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School bus safety reminders for students and drivers

Just two weeks into the new school year, police say they’re getting complaints from Southwest Florida drivers about dangerous situations at school bus stops.

Cape Coral Police remind drivers and parents that many students are now distracted by devices in ways they didn’t experience as children. They are urging parents to please talk to their children about the importance of being aware of their surroundings.

Police offer these safety tips at bus stops.

Children:

Keep an eye on traffic.

Do not sit in the roadway. Drivers might not see you

Do not play running games or push and shove at the bus stop. It is dangerous near traffic.

Make sure you stand at least 10 feet from the road while waiting for the bus so you are away from traffic.

If your bus stop is on a corner of another person’s property, be courteous, and never leave litter behind.

Use reflective materials. There are backpacks and clothing with reflective fabric sewn into it.

If they are going to wear headphones, only use one so they can hear traffic.

Drivers:

Always look for children walking to bus stops or at bus stops.

When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school.

Slow down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood.

Do not text, check your email or put makeup on while driving.

Watch for children playing and congregating near bus stops.

Be alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.

Learn and obey the school bus laws as well as the “flashing signal light system” that school bus drivers use to alert motorists of pending actions:

Yellow flashing lights indicate 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 the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.

Cyclists concerned about lack of safety for practice

After the accident that happened last weekend on the Café highway where a cyclist died after being hit by a truck, the pedal sector spoke about the need for road actors to be more cautious in their journeys.

Regarding the issue, the mayor Fabio Enrique Sierra Sierra, head of the Traffic and Transportation Section of the Quindío Police, said: “During the year 2019, we were advancing various campaigns to the different road actors. By the provisions of Law 1811 of 2016, the use of the bicycle is established as a means of transport and gives responsibilities and duties”.

He emphasized that the behavior of cyclists must assume responsibility when using the road, such as using light devices, protective elements, abiding by and respecting traffic regulations. “Likewise, we have done with the road actors, different from the cyclists, so that they respect the provisions established within the regulations in force in transit avoiding more accidents on the roads.”

He pointed out that there have been several appendixes, who have broken the rule for being very close to the berms, for advancing on the right that puts at risk the riders. “The punctual recommendation for all car drivers is respect for another important road actor that is the cyclist, where they must respect their conditions and rights granted by law to be able to have mobility with all the security both on urban roads as the national roads”.

“Finally, he assured that this year they will continue advancing the socialization, training and awareness campaigns to the actors so that everyone shares the path in a respectful and friendly way.”

It may interest you: Death of a cyclist: investigating truck driver responsibility

For his part, Edna Patricia Torres Ortiz, of the Departmental Institute of Transit of Quindío, Idtq, said: “In this specific case, the accident occurred on a national road where vehicles drive faster, so it is more careful and as advice personal, if it is for a recreation activity, these routes are not the best option and less in times of tourism”.

He recalled that on the roads, there are several agents. “For drivers, the call is to be patient and put themselves in the place of the cyclist, they must make sure of the turns, be more cautious in their driving, especially at night, slow down, go patiently, and definitely, always respect 1.5 meters away”.

For the riders, he recommended being visible. “They are the most vulnerable road actors on the roads, they must be cautious, cautious, wear a helmet both in rural and urban roads, always wear the appropriate safety elements and the more visible they are, the better, that their clothing(clothing with reflective fabric) is reflective, that all support be easily identifiable.”

Finally, he affirmed that “the most important premise is citizen coexistence so that each road actor is prudent and generates care for himself and the rest of the community.”

“It is a shared responsibility, not only of cyclists and not only of vehicle drivers because both can be impudent. The rule of 1.5 distance, they do not respect it, I have been stuck to the white line, calm and felt when they rub me and pass at an excessive speed or having enough field to pass, they whistle and scare the cyclist. It is possible that in a scare of those, one easily loses control of his bicycle and falls to the gutter. They do not take into account that there is less protection on a bicycle, I prefer to practice mountain rather than road because there is a lot of awareness on the part of drivers of other road actors, I want to point out that we as cyclists should pay special attention to lighting in the afternoons and nights, it is necessary to wear taillights, headlights, reflective clothing and be responsible in practice.”

