Unprotected road users

Today, traffic police throughout the country conduct national control and prevention activities in the name of “unprotected road users”. They are designed to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists – these road users are particularly vulnerable to the tragic consequences of these events in accidents.

 

During the course of the operation, the supervision will cover areas that are particularly dangerous for pedestrians. That is, passages where pedestrians are detained through busy roads. Police officers will pay attention to whether drivers are trying to use “stronger laws” related to pedestrians, such as exercising priority at a crossroads, especially during so-called “green arrows”.

 

We remind managers that the school year has begun and that children and adolescents can be found on the roads near the school. These are road users who should be given special attention. It happens that children, especially when they move around in a group and focus on conversation. They act unscrupulously, such as crossing the road or walking the wrong road.

 

Currently, the police are carrying out activities “safe way to go to school” focusing on the safety of children and adolescents near the school. We are promoting the drivers so they can drive carefully and focus on the youngest participants in the movement.

 

Regardless of the season, the driver should clearly see unprotected road users. Therefore, pedestrians must wear reflective vests, especially where required by regulations, that is, after darkness outside the building area. Remember, when preparing a school for beginners, be sure to put a reflective element(like reflective vests or reflective tapes) on his coat.

 

The use of reflective materials increases the visibility of the pedestrian several times, giving the driver more time to perform the manipulation of the pass or brake.

Do accidents increase with delivery and parcel companies?

The competition is forcing many delivery companies are betting on an increasingly common formula, in order to reduce costs. It is about looking for self-employed workers, who work with their own vehicles for these companies. Now a study warns of the risks that this practice is bringing for road safety.

 

University College London (UCL), which conducted the research, found that 63% of self-employed drivers do not receive road safety training on how to minimize risk. In addition, 65% do not receive even the most basic security equipment, such as a safety vest (70% buy their own) and reflective tapes. The study also surveyed taxi drivers and found a very similar situation.

 

Up to 42% of drivers said their vehicle had been damaged as a result of a collision while working, and 10% more reported that someone had been injured. Only 25% of courier drivers claimed that their company cared about their safety while they worked.

 

Heather Ward of the UCL Transportation Studies Center said: “Our findings highlight that the increase of these contracts in transport companies could increase the risk factors that affect the health and safety of workers.” Among his concerns, he stresses that as there are more workers in these conditions and competition increases. They increase the number of hours they need to work and the distances they must travel to obtain a stable income.

 

Fatigue, especially among parcel couriers, due to overwork and the pressure of delivery time leads to frequent mistakes and collisions. “We know it’s a problem, but we do not know exactly how long it is, since not all companies have an obligation to report on the number of self-employed workers,” Ward said.

 

The report makes a series of recommendations to companies that use self-employed drivers:

Pay messengers for blocks of time, instead of delivered packages. In doing so, they must take into account the time necessary to travel safely within the speed limits, taking into account that they must perform administrative functions, such as scanning codes and signing the receiver of the package.

 

Do not allow mobile phones to cause distractions. Most workers currently receive orders through a smart phone application.

 

The Society for the Prevention of Accidents to ensure that the conclusions of the study of UCL are worrying, considering the rise of this type of work. It should be added that in the United Kingdom (as in Spain). One third fatal accident involves someone who was at work at that time.

 

Companies of this type should have programs to minimize risks to road safety (drivers and other road users should wear safety clothing), which carry their business, without a doubt. And maybe we should all have more understanding when we receive an order that we have made online with a couple of hours late. That would also help.

They organized a Reflective Safety Day

Education in the field of safety of unprotected road users is a very important element in raising children and adolescents as well as adults. Therefore, the Primary School located on the busy provincial road for many years, together with the local government and many institutions, undertakes effective activities in this area, the effect of which is even the creation and functioning of one of the most modern communication towns in Poland.

 

It is here that the finals of the Nationwide Safety Tournament in Road Traffic take place. Next to the town there is a bike path under EUROVELO4.

 

For several years now, students of the school have undertaken numerous activities among the local community for safety, including the use of reflective vests and reflective tapes by both pedestrians and cyclists.

 

Every year, the school takes part in the competition titled “Reflective School” trying to undertake innovative activities encouraging to increase the safety of unprotected road users.

