This week’s article is about bicycle safety. As a police officer, especially a motorcycle officer, I am aware of the dangers associated with being on the road when you are not surrounded by metal. Along with the freedom a bicycle provides, there are multiple risks encountered when on the road.
The most important rule for bicyclists to be aware of is that bicyclists are required to follow all the same rules and regulations as other vehicles. This includes stopping for stop sign, stopping for red lights, and traveling on the correct side of the road.
One of the most common things I see is bicyclists riding on the sidewalk with their backs to traffic and not watching for vehicles turning into or pulling out of driveways and parking lots. Bicyclists need to be aware that they are less visible than vehicles. A driver of a vehicle may intend to turn into a parking lot and look for cars pulling out, but may not see an approaching bicyclist. To protect themselves, bicyclists need to be extra vigilant in looking for cars and potential hazards.
The California Vehicle Code allows the riding of a bicycle to the road and prohibits it on the sidewalk. The only time a bicyclist or vehicle is allowed to drive on the sidewalk is when entering or exiting adjacent property. This includes driveways.
Another trend I have seen in the last year is juveniles removing the brakes from their bicycles and using their feet or rapidly changing directions to stop. There are multiple reasons why this is unsafe but the clearest reason is that stopping ability is greatly reduced. I have seen multiple children almost collide with vehicles or stationary objects because they have removed the brakes from their bicycles. I encourage the parents of children who ride their bicycles to regularly inspect the bicycles to ensure that the brakes are working properly. The California Vehicle Code requires that one brake on the bicycle be able to make the wheel lock and skid.
Another issue for minors is the requirement to wear helmets while riding bicycles, skateboards, scooters, and any type of roller skate. California Vehicle Code Section 21212(a) states in summary that a person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, or roller skates,
upon a street or bikeway unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet.
Wearing a helmet is important for everyone but it is especially important for small children. Small children are not generally as coordinated as adults on bicycles and because they are lower to the ground they do not have the same field of view. One of the most common child involved collisions is when a child on a bicycle rides out from between parked vehicles into the path of a moving vehicle. With small children being lower to the ground their heads are more likely to be struck by the hood of a vehicle where an adult is more likely to roll over the top of the vehicle. Bicycle helmets are designed to compress and reduce the impact force to the head in the event of a collision or impact. When a helmet has been involved in a collision or impact it should be replaced.
There are multiple equipment requirements for bicycles. To see a full list of requirements see California Vehicle Code Section 21201. In addition to the bicycle requirements in the California Vehicle Code, the City of Woodland requires all bicycles ridden on the street to be licensed with the city and have a kickstand. To register your bicycle you need to bring your bicycle to the front counter of the Woodland Police Department and fill out the appropriate forms. One advantage of having your bicycle registered is in the event your bicycle is stolen, the serial number will be on file with the Woodland Police Department. When the bicycle is located we will be able to return it to you.
Parents, please ensure that your children are riding safely with a properly equipped bicycle and helmet. Since 1932, 52,000 bicyclists have been killed in collisions in the United States (NHTSA April 2009) so please do your part to ride safely and encourage others to do the same. Don’t forget to visit the Woodland Police Department traffic blog at www.thetrafficstop.blogspot.com and leave your questions or comments.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Cell Phones and Provisional Licenses
Last week I attended the California Office of Traffic Safety conference in San Francisco. This year the theme was “Toward zero deaths, everyone counts”. While at the conference I had the option of attending multiple study sessions about various traffic safety related topics. The area I focused my time on was young driver education, which impacts everyone. One group I met while at the conference was Impact Teen Drivers, who provide educational information to young drivers and parents free of charge. You can view their website at impactteendrivers.org. Some of the information in this article was provided by Impact Teen Drivers.
Traffic collisions are the leading cause of death for teens between the ages of 16 and 19. In 2005, 4,829 teens were killed in traffic collisions. Some of the challenges facing young drivers are inexperience and distracted driving. Distractions include talking on a cell phone, changing the radio station, and something as simple as having a passenger can be a distraction.
Talking on a cell phone and not having any passengers in a vehicle while driving increases your chances of being in a collision by 400% and reaching for an object increases your risk by 900%. The percentages only go higher as you include passengers in your vehicle. Certain activities like reaching for an object while trying to send a text message increase your chances of being in a collision by as much as 1500%.- impactteendriving.org, 4-14-2009. Certain laws in the California Vehicle Code aim to limit distracted driving, laws like the restricted use of a cell phones and text messaging, but the responsibility of limiting distractions rests on the driver.
Due to the magnitude of the risks involved with driving laws have been passed to safeguard everyone. The laws pertaining to talking on cell phones while driving, California Vehicle Code Sections 23123(a) and 23124(a), restrict how and when a cell phone can be used. The specific sections are lengthy so I will give a summarized definition of each law.
For adults (18 and older), section 23123(a) allows drivers to use a cell phone or wireless communication device when used with a hands free device. One of the areas of confusion is the use of a speaker phone. I routinely see people driving and talking on the phone, holding the phone a foot away from their mouths, and using the speaker functions. This is not an example of hands free use and is a violation of the law. You are not hands free while holding your phone. If you have a phone with a speaker phone and it can be placed on the dash, center console, or other place not in your hand it would be legal.
