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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 Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.

Tips on Walking and Cycling Safely

Police Chief Andrew Caggiano wanted to remind residents of some safety tips for riding bicycles and walking along township roads as they get out of their homes to enjoy some fresh air and get a break from self-isolation during the COVID-19 crisis.

Bicycling:

Any person riding a bicycle on the street must use the right side of the road.

Follow the rules of the road, as if you are driving a car.

Always wear a helmet.

Wear bright, reflective clothing with reflective fabric.

Avoid wearing headphones, at least not in both ears.

Slow down at intersections.

Look drivers in the eye when a potentially dangerous situation might ensue; be sure they see you.

Be predictable, and signal your turns.

Always look behind you or in a mirror before veering/swerving left into the lane of traffic.

Do not ride on the sidewalk.

Wave your arms if you are unsure of your visibility, especially at intersections or with cars turning right, into your lane.

Ride defensively, as if every driver is on a cell phone, not paying attention, or on drugs, and never give a driver the benefit of doubt.

Pedestrians, including runners, should follow these safety tips:

Run against traffic so you can observe approaching automobiles. By facing on-coming traffic, you may be able to react quicker than if it is behind you. Utilize sidewalks when available.

Look both ways before crossing. Be sure the driver of a car acknowledges your right-of-way before crossing in front of a vehicle. Obey traffic signals.

Carry identification or write your name, phone number, and blood type on the inside sole of your running shoe. Include any medical information.

Always stay alert and aware of what’s going on around you. The more aware you are, the less vulnerable you are.

Carry a cell phone.

Wear reflective material if you must run before dawn or after dark. Avoid running on the street when it is dark.

DON’T WEAR HEADPHONES. Use your ears to be aware of your surroundings. Your ears may help you avoid dangers your eyes may miss during the evening or early morning runs.

Have fun and be safe!

Pedestrian safety advocate speaks out after police give reflective armbands to seniors

Pedestrian and cycling safety advocates are speaking out after Toronto police officers handed out reflective armbands to seniors at an event aimed at raising awareness about pedestrian safety.

Officers who attended the event, which was held at Woodside Square mall in Scarborough on Saturday, offered up safety tips to pedestrians and handed out reflective armbands to elderly residents.

The move sparked an outcry from pedestrian safety advocates, including Friends and Families for Safe Streets spokesperson Jessica Spieker.

“The reason that no road safety advocate likes this approach is that all of the evidence tells us it simply won’t work,” Spieker told CP24 on Monday.

“It is a waste of money, time, energy, and other resources to be essentially trampling the Charter rights of seniors because we all have a Charter right to freedom of personal expression and that includes our clothing choices.”

Coun. Mike Layton also weighed in on the controversy at the city hall on Monday, noting that he does not think it is reasonable to expect people to wear reflective armbands to protect themselves.

“I don’t know what they do in other parts of the world and whether or not this is something that works. All I do know is I don’t think we can expect everyone to wear an armband just to try to feel safe,” he said.

But not all city councilors share Layton’s views.

Ward 6 Coun. James Pasternak took to Twitter on Monday to voice his support for reflective clothing with reflective fabric .

“Wearing high visibility clothing or reflective gear is a key part of keeping everyone safe, including pedestrians, construction workers, cyclists, police officers, and crossing guards,” he wrote in a tweet.

Spieker said that there have been no studies to suggest that wearing reflective gear is a good way to prevent pedestrian deaths.

“There is no evidence that it works. Any study that has looked at high (visibility clothing) on vulnerable road users doesn’t find much of an impact. One study found it made things worse. So we know this isn’t going to have an impact and yet were focusing on it anyway,” she said.

She said improving the design of infrastructure is the main way to reduce collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists.

“Our current road design induces drivers to speed. We have these wide, straight lines. It looks a lot like Highway 401 so people tend to drive that way… predictably blowing red lines, making inattentive turns, they strike pedestrians who have the right of way,” she said.

“We lose one vulnerable road user per week roughly… This is not a trivial issue and this is not something that we should be delaying and playing games around.”

Spieker noted that the city could improve road safety by adding things like protective barriers.

“These are not expensive. They are not difficult to do,” she said. “There is no reason to not just aggressively pursue what we know will work.”

How to protect a pedestrian on the road in the dark

Klops publishes instructions for Kaliningraders on actions in extreme and everyday situations that require attention. Experts explain where to turn and how to act.

White or yellow clothes will make the pedestrian more noticeable for drivers, and the use of reflective material elements will significantly reduce the risk of getting under the car in the dark. Klops, with the help of the propaganda group of the regional traffic police, prepared recommendations for its readers on how to protect a pedestrian on the road.

Out of town – with reflectors

According to the rules of the road, in the dark, a pedestrian must use reflective fabric elements on clothing. In the city, this is just a recommendation, and outside the settlement, the requirement becomes mandatory. For violation, a fine of 500 rubles is imposed.