“The death of our fellow cyclist Hernán Serna Giraldo is unfortunate, this is a situation that has been presented around the mass use of the bicycle and is a problem that occurs throughout the country; Without a doubt, it is necessary to begin to raise awareness among drivers so that they can assume a more responsible attitude towards people who ride their bicycles daily on these routes. We ask the local authorities and at the head of the territorial entity to take action on the matter since this situation is at a nerve point, since every day more people make use of this means of transport. We are a mass that moves on two wheels and we have as a sole means of protection a helmet and the generous will of those who drive a vehicle when we see ourselves as people who have a family”.

Back to School: Safety tips as students return from winter break

Several students across Oklahoma are returning to class after winter break which means an increased risk for drivers according to AAA Oklahoma.

They’re warning drivers to be vigilant for pedestrians before and after school hours.

AAA Oklahoma said around 13% of students walk or bike to school and from 2000 to 2010 nearly 1/3 of child pedestrian fatalities occurred between 3 and 7 pm.

“It’s up to adult drivers to watch out for children walking and biking to and from school,” said Leslie Gamble, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “That includes those getting out of cars in school parking lots which can be particularly dangerous when many are entering and leaving.”

With shorter winter days, students are more likely to be walking before or after daylight hours. “It’s so important to consciously think about the chance that a person may be walking on the road you are driving,” Gamble said. “Be sure your windshield is cleared of ice or moisture. Then, watch for movement as you drive because often clothing is dark and it’s difficult to distinguish pedestrians from the darkness.”

AAA has six tips for drivers to keep students safe as they return to school:

Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.

Eliminate distractions. Children often cross the road unexpectedly and may emerge suddenly between two parked cars. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing. Put down the phone.

Reverse responsibly. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under or around vehicles—even those that are parked.

Talk to your teen. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and more than one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after-school hours of 3 to 7 pm Get evidence-based guidance and tips at TeenDriving.AAA.com. New drivers with less road experience are less likely to react quickly to sudden movements of pedestrians. Eyes should be on the road, sweeping back and forth to spot movement in peripheral areas.

Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.

Dress and walk for safety. Anyone out before or after daylight should wear light-colored or reflective clothingwith reflective fabric. At the least, put on white or light-color gloves, hat or shoes. It makes a tremendous difference in visibility to drivers. Stay off the road. Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks. Go to intersections versus crossing in the middle of streets or parking lots. Look carefully for cars if you must enter a roadway.

Pedestrian Safety: It’s Up to Us

We’ve all seen the headlines over the last few months. A student at Wooster High School killed in a hit and run incident while crossing the street. People getting mowed down in the crosswalk (both at night and during the day) in downtown Reno, just steps from City Hall. A cyclist walking his bike across the street on Lakeside Drive and getting hit and killed by a drunk driver in the middle of the day.

Pedestrian fatalities are nothing new for the Biggest Little City, but it does feel like it’s something that’s increasing, especially as our population continues to grow. We have more people out on the street walking, biking and driving than ever before.

When the Wooster incident happened, my heart sank as my sister-in-law, who is a teenager, goes to that school. My instinct was to do something and leap into action to guarantee hers and others’ safety. But, I soon realized that no matter how much I rallied my tribe or talked to city officials, it wasn’t enough. No amount of ads or PSAs are going to stop people from being careless.

These incidents aren’t something that is cut and dry in terms of who is at fault, or how to reduce them. I’ve had multiple conversations with friends online and in person. “Drivers should slow down, stop texting, and keep an eye out!” or “Pedestrians shouldn’t just step out into the street! Wear brighter clothing with reflective fabric! Don’t jaywalk!”

