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The Governors Highway Safety Association projects an 11-percent increase in the number of persons on foot killed on U.S. roadways last year, compared to 2015.
This would represent the steepest year-to-year increase since record-keeping began, both in terms of number of deaths and percent increase.
The annual Spotlight on Highway Safety report from the association, or GHSA, offers a first look at state-by-state trends in pedestrian traffic fatalities for 2016, using preliminary data provided by all 50 state highway safety offices and the District of Columbia.
The report was authored by Richard Retting of Sam Schwartz Transportation Consultants.
“This is the second year in a row that we have seen unprecedented increases in pedestrian fatalities, which is both sad and alarming,” said Retting.
From 2014 to 2015, the number of pedestrian deaths spiked more than 9 percent. “It is critical that the highway safety community understand these disturbing statistics and work to aggressively implement effective countermeasures,” Rettig said. “The information in this report will help states and localities pursue engineering, enforcement and education solutions to reverse this trend.”
States reported 2,660 pedestrian fatalities for the first six months of 2016, compared to 2,486 deaths during the same time period in the previous year.
Adjusting for underreporting and past full-year data trends, GHSA estimates an 11 percent rise in pedestrian fatalities from 2015 to 2016.
Compared to 2014, the number of pedestrians killed in 2016 increased by 22 percent. Pedestrians account for approximately 15 percent of all motor vehicle deaths.
More than twice as many states reported an uptick in pedestrian fatalities in the first six months of 2016 than had decreasing numbers.
Thirty-four states saw an increase, while 15 states and the District of Columbia reported decreases, and one state had no change.
There are many possible factors contributing to this spike.
As economic conditions improve and gas prices remain low, the U.S. has seen an increase in motor vehicle miles traveled.
At the same time, a growing number of Americans are choosing to travel by foot for health, transportation, economic or environmental reasons.
Another potential factor is a sharp rise in the use of smartphones to send and receive multimedia messages, a frequent source of mental and visual distraction for both walkers and drivers.
“Everyone walks, and we want to encourage that, but at the same time we want to make sure that we all get to our destinations safely,” said Jonathan Adkins, GHSA executive director. “Unfortunately, this latest data shows that the U.S. is not meeting the mark on keeping pedestrians safe on our roadways. Every one of these lives represents a loved one not coming home tonight which is absolutely unacceptable.”
GHSA also asked its state members, which are responsible for addressing behavioral safety, to provide examples of their efforts to reduce pedestrian and motor vehicle collisions.
Promising strategies include high visibility enforcement and public information campaigns aimed at both motorists and pedestrians; identifying high-risk zones and conducting educational outreach in these areas; adoption of Complete Streets policies, which ensure streets are safe for all users regardless of mode, age and ability; and strategic partnerships with local universities and community organizations to advance pedestrian safety.
State Highway Safety Offices also collaborate with state DOTs that are tasked with infrastructure improvements. The report provides specific examples of these efforts in 41 states and the District of Columbia.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Services announced that the Historic Courthouse Museum in Lakeport will be closed Sunday, April 16, in observance of Easter.
The Courthouse Museum in Lakeport will reopen on Wednesday, April 19.
Normal operating hours at the Courthouse Museum in Lakeport are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The Historic Schoolhouse Museum in Lower is normally open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday though Saturday and closed on Sundays.
If you have any questions regarding this subject, please call the Historic Courthouse Museum in Lakeport at 707-263-4555 or the Historic Schoolhouse Museum in Lower Lake at 707-995-3565.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The next free household hazardous waste dropoff event will be held Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22, at Lake County Waste Solutions Transfer Station and Recycling Yard, 230 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport.
Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items free of charge. Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons.
Items that are accepted include paint, solvents, fuels, five-gallon propane tanks (empty), pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, batteries, fluorescent light tubes (up to 60 linear feet) and other toxic materials that cannot be put in the trash.
Items that cannot be accepted include televisions, computer monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes.
To learn how and where to properly dispose these items, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or contact the recycling hotline at 707-263-1980.
Household hazardous waste dropoff services are provided to Lake County residential households by the Integrated Waste Management Division of the Lake County Public Services Department and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).
Businesses also are welcome to use this convenient service to properly dispose of hazardous waste and protect our environment, however, businesses must pay for this county-funded service and first make an appointment. Business appointments can be made by calling Lake County Waste Solutions at 707-234-6400.
Beginning in June, ask about receiving a free puncture-proof sharps container at one of these events to use for free sharps disposal.
Free recycling options for residents and businesses:
· Recycled paint is available to both residents and businesses at Lake County Waste Solutions and South Lake Refuse and Recycling Center first-come, first-served basis in five gallon containers. Colors include tan, brown, gray and pink.
· Used motor oil and cooking oil can be dropped off by businesses and residents, at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and the North Shore Fire Protection District station at 6257 Seventh Ave. in Lucerne. Visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us for more locations.
· Electronics (e-waste) can be dropped off at Lake County Waste Solutions and at South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center.
Lake County Waste Solutions
230 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport
888-718-4888 or 707-234-6400
Monday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
www.candswaste.com
South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center
16015 Davis St., Clearlake
Open daily, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
707-994-8614
www.southlakerefuse.com
The free Household Hazardous Waste drop off program is subsidized by the Lake County Public Services Department, Integrated Waste Management Division and CalRecycle as a public service to Lake County households.
For more information about recycling, reusing and reducing, visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us , call the recycling hotline at 707-263-1980 or like Lake County Public Services on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LCPublicServices?fref=ts .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service is forecasting the arrival of a big storm late this week that’s expected to bring a lot of rain to parts of Northern California, as well as snow to higher elevations.
Lake County, like much of the rest of the North State, has been enjoying warm early spring temperatures and plenty of sunshine after heavy late winter storms.
The National Weather Service said the large storm moving in over the state is set to arrive with rain on Thursday.
Forecasters are calling for heavy rain on Friday and Saturday, as well as the possibility of thunderstorms.
There also is the potential for snow in the mountains around Northern California, particularly the Sierras. The agency urges people to watch the forecast if they plan mountain travel this weekend.
The specific Lake County forecast calls for a mix of partly sunny and partly cloudy conditions through Wednesday, with a 40-percent chance of rain beginning on Thursday, with heavy rain possible on Thursday night.
Rain is expected to continue in Lake County through Sunday night, based on the forecast.
This week’s temperatures are forecast to be in the mid-60s during the daytime hours and high 40s at night, with those temperatures dropping into the low 50s in the day and high 30s at night after the arrival of the storm system.
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April is recognized as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
In California, the California Highway Patrol, the Office of Traffic Safety and Impact Teen Drivers, as well as community partners and law enforcement agencies throughout the state, are working together to make the roads safer.
The campaign aims to end distracted driving through education and raise awareness about the associated dangers. The goal is to change motorist behaviors and save lives, not just in the month of April, but year-round.
The week of April 3 to 9 is California Teen Safe Driver Week and in conjunction with the National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, safety presentations will be held at various high schools and venues throughout the state to teach teens the reality and consequences of distracted driving.
“Distracted driving is absolutely avoidable, but it continues to be a serious problem among drivers. Too many lives are lost every year due to distracted driving,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “We believe that through continued education and enforcement, the number of deaths and injuries can be reduced.”
To better understand the dangers and consequences of smartphone distracted driving, AT&T is bringing its virtual reality simulator to more than 50 California schools and communities for National Distracted Driving Awareness Month this year as part of its IT CAN WAIT initiative.
“AT&T is proud to join the California Highway Patrol, the Office of Traffic Safety, and Impact Teen Drivers in this important effort to remind everyone that smartphone distracted driving is not only extremely dangerous, it is completely preventable,” said Ken McNeely, president, AT&T California. “We encourage everyone to take the IT CAN WAIT pledge – to keep your eyes on the road, not your phone – and help keep our roads safe. No text, email or social media post is worth a life.”
California drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using a cell phone or a hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle (VC §23124).
Lawmakers agree that distracted driving continues to be a problem among California’s motorists. On Jan. 1, Assembly Bill 1785 went into effect, requiring all California drivers to keep a cell phone out of their hands while operating a motor vehicle.
Under the new law, a driver may activate or deactivate a feature or function of the cell phone or wireless communication device by swiping or tapping its screen only if it is mounted or not being held in a driver’s hand.
In California, there were 85 people killed in collisions in which distracted driving was a factor in 2015, 87 in 2014, and 84 in 2013. The number of injured victims due to these collisions for the same three-year period shows an increase: 10,078 in 2013, 10,540 in 2014, and 11,262 in 2015.
“These statistics are likely much higher and are often under-reported to law enforcement since motorists don’t always admit to driving distracted,” said Commissioner Farrow.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 71 percent of young people admit to sending a text while driving. Furthermore, 10 percent of all drivers ages 15 to 19 involved in fatal collisions were reported as distracted at the time of the collisions.
The NHTSA reports that 3,477 people were killed and an estimated 391,000 injured in motor vehicle collisions involving distracted drivers in 2015. That is a 9 percent increase in fatalities as compared to the previous year.
“The message is out, and people know that distracted driving is dangerous,” said Dr. Kelly Browning, executive director of Impact Teen Drivers. “Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go to change attitudes and behaviors about distracted driving. Just as it took a change in the driving culture through education and enforcement to reach a 98 percent seat belt compliance rate in California, so too will it take a multifaceted approach to eliminate distracted driving.”
According to a study conducted by NHTSA and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, distracted driving is “anything that diverts the driver’s attention away from the primary tasks of navigating a vehicle and responding to critical events.”
A distraction can be: visual – something that takes your eyes off the road; cognitive – something that takes your mind off of the road; or manual – something that takes your hands off the steering wheel.
The CHP will join other law enforcement agencies throughout the state to conduct education and zero tolerance enforcement efforts to discourage distracted driving. Officers will enforce cell phone and texting laws as well as other Vehicle Code violations.
“Law enforcement would rather see everyone off their cell phones than hand out a lot of tickets,” said Rhonda Craft, director of the Office of Traffic Safety. “Take care of calling, texting, setting your GPS, and everything else before you hit the street. Apps are great, but not while you’re driving.”
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake concludes its 2017 series of “Concerts with Conversation” on Saturday, April 8, with an informal concert by Bob Culbertson, one of the world’s true masters of the intricate instrument called the Chapman Stick.
Culbertson will be accompanied by percussion virtuoso Rick Alegria.
The event starts at 7:30 p.m. in the meeting house next to the hotel.
“If you know Bob and his music, this is a great opportunity to hear him interact with a world-class percussionist,” said Tallman owner Bernie Butcher. “And if you haven’t been exposed to the truly unique Chapman Stick instrument, this will be an unforgettable experience.”
With well over 100,000 albums sold, and many students to his credit, Culbertson has become one of the most influential Stick soloists in the world today.
An early adaptor of the Chapman Stick, Culbertson is famous not only for his technique on the instrument but for his compositional talent. Inventor Emmett Chapman calls Culbertson “the Segovia of the Stick.”
A native of San Jose, Alegria has performed and recorded with stars such as Bo Diddley, Maria Muldaur, Rosanne Cash and Elvis Costello.
Alegria and Culbertson have performed together twice in Lake County to high acclaim, once at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport and during the 2014 Tallman Concert Series.
“Bob used to live in Lakeport,” said Butcher, “so I would see him as often as possible, playing either solo or with cellist Clovice Lewis or bassist Michael Manring. Since he’s now out of the area, it will be a real treat to have him back again at the Tallman.”
Anyone wishing to get a preview of the music that can be made on the Chapman Stick, there are a number of great Bob Culbertson videos on YouTube.
Concert tickets at $25 plus tax may be purchased by calling the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.
More background information on Bob Culbertson can be found at www.stickmusic.com and on Rick Alegria at www.rsamusic.com .