Mundo Hispanico Article on Atlanta Crosswalks mattmontgomery  at:  2/4/2010  

MUNDO HISPANICO ARTICLE ON ATLANTA CROSSWALKS


(English Translation and Original Spanish Article)


No sidewalks or crossings: A Common Problem


Mario Guevara
02/04/2010


One of the problems faced by pedestrians in the Atlanta metropolitan area is the lack of sidewalks and crosswalks in many of the major avenues.


Buford Highway is example. A few years ago in the area between the 285 and Chamblee-Tucker Road was improved lighting and signage to assist pedestrians crossing.


Apparently, these measures have not been sufficient and even did not give the expected result.


The spokesman for the Governor's Office for Highway Safety (GOHS), Robert Dallas, said in regard to the Buford Highway in the first nine months of 2009 there were 17 collisions, where three pedestrians were killed and 15 most ended up injured.


The authorities believe that much of accidents are caused by pedestrians. So in the coming months the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will begin an educational campaign on Buford Highway with flyers or leaflets in Spanish.


The letter shows the photograph of a Hispanic man across the street in an unauthorized place and warns passers-by, to do the same, shall be fined by police.


However, Michael Orta, director and Pedestrians Educating Drivers on Safety (PEDS) is not entirely agree with that fines the pedestrian.


"In some cases the pedestrian is at fault, but most of them are the driver who ignores the existence of a law that protects pedestrians," said Orta.


The representative of PEDS concerns a road rule that states that all motorists must give way to pedestrians while the latter cross the street.


It criticized the director signs with flashing yellow lights that are on Buford Highway in Chamblee and height, which he said sent a mixed message.


"I think (the authorities) should begin by changing the signaling system is outdated in some places," he said. "In theory (the signs) announces the presence of pedestrians, but drivers do not respect them anyway because this signal does not require them to stop, they are a disaster."


Orta said already addressed this issue in meetings with GOHS staff, and an agreement was reached. According to him, this year these particulars will change with traffic lights or lights that change to red when pedestrians press a button.


When do the police fine the pedestrian?


"When walking outside the crosswalk, even when close to them."


"If you cross the pedestrian crossing signal being solid red or Do not Walk (No Walk)."


“When you walk through the streets under the influence of alcohol or drugs (also could be arrested)."


“If you cross a traffic light near (within quarter of a mile).


When can you cross?


The ideal is to cross the street in a crosswalk area. If there is one nearby, the law allows pedestrians to cross the street, provided they do so with caution and give way to vehicles.


In these cases, the pedestrian will be fined if:


It prevents the flow of traffic.


You cross the street once ran without stopping in the middle, when a lane or an island or median.


'Cause that drivers slow down or diverted to prevent abuses.




Sin aceras ni cruces: un problema común


La falta de aceras y de cruces peatonales en muchas de las grandes avenidas uno de los problemas que enfrentan los transeúntes


Por Mario Guevara
02/04/2010


Uno de los problemas que enfrentan los transeúntes en el área metropolitana de Atlanta es la falta de aceras y de cruces peatonales en muchas de las grandes avenidas.


Buford Highway es ejemplo de ello. Hace unos años, en el área comprendida entre la 285 y Chamblee-Tucker Road se mejoró la iluminación y señalización para auxiliar el cruce de peatones.


http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/03/62/18/image_9318623.jpg


» Riesgo. El cruce de peatones en Buford Highway motivó a las autoridades a implementar un programa especial.


Aparentemente, estas medidas no han sido suficientes e incluso no dieron el resultado esperado.


El vocero de la Oficina del Gobernador para la Seguridad en las Carreteras (GOHS), Robert Dallas, informó que en lo que respecta a la Buford Highway, en los primeros nueve meses de 2009 hubo 17 choques, donde tres transeúntes perdieron la vida y 15 más terminaron heridos.


Las autoridades consideran que buena parte de los accidentes son causados por los peatones. Por ello, en los próximos meses el Departamento de Transporte de Georgia (GDOT) comenzará una campaña educativa en Buford Highway con flyers o volantes en español.


El escrito muestra la fotografía de un hispano atravesando la calle en un lugar no autorizado y advierte a los transeúntes que, de hacer lo mismo, serán multados por la policía.


No obstante, Michael Orta, director de Educando a Peatones y Conductores sobre Seguridad (PEDS), no está del todo de acuerdo con que se multe al peatón.


"En ciertos casos el peatón tiene la culpa, pero en la mayoría de ellos es el conductor quien ignora la existencia de una ley que protege a los transeúntes", explicó Orta.


El representante de PEDS se refiere a una regla vial que indica que todo automovilista debe cederle el paso al peatón mientras este último cruza la calle.


Asimismo, el director criticó la señalización con luces amarillas intermitentes que hay en Buford Highway a la altura de Chamblee ya que, dijo, envían un mensaje confuso.


