Summer, 2010
Volume II, Issue II ~ 2010
A Sad Farewell. . . Message from CTSP Coordinator, Merritt Burke Buckle Up! Stencil Program
Safety in the First State Enough is Enough!
Keep your kids safe on the farm!
Pedestrian Signal Upgrades
“Travel Back in Time” Route 1 - The First Highway in the First State! (pg. 8)
Office of Highway Safety: 21 - Think. Don’t Drink. (pg. 6) “NO PHONE ZONE” (pgs. 10-11) 11
September 19-25 is “Child Passenger Safety” Week! Is YOUR child buckled in properly? Find out on pages 12-13!
www.ohs.delaware.gov
Contact me: (302) 856-2585 x584 Email: merritt@udel.edu
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elcome to the final edition of the UD Safety Extensions online newsletter. Unfortunately, I was notified in early January that the Community Traffic Safety Program was coming to an end on September 30, 2010 due to funding issues. As most of you are aware, the recession has altered our resources and forced us to re-evaluate programs and commitments. Since this is my last opening remarks, I would like to thank a few people who made my transition from real estate development to traffic safety a fun and rewarding experience.
lowed me to grow into the traffic safety position on my own. I would like to acknowledge Ron Jester, Trish Roberts, Jana Simpson, Lisa Shaw, Andrea Summers, Cindy Genau, and Mark Isaacs for believing in me. I have to admit, the CTSP position is a blast when partnerships are formed and results are achieved!
For the remainder of the summer I am continuing my commitment to the CTSP program. I have community programs scheduled with a few of you, especially during the National Law Enforcement Night Out events. However, at some point, either on or before September 30th I will be leaving my job with the University of Delaware Cooperative ExtenFirst, I would like to acknowledge Mike Love, sion as the Community Traffic Safety Program past CTSP Coordinator and current UD Safety Coordinator for a new opportunity. Agent, for his friendship and support. Mike not only trained me on various traffic safety For summer programming, feel free to contact tools like the SIDNE but was always there to me via email at merritt@udel.edu or at (302) answer questions and give advice. He is a true 856-2585 ext. 584. I look forward to the fuprofessional and asset to all in the safety field. ture and wish everyone who directly or indiMike will be available at mlove@udel.edu or rectly participated with the CTSP program the at (302) 856-2585 ext. 583 if you need any best of luck in the future! type of traffic safety education or outreach. Drive smart and seat belts do save lives! Second, I would like to thank Lisa Collins for agreeing to lead the design of the online newsletter. Lisa spent hours editing articles, rearranging advertisements and designing the Merritt Burke IV newsletter format. Honestly, I have never Community Traffic Safety Program worked with a more flexible and polite person Coordinator in all my life. She is dedicated to her work at the UD Cooperative Extension and I wish her the best in the future. Lastly, thanks must be given to several individuals who coached me from afar and al2
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Contact me: (302) 856-2585 x584 Email: merritt@udel.edu
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uring the last two years, I have had the honor of working with several organizations on a variety of traffic safety initiatives and programs to educate the public on the importance of wearing a seat belt. The programs ranged from hosting the Delaware State Police seat belt convincer to organizing the Buckle Up stencil to coordinating seat belt presentations. There is no doubt that companies and schools believe that seat belts save lives! To acknowledge and reward these partners, I ordered several brand new Buckle Up signs produced by Ad Art Sign Company in Georgetown, Delaware. The signs are 36 x 42 and made out of aluminum with a ―please drive safe‖ message. Thus far, the following organizations have been selected to receive the signs: Sussex Technical High School, Delmar Senior High School, Seaford Senior High School, Laurel Senior High School, Callis-Thompson Inc., Ad Art Sign Company, UD Cooperative Extension, Fed Ex, Delaware Technical and Community College, Cape Henlopen State Park, Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, and Perdue. As reported on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) webpage, from 2004-2008 seat belts saved over 75,000 lives. In 2008 alone, seat belts saved 13,000 lives! With text messaging, cellular phones, GPS gadgets, crying children, and now dashboard Internet devices, a seat belt could be the difference between life and death. Thus far this year, 14 people have died by not wearing their seat belt compared to 24 last year. Even though this is a remarkable reduction in unbelted deaths, until the number reaches zero we all have much work to do to educate the public. If you are interested in the Buckle Up stencil or would like to schedule a seat belt presentation for the summer, please contact Merritt Burke at (302) 856-2585 ext. 584 or via email at merritt@udel.edu.