 

One of the elements of organized “Reflective Safety Day” was the Picnic in the Communications Town called “Wear reflections, shine with example” and “Reflective March” through the streets with banners that encourage residents to use reflective materials. In the march along with students and teachers also went to the school head Angelika, secretary of the commune Drina Lesser, chairman of the commune council Drina Roman and other invited guests. The march took place under the honorary patronage of the Commune Head of Drina Jan Pataki.

The police wants to reduce the rate of motorcycle accidents

No sooner did the policemen position themselves in their distinctive yellow safety vests with reflective tapes, they are already taking action: one motorcycle after another, they wave to the side of the road to take a close look at it. It does not take much time before the officials discover the first modification to one of the two-wheelers. The so-called DB killer is missing – which makes the machine significantly louder than allowed. A violation that costs the driver equal to 180 Euros. “Stupid that the police know now synonymous,” says the only dry.

 

Because it is not an ordinary control, which has carried out the policy. For the first time, the so-called motorcycle control group is in action, which the police headquarters Upper Franconia called only at the end of July to life. “The benefit is that most civil servants are motorcyclists themselves and screw their own machines in their free time, so it’s much easier for them to spot illegal modifications,” says police officer Marco, who is in control.

 

In particular, technical changes to the machines would put the control officials before special requirements and require expert knowledge. But not only privately, the officials have to educate themselves: Also by the police are offered various courses. For example, experienced police officers can pass on their motorcycle expertise to colleagues. “It’s not about passing on or banging on motorcyclists – it’s for their own safety,” emphasizes Kissinger.

 

The first inspection will follow throughout Upper Franconia in late summer and autumn, many more. “At the moment we are ten motorcycle control groups in Upper Franconia, but when it comes to control, the goal is always to have been at least four local officials,” explains Kissinger.

 

Motorcyclists are the main risk group

One of the reasons why the ten groups are now on the road is 574 traffic accidents in Upper Franconia in which motorcycles were involved last year. In view of a total of 33 049 accidents, a figure that seems comparatively low at first glance. She is still worried about the police. After all, 500 were injured, eight even killed. Accordingly, motorcyclists are attributable to the main risk group for serious traffic accidents, said the Upper police headquarters in his latest traffic accident statistics. In half of the cases, the cause of the accident is caused by the motorcyclists themselves.

 

The control groups should help to reduce the rate again in the future. An idea that also meets the ears of the police inspection. “I think it’s very good that there are now,” says Wolfgang Schramm, the local deputy head of traffic. “It’s a minority that manipulates their machines, but then you want to find and pull out the motorcyclists who overshoot the target.”

 

What role the weather plays

Why in the Cranach district alone in the first half of this year with 15 accidents in which motorcycles were involved, there were almost as many as in the entire year of 2017 (21), knows Anne of the Press Office of the police headquarters Upper Franconia: because of the weather! “The numbers always come in, when a season starts much earlier due to the nice weather,” she explains. So it is important to wear safety clothing with reflective materials which the safety for motorcycle driver can be increased.

 

And because the temperatures in March were mild enough to attract the first motorcycle lovers to their machines, this is now also reflected in the statistics. “Experience has shown that it’s always a bit of a hassle until the drivers have prepared for motorcycles to travel again.”

Some tips for cyclists

In recent years, more and more people are switching to a bicycle, and unfortunately not all participants of the movement are familiar with the rules – this applies to both cyclists and drivers.

Some cyclists can be accused of keeping a lot on the road. Adult people do not have to take any exams to get around the streets, but it is their duty to comply with traffic regulations. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. On the other hand, it happens that drivers expose cyclists to danger, especially when they do not give them the right priority.

When do you need to give way?

Road traffic regulations state that the driver is obliged to give way to the cyclist always when “the driver turns into the crossroads (both right and left) and the cyclist goes straight ahead on the road, bike lane, bike path or other part of the road that the driver intends to leave. ”

Look for eye contact

When we plan to turn in a cross road, crossing the potential bike path (eg lane for bicycles), we should look long before the turn to look in the mirrors and far to the front, to locate the bikers approaching from both sides. It is also important to clearly signal the intention of turning and speed reduction. Thanks to this, both the driver and the cyclist have a chance to notice each other and react accordingly. What’s next? – Immediately before the turn, carefully check the right mirror and turn to the right to check the dead field of our vehicle. In all potentially collision situations, we seek eye contact with a cyclist – then both parties are confident that they have noticed each other – they say trainers of the School of Safe Driving Renault.

