Booze & Boating Never Mix

 Booze & Boating Never Mix

Summer is here! With Father's Day this weekend and the Fourth of July right around the corner, it is more important than ever to ensure you are never mixing any imperative substance and motorized vehicles. Across the nation, Americans will be hitting the roads and waterways to celebrate these holidays. With states opening up and Americans returning to a new "normal" of post-pandemic life, travelers can expect roads to be busier than ever. According to the Bureau of Transportation, studies are reporting an expecting 132 Million Americans to travel during the 4th of July holiday week. With 51% of Americans hitting the roads, it is more important than ever to stay safe and sober while operating any motorized vehicle. 

Warm weather also brings many outdoor activities and people turning to waterways to find relief from the heat. Whether you find yourself traveling to waterways to boat, swim or simply enjoy nature, the Palouse Driver Safety team reminds you to travel safe and sober. Many Americans associate outdoor activities like boating and lake days with the consumption of alcohol. 

Alcohol affects operating a vessel, the same way it does any other vehicle. Boating under the influence is extremely dangerous and unfortunately affects many Americans every year. Not only is boating while drinking dangerous, but it is also illegal. In the state of Washington, boating under the influence leads to a BUI (boating under the influence) charge. Legal implications include up to a year in jail and up to a $5,000 fine. Boating while under the influence is extremely dangerous and is a serious crime. This law also applies to everyone on the water, you don't need to be operating a motor-powered speedboat to be charged with a BUI. You may be operating any watercraft and can be charged with a BUI if you are under the influence. Meaning drunk rafters and kayakers may be charged with a BUI too.

If the legal implications weren't enough to deter you from boating and drinking, remember the dangerous consequences. Mixing boating with alcohol is an extremely dangerous combination and can be deadly. A study was done by the Nevada Department of Wildlife showed, " a study of boating fatalities in four states, 51 percent of the people who died had a blood alcohol content of .04 or more. A Blood alcohol of .10 or more was found in 30 percent of the fatalities." Alcohol is a large contributing factor to boating-related deaths. 

It is also important to remember the sun causes you to perspire, which removes the water from your body but leaves the alcohol in; which can lead to impairment quicker. Always designate a sober driver before operating any motorized vehicle. Not only is it extremely dangerous, but it is also the law in every state. Stay safe this summer and have a great Father's Day and Fourth of July holiday! 

Remember to stay up to date with the Palouse Driver Safety campaign by checking out our other blogs, podcasts ( Palouse Driver Safety on Spotify) and following our Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Snapchat accounts!

 

Driving & Video Games

 Have you ever wondered, do video games make people better drivers? Well, you wouldn't be the only person who has that thought recently. With the increasing popularity of video games, many people have begun to wonder about how driving games influence drivers. To begin this question we will look at the different types of video game driving that exist.

Here at the Palouse Regional Transporation Planning Organization we use a driving simulator that we created ourselves. The driving simulator the PRTPO has created is similar to the one pictured above. The purpose of our driving simulator is to provide young and potential drivers with a realistic view of the difficulties that come with driving. We bring this equipment with us as we visit schools & Universities around.

While this may be an education driving video game there exist several that are for pure enjoyment. Many young adults and potential drivers are more familiar with the other types of driving video games that exist. These are your stereotypical racing games that have been on the market for several decades now. These games allow players to drive upwards of 100mph with little to no consequences for their actions. A direct contrast to the simulator type of game that the PRTPO uses. These games, as pictured above, depict the driving world as flashy and full of action & adventure. A vast contrast to the mundane traffic you can find yourself in at times. With both of these types of video games, one can easily begin to question the positive effects driving video games to have. 

