Strategic Highway Safety Plan

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1 SAFETY CULTURE CONNECTION INSIDE Sidewalk Safety Decals Installed Rising Motor Vehicle Fatalities What s Trending: Twinkle Treat Baskets Zero Fatalities for Children Calendar 5 Always Buckle Up Don t Drive Impaired Focus on the Road Stop on Red Be Pedestrian Safe Ride Safe SIDEWALK DECALS INSTALLED TO DETER JAYWALKING The City of Las Vagas and the Nevada Department of Transportation are aing a new element to the Zero Fatalities traffic safety campaign to help save lives: sidewalk decals to deter jaywalking. Nevada is experiencing a deadly epidemic - pedestrians are dying from vehicular crashes while crossing the street. With 46 pedestrian fatalities already on record in our state in 2016, the City is hoping the decals will remind pedestrians to use designated crosswalks rather than crossing illegally. Eastern Avenue is a prime example of an area heavily used by both pedestrians and transit passengers who often choose to jaywalk. Eastern Avenue, between Sahara and Owens, has seen four pedestrian fatalities in the past two years and 10 autopedestrian crashes since Twenty decals will be installed along Eastern Avenue. Help us eradicate the pedestrian death epidemic in Nevada. Pledge to cross safely and make Zero Fatalities your goal. Then share the message with others to help save lives. Pedestrian Safety Tips Make eye contact with drivers Avoid distractions like headphones or cell phones that will divert your attention Stay alert and look both ways before and during crossing How to Drive Safely Around Pedestrians Be alert - look for pedestrians and stop for them when they cross the street Don t pass stopped cars waiting on pedestrians - it s against the law and highly dangerous Slow down - the faster you are going the longer it takes to react and brake Obey signs and signals and only use designated crosswalks Remain alert and help children cross the street safely Be noticed - wear bright clothing Follow signs and signals - stop on red, look right before turning on green and follow other traffic signals Avoid distractions - stay off the phone or anything else that may distract you from keeping your eyes on the road Drive sober - don t drive impaired For more information, please visit 1

2 RISING MOTOR VEHICLE FATALITIES IN 2016 According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), traffic-related fatalities are on the rise in Nevada, up 4% through August of 2016 over the same time period in 2015 (208 vs. 200). According to the National Safety Council, this increase is consistent with what is happening nationally, where Motor Vehicle Fatalities are up 9% through the first six months of 2016 over the same time period in 2015, and 18% higher than the same time period in An estimated 19,100 people have been killed on U.S. roads since January, and another 2.2 million seriously injured. The estimated cost of these deaths and injuries is $205 billion. At this rate, annual deaths could exceed 40,000 fatalities this year for the first time in nine years, the council said. More than 35,000 people were killed on U.S. roads last year, making it the deadliest driving year on record since 2007, when 37,000 were killed. While many factors may have contributed to the upward fatality increase, a strong economy and lower unemployment rates are contributing factors. Average gas prices have been lower by 16% than in 2015, resulting in more Americans driving more miles. Our complacency is killing us, said Deborah A.P. Hersman, the safety council s president and CEO. Americans should demand change to prioritize safety actions and protect ourselves from one of the leading causes of preventable death. To help you and your family travel safely, the National Safety Council recommends drivers: Make sure everyone in your car buckles up on every trip Designate a driver or arrange alternate transportation to avoid driving impaired Get plenty of rest before leaving on an extended trip; take regular breaks to avoid fatigue when traveling Avoid distracted driving - keep your eyes on the road at all times Never use a cell phone behind the wheel, even hands-free Do not text while driving Do not apply makeup, read, or eat Stay engaged in teens driving habits, as teens are three times as likely to crash as more experienced drivers Learn about your vehicle s safety systems and how to use them. My Car Does What ( org/) can help drivers understand features such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning systems, and backup cameras Facts Courtesy of: =134&var=hppress&Web=36d1832e%2D7bc3%2D4029%2D98a1%2D317c5cd5c625 2

3 WHAT S TRENDING: TWINKLE TREAT BASKETS It s a fact pedestrian crashes are four times more likely to occur on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Almost all of these pedestrian crashes occur from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. - while children are out trick-ortreating. Eighty-four percent of these tragic crashes occur in the mile of a neighborhood, not because children aren t looking, and not because drivers aren t looking for them, but simply because drivers can t see these children clad in their dark Halloween costumes, especially in poorly lit parts of a neighborhood. Enter the Twinkle Treat Basket, the invention of Soo Clinton who almost hit a trick-or-treater in 2011 because of poor visibility on Halloween night. After the near tragedy, Soo set out with her family to create something that would help drivers see youngsters trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods. The Twinkle Treat Basket is an interactive candy carrier for Halloween that is motion and vibration-activated, with light and sound displays that can be seen from 100 yards away. This gives drivers the needed time to see and react and help to avoid these unfortunate crashes. In aition, the Twinkle Treat Basket sounds off with a Thank you for the Candy and Happy Halloween each time a child collects on his or her Halloween haul. This year Zero Fatalities and Safe Communities are partnering with the inventors of the Twinkle Treat Basket to help eliminate those crashes. The team will receive more than 1,000 baskets for upcoming Trunk-or-Treat events in Southern Nevada including the 1st Annual Run, Walk, and Roll (See below); the UMC Trauma, LVMPD and CCSD Police for Trunk-or-Treat event; and National Night Out. 1ST ANNUAL RUN, WALK AND ROLL The 1st Annual Run, Walk and Roll will be held Saturday, October 29, kicking off at 5 p.m. with 1K walk, 5K run, and 10K bike events. Everyone is invited to light up themselves, their bikes, and their costumes and participate! Prizes will be awarded for the best lit child and adult on foot and on bike. The event will raise funds for pedestrian and bike education, but because it is so close to Halloween, the lights become critical to all pedestrians, especially children trick-or-treating. With pedestrian fatalities up 50 percent in Nevada this year, we need to help decrease the number of fatalities on Nevada roads. Cost for walkers is $15, and $25 day of event, runners and cyclists are $25, or $35 day of event. Every child in costume with an adult will receive free entry to the event. Sponsors for the event include Range Rover, Las Vegas and Benson, Bertoldo, Baker and Carter as well as Twinkle Treat Baskets, who will supply the first 250 children with a registered adult FREE Twinkle Treat Baskets! For more information please see or register for the event at 3

