Traffic Safety

Tips For Drivers & Pedestrians

Traffic Safety Tips for Drivers, Pedestrians; Car Accident Statistics

Getting behind the wheel of a car or truck or any motor vehicle should never be taken for granted.  As the driver — you have a responsibility to yourself, your passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

New Jersey–As of April 1, 2010, a pedestrian-friendly law went into effect where drivers will be required to come to a complete stop when approaching a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Motorists who fail to abide by the new law will get a ticket. New Jersey has one of the highest rates of pedestrian fatalities in the country, in 2008, 27 percent of car fatalities involved pedestrians, almost twice the national rate, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Don’t be a distracted driver: Don’t talk on cell phones, send or receive text messages, nor look at handheld devices apps while driving. Your focus should be the on the wheel and on the road, not on your handheld electronics. Also eating, drinking, changing CDs or audio controls, and putting on makeup are all distractions. Do it later. When teens get behind the wheel, the fewer friends as passengers make for a safer ride and safer road. Friends can be distracting.

Safety tips for pedestrians

• Look left, then right and left again before crossing.
• Pay attention. Don’t talk on your cell phone or text while walking across the street.
• Watch for turning vehicles.
• Use marked crosswalks when available; don’t dart from behind parked cars.
• Obey walk and don’t walk signs.
• Walk and cross with others, when possible.
• If no sidewalks, walk facing traffic.
• Avoid if possible walking in bad weather or at night.

Traffic safety tips: How to be a better, more responsible driver at any age:

Drinking and driving don’t mix: This is especially true of young drivers who lack overall driving and vehicle experience. At any age, bring along a designated driver.

Medications:  If the medication label says do not operate a motor vehicle because the medication may make you drowsy or dizzy; follow the directions. The same goes for drinking alcohol while taking certain medications.

Doggone it: We love our pets, which is why as cute as it is to see them sitting in the front seat with their head out the window whether in the driver’s lap or the passenger side, it’s a distraction. Pets should be restrained in a crate, harness, or blocked by a barrier. A sudden stop will hurl your pet through the windshield.

Vehicle maintenance: Keep your car, truck, or motor vehicle in good working order. Tires should have the proper pressure, brakes and brake pads checked regularly. Do your headlights, rear lights, windshield wipers, and horn work?

Follow the rules: Observe speed limits, adhere to warning signs, watch for crosswalks, and drive defensively but not aggressively.

Links

• Think Safety Campaign – http://thinksafetycampaign.com
• Distraction.gov – official U.S. website for distracted driving http://www.distraction.gov/
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety – updated list of which states have cell phone laws http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx
• NHTSA -National Highway Safety Transportation Administration -  http://www.nhtsa.gov/
• National Safety Council – Safety on the Road http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Pages/safety_on_the_road.aspx
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) – large trucks and buses crash statistics http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/Default.aspx

Traffic Fatalities