April 19, 2010 marked the beginning of National Work Zone Awareness Week. It was also the day the New York Department of Transportation (DOT) launched a new PR campaign and a push for state legislators to implement penalties for drivers who jeopardize road worker's safety.

Nationwide, 720 work zone fatalities were reported in 2008. Motorists accounted for 80 percent of the deaths. While 720 people may not seem like a lot, over 40,000 people are injured in work zone accident each year. In the last 20 years, six employees of the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) have been killed in work zones. Since 1995, 40 NYCDOT employees have been injured. The most recent injury occurred April 8 in Chelsea when an NYCDOT employee was struck in a hit-and-run. The road worker's injuries were not life-threatening in this case.

At an event held in Batter Park April 19, the NYCDOT Commissioner, the Federal Highway Administrator, and the state DOT Acting Commissioner dedicated a memorial to the road worker's who have lost their lives in work related accidents. They also unveiled the print and radio ads that are part of the new PR campaign. The ads feature New Yorkers who have lost loved ones in work zone crashes. One black and white ad features the picture of a road worker's widow with the text, "My husband left early for work one night. A speeding driver crashed through his work zone and Nicky never came home."

This may come as a surprise, there is no current law against driver's entering a work zone. Officials are urging Albany legislatures to change this. Two legislators from Staten Island, state Senator Diane Savino and Assembly Member Michael Cusick are sponsoring bills that would make driving into an active work zone a punishable offense. The current bill proposes that those convicted would be subject to up to a $500 fine and/or up to three months behind bars. If passed, the legislation would make it possible to charge drivers with vehicular assault and vehicular manslaughter in the first and second degree for crashes that occur in active work zones. Cusick said, he hopes the legislation, "Will make accidents like this a thing of the past by creating more severe penalties for this type of inexcusable carelessness."

New Yorkers walk and bike around active work zones everyday. So, these laws are also about making local streets a safer place. If someone drives through an active work zone they can just as easily strike a bystander as they could a road worker. Since it helps protect all road users any progress in road worker safety laws will be considered progress in what was proposed by the Hayley Ng and Diego Martinez Law.

The Hayley Ng and Diego Martinez Law is named for two preschoolers killed in January 2009. The children were struck by an unattended van that was left idling in Chinatown. This law proposes the creation a careless driving offense. The offense would carry penalties of up to a $750 fine and up to 15 days in jail. Anyone who injures a vulnerable street user would be charged with careless driving. The purpose of the careless driving offense is to create an offense to be used when vehicular homicide and vehicular manslaughter cannot be used.

Labels: careless driving, driver safety, road worker safety, speeding, traffic safety

The summer is approaching! Are you planning to get into your car or RV and see the sights America has to offer? Will you go north, south, east or west?

It does not seem to matter in which direction you go because many states are having financial problems causing budget deficits and in order to save money, have decided to close rest areas on some of the highways.

It now becomes important to check the states you plan to visit and see if the rest areas are going to be available. You do not want to be surprised if suddenly there is a sign on the road "Rest Area Closed."

Why are rest areas important? They allow you as a traveler to pull off the roadway, use the restrooms, stretch your legs, walk your dog, if they travel with you, water horses, if that is why you are on the road, eliminate any drowsiness, give your eyes a rest, get a drink, pick up a tourist pamphlet, look at a map and get back on the road. They also are well lit, so it is a safer place to pull off if you need to shut your eyes and nap for a few minutes, especially if you are traveling at night, in rain, or in sun glare.

With less rest areas available there can be more highway crashes because people may just pull over to the side of the road. This can also impact nearby gas stations, convenience stores and restaurants who are concerned about travelers and truckers that have to pull off the roadway and take up parking spaces when they stop only to sleep and use their facilities.

We are always taught to be sure to use well lit areas when stopping. If there is no place to stop it can be dangerous and hazardous for drowsy and distracted drivers to just park along the side of the road.

