School Spring Break Requires Extra Caution

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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.

The solution to the mystery of the police only seems to be obvious

The police from Krotoszyn published two photos and ordered to look at them carefully. At first glance, we see a child in one photograph and not a second. But isn’t he there?

The Police Headquarters in Krotoszyn has published a puzzle on its Facebook profile, which consists of finding a difference in the pictures. The post contained two photographs that depict the autumn twilight on the street in the city. There is a difference, but is it true that there is a child in one picture and no one in the other?

The combination of these photographs allows you to see what drivers see when people on the road are wearing dark clothes. Only when we look closely at the second photo do we notice the child in a gray coat against the background of a tree. In unfavorable weather conditions, e.g. during rain, a child in such clothing is almost invisible to the driver.

Reflectors are a must

The police have published these photos for educational and preventive purposes. They show how important the color of our clothing is when we are on the road. The officers also encourage to wear reflective tape elements. Thanks to them, the driver will easily notice us on the street.

According to the law, everyone who moves on the road in the undeveloped area should wear them after dark. Wearing reflectors is important in autumn and winter. Early darkness, dark mornings, fog, sleet, and rain are not favorable for pedestrian safety.

“Seeing the shining point from afar, the driver has more time to react properly. The seconds gained in this way can save the health or even the life of a pedestrian,” policemen explained in an interview with WTK. The National Police Reflective Day is celebrated in Poland from October 1, 2016. The officers then conduct actions that are aimed at encouraging others to wear reflectors and remind them that thanks to them tragedies can be avoided.

Reflective elements should be worn so that they are noticeable by both oncoming drivers and those coming from behind. You will learn more about the importance of our clothing on the road and how to wear reflective vests.

Car EDC, or what is worth carrying in a car?

Better to wear than to beg – it’s an old but still good rule that makes life easier. Of course, there is no shortage of those who claim that a smartphone, credit card, and good assistance policy is a set that should be sufficient for most emergencies that may happen on the road. Well, if you are lucky and have a lot of time, it usually is.

Unfortunately, in real life it varies – a failure can happen where the telephone is out of range and the only workshop in the area accepts cash only. Sometimes you also need to help other traffic participants or ensure your safety, and even the best card and the best policy are not enough. Here are our proposals for necessary, useful and accessories that only a few need.

Do you know what “EDC” is?

The abbreviation EDC comes from the English “Everyday Carry”, which someone deftly translated into Polish as “Cranes Daily”. Specialists in survival or the so-called preppers (people who try to always be ready for any disasters) without the right set of accessories that can be useful in a crisis, do not leave the house. Usually, the set includes dressing materials, knife, lighter, watch.

Warning safety vest and warning triangle

The warning triangle is must-have car equipment – it must be on board. The most important thing is that it has good reflections and is stable, even with strong gusts of wind. In Poland, there is no obligation to have reflective vests with reflective tapes in a passenger car, but it’s still worth it – and it’s the best one for each passenger. The cost and weight are negligible, and the importance of safety – enormous.

Paper towel and wet wipes

A roll of paper towel and a pack of wet wipes are accessories that come in handy in the car often. From wiping a steamed or dirty glass up to an ad hoc fight with stains on the upholstery – they have a lot of applications, and they do not weigh or take a lot of space and are not very expensive.

Spare wheel and wheel jack

More and more cars do not have a full-size spare wheel on board or even a narrow driveway – instead, there is a repair kit in the trunk, consisting of a sealing compound and a compressor. In the vast majority of cases, such a set in an emergency turns out to be completely useless, because in new cars with low-profile tires it is more common than, for example, to break a nail as a result of breaking the rubber as a result of driving into a hole or running too fast on the curb.

In such situations, no repair kit will help. Of course, we have cell phones and assistance at our disposal, but take it for granted that replacing the wheel by yourself is usually faster than waiting for help in a remote area on a rainy night. A wheel can be useful, and if the car does not have a large enough recess, then the drive-in can be put away in the trunk.

