2015 Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day series

Check back soon here for our annual Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day safety blog series that will begin on Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, and run each weekday until Oct. 9.

For a variety of transportation-related articles, please check our other KDOT blog site that posts stories and photos several times each week – it's at http://kansastransportation.blogspot.com/

Safety - from my point of view

By Pete Quinlan

Safety is the upmost priority on every job.  A serious workplace injury or death changes lives forever.  Not just for the workplace, but for families, friends, communities, and coworkers too.  Human loss and suffering is immeasurable.  No monetary value can be put on your employee’s life. 

If someone were to ask you why safety is important, how would you respond?  You may “know” that it’s important to keep safety in mind as you go about your daily work, but how would you explain the reasons why this is the case?  Here is something to think about.

Humans become tolerable to their environment over a period of time.  When I am on a heavy highway job, I am tolerable and comfortable with traffic flying by at 80 mph.  I can go about my work and think nothing of it. 

When someone new comes out to the job, such as an inspector or contractor, and an 18-wheeler passes by at 75 mph, I can for sure expect a “deer in the headlight look!”  Everyone needs to pay attention to what they are doing and watch their surroundings.  Every year you hear on the news where a contractor or KDOT worker was struck by a vehicle and killed.  These accidents can be prevented. 

Besides paying attention to your work environment, highway workers need to make sure they have the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  Can I be seen by motorist?  A worker needs to be sure his vest is bright and in good condition.

As the superintendent on the job, my ultimate goal is to make sure everyone goes home at night to see their families.

Pete Quinlan is with Bettis Asphalt & Construction, Inc.

 

 

Move over for workers

Scott Thompson, KTA Assistant Foreman, shares his scary, personal story about an incident in a work zone October 2014.

It was October 28, 2014. I remember it was around lunchtime and it was a nice, bright sunny day. We were working on patching a part of the road at mile marker 204. The road was down to one lane on the outside. To keep safe, we had a crash barrier with an arrow board on the back of a truck to signal to drivers we were around.

The wind was breezy that day, so I let a car pass by - I didn’t want it to get asphalt on it. Then I stepped out on the divider line. I saw another car coming, and I believed I was making eye contact with the driver. The next thing I knew, that car swerved over and hit the cone just in front of our barrier truck. I yelled, “Look out!” and rushed two steps back. The car went down into that hole where I was standing! The driver came out of the hole and just barely missed our other truck. She took out more cones while she fled the scene.

Fortunately, we were able to call it in to troopers who caught up with the driver later down the road, thanks to the good description a fellow co-worker got of the vehicle and the driver. We later learned that she admitted to the trooper she fell asleep at the wheel.

If I hadn’t seen that vehicle, it’s likely I wouldn’t have gotten out of the way in time. My co-worker who was on a truck would have most likely been hit as well. I guess it just wasn’t my day to die, and I’m grateful for that!

If you’re driving through a work zone, remember to slow down and pay attention. Move over for workers. When you see those arrow boards telling you to move over, do so immediately, not later. Workers put their lives at risk making the roads better for you.

You will always be loved

By Shirley McDonald

Before you turn on the ignition of your vehicle, take a moment and a deep breath.  Focus.  Clear your mind and think safety for yourself and others.  Engage your seat belt, forget the cell phone. 

Before entering a work zone, pay attention to the alerts that are given well before entry into the zone.  Think about those whose lives depend upon you.  We have all heard these admonitions, unfortunately many do not really listen to the message. Save a life, it may be your own.

 

In memory of Scott McDonald

killed in a work zone June 1, 2005:

A fraction of a second, a different decision, more awareness, and response ability and you might still be here with your family and friends.  A horrific work zone accident on highway 75 took you away from us 10 years ago and our memories, dreams and plans with you and for you all changed. 

Now you are immortalized, frozen in time while we go on living.  You are missed every second of every day. Your loss created a hole that cannot be filled.  A piece of each of us left behind died with you. Thankfully, you gave so much to us during your life that we can hold on to who you were and who you were becoming, but we will never know who you would have become. 

Your enthusiasm for life, your constant dreaming that life would always get better, knowing that effort and direction in life could get you where you wanted to be are sorely missed. Your commitment to caring for and about others is a precious memory. Each holiday, birthday, anniversary, special shared event becomes a time of sadness and memory of you and your lack of presence in our lives today. We have had to learn to get beyond constant grief and focus on today and what we can do to honor your name. 

As we have said goodbye to other relatives and friends our grief for your loss has swelled again and threatened to overtake us, but that grief has also proven to us that life goes on and that even with grief there can be joy as we commit to other relationships taking the risk to lose again knowing the benefits of being connected.