Both sides have merit, but at the end of the day, it is going to take ALL of us being more cautious and having care for one another to create change. We’re in this together after all, right?

There are a lot of basic things we all can do, no matter our role, to reduce these incidents.

Drivers:

Follow the speed limit, and if you’re in an area like a school zone or Midtown / Downtown you might want to go under the speed limit

Keep an eye out for people using crosswalks, and emerging from obstructed views. Even if someone is jaywalking, you have to stop.

Make sure you have your lights on at night, and that they work. Use your bright when driving in dark, unlit areas.

If someone is crossing in a crosswalk, don’t edge up to them to make a turn as they’re crossing. That’s aggressive. Wait for your turn.

If you do hit someone, have the decency to stop and call 911.

As my dad would say, “If you’re going to drive, don’t drink. If you’re going to drink, don’t drive.”

When encountering a cyclist, by law you have to give them 3 feet of space when going around them. If you don’t have the room to go around, wait until you do. Share the road.

Pedestrians:

Like they taught you in grade school, look both ways before crossing the street.

Use the crosswalk when possible. Losing your life isn’t worth jaywalking over.

Before you cross, make eye contact with drivers, and wave, to make sure they see you and stop before you step into the crosswalk.

If walking at night, wear reflective gear or carry a flashlight so drivers can see you.

When crossing the street, stay off your phone. You must remain alert.

Cyclists:

Observe basic traffic laws when riding.

Follow the flow of traffic, and don’t go in the opposite direction when riding on the street.

Make sure you’re wearing reflective clothing at night, and that you have safety lights on your bike.

I’m sure there are many more things we all can be doing, but these are the most straightforward ways for all parties involved to watch out for one another. While we live in a busy world, none of us are too busy to take safety seriously. It’s up to all of us to change things in our community.

Runners should be seen and aware of motorists

The Fort Knox Safety Office is asking runners to take added measures to stay safe when exercising on the installation during the winter months.

Safety Officer Joe Colson said the installation’s safety regulations in FKN 385-1011 have been updated with some clarification to the Personnel Movements on Roadways section.

The updates, according to Colson, reflect concerns by installation leaders that runners are not being safe and seen by drivers during times of low visibility, especially when they’re distracted because of technology.

“Soldiers must have some sort of reflective fabric when running in the Physical Fitness Uniform during hours of low visibility,” Colson said. Depending on command directives, they may not need reflective belts when they go to the gym, but some are leaving the gym and running with what they have on-with their earbuds still in their ears.

“They’re focused on what they’re listening to and ca n’t hear what ’s going on with the traffic.”

Runners not in uniform need to wear “a light-colored upper garment” at the very least, said Colson, though reflective material is a plus.

Neither runners nor drivers need distractions when on the move, Colson added.

“We have distracted drivers who are paying more attention to their devices than to others. Runners owe it to themselves not to be distracted, too,” he said.

He advised running defensively.

“The regulation reads that individual walkers, runners or informal groups of walkers or runners must yield the right of way to all vehicular traffic,” Colson stated. “Walkers and runners have the right of way over vehicles only at marked crosswalks. Many runners believe that they always have the right of way, but they should jog in place and wait for the traffic to pass.”

The direction of travel is also important and is affected by whether one runs alone or in a formation.

“If you’re running in a formation, you want to run with traffic because your group is easier to see and the traffic is required to slow to 10 mph,” Colson said. “Individuals choosing to run in the roadway shouldn’t run with their back to traffic but should run toward traffic where both runner and driver have a better chance to see each other and react if they need to.”

Consideration for one another is key to keeping everyone safer, according to Colson.

“We ask everyone to keep safety as aforethought,” said Colson. “It’s about drivers having respect for runners and runners having respect for the traffic simultaneously.”

Shining vest for motorcyclists!

Reflective elements for clothing, such as reflective vests increase the safety of the motorcyclist. But there is something even more effective.

