School is back in session! Street Smarts wants to ensure the highest level of safety for everyone.

Drivers should always:

• Adhere to the 25 mph zone, and slow down and obey all traffic laws and speed limits.
• Comply with local school drop-off and pick-up procedures.
• Unload children on the school side of the street or designated drop off area.
• Have children cross the street in the crosswalks only.
• Be cautious of pedestrians and cyclists crossing at Iron Horse Trail crossings.
• Avoid stopping or double parking to let children out of the car.
• Prepare to stop for a school bus when overhead yellow lights are flashing.
• Watch for children walking or biking to school when backing out of a driveway and in areas near a school.
• Avoid cell phone use!

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Check-in by 6:45 p.m. Doors close at 7 p.m. No late arrivals accepted, and your space is subject to be released to others at 7 p.m. If the class if full, you are welcome to list for “stand-by,” at the venue that evening for available space. However, admission is not guaranteed.

AT&T’s Texting and Driving Simulator will be available at some locations.

At least one parent must attend with their teen.

(Note: The presentation contains graphic “accident” images, which are unsuitable for children under 15 years old.)

IMPORTANT: Students must attend a class at an SRVUSD school to be eligible to apply for a student parking permit.  

Facts: Skateboarding and non-powered scooters are sports that have become very popular in the past decade. Unfortunately, the numbers of injuries related to these sports are increasing as well. Nationwide, over 1000 kids go to the emergency department on a weekly basis for skateboarding and scooter related injuries.

Skateboard Safety Tips:

Use Protective Gear.

1. Helmets. Proper and consistent use of a helmet while riding a skateboard or scooter can reduce the risk of the most serious injuries.
For helmets to provide maximum protection, they must fit properly. When shopping for a helmet, remember the Eyes, Ears, Mouth formula for a proper fit:

Eyes: The rim of the helmet should be one to two finger-widths above the eyebrows.
Ears: The straps should form a “V” just beneath the ear lobe.
Mouth: The buckle should be flush against the skin under the chin; when the rider opens his mouth, he should feel the strap snug on the chin and the helmet hugging the head.

2. Padding. Padding is available for the parts of the body that are the most fragile and most commonly injured areas: wrists, knees, and elbows. This padding helps to reduce and prevent the severity of injuries from a fall.

3. Basic Coverage. In addition to padding, basic coverage is a good idea. Closed-toe shoes with good grip provide a safe base for the rider. Long sleeves and pants can help protect and against cuts and scrapes.

Practice Common Sense.

Talk about these points with your child or teen:

1. Remember that there is a risk involved in riding a scooter or skateboard. Take steps to protect yourself by always wearing a helmet and appropriate protective gear;
2. Avoid risky situations, such as riding at dusk or at night, riding in or near traffic, or “skitching a ride,” which is holding on to the side or rear of a moving vehicle while riding a skateboard;
3. Be patient. Fancy tricks on skateboards take time to perfect. Don’t let peer pressure push you to do stunts that you are not ready to do;
4. Ride in a safe environment. Children under age 15 should never ride in the street, at night, or near traffic. Riding surfaces should be smooth and clear of debris or water.

Equipment Check.

Boards and other equipment should also be checked before riding to make sure they are in proper working order. Look for cracks, loose parts, and properly attached gripping on boards.

• Children under 10 need to cycle with a grown-up, and preferably on bike paths.
• Teach children to walk bikes across pedestrian crossings instead of riding across the street.
• Children need to show that they can follow road rules, and predict what cars will do, before being allowed to cycle alone. This takes a long time and a lot of practice.
• Teach children that riding in wet weather requires different skills and extra caution.
• Teach children to wear enclosed footwear when riding, rather than thongs or bare feet. Bare feet can be hurt if they catch in the spokes or chain or if they’re used as a brake.
• Discourage stunt riding. ‘Look no hands’ and ‘dinking’ are asking for trouble.