No one knows what happens when we die. But my mother's belief is that heaven exists and that you are there at peace and with those you have loved who have gone before you. I believe that you can see those of us left behind and serve as our angel. You will always be loved.

Shirley McDonald is the mother of KDOT employee Scotty McDonald, who was killed in a work zone crash in 2005.

Complaints

By Casey Simoneau

Often times, I hear how inconvenient work zones can be.  People complain that they add 15 minutes to their trip and the lanes are too narrow.  I also hear that when there are no workers present, why should I have to slow down?  All of these are complaints are minimal compared to the cost of not obeying the safety markings, signs or cones that are designed to keep the workers’ as safe as possible.

What may be an inconvenience to you may be the opportunity to go home for others.   What exactly does this mean?   This means that taking that extra time to slow down and obey the safety devices allows for these individuals working in the work zones to go home at night.  The greatest gift of life that we are given is family.  To me, a 15-minute “inconvenience” is a small price to pay to allow these families to get to enjoy more time together.  

Yes, sometimes the lanes may be narrow, but this allows workers the most adequate space between what is potentially a deadly scenario and the ability to complete their job.   Workers in an office or cubicle are allowed and expect to have room to complete their jobs.  Why should highway workers be any different?  They need their space as well.  So yes, while the narrower lanes may be an inconvenience to some, it’s a safety barrier for others.

At times there may be no workers present during the construction phase.  However, humans are creature of habits.  The majority like to have the same habits day in and day out.  Therefore, by continually enforcing the work zone safety laws, regardless of worker presence, allows a new habit to be formed by the motoring public and decrease the risk of injury or death to the work zone workers.

Finally, I want people to remember that each of these workers have family.  Someone calls them mom, dad, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, brother or sister.  They have people who love them and care about them just like we do.  These individuals deserve the opportunity to spend more time with the ones they love.  So, the citizens who get the luxury to enjoy the great highways that are built from this labor should also respect the workers who work in them.  Slow down, obey the safety signs/signals and allow for these highway workers to spend another night at home with the ones they love.

Casey Simoneau is a Technical Trooper with the Kansas Highway Patrol

 

Everyone else's driving

By Brad Reeh

Work zones are there to protect the workers and the motorists. When we are out working on the road, we depend on our work zones to keep the motorists and KDOT employees safe. With all the technology that we have in the vehicle like cell phones, GPS and other gadgets, many motorists are not paying attention to what is going on in front of them.

It was the summer of 2012, shortly after I became the Supervisor in Colby – a 95 degree day and we were doing some patching on Highway 25. We had all the equipment needed and all the traffic control signs out that were needed at the time. We were half-way done with the job and I sent an employee to get some more material so we could finish the patching. I went to relieve one of the flagmen and to give him a break because he had been flagging most of the day. I was flagging for about 20 minutes, enjoying the day, when I had a motorist stop. The motorist got out of his truck, which was hauling batteries, and asked how long the wait was. I informed him it would only be a few minutes or so.

The driver got back in his truck and put his seat belt on while he waited to be released. I noticed a bull hauler coming up from behind him at a high rate of speed. It was like he did not see the truck. I waved my arms to get his attention, and as he looked up, it was too late. The bull hauler turned to the ditch, and as he was turning he hit the back of the truck that was stopped.

After it was over, I radioed the other flagger to hold all traffic because there was an accident that had occurred. I call 911 and had another employee come to relieve me so that I could check on the driver of the battery truck. I then also checked on the bull hauler driver and both were fine. I asked the driver of the bull hauler if he had not seen the traffic control signs and to my surprise, he said that he had not.

Later on, after the Highway Patrol was finished with the accident, one of the patrolmen came up to me and said the bull hauler was not paying attention. This could have been a lot worse, not only for the truck driver, but also for everyone in the area.

Like I tell my kids, it’s not your driving I worry about, it’s everyone else’s driving that worries me.

Brad Reeh is the KDOT Subarea Supervisor in Colby

2015 National Work Zone Awareness Week

 

From March 23 to March 27, a new blog will be posted every day from people sharing their stories and experiences focusing on why work zone safety is so important as part of the 2015 National Work Zone Awareness Week efforts in Kansas

Please feel free to share this link with others - our goal is for everyone to be safe in work zones, both the highway workers and the motorists.

Also check out our Go Orange website filled with lots of safety information at http://www.ksdot.org/offTransInfo/GoOrange/WorkZoneSafety.asp

Check out KDOT's other blog site -

Put the Brakes on Fatalities blog series, activities wrap up

          Thanks so much to everyone who shared stories during our 20 days of Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day safety blogs. The stories had a real impact – some of them had happy endings, and some did not. But they all gave us something to think about and remember every time we travel. And for the viewers, thank you for reading and forwarding these stories to others - every effort helps to put the brakes on fatalities.

