Month: March 2020

The police advise on traffic jams in the dark

The days are getting shorter and more and more people are moving outdoors and in traffic as the darkness sets. Then it is important to think about being visible.

“The most common mistake is overestimating your visibility and pretending to be visible,” says Camilla Samuelsson, intervention police in the Ängelholm local police area.

The reflex can be cheap insurance and Camilla Samuelsson believes in seeing more and more wearing reflective vests.

“I imagine that those who are used to being out and going at these times have different thinking. But on the whole, you are probably poor at taking on, perhaps especially in urban environments where it is illuminated and you think that the lighting helps one to be seen,” says Camilla.

Among the teenagers, Camilla is sometimes told that it is foolish to wear a reflective vest. Just as it is wasteful to use a bicycle helmet. To pop up the reflex by designing reflective jackets, for example, she thinks can be important for getting a certain target group to start using reflexes and realize risks.

“If you as a parent do not have reflex, the children do not have it either. It is also very important how we affect each other,” says Camilla.

Angelin Guy and Tuva Vidal at the handing over of reflective vests at Junibacken’s preschool.

At Junibacken’s preschool, educators believe that the influence can be made in other ways and that the children bring the behavior home to the parents. Länsförsäkringar works with sustainability and wants to help create a safe everyday life. That is why the office in Ängelholm has decided to distribute reflective vests to preschools.

“To target, the child was a choice we made, it should start on time. It is a good target group that can affect parents,” says Ingvar Johansson.

The preschool Junibacken has received reflexes, but more preschools have the opportunity to get vests. It is, first of all, says Ingvar Johansson.

“That’s really good. We are sometimes bad at using reflective vests but this is going to be a kick in the end,” says Lisa Karstorp, an educator at the Junibacken preschool.

Do you ever talk about the importance of reflexes?

“If we see that one of the children has reflections on the clothes, we point it out and talk about why it is important,” says Lisa Karstorp.

Police Camilla Samuelsson has no evidence that the number of accidents will increase in the fall. She believes that there are different risks for each season.

What to think about if you should go out and walk in the dark?

“Having reflex. If you do not want a large vest then you should set the reflections low for the motorist often have their eyes directed low. A hanging reflex can also be good, then it is something that moves and catches the attention. Don’t take for granted that the motorist sees you, even if you have reflexes, there are many unsafe drivers in traffic, so pay attention,” says Camilla.

If you go out on a bike, other regulations apply. As long as the bike is guided, the rules apply to pedestrians. But as soon as you jump up on the bike, it counts as a vehicle.

Then the traffic rules apply, such as stopping at red lights and showing the direction of travel. You should keep to the right and you must not cycle on the pavement.

Failure to meet the requirements for which lighting and reflectors a bike should be equipped with can be costly. If any of the lamps/reflectors are missing or they are out of order, it costs 500 SEK. Should it simply be that the lamp is not switched on it also costs 500 SEK? The police currently have no pronounced response to bicycle users. In the past, the Police have informed the public about the rules that apply and then go out and make an effort in reality.

Then we have been working out in the evening and actually fined. Our ambition is to release us once in the fall, then to what extent depends on the prevailing situation all around. Then checks are made more or less on occasions when we have radio cars driving outside and you discover these misbehaviors.

Life Jacket Exchange looks to get you fitted for safety before summer

If your child still needs a life jacket for the summer, sheriff’s deputies want to help out.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is holding its 9th annual Life Jacket Exchange event later this month.

Experts will be on hand to check jackets for form, fit and function. You can bring your child’s outgrown or lightly used life jacket to the event, and it’ll be exchanged for one that fits properly.

The sheriff’s office is also asking for new or gently used youth-size life jackets to be donated for the event.

“Lakes and rivers, we have so many water sports and great opportunities to get out on the water here but it’s just so important for folks to wear their life jackets when they’re out there and will use this opportunity to get the word out,” said Tim Chase, with Lane County Search and Rescue.

