Daylight saving ends: Safety tips for traveling in the dark

This weekend, most of the country’s clocks “fall back” as daylight saving time ends and clocks return to standard time.  

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA) the end of daylight saving time means that more people will be driving home in the dark and extra caution is required.

As you continue to adjust to the time change this week, keep in mind these driving safety tips from AAA:

• Watch for pedestrians when backing up in parking lots or driveways. The darker evening hours can make these individuals harder to see!  
• Always yield the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks and never pass a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk.
• Turn on your headlights to make yourself more visible.
• Increase your following distance, especially if you are traveling into the sun. Those bright rays can make it hard to see what the car ahead of you is doing!
• Make sure you can see through your windshield, windows and mirrors and your car is able to defrost your windshield during these cooler months.

Pedestrians, there are steps that you can take to help yourself stay safe if you walk at night:

• When available, use the crosswalks and never cross the street when a car is approaching.
• Look left, then right, then left again before crossing — even at crosswalks.
• Stay focused on the road ahead, don’t walk distracted.  Put that phone away until you reach your destination.
• Be on the lookout for cars — especially distracted drivers.
• Be bright at night! Bring a flashlight and wear reflective gear so that drivers will be able to see you.  Avoid wearing darker colors.

Following these steps could make traveling easier and safer.  There are possibilities that you could be driving when the sun is on the horizon, check out this blog for some tips on how to drive in those conditions.

Class is in session: Back-to-school safety part one

School is back in session for many this month. The inevitable return to classes means that an increase in safety is needed. We will be sharing a few blogs about back to school safety.

Back to School: Safety Session #1 – Driving  

With the end of the dog days of summer, family vacations and summer camps are over and the beginning of another school year is upon us. More than 50 million children will soon be heading back to school. That means increased traffic and congestion as kids and parents hurry off to school every morning.  Being prepared and taking a few extra precautions as a driver can help improve safety. 

• Ditch the distractions.  Children can be quick — whether it’s crossing the street, darting out to pick up something they’ve dropped or emerging from between parked cars.  Drivers need to focus on driving —shut off your cell phone, use the “do not disturb” feature on your mobile device or toss it in the back seat so you’re not tempted to check it. 
• Slow down and allow extra time.
• Seat belts save lives. Always remember to buckle up.

Share the road with young pedestrians.

• Don't block the crosswalk.  This forces pedestrians to go around you and could put them in the path of moving traffic.
• Always stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
• Watch for school crossing guards and obey their signals.
• Watch for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks and in all residential areas.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.

Share the road with teen drivers.

A new school year means newly-licensed teen drivers will be navigating traffic, drop off areas and parking lots, which can mean a potential for more incidents.  According to the National Safety Council, teen crashes spike in September and happen more commonly in the mornings and afternoons, when school begins and ends. Drivers need to keep these tips in mind:

• When dropping off your kids at school, be on high alert for new teen drivers.
• Keep in mind that new drivers may not have the skills that come from experience, such as gauging gaps in traffic, reading the general flow of traffic on roads and having situational awareness while driving in congested areas.
• Give teen drivers the space they need as they learn to navigate traffic, drop-off/pick-up procedures and parking lots.

Know your school’s drop-off procedure

• Be familiar with your school’s drop-off procedures and keep the following tips in mind:
• Don't double park; it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles.
• Don't load or unload children across the street from the school.

Share the road with school buses

According to research by the National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are four to seven years old, and they're walking. They are hit by the bus, or by a motorist illegally passing a stopped bus. A few precautions go a long way toward keeping children safe around buses:

• Never pass a bus if it is stopped to load or unload children.
• If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop.
• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.
• Be alert; children often are unpredictable and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks.

Share the road with bicyclists

Children on bikes may not be able to properly determine traffic conditions and safety.  Use care when sharing the road with bicyclists.  

• When passing a bicyclist, proceed in the same direction slowly, and leave three feet between your car and the bicyclist.
• When turning left with a bicyclist approaching from the opposite direction, wait for the bicyclist to pass.
• If you're turning right and a bicyclist is approaching from behind on the right, let the rider go through the intersection first, then proceed with the turn.

Time change safety tips

Last weekend saw most of the country’s clocks “spring forward” for daylight saving time, but those extra hours of sunlight didn’t come without risks.

According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatal crashes increased by 17 percent on the Monday following the time change. Researchers at the University of Colorado also found that those crashes continue their uptick throughout the week, increasing by 6.3 percent above normal.

As you continue to adjust to the time change this week, keep in mind these driving safety tips from AAA:

• Watch for pedestrians when backing up in parking lots or driveways. The darker morning hours can make these individuals harder to see!
• Turn on your headlights to make yourself more visible.
• Increase your following distance, especially if you are traveling into the sun. Those bright rays can make it hard to see what the car ahead of you is doing!
• Watch for children and others who are outdoors in the lighter evening hours.
• Always yield the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks and never pass a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk.

And remember to buckle up! Every trip. Every time.