Work gloves

Once a pair of work gloves was a standard feature on many factory-made automotive tool kits. There is a reason! If you take into account the fact that you will have to, for example, change the wheel or start the car using the jumper cables, or do any other “dirty” work on the car, then resistant gloves will also be useful.

First aid kit

It is not mandatory to have a first-aid kit in a private car. This, however, does not mean that it is not needed – in our opinion a good first aid kit should be found in every car.

The police appeal to drivers

Every day at least a few road incidents occur on the roads in the Płońsk. This was also the case on Monday, February 24. Policemen call for more caution!

On Monday afternoon, within a few hours, three traffic incidents occurred on the roads.

“One of them, which took place after 21 on the national 7 in Kroczew, on the lane towards Gdańsk, it looked serious,” informs the spokesman of the Płońsk police, horseshoes. As initially determined by the intervening policemen, a 46-year-old resident of Elbląg, driving iveco, did not adjust the speed to the conditions on the road. His vehicle hit an Opel in front of him, which was driven by a 52-year-old resident of Raciąż. Then the Opel hit the preceding Audi, headed by a 26-year-old from the commune Czosnow. As a result of the collision of vehicles, iveco and Opel fell out of the road, and Audi after hitting the protective barriers on the left stopped in the right lane.

Fortunately, nothing happened to anyone. The perpetrator of the incident was punished by police officers.

“We appeal to drivers to drive very carefully, comply with traffic rules and avoid risky maneuvers. Many accidents and collisions could be avoided if drivers adjusted the speed to the conditions on the road,” warns the spokesperson. “Let’s remember that the speed limit allowed in a given place when it rains, snows or frosts does not always mean safe speed. It is also important to maintain appropriate spacing between vehicles because on wet roads the braking distance is significantly longer and it is easy to lose control of the vehicle. We also appeal to pedestrians to be careful not to cross the road in an unauthorized place, not to cross it or enter the pedestrian crossing directly in front of the oncoming vehicle. We also remind you to wear reflective vest elements.”

Throw the book at m-cyclists for not using bike lanes

Every day, when I drive to work from Kuala Lumpur to Shah Alam along the Federal Highway, I see motorcyclists speeding in car lanes.

They do not slow down when motorists are trying to change lanes. Instead, the motorcyclists will blare their horns or show an obscene gesture at the drivers.

Their action causes motorists to panic, especially when they have signaled their intention to change lanes.

I also notice that motorcyclists are riding on all sides of the Federal Highway. They take up the fast lane and even block motorists.

These motorcyclists have to be reprimanded and banned from the road if they don’t use the motorcycle lane.

I also noticed that they fail to wear reflective safety vests with reflective tape at night.

Most wear dark jackets without any reflective materials. There are motorcycles without rear brake lights that put motorists or lorry drivers in a difficult position since they are not visible.

I urge the authorities, especially the traffic police and Road Transport Department, to consider this matter seriously.

There is a lack of enforcement and the law governing motorcycle use on trunk roads and highways in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Motorcyclists must use motorcycle lanes provided for them along the Federal Highway.

They must ride on the left side of the road only along trunk roads. Motorcyclists should only ride on the left side of the road in highways.

They must also ensure that the rear and front lights of their machines are functioning.

They should wear reflective safety vests and failure to conform should result in them being fined RM1,000 and handed one-year imprisonment, or both.

Alternatively, ban motorcyclists or suspend their license for two years.

Volunteers Needed for Spring Litter Sweep

Volunteers across the state are needed to help clean up trash along roads from April 11-25 during the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s annual Spring Litter Sweep.

Each April and September, the department seeks volunteers from local businesses, schools, nonprofits organizations, churches, and community groups play an important role in keeping North Carolina’s roads clean.

Volunteers wanting to participate should contact their local litter management coordinator.

“Every day, more people make North Carolina their home or do business here,” said David Harris, NCDOT’s Roadside Environmental engineer in a release. “With that, comes increased litter and trash on our roads. We need others to help us keep our state beautiful and safe, and it starts with each of us doing our part.”

Volunteers wear gloves and safety vests and are given cleaning supplies such as reversible orange and blue trash bags.