If you don’t have a life jacket to exchange, chase says it shouldn’t be a problem to provide your child with the right fitting jacket.

The free life jacket with reflective tape exchange event is set for June 15th and 16th at Cabela’s in Springfield.

You can donate gently-used youth-sized life-vests now until then at the Sheriff’s Office in downtown Eugene.

Lifejackets and life lessons for children

Children learning skills to use life jacket correctly children learning skills to use life jacket correctly

Thanks to a grant from Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Board, the Onehunga War Memorial Pools are now incorporating the safe use of life jackets into swimming lessons and boat safety sessions.

“Safety on the water is paramount for our communities” explains Chris Makoare Chair of Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board, the area where the Onehunga suburb is located.

“The Board is a firm supporter of programs which help improve water safety awareness. We have some great beaches in our area as well as popular boating areas, so it just makes sense for us to support lifejacket education.”

“As part of our swim school we teach kids about life jackets, we hope that they’ll never need them in a real-life situation of course, but if needed these lessons should help them to not panic,” explains Gillian Moore, Swim Instructor at Onehunga War Memorial Pools.

“We start by showing everyone how to put on their jacket correctly, with the smaller kids we tell them it should be tight like a squeezy cuddle from Mum or Dad.”

“We advise that a lifejacket with reflective tape must always be worn when on boats, paddleboards, etc.

We also show them how to signal for help and how to get into an individual huddle and a group huddle to keep warm in cold water”.

Children are taught in increasingly deep water so that they learn to rely on the lifejackets for buoyancy.  For some, a raft or boat is bought into the pools and students are provided with a scenario of falling from a boat.

“It’s great to watch kids respond as they have been taught, we know that they leave the course with skills that hopefully are with them for life”.

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.”

Hi-Vis Motorcycle Gear: Yes or No?

We all agree that motorcycling is a risky business, but very few people wear hi-vis motorcycle gear on their travels. I confess I don’t, either, and frankly, I don’t plan to. But perhaps I should? In Europe, I’ve seen many more riders in hi-vis gear than in North America and South America put together. Some simply wear either hi-vis neon green or white helmets, but quite a lot go all the way wearing hi-vis riding suits or at least, hi-vis vests with reflective tapes.

What are the pros and cons of hi-vis motorcycle gear?

Visibility

This one’s painfully obvious: hi-vis gear is meant to make us more visible on the road and its traffic. According to this study, “Drivers wearing reflective or fluorescent clothing had a 37% lower risk of crash-related injury”. But it seems we might be using the wrong colors. Neon green and yellow aren’t the colors that pop the most, especially in rural environments or forested areas; if you want to stand out, hot pink, it turns out, is the way to go.

Light VS Color

The human eye detects light faster than color. This is why bright lights and triangles of amber lights might be more effective than any bright color.

Being Mistaken for Police

This is a pretty neat bonus if you’re traveling in the developing world: since you’re on a larger motorcycle than most locals, you might be mistaken for police or military if you’re clad in a hi-vis suit.

Weird Aesthetics

So if wearing bright hi-vis colors increases our chances of being seen, why do we hate wearing them so much? According to this article, it’s because we think it looks silly. Motorcycle riders, it turns out, cares about how they look (A lot!), and black remains among the most popular gear colors despite being very low-visibility.

Do you wear hi-vis motorcycle gear on your travels and why?

School Spring Break Requires Extra Caution

“Talking Glass” Audible Stories on Signals AZ made possible by The Fain Signature Group – Celebrating 60 Years of Community Building.

The Dewey-Humboldt School District will be on Spring Break the week of March 9-13, 2020. With support from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Prescott Valley Police Department is focusing on a pedestrian, bicycle, and motor vehicle safety. Fewer school buses transporting students to mean more vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles on the roadway.

Kids, walking, street, school kids

Many areas in Prescott Valley do not have sidewalks or streetlights. The Prescott Valley Police Department recognizes the danger to our students in these areas. We encourage parents to teach children to walk against the flow of traffic. Also, please remind them to be aware of their surroundings and not to be distracted with their cell phones. Lighter-colored clothing, reflective tape, and flashlights are also recommended for quick identification by drivers during nighttime hours. Together, as a community, we can help keep our children safe.