        Here is a link to our statewide safety event and news conference that took place on Oct. 10 at the Capitol - thanks to our speakers and SADD students from across the state who participated -  http://youtu.be/et0-8gDP9UM

 

Best way to Put the Brakes on Fatalities? One safe choice at a time

By Anthony Foxx

Before I get too far into my own “Put the Brakes on Fatalities” message, I want to thank KDOT for hosting this incredible series every year and for their clear commitment to road safety.

At the U.S. Department of Transportation, we share that commitment. Safety is our number one priority. Always has been; always will be.

And safety isn't just part of my job description. Safety was a priority for me when I was Mayor of Charlotte and a child who was walking with her mother was struck by a car and killed. It’s a priority for me as a father and husband. And it’s a priority for me as a driver, a bicyclist, and a pedestrian who has seen firsthand the need for greater safety.

As many readers might know, I was once hit by a car while jogging in Charlotte.

So when I talk about safety on our nation’s roads it's not in some abstract way. When I talk about safety, I'm talking about safety on the roads in my actual neighborhood, and in your actual neighborhood.  Greater safety in the very real neighborhoods where our kids play and where our daily commutes begin and end.

I’m talking about safety from the ground up and not the top down. Which is what makes this “Put the Brakes on Fatalities” series, with its many personal stories, so effective.

As Secretary of Transportation, I know full well that it’s important for large organizations to advance safety in all the ways that large organizations can.

For example, at DOT, we’re nurturing development of Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication technologies so we can reduce the impact of human error on road safety. And we’re supporting implementation of pavement surfaces and other roadway technologies to boost safety. We also conduct a wide range of crash-testing to encourage manufacturers to increase the occupant protection their vehicles provide.

We know that working with the Kansas Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies across the country helps save lives by getting folks to drive sober, put away their texting devices, and buckle up. So we do that.

And when we can fund safer infrastructure, we do that, too.

But safety also increases when you and I make our own individual safe choices, when our kids see us making those choices, and when we encourage others to make similar choices.

We increase safety on our roads when we put on bike helmets. We do it when we drive our kids to soccer practice on the weekend and make sure they see us buckling our seat belts before we put the car into gear. We do it when we're crossing an intersection on foot without having our noses in our smartphones.

How do we Put the Brakes on Fatalities? One safe choice at a time.

Anthony Foxx is the United States Secretary of Transportation

 

Take precautions when you can

By Jeff Colyer

In my work as a surgeon, I have seen the damage that can be inflicted on human beings from many causes. Traumatic events can cost people their lives or leave significant scarring if they are fortunate enough to survive. 

One of the things I am most passionate about in my medical practice is reconstructing complex skull and facial deformities in children. Often, my skill as a craniofacial/plastic surgeon is put to use addressing not congenital issues, but injuries from gun shots and motorcycle or car accidents. 

I am not just a physician. I am also a father and husband who understands the pain families suffer when a loved one is injured. We can’t protect ourselves from every possible source of injury, but we should take precautions when we can.

Wearing a seat belt seems like such a simple thing to do and yet many people still fail to “buckle up” when they get in a car. The simple act of wearing a seat belt may spare your life and save your family from grief and anguish. 

In a car crash, an unrestrained person continues to move at the same speed the car was traveling prior to the crash.  Without a seat belt, you are likely to suffer severe injuries from the impact and broken glass, leaving you badly scarred.

As a surgeon, I can help hide the physical scars resulting from the shattered glass of a windshield. However, I can’t correct the less visible, yet equally real mental and emotional scarring from an accident. I urge you to buckle up every time you get in a car. It really can save your life.

Jeff Colyer is the Lieutenant Governor of Kansas.

 

Time and time again

Joe Trifiletti, a driver for Con-way Freight and a member of Kansas Road Team, has driven a truck for 23 years. He has more than 1.5 million safe miles of driving. Joe shares a story of one of his trips below.

Although there are many things I have seen on the roads of Kansas and the other parts of America that I have travelled, one event has brought me back to safety time and time again. 

Here it is.

