How Far Have We Come? - Looking Back On Distracted Driving Awareness Month (Way Back)

WHAT AN APRIL.

Within the span of a few days, traffic on the roads thinned to nearly empty roads, social interaction became strictly digital, and no one could deny that we were in a situation that was completely different that we could ever expect. 

However, amidst all the changes, some realities remained the same. 

The brutal scene of the Calene crash outside of Pullman, WA on Apr. 13, 2020.

Just yesterday, it was reported that Jack Hurley, 88, was killed at the scene in Lewiston after being struck by a vehicle. This followed a crash in Lewiston which had occurred only a few days before, as well as a two-car collision which took the life of Timothy Calene right outside of Pullman in the beginning of April. 

It is clear that one thing is true in this time: our safety is still a significant priority that we need to be continuing to pushing for ourselves and the ones around us. 

This is the purpose of Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Erica Forney, at age 9, was tragically killed by a distraced driver in 2008.

SAFETY HAS ALWAYS BEEN FIRST.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month was first established by the U.S. Congress in 2010 with the help of Shelley Forney. 

Forney started advocating back in 2008 - in the rapid rise of cell phones - when her 9-year-old daughter was killed by a distracted driver on Thanksgiving of that year. Her efforts went on went on in 2010 to dedicate April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month in 2010.

Throughout the years following, the movement has grown nation-wide, and agencies across the country have banded together every April to help remind our communities that there is NO SUCH THING as a small distraction when it comes to driving and that our attention (or lack thereof) on the road can have serious consequences.

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

Preventing distracted driving is an uphill battle. The death rate from car collisions in Washington State consistently reached around 500 deaths yearly from 2015-2018. On a nation wide scale, over the last decade, there has been a significant increase distracted-driving-related crashes. The number of deaths related to distracted driving jumped from 3166 in 2017 to 4637 in 2018. 

However, thanks to the hard work of agencies throughout the country, as well as individuals using self-discipline and taking responsibility out on the roads, there is hope for the elimination of crashes and deaths from distracted driving.

TAKE THE PLEDGE.

If you haven't take the pledge to drive safe TODAY. Your responsibility on the road can make a massive impact on those around you. Don't take it lightly.

Stay safe out there everyone.

Don't Do It Alone! - Education At Home (for Students & Parents)

Within the span of a few days, homeschooling became the new norm.

WSU Assistant Professor Elizabeth Weybright gave some helpful insight from her research on leisure and boredom. She has been tracking boredom complaints on the Internet since stay-at-home orders were given. A WSU News article concludes with a quote from Weybright.

“The situation we are in is unprecedented,” Weybright said. “None of us were given any skills in dealing with a pandemic as individuals or as parents. We’re all struggling and acknowledging that is important.”

In this time, there is no denying that we are stuck and are unsure what to do. One of the particularly pressing issues is the rapid transition to education at home. Keep reading to learn what you can be doing, whether you're a student or a parent, to tackle the new reality of isolated, online schooling.

IF YOU ARE A STUDENT. . .

You're almost at the end of the school year! No doubt you have had a lot of changes in your schedules and are still trying to figure out how to use this time. The New York Times recently released an article detailing students' reactions to the new era of "social distancing." Many responses highlighted the difficulty to use the new time and even the occasional "existential contemplation."

Here are two things to remember while you are at home.

STAY SOCIAL.
Your peers are an important part of this time of your life, so it is important to be in touch with them when you can. Find any sort of opportunities you can to be in face-to-face interaction with each other and to do things together remotely. Continue to meet over video with your classmates for projects, assignments, etc. Also, it is very beneficial to those you are connected to when you send messages of positive reinforcement every now and then.

STAY APART (AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME).
As strange as it sounds, the best thing you can do for your peers right now is to be away from them. Our priority is protecting those around us in any way we can, and we need to make sure we are all have this same goal and are doing whatever it takes to stay clean (for the thousandth time, thank you for washing your hands!) and away from those who are at high risk. Be sure to encourage others to adopt healthy habits if they haven't already. Remember - we are protecting each other by doing this!

