Strategic Highway Safety Plan

Transcription

1 SAFETY CULTURE CONNECTION INSIDE Nevada Traffic Safety Summit Recap 2017 Annual Nevada SHSP Awards Distracted Driving and Why We Do It What s Trending: Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications Calendar 5 Always Buckle Up Don t Drive Impaired Focus on the Road Stop on Red Be Pedestrian Safe Ride Safe Young Drivers The 2017 Nevada Traffic Safety Summit was held on May at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno. An annual gathering of traffic safety partners, industry professionals, educators, and advocates, Summit attendees met to discuss the challenges of traffic safety with respect to the ever-changing world around us. This year s focus was to share best practices and ways we can work together to achieve a Better Nevada Down the Road. Approximately 250 representatives of the five E s of traffic safety (Engineering, Enforcement, Education, Emergency Medical Services, and Everyone) attended this year s safety summit. Multiple training sessions and discussions were held Tuesday afternoon including National Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Training, Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician Training, a Young Drivers Critical Emphasis Area (CEA) Forum, Northern Nevada Pedestrian Safety Workshop, and the Motorcycle Safety Forum. Motorcycle safety expert Stacey Ax Axmaker (Be Crash Free, LLC) took his group outside for a braking and maneuvering demonstration on his motorcycle. A community event followed providing free child passenger safety seat checks, and an opportunity to try out the impaired driving simulation goggles from Drunk Busters while maneuvering a pedal cart on a test track. Bill and Connie from the Bill and Connie Morning Show on Alice 96.5 broadcasted live from the event! Wednesday kicked off with a call to action from key leaders in Traffic Safety: Director Jim Wright (Dept. of Public Safety); NDOT s Deputy Director Bill Hoffman; RTC Washoe Executive Director Lee Gibson; NDOT s Chief Traffic Stacey Ax Axmaker (left) and Pete Vander Aa of the Office of Traffic Safety/Nevada Rider (right) Safety Engineer Ken Mammen; Office of Traffic Safety Administrator Amy Davey; and Nevada Highway Patrol Chief Colonel Dennis Osborn. Breakout sessions followed including Vision Zero, Marijuana Impaired Driving, Traffic Records/Crash Data, Pedestrian Safety, Child Passenger Safety, and a bicycle training ride outdoors. The Summit Keynote featured Chris Halsor, Nevada s Rural Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor and Marijuana Impaired driving expert. Thursday s sessions included panel discussions on TIM and updates on Nevada traffic-safety related legislation, and concluded with the awards luncheon. Thank you to all who attended the 2017 Nevada Traffic Safety Summit, and a special thank you to our sponsors, exhibitors and speakers for making the event a great success! For more information including presentations from the 2017 Nevada Traffic Safety Summit, please visit safetysummitnv.com. 1

2 Nevada Awards Each year awards are presented to recognize hard work, progress, and significant contributions in various areas related to the SHSP in Nevada. This year, 11 awardees from Northern Nevada were recognized during the 2017 Annual Nevada Traffic Safety Summit in May. Awards were presented by Sondra Rosenberg, Assistant Director of Planning, NDOT, and NECTS Chair. Awards were presented to Kim Edwards, Nevada Department of Transportation (1) for the Data Award; Christine Adams, Northern Nevada DUI Task Force (2) for the Impaired Driving CEA Award; Randy Hesterlee, Nevada Department of Transportation (3) for the Lane Departures CEA Award; Deputy Joey Trotter, Carson City Sheriff s Department (4) for the Motorcycles CEA Award; Holly Brown, Ron Wood Family Resource Center (5) for the Occupant Protection CEA Award; Officer MJ Cloud, Washoe County School District Police Department (6) for the Pedestrians CEA Award; Trooper Jim Stewart, Nevada Highway Patrol (7) for the Safety Communications Award; Lt. Kevin Honea, Nevada Highway Patrol (8) for the Leadership Award; and Kevin Moore and Andrew Bennett, both from Zero Fatalities, received the Office of Traffic Safety Impact Award (9 and 10). In addition, a special Lifetime Achievement in Traffic Safety Award was awarded to Timothy G. Rowe, Nevada Department of Transportation (11), and was presented at the ceremony to Tim s wife, Hank. Congratulations to this years winners! Congratulations 2017 Award Winners!