"Creo que (las autoridades) deberían empezar por cambiar el sistema obsoleto de señalización que hay en algunos lugares", comentó. "En teoría (la señalización) anuncia la presencia de peatones, pero los conductores no las respetan porque de todas maneras esa señal no les obliga a detenerse; son un desastre".


Orta aclaró que ya se abordó este tema en juntas con el personal del GOHS, y que se llegó a un acuerdo. Según él, este año se cambiarán dichas indicaciones con semáforos o luces que cambiarán a rojo cuando el peatón presione un botón.
¿Cuándo multa la policía al peatón?


» Cuando camina afuera del cruce peatonal, aunque esté cerca de él.


» Si atraviesa el cruce peatonal estando la señal fija en rojo o de Don't Walk (No Caminar).


» Cuando vaya a pie por las calles bajo la influencia del alcohol o drogas (además, podría ser arrestado).


» Si cruza cerca de un semáforo (a menos de un cuarto de milla).
¿Cuándo puede cruzar?


Lo idóneo es atravesar la calle en un área de cruce peatonal. Si no hay uno cerca, la ley le permite a los peatones atravesar las calles, siempre y cuando lo hagan con precaución y cedan el paso a los vehículos.


En estos casos, el peatón será multado si:


» Impide el flujo de tráfico.


» Se atraviesa la calle corriendo de una vez sin detenerse en medio, cuando hay un carril central o una isla o camellón.


» Causa que los conductores frenen o se desvíen para evitar atropellarlo.


TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE


TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE

  

     Super Speeder Law on Atlanta & Company mattmontgomery  at:  1/22/2010  


GOHS DIRECTOR BOB DALLAS ON ATLANTA & COMPANY: SUPER SPEEDER INFORMATION


On Friday, January 22nd, GOHS Director Bob Dallas was a guest on Atlanta's WXIA-TV for Atlanta & Company. The focus of Director Dallas' appearance was Georgia's new Super Speeder Law which went into effect on January 1st. Georgia's Super Speeder law tacks-on another two-hundred-dollar state-fee for any driver convicted of speeding at 75-or-more on any two-lane roads.. OR convicted of speeding at 85-and-over anywhere in Georgia. Those new state fees will be in addition to any local fines already in effect in the jurisdiction where the speeding offense occurs.


For more information on the Super Speeder Law, click on www.superspeedergeorgia.org. To learn more and view today's Atlanta & Company, go to www.atlantaandcompany.com.







TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE


TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE

  

     Winter Advisory Driving Tips from GOHS mattmontgomery  at:  1/8/2010  

LOW TEMPS & WINTERY MIX PREDICTED FOR GEORGIA 


HIGHWAY SAFETY REMINDS MOTORISTS TO SLOW DOWN AND LIVE


(METRO ATLANTA & NORTH GEORGIA) The Georgia forecast predicts possible winter weather patterns for Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. The Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) reminds drivers these predictions could produce hazardous driving conditions on some roads and Interstates throughout Metro Atlanta and all of North Georgia beginning Thursday and continuing into Friday.  GOHS has dusted the snowflakes from this list of safe driving tips to help get motorists home safely:


1.    Number One is a no-brainer…If you don’t have to go out in hazardous weather conditions, then stay home! This isn’t the blizzard of century so save yourself unnecessary trips to stock up on beef jerky and flapjacks. Stay home where it’s warm and you won’t take a chance of crashing on icy roads or being stranded in the cold.


2.    If you do have to drive, give it your full concentration. This is no time for distracted drivers with hands full of cell phones and sandwiches.  Drive cautiously with both hands on the wheel.  Two-fisted drivers are ready for the unexpected when steering becomes a challenge. Buckle Your Safety Belt.


3.    Slow down!  Driving too fast for conditions is what gets many drivers in trouble when they hit that unseen pocket of icy road.  These are days where you leave yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going.  Plan to be patient or don’t plan to leave the house at all.


4.    Don’t tailgate or follow too close.  Avoid “grouping-up” with a pack of other vehicles, especially at higher speeds. This may help you avoid those terrible chain reaction crashes you see on the news.   Buckle your safety belt.


5.    Don’t use cruise control when driving on ice, snow, or slush.  Cruise control is designed for normal driving conditions. But slippery roads can cause wheel-spin and loss of control when you’re locked in cruise control.  And the time it takes to disengage may be time you don’t have during a spin-out.


6.    Don’t panic! - Don’t slam on the brakes!  If you find yourself sliding or losing control, take your foot off the gas and resist the temptation to slam on the brakes.  Sudden braking will only eliminate what little traction you have. Buckle your safety belt.


7.    If you start to spin you’re pretty much at the mercy of the ice. But experienced road Troopers at the Georgia State Patrol advise us to steer in the direction of the spin until the vehicle comes to a stop.  If you’re already driving slowly, this won’t be nearly as terrifying.