            On a cold December night in 2006, I was on my return trip to Wichita from Kansas City.  It was a Friday night, after a long week, I had some plans for the next afternoon with my family.  I was looking forward to going home. I was just south of Olathe on Interstate 35 when a car passed me. The driver was too close for comfort when he passed, so I backed off to give him some space. As we drove a bit farther, I noticed the car move to the left lane. No signal was given. Then the driver put on his right turn signal, and returned to the right lane. This happened two or three more times. I had become very alert and allowed more distance between myself and the swerving car. As I was thinking of alerting the authorities the car strayed from its lane again, only this time it went onto the shoulder. I was reaching for my cell phone when the vehicle abruptly overcorrected. What happened next will haunt my life and career forever. 

After following this car for at least two miles, the driver lost control. The car hit an embankment on the shoulder of the highway with the front end of the car, spun out of control and came to rest on the shoulder of the highway. I immediately pulled over to the right shoulder, and radioed to the truck behind me to call 911. Two other cars pulled over but nobody got out of their car. 

I got out of my truck, and approached the vehicle and noticed that the interior lights, as well as, the other lights of the vehicle were on. I looked in the windows of the car and saw no one in the car. The car was clean, only one window was broken, and I noticed a basketball on the floor in the back seat. I retraced my steps, flashlight in hand, scanning the area for the driver.  The worst thing you can imagine was what I found. The driver of the car did not make it through the accident. 

All of the safety devices of the vehicle seemed to work fine. The crumple zones built in to modern cars did what they were supposed to do. The engine and drivetrain broke away and were driven towards the undercarriage of the vehicle. The passenger compartment was intact and there appeared to be no damage. The one safety component of the vehicle did not do what it was supposed to do was the driver’s seat belt. It was unbuckled. I believe that had the driver buckled his safety belt, he would have survived that accident.  So when someone asks me what they should do when they enter a vehicle. My answer is obvious: BUCKLE YOUR SEAT BELT!

That was a very hard night for me, but I am sure it was harder for the family of the young man who was the driver. I hope no one ever has to deal with this type of situation, and perhaps you won’t if you buckle your seat belt.

 

Safety’s free, so I’m gonna splurge

By Crystal Hornseth

Around my childhood home, the phrase, “Safety's free, so I'm gonna splurge,” could sometimes be heard.  While this statement was generally delivered with an undertone of sarcasm, the message was not lost on me.  This was evidenced two weeks ago when an unfortunate child heard the same phrase come out of my mouth.

It is amazing the lengths to which society goes to get a “good deal,” and the sacrifices made, financial or otherwise, when the decision is made to “splurge.”  One only has to watch several minutes of “Extreme Couponing” or drive by Sonic during Happy Hour for confirmation of this fact.  However, it is interesting to note that before any effort is exerted to get a deal, the consumer has to be educated.  Education leads to participation, which may lead to repeated, perhaps habitual, involvement. 

This same pattern applies to splurging on safety—education must lead to participation, which must lead to the development of a habit.  Information is rarely in short supply, so the challenge then becomes garnering participation and perhaps more importantly, the transition to habitual splurging.

For the last two years, the Salina Police Department has participated in USD 305's Back to School Fair by giving children the opportunity to play Safety Tic-Tac-Toe.  Before a child can place a game piece on the board, he or she has to answer a safety related question.  It is rare that a child does not know the safest place to ride in a vehicle, when a seat belt must be fastened and if he or she needs to be in a child restraint.  Despite their correct answers, some of these same kids are unrestrained during traffic stops or at accident scenes.  Fast forward eight or ten years and these are likely the same kids who are allowing skateboarders to cling to their vehicles or are falling off racing golf carts and getting concussions.

Perhaps what is missing from this equation is a champion of safety splurging.  While I do not expect that anyone, ever, will want to repeat my corny phrase, an acceptable alternative for parents whose kids are leaving for school, work or practice would be, “I love you,” and “Don't be stupid.”  I suppose “Don't be stupid,” could alternate with, “Be safe,” or “Buckle up.”  These same parents would then be willing to penalize for unsafe actions in an effort to reinforce safety splurging.  Teachers would send their students out the door with the admonition to, “Have a good night,” and “Be safe.”  School officials, in turn, would be interested in results of the Seat Belts are For Everyone (SAFE) campaign, and encourage increased usage.  All drivers would exemplify safe driving and passengers would have the courage to speak up when unsafe activities are taking place.  Anytime safety is a demonstrated priority, it sends the message that any perceived extra effort is worth the sacrifice, despite the fact that rewards for safety splurging are more than likely to be intangible.

My appreciation goes to those who splurge on safety - parents whose vehicles do not move until kids are buckled; siblings with younger brothers in boosters in the back; middle school kids who consistently wear bike helmets; high school students who drive the speed limit; young adults who arrange for designated drivers; adults who puts down their cell phones; all who, without prompting, find alternate routes rather than driving around police and construction barricades - and to all those who encourage and exemplify safety splurging.  May our efforts encourage habits that help put the brakes on fatalities, and more selfishly, keep me from working horrible traffic accidents.