Callis-T hompso n, Inc. H
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a horse-drawn wagon that his 6-year old brother was driving while his father and mother walked alongside and pring has sprung, and cleared stones from a field. tilling the soil and planting crops are in full As I reflect on these and thousands of swing on the farm. disabling injuries that occur to farm Children who live on children every year, I can’t help but farms are a special con- ask, ―Isn’t it time to take this issue of cern at any time of the childhood injury prevention in the year, but especially dur- farm workplace seriously?‖ Enough is ing the busy times when parents and enough! workers can be easily distracted by planting deadlines, breakdowns, Part of the problem is that we have weather concerns and other pressing typically oversimplified the solution to issues. farm safety problems. If a child is riding on a tractor or other farm impleDid you know that over 100 children ment, falls off and is run over, the sodie in farm accidents and more than lution is not simply to tell parents and 100,000 are seriously injured every children that no extra riders are peryear? This fact is a shock to most peo- mitted on farm tractors. Sometimes ple that don’t realize that farms are the tough questions need to be asked, for second most hazardous workplace in example: the United States. Family farms comprise more than 80% of farms and with How old was the child? farm economics a key factor today, Who was driving the tractor? children are either an important part of the work force or are being watched by If it was a parent, where was the other parent? working parents. Were there other safe places this child could have been? An email from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) described three childhood fatalities in the neighboring state of Pennsylvania. The first one involved a 3-year old boy whose father allegedly ran over him with a front end loader after the child fell out of the vehicle’s bucket. In this case the father was arrested on charges of child endangerment, reckless endangerment and reckless driving. Less than a month after this incident, 2 toddlers were killed in separate farm accidents while under their parents’ supervision. The first one involved a 2-year old boy who was run over by a plowing disc when his father tried to start a tractor attached to the implement. On the same day in a nearby county, another 2-year old boy was crushed after falling from
Enough is Enough!
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Are child care facilities accessible and affordable for the farm family? Do local schools offer school programs to help support the needs of farm families where both spouses are working on and off the farm to make things work financially? Was the child taught how to drive the machine? Was the task age appropriate given the child’s developmental and cognitive skills? Did the tractor have a cab? Was there a buddy seat? I challenge parents, leaders of farm organizations and rural leaders to step forward and recognize that a farm workplace is a potentially dangerous environment and that solutions need to be developed to prevent such tragic mishaps. I hope that many of you are now thinking, ―Enough is enough‖. Until that happens and we work together to develop practical and realistic solutions, we are going to continue to see such tragedies to toddlers and young children as described in the opening paragraphs of this article. . . . Continued on next page
(continued) Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D., and former Chair for the National Safe Kids Coalition once said, ―If a disease were killing our children in the proportions that injuries are, people would be outraged and demand that this killer be stopped‖. I challenge every farm parent and farm leader to get involved in childhood injury prevention today! Demand that ―this killer be stopped‖.
~Ronald C. Jester, Safety Extension Agent (Retired)
DelDOT Pedestrian Signal Upgrades
cations will be prioritized as funding allows.
Countdown Timers
In Sussex County, APS and countdown signals have been installed at the intersections of SR 1 & Melson/ Postal and SR 1 & Half Moon Rd/Evans Rd. In Kent County, APS and countdown signals have been installed at the intersection of Rt. 13 & Kings Highway/ Whiteoak Rd.
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elDOT has adopted a standard that mandates all new pedestrian signals and pedestrian signal modifications utilize Countdown Pedestrian Signals. A countdown timer is displayed next to the flashing hand indication during the pedestrian clearance phase. Several national studies have shown that the public understands these indications better than the standard flashing hand indication, and at least one large study in San Francisco showed reduced pedestrian crashes.