The position of the side mirrors in the car is also important. The driver should see in them a fragment of the car’s outline. Thanks to this, he can make sure that there is no blind spot behind the rear pillars of the vehicle (there could be a cyclist in it), which he would not be able to look at, turning his head away.

What can a cyclist do?

Safety is also greatly affected by the behavior of people riding bicycles. – Cyclists often forget that before entering a ride for cyclists, they should be careful, look around and slow down. If there is no such passage, and there is only a pedestrian crossing, one should get off the bike and carry it through belts – says Wesel, director of the School of Safe Driving Renault. And it is also important to wear reflective clothing or reflective tapes to be sure that you can be seen at night.

Cyclists should also ensure that drivers see them well, especially after dark. Then the lighting of the bicycle is a must (during the day, the regulations require only a red reflector at the back), the reflective vest will not hurt either. Although it is not obligatory, it is also worth riding in a helmet – in case of an accident it can even save a life.

Always ready to rescue at sea

Rescuers at sea, all volunteers, offer their time and expertise and help those who need to be rescued at sea. For this, they are trained throughout the year.

“Christian, you will simulate a waterway. We’ll send you a guy with a motor pump. We’ll give you the trailer and we’ll get you back.” This is the program of exercise this afternoon in three sentences. The role of the castaway will be played by a small unit, which usually serves as a school boat. On board, Christian, who is one of the bosses of the SNSM. He is the one on call this week. And a boater: Stephan. As soon as it is said, the future castaways leave the harbor.

Port exit

The star of the class SNS 156 bears the sweet name of Sainte-Anne-du-Port. She is moored at the beginning of the pontoon, ready to fly to the rescue of anyone who needs it. Cyril, who is in command, gives his instructions before departure. “One of the boaters will be on the boat. We will transfer the motor pump. Then we will pass the trailer, with the small crowbar. We cast off the moorings. We leave the harbor.

At a surprisingly slow speed. If it was a “real” intervention, for people drowning, would we go faster? “No,” Cyril answers. In the port, the speed is limited to 3 knots. With its 14.80 m, the SNS 156 moves a lot of water. There is no question of causing an accident, of shaking the pontoon, or a child on the deck of a sailboat falling into the water. ”

Here comes the call for help, clearly identified as an exercise. The small boat allegedly in distress is near the buoy “As you can”, the name of a wreck that sank there. The buoy is a cardinal east: it is east of the danger. And we go to the east of the buoy.

A floating reflective vest that supports two people

In addition to Cyril and Christophe, aboard Hervey Duchesne, chief of the bridge, and three boatmen: Yvonne , Yves and Vincent Le Roy. All four wear self-inflating vests orange, 225 newtons. Vests with reflective tapes that can hold two people on the surface of the water: the rescuer and the rescued. This gives an image of the physical commitment one is willing to offer when one decides to give his time to the SNSM.

The other two, the boss and the radio, who remain at the bridge, wear blue vests with reflective materials of 150 newtons. Dialogue at the VHF: “We are two on board,” report the shipwrecked. “Did you go for two? Asks Christophe. ” Yes. – You donned your lifejackets. – Yes. ”

Pairing

Cyril decided: “We will start to couple on his port side. The boaters prepare the tusks, these kinds of big balloons that protect the hull when moored against another ship or along a dock.

Here we are with our castaways. The pairing maneuver (mooring the two boats side by side) is not as simple as you would think. “We have to start again here, guys,” Cyril said, stiffening the rear hawser. While the water is flat and there is little wind, a small Beaufort, the two boats rattle a lot against each other.

The pump, the trailer

The pump is transshipped on the small boat, as well as one of the boaters. Rescuers always leave one of them on the boat they are rescuing. Someone who is used to handling a pump, who knows what to do when towed, and who can reassure stressed sailors if necessary.