Although, there has been closing of rest areas in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Vermont, Colorado, and South Carolina, Virginia has reopened most of the ones that they had closed , there are other states that might just be cutting back on staff, hours and services. In spite of this, Iowa and Texas are using some stimulus money to replace older rest areas with new ones. Texas is also adding internet kiosks and wi-fi access. The Florida Turnpike is not planning any closures at present, they have 8 service areas that are placed at intervals of approximately 45 minutes apart that provide food, fuel, car repair and towing service to the turnpike customers. They allow drivers to rest on long distance trips to avoid fatigue, this helps to keep this roadway as one of the safest.

If your plans take you to either Alaska or Hawaii, be aware that they have no rest areas at all.

Your mottos for any travel - "Be Prepared" and "Plan Ahead" - seem to be important this year so that you can be safe while on the roads.

Labels: avoid distracted driving, driver safety, drowsy driving, rest area, sleep

Junior drivers from other parts of the state may be unaware of the specifics that apply when they drive in New York City. The five boroughs that make up New York City have driving restrictions and privileges that in some instances differ from the rules of the road in other parts of the state for junior drivers. This article breaks down the privileges and restrictions associated with learners permits, limited junior licenses and junior licenses as outlined by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/).

Junior Learners Permit

Privileges

Driving under the supervision of a parent, guardian or driving instructor.

• The supervisor must be at least 21-years-old.


• The supervisor must have a valid driver's license and be sitting in the front seat


• The vehicle driven by the permit holder must have dual brakes.



• Only one person under the age of 21, who is not an immediate family member, is allowed to be present in the vehicle.




• Note – this law changed on February 22, 2010. If you obtained your permit before February 22, 2010 you are allowed to drive with two passengers under the age of 21 who are not immediate family members




Restrictions

• Driving between the hours of 9pm and 5am is not allowed for any reason


• Driving in a DMV road test area is not allowed at any time. Even if testing is not taking place.
  
• Drivers with Junior Learners Permits are not allowed to drive on certain roads:
  
  
  
  • Streets within any New York City park
  
  
  • Driving on a bridge or through a tunnel that falls under the Tribourough Bridge and Tunnel Authority's jurisdiction
  
  
  • Cross County Parkway, Hudson River Parkway, Saw Mill River Parkway, Taconic State Parkway (all in Westchester County)
  
  
  
  
  
  Limited Junior License/Junior License
  After drivers have held their Junior Learners Permit for 6 months they are eligible to take the road test for their Limited Junior License or Junior License. When driving within the five boroughs of New York City there are not extra privileges for a driver with a Junior License versus a driver with a Limited Junior License. The same privileges and restrictions apply.
  
  Privileges
  
• Drivers are no longer prohibited from driving on the parkways, bridges, tunnels, etc. they were prohibited from driving on while the possessed a Junior Learners Permit.


• The same driving rules apply when driving between the hours of 5am and 9pm as applied to drivers with Junior Learners Permit


• Driving is now allowed between the hours of 9pm and 5 am




• As long as there is supervision from a parent, guardian, instructor who is at least 21 and has a valid driver's license.


• The vehicle must have dual brakes.


• The supervisor must be in the front seat.




Penalties for Traffic Violations as a Junior Driver
Junior drivers will lose all driving privileges for 60 days if they are convicted of either one serious traffic violation or two other non-serious violations. According to New York State Law this will be viewed as a 60 day suspension.

However, if a Junior Driver is convicted of one serious traffic violation or two other violations within six months after having their suspended license restored the state will revoke all driving privileges for 60 days.

Senior License
In New York City you must be 18 years old to receive a senior license from the DMV. If you have a valid junior license you will automatically receive a senior license in the mail. If you are over 18 and you pass a road test you will also automatically receive a senior license.

When you are age 18, the DMV will issue you a senior license (Class D or Class M). If you have a valid junior license (Class DJ or MJ) you will automatically receive your senior license in the mail. If you pass your road test when you are age 18 you will automatically receive a senior license. 17-year-old-drivers are also eligible to take receive their senior license if they have completed a state-approved driver education course. To obtain a senior license, 17-year-old-drivers must bring their junior license and the driver education certificate of completion to any DMV office.

As it implies, a senior driver’s license does not carry any restrictions.

