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!

Happy New Years from the PRTPO

 Happy New Year from the Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization to you! We hope you have enjoyed the past year with us and have been driving safely the entire time. We thought it would be a good idea to share a few more tips before the year slips on by. 

Avoid Drinking and Drinking

We all know New Year's Eve is one of the most common times of the year to find drunk drivers on the road but we wanted to remind you of the staggering statistics. Did you know every day almost 30 people die in drunk driving accidents? The one person every 50 minutes. 10,000 lives every year. At a 0.02 BAC users can experience a decline in visual functions (rapid tracking of a moving target), a decline in the ability to perform two tasks at the same time (divided attention). At 0.05 BAC users experience reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, reduced response to emergency driving situations. 0.08 BAC is the legal limit in all 50 states. 

Ensure Your Safety

You can never predict what the other drivers on the road's actions are going to be, thus driving defensively is always the best option. This ensures that you are looking out for yourself, and if everyone does this the roads should be safe. Some methods of driving defensively include keeping your distance. On New Year's Eve, we recommend keeping extra distance between cars to stay cautious.If you are being driven by someone always make sure they are sober. Don't assume other drivers are going to do the correct action, always look out for yourself. Cut out distractions when driving. Distracted driving can lead to you not keeping up with your defensive driving techniques and lead to a crash.

Other Options

Finding yourself out for New Years' and needing a ride home but being drink is a problem, but not a problem without a good solution! We wanted to provide all you answer to the question of how do I get home if I got drunk somewhere. There are always ride-sharing apps/services in your area to look into! Check into your community to see what they offer. Calling someone for a ride is always an option. Never be embarrassed to admit you are responsible enough to not drive drunk. If you know you're going to be getting drunk you can always plan ahead and get a ride, or have someone be the designated sober driver. Drinking and driving should never be the option.

Happy New Year, stay safe, and to another year of safe driving!

Christmas Driver Safety

Merry Christmas from the Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization to your families! We hope this 2020 holiday season is treating you all well. We wanted to share some Christmas Holiday Driving tips with some of you folks in the spirit of giving! 

Give yourself a little bit of extra time

Whether you're headed out for last-minute Christmas shopping or just home from work always make sure to give yourself a little bit of extra time. The roads are always prone to being slippery and getting home an extra 2 minutes early isn't worth the risk. You will also feel more relaxed knowing you have extra time just in case. When drivers are relaxed they're much less likely to make anxious mistakes that may lead up to a crash. 

Use extra care when watching other vehicles

Defensive driving is always the go-to option throughout the year, but especially during the holiday season. During the holiday season, there is always an increase in the number of drivers under the influence found on the road, unfortunately. This is why paying extra attention and giving other drivers even more room is extra important around the holiday season. If you suspect someone of drunk driving please report them to the local authorities as they are a danger for everyone and themselves.

Avoid Distractions when Driving

Driving while distracted is incredibly dangerous but easy to forget about. At a speed of 55 mph sending a text means you miss an entire football field worth of length on the road. That puts you and others at serious danger. There are three main types of distractions when driving. 

• Visual: taking your eyes off the road
• Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive: taking your mind off driving

In 2018 alone, over 2,800 people were killed and an estimated 400,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. Young adults and teens account for the highest number of distracted drivers. Remember to stay safe this holiday by reducing the distractions in your own car, and if you see your driver being distracted say something. 

Holiday Weather Driving

We've all heard those horrid holiday weather stories. The "we got into an accident driving back from grandma" stories. Here are some tips to help you avoid those situations when driving this holiday season.

1. Look ahead at least 15 seconds in traffic to see where you’ll be and anticipate what you might need to do to manage that situation.
2. You should take the time to adjust your following distance and look for the safest position in traffic 
3. You should create a cushion of space around your vehicle, you can give yourself an “out” when an unsafe situation arises

While drivers can be an issue sometimes nature itself seems to be fighting you as well. Luckily we have also gathered some winter driving tips for the road as well!

1. When driving in poor conditions, accelerate and decelerate slowly
2. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids
3. Don't stop if you can avoid it
4. Don't power up hills
5. Don't stop going up hills
6. Check the weather along your route and when possible, delay your trip if bad weather is expected.
7. Before hitting the road, notify others and let them know your route, destination, and estimated time of arrival

Traveling During Covid-19

With summer in full swing, people are hitting the road and still traveling. How can you get out of the house and travel safe during Covid-19? The safest thing to do is to put travel plans on hold. However, for those people who are going to travel, experts agree that traveling by car is a safer option.

Plan your route

Ideally avoid hot spots where there are a lot of Covid-19 cases. Select areas where there is not a lot of local transmission. When considering your destination, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests asking:

• Whether COVID-19 is spreading in your community or the area you’re visiting. If so, you may have a higher chance of becoming infected or infecting others.
• If you or a loved one who is returning home has an underlying condition that might increase the risk for complications from the disease.
• If you’ll be able to maintain a 6-foot distance between yourself and others during travel and at your destination.
• Whether the destination requires that visitors quarantine themselves for 14 days upon arrival.

There are other things to take into consideration also. Will a mask be required on your journey or at your destination? Are there local business closures you need to be aware of? If needed, is there suitable medical care available?

Pack a ‘toolkit’

Good hygiene on the road is much like at home but you’ll want to be extra vigilant when stopping at high-traffic destinations. The best ways to limit your exposure include using the following:

• Wear a mask
• Hand sanitizer
• Disinfecting wipes or paper towels
• Disposable gloves
• Sealable disposable plastic bags
• Tissues

When you’re indoors or unable to distance from people by 6 feet wear your mask. Bring your own snack and drinks but if you stop to buy them, use hand sanitizer before and after going into the store. Use disinfecting wipes as needed and gloves when pumping gas. Avoid paying with cash. Use the same hygiene rules as you would at home by washing hands frequently and avoid touching your face.

Call ahead for services

Many chain hotels are open but call ahead to be sure. Ask if they are following safety and disinfectant protocols. Limit the amount of people in your room by requesting no housekeeping services. Other places you’ll want to research include any tourist destinations you’re hoping to see and local restaurants. In many places restaurants are limited to take-out or drive-thru only, instead of dining in. Lots of smaller restaurants and businesses may be closed.

Locally, most restaurants are open for dine in but at limited capacity. Nearly all of them offer curb-side pickup now too.

Drive careful

Even though there may be less traffic on the road, there is still a chance of a vehicle accident especially if you drive distracted, drowsy, or you lack experience. Overall traffic fatalities are up during quarantine because of speeding and reckless driving.

Palouse Driver Safety urges you to obey speed limits and practice defensive driving by bucking up, designate a sober driver, avoid fatigue, and avoid distractions.