3 We Know Distracted Driving is Dangerous, Why Do We Do It? Dr. Paul Atchley, PhD. and Associate Dean for the College of Online and Professional Education at the University of Kansas has been conducting research and speaking out to educate about the dangers of distracted driving. As edriving s award-winning Scientific Advisor, Dr. Atchley seeks to understand exactly what our brains do when we drive distracted. He has been studying attention to perception for over 25 years and tells us the best ability our brain has is the ability to deceive ourselves. So why do we drive distracted? The driver is the weak link in traffic safety, states Dr. Atchley, Our brain fools us into thinking we have more capacity then we actually do. In other words, when we text and drive or look away to dig in your purse or backpack for something, you think you have the capacity to pay attention to both your driving and the other task at hand, while the reality is that our brains are not capable of doing both. People participate in deadly behaviors knowingly. We know our reaction time is not the same if we are texting and driving than if we just concentrated our focus on one thing driving. Despite the fact that research tells us these are things we should not be doing while driving, people continue to participate in these deadly behaviors. Knowing the dangers of what can happen and knowing what you are doing is wrong does not necessarily change your behavior. Become a SMART Driver S = Scan 360 to build up a total picture M = Manage your attitudes and emotions A = be Accountable for the choices you make R = be Ready to respond to anything T = be Tuned In and focused on the drive We know its dangerous to text and drive. We hear about it in the news, we see people (including ourselves) texting while driving, we see crashes happen on our roadways. We know it is dangerous but yet do it anyway. Dr. Atchley further explains There is a disconnect between what people believe to be true and what they actually do. When we do something that we know is unsafe, we then change our attitudes. This is called cognitive dissonance. Essentially when people have a disconnect between their actions and their beliefs, they will change their attitudes to justify what it is that they are doing at the time, no matter how wrong the action is. The dangers they know exist become irrelevant and the task at hand more important than the safety of themselves and others. It s time to consciously shift these types of behaviors and attitudes. Crashes due to distracted driving are preventable. People CAN choose to act responsibly. Attitudes have changed toward wearing seat belts and drinking and driving due to education, community outreach, and enforcement which have all helped the general public change their behaviors and therefore, change the outcomes of safety while driving. The weak link in traffic safety is the drivers. We need to take action by continuing to advocate against distracted driving. Educate the public, pass laws that demand stiffer punishments for failing to drive responsibly. It is through these actions that we can force the hand of change. About Dr. Atchley: Dr. Paul Atchley, PhD. received his doctorate from the University of California, Riverside, and completed postdoctoral training at the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois. He has been teaching in the online environment for a decade and has been part of efforts at KU to use online education to improve student success. Dr. Atchley has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and chapters on issues of vision and attention and their relationship to driving. He has received numerous awards for his research, teaching, and student advising. For more information about Dr. Atchley s research, please see the full video at 3

4 What s Trending: Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications It wasn t that long ago that we were introduced to The Jetsons on TV and received just a glimpse of the futuristic technology that was bound to come around in our lifetime. Everything from home robots to automatic coffee pots, moving sidewalks to jetpacks. But one of the most futuristic things we remember from the show was the Jetson s futuristic flying automobiles. While our vehicles may not fly (yet), today we have more and more options available to us and cutting edge technology on the verge of becoming commonplace that will help us navigate the world around us more safely. From backup cameras to GPS technology, the ability to watch movies, talk on your phone through a hands free system, and being able to automatically start your car by remote, every year cars become more and more technologically advanced. Enter the time when we see the future of vehicle-to-vehicle communications (V2V) cars that actually have the ability to wirelessly exchange information about the speed and position of other vehicles, pedestrians, and other obstructions around us. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been working with the automotive industry and academia for more than a decade in the advancement of V2V s that could have potential lifesaving capabilities. As we look ahead to the next stage of futuristic roadway technology and overall auto safety, V2V communication technology is proving to be an important advancement in transforming the way we travel. Using V2V technology, cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, and even trains could one day communicate important information to one another that can help save lives, prevent injuries, ease traffic congestion, and improve the environment. V2V technology has the means to provide 360 communication with drivers in regards to other similarly equipped vehicles within a range of 984 feet. Drivers receive warnings of potential hazards by tone, seat vibrations, and even through visual communication. These warnings help drivers to better respond to potential threats faster, thus eliminating crashes. For example, the Intersection Movement Assist and Do Not Pass Assist will help notify drivers when it is unsafe to enter an intersection or to pass another vehicle on an open roadway. There is also a blind spot warning that can warn a driver when another vehicle is present in his or her blindspot. And that s just the tip of the iceberg. There are many other apps available to help eliminate human errors and overall crashes with these types of systems. In addition to these apps, eventually vehicles won t just talk to each other, but to stop signs, traffic lights, crosswalks, and more. They will have the capability to communicate with your house, office, and other smart devices. We have barely touched the surface of where technology will take us in the near future as far as the safety of our vehicles and in protecting ourselves as well as those around us. What s clear right now is that science and technology are leading the way and the future of the auto industry has a lot of growing up and adapting to do that could help bring every state to zero fatalities. For more information on V2V Communications, please see 4

5 Calendar of Events Focus on Safety - Safety Tips for Pedestrians The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been working hard to increase pedestrian safety. From infrastructure improvements including more medians and redesigned roadways to raising awareness about the dangers to pedestrians and bicyclists, FHWA in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) looks to provide leadership, expertise, and resources to communities across America to combat pedestrian related crashes. Below are just a few safety tips for pedestrians, courtesy of the NHTSA. ddfollow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals. ddwalk on sidewalks whenever they are available. d d If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible. ddkeep alert at all times; don t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road. ddcross streets at crosswalks or intersections. This is where drivers expect pedestrians. ddmake eye contact with drivers as they approach you to make sure you are seen. ddbe visible at all times. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night. ddwatch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots. ddavoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and judgment too STRATEGIC HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN MEETINGS July Technical Working Group Meeting Intersections/Pedestrians CEA Team Meeting August Motorcycle CEA Team Meeting Occupant Protection CEA Team Meeting Lane Departures CEA Team Meeting OUTREACH EVENTS June Judges Conference (VIRGINIA CITY) 23 Reno Aces Baseball Game (RENO) 30 Reno Aces Baseball Game (RENO) The statistics don t lie. There have been more that 400 pedestrian deaths in Nevada since It s an epedemic in our state and we can all help reduce these numbers. Watch out for each other on our roads. Make Zero Fatalities your goal. Drive safe Nevada! (Amy.lee.ctr@dot.gov. Pedestrian Safety. NHTSA. N.p., 14 Dec Web. 14 June < ) 5