The death of a motorcyclist is often decided by fractions of a second. Therefore, experienced riders know that they must have eyes on the stopwatch and that they must “see” through the eyes of the car drivers. They often register them late, sometimes they completely overlook them. At the same time, little contact with the vehicle can end up disastrously for a scooter or motorcycle rider. It is therefore important that it is visible and identifiable to other road users from a sufficient distance. These words are especially true at night and in poor visibility, but the rain. Do not rely on the lights of the motorcycle or scooter itself. For other drivers, they may be fused or lost in the lights of other cars. Headlight motorcycle respectively. the scooter, moreover, may seem to some participants as a car in the distance.

Therefore, when you sit on a scooter or motorcycle, consider what you wear. If possible, choose bright clothes, ideally with glaring elements. These colors are seen from a much greater distance than dark. If you are driving in poor visibility, make sure your clothing has reflective fabrics. Reflection of light will significantly increase your visibility. The larger the reflective surface, the better for you. Ideally, the reflective surfaces are front, back and side, so that you can be seen from all sides. Many jackets, coats, and trousers have reflective elements right inside. However, these areas are often relatively small. However, there are many reflective jackets for motorcyclists with a larger reflective surface. Usually, these vests are in glowing green or orange color, so they improve your visibility during the day. Some are full, others mesh, some are fastened with Velcro, others with full zipper. Their price ranges from a few euros to 100 euros. A simpler and cheaper alternative is a reflective belt.

When buying a reflective vest, verify that it is CE certified. It is not only the durability of the vest but also the quality of the reflective surfaces. The advantage of the jackets as such is that they are lightweight, storable, so you can keep them in the box under the seat during the day, and when you get to the night, you can put them on any clothes. The only exception is the Macna Vision Vest, which is only compatible with Macna biker jackets. It is attached by a zipper at the back and two hook-and-loop fasteners at the front of the third at the back. That’s what we have to test. Available in different S – XXL sizes (depending on jacket size), it costs around 30 euros. Its advantage is that it is very light and in a folded form occupies minimal space. When properly attached to the jacket, it holds firmly even at high speeds. In summer, you will appreciate that it leaves the ventilation holes of the jacket exposed. On the contrary, the disadvantage is that it is only visible from the front and back, and the reflective surfaces are, also, relatively small. The biggest disadvantage, however, is that it is only compatible with Macna jackets. I recommend it more visibility during the day. For the night I would choose a reflective vest with larger areas, and especially one that has reflective areas on the side.

Whatever clothes you buy, you will always have to rely on the car’s headlight to illuminate you. And it only illuminates you when the car is already relatively close. The higher the reflective material elements are, the later the car headlamp illuminates them. In other words, the higher the reflective elements, the closer the car is to you when it illuminates you. But there is another option – a jacket or vest with Scilif SunFibre technology. These are light filaments that actively emit light in all directions – in our case of a glaring light green color. Drivers will register you from a long distance, much sooner than their headlight would illuminate. Under ideal conditions, a vest with such a fiber is visible up to a kilometer! I would like to remind you that the most modern LED headlamps with support laser beam have an afterglow of about 600 meters, headlights of ordinary cars are somewhere on the border of 200-350 meters. And that is what we are talking about about the range of high beams. But let us return to our village. Vest Not only shines, but the specific shape of the light filament in the shape of a human silhouette will attract the attention of other drivers. Drivers will see you in it, even in a bend. The light filament itself is placed in a textile wrapping – so-called piping. It makes it possible for the light fibers to be sewn into any textile material, in our case a reflective vest. However, they can also be used in back bags and the like. Paspules increase the mechanical resistance of the fiber and at the same time increase the overall luminous intensity. Included in the vest is a small control unit with a battery and a source with two LEDs. Press and hold the corresponding button on the control unit for 3 seconds to turn the light on or off, brief pulses to change the light intensity in 3 degrees and the light or flash mode. Just in flashing mode, the vest attracts the attention of the drivers even more strongly.