How to choose a light element

You can purchase a keychain with a reflective element and hang it on a bracelet. There are also badges and reflective stickers that can be attached to clothes, a backpack or a bag. Such trifles can be bought for 60 rubles at Russian Post offices, supermarkets, bookstores, and children’s stores, as well as at gas stations.

To choose a high-quality product, the traffic police advised us to photograph it with a flash.

“If the image is ‘illuminated’, then the material is of high quality,” the department explained, adding that the area of the retro-reflector should be at least 25 square centimeters.

The greatest safety at dusk and night for pedestrians will provide a special reflective vest. The larger the retro-reflector, the more likely it is that the driver will notice it.

Follow the rules of the road

On the edge of the roadway, pedestrians are required to move towards transport, the traffic police recalled. It’s easier to control everything that happens on the road. When approaching the car, it is recommended to slightly step aside, especially at this moment two cars are moving apart.

You can only walk along the sidelines of country roads. Walking on motorways is prohibited by law.

Invisible Pedestrian

A man in black clothes is invisible in the dark, while yellow and white clothes are visible even at night at a distance of 24-37 meters. The presence of a retro-reflective element will make the pedestrian visible to the driver for 200 meters, and in the high beam headlights – for 350 meters.

The traffic police reminded that in a critical situation, the car will not stop instantly. The braking distance on a dry road is 20 meters, on wet asphalt – 35, on packed snow – 70 meters.

In May, in the Ozyorsk district, a 15-year-old teenager was hit by a car to death. A schoolboy was walking along the side of the road towards Mayakovskoye village.

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.”

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.

What and where reflectors sell

The proposed range can be divided into two parts. The first – ready-made flickers in the form of icons under the original name “Reflective”. Various options are offered: a green man figurine, a soccer ball, butterfly. Restless children hooligans may be interested in products in the form of a skull. Little is issued from the total number of non-child version of the “four heels in one bed”. Probably for high school students.

A small minus of the light reflectors – fastening in the form of a chain. It can be attached to the backpack strap, bag handle. But to find a place for mounting on clothes is more difficult, you have to show a little imagination.

“Light reflectors” sold in Pskov hypermarkets. True, for some reason, at different prices. For example, in Imperial, the flicker cost is 57 rubles 40 kopecks, and in Trolley it is 50 rubles 80 kopecks. Interestingly, in different stores, the goods are distributed to different departments. In the “Imperial” and “Trolley” flickers should be sought in electrical goods and lanterns, and in the “Ribbon” – in children’s clothing. Here you can find and reflective vests, but this is a topic for another conversation.

In a word, light reflectors are sold in hypermarkets for time-saving people. Bought, attached and went further on the shelves to scour.

For more thoughtful and visionary consumers, there is a second option. More economical, but requires the application of their own efforts in the form of scissors, threads, and needles.

In any department for needlework among the threads and beads, there are reflective materials. The assumption was confirmed in the first two departments.

In the shopping center on J. Fabricius, 5-a, reflective tapes of different widths are sold. Cost from 25 to 40 rubles per square meter. In the department for sewing trading house-shed “Timokhin” gray tape 25 mm wide costs 15 rubles a meter.

The last store also showed a wide selection of reflective stripes on clothes for children and for adults. Variations from football and road signs to doggies. The patch for the price is comparable to the hypermarket flicker or more expensive, but it can be sewn to the clothes.

The variant with stripes and ribbons seems to us more effective. The flicker on the bag handle can be closed from the driver’s view. For example, if you cross the road with a bag in your left hand, and transport is approaching on the right. Manufacturers recommend placing light reflectors in such a way that they are visible both from behind and from the front.

“Pachem not wearing?”

One small problem remains – how to put pedestrians in reflectors. Remember the joke about the female breast? “Do you have it?” Pachem do not wear? In the Pskov region in the fall for school children purchased reflective elements. Only kids for some reason continue to wander in the dark.

There are several opinions on the topic of mandatory wearing flicker.

The first. The most common and wrong is to leave everything as it is.

Cons – almost daily incidents on the roads of the Pskov region.

The second. The ban on movement without a flicker in the dark.

Advantages: improved visibility of pedestrians and, as a consequence, a decrease in accidents, additional profit for manufacturers of reflectors, budget revenues from fines. Cons: negative public opinion by the dense part of the population. They say that there is nothing to pay for the apartments, but there are still some reflectors to wear. To change the legal awareness of the grandmothers and aunts brought up in the village, who crawl along the road inconvenient places, cannot easily be achieved with fines. The state will have to invest a little in social advertising. Tipo, chest in reflective crosses or head in the bushes. Youth can be stimulated by showing fashionable clothes with light reflectors.

Finally, the third option. Violent people flicker is not necessary, we go our own way. We introduce a new standard for clothing, at least for children. The offer is certainly reasonable. Anyone used to wearing stripes from childhood will teach their children to do so.

In any case, it’s not worth waiting until the state thinks about you and forces manufacturers to produce clothes only with reflective fabrics. Everyone should think about their own security.