For those with long commutes to work and back and those who drive very little, the driving situation during the holidays can be a nightmarish situation. The holiday season is supposed to be about peace on earth and kindness to others but it seems that, once drivers get caught up in the holiday shopping rush, all of that goes out the window and it is every man for himself. To help you cope with the holiday driving situation and keep you safe on the road, here are a few reminders.

Planning – High gasoline prices have led many to consolidate trips to save money. That is also a good tip for the holiday season:

• Create and try to stick to a shopping list for everyone on your gift giving list. You'll spend less time and money if you know exactly what you are after. Try to avoid browsing that will lead to impulse buying and keep you out longer.
• Shopping online can help you avoid going out into traffic. You can also order items online for pick-up at your local store so you can do a quick in –pickup – and out.
• Try to get all your shopping done in one or two days; that way you can relax and enjoy the rest of the holiday season.
• Shop early! Retailers are trying to lure customers with early sales so they aren't stuck with a left over inventory.
• Plan on being stuck in traffic and allow yourself plenty of extra time. That way, you won't be tempted to take chances behind the wheel and you won't be as frustrated.

Dealing with other drivers – The frenetic pace of the holiday season seems to bring out the worst in some drivers. Don't let a "Grinch" driver get to you.

• It seems as if no other time of the year results in as many clogged intersections. When drivers pull out into a clogged intersection and the light changes, everyone is stuck. If you can't clear the intersection, remain behind the white stop line until the traffic ahead moves enough that you can get all the way across. Remember, if you are stuck in the intersection when the light changes, you could get an automatic ticket from a red light camera.
• Remember that you can't take the right-of-way; you can only give it up to another driver. If someone tries to hog the right-of-way, give it to them. Fighting for the right-of-way or a parking spot isn't worth the possibility of a collision or a road rage incident.
• Don't try to retaliate against another driver by yelling, making gestures, or honking your horn. That type of behavior could tip someone over the edge into a road rage situation.
• Remember the F.I.D.O. principle. Forget It and Drive On. There is nothing you can do to change another driver's behavior. Just let it go and keep out of their way.

Pedestrians – There will be a lot of pedestrians in parking lots and on the roads at this time of year.

• Remember that pedestrians always have the right-of-way.
• Small children are excited and even more impulsive at this time of year. Anticipate that they may run out into traffic.
• Pedestrians may be bundled up against the cold. Hats, mufflers and scarves may interfere with vision and hearing. Count on pedestrians not noticing your approach.

Distractions – As if the driving situation isn't bad enough during the holiday season, distracted drivers make it worse.

• It is understood that you are in a rush, but try to avoid eating in the car while driving. Trying to eat and drink distracts us from the very important job of watching the road ahead. Giving yourself time to eat in a restaurant will allow you to relax and calm down before going back out into traffic.
• Put the cell phone away! Don't try to use your cell phone and especially don't text unless you are pulled safely off the road. Cell phone users tend to slow traffic and you don’t want to add to the congestion.

Have a happy and, above all, a safe holiday season with your loved ones.

To learn more about driver safety and education please visit our Driver Safety Alerts at http://www.nationalsafetycommission.com.

Labels: holiday safety, pedestrian safety, right-of-way, traffic collisions, traffic safety

Word's out: summer's officially over. Other than the nationwide-groans from kids, there's also something else to be concerned about: children's safety. These kids may be in their preschool years, or they may be at the driving age --- bottom line is: pedestrian safety is a still a genuine concern.

Here are some tips both for parents and children to make their daily trip to school a safe one:

• Parents should have a talk with their children regarding safety. For the younger kids, parents should be giving out more specific advice than "don't talk to strangers." These talks can and should also include the following topics: looking left to right before crossing, crossing/getting off the bus only where it is allowed or with adult supervision and numbers to call should they find themselves lost. For the older kids, maybe it's time to introduce a Parent-Teen Driving Contract --- to put down in paper what is specifically not allowed in the scope of their driving privilege/responsibility.
• Drive carefully. Be the example for your children. Always buckle your seat belt before driving, remove all distractions from the vehicle and always obey traffic signs or lights. Always keep the vehicle maintained so it doesn't break down and the kids (or you!) won't get late.
• If the school is within walking distance from the home, parents should survey the route their children take. Is there a "walking school bus" (a group of kids on their way to school accompanied by an adult from the neighborhood) near the area where you live?
• For parents and teen drivers: always be aware of school zones. The penalties of going too fast or driving up where you're not supposed to is even greater than when you're on the road --- even worse, you may get in an accident. Remember that there is a speed limit of 25mph in school zones which apply before and after school hours.
• Have fun: school may end up being the best time for children, and a fond memory for parents. Making sure you and your family is safe ensures that you'll cherish the moment more.

Labels: child safety, distracted driving, parents, pedestrian safety, pedestrian traffic, school bus safety, teen driver safety

If you haven't heard yet: the House released an outline of Rep. John Mica’s proposed transportation bill. The bill would drastically cut out a third of the overall transportation funding and would eliminate the dedicated funds for pedestrian and bike infrastructure.

The economy is tough, and has been tough, so making the budget decisions has become a difficult task. What this bill aims to do is allocate just $230 billion, and not the $566 billion that is sought by President Obama’s administration.