Spring Break also tends to see an increase in car and residential burglaries as well as other mischievous activities. The Prescott Valley Police Department encourages all residents to make sure their homes and vehicles are secure when not occupied. Remove valuable items from plain sight and your vehicles. Take time to document (including photos) make, model, and serial numbers of valuable items. Most criminal activity is based on opportunity. Remove the opportunity and minimize crime.

Safety and Protection is the theme for police officers during Spring Break. If you see anything suspicious, contact the police department.

Groups Aim to Widen Access to Safe Equipment for Women

Recent efforts to provide properly fitting personal protective equipment to women on construction job sites are highlighting the connection between safety and long term careers in skilled trades and management.

“If someone doesn’t feel safe or doesn’t have the tools or equipment they need to do their job, it’s going to be very difficult to keep them engaged and feel like they’re going to succeed on the job site,” says Allison Scott, director, Autodesk Construction Solutions. “We think there’s an opportunity here to talk about safety and specific safety equipment for women.”

Autodesk partnered with Associated General Contractors to create a grant program that will provide AGC members with funding to purchase safety harnesses suitable for women. The program, which debuted Nov. 12, will accept applications until Jan. 10 to fund about 300 harnesses. While there are no set limits on the number of harnesses applicants can receive, nor on specific brands, grantees are required to schedule training in their use, as well as on proper fitting PPE and fall protection. Grantees are also asked to describe plans to recruit and retain underrepresented populations in an industry where women currently make up less than 10% of the workforce, says AGC spokesman Brian Turmail.

For Carly Hayden, a safety manager at construction management firm Columbia, North Reading, Mass., finding workers wearing improperly fitted gear is not uncommon during on-site inspections of subcontractors. “A lot of times they don’t know it should befitting a certain way, which is a little unnerving because they are supposed to be taught how to wear a properly fitting harness,” she says.

Compounding that is the size and type of fall-protection equipment that companies purchase. Hayden says certain styles, such as a cross-body harness that hooks in the front, are better suited to women’s frames. But those aren’t always available. Hayden describes job sites “where it looks as though somebody has just gone to Home Depot to grab a harness just because it was easy to access and relatively inexpensive. I think a lot of it comes down to cost,” she adds. “A lot of the models that are more geared to women … they’re pricier.”

When Jarrett Milligan, a vice president of environmental health safety at Skanska, learned that a female employee had been in the field outfitted in oversized gear—a potential hazard—he decided it was a problem the company could solve directly.

Milligan was dissatisfied with the PPE options for women that he saw. Many were missing common features such as extra pockets, and space to clip on a microphone or put a notebook. Skanska turned to its PPE vendor Colony Hardware. Using feedback from a meeting where Skanska employees tried on an array of safety vests, Colony and manufacturer Radians created a prototype. Female employees at Skanska field-tested them and further adjustments followed. The vest was made available in May and can also be purchased by other firms. “We have almost all our female workforce in them,” says Milligan. Skanska spokesman Chris Villari says it’s a small gesture with a big impact. “We acknowledge and respect this new influx of women into our industry,” he says.

Skanska is now testing a three-season jacket design in the field, with a raincoat test to follow. “We’re looking at anything we can get our hands-on,” says Milligan.

Road safety warning issued ahead of strong winds, snow and ice

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has issued a warning to road users ahead of difficult driving conditions over the next few days.

The advice comes on foot of three weather warnings issued by Met Éireann earlier today, Wednesday, March 11.

The warnings will effect 11 counties altogether: a Status Orange wind warning for Co. Donegal; a Status Yellow snow/ice warning for Co. Donegal; and a Status Yellow wind warning for counties Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Louth, Meath, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, and Clare.

The latter of these warnings will also apply to Co. Donegal when the Status Orange warning is not in effect.