IF YOU ARE A HOMESCHOOL PARENT. . .

[Personal preface. I was homeschooled for 12 straight years, and I saw my mom endure the constant work of teaching her kids of various ages, find new academic resources to help us learn in the best possible way, and coordinate with other homeschooling families in co-ops or online courses. Looking back, I realize how hard this was on her and how she did not do it perfectly, but I am extremely grateful for all the ways she helped me excel academically and creatively.]

If you're currently intimidated by the task or unsure of how to go about it, know that your kids are going to really appreciate and benefit from your direction as their new stay-at-home teacher. The responsibility is huge, but there are helping hands out there to give you a boost. Don't do this alone!Here are some useful, FREE resources you can use in your home to help your child's learning.

Khan Academy (All ages)
ActivEd Walkabouts (PreK - 2nd Grade)
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool (K - 12th)

Ambleside Online (K - 12th)

Newsela (All Ages)

Virtual Field Trips and World Tours (TripSavvy)

Scholastic Learn at Home (PreK - 9th)

Smithsonian Learning Lab (All Ages)

Funbrain (PreK - 8th)

Storyline 

Big History Project 

Chrome Music Lab 

Club SciKidz 

GoNoodle (PreK - 1st)

Bedtime Math 

Code.org 

YouTube 

826 Digital (1st -12th)

Starfall (PreK - 3rd)

AS ALWAYS, HANG IN THERE!

One of the biggest struggles for surely all of us in this time is having the motivation to finish this school year strong, whether you're a student or a homeschool parent. Nevertheless, if all of us are working together to fulfill the responsibilities in front of us, the results will definitely be rewarding. As Weybright plainly stated, we are all struggling, and there is nothing wrong with acknowledging that to one another. Let's help each other in this time!

"Empty" Roads Doesn't Mean Safe Roads - Driving in COVID-19 Times

With the stay-at-home order extended, the Washington roads are changing by the day.

WSDOT has reported that traffic on major highways in the Seattle area has decreased by up to 77%, and experts only foresee that decrease to continue in the coming weeks.

Such changes to the roads may lead you to find yourself on open roads that are seemingly free of traffic, almost empty.

Be aware. These so-called “empty” roads are not necessarily safe roads.

This incident took place on Monday morning, April 13, just outside of Pullman. Reportedly, an SUV was heading into Pullman and ran a red light, thereby hitting the Hatchback which was turning left onto the highway. The driver of the Hatchback sustained life-threatening injuries.

Update on 4/17: Timothy Calene, the hatchback driver, has passed away from his injuries. Our deepest sympathis go out to the Calene family in this time.

It is easy to assume in this time that you will be the only one – or at least one of the only ones – on the road. Even so, it is still imperative to be 100% vigilant when driving, even when hazards or other drivers are not visible for long distances down the road. Let this be testament that lower activity on roads does not guarantee your safety.

DRIVERS AGAINST COVID-19

No doubt we still have errands to run and other necessities which will require us to drive out somewhere; this will in turn increase our risk of exposure to the virus. Here are some ways you can confront COVID-19 when going out.

WEAR A FACEMASK

A general recommendation for whenever you leave your home.

KEEP YOUR CAR CLEAN

Mainly areas of your car that are most touched (steering wheel, handles, etc.)

KEEP HANDWASHING GEAR IN YOUR CAR

 

For times you are unable to find a clean restroom.

DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH CONTINUES!

The PDSC will continue to celebrate Distracted Driving Awareness Month by inviting the Palouse communities to participate in various contests, such as the Slogan, Poster, and Video contests! More info on these events is on the PDSC social media pages. We invite you to show us how you encourage others to drive safely!

We hope everyone is continuing to stay safe in this time. Drive safe and wash your hands!

The Fourth Palouse National Distracted Driving Awareness Month Celebration Kick-off !!

We hope you're all staying safe and following the necessary precautions and guidelines to help flatten the curve for our region during the outbreak!

