traffic

From the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office:

CLICK IT OR TICKET

The St Johns County Sheriff’s Office Kicks Off Click It or Ticket Enforcement Mobilization
Extended Hours to Focus on All Unbuckled Motorists — Day and Night

[St Augustine, Florida] – The St Johns County Sheriff’s Office announced today that they are joining with hundreds of other law enforcement agencies across the country in renewing a pledge to save lives by intensifying efforts to enforce seat belt laws — among all motorists and around the clock — during the 2008 Click It or Ticket mobilization, which runs through June 1.

In 2006, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 15,046 passenger vehicle occupants were killed between the nighttime hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of those killed at night were NOT wearing seat belts — compared to less than half (46%) of the passenger vehicle occupants killed during daytime hours.

Along with nighttime motorists, men — particularly young men — are among those less likely to buckle up. In 2006, 73 percent of male passenger vehicle occupants between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes were NOT wearing seat belts.

In fact, all young people are at greatly increased risk. Sixty-four percent of teenage passenger vehicle occupants killed in fatal crashes during 2006 were NOT wearing seat belts at the time of the crashes. And the 2006 observed seat belt usage rate of those 16 to 24 was lower than any other age group.
-more-

“With 18 percent of all Americans failing to buckle up regularly, it’s clear that far too many people still don’t take belt laws seriously,” St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar said. Among some groups, especially young men, the unbuckled rate is especially high — and the fatal crash rate increases significantly at night. So look for us to be out on the streets day and night from mid-May through June 1st making sure that everyone is buckled up.”

Sheriff Shoar added, “Worn correctly, seat belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury in a crash by 45 percent for front-seat passenger vehicle occupants and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans. In fact, data shows that more than three-quarters (77%) of passenger vehicle occupants who were in a serious crash in 2006 and were buckled up survived the crash.”

Increased law enforcement activities, including seat belt checkpoints, will be conducted nationwide during the 2008 Click It or Ticket mobilization. Paid national advertising, as well as State advertising, will support the mobilization by promoting the life-saving benefits of regular seat belt use, especially nighttime belt use, to all motorists.

“Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce motor vehicle crash fatalities. And high-visibility enforcement is effective at getting people to buckle up,” said Sheriff Shoar. “Wearing your seat belt is easy and it costs you nothing. Not wearing it might cost you a ticket, or worse — your life. I urge everyone in St Johns County to please be safe and buckle up day and night — Click It or Ticket.”

To learn more about the Click It or Ticket campaign and the lifesaving benefits of wearing your seat belt, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.

The St. Johns County Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program had its second public meeting at Fruit Cove Middle School last night, March 6 at 7 p.m. Over 50 Julington Creek residents attended the meeting, which intended to propose and discuss possible solutions to the speeding problem throughout the Julington Creek neighborhood.

-The first proposed solution involved intersection improvements around the neighborhood, consisting of pavement markings and striped stop bars, speed feedback signs and 6” yellow and white edge lines.

-The second solution proposed installing an approximated 11 speed humps on numerous roads in the Julington Creek area. The humps would be 22 feet long, and could reduce overall speeds anywhere from five to nine miles per hour. It was mentioned that these humps could possibly cause some drainage issues.

Seriously, stop honking at me. 

Every time I ride my bike through town, I get all upset at how I’m treated. As a new kid in the neighborhood of cycling, I’m learning a lot about the sport. What I can’t understand is why drivers honk at cyclists for following the rules. Look, I know we seem annoying out there, but most of us do our best to stay in our lane, follow the rules and not get killed by angry drivers out there. The only thing I can think of is that you all don’t know we’re (mostly) following the rules. So, here are some things you should know before you take your road rage out on those cyclists on the road: