Sunny skies and long summer days are back. But with the return of this season also comes the return of avid motorcyclists to New Jersey roadways.
As we can all attest, riders are everywhere. In this state alone, there are about 300,000. And, this number could increase as gas prices continue to power up motorcycle popularity.
With riding season in full swing, we need to be extra vigilant of each other. In fact, New Jersey is urging all of us (both motorcyclists and four-wheeled drivers!) to safely share the road.
Last year, 67 people were involved in fatal motorcycle crashes in New Jersey. Since May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, it’s a good time to be aware of other vehicles around us.
For riders, it’s important to use every means possible to ensure a safe, injury-free riding season. It doesn’t hurt to be reminded to wear helmets, gloves, and protective clothing to minimize injury… or worse, prevent death. It’s also a good idea to ride in groups with friends whenever possible. As we know, there is safety in numbers.
Are you a new rider? Has it been a while since you’ve ridden a motorcycle? Consider taking a “refresher” course through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. There are other resources and tools worth checking out before you get back on your bike. A little education and some friendly reminders could go a long way.
Motorists have responsibilities, too. We must get in the habit of looking out for motorcycles. Though they’re harder to see than other vehicles, try to anticipate their maneuvers. Riders often change lane positions to respond to road conditions, weather or other factors. Also, allow ample space when following a motorcycle – give them a full car length as you would any other vehicle.
So, before you head out on the road, be sure to do your part to make our roads safe. Together, we can make driving safer for everyone.
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How many times have you heard that before? The concept of your first time at the wheel is something so dangerous, so frightening, so nerve-wracking—that it’s beloved. How many teens don’t love the adrenaline rush of taking risks or the satisfaction in showing off to friends extreme unconcern and nonchalance in the face of danger? Besides, everyone drives—surely you alone can’t be all that terrible at it.
The problem is, everyone drives—but not everyone survives.
Equation time!
Desire to show off in front of friends + adrenaline rush + desire to overcome obstacles + desire to be seen as “cool” = forced nonchalance.
Forced nonchalance + trust in modern safety technology + knowledge that everyone drives = somewhat uneasy trust in your own driving capabilities.
That somewhat uneasy trust in your driving capabilities + a few successful rides = overconfidence.
And then, of course:
Overconfidence + under experience = K.O.
Well, perhaps you won’t actually die the first time you take your eyes of the road or click out a quick text. Perhaps you won’t even crash. Maybe not the first time, or the second time, or the third time… But then, you fall into the trap so many can’t see early enough nor stop themselves from falling into: overconfidence. If you’ve done it a few times, it really can’t be that risky, no?
It is. The more relaxed you get into bad habits, the more your chances of crashing—and possible fatalities—increase. Stay smart. Don’t drive stupid.
Turns out NJ drivers have another distraction to contend with while driving…bears!
The “Exit 8” Bear, a black bear that was spotted in a tree near the exit, had to be tranquilized and removed because drivers on the turnpike were distracted by the sight.
Distracted driving is trend that poses a growing danger. Nearly 5,500 people died in 2009 in crashes involving a distracted driver and almost 450,000 were injured. Drivers under the age of 20 make up the age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers. Do you want to help put an end to this type of behavior? Here’s your chance:
What is Distracted Driving?
There are three main types of distraction:
- Visual – taking your eyes off the road
- Manual – taking your hands off the wheel
- Cognitive – taking your mind off what you’re doing
Add bear gazing to the following list of driving distractions to avoid:
- Tuning a radio, CD player or ipod
- Applying makeup or personal grooming
- Reading
- Tending to children or pets
- Eating and drinking
- Programming a GPS
- Using a cell phone
Your primary responsibility as a driver is to operate your vehicle safely! Common sense and personal responsibility are a major part of the solution. It’s up to each and every person to make sure they “Put it Down” and pay attention to the road. The risks are simply too high!
As you’ll likely know by now, U Got Brains is holding a statewide competition between nineteen “champion” schools in New Jersey, with each school creating a campaign to promote safe driving. And funnily enough, teens in the schools are beginning to actually take notice.
For some, it’s just a question of asking another friend—“wait what’s up with all the sudden flyers?” and for others, it’s the gift of a free shirt or bracelet from a campaign organizer; but gradually, the students in the schools are starting to realize that this is a big deal— and it’s actually happening at their school.
Adults can come in and teach students about safe driving all they want. Some speeches are funny or witty, while others can be eloquent, touching, or powerful. But no matter how wonderful their speeches are, many students just don’t listen. Maybe they’ll listen for the period, maybe they’ll listen for a few days—but eventually, the majority will go back to the far easier methods of texting out quick replies, foregoing the annoying seat belt, and taking that illegal drink at parties.