While it is clear that video games promote unsafe driving habits such as racing at 120mph down a freeway, many of the educational driving games are believed to be beneficial.  In 2016 at the Unisveristy of Hong Kong researchers tested the effect of video-game playing had on their driving skill. What they discovered that the type of video games that the individual played influenced their ability to drive. Comparing both gamers who played a non-action game (The Sims) vs an action game (Unreal Tournament 4), they found that "the claim that easily accessible action video games can be cost-effective training tools to help people improve their essential visuomotor-control skills used for driving,” While this makes room for the case of using driving video games as a tool for learning there is still many more questions that need answers. Perhaps the future of driving school could be all virtual.

 

Summer Safety Tips

Summer Safety with the PRTPO 

As the wheat fields grow and college students return home, the Palouse welcomes in a new season. These past two weeks, Washington State University, Lewis and Clark State College, and the University of Idaho celebrated the newest class of alumni. Congratulations to the graduating class of 2021!  We are so proud of your accomplishments and can't wait to see where your degree takes you. We are also celebrating the end of the school year, congrats to all students for working hard and persevering through a difficult school year. With the official start of summer upon us, the Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization is looking forward to a fun and safe Summer. Regardless of where or how you are traveling this Summer, it is critical to work together to make our roadways a safer place. 

Traveling Home for the Summer 

Over 10,000 students will be leaving the Palouse region for the Summer and heading home. With increased traffic on roadways, it is important to remain vigilant and prepared for unforeseen situations. When driving long distances, remember to always stay focused on the road. Always pull over to address any possible distractions and stay alert at all times. 

It is also important to be prepared for changing road conditions. When traveling long distances, you may experience a variety of road and weather conditions. During this time of the year, be aware of thunderstorms, rain, and wind that can come in quickly. Checking road conditions before hitting the road is also extremely important in ensuring a safe and prepared ride home. 

Share the road! 

As the temperatures continue to rise, more and more bikes and pedestrians will be hitting the road. Biking and walking is a great way to stay fit and reduce your carbon footprint, however, it can also be dangerous if motorists and bikers are not prepared. If you plan on biking, remember to check your brakes air, and chains and check bike routes before hitting the road. It is also important to remember to always wear a helmet, use hand signals and ride with the flow of traffic. If you are a motorist, it is also important to always be aware of your surroundings and watch for bike lanes. Sharing the road and being considerate of their signals and presence is key to keeping everyone safe. 

Happy Memorial Day! 

Next weekend is memorial day weekend and we hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend! Monday, May 31 is Memorial Day. This federal holiday honors and mourns all military personnel who have lost their lives in the performance of their military duties while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The PRTPO gives their gratitude and thanks to all who have served and gave the ultimate sacrifice. 

Memorial Day Weekend is also the "unofficial start of summer" and we are excited to welcome warmer temperatures, lake days, BBQs, and summer vacations. According to AAA, 37 Million Americans will travel nationwide this holiday weekend. With increased traffic on the roadways, it is imperative to practice safe driving habits. Wherever you may be traveling, remember to never look at your phone or let any other distractions take your eyes off of the roadways. It is also important to remember to always wear your seatbelt and check road conditions before hitting the road. Most importantly, remember to always stay alert and never drink and drive. 

What's next for the Palouse Driver Safety Campaign? 

Join us next Friday, May 28 at 5 PM PST via Instagram and Facebook Live for our monthly workshop! This month we will be covering more summer safety tips to keep everyone safe on our roadways this summer. You can also catch up on our latest podcasts at https://open.spotify.com/show/6dn0Gz4HtJ5uWJMzJwGaS8 

Remember to us on social media for the latest safety tips and traffic updates! Have a great weekend and stay safe! 

The Best Mother's Day Gift

 

We've all been through so much this past year and one group that has especially struggled has been Mothers. Our mothers do so much for us by putting our needs before their own and helping us through the craziness life throws our way, like a pandemic perhaps. If you're searching for the perfect gift for your mother then look no further. One of the best gifts a mother can receive is knowing her children are safe.

While you are out late having fun or going on a trip with friends, your mom is back home worrying about if you're being safe and acting responsibly. Worry can take a big toll on someone's health and it's a feeling best avoided. Make your mom's day by letting her know the ways you are improving your safety habits.