The trailer is over. We pull the small boat after 50m hawsers. All are well, end of the exercise, each one returns to the port in an autonomous way. The exercise was profitable: “Taking couples. We do not often, says Cyril. It is rare that the weather allows it. We always have things to improve.

Now the VHF is crackling. It’s a call to help a real one, that one. But this one will not be for us: it is located on the other side of the Channel, in Falmouth, on the English coast.

Brigades reinforce all summer to make clear beaches

In the hand, at the wheel of a tractor, near the summer, the Syndicate intercommunion does Dunes of Flanders (SIDF) applies to orchestrate the cleaning of the beaches of Bray-Dunes, Dunkirk, etc.. In summer, ballet of agents is growing to treat the coastline. The point of the device.

Evacuate with shovels

The mechanical cleaning of the beaches intervenes on the top of the dikes and on certain parts of the foreshore: “We work only in the urbanized zones, on a significant time slot, from 6 am to 9 pm. This allows to cover the different times of the day, Karl, technical adviser on the cleanliness of the beaches at the SIDF. The activity is more intense in summer, from 6 am to 11 am, two agricultural tractors pass in the four communes. These devices make it possible to plug holes and stable gaming platforms. The washing of dikes and the collection of baskets occurs several times during the day. “The afternoon team crosses the dike with an electric vehicle, at the appropriate size for the walking area. We try to be present according to the weather. Sometimes a passage is not enough. This was the case throughout the month of July, overflowing with vacationers.

Yellow reflective vest on the back, garbage bag and clip in hand, it is at dawn that the ballet cleaners start on the stretch of sand stretching from Dunkirk to Bray-Dunes. The vest with reflective tapes can protect them to increase visibility at night. Before, during and after the season, the SIDF organizes a manual pick-up on the areas polluted by the marine discharges and the dune space, fragile places, less accessible by the machines. A mission delegated to the association: “Between June 1 and September 30, a team of six people in professional reintegration ensures this task, says Christophe, director general of union services. They also intervene at crucial moments, during a large influx, as is the case in the summer, but also to the Milo band, the feast of the Music, The Good Adventure, etc. Their main enemy: the macro-waste rejected by the sea or left by the walkers. The ballet cleaners who wear safety clothing with reflective materials try to pick-up those macro-waste.

Convey the message

To accompany these actions, the SIDF tries to “make the summer eco-friendly”. For this, he recruits during the two months of vacation, a dozen young people, who travel the territory to distil messages to beach users, in addition to perform, also a manual pickup. “This” Beach Protection Brigade “was an experimental action for two years in Bray-Dunes, continues Christophe. We expanded it to the four communes. It is in this way that one can manage to improve cleanliness. We seek to deploy our action by all possible means. The SIDF also notes a “good appropriation by the citizens” installed in autumn, which encourages the walkers to deposit the waste found on their way.

Left, right and left again

Six preschool children of the Cake Community kindergarten SBI have been taking the pedestrian license these days. Traffic educator Gabi Meister came with her traffic guard. Leon, Jacob, Amelia, Sam, Luca and Johanna joined with zeal in the important topic of traffic education. Preschoolers are already brought along many personal experience on the subject of traffic safety. Gabi Meister first set up a crosswalk dummy and practiced safely crossing the road in this way in the multipurpose room. The next step was to “unveil” a traffic light and compare the difference between driver and pedestrian traffic light. Numerous situations of road traffic from the perspective of the children were discussed in detail. So everyone agreed that the ball game should take place better in the garden and not or on the street. Like a mantra, the road crossing at the zebra crossing was practiced: “Look to the left, look to the right and then to the left again, eyes open – that brings it”. Important: The outstretched arm, clearly visible to the driver, as a begging barrier. The children had quickly internalized this. Thus one could finally go outside.

Dressed in safety vests, the preschool children, accompanied by Gabi Meister and an educator, marched in the direction of school. The drivers stopped in exemplary fashion and friendly at the zebra crossing and let the children cross the street. “Unfortunately, this is not always the case,” said Gabi Meister. She and her two colleagues, Ina Maier and Eva Braun, experience it again and again that cars do not stop to let the practicing children cross the street. Recently, a child was being outraged because the hurrying postman was too slow.