For minors(17 and under), section 23124(a) restricts all use of any type of cellular phone or wireless communication device with or without a hands free device.
The exception for an adult or minor to hold the phone to their ear while driving is to place an emergency call to a law enforcement agency, health care provider, fire department, or other emergency entity.
The new text messaging law, Vehicle Code Section 23123(b), effective January 1, 2009, makes it unlawful to write, send, or read text messages. This law also includes e-mail.
There are several classifications of people and drivers that are exempt from the cell phone laws but it applies to most drivers. To see the complete list of exemptions you can see them at dmv.ca.gov. Another important item for new drivers to understand is what a provisional license does and does not allow. A drivers license is considered provisional until age 18. During the first 12 months of driving, a person with a provisional drivers license may not drive between the hours of 11 PM and 5 AM or transport passengers under the age of 20 unless with and supervised by a licensed parent, guardian, licensed driver over 25, or licensed driving instructor. There are exemptions for transporting a sibling to school or for a medical necessity but there has to be a reason as to why no other transportation was available. Please refer to Vehicle Code Section 12814.6 for complete list of exemptions and responsibilities of provisional drivers.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article and you are welcome to visit the Woodland Police Department Traffic Division blog, thetrafficstop.blogspot.com, where you can post comments or ask questions.
Traffic collisions are the leading cause of death for teens between the ages of 16 and 19. In 2005, 4,829 teens were killed in traffic collisions. Some of the challenges facing young drivers are inexperience and distracted driving. Distractions include talking on a cell phone, changing the radio station, and something as simple as having a passenger can be a distraction.
Talking on a cell phone and not having any passengers in a vehicle while driving increases your chances of being in a collision by 400% and reaching for an object increases your risk by 900%. The percentages only go higher as you include passengers in your vehicle. Certain activities like reaching for an object while trying to send a text message increase your chances of being in a collision by as much as 1500%.- impactteendriving.org, 4-14-2009. Certain laws in the California Vehicle Code aim to limit distracted driving, laws like the restricted use of a cell phones and text messaging, but the responsibility of limiting distractions rests on the driver.
Due to the magnitude of the risks involved with driving laws have been passed to safeguard everyone. The laws pertaining to talking on cell phones while driving, California Vehicle Code Sections 23123(a) and 23124(a), restrict how and when a cell phone can be used. The specific sections are lengthy so I will give a summarized definition of each law.
For adults (18 and older), section 23123(a) allows drivers to use a cell phone or wireless communication device when used with a hands free device. One of the areas of confusion is the use of a speaker phone. I routinely see people driving and talking on the phone, holding the phone a foot away from their mouths, and using the speaker functions. This is not an example of hands free use and is a violation of the law. You are not hands free while holding your phone. If you have a phone with a speaker phone and it can be placed on the dash, center console, or other place not in your hand it would be legal.
For minors(17 and under), section 23124(a) restricts all use of any type of cellular phone or wireless communication device with or without a hands free device.
The exception for an adult or minor to hold the phone to their ear while driving is to place an emergency call to a law enforcement agency, health care provider, fire department, or other emergency entity.
The new text messaging law, Vehicle Code Section 23123(b), effective January 1, 2009, makes it unlawful to write, send, or read text messages. This law also includes e-mail.
There are several classifications of people and drivers that are exempt from the cell phone laws but it applies to most drivers. To see the complete list of exemptions you can see them at dmv.ca.gov. Another important item for new drivers to understand is what a provisional license does and does not allow. A drivers license is considered provisional until age 18. During the first 12 months of driving, a person with a provisional drivers license may not drive between the hours of 11 PM and 5 AM or transport passengers under the age of 20 unless with and supervised by a licensed parent, guardian, licensed driver over 25, or licensed driving instructor. There are exemptions for transporting a sibling to school or for a medical necessity but there has to be a reason as to why no other transportation was available. Please refer to Vehicle Code Section 12814.6 for complete list of exemptions and responsibilities of provisional drivers.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article and you are welcome to visit the Woodland Police Department Traffic Division blog, thetrafficstop.blogspot.com, where you can post comments or ask questions.
Friday, April 3, 2009
STOP SIGN INFORMATION
I am Officer Ted Ruiz, a traffic enforcement officer with the Woodland Police Department. In 2007 the Woodland Police Department received a traffic safety grant from the State Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The money provided in the grant is being used to fund one additional traffic enforcement officer, increased DUI enforcement, and education for the public about issues related to driver safety.
The Woodland Police Department Traffic Division is currently staffed with one Sergeant, one DUI enforcement officer, two parking enforcement officers, and three motorcycle officers. The purpose of the Traffic Division is to prevent loss of life, reduce injuries, reduce property damage, investigate major traffic collisions, educate the public regarding rules of the road in venues such as this, identify and correct traffic related issues, plan and facilitate the arrival and departure of traffic during large community functions such as the Independence Day events and the Christmas Parade, and facilitate the safe and efficient movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic throughout the City. The two main ways to improve safety on the roads are education and enforcement.