Crystal Hornseth is an officer with the Salina Police Department

Distracted Driving: Through the Eyes of a Trooper

By Sage Hill

As a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper assigned to the Turnpike, you might expect my story to involve an accident that I personally worked. While it’s true that I have worked many horrific crashes, my personal involvement in this piece doesn’t place me at the scene of one. Let me explain.

On July 1, 2014, I was working a voluntary overtime day as part of federally funded program to enhance roadway safety during major travel holidays. Pretty early in the shift I noticed KTA maintenance crews were busy painting new roadway lines and stripes just north of the Oklahoma state line. Throughout the morning and early afternoon I stayed in the area so motorists could observe a patrol unit close to the crews, and I stopped several cars for various violations.

Later in the afternoon I was in a line of slow moving traffic passing the paint crew when I noticed a vehicle coming up from behind them very fast. The maintenance personnel were in the right lane painting, while multiple conspicuous warning signs and flashing lights directed traffic to slowly pass in the left lane. I looked at my own speed, under 40 mph, and then checked the vehicle I had been watching with radar. I was terrified by when I saw it was going 76 mph, and still in the right lane screaming up behind the maintenance vehicles.

“Unbelievable,” I thought to myself. How in the world could this guy not see all the flashing lights, warning signs, and other traffic that had slowed and moved to the other lane? As I paid closer attention, I thought I saw something in his hand above the steering wheel.

I continued to watch and observed no change. My radar gave a solid tone of 76 mph as the car was now only a short distance from the back of the rear truck in the consist of work vehicles. I was unable to warn the maintenance crew, and a very unusual sense of helplessness struck as I realized there was literally nothing I could do to change what I was seeing. Nausea began to settle into my gut and I took hold of my radio mic, preparing to place the request for additional help that I was sure I would need.

Then, with what I still believe were literally inches to spare, the vehicle jerked to left lane, narrowly missing the maintenance truck. The tone on my radar unit heaved and the display told me it had suddenly decreased speed in order to not strike the rear of the car in front of it. Swaying movements within its lane told me the driver was still trying to regain complete control after the sudden jerk to the other lane. As we passed the line of maintenance vehicles, I made an effort to calm down. Even though I was disturbed with what I had just seen- I would still need to be courteous when I stopped the driver of the vehicle.

Once we reached a safe spot past the work zone, I slowed to the shoulder and allowed the car to pass before turning on my red and blue lights to stop him. When I walked up, I saw a young man that was out of breath and had trembling hands. I was actually pretty pleased to see that he understood the gravity of what had just taken place. After making sure he was okay, I asked him what had happened. He was unable to construct a concise sentence due to his excited mental state, but nodded toward his phone that had been thrown to the other side of the car. I prepared a citation for failing to yield to a roadside maintenance crew, and soon he was on his way after assuming responsibility for over three hundred dollars in fines and the knowledge that he nearly killed himself.

The next morning I was drinking a cup of coffee in my home preparing for a day off when I saw something miserable on the news: A young woman had rear-ended a KTA paint crew in the very same area, and had lost her life as a result. Images from the scene depicted her destroyed car, and my fellow troopers that worked the crash said they strongly believe that texting was a contributing factor. All I could think about was how close the guy I stopped had come to suffering the same fate.

Driving is something many of us take for granted. We do it routinely for so many different reasons; it’s just another facet of our everyday lives that can seamlessly blend with the others. The same is true for our almost inexplicable need to be “connected” to the rest of the world. We simultaneously use our phones while we carry out countless other daily tasks, so it’s easy to allow it into our world while driving. I’m pleading with you – don’t. As a single 24-hour period in July can prove to you, the results can be horrendous.

I hope you never make us write that ticket. Even more, I hope you never make us work that crash.

Sage Hill is a Master Trooper with the Kansas Highway Patrol – Troop G (KTA)

 

Protect our most precious resource

By Tim McCool

Hi! This is Tim McCool. I’m a Traffic Safety Specialist with the Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office. We contract with KDOT to do traffic safety education across Kansas. If some of you recognize my name, you might remember me from when I was a Trooper with the Kansas Highway Patrol. I retired three years ago to work for KTSRO. My main job is to travel around the state and instruct classes for people to become certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, and then be a CPS resource for these people. These are the people in your communities who can work with parents and caregivers and instruct them on how to use and install child safety seats into their vehicles correctly.