Labels: driving restrictions, new york driving laws

In the fall of 2001 former New York Governor, George Pataki, signed a bill forbidding drivers from talking on their cell phones while driving. New York was the first state to enact such a law. The only exception to this law was that drivers could use hands free microphones (or a Bluetooth nowadays). Beginning on December 1, 2001 any driver in the state of New York caught talking on his or her cell phone while driving would be issued a ticket for $100.

As the first state to enact such a law New York received a lot of attention. Eventually, several other states followed in New York’s footsteps and passed similar laws of their own. However, in the years following the passage of New York’s cell phone law a new communication trend began. Text messages and the use of other hand held communication devices were becoming increasingly popular. Unfortunately, New York’s Law did not prohibit texting and driving. It only banned talking and driving.

The first momentous push for a Text Messaging Ban began in June of 2007. In Upstate New York five teenage girls were in an SUV headed down the highway. When the driver suddenly veered into oncoming traffic and collided with a big rig. While investigating the crash, it was discovered that the driver had sent and received text messages in the moments before the crash. All five girls died in the crash, only a few days after they graduated high school.

Many counties feared similar crashes would take place without a law banning texting while driving. Since, it was not going to be enforced on a state level many counties took matters into their own hands. In 2008, Westchester and Nassau counties were among the first to pass laws. Westchester County started an education campaign in local high schools to inform new drivers of the law. County officials felt the law would benefit younger drivers. The younger, more inexperienced drivers were part of the text message generation and they felt a ban on text messaging while driving help new drivers pay attention.

On August 27, 2009 Governor David Paterson signed a bill that would finally ban drivers from text messaging while driving on a statewide level. In addition to text messaging the law also bans the use of any portable electronic devices while driving. The law was put into effect on November 1, 2009 and breaking the law results in a fine of up to $150.

However, the law is considered a secondary offense. Meaning, if a cop sees a driver text messaging while stuck in traffic on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway the cop cannot pull the driver over and issue him or her a ticket. If however, the cop witness the driver speeding on the BQE and text messaging the driver can be pulled over and issued a ticket for both offenses.

On February 24, 2010 Governor Paterson proposed a change to the new law. He recommends the law be changed from a secondary law to primary law. The change would mean that the police officer who sees a driver text messaging while stuck in traffic can pull the driver without needing to find other reason. If the ban becomes a primary law, New York would not be the first state to raise the ban on text messaging from a secondary to primary law. Washington State Senate has already approved the switch from secondary to primary.

Labels: anti-texting laws, driver safety, new york driving laws, texting and driving

How does the New York Point and Insurance Reduction Program Work

Labels: new york defensive driving, point and insurance reduction program, point reduction, point reduction course

Energy drinks market themselves to make it appear as if you get extraordinary abilities after drinking them. If you can run faster, jump higher or react quicker, wouldn't it do wonders for driving?

No. The effects of energy drinks while driving, while present, will not make you any better of a driver than you already are. Here's why:

Caffeine! - The main ingredient in all energy drinks is caffeine. Caffeine is the most common addiction that's legally out there --- it comes with your colas and coffee cups --- but energy drink companies have found ways to up the caffeine content in their products. An 8.2 oz of Red Bull has 80 mg of caffeine, and the point where you begin getting nauseous is 200mg. 750mg is toxic. Getting nauseous and thumping headaches will not do you good while driving.

It Works! - But only for a short while. If you've been downing energy drinks before that long drive, you'll notice that you're on wide alert mode during the first few hours, then you start feeling drowsy. Having an energy drink during or after drinking alcohol might make you feel that the alcohol didn't take effect, but don't be fooled. Energy drinks only mask how you are feeling, you can still be intoxicated, you'll still feel the fatigue, but you'll still experience the effects of both.

Twitch, twitch – Drinking an energy drink to replace a good night's sleep for driving is a terrible, terrible idea. Too much energy drinks may cause your muscles to twitch, it may make you more irritable and may cause a vehicle crash down the road.

It is best to ditch the energy drink-as-sleep-replacement for driving idea. It may give a temporary boost, but energy drinks while driving may provide more harmful results. If you're going to be out on a long drive, have a good night's rest instead. Not only will it make you feel relaxed the next day, but it will also make you a better driver.

Labels: caffeine, driver safety, energy drinks, safe driving