With this month also being National Bicycle Month, it's the perfect time to refresh your memory with all the steps you should be taking to ensure your safety.

Bicycles aren't the only bikes that need to take safety precautions, Motorcycles cause an average of 75 deaths annually in Washington according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. While a motorcycle may not be your mothers preferred choice of transportation for you to take, motorcycles are still a reliable transportation method that many people enjoy riding. Because motorcycles have a higher probability of crashing than a car, it's important to ensure you are following every safety precaution.

While everyone is driving and operating their metal modes of transportation, there are people out on the street taking a casual stroll. These are the people that bikes, motorcycles, and cars all have to pay attention to. If vehicles and pedestrians both do their part to stay out of each other's ways, then everyone will be roaming in a safer environment. While you are going on your Mother’s Day walk this Sunday, make sure to follow all these safety tips.

Share these safety tips with your mom this Mother’s Day to let her know the precautions you’re taking to ensure not only your personal safety but the safety of others around you. Safety guidelines are in place to keep people protected, not following them doesn’t benefit anyone. As everyone is out this weekend enjoying the sunshine, remember to give your mothers the appreciation they deserve by committing to acting safe and responsibly. Happy Mother’s Day, stay safe!

Go the extra mile by signing our Safe Driving Pledge , this demonstrates your commitment to staying safe on the roads. Sign it to encourage yourself and reassure your mom that you are driving responsibly.

For more safety information, follow our social media for consistent updates.

Check out our new podcast where we talk about distracted driving and share local stories

Keep an ear out for our next podcast on Thursday, May 13, 2021.  We'll be addressing a number of safety issues including wildfires and bicycle safety. Tune in for more tips and tricks!

Safe Driving Awareness Week 2021 Recap

                         

Recap - Safe Driving Awareness Week

Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) celebrated our 2021 Safe Driving Awareness Week from April 18th -24th. Our goal was to share the message of safe driving and warn against the dangers of distracted driving. Whitman County saw 102 serious injury and fatal crashes between 2015-2020. Our goal is to have 0 serious injury and fatal crashes by 2030. Our campaign has seen improvement since we started in 2016. From 2011-2015, 34% of fatal and serious injury crashes were caused by distracted drivers, 12% by drowsy drivers, and 54% by young/inexperienced drivers. From 2015-2020 those numbers declined to 21% by distracted drivers, 9% by drowsy drivers, and 33% by young/inexperienced drivers. During our awareness week, we were able to reach over 2,500 people with this message. 

Here’s what you missed: 

We held trivia nights, zoom presentations, and giveaways with involvement from university students and the local community. Thank you to all the Greek Chapters that participated in our week-long competition. Congratulations to the University of Idaho’s Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority for winning the competition. They received Insomnia Cookies for their entire house! Here is the Competition Leadership Board including all the runner-ups.

1. UI Kappa Alpha Theta 

2. UI Theta Chi

3. WSU Alpha Chi Omega/ UI Gamma Phi Beta 

4. WSU Phi Delta Theta 

5. UI Kappa Kappa Gamma 

6. WSU Sigma Nu

7. WSU Kappa Delta 

8. WSU Alpha Delta Pi

(UI Kappa Alpha Theta with their Insomnia Cookie Prize!)

Our Safe Driving Pledge received 14 new signatures, that’s 14 people on the road that have pledged to drive safely and responsibly! We received over 200 views combined on our Facebook and Instagram Trivia Nights and our Safe Driving Zoom Presentations. There are links to all the recordings below. Live participants had the chance to win gift cards to Amazon, Dutch Bros, and Domino’s. Thank you to everyone that participated and congratulations to all of our giveaway winners.