Although we're all stuck at home, some of us still have to drive for essential work, necessary services and more. Driving for 5 seconds at 55 mph is the same as the driving length of a football field. Now imagine you were answering a text, which on average takes 5 seconds to send or read, and you were driving. That’s a full football field length with your eyes not on the road! This is only one of the distractions that drivers face every time they get behind the wheel.

Distracted driving is the act of operating a motor vehicle while engaging in an activity that has the potential to distract or divert the driver from the task of driving. This can be a visual, manual, or cognitive distraction. These include

·         Texting

·         Talking to your passenger(s)

·         Talking on your phone

·         Eating or drinking

·         Fiddling with the stereo

·         Changing your GPS

·         Anything that takes your attention away from driving

The consequences of distracted driving are severe with 2,871 people killed in 2018 by distracted driving and 400,000 injured that same year.

           With April being Distracted Driver Safety Awareness the month we're here to bring our classic events on a new online platform!

Missing our wrecked car display? Watch our social media post with full stories of those impacted by distracted driving.

Additionally, look forward to a new addition of YouTube videos we will be posting this month! Featuring educational and fun videos to teach you about driving safety!!

But wait, there's more.....

We will also be holding a virtual contest during the month of April! Stay in touch with our social media platforms to find further details (blogs, websites, and social media platforms!)


The Contest would offer a chance to win three different gift cards while staying at home and helping and caring for those who still have to drive! 

The three categories would be Slogans, Posters and everyone's favorite- videos!!

Stay tuned for further details! And, we would like to thank you to those who are working tirelessly to keep us safe during this pandemic!!

From the Palouse RTPO, and the Driver Safety Campaign, Please be safe and stay healthy!!

Rules for Teenage Drivers

Every parent's worst nightmare is having something terrible happen to their child. As they grow you, nurture, teach, offer guidance, love unconditionally, and most often look out for their safety. Children at any age are hazards to themselves, discovering the world through trial & error is life, but no one ever said it was perfectly safe either. One of the scariest things parents face is eventually relinquishing car keys to a teenager. Yes, we send them to Driver's Ed and tell them everything about operating a vehicle safely, but that doesn't mean it will always go as planned out on the road. Make sure that before you allow your bouncing baby to take those keys, you set clear boundaries and rules about being responsible behind the wheel. Check, double-check, and then check again that they are well aware of the seriousness of driving and that it is not a right but a privilege. The leading cause of childhood deaths is car accidents and many of which had a young inexperienced driver behind the wheel. Here are ten rules to lay down, and many of them are also laws to ensure everyone's safety on the roadways. 

1. WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT- It is common knowledge that seat belts save lives. Wearing one should be a no brainer and required for many states by law. Your teen driver should never ride without one.
2. NO ELECTRONIC DISTRACTIONS- Make it clear that no cell phones are to be used while they are behind the wheel. Tell your teen to situate the music and their cell phones before they even put the car in gear. Phones can be turned to silent or do not disturb mode to ensure they aren't a temptation to a teenage driver.
3. OBEY SPEED LIMITS- Speed limits are made and enforced for the safety of all those using the roadways. Following the posted limits will reduce their chances of causing an accident.
4. NEVER DRINK & DRIVE- Although teenagers aren't legally allowed to drink, that doesn't mean they don't. Make a plan with your child for situations they could encounter with drinking and educate them on making responsible choices. Above all, make sure they know they can call you for help.
5. DON'T DRIVE DROWSY- Sleepy driving is extremely hazardous and should be avoided at all costs. Make sure inexperienced drivers know to get proper rest and pull over if they need to when driving long distances. 
6. LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS- More people equals more distractions. Please, limit the number of passengers a young driver is allowed to have in the vehicle without direct supervision of an adult.
7. CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOTS EVERY TIME- Make sure your teenager knows to check blind spots before making any changes in direction or pulling away from an area.
8. AVOID BEING IN OTHER PEOPLE'S BLIND SPOTS- We all have spots we can't see perfectly around us as we drive, one way to avoid accidents is to make sure they know about and aren't in another person's blind spot. 
9. USE HEADLIGHTS- This is a "no-duh" statement for driving at night, but using them in the day time could be the difference of whether or not another driver saw your teen driver.
10. ALWAYS USE YOUR BLINKERS- ALWAYS use blinkers; doing so will allow others to know where they plan to go and adjust accordingly.
    

