Madison County Sheriff’s Office Offers Fall Driving Tips

By Rob Young

After a successful back-to-school season, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office is looking to keep safe driving in the forefront of motorists’ minds. To that end, the Sheriff’s Traffic Safety Coordinator is offering the following safe driving tips for the fall and coming wet and slippery motoring season.

Keep Halloween Safe

It’s almost Halloween, and that means giggling ghosts and witches will be trick-or-treating in your neighborhood. Children tend to focus on the excitement of Halloween and forget about safety, so it’s up to us parents, care givers, and motorists to take special care so that these little boys and “ghouls” have a safe and happy holiday, and aren’t “haunted” by unnecessary injuries.

Tips for Motorists

Stay alert. Neighborhoods that don’t normally have a lot of pedestrian and bicycle traffic may experience an increase on Halloween night. Remember that kids will be excited, and may be trying to visit as many houses as possible within a specific time frame. Trick-or-treaters may suddenly dart into traffic from between parked cars. Be particularly cautious in areas where cars are parked along the side of the street. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood.

Be patient and SLOW DOWN. Give children lots of time to cross the street. Their costumes may impair their ability to see and hear you, and to get out of your way quickly. Remember that kids will be excited and may forget to “stop, look, and listen” before they cross the street.

Parents and Caregivers

Purchase or make costumes that are light-colored and clearly visible to motorists. Decorate (and get the kids to help!) or trim costumes, “goody bags,” and other containers with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights.

Reflective tape can be purchased at bicycle, hardware, and sporting goods stores.

Make sure costumes are short enough so they don’t cause children to trip or fall. Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Masks should not impair a child’s hearing or field of vision. If necessary, enlarge ear and eye holes, or use makeup to create special effects.

Tie hats and scarves securely to prevent them from slipping over children’s eyes.

Regular Brakes and ABS Brakes

There is difference in the way that regular brakes and ABS brakes need to be used and the way they work. Please familiarize yourself with the braking systems of the vehicles you drive BEFORE you need to try to make a quick stop.

Remember this: if you try to pump ABS brakes, they will not work. Pumping ABS brakes defeats the computer’s efforts to sense a wheel skid. If your vehicle has ABS brakes, when you need to stop in a hurry, press the brake hard and hold your foot on the pedal no matter what it feels or sounds like. ABS brakes pulsate, they rattle, and they make noise. Do not release the pedal until you no longer need to brake.

A good suggestion: go to an empty parking lot somewhere, and stop hard enough to activate your ABS system. You’ll then know what it feels like before you really have to use it. Doing so might save your life – no exaggeration – or someone else’s.

If it is rainy and wet, watch for patches of wet leaves in the roadway. Wet leaves can be as slippery as ice!

Studded Snow Tires

Studded snow tires may be on your vehicle from October 16 through April 30.

It’s time to “fall back”, not asleep!!

Sunday, Nov. 1, is the day that the clocks are turned back one hour. That one hour change can have several effects:

* Turning the clock back affects your body’s internal clock.

* You are likely to be fatigued until your body has adjusted to the time change.

* You may be commuting in the dark more frequently, which you haven’t done in six months.

* Incidences of drowsy driving crashes are much higher during the first weeks following the time changes.

Deer Hunting Season is Here

Deer will be trying to avoid hunters and crossing roadways. Use extreme caution if driving at dawn and dusk, when deer are most active and visibility is poor. This means deer are often most active during peak commuter traveling times.

The risk of deer/vehicle collisions is greatest during autumn and early winter. Two-thirds of these crashes occur in October, November, and December when deer movements peak due to the onset of the breeding season.

Slow down when approaching deer standing near roadsides. Deer may “bolt” or change direction at the last minute.

If you see a deer cross the road, slow down and use extreme caution. Deer often travel in groups: If you see one, expect more.

Use flashers or a headlight signal to warn other drivers when deer are spotted on or near the road.

Use caution and be alert when passing through areas marked with deer crossing signs. These signs are placed in areas that have shown a high incidence of deer/vehicle collisions in the past.

Robert Young is the Traffic Safety Coordinator for Madison County, stationed within the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. He can be reached at 315.366.2403 or at robert.young@co.madison.ny.us.

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Madison County Sheriff’s Office Offers Fall Driving Tips

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