According to intensity, respectively. In the flashing or flashing mode, the vest will stay on for 2.5 – 20 hours. The battery is charged via a micro USB connector, for example from a computer. However, a power adapter is also included. The charging method is an advantage on the one hand, because it is simple, on the other hand, a disadvantage. Because if you run out of battery while traveling, you don’t have a chance to buy and replace the batteries with your pump. The control unit with a battery and light source are located on the back of the vest in a small zippered pocket. The tested vest has not only luminous fibers but also classic reflective surfaces, which further increases your safety. The vest itself is mesh, which ensures ventilation of the body in summer. It is light (you can not feel the presence of electricity at all), it can be folded (even luminous fibers are flexible). The vest is made of high-quality materials, it is resistant to external influences including rain. When it gets dirty, you can wash it in an automatic washing machine – at a temperature of up to 40 °C for a manual washing program. However, you must first remove the control unit. This vest costs 159 euros, which is not enough, but what to invest if not in your safety? There is currently no better solution on the market.

One-fifth of families carry their children to school by car

One-fifth of families in the Czech Republic use their cars regularly to transport children to schools. This was shown by a survey conducted by Škofin.

At least, only nine percent of parents transport their children to school by car in Prague. On the other hand, children living in small municipalities with up to 1000 inhabitants carry the family car (35 percent of families).

Just two decades ago, only two percent of children regularly drove to school, with 59 percent traveling on foot and 36 percent of schoolchildren using public transport.

“Today it is very different. About 37 percent of children go to school on foot and another 27 percent by bus or tram,” said the road safety team.

Fears of an accident

On the contrary, nothing has changed over the years that, at the beginning of the school year, there are police officers at every crossing near schools and make sure that children cross the road safely. Yet more and more parents do not hesitate to drive schoolchildren by car. They are usually led to fear of a possible accident if the child walks.

“There is a real danger for a child in the form of crossing busy roads in places where there are no pedestrian crossings or traffic is not controlled by traffic lights,” says Markéta Novotná, a method of traffic education from the Road Safety Team.

“The smallest ones may encounter complications that the adult does not perceive. After all, what a tall adult can see at a glance can remain hopelessly hidden from the first-graders through the parked vehicles,” Novotná added.

Reflective elements for walking

It is therefore good to explain in detail to the child where to go and where to go. And it is definitely necessary to ensure that drivers can see them sufficiently in road traffic. It provides brightly colored clothing.

“It should be remembered that the autumn sleet is approaching. Bright fluorescent colors lose their advantage in the dark. Only reflective accessories will help. There is a sufficient selection of clothing with reflective fabrics on the market, and reflective pendants or belts are suitable accessories. Children will not resist wearing them, quite the contrary,” said Novotná.

School bus safety reminders for students and drivers

Just two weeks into the new school year, police say they’re getting complaints from Southwest Florida drivers about dangerous situations at school bus stops.

Police offer these safety tips at bus stops.

Children:

Keep an eye on traffic.

Do not sit in the roadway. Drivers might not see you

Do not play running games or push and shove at the bus stop. It is dangerous near traffic.

Make sure you stand at least 10 feet from the road while waiting for the bus so you are away from traffic.

If your bus stop is on a corner of another person’s property, be courteous and never leave litter behind.

Use reflective materials. There are backpacks and clothing with reflective fabric sewn into it.

If they are going to wear headphones, only use one so they can hear traffic.

Drivers:

Always look for children walking to bus stops or at bus stops.

When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school.

Slow down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood.

Do not text, check your email or put makeup on while driving.

Watch for children playing and congregating near bus stops.

Be alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.

Learn and obey the school bus laws as well as the “flashing signal light system” that school bus drivers use to alert motorists of pending actions:

Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.

In the State Duma will be offered to make mandatory reflective elements of clothing

State Duma Deputy Vyacheslav Lysakov will propose that the government of the Russian Federation oblige enterprises to equip children’s, school and sports clothing with reflective fabrics or other reflective materials, the Parliamentary Newspaper reports.