Did you know that, nationally, between 74% and 90% of all car seats are installed incorrectly? Well I didn’t either until I went through this same course back in 1999. Going into this four-day class I was a parent of two children, and thought to myself “I’ve got kids, I put them in car seats! What can they possibly teach me about car seats???” Well, I was in for one eye-opening class! As a Trooper, I was familiar with how seat belts worked to hold people in their seats during a crash. That’s a good thing!

People are always safer riding a crash out safely restrained in their seat in the car. But did you know that child safety seats have to be locked into the car in order to hold a car seat from moving around just while you drive down the road? I didn’t, but it makes sense doesn’t it! Makes me wonder how my kids survived their childhood. It’s always good to have some curve in your learning curve! Needless to say, I really put my brain to work for the next several days and learned as much as I could about car seats and how they need to be installed in vehicles.

And since that time, I and about 500 to 600 other people here in Kansas, have dedicated themselves to trying to make kids safer as they ride in vehicles. As adults, it is our responsibility to keep our kids as safe as we can. Nobody ever leaves home planning to have a car crash, but they do happen, more than what we in law enforcement would like to see. And if you can make use of a local Child Passenger Safety Technician to check and see if you installed your car seat correctly, why wouldn’t you?

Our job as CPS Techs isn’t to make fun of you or point out any mistakes you may have made putting in that car seat. Our job is to work with you as a parent or caregiver and educate you as to how your car seat can be installed in your vehicle as safely as it can possibly be. Can it be confusing….you bet! There are hundreds of car seats on the market and hundreds of different vehicles they can be installed in. It’s our job as CPS Techs to make it less confusing and try to explain anything you don’t understand. We keep track of all the new technology and best practices recommended by the experts in the field. And if we don’t know the answer to a question you have, we will tell you that and then contact one of our resources to find the answer you are looking for.

Child Passenger Safety is an ongoing learning experience because it’s a constantly changing field. Someone is always trying to build a better car seat or trying to make it easier to lock a car seat into the vehicle seat. And as CPS Techs we have to keep up with all the new information out there. This takes a real dedication and not everybody is cut out to be a CPS Tech.

So, if you have a question about a car seat that you, your family, or a friend is using, please contact a local CPS Technician and set up an appointment to come in and talk to us. If you don’t know of a local program please feel free to use the following link to find a CPS Tech in your area: http://www.ktsro.org/child-passenger-safety#station.

Children are our most precious resource. Let’s all work together to help keep Kansas kids safe!

The excuses are numerous

By Troy Davis

During my 17 years as a police officer with the Garden City Police Department, I have talked to teens and youth groups about seat belts and the dangers of underage drinking and reckless driving. After cell phone technology improved, I witnessed firsthand the aftermath of texting while driving and distracted driving. As an Accident Reconstructionist, I have seen automobile crashes where speeding did kill someone and wearing a seat belt would have made a difference.

 As a child passenger safety technician with SafeKids, I help parents, grandparents and daycare providers decide which car seat fits their child and the best seating position in their car based on the number of family members and type of vehicle. Recently I worked with our local Boy Scouts with a bicycle safety rodeo and helmet use for young riders - adults too. I also have gone to our local senior center and talked about pedestrian safety for seniors and how to prevent falls.

Despite my efforts and efforts of others around the country, we still see people failing to make safety in and around cars a priority. The excuses are numerous, but the reality of this behavior is always the same.

The Transport Accident Commission in Australia created a video that illustrates the consequences of unrestrained drivers and occupants, excessive speed, texting and distracted driving, work zones and driving under the influence. You can watch the video by clicking here. (Please note that this video may contain images that are disturbing to some viewers – discretion is advised.)

Your help will make a difference to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries.

 

Troy Davis is a Senior Master Patrol Officer with the Garden City Police Department

Where ever you are

By Wanda Stewart

Stan and I were blessed with the birth of Scott Benton Stewart, Oct. 27, 1980. He was our first child - first grandson on both sides of our family.  

In an instant our lives were drastically affected by the decision of one person to drink and drive.  I was traveling with Scott, age 3 months, to western Kansas to watch my little brother’s basketball game.  We never made it to the game.

The last thing I remember was being well off the road and feeding Scott. I heard nothing nor saw nothing but she didn't see us either, hitting us full force from behind.  I was not allowed to hold Scott for the last time. I literally attended our son's funeral on a hospital gurney. The impact upon our families was devastating, an indescribable pain.  

When I share Scott’s story, I share his two favorite toys - baby toys that no longer get the love and attention of a child because of the decision of one person to drink and drive.  