4 ZERO FATALITIES FOR CHILDREN: VEHICLE TRAVEL The number one way kids travel to school is in your vehicle. The most tragic injury to a child comes when parents think they are doing the right thing by following the rules when it comes to passenger safety, but often learn the hard way that Nevada law does not protect their children. In Nevada, NRS says that if your child weighs 60 pounds and is six years old, they can be just in a seat belt system, and they can ride anywhere in the vehicle that s available and isn t the back of a pick-up truck. The reality, and why 40 other states have stricter laws than ours, is that seats belts are designed for people who are more than 57 tall and the locking mechanism in the belt does not know to activate in a crash if there isn t 80 pounds of pressure in the seat. Advocates have been trying to upgrade our booster seat law since What was asked for then will be asked for again in Nevada law needs to require children to be in a booster seat until they are 57 tall and weigh 80 pounds and that when practicable, children under age 13 ride in the back seat of the car. On August 26, new booster seats were given out to 60 children in need at Gene Ward Elementary School in Las Vegas. Senator Joyce Woodhouse, who will sponsor the Transporting Children Safely legislation in the 2017 session, shared comments with the audience on the importance of being properly restrained in the vehicle. Also participating in the event to teach parents about proper seat belt and child seat use were Jeanne Marsala, RN, Director of Safe Kids, Clark County, and Sunrise Trauma Outreach Coordinator, Officer Robert Mayer, CCSD Police, and Child Seat Advocate, Steve Archambo of Community Ambulance. The seats were donated by Safe Kids Clark County and CCSD Police, from grants made by AAA Nevada. DATA SUPPORTING THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILD SAFETY IN VEHICLES Between 2011 and 2014, 19 children under the age of 13, died in traffic crashes as motor vehicle occupants, ALL of them were improperly restrained. In the same time frame, 13 children of the same age sustained life altering injuries, only two were properly restrained; five between ages 6 and 9 were in seat belts only. The Center for Traffic Safety Research (CTSR) data shows children riding in booster seats incurred hospital stays of 2.3 days, on average, and had charges that averaged $19,000. For the same age group not riding in a booster seat the average hospital stays jumps to 8.8 days and the cost is a whopping $102,000. Keeping with the CTSR data, for all children of school age in Nevada who received an Injury Severity Score (NISS) over 25 (critical injuries), 21.8 percent were riding improperly or unrestrained, but only 6.2 percent when restrained properly. Booster seats should be called belt positioning chairs because everyone would understand what they are for. They boost small bodies up, elongating their torsos so the shoulder strap fits properly, and the hard seat acts as hip bones to absorb the crash forces, in place of small bodies. Remember the importance of making sure our children ride safely to school and to every destination by making sure your child has the appropriate safety equipment for the car and that you are using it properly. 4

5 NATIONAL TEEN DRIVER SAFETY WEEK Motor vehicle crashes are also the leading cause of death among 15- to 19-year olds in the U.S. The Nevada Office of Traffic Safety uses a Peer to Peer program to raise awareness about teen safe driving issues. Zero Teen Fatalities educates young drivers about the importance of being safe behind the wheel. October National Teen Driver Safety week is a great week to have a conversation with your teens about the importance of safe driving. Discussion topics should include the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, the importance of wearing a seat belt, distracted driving such as using a cell phone, speeding, and having too many passengers in the car. Young people use electronic devices more frequently than other age groups and ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported to be distracted at the time of the crash (NHTSA). Help make the use of technology and other distractions socially unacceptable when driving motor vehicles. Perceptions about traffic safety are developed by observing the driving behavior of parents, peers, and their communities. Using the strong influence of parents and peer to reinforce lessons about focusing attention on the roadway will help to build a foundation of lifelong safe driving skills, attitudes, and behavior. Use the 5 to Drive rules ( fastlane/5-drive-safety-campaign-seeks-reduce-teen-deaths) and talk to your teens. They will listen! TRAFFIC SAFETY Calendar of Events ZERO FATALITIES OUTREACH EVENTS September Street Vibrations, Reno 24 National Seat Check Day Wurstfest, Boulder City October National Night Out Town Square Las Vegas 15 National Night Out Fremont Street Las Vegas Henderson Community Expo, Henderson 23 Pumpkin Palooza, Sparks 29 Run Walk and Roll, Las Vegas STRATEGIC HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN MEETINGS October Pedestrians CEA 11 Nevada Executive Committee on Traffic Safety Meeting, Las Vegas 25 Technical Working Group November Lane Departures CEA December Occupant Protection CEA 5