8.    This brings us back to Safe Winter Driving Tip Number One. State Troopers also advise motorists who insist on driving in winter weather conditions to have at least a half tank of gas, carry a freshly charged cell phone, pack warm clothes and a blanket, and have a working flashlight in their vehicle.  Because once you’re stranded during a severe weather episode, it may take emergency services a while to get to you, due to the inclement conditions and the increased number of severe incidents that occur. So Slow Down. Buckle Up & Drive Sober.   


For more “Winter Driving Tips” see AAA’s “Get A Grip” and “How to Go On Ice and Snow” at


http://www.aaapublicaffairs.com/Main/Default.asp?CategoryID=3&SubCategoryID=55




TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE


TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE

  

     Georgia Focus Radio Broadcast on Teen Driver Education mattmontgomery  at:  1/7/2010  
LISTEN TO THE GEORGIA NEWS NETWORK SHOW GEORGIA FOCUS FEATURING STATE SAFETY LEADERS TALKING ABOUT DRIVER EDUCATION

Georgia Focus, a community service awareness radio show broadcast statewide, is targeting the importance of driver education for teenage drivers.  Among the special guests interviewed are:



  • Andrew Turnage, Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute



  • Alan Brown, The Joshua Brown Foundation



  • Bob Dallas, GOHS Director



  • Susan Kessler,  Caution, Newly Licensed Car Magnet Advocate




To listen to the entire interview, click on:

http://www.gahighwaysafety.org/docs/gafocusteen2010.mp3

To learn about future radio broadcasts of Georgia Focus, click on:

http://www.gahighwaysafety.org/docs/gafocusteen2010.doc


TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE
TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE
  

     December 2009 Holiday Fatality Predictions mattmontgomery  at:  12/23/2009  

DECEMBER HOLIDAY FATALITY PREDICTIONS:

34 Georgia Crash Deaths Predicted During


Combined Christmas and New Year’s Holiday Travel Periods


(ATLANTA)  Last year, traffic crashes claimed the lives of 46 people in Georgia during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday travel periods.  This year, both the Christmas and New Year’s holiday travel periods are 78 hours long.  The official analysis-based predictions from our highway safety partners at the Georgia State Patrol and the Crash Reporting Unit of the Georgia Department of Transportation have now been released.  As many as 34 total traffic deaths are predicted on Georgia roads during the upcoming Christmas-New Year’s holiday period! 


CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CRASH PREDICTIONS


The Christmas holiday traffic count will begin Christmas Eve at 6PM and end at midnight Sunday, December 27th.  During the 78-hour period, the Georgia State Patrol and the Crash Reporting Unit at the Georgia Department of Transportation estimate 18 fatalities will occur on Georgia roads.  The crash estimate projects 2,226 traffic crashes and 976 injuries.


  NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAY CRASH PREDICTIONS


The New Year’s holiday travel period begins at 6PM December 31 and ends at midnight Sunday, January 3, 2010.  Estimates for the New Year’s holiday travel period are for 16 fatalities, 2,330 traffic crashes, and 1,004 injuries.


HISTORY: 2008 HOLIDAY TRAFFIC DEATHS


CHRISTMAS 2008:  The DOT Crash Reporting Unit shows 24 people died on Georgia highways during the102-hour Christmas holiday travel period last year.  1,261 injuries and 2,783 crashes were reported.


NEW YEAR’S 2008: During the 102-hour New Year’s holiday period last year there were 2,998 traffic crashes resulting in 1,222 injuries and 22 traffic deaths.


TOO MANY ALCOHOL- RELATED CRASH DEATHS


Adding to the annual tragedy of Georgia’s fatality totals, many of those 2008 fatal holiday crashes were alcohol-related.  DOT Crash Reporting Unit data shows during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods last year, nine traffic deaths involved alcohol impaired drivers. Additionally, 31 of the 46 people killed during the two holiday periods were not wearing seat belts.  Eight of the victims were pedestrians. 


DUI CRACKDOWN UNDERWAY - DRUNK DRIVERS GO TO JAIL


The state’s Highway Safety Office has a sobering statewide warning that the goal of Georgia’s Operation Zero Tolerance (OZT) impaired driving enforcement goal is zero deaths.  “Operation Zero Tolerance means Over the Limit.  Under Arrest,” says GOHS Director Bob Dallas. “We support more than 500 agencies conducting their high visibility statewide DUI crackdown. The Georgia State Patrol and traffic enforcement officers statewide won’t hesitate to arrest impaired drivers and impound their vehicles during this December Operation Zero Tolerance campaign crackdown.”


LIFESAVING TRAVEL ADVICE - PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY


The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has life-saving advice for motorists with travel plans for the holidays.  Always plan for a designated driver and always buckle your safety belt.  It’s your best protection against an unexpected encounter with a drunk driver.  “Buckle-up, Slow Down and Drive Sober.” 


TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE


TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE


  

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