We were blessed with two other children after our loss, Spencer and Staci.   Spencer at the age of 7 was told about the loss of Scott and he wrote to Scott:

Dear Scott "Where ever you are"

I just wanted to say that I'd really would like you to be on earth this lifetime And I wonder what you look like? I have seen pictures of you as a baby but I wonder what you look like now? And I wonder what you like to do …like play baseball or basketball or read or write. Well I like to do all that stuff. And I am your 7 year old brother. And I know only your Spirit or God can answer those questions. Your brother Spencer Stewart

I started as an advocate for safe and sober driving because of the loss of Scott.  I continue because of our children and now grandchildren - as stats show our job is not over. A multitude of similar senseless deaths and injuries are still occurring.  

Wanda Stewart is an advocate for traffic safety from El Dorado

A Busy Week

By Roger Dahlby

As a trained firefighter and EMT volunteering for our local fire department, in combination with my KDOT experience, I have seen how important safety measures can be in preventing more serious injuries from a vehicle collision.

In fact, I saw several examples all in one week about six years ago. First, I went to the scene of a violent accident at an intersection where two vehicles collided. Both vehicles were damaged, but the smaller vehicle’s nose was completely crushed. All the occupants were standing by their vehicles when we arrived. None of the occupants of the vehicles wanted medical attention or to go to the hospital. Even the lady in the smaller car denied medical assistance after we asked all the questions to see if she was making an informed decision. My favorite question is; “Mam were you wearing your seat belt?” Sure enough the answer was, “Yes.” I had to believe her as I would have expected much worse injuries without it.

A few days later, I arrived at another bad accident on Auburn Road. A large work truck rear ended a stopped turning car.  The trunk with most the back seat was crushed in.  Back seat un-survivable.  I found the driver of the car standing next to her car.  She had to climb out the window to get out.  I noticed a small cut on her neck which I began treating. I asked all the questions such as, “What day is it?” And my favorite, “Were you wearing your seat belt?”   She said, “Yes I always wear my seat belt.” I’m sure she was because if she wasn’t, the secondary thrust of the occupants in a rear end collision forward to the steering wheel or dash can cause severe injuries. This woman took much convincing to go to the hospital as she stated she felt fine. The thing that I think convinced her was the object that cut her neck was best guess the gas tank! With no question, the seat belt along with all the vehicle’s designed crush zones helped.

On Saturday night I went to another crash call and found a car had hit a guard rail. The rail slightly folded up nicely and the car looking like it had only bumper and grill damage. The guy inside was much different - bleeding from the head with bad neck injuries and the tell-tale spider web on the window where one has to bet his head hit, indicating no seat belt. The crack on windshield even wasn’t that bad, even the door opened on the car.

But, our patient wasn’t answering the questions well and with a slurred speech, which indicated a possible brain trauma. We had to put a lot of equipment on him - neck brace, back brace, and spine board - and rode emergent to the hospital. 

I was already convinced seat belts are worth their weight in gold but this particular week put it indelibly in my mind.  I have no illusions that seat belts can save everybody and that sometimes luck or divine intervention just brings people through incidents like this. But let’s hedge our bets and wear them knowing they make us safer. 

If you don’t wear them for yourself, wear them for your passengers and loved ones. Believe me when I tell you that in some crashes, occupants in the vehicle roll around in there like pin balls and can hurt their friends and family in the seats around them. It has happened. 

Not enough? Well, the first responders and many times KDOT employees remember these accidents, and the worst ones stick in our minds like it was yesterday. I for one don’t want to see any of you riding away in an ambulance, a helicopter, or God forbid, a hearse.  Wear your seat belt and drive safely.

Roger Dahlby is an Engineer for KDOT and a Mission Township and Dover Fire Department First Responder

 

One distraction is all it took

By the Kansas Highway Patrol

       Three feet - that’s all the distance there is between your car and the one next to you as you travel down the highway.  That doesn’t leave you much room to react, and driving while distracted shortens your reaction time even more.

       One distraction is all it took.

       On March 25, 2014, Kansas Highway Patrol Master Trooper Da’Von Brame was pulled over along I-35 doing a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance inspection on a truck. He was sitting in his patrol car when it was rear-ended by a pickup travelling at 67 mph.  The impact from the vehicle pushed his vehicle into the truck he was inspecting.

       The driver of the pickup never hit his brakes and was cited for failing to maintain his lane of travel.

       Trooper Brame spent four days in the hospital and six weeks in physical therapy from the injuries he sustained in the collision.  He is currently back to work on the road.

       The informational card above was created by the KHP. One side shows how close a Trooper can be to traffic and the other shows the crashed vehicle Trooper Brame was sitting in.

       Move over for law enforcement and highway workers.

 

See Tracks? Think Train!

