In the next two weeks, we will see many students returning to school after the summer break. Pedestrian-vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14. Kids are back from summer camp, school will be in session again soon, and school buses will be out on the streets. This means drivers need to increase safety around school zones, crosswalks, bus stops, and anywhere children may be playing outside.
Back to School Tips:
1. Be familiar with school zones. Get in the habit of noticing where school zones and crosswalks are on routes that you normally take. Accidents, including pedestrian accidents, are far more likely to occur locally on routes with which drivers are more familiar and comfortable.
2. Stop for school bus lights. Always stop for school buses with flashing red lights. Drivers approaching the bus must come to a full stop for the duration that the red lights are on. Some school buses have flashing yellow lights, which means that drivers may proceed with extreme caution. Bus drivers often engage the flashing yellow lights before the flashing red lights, signaling that they are about to stop.
3. Obey crossing guards. School crossing guards are given police training and the same authority as local traffic police in most areas, so disobeying a crossing guard could get you in some serious trouble. Remember that driving on major streets where crossing guards and crosswalks are present is safer than taking "short-cut" side streets where children may be unattended.
4. Anticipate the worst. Young children find it more difficult to judge the speed and distance of oncoming cars. Always anticipate the possibility that a small child may run in front of you by slowing down and preparing to brake.
5. Be careful around parked vehicles. Be especially cautious in areas with parked vehicles on the side of the road. Children waiting to cross may be particularly difficult to see behind parked sport-utility vehicles.
6. Turn your headlights on. Drive with headlights on in areas with children and pedestrians. The AAA says that using headlights can reduce pedestrian accidents by about 25 percent.
7. Avoid using cell phones when driving. Cell phones are a known distraction. Never use hand-held cell phones while driving, and never use hands-free cell phones while driving in school zones or areas with children. The same goes for other activities that distract the driver, such as changing CDs, looking at notes, and reading maps.
8. Avoid reversing. Try to avoid reversing your vehicle in areas with children. It's more difficult to see small children and attend to your car's blind spots while reversing.
9. Don't speed. Remember that the speed limit in most school zones during school times or when children are present is 25 miles per hour. In bad weather or areas with limited visibility, a lower speed is required. Weather or road conditions may greatly impair your visibility to pedestrians, your ability to see them, and your stopping distance, so use common sense and slow down.
10. Don't honk at pedestrians or bicyclists. Honking at a child, whether on foot or on a bicycle, is generally not a good idea. The noise could startle child, causing them to trip or fall and be in a dangerous position for other approaching traffic.
School Buses and Laws
Even if you don't have kids in school, it’s easy to notice the increase in school buses around this time. Laws vary by state, but usually you must stop if a school bus is loading or unloading- regardless of which side of the street it’s on. Passing a school bus while its red lights are flashing is illegal in every state. Watch for school buses stopping at railroad tracks, and make sure to familiarize yourself with the local laws regarding school buses. In their guide, “Reducing Illegal Passing of School Buses,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that many school buses are illegally passed about once a day. Some buses are even passed on the right side, where children might be getting on or off.
Do I need a USDOT Number?
This question comes up frequently from our customers, so we thought we would address it this week. It typically arises when we have a customer who is an INTRAstate carrier not subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) INTRAstate regulations, but rather to their own state regulations.
The following thirty-eight states and Puerto Rico require a USDOT number for INTRAstate operations:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
What is a USDOT Number?
Companies that operate commercial vehicles transporting passengers or hauling cargo in INTERstate commerce must be registered with the FMCSA and must have a USDOT Number. Additionally, commercial INTRAstate hazardous materials carriers who transport types and quantities requiring a safety permit must register for a USDOT Number.
The USDOT Number serves as a unique identifier for collecting and monitoring a company's safety information acquired during audits, compliance reviews, crash investigations, and inspections.
Click the button below to access our interactive tool that will determine if you need a US DOT number:
FMCSA Provides Guidance on How to Respond to an ELD Malfunction
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued guidance to motor carriers on how to handle a malfunction of an Electronic Logging Device.
A recent FMCSA notice states: “Are you experiencing a malfunction of your Electronic Logging Device (ELD) as a result of the recent Microsoft application outage? Give your ELD provider a call and remember to use paper logs in accordance with regulations if your device is not functioning properly. You can find additional guidance and helpful FAQs here.”
CVSA's Brake Safety Week Scheduled for Aug. 25-31
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced Aug. 25-31 as the dates for this year’s Brake Safety Week.
Brake Safety Week is a commercial motor vehicle and driver inspection and regulatory compliance enforcement initiative, a brake-safety awareness and outreach opportunity, and a brake-related inspection and violation data-collection project.
Inspection and Enforcement
CVSA-certified inspectors will conduct routine commercial motor vehicle inspections throughout the week, focusing on brake systems and components. Commercial motor vehicles found to have brake-related out-of-service violations will be removed from roadways until those violations are corrected.
For this year’s Brake Safety Week, inspectors will focus on the condition of brake linings and pads. Brake lining and pad issues may result in vehicle violations and could affect a motor carrier’s safety rating.
In addition, some jurisdictions have performance-based brake testers (PBBT) and will be using them during Brake Safety Week. A PBBT is a machine that assesses the braking performance of a vehicle.