Winter weather safety and kits are important, here's why:

You never know when you are going to need a winter safety kit, and that is why you should always have one on hand. Inclement winter weather can cause traffic nightmares for anyone at any time and it is always best to be prepared.

In this drone video from earlier this week, a crash on I-44 just outside of Springfield, Mo., forced officials to close the highway for 15 hours. Two people were killed, and at least 60 vehicles were involved. 

Practicing safe winter weather driving and packing an emergency kit is essential for scary situations just like this one. 

Winter is not over yet, here's our recommended list that you should pack during these cold winter months:

• A flash light
• Extra warm clothing
• Extra batteries
• Extra Vehicle Fluid
• A shovel
• Battery-powered radio
• Non-perishable snack food
• Bottled water
• Matches and candles
• First aid kit
• Pocket knife
• Tow chain and/or rope
• Booster cables
• Road flares
• Fluorescent Distress flag
• Blankets 

Truck Parking Information Management System project underway

Truck Parking Information Management Systems help inform truck drivers about parking availability in rest areas. 

The Kansas Department of Transportation has joined together with seven other states in the Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO) to develop a multi-state Truck Parking Information Management System.  This TPIMS project will improve the safety and efficiency of America’s freight network by providing real-time parking availability information to truck drivers through dynamic message signs, smart phone applications, traveler information websites, and other communication methods.  With implementation of the regional TPIMS project, commercial truck drivers will be able to find available parking more easily and efficiently route themselves to those locations, increasing their productivity and lowering their costs.

In 2013 a national survey revealed that 83 percent of drivers routinely took longer than 30 minutes to find parking.  Drivers who have not located parking before reaching their hours of service limits are often forced to park illegally or unsafely, often on the shoulders of highways, on off ramps, or at abandoned facilities.  This loss of productivity adds six percent or more to labor costs associated with moving goods through the national freight network.

KDOT began installation of TPIMS on Monday, December 11.  These signs will provide the number of available truck parking spaces at 18 rest areas along I-70.  Each sign shows parking spaces available for two to three rest areas to give trucks an idea how full parking areas are five, 30, 60 miles ahead, as an example.  We are using a “computer vision” 

system that uses cameras to build a 3D image of the parking area so available spaces can be automatically detected.  Most rest areas will have two camera poles installed near the truck parking area and each pole will have three cameras mounted on it to produce the 3D image.

Deployment of this innovative system is scheduled for the Fall of 2018.

Severe weather driving tips

That time of year is upon us. Severe weather can strike at any moment. If you must drive through storms, know the safety tips required to reach your destination safely.

Be Prepared:

The bottom line when driving during severe weather is to be prepared for anything. Before you travel check the weather forecast of your entire route.

If you see darkening skies tune into a local radio station or have your passengers look up the weather on their devices.

Driving in Rain:

Wipers on. Headlights on: This is Kansas law. Protect yourself and others around you. Headlights help increase the chances that you will be seen by other drivers.

Turn on Wipers and Keep Windows Clear: This may be a no-brainer, but a surprising number of people drive with windshield wipers that aren’t at their peak performance. It is suggested to get them replaced every 6-12 months. Use your de-frost function or air conditioner to keep your windows clear of fog.

Be Patient:  Take it slower than usual and give extra room to the drivers around you. Wet roads could cause your vehicle to hydroplane or lose traction.

Turn Around Don’t Drown: During severe weather, flash floods may occur. Never try to cross a flooded road way. The water may be deeper than you think and it is dangerous to try to drive over it. Find an alternate route. It only takes a few inches for the current to take you and your vehicle for an unwanted ride.  Abandon your vehicle if it stalls and seek higher ground.

Turn off Cruise Control:  Road conditions during severe weather are inconsistent. You need to be in control, not your vehicle. 

This is a photo that has been circulating social media.
It demonstrates how important it is to use your headlights.
Looking at this picture, you can hardly see the vehicle
approaching the driver., who also shouldn't have been using
his camera while driving. 

Driving during a hailstorm:

Take shelter:  Don’t leave your vehicle unless you can get inside quickly. The hailstones could cause injury.  If you are near an underpass or bridge it is safe to wait out the hail.

Pull over:  if you are not near any shelter, stay in your vehicle and pull to side of the road.

Driving During High Winds:

Watch for Flying Debris: High winds can pick up items that become dangerous weapons if they should hit your or your vehicle.

Be prepared for wind gusts: If you drive a high profile vehicle such as an SUV, bus, or semi truck, you have a higher risk of being affected by high wind gusts. Consider not traveling in these vehicles if you can avoid it.

Driving During a Tornado: 

This one is easy: Don’t. Never try to outrun a tornado, and don’t drive during one either.  Get out of your car and find shelter. If none can be found, get below the road’s surface and cover your head. A ditch or low area is suggested. Be aware of the water level around you and be on the lookout for flash floods. Never seek shelter in an underpass.

In every weather situation it is best to buckle up - every trip, every time - and pay attention to your environment. 

Check out some of the intense weather that citizens in Hays saw a week ago when a storm system stalled out and created a flash flood and hail situation on the streets, creating an unsafe and slushy situation for a lot of drivers.