On March 18, a decree comes into force, obliging drivers to wear a reflective jacket or reflective vest of drivers in case of a forced stop of the vehicle outside settlements when leaving the car. Drivers must have protective vests in many European countries.

“It is necessary to develop mandatory, rather than recommendatory standards for each group of goods: school clothes, children’s, sports and tourism, profile enterprises should strictly follow these national standards,” the author of the initiative explained to the newspaper.

Lysakov noted that the requirements will apply to both domestic and foreign suppliers.

According to preliminary estimates, additional elements can cause a rise in the price of goods by 10-15%. “But the question concerns the safety of Russians, this is the responsibility of the state. The state is obliged to protect the lives and health of citizens not only by increasing fines for violating traffic rules or introducing new punitive measures against offenders but also by regulating the activities of industrialists in the interests of people’s safety”.

According to statistics, in the first six months of 2017, over 7.5 thousand pedestrian raids recorded on Russian roads at night. This is 10.2% less compared to the same period of 2016. As a result, more than 1.3 thousand people died, more than 6.5 thousand people suffered.

Where can I buy reflective clothing

Buy a reflective vest or jacket, the driver of the vehicle can in almost any auto parts store or workwear. The minimum price for a vest is only one hundred rubles. At the moment, recent legislative innovations have not played a role in raising the prices of such products. Therefore, for the time being, the price for them is quite acceptable, and there is no shortage in retail outlets. Some try to make vests or jackets on their own, stitching reflective fabrics on ordinary clothing. For pedestrians, this will be quite enough, but hardly for drivers.

Firstly, it is not very convenient. After all, have to spoil the clothes.

Secondly, in the case of independent production, neither a vest nor a jacket with reflective elements will in any way correspond to accepted state standards. Namely, the relevant paragraph of the Rules of the Road is based on them. Therefore, only the reflective clothing that is manufactured by an industrial method and complies with accepted GOST is applicable for drivers. Experts predict that in the near future, prices for reflective vests and jackets will soar, increasing by several times.

After all, before the entry into force of the law is still almost three months. Therefore, some drivers still save money until such time as wearing such accessories will not become the legislative norm. Presumably, it will be in mid-March. Added to this is the fact that many Russian car owners simply do not use their vehicles in the winter. This is especially true for the northern regions of Russia. Yes, and the celebration of the New Year does not contribute to the acquisition of driver’s gear, better prepare for the holiday table. Therefore, a surge in demand for reflective clothing is still ahead and is projected in the early spring of the next, 2018. The most pragmatic drivers buy it today, explaining that they do not want to subsequently pay two or even three current prices. And the most-most practical Russian car owners have long been acquired and at the same time using reflective vests and jackets. Virtually every trucker has similar clothing that hangs in the driver’s seat or lies in the glove compartment of his truck. Incidentally, the SDA does not establish a clear storage location for a reflective vest or jacket. They can be put under the seat, in the glove compartment or in the trunk.

Legally, such moments are not considered. The main thing is that everything is used for its intended purpose and meets the established requirements. But, leaving the car, the driver will have to walk a few meters to the trunk, which can be fatal for him. A reflective vest should set off a person against the surrounding dark background in the headlights of a car. One of the requirements that apply to light-protective elements on such clothing, is their visibility from a distance of about 600 meters. Naturally, each car lights are different. In this case, we are talking, of course, about modern high-beam headlamps. The weaker the headlights of a car, the lower the distance you can see a person in reflective clothing. The minimum distance from which a person in such equipment should be noticeable must be at least 150 meters. Much also depends on weather conditions. For example, fog, snow or rain significantly reduce the visibility range for drivers. This should be considered. Experts advise, in addition to light-reflecting clothing, to have in their hands or on themselves a source of electric light, while it is very desirable that it be red. After all, it is the red light that automatically increases the attention of the driver.