Motorists traveling in these counties at the affected times are being advised to check the local traffic and weather conditions in the area before setting out on a journey.

For motorists driving in wet or windy conditions, the RSA gives the following advice:

Control of a vehicle may be affected by crosswinds, particularly high-sided vehicles and motorcycles;

Beware of objects blown onto the road, and expect road conditions to change quickly;

Watch out for fallen or falling debris, and vehicles veering across the road;

Drivers should allow extra space between themselves and vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and motorcyclists, as they may be blown off-course;

Drivers need to slow-down in wet weather conditions, especially on high-speed roads such as dual carriageways and motorways, where there is an increased danger of aquaplaning;

Choose another route if the road ahead is flooded – do not drive through a flood. Floods could be deeper than they appear, and trees and branches in the water may not be visible;

Drivers should always follow recommended routes and obey signs closing roads to traffic;

After going through water, drive slowly with your foot on the brake pedal for a short distance, which helps to dry the brakes;

Drive with dipped headlights at all times.

The RSA has also outlined advice for cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.

This includes: wearing bright clothing with reflective armbands or a belt, as visibility for drivers will be reduced; taking special care when crossing the road or cycling in high winds; walking on footpaths where possible; and keeping an eye out for falling debris, especially in urban areas.

In terms of dealing with snow and ice, drivers are advised to:

Clear windows and mirrors with a screen scraper and de-icer – not hot water as this can crack the glass;

Remove snow from your vehicle, as it can slide onto the windows during braking and restrict your view;

Slow down; use all controls delicately, and leave extra distance between yourself and the vehicle in front. Avoid oversteering, harsh braking and harsh acceleration. Use the highest gear possible. Select a low gear when traveling downhill;

Do not use the tail lights of the car in front as a guide. In heavy snow, use your fog lights, turn down the radio and let down the window slightly, so traffic can be heard;

Use dipped headlights at all times, and fog lights in heavy snow;

Watch out for vulnerable road users and allow extra space to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Pedestrians are advised to: wear bright clothing, or ideally a high-visibility jacket or reflective armbands and belt; wear appropriate footwear; and not underestimate the danger of ice, using extreme caution when walking in icy areas.

Finally, the advice to motorcyclists for taking to the road in snowy and icy conditions is to not compromise their safety by going on a journey when they could cancel it or use alternative transport.

Motorcyclists should also: wear a high-visibility vest; ensure lights are working properly, and avoid wearing a dark visor in bad light conditions.

Also, other road users may not expect motorcyclists, which could compromise safety.

Crossing guard ignores signs to stop

Elnora Williams has been a crossing guard for the city of Palmetto for 17 years.

The portable breathing machine is strapped to her back, the tubes connected to her nose. She is not sure what is wrong. Maybe they will tell her to the doctor on Friday. Hopefully, it’s nothing. After all, she doesn’t want to end up “stone and lonesome,” which is how she describes dead.

Who would cross the kids then?

Her name is Elnora Williams. She is 81 years old and is a crossing guard at the corner of 10th Street West and 14th Avenue West in Palmetto. Each morning — and again in the afternoon — she helps elementary school students — and the occasional mother duck and her ducklings — cross the street safely.

She wears black pants, a white shirt and the lime-green safety vest she keeps on a clothes hanger near the front door of her home. To wear it “makes me feel important,” she said.

She drives to Palmetto from Bradenton each morning in a car with Betty Boop seat covers. On the front is a license plate frame that says “Foxy Cougar,” which was a gift from her granddaughter. The back license plate frame reads “Air Force Wife.”

She said her husband served in the Air Force and they lived in places like England, Spain, South Dakota, and Arkansas until he retired in 1992. Then they moved to Bradenton. He passed away four years ago.

She has four children, ages 54-60. Crossing the kids at Palmetto Elementary reminds her of taking her kids to school. Where did the time go? It was picture day last week. The kids were all dressed up. Another reminder of when she did the same to her own.

