Safety and Awareness Committee:

IT IS THAT TIME OF THE YEAR!!!!
KEEP SAFE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

It is that time of year; that's right-more parties and celebrations than we can fit into our schedules. The holiday season can bring out the best in people while, at the same time, present serious challenges to others.

Show Thanks by Being Safe

The holidays are a good time to appreciate safe drivers – those who take to the road sober, always buckle up, are mindful of their speed and road conditions, and drive defensively. The National Safety Council reminds drivers that Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day is a period of increased traffic risk, as road travel increases along with the prevalence of impaired driving.

Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect passengers and reduce fatalities in crashes. The NSC urges holiday drivers to buckle up, never drive impaired and use special caution after dark. Of the 457 people who died in motor vehicle crashes during the 2006 Thanksgiving holiday period, 188 crashes were in daylight and 266 at night. Seat belt use is lower in the night time, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

A great site for Drunk/drugged driving flyers planners are at: http://www.stopimpaireddriving.org/

Consider these statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• On average someone is killed by a drunk driver every 40 minutes.
• In 2007, an estimated 12,998 people died in drunk driving related crashes
• About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.
• Over 1.46 million drivers were arrested in 2006 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
• There is an arrest rate of 1 for every 139 licensed drivers in the United States.

During this holiday season we hope and encourage everyone to make safety and health a top priority. Your life depends on it!

OTHER SAFETY NEWS:

The Federal Highway Administrations new worker visibility rule went into effect November 24, 2008 . Anyone working within the right-of-way of a Federal-aid highway will be required to wear high-visibility clothing. The FHWA is taking this section to decrease the likelihood of fatalities or injuries to workers on foot who are exposed to traffic.

High visibility is an important need for workers who must perform tasks near moving vehicles or equipment. The sooner a worker in or near the path of travel is seen, the more time the operator has to avoid an incident.