ATS’ Newsletter, Vol. 6, Issue 46

Graphic_BBBEthicsAward_DL041316

 

Header CrossingGuard NoTM 480

gavel2_istock_gigaom.com_DL061312
Warrant Pending for Driver Who Hit Child, Left Scene
Temple Daily Telegram (Texas), Oct. 26, 2016

The Temple Police Department was waiting Wednesday morning for a warrant to be issued for the arrest of a woman who didn’t stop for a school bus unloading children and struck a 7-year-old child, Officer Joe Thomas said. The child was taken to the medical center with injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.

SchoolBusStopSign_Fayetteville_Tennessee_110215
Boy Hit at Bus Stop Leaves Hospital; Driver Admits to Texting
WBIR-TV NBC 10 (Tennessee), Oct. 26, 2016

A little boy who was struck by a car while getting off the school bus has been treated and released from the hospital. Meanwhile, police are still looking for the driver that hit him. … Dale Lynch, director of Hamben County Schools, said the collision occurred as the bus was stopped with its stop sign out. Other vehicles stopped, but the driver of a two-door sedan drove around them and the bus, hit the boy and kept driving.  (Elk Valley Times image)

Header MediaCoverage 480

policeofficergetsticket_hainescity_florida_102416
Police Officer Identifies Himself as Red-Light Runner
The Ledger (Florida), Oct. 24, 2016

As the enforcement officer for Haines City Police Department’s red-light camera program, Tim Glover said he’s written citations to friends, relatives, ambulance drivers and even other cops. But until now, he’d never faced having to write a ticket to himself. “That was the most expensive Cuban sandwich I’ve ever bought,” Glover said, referencing the lunch trip that led to his ticket. (The Ledger image by Ernst Peters)

RLC_LynnwoodWashington_SeattleTimes_082911
Lynnwood Extends Red-Light Camera Contract
The Daily Herald (Washington), Oct. 21, 2016

The decision on the future of red-light cameras in Lynnwood could be pushed into January 2018. The City Council recently approved an extension of the current contract into January 2017. At the same time, the council kept open an option to extend the contract for another year after that. (The Seattle Times image by Mark Harrison)

Study: Child Deaths Higher in States Without Red-Light Camera Policy
HealthDay News, Oct. 21, 2016

Traffic crash death rates for American children vary widely among states, and safety regulations are a major reason why, a new study suggests. … Researchers found child death rates were higher in states where a larger proportion of crashes occur on rural roads or during the daytime, and in states without a red light camera policy.

Human Errors Drive Growing Death Toll in Auto Crashes
National Public Radio, Oct. 20, 2016

More people are dying on the nation’s roadways — nearly 18,000 in the first six months of this year. That’s a huge jump of 10.4 percent over the same time period in 2015. More vehicles on the road, as well as increased numbers of pedestrians and bicyclists, account for only about half of the sharp increase in traffic fatalities. The vast majority could be prevented by wearing seat belts, slowing down and putting down the phone. “Ninety-four percent of crashes can be tied back to a human choice or error. Ninety-four percent! Those are the decisions like drinking and driving, speeding or distraction behind the wheel,” said Mark Rosekind, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 

Header TweetOfTheWeek 480

TwitterImage_ATS_DL022615
ATS_RoadSafety @ATS_RoadSafety  Check out our history timeline to see where we started and how far we have come! #StopOnRed #RoadSafety atsol.com #ChatATS

graphic_tweet_atshistory_dl102616

graphic_tweet_icon_ohiostatehighwaypatrol_dl102616
Ohio State Patrol @OSHP If you’re distracted, you’re NOT driving. #justdrive

graphic_tweet_footballfield_texting_dl102616

 

Header Toll Roads 480

tolls_pressconference_massachusetts_102616
Big Move to Electronic Tolling Begins Friday in Massachusetts
MassLive.com (Massachusetts), Oct. 26, 2016

Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials on Monday detailed the timeline for Friday’s switch to all-electronic tolling, a cashless system meant to increase air quality and decrease congestion along the Massachusetts Turnpike. … At 9:45 p.m., it’ll be the end of an era of cash tolls in Massachusetts. The existing E-ZPass Massachusetts system will stop processing transactions at the toll plaza. (MassLive.com image by Gintautas Dumcius)

County Wants Electronic Tolling Expanded in New York
Clarence Bee (New York), Oct. 24, 2016

Recently, New York State announced that it will begin the conversion to 100 percent electronic tolling for several bridges and tunnels in the New York City area. The Erie County Legislature supports expanding this project and outfitting toll plazas in the Buffalo region with the same technology.

Toll Revenues Cover Portion of Cost for Park-and-Ride Lot
WTOP-Radio 103.5 FM (Virginia), Oct. 24, 2016

Northern Virginia officials broke ground Tuesday on a new park-and-ride lot in Loudoun County that will be partially paid for with Interstate 66 toll revenue. The lot will provide 300 parking spaces. Toll revenues will provide more than $1 million toward the $6.1 million project.

 

Header Commentaries 480

Computer Keyboard No. 2_DL122612
Commentary: In New Orleans, a Green Light Means Wait
The Times-Picayune (Louisiana), Oct. 21, 2016

A driver new to New Orleans quickly learns that it’s dangerous here to assume that a green light means go. A green light means “One-Mississippi, Two-Mississippi, Three-Mississippi, go?” Honestly, that might not even be enough Mississippis. If I were waiting behind you at a green light, I’d give you at least five Mississippis before I decided that you were being distracted by Facebook and not worrying about red-light runners. … When it comes to the fatal crashes caused by a failure to obey traffic signals and seat-belt laws, Louisiana is number one, which is to say, the worst.