drunk driving

What is an Emergency Vehicle?

Emergency vehicles take many forms and, while most are obvious, not all are. The obvious ones belong to state and local police and fire departments but there are other types of first responders that aren’t commonly seen on the roadways.

Law enforcement – Most law enforcement agencies such as the state highway patrol, county sheriffs, and local police agencies are easy to spot. Other state or federal agencies that also respond to emergencies or conduct routine law enforcement can include:

• Department of Transportation – Conducting routine safety inspections on commercial vehicles.


• Department of Environmental Protection – Responding to hazardous material spills or leaks.


• Department of Fish and Wildlife/Forestry – Providing law enforcement on state lands and parks


• Any unmarked vehicle equipped with sirens and flashing red or blue lights
  Some states mark these vehicles as “Sworn Law Enforcement Officer” or “State Law Enforcement Officer”. As such, the law enforcement officers driving these vehicles have the power and jurisdiction to stop vehicles and issue traffic tickets.

Fire/Rescue – Fire and Rescue vehicles can include:

• Fire trucks


• Ambulances


• Command vehicles –such as the battalion chief’s car or large, on scene, command vehicles

Ambulances – Ambulances can be from both government and private companies

Tow Trucks – This is one type of vehicle that most people fail to think of as an emergency vehicle but the work of these types of vehicles is critical in keeping the roadways clear.

What to do when an Emergency Vehicle approaches

Drivers should always be on the lookout for emergency vehicles. In modern cars with air conditioning and stereos, drivers may not hear an approaching emergency vehicle. Often, police agencies, not wanting to warn a prowler of their approach, will respond with lights only and no siren.

• In your lane - If an emergency vehicle is approaching in your lane, pull over to the nearest edge of the roadway and clear an opening. Seconds count in an emergency situation and any delay could be deadly to the persons requiring aid.


• In the opposite lane – If an emergency vehicle is approaching in the opposite lane, be prepared to slow or stop if the vehicle needs to turn into your lane.

Following Emergency Vehicles

Most states have laws prohibiting any vehicle from following within 500 feet of an emergency vehicle. Some states also have laws prohibiting entering a city block where emergency vehicles are stopped with their lights flashing to prevent interference with the work being done.

Move Over Law

Between 1999 and 2009, more than one emergency worker per month was killed while aiding a motorist by the side of the road. As a result, 47 states have enacted some form of a "Move Over Law” . These laws require motorists who are approaching an emergency vehicle on the side of the road with its emergency lights flashing to move over into the opposite lane. If you are unable to move over you should slow down, in some cases to 20 mph below the posted speed limit. Studies show that most drivers are unaware of these laws but police agencies are enforcing them by issuing tickets to anyone who does not move over or slow down.

Treat any vehicle with flashing red, blue, or amber lights as an emergency vehicle and give them room to do their job.

Addtional articles on Emergency Vehicle Safety:
The Effect of Traffic Collisions On Emergency Personnel

Labels: emergency vehicle, move over america, move over law