The boys and girls always wear safety vests with reflective tapes are easy to recognize, especially as they usually form a group. Children dealing with traffic safety are often hesitant and anxious and want to do everything right on the day of training. That can take a few seconds. In there, the traffic was low and so kept the children calm and mastered their task effortlessly.

Another problem sees Gabi master parking in the five meter security area before and after the zebra crossing. This should be kept free. Because children are not naturally as recognizable as adults. On the way between kindergarten and crosswalk many street signs which made of reflective materials were discussed. The sidewalk was consistently cut, even if a parking lot had to be bypassed. The children knew exactly that the emergency vehicles of the police, the fire department, ambulances, the THW and ambulance cars are allowed to pass everywhere. They have to be careful when they hear the siren. An electrically powered car rushed quietly past the children’s group and was an instructive example of not relying on hearing alone.

After returning to kindergarten, the six new “traffic experts” received their pedestrian license. As youngest road users, they will soon be able to apply their new knowledge on their way to school. Gabi Meister was very satisfied. “You only exist once,” she told the children to use what they had learned. That shone on the future first graders.

Balance SIAT: traffic accident investigations

At the national level, there are 11 people who were killed due to traffic accidents in the country. The accident was recorded at kilometer 2 of the road to Chaka, when a van traveling on this route ran over a woman identified as Clara, 55, who without wearing reflective clothing with reflective tapes.

Captain Daniela explained that there were three factors that influenced the tragedy.

“First of all we must consider that the accident occurred at 02.40 in the morning on Monday, that is to say at night and in a place where the lighting is very bad,” he said, referring to the null existence of lights on that route .

“Second, the victim was walking along the road itself, along with another person and none used reflective clothing or light; That’s why the driver saw them when he already had them on him. In fact you can see that he tried to avoid them and if he did not, he could have run over both of them. “he said.

But the most important thing was that “both the driver and the pedestrian were drunk. For this reason the driver was stopped and formalized on Monday morning,” explained the expert in traffic accident investigations.

The woman was assisted by SAMU personnel, since after the warning of the emergency units she was still alive, however, her death was confirmed about 40 minutes after the accident.

The balance of the SIAT also reflects a high rate of impaired drivers in the region, mostly due to speed.

According to data, whose personnel only carried out traffic checks, more than 100 parties attended between Saturday and Monday at 7:00 p.m.

“Most of them traveled on routes that cross through Neuquén, San and Tranquil, and show how important it is for people to know that we are not only focused on controlling Route 5 South or the Tate Route, but it also shows that despite all the campaigns and all the efforts of Carabineers and other authorities, there are still many people who do not respect traffic laws or take self-care measures to drive, “said Captain.

Most of the infractions were due to speed, followed by those who were notified for driving without the corresponding licenses and, in a third group, those who drove in vehicles without the daily technical review or with technical deficiencies.

With death of Clara the number of deaths due to traffic accidents amounts to 36, so far in 2018. This, out of a total of 70 serious accidents investigated by the SIAT. Most of them were not wear reflective vests when go outside at night.

As has been the trend for several decades, the abuses continue to be the main cause of death in the region and this year there are already 12 fatal cases. The rest of the deaths were recorded in 11 collisions, eight crashes and five rollovers.

And even though this long weekend has ended, “we believe that the maximum traffic flow we will see next Sunday, when the winter holidays end. This weekend saw a relatively low flow, since only those who had to return to their jobs returned. “they said in the SIAT.

Delivery reflective vests to cyclists and motorcyclists

The Secretariat of Public Safety of Yucatan, through its police elements, delivers reflective vests to cyclists and motorcyclists to promote education and road safety, since last July 22 in different parts of the city of Merida and in some parts of the interior of the state.

To request this security measure, you can go to the SSP Police Bases located on the Peripheral Ring at the Alfa-Beta Base of the Valladolid exit, the Delta Base at Causal and the Prevention Guard. In Security Complex of kilometer 45.

The vest is yellow with a reflective material and Velcro on the chest that allows drivers to distinguish these vehicles at a considerable distance and more safely.

In its social networks, the SSP urges the drivers of two-wheeled vehicles and tricycles to use the vests with reflective tapes, because “no safety measure is too much”.