However, imagine the concepts of driving in full control becoming the new trend. Of students hitting friends over the heads (not literally! …well, depending on how close the friend is) for driving idiotically, friends telling friends “I love you but I’d really rather not risk my life on your skills at looking at the road and at your phone at the same time”, upperclassmen creating precedents that the underclassmen won’t dare to break in the future—essentially, keeping smart in and stupid out.
We can do this, and the U Got Brains competition is one step towards this goal, this hope. If teenagers become the ones to spread the word and tell each other exactly how stupid stupid is, then they stand the chance of actually being heard and even listened to by peers. We as teens have adopted plenty of strange ideas in the past—so why not adopt a life-saving one, this time, instead?
> Find out what the UGotBrains Champion School Project is and see who is participating
There are almost 400,000 people who are licensed to drive motorcycles in the State of New Jersey and 5.5 million people who can legally drive cars. Add those two numbers together and you have the makings for some very busy roadways.
And as the days get warmer, more motorcycle riders will no doubt be out on the roadways. I know it is sometimes difficult for motorists to see motorcyclists, but simple precautions can be taken to avoid any mishaps. Before switching lanes, remember to double check your side and rearview mirrors to ensure that everything is clear. And before making a turn at an intersection, give an extra look to each side just to make sure nothing is coming your way.
There’s no denying motorcycle riders are more vulnerable in their vehicle of choice than those who drive cars or trucks. It’s simply the design of the machinery. But that’s where the difference stops because people who ride motorcycles are no different than you and me. They are our fathers, our mothers, our sons and our daughters.
May is national Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and I would like to remind all motorists who travel our roadways to be alert to the nearly 160,000 motorcycles that are registered in New Jersey. So this month, and every day, let’s all safely share the road with motorcycles.
For more information about sharing the road with motorcycles and about the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission’s Motorcycle Safety Education Program, please visit our website at njridesafe.org.
Raymond P. Martinez, Chief Administrator, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
The Car Care Council recommends 10 basic maintenance procedures to keep your car operating at its best:
• Check the oil, filters and fluids. Oil should be changed per the owner’s manual recommended intervals. Your car’s filters need regular inspection and replacement, too.
• Inspect hoses at each oil change and have them replaced when leaking, brittle, cracked, rusted, swollen or restricted.
• Check the brake system every year and have the brake linings, rotors and drums inspected at each oil change.
• Check that the battery connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free. If the battery is three years old or more, it should be tested and replaced if necessary.
• Inspect the exhaust system for leaks, damage and broken supports or hangers if there is an unusual noise. Exhaust leaks can be dangerous and must be corrected without delay.
• Schedule a tuneup that will help the engine deliver the best balance of power and fuel economy and produce the lowest level of emissions.
• Check your vehicle’s heating, ventilating and air conditioning system as proper heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons, such as defrosting.
• Inspect the steering and suspension system annually, including shock absorbers and struts, and chassis parts, such as ball joints, tie-rod ends and other related components.
• Check the pressure of all tires, including the spare, at least once a month. Check the tread for uneven or irregular wear and cuts and bruises along the sidewalls. Have your car’s alignment checked at least annually to reduce tire wear and improve fuel economy and handling.
• Test exterior and interior lights and have bulbs that are not working checked immediately. Replace windshield wiper blades every six months or when cracked, cut, torn, streaking or chattering for optimum wiping performance and safety.
To help you drive smart and save money, visit www.carcare.org and check out the free digital Car Care Guide.
Rich White
Executive Director
Car Care Council
Bethesda, Md.
Barrel Bob used courtesy of the Missouri Dept. of Transportation. www.modot.org
The spring and summer of 2011 will bring road and bridge construction back to our highways.
Buckle Up! – Every trip, every time – safety belts save lives.
Stay Alert! – Dedicate your full attention to the roadway.
Follow Signs! – They’ll guide you through work zones safely.
Expect the Unexpected! – Watch for flaggers, workers and equipment.
Pay Attention! – Turn the radio down and don’t use your cellular phone.
Be Patient! – Remember workers are improving the road for future travels.
Don’t Speed!– Follow posted limits and adjust for weather conditions.
Don’t Drink and Drive! – Impairment of any kind is unacceptable.
Be Nice! – Merge as directed, don’t tailgate and don’t change lanes in a work zone
Car Seat Recommendations for Children
- Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, and choose a seat that fits in
your vehicle and use it every time.
- Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions; read the vehicle
owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the
seat belt or LATCH system; and check height and weight limits.
- To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.
- Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.
Birth – 12 months
Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
1 – 3 years
Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
4 – 7 years
Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.
8 – 12 years
Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face.
Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.
DESCRIPTION (RESTRAINT TYPE)
A REAR-FACING CAR SEAT is the best seat for your young child to use. It has a harness and in a crash, cradles and moves with your child to reduce the stress to the child’s fragile neck and spinal cord.
A FORWARD-FACING CAR SEAT has a harness and tether that limits your child’s forward movement during a crash.
A BOOSTER SEAT positions the seat belt so that it fits properly over the stronger parts of your child’s body.
A SEAT BELT should lie across the upper thighs and be snug across the shoulder and chest to restrain the child safely in a crash. It should not rest on the stomach area or across the neck.
And what’s so wrong about that, if you’re driving? You’re not holding the phone, after all…
If you’ve taken a Driver’s Ed class anytime in your life (within the past couple years that hands-free calling has actually been around, at least) you’d know by now something that a horrifying number of people don’t—hands-free phones are like a fraction of a percent less risky than hand-held to use while driving.
That makes no sense.
Yeah, that was the first thought that went through a lot of peoples’ brains when this revolutionary idea was first introduced. Why? Isn’t the big problem with cell phones that you have to take your hands off the wheel to use them, and look down at the screen to text?
Well, that’s some of the problem. It’s never good to drive with one hand, no matter how pro you may be at doing so on a bike. However, that’s not all of it. When you’re driving along and talking over the wire to someone, your attention strays from where it should be—the road—to the person that you’re talking to. And unlike the person sitting next to you, the person on the other end of the connection won’t know if you’re making a tricky turn or maneuvering through cars or anything. They won’t quiet down for you when you need to concentrate, and you can’t suddenly shut up at times to concentrate or you’ll risk offense.
Imagine the scenario like this: you’re playing video games (COD, Black Ops, Pokemon, whatever) and you’re all intent on your game, when someone decides to start talking to you from the side. You’re not taking your eyes or hands off the game—but your mind is, the moment you start talking, and then, unless you’re a real pro gamer—GAME OVER.
Except, real life isn’t a game. So, don’t treat it as one—the cold, harsh, reality, is, there is no “back” or “reset” button. So, treat the one life you have carefully—even more carefully than the last life you’re on two levels from beating a game after half a year’s worth of intense work.
Well, it seems to be a rather simple law imposing even more restrictions on the already greatly-oppressed (in the opinions of the teenagers) teenagers. So, of course it sprung up a huge controversy that’s possibly threatening a ride straight up to the Supreme Court.
In case you’ve been living under a rock or somewhere other than the amazing state of New Jersey lately, you may be wondering what this law is all about, so here’s a brief (and yet surprisingly comprehensive) explanation. Young adult drivers, drivers under 21, must stick red decal stickers onto their license plates while they drive to alert other drivers that they are relatively (or greatly) inexperienced and young.
For typical teenagers, I’m sure the first thing that comes to mind is that it’d be such a pain to stick those stickers on and off whenever you’re driving. Oh, and there’s all that annoying sticky stuff that always gets left behind when you peel stickers off and that you’re usually too lazy to scrape off (unless you’re an OCD-type person like me). Your next thought may very like be the same one that has concerned mothers Donna Trautmann and Jayneann Struble into actually suing the state of New Jersey and its governor for passing this law that it infringes on privacy rights. (If you’re an AP Gov student or something, you may also be enraged over the possible violation of the Federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act as well as the Fourth Amendment of the actual Constitution under the category unreasonable searches and seizures’.)
Well, as many people already know, the law was upheld at the appeal and deemed constitutional. The Appellate panel declared that while the privacy acts list of restricted personal information is long and (aptly– termed) exhaustive, it never mentions age or age group, and that rather than disclosing private information about the individual, it simply groups him or her into a general population group.
Yeah, but it’s still annoying, knowing that other people will see those decals and automatically form a bias against you other drivers, the police, and… Rapists? Possibly. Investigation is underway in order to affirm whether or not the relatively new law is more of a hazard than a safety precaution for young drivers, and in the meantime, the two moms are not giving up. I wonder if this really will make it to the Supreme Court one day? Whether or not, it’s certainly an interesting case to follow!
As we can all attest, riders are everywhere. In this state alone, there are about 300,000. And, this number could increase as gas prices continue to power up motorcycle popularity.
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