Access recordings of our events from our Safe Driving Awareness Week here

Instagram Trivia Night:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CN3ZwIvn9Os/ 

Facebook Trivia Night: 

https://www.facebook.com/SafePalouseDrivers/videos/476731886710534

Sign the Safe Driving Pledge:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeO63hg3HR8tXOTIc-y6NAQ59wSbUAEBaO_Un5BMzMb9hxhSg/viewform

Stay in touch by following us!

2021 Safe Driving Awareness Week

2021 Palouse Safe Driving Awareness Week 

Promoting safe driving is our top priority at the Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization and we are excited to present the 2021 Safe Driving Awareness Week! Even in these uncertain times of the pandemic, we are excited to promote and celebrate safe driving. We hope you will join us for a week full of fun (virtual) events, prizes, and plenty of opportunities to promote safe driving. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness month and the PRTPO would like to remind everyone to drive distraction-free. Removing all distractions is one of the best, and easiest changes one can make to make our roadways a safer place.  We are excited to promote safe driving habits and work towards making our roadways a safer place. Check out our Safe Driving Awareness Week Schedule Below! Check our social media accounts for the latest information!

Safe Drivng Awareness Week Scheule:

Monday, April 19: 

Join us at 4 PM for a Safe Driving Trivia Night! Also, join our Tiktok Contest! Test your knowledge about safe driving and the Palouse! Be sure to check our Facebook post for more information and the Zoom Link! 

Tuesday, April 20:

At 5:30 PM, join us for a Safe Driving Awareness Zoom Meeting presentation! We will be going into the dangers of distracted driving and what you can do to keep yourself and others safe. 

Wednesday, April 21: 

Attention High School Students, this day is for you! We will be meeting with Colfax, Pullman, and Clarkston High School students to educate the importance of focused and prepared driving. 

Thursday, April 22: 

Join us for another Zoom presentation at 5:30 PM! This presentation will also focus on the dangers of distracted driving, as well as what you can do to keep yourself and others safe! This link will also be posted on our Facebook page! 

Friday, April 23: 

Hop on the latest TikTok Trends to promote safe driving! Create a TikTok for the chance to be featured on our page! The Tiktok contest ends at 8pm. Please send all TikToks to our Instagram page or to julia@palousertpo.org

Saturday, April 24 and Monday, April 26:

All winners will be announced! We thank you for your involvement and for helping make our roadways a safer place! 

Also happening this week:

The Washington State University and University of Idaho Fraterinies and Sororities will be competing to see who can earn the most points by being the most involved in the Safe Driving Awareness Week. We wish all chapters luck and appreciate the support! 

Check our social media handles for the latest updates this week! We will also be posting some fun templates to use to share your support for safe driving!

Follow us for the latest updates and safety information! 

Facebook: Palouse Driver Safety

Instagram: @palousedriversafety

Twitter: @palousedrivers

Snapchat: @driversafetywa

Spotify: Safe Palouse Drivers Podcast

www.safepalousedrivers.com

We look forward to seeing everyone (virtually) during our 2021 Safe Driving Awareness Week! As always, we remind everyone to stay alert and focus on the roadways! Drive Safe! 

Sources: https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving 

Your life: It's in Your Hands

Your Life: It's in Your Hands

Would you let a stranger take your final exam? Lead an important project proposal? Or even cook your family dinner? You probably wouldn’t; which is sensible because you don’t know the stranger’s intentions, skills, or behavior. So why would driving be any different? 

Defensive drivers are always on guard and never leave their fate in another driver's hands. Defensive drivers don’t count on other drivers to make the right and safe choices because they take initiative to prevent these accidents from occurring. Not everyone is a great driver (regardless of what your friend who always hits the curb claims), which is why it is critical to do your part in preventing accidents. 

A defensive driver has the skills to protect themselves from negligent drivers, as well as the knowledge to prevent future accidents from happening. Defensive driving skills are particularly important for young drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and many can be prevented through practicing responsible driving habits. 