Driver safety is crucial for everyone's well-being, and these tips are great for all to follow. The best way to get your teen to drive safely is to be an example and not just tell them what to do, but to be doing it, too! Take a large part in your child's safety behind the wheel!

Valentine's Day, Heavier Traffic, & The Holiday Weekend

Love is in the air! Today, we celebrate the beautiful passions we share with all the people we love, especially our significant others. With the rush to have flowers and gifts delivered or bought, there is a ton of traffic and people out and about. To add to all the commotion going on in town, it is also a long weekend for most, making for more traffic on the highways as well. Please be cautious and courteous as you are behind the wheel today and this weekend as well! Keep in mind the tips listed below to keep you and your Valentine safe this holiday while dealing with the traffic increase.

1. Slow down a bit- Overcrowding on the road can lead to jittery and nervous drivers, take a breath, and also take your time.
2. Maintain safe following distance- Giving yourself a larger buffer zone between you and other drivers gives you a larger window of time to react.
3. Pay attention to the situation at hand- in heavier traffic; make sure to check your mirrors and blind spots often.
4. Use your blinker properly- Signaling to other drivers what your intentions are in advance will help reduce stress and accidents on the roadways.
5. Keep calm- Remember to keep an even keel when dealing with dense traffic, panicking will lead to errors. If needed, pull over for an actual break from the stress.
6. Brake smoothly- Avoid slamming on your brakes, keeping a more significant following distance will reduce the need to mash the brakes to avoid a collision.

Drive safe, and your Valentine will thank you!

Foggy Driving Tips

Washington state is home to some of the cloudiest weather in the country, and with clouds comes fog. Dense fog is hazardous to drive in for the apparent fact that it inhibits road and traffic visibility. Before driving in foggy conditions, please take a moment to determine if your travels are necessary. If you can afford to stay home when dense fog is out, do so. If not, remember these few tips:

1) Get rid of distractions
Before you leave, turn your phone and stereo off or on silent, and place your cell phone somewhere you won't be trying to reach for it.

2) Slow down
In bad weather, it is always a good idea to reduce your speed and increase the following distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. Lower visibility means less time to respond to situations around you. At slower speeds, we have more time to gain control and react appropriately.

3) Crack the window
Rolling the window down will enable you to hear traffic and emergency vehicles before you see them.

4) Use righthand reflectors and lines as a guide
Following the marking on the roadsides will ensure you know where your lane is.

5) Do NOT use cruise control
Cruise control will not give you the maximum amount of control over the vehicle, using it in low visibility is not recommended.

6) Turn on defroster and wipers
Using the windshield wipers and defroster will help reduce moisture in the vehicle and glare from the fog.

7) Drive with low beams & fog lights
High beams will only reflect off the fog and make visibility even less. Driving with low beams or fog lights will help oncoming traffic see you!

8) Increase following distance to 4 seconds
When situations arise, you will need the proper time to respond, giving yourself more space between vehicles will help.

9) Watch for animals and pedestrians
Many animals feel a bit more confident in being out in the cover of fog, making it extremely for you to see them and vice versa! As well, it will be hard to see people walking. Go slower and keep an eye out.

10) Properly use turning signals
        Use of turn signals is important in everyday driving, making sure others know what you plan to do before you do it. Using your tun signals properly in fog helps those around you see and prepare for what you are about to do.

If the fog is too thick, please pull over and wait for it to clear. Always make sure you are off the road and in a safe spot to park, so you don't get hit. Always be aware of your surroundings when driving and never risk it, your life is worth being here to experience, and so is everyone else's.