1. Always cross at an intersection and preferably in a crosswalk.
2. Make eye contact with drivers to be sure you are seen.
3. Always look left, right, and left again before crossing a street.
4. Avoid wearing headphones or using your phone when crossing the street.
5. Watch for traffic the entire time you are crossing a street.
6. Be aware of turning vehicles.
7. Do not cross in the middle of the street or between parked cars.
8. Avoid walking in traffic where there are no sidewalks or crosswalks.
9. If you have to walk on a road without sidewalks, walk facing traffic.
10. Never walk behind a vehicle that is backing up.
11. Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.
12. Wear bright colors or reflective clothing if walking at night. Consider carrying a flashlight.
13. Don’t start walking if you see a flashing DON’T WALK SIGNAL.
14. Wait for the WALK signal to cross the street safely.

Top Ten Things You Can Do as a Parent

1. Set a good example.
Be a role model. When you are on the road, follow traffic rules and regulations. Obey the speed limit, follow stop signs and signals, and don’t talk on the phone while driving. Keep a positive attitude and don’t give in to road rage. Drive the way you want your children to drive.

2. Learn the facts.
There are cold, hard truths. Traffic crashes are the #1 cause of death among teens in the United States. Every day, over 10 young drivers aged 15 to 20 are killed in crashes- with 745 injured. 25% of crashes killing young drivers involve alcohol. Share these the facts with your teen- and don’t become a statistic.

3. Be involved.
You have the experience of driving on the road, so start to have an honest dialogue with your teen about driving at a young age. If they do not have a learner’s permit yet, talk to them about the rules of the road. When they do have a learner’s permit and have begun drivers education courses, give them an opportunity to drive behind the wheel with your supervison. The more experience for your teen, the better.

4. Set up a Parent-Teen Driving Contract
While verbal agreements are great, there is nothing like a formal agreement on paper that outlines expectations of teens and parents. Also included in the agreement is a division of who pays for what- including gasoline, maintenance and insurance.

5. See that your teen understands that driving is a privilege.
Given the number of cars parked at high schools in the San Ramon Valley, your teen may think that driving is a right. The reality is that more teens are driving now than ever before. Your teen should know that driving is a privilege and that failure to observe traffic rules can result in major consequences: the high cost of tickets, increased insurance rates, damage to the vehicle, and possibly bodily injury or death.

6. Emphasize that drinking and driving is dangerous.
As a parent, you may not think that your teen has access to, or is the type of teen who would drink alcohol. The reality is that teens often do. Talk to them about drinking- and especially drinking and driving. More than half of alcohol-related deaths involve 16 to 20 year olds. Reduce their chances of drinking and driving by knowing where your teen is going, and knowing the parents of those who your teens hang out with.

7. Limit teens’ driving distractions.
Teens are new to driving- and the last thing they need is to be distracted on the road. Prohibit the use of cell phones in the car. The new California law took effect on July 1, 2008 that restricted the use of cell phones- even with hands-free devices- while driving. Tell them only to use their cell phones once they’ve pulled over to the side of the road- whether they’re talking or texting. Playing music in the car at loud volumes can also be distracting, as well as eating, styling their hair or applying makeup.

8. Get your teen to respect others.
Driving is a privilege, and your teen should know to respect others on the road- drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists and sharing the road with cyclists can be emphasized, as well as taking it slow in parking lots.

9. Reinforce seat belt usage.
While over 95% of Californians wear seat belts, the fact that seat belts saves lives cannot be overemphasized. Some teens may think that “wearing a seat belt is uncool,” so be sure to give them the big picture.

10. Know who your teens are riding with.
Just like how you should know who your teen’s friends and friend’s parents are, know who they are riding with. Are they a competent driver? Are they legally allowed to drive other teens? Don’t only check with your teen, but check with your teen’s friend’s parents and follow California law.