If this is signed into law, the bill would be guiding federal transportation spending for the next six years.

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand had this to say: "We all agree that we must reduce spending, but the House Republicans are determined to slash all the way to the bone and New York would disproportionally pay the price. Infrastructure investments are vital to New York and America’s economic future. But rather than invest in our future, this misguided House proposal would cut approximately 44,625 jobs in New York State alone, and more than 600,000 nationwide. New Yorkers and organizations from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to the AFL-CIO agree that this proposal is the wrong direction."

As of now, a Senate committee is revising this proposal, and will be turning in their version of it pretty soon. If you are interested in pedestrian or bike safety, you have a chance to let them know that they could do so much better. There is a small window to pass a transportation bill this year. If you’re interested in learning more or in letting your Senators know how they could do better please visit: (http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7536)

Labels: bike safety, pedestrian safety

In reaction to the data released earlier in February, the city of New York has implemented the “TrafficStat” bill (http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=777873&GUID=8FA0E3F4-FA01-4206-9677-AB27E2F07FE9&Options=&Search= ), which means that the city will be gathering data on incidents involving traffic, cyclists and pedestrians.

Though the whole state is considered the safest to drive in, they feel that something could still be done with the numbers involving cyclists and pedestrians. TrafficStat is only one in three new traffic safety bills approved by the City Council, meaning that New York residents still have more to look forward to in terms of safety on the road.

One of the other bills focuses on requiring the NYPD to create monthly reports on traffic accidents, to be able to pinpoint problem areas.

Having big developments like these turn into news may only inspire hope that other states follow --- to have their traffic safety efforts become more visible to ease the public.

Labels: bicycle safety, driver safety, pedestrian safety, pedestrian traffic, traffic safety

In an effort to curb the number of speeders in New York, new LED signs have been deployed in key areas in New York to show drivers that they are going too fast. Upon first inspection, the speed boards normally display the sign for the speed limit, featuring a figure.

When the sign detects a speeding car however, the figure in the sign changes into a skeleton and the words, "Slow Down."

This is in-line with what the campaign that the DOT introduced earlier, which is “That’s Why It’s 30.” The campaign is focused on spreading awareness that a person struck at 30 mph will have an 80% chance of survival compared to a person struck at 40 mph, which will have only a 30% chance of survival.



This is only one of the steps being taken by New York to curb the number of speeders on the road, along with this is the introduction of “Slow zones,” which imposes a 20 mph speed limit on certain parts of New York.

This is also part of a bigger (global, really) effort to raise traffic safety awareness. A year ago, the U.N. General Assembly declared 2011 – 2020 the Decade of Action for Road Safety. With the opening of the first “slow zone” last week, Mayor Bloomberg was joined by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan to inform people of their intention of keeping motorists and pedestrians safe for the next decade.

For more information on driver safety and defensive driving tips please visit NewYorkDefensiveDrivingNow.com.

Labels: driver safety, pedestrian safety, pedestrian traffic, speed limit, traffic safety

Another proof on how NYC has its driving safety priorities right: though traffic fatalities increased in 2010, that number is still half the national average, according to the New York City Department of Transportation. According to 2010 data released just last Monday, New York City is still the safest big city in the country.

Traffic fatalities for 2010 was 269, compared to 258 for 2009, which is still a low number, considering the size of New York City. The increase could be attributed to motorcycle accidents, whose fatalities grew from 29 to 39 from 2009 to 2010, respectively. Another factor would be bicycle accidents, although to note, pedestrian fatalities are still on the decline.

Now that the NYC DOT knows this, they can increase overall defensive driving and driving safety for 2011 by focusing on these areas. Another thing they are looking at is that most of the fatalities were caused by drivers who were speeding. In an effort to lessen fatalities, they are conceiving public awareness campaigns encouraging residents to drive slower. They are also looking into key problem areas, and finding solutions to them.

As these steps are taken, one can only look forward to next year, and how these changes will affect the numbers by then.

For more traffic safety information please visit www.NationalSafetyCommission.com

Labels: motorcycle safety, pedestrian safety, Traffic fatalities, traffic safety

The New York State Department of Transportation advised motorists to be reminded of posted work zone speed limits and to drive carefully because of the work that's being done on Route 112. The work being done for the NY Route 112 Safety and Mobility Improvement Project will limit 112 to one lane in each direction between Route 347 and Hallock Avenue in Port Jefferson station with a dedicated turning lane starting November 8.

The Project, expected to take a year to complete will have the state performing major drainage and road reconstruction work. What New Yorkers will be able to expect after this is a new bike lane, a center turning lane, raised medians, storm water drainage and better road traction.

There will also be updated pedestrian signals and longer sidewalks for pedestrian safety.

“Most of this roadway was constructed in 1937 and in the past twenty years, traffic has grown from 17,000 vehicles per day using this section of NY Route 112 to approximately 26,000 per day using the same roadway,” the DOT announced.

Motorists will still be able to access businesses and homes along the route throughout the route, depending on the construction being done in certain areas. The New York State DOT reminds everyone of the posted advisories and work zone speed limits for the safety of both motorists, pedestrians and the highway work crew.

Labels: bicycle safety, driver safety, pedestrian safety, pedestrian traffic