The advice, “Never assume that other drivers are sober or alert”(Drivers Ed.com), reiterates the defensive driving mindset. By not assuming that drivers around you are going to make safe and responsible choices, you are driving responsibility and putting your safety in your own hands. Assuming and preparing for the worst is the best way to prevent negligent accidents from occurring. 

When driving, it is crucial to look ahead and give yourself time to identify and react to potential hazards. Removing all distractions, as well as reducing your speed is the best way to practice safe and defensive driving skills.

In 2018, distracted driving accounted for 237 teen deaths on the road (National Highway Traffic Administration, 2019). Not only does distracted driving cause accidents, but it also disables the driver from being attentive, focused, and defensive. As a driver, you won't be able to focus on changing road conditions or have time to react to situations. Driving requires your full attention, therefore it is of extreme importance to put away the phone, avoid eating and eliminate all other potential distractions. 

The best way to practice these safe driving habits and learn more defensive driving techniques is through practice. Defensive driving courses teach drivers proper techniques to handle many different situations and prepare for unique and challenging situations on the roadways. Check your local area for defensive driving courses! Take your safety into your own hands and practice defensive driver habits to ensure everyone on the road stays safe.

Sources: 

DriversEd.com. “Defensive Driving Techniques.” Defensive Driving - Defensive Driving Techniques - DriversEd.com, driversed.com/driving-information/defensive-driving/defensive-driving-techniques.aspx.

“Teen Driving.” NHTSA, 12 Jan. 2021, www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/teen-driving.

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Happy St. Patrick Day! 

   Saint Patrick Day is just around the corner, will you be wearing green?

    Irish folklore tales tell of wearing green to ward off leprechauns, who would pinch everyone in sight. Next week, countries all over the world will turn green on March 17th to celebrate their Irish heritage and remember Saint Patrick, who helped bring Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. In America, the celebration traditionally involves large parties, food, Irish drinks, and of course- lots of green and four-leaf clovers. 

 Thinking of grabbing an Irish Beer or Whiskey to celebrate? St. Patrick's Day celebrations are known for their alcohol-infused festivities, with beer and spirit sales skyrocketing each holiday. While St. Paddy’s Day is one of America’s favorite holidays, it has sadly become one of the deadliest, with a spike in drunk driving and alcohol-related crashes. In 2018, 73 people lost their lives on Saint Patrick's day, with drunk driving accidents to blame. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 38 percent of drivers killed in St. Patrick’s Day accidents had a blood-alcohol level over .08 (the legal limit). This statistic is drastically higher, considering alcohol is typically to blame for 7 percent of all crashes. The risk of being a victim of a drunk driving collision is significantly higher on March 17th in comparison to most days. 

    Preventing impaired driving is of utmost importance, as it significantly affects all parties involved. Choosing to drink and drive puts yourself and others at great risk for injury, receiving a DUI, or death. In the state of Washington, a DUI is defined as operating a motor vehicle with a Blood- Alcohol level of 0.08 or greater, a THC concentration of 5 nanograms or more per milliliter of blood, or under the influence of any other substance. The consequences of a DUI range greatly but can include large fines, license suspensions, and jail time. 

    The risk is simply not worth it, don’t rely on luck to get you home this St. Patrick's Day. If you plan on drinking or using any other controlling substance, never drive. 

With that in mind, here are some important tips to ensure you and your loved ones stay safe on St. Patrick’s Day:

-Plan ahead and designate a sober driver before heading out

-Call a sober friend, Uber, Taxi, or other ride-sharing services 

-Stay the night at a friend’s house or hotel

-Check out AAA and NHTSA for a list of free sober ride programs in your area

If you plan on driving sober, be on the lookout for drunk drivers. If you suspect someone of drunk driving, report it to the police immediately, but do not follow or approach the car. It is important to call law enforcement and get a good description of the vehicle without getting too close to the vehicle. 

Even the luck of the Irish can’t save you from a DUI or worse if you drink and drive. Remember to drive sober this holiday. Have a fun and safe St. Patrick's Day!