]]> https://streetsmarts.live.staticwebsites.io/2016/07/driving-distractions/ Mon, 04 Jul 2016 09:22:17 +0000 http://code204.com/streets/?p=160 Continue reading "Driving Distractions"]]> Driving distractions contribute to one out of every four accidents (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration).  In California, cell phone use, taking care of children and eating are the leading factors of distracted driving accidents in California.  Don’t become a statistic.  Recognize distractions and take these steps to reduce distractions and get you focused on what is most important when you are behind the wheel: driving.

Cell Phone Use: Talking or Texting

Have you ever become so entrenched in a phone conversation, you forgot where you were or what you were doing?  You increase your risk of having an accident by 400% each time you use your cell phone while driving.

Driving safely is more important than the phone conversation, so pull over to the side of the road to make or take a phone call.  If you’re on a freeway, take the next exit and find a safe and secure spot to pull over.  The new California law, which took effect on July 1, 2008 requires the use of a handsfree device while driving and talking on a cell phone.  Those under age 18 cannot drive while talking on a cell phone, even with a handsfree device.  While handsfree devices help you focus more on the road, it still can be distraction.  The actual reduction in distractions by using a handsfree device versus holding a cell phone is debatable.  The best option is to never use a cell phone while driving.

Eating and Driving

So, you’re in a rush, so what’s the problem with eating while driving, right?  A burger in one hand, and the other on the wheel while zipping down 680.  The reality is that eating while driving can be extremely distracting, especially when you are searching for that French fry that got stuck in the emergency brake or spilled ketchup on your shirt.  Instead, make enough time to eat and enjoy your meal.  If you like to use the drive thru and prefer eating in the comfort of your car, park your vehicle, listen to music and savor your meal!  (Plus, your car will thank you for not making a mess.)

Your Passengers

It is easy to be distracted when talking to other passengers in the vehicle, especially children.  See that they are buckled up properly, and give them tools to keep themselves occupied (games, books, have them look out the window).  Avoid arguments with other passengers.  Pets should also be restrained and not left roaming around.

Car Controls

Even if your ventilation or music controls are within reach, fidgeting with car controls can be distracting.  If a car in front of you suddenly stops, would you have enough time to react?  Probably not, if you are searching for a radio station or specific song on your playlist.  These controls should be set before your car’s wheels are in motion.

Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

GPS systems are great tools to guide you where you need to go.  They can also distract you.  The GPS system is a navigation tool but won’t navigate for you.  Keep your eye on the road first.  If you are in the market for a GPS system, choose a system that reads road names to you- that will help you navigate without looking at the map.  Keep in mind that in California, you cannot mount your GPS unit on the windshield- it can only be mounted on the dashboard.

Roadway Distractions

Billboards and auto accidents are few of the common things that can distract you while driving.  While you can’t choose for the distractions to disappear, you can choose not to look.

Other Distractions

Applying makeup, shaving, reading a newspaper, smoking, clipping nails, or reading a book are other common distractions.  Avoid these distractions on the road- and are best done at home before you leave.

Sources: California Department of Motor Vehicles, California Highway Patrol

1. Slow down and drive within the range of your vehicle’s headlights.
2. Dim your vehicle’s headlight beams at least 500 feet ahead of approaching vehicles.
3. Dim the headlights when following another car. Your vehicle’s headlights reduce the other driver’s vision.

4. Keep headlights clean. Headlight dirt can cut light output by 75 percent. Proper headlight aim also is very important and should be checked periodically.
5. Never look directly at a glaring headlight. Keep your eyes on the right edge of the road, but at the same time, pay attention to where the oncoming vehicle is by quick glances in that direction.
6. Greatly reduce speed when confronted with oncoming headlights, especially when the headlights are not dimmed. Maintain reduced speed until your eyes are recovered from the glare.
7. Go slow on curves. Remember that your car will not automatically follow the direction of the curve.
8. Avoid using light of any kind in your car while driving.
9. Do not drive if tired. Fatigue reduces your ability to see clearly, and you may fall asleep when least aware of it.
10. Obey the speed limit.