The Woodland Police Department’s mission is “We are committed to providing the highest quality law enforcement services to our community.” Two ways that we accomplish this mission are communication and continuing education. To that end this column is aimed at being an educational tool to open the lines of communication between the community and Woodland Police Department. Along with this column, which will appear in the Daily Democrat every three weeks, there is also a link to an online traffic blog on the Woodland Police Department website. I will be maintaining the blog daily and you will be able to communicate with traffic officers, leave feedback, ask questions or simply stay updated on traffic related issues. http://www.thetrafficstop.blogspot.com/
The Woodland Police Department website also has an online reporting page where you can report traffic concerns. The concerns will be given to the traffic enforcement officers and, if appropriate, the traffic engineers in an effort to alleviate any reported traffic problems. You can reach us at www.woodlandpolice.org
In this weeks column I will discuss stop signs. The California Vehicle Code section states:
22450. (a) The driver of any vehicle approaching a stop sign at the entrance to, or within, an intersection shall stop at a limit line, if marked, otherwise before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. If there is no limit line or crosswalk, the driver shall stop at the entrance to the intersecting roadway.
What the section describes is the requirement to stop at a stop sign. The section does not give a time requirement of how long you should stop but only that a vehicle come to a complete stop at the limit line, crosswalk, or prior to entering the intersection if no roadway markings are present.
One of the things I often hear people say after I have stopped them for not stopping at a stop sign is, “I drive this road every day. I always stop.” What happens is people get in a routine of traveling a certain path every day and go into autopilot due to their familiarity with the road. I believe driving on auto pilot is what causes people to slow to five or ten miles per hour and roll past a stop sign. It’s similar to performing common tasks without thinking about what we are doing.
It is also not uncommon for me to be sitting near an intersection and see someone fail to stop at a stop sign, travel through the intersection, and never look left or right to see if any other traffic was approaching. We need to be aware of these things while we are driving as they can lead to traffic collisions and pedestrians and bicyclists being struck.
I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to read this article and I hope it makes you think about your surroundings while you are driving. Feel free to visit the blog, ask questions, and give your thoughts. California has not had a day without a traffic fatality since September 12, 2000, so please drive safely.
The Woodland Police Department Traffic Division is currently staffed with one Sergeant, one DUI enforcement officer, two parking enforcement officers, and three motorcycle officers. The purpose of the Traffic Division is to prevent loss of life, reduce injuries, reduce property damage, investigate major traffic collisions, educate the public regarding rules of the road in venues such as this, identify and correct traffic related issues, plan and facilitate the arrival and departure of traffic during large community functions such as the Independence Day events and the Christmas Parade, and facilitate the safe and efficient movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic throughout the City. The two main ways to improve safety on the roads are education and enforcement.
The Woodland Police Department’s mission is “We are committed to providing the highest quality law enforcement services to our community.” Two ways that we accomplish this mission are communication and continuing education. To that end this column is aimed at being an educational tool to open the lines of communication between the community and Woodland Police Department. Along with this column, which will appear in the Daily Democrat every three weeks, there is also a link to an online traffic blog on the Woodland Police Department website. I will be maintaining the blog daily and you will be able to communicate with traffic officers, leave feedback, ask questions or simply stay updated on traffic related issues. http://www.thetrafficstop.blogspot.com/
The Woodland Police Department website also has an online reporting page where you can report traffic concerns. The concerns will be given to the traffic enforcement officers and, if appropriate, the traffic engineers in an effort to alleviate any reported traffic problems. You can reach us at www.woodlandpolice.org
In this weeks column I will discuss stop signs. The California Vehicle Code section states:
22450. (a) The driver of any vehicle approaching a stop sign at the entrance to, or within, an intersection shall stop at a limit line, if marked, otherwise before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. If there is no limit line or crosswalk, the driver shall stop at the entrance to the intersecting roadway.
What the section describes is the requirement to stop at a stop sign. The section does not give a time requirement of how long you should stop but only that a vehicle come to a complete stop at the limit line, crosswalk, or prior to entering the intersection if no roadway markings are present.
One of the things I often hear people say after I have stopped them for not stopping at a stop sign is, “I drive this road every day. I always stop.” What happens is people get in a routine of traveling a certain path every day and go into autopilot due to their familiarity with the road. I believe driving on auto pilot is what causes people to slow to five or ten miles per hour and roll past a stop sign. It’s similar to performing common tasks without thinking about what we are doing.
It is also not uncommon for me to be sitting near an intersection and see someone fail to stop at a stop sign, travel through the intersection, and never look left or right to see if any other traffic was approaching. We need to be aware of these things while we are driving as they can lead to traffic collisions and pedestrians and bicyclists being struck.
I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to read this article and I hope it makes you think about your surroundings while you are driving. Feel free to visit the blog, ask questions, and give your thoughts. California has not had a day without a traffic fatality since September 12, 2000, so please drive safely.
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