AAA Urges Drivers To Think of Kids

GET THE SCHOOL YEAR IN GEAR SAFELY: That’s the goal of AAA New Mexico, which is offering up some reminders to drivers and students as classes resume.

While many seem like good old common sense, the sad fact is that common sense is sometimes lacking behind the wheel. “Pedestrian injury is the second leading cause of injury-related death in the United States for children ages 5 to 15, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” AAA says in a news release. In New Mexico this year, data from the state Traffic Safety Bureau shows that, so far, 37 pedestrians have been killed.

So, slow down, especially in school and residential areas. Obey traffic signs (i.e. no rolling through stops), especially around areas where students are walking to and from campus. Stay alert, because two seconds focused on the radio or the phone is two seconds for a child to step in front of your vehicle. Scan between parked cars for youths trying to get to where they’re going quickly. Stop for buses: 23 million students take the bus in the U.S., and AAA says the most dangerous time of their ride is “not while on the bus, but rather approaching or leaving it.” Drivers can not pass a bus when its stop arm is up and its red lights are flashing. And finally, leave early so you are not tempted to speed or cut safety corners, consider a new route that skirts congested school areas, be extra cautious in bad weather and turn on your headlights so students, crossing guards and other drivers can see you.

Students have a big responsibility for safety as well. AAA says parents should remind children to: cross at corners; stop and look in all directions before crossing; when there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic, in single file, as far away from the road as possible; wear white or reflective clothing after dark and properly fitting safety equipment when riding a bike. Students should also remember a bike must follow the same rules of the road as cars. And when they are on the bus, they should stay seated while the bus is moving, keep their head and arms inside the bus at all times, stay quiet so the driver can concentrate and watch for traffic when getting on and off.

AND THE CAR SEAT IN RIGHT: For kids who ride to school, Safer New Mexico Now and the New Mexico Department of Transportation are sponsoring free car-seat clinics from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at five locations around the state.

In addition to the Winrock parking lot and the Kohl’s department stores off Paseo and Ellison in Albuquerque, trained technicians will also be at the Kohl’s in Santa Fe and in Las Cruces. They will check your installation and correct it as needed. Three out of four car seats are installed incorrectly, Safer says. Technicians will also check for recalls and inspect for broken parts and appropriateness for your child’s age, height and weight. Again, it’s all free.

For information, call 1-800-231-6145.

A N.M. 14 MYSTERY: Martha Gates emails “we know it as state highway 14. When we drive out of Raven Road and turn north toward Tijeras, on the shoulder bike area is a number every mile. The numbers increase 3 to 9 going from Raven to Tijeras, and each number has an arrow with it, some arrows point toward the shoulder and some point to the opposite side of the highway. (Recently there was added) a stick with a red ribbon on it at every arrow, and the stick is on the side of the road in which the arrow is pointing. Can you tell us what all this means? More highway work?”

No highway work — but no idea what the sticks, ribbons, numbers and arrows mean, either.

Phil Gallegos, who handles information for NMDOT’s District 3 office, says he “asked everyone I could think of and do not know what the markings are for.”

Readers?

THIRTY-SIX ROAD DEATHS IN JUNE; 27 IN JULY: That’s the tally from the University of New Mexico for the state Traffic Safety Bureau.

In June, 21 of the deaths were in vehicles; last month, 17 were. June saw six motorcycle fatalities; July, five. One all-terrain-vehicle rider was killed each month. Seven pedestrians died in June; four in July. And one bicyclist died in June; none in July.

Alcohol was a factor in at least 16 of the fatalities.

Through July of this year, 222 people have died on N.M. roads. Just 46 of the 147 killed in vehicles were buckled in; just five of the 33 killed on motorcycles and ATVs were wearing helmets.

Assistant editorial page editor D’Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for the Metro area on Mondays and West Siders and Rio Ranchoans on Thursdays. Reach her at 823-3858; road@abqjournal.com; P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103; or go to ABQjournal.com/traffic to read previous columns and join in the conversation.
— This article appeared on page A4 of the Albuquerque Journal