By Jim McKeel

When approaching a railroad crossing, the first thing a driver will see is a round yellow warning sign.  As the motorist gets closer to the crossing there will be a white “crossbuck” sign just a few feet before the railroad tracks.  Being white in color, the “crossbuck” sign is a “regulatory sign” and it means to yield the right of way to the train.  The crossing might also have red flashing lights and gates that activate as a train approaches the crossing.  The flashing red lights, when activated, require a motorist to stop before crossing the tracks and only proceed if and when it is safe to do so.  If a train is an imminent danger, the motorist must stop and remain stopped until the train has passed.  If the crossing has gates that lower when a train is approaching, it is illegal to proceed across that crossing when the gates are coming down, are in the lowered position, or are in the process of going back up.  A driver should make a habit of slowing down and looking both directions down the railroad tracks as they approach any railroad crossing to see if there might be a train approaching.  “See tracks?  Think train!

A train can be travelling in either direction down a set of railroad tracks at any time.  An Operation Lifesaver saying is “anytime is train time.”  Trains are large and heavy vehicles.  They could be a mile long and weigh as much as 12 million pounds.  If that train is travelling around 55 miles per hour, it can take a mile or more to get that train stopped.  The train cannot swerve to avoid a collision.  It goes where the tracks take it.  The only thing the Engineer on the train can do when he or she notices that a collision might occur is to apply the brakes and hope that the motorist will see the train and react accordingly to avoid the collision.  Unfortunately, with the long distance required to stop a heavy train, by the time the Engineer sees an obstruction and applies the brakes, it may be, and probably is, too late to avoid striking that object if it does not get out of the way of the train.

Complacency is another factor in many highway vehicle/train collisions.  Would you believe that most of these collisions happen within 25 miles of the driver’s home?  Of course that is where they do most of their driving, but the driver also crosses familiar crossings near their home many times and most of the time they may not see a train on those tracks.  The driver becomes complacent over time and they get to the point where they don’t expect to see a train.  They don’t actively look for a train as they approach the tracks.  Then, one day, there is a train, they don’t see it, and a collision occurs.  The occupant of a car is 20 times more likely to die in a collision with a train than in a collision with another motor vehicle.

A person walking along or crossing railroad tracks is too often struck and killed by a train because they were distracted by listening to music with headphones or talking/texting on their phone or perhaps while riding an ATV or motorcycle on railroad property.  Did you know that the property along railroad tracks is private property owned by the railroad company?  It is, therefore, illegal to be on that railroad property unless you have permission to be there.  That person could be charged with trespassing; or worse yet, could be severely injured or killed if they got in front of a moving train.  The only legal place to cross railroad tracks is at a public street or pedestrian crossing.   

Jim McKeel is a retired law enforcement officer, an authorized volunteer with Operation Lifesaver, a member of the Kansas Operation Lifesaver board of directors and a railroad Conductor and Locomotive Engineer.

Always wear a helmet

By Gary Ficklin

I have two short accident stories I would like to share.  The purpose of sharing these stories is to encourage other bicycle riders to always wear their helmet!

            The first accident happened while I was riding locally on a residential street.  A friendly dog came out of its yard to greet me and ran past on the right side going in the opposite direction, then made a U-turn behind me and ran up beside me on the left.  About that time, the owner called the dog from a house on the right side of the street.  The dog responded by running directly in front of my bike to return home. 

My front wheel caught the dog directly in the ribcage.  I lost control of my bike, went over the handlebars and hit the pavement.  I got up to find that I had numerous abrasions and a slight headache.  I knew that I had hit my head on the pavement, so when I returned home later I checked my helmet.  I found that it had been cracked.

            The second accident happened on an organized bicycle ride with hundreds of other riders.  A friend and I were riding along on a major highway and pulled up behind a couple of other riders who were going somewhat slower than we were.  We decided to pass, and my friend led the way.  As we passed, I looked over at the other rider to exchange pleasantries.  I didn't notice that my friend had slowed to do the same.   I looked back about the same time my front wheel clipped my friend’s rear wheel.  I lost control again and hit the pavement in the opposite lane just over the crest of a hill. 

This time when I got up, I was a little groggy.  The other riders who stopped to assist noticed the whole side of my helmet was broken and hanging by the strap.  I was fortunate in two respects:  one, that I was wearing a helmet and that it absorbed most of the impact instead of my head, and two, that a car did not pop over the hill while I was lying in the middle of the highway.

I'm not sure if wearing a helmet during either of these accidents was a lifesaver, but I am sure that I would have suffered more serious head injuries if I had not been wearing it! 

Gary Ficklin is an Environmental Scientist II with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment