Page 22 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – September/October 2019

SAFETY ZONE
‘See! Be Seen!’
ADDITIONAL “BE SEEN ON HALLOWEEN” REMINDERS:
• Be bright on Halloween night: carry a flashlight.
• Use reflective tape or stickers on your costume or treat bag.
• Use non-toxic face paint instead of masks which can block your vision.
• Costumes and shoes should fit well to prevent trips and falls.
• Costumes accessories should be soft and flexible, not sharp and pointy.
• Walk, don’t run.
• Go with a group and bring a trusted adult.
Let’s shine the light
on safety
Fall is a great time of year in the Northeast.
The smell of apples along with the changing of the leaves are just a small part of the experience.
Unfortunately, it’s hard not to notice that the days are getting shorter.
Before we head into the dark cold days of winter, I thought this would be a good time to combine both pedestrian safety and Fall Car Care advice.
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
I borrowed the “See! Be Seen!” title of this article from New York State’s pedestrian safety campaign. Visit this website for some additional tips: www.ny.gov/pedsafety
There tends to be a lot of finger pointing regarding pedestrian safety. Yes, we need more sidewalks, crosswalks and better lighting. These are long-term problems that will cost a lot of money and take a lot of time. We can’t afford to wait for these improvements. People are getting hit and killed. Let’s review some simple tips:
• Walk facing traffic. This includes joggers and dog walkers. Parents, please review pedestrian safety with kids that walk to school or the bus stop.
• Distracted walking kills. Limit cell phone use and don’t cover both ears with headphones or ear buds. We all need to be able to look and listen, to be able to share the road safely.
• Cross the street only at crosswalks and intersections. Stepping out between park cars is very dangerous.
• Help drivers notice you. Reflective vests and led blinkers are inexpensive. Remember to include reflective materials on school backpacks.
• Speed kills! Pedestrians hit at 40 mph have an 85-percent fatality rate. The speed limit is the maximum not minimum speed. Drivers need to be ready to respond to the unexpected pedestrian or deer.
• Don’t drive on shoulders or in the shared median area. Going around turning or stopped vehicles
may seem like a time saver but is very dangerous to pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Drivers should use high beams as much as possible. Switch back to low beams whenever oncoming vehicles approach. This may seem tedious, but the additional visibility is a life saver.
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FALL CAR CARE TO INCREASE VISIBILITY:
• Check all vehicle lighting. Don’t forget signals, brake and license plate lights. A second person will make this fast and easy.
• Headlight lenses that don’t look clear can be easily cleaned and polished. Purchase a headlight restore product or try some toothpaste.
• If your headlights seem dimmer than you remember, replace them. Many cars still use simple halogen bulb headlights. These bulbs lose brightness long before burning out. You don’t need to wait for the bulb to fail.
• Clean the inside of all windows. This tip will reduce glare.
• Fall is a good time to replace worn windshield wiper blades.
Mike Sweeney is a Traffic Safety Educator at AAA Hudson Valley.
For more seasonal safety tips, follow @AAAHudsonValley and @OttoTheAutoHV on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
22 I SEP/OCT 2019