She works for the city of Palmetto and has been a crossing guard for 17 years. Across the street from her post is a cemetery. There is life on her side, death on the other, and the message is clear: Keep moving, or wind up “stone and lonesome.”

After the last person was crossed Tuesday morning — a child riding on the back of his father — she drove home to clean before she had to return to her corner in the afternoon.

She’ll be there tomorrow as well, holding out her stop sign, hooked to her oxygen tank, wearing her lime-green crossing guard vest and feeling important all over again.

Are you going back on the bike? You must remember that

Vacation is the perfect time to return to physical activity. One of the most popular summer outdoor activities is cycling. However, do we remember the rules of safe and comfortable driving after a long break? How to inflate tires properly, adjust the saddle and what to wear for a bike ride? Advice!

When entering a garage or basement, do you avoid bike sight? Beautiful weather outside, and you wonder how to apologize with your two-wheeler? Before you get on your bike, remember some important rules. Together with Michał Fick, a rider of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles MTB Team, we will help you return safely to cycling activity.

Safe vehicle = safe cyclist

Safety is the basis, so the first thing you must remember before getting on your bike is to check the condition of your vehicle.

Michał Ficek says: Effective brakes and the right amount of air in the tires are the absolute minima that our holiday transport should meet. It would be ideal to plan a visit to the bicycle service to make sure that all components of the drive system are working properly and that covering kilometers will not be associated with any danger due to the poor technical condition of the two-wheeler.

How can you check if your tires are properly inflated? The easiest way to do this is to press the tire with your thumbs at the end of the tread. If you can only make a millimeter dent, it means that your tires have enough air.

However, not only a functional vehicle guarantees safe driving. The cyclist must be visible on the road, so remember that your bike should be equipped with a front lamp with white or yellow light, a lamp with red light and a red reflective tape element placed at the back. Although the regulations do not require wearing safety helmets, it is worth protecting your head against any injury on any trip.

Attitude is the basis! Take care of the right position while driving

The right attitude is very important, no matter whether you play sports, walk or rest. Thanks to the right height adjustment of the bicycle saddle, we ensure not only a comfortable ride but also safety and comfort for our spine.

Michał Ficek says: First of all, pay attention to the appropriate frame size and saddle height. You cannot allow a situation when, during pedaling, our knees “run” sideways, we have a problem with reaching the pedals or unstable sitting on the saddle. The old school says that the right height of the saddle is one in which, sitting motionless in the saddle with the leg straight, we touch the heel with the pedal located at the most distant point of the crank mechanism rotation. Systematic riding in the wrong position can do us more harm than good.

How to properly set the height in a city bike? When riding on such a two-wheeler, the cyclist’s position is more upright, so the steering wheel must be set higher relative to the saddle (about 5 cm or more). In this position, most of the bodyweight is on the back of the bike, not on the hands.

First of all, convenience – a few words about a cycling outfit

During holiday trips, we are happy to choose a bike as a means of transport. Summer is a time when airy dresses reign, for ladies: dresses and skirts. Unfortunately, this outfit, although it looks impressive, is not a good option when riding a bicycle.

Michał Ficek says: When getting on the bike, we will forget about loose, long legs, which love to get caught in the chain. Occasional rides will not require special clothing – just comfortable, weather-proof shorts, a T-shirt and shoes. As the distance traveled on the bike increases and the time spent on the saddle, it is worth thinking about dedicated to this type of activity, more tight and at the same time airy clothes, in particular, shorts with a comfortable liner.

Appearance is not everything: apart from a comfortable outfit, for safety reasons, it is also worth putting on glasses that protect our eyes from the sun and getting sand, dirt or small insects into the eyes.

Measure your strength

The last thing to remember before getting on the bike is the right choice of route and load, adapted to the condition and possibilities. It is worth doing a short warm-up before the ride to prepare the body for physical exertion.

Michał Ficek says: If you return to the bike after a long break, remember to measure your intentions and start with short, undemanding routes. During the holiday we will feel a lack of physical effort for several months, so let’s approach sports activities with caution.