More information about these two pedestrian signal initiatives can be found on the DelDOT web site at: http://deldot.gov/information/ community_programs_and_services/. ~by Jennifer Baldwin Formerly of DelDOT
Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) In December 2007, DelDOT adopted guidelines on how and where to consider Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS, also known as audible pedestrian signals). APS is used to assist the visually impaired in crossing the street. Essentially, the guidelines say that we will consider APS by request at this time, and lo5
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Under 21—Think. . . Don’t Drink! Last year in Delaware four teens, ages 16-20, were killed in alcohol-related crashes and an astonishing 1,115 more were injured according to State Police statistics. Additionally at least 314 minors were arrested for DUI in 2009. To prevent this senseless loss of life, Delaware Governor Jack Markell is helping the State Office of Highway Safety (OHS) launch a statewide underage drinking prevention campaign: Under 21. Think. Don't Drink. A 30-second radio spot featuring Governor Markell encouraging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of alcohol use, and the consequences - both legal and physical - of underage drinking began airing this spring, statewide. Additional paid media efforts included movie theater advertisements and posters on the insides of shuttle buses at the University of Delaware. According to studies by the University of Delaware, 31% of teens reported that they got alcohol from their parents, and 49% said they got it from a non-parent over age 21. The following are a list of Delaware's penalties for various alcohol-related offenses involving minors: • Underage Impaired Driving - loss of license for two months or $200 fine if minor is driving without a license (first offense). Penalties for minors with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher may face more severe penalties. • Underage Consumption or Possession - loss of license for one month or $100 fine if unlicensed • Using False Identification - up to $500 fine or 30 days in jail if fine is not paid • Entering a Bar or Package Store Underage - $50 fine • Providing a Minor with Alcohol - up to $500 and 40 hours of community service, parents may also be sued civilly in court OHS will continue the Under 21. Think. Don't Drink. campaign in the fall with the launch of an online video contest. We're asking Delaware residents and students to write and produce an original commercial highlighting the hazards of underage drinking. Stay tuned for more details! Follow the link for lots more information, posters, etc. http://www.ohs.delaware.gov/UnderageDrinking#tl Volume II, Issue II ~ 2010
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he year was 1902, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the E.I. duPont de Nemous and Company. For a century, except for three years of stewardship by a family friend after the death of the founder, the DuPont Company had been family run. Now, as Eugene duPont was preparing to retire there was no one remaining in the immediate family with the interest or capability to run the nation’s largest gunpowder manufacturer. Family members began preparations for the inevitable selling off of the family business Just before the sale, three cousins, great-grandsons of the company's founder, stepped forward with a plan to buy and operate the DuPont Company, putting up stock and notes as compensation. The key to acceptance of the deal was the inclusion of the most experienced of the triad of cousins, Thomas Coleman duPont, who had taken over his father’s coal mining interests in Kentucky. Together, the three cousins transformed the family gunpowder firm into a chemical conglomerate of almost unimaginable wealth. Coleman duPont, the President of the new organization, was a builder at heart. After building the DuPont Company he turned to his many other interests. He was part of the consortium that built the world's tallest building in the early 1910s, but his builder's eye was looking down, not up. Coleman duPont was planning to build a highway the entire length of the state of Delaware from the Pennsylvania border in the north to the Maryland line at the bottom of the state.
An early proponent of the automobile, the visionary duPont knew the e co no m i c benefits that would accrue to the state’s towns and communities with a modern highway. Always the big thinker, Coleman duPont was not visualizing some provided and published with permission by the Delaware utilitarian road, Photo Public Archives office. however. He proposed a grand boulevard with a 200 Department was established to -foot right of way that had room for complete the work which duPont trolley tracks and tree-lined pedes- agreed to personally finance at a trian walkways. His highway cost not to exceed $44,000 per would be lined with lamp posts and mile. The DuPont Highway was peppered with air-landing strips. completed in 1924 and stretched Interspersed along the way would 96.7 miles. The Dover to Wilmingbe information kiosks that would ton segment of the road was the make the latest scientific advances longest divided highway in the world when it was completed. Thoavailable to Delaware farmers. Like many visionaries with a plan, mas Coleman duPont had spent Coleman duPont took his ideas for nearly $4 million of his own money a state-long highway to the Dela- to complete the road. ware General Assembly. But there As he envisioned, the DuPont was a difference. Coleman duPont Highway opened up the markets of was proposing to build this modern southern Delaware and enabled the highway, Delaware's first paved creation of the Delmarva chicken industry, among many others, to road, with his own money. He formed the Coleman duPont develop. Generations of northern Road company and began building Delawareans have packed up bathhis road in the southern section of ing suits and steered onto Route 13, Delaware in 1911. His plans were as the DuPont Highway is numeritoo grand for even his deep pockets cally known, to head for the beach. so he had to sacrifice some of his 'Others may build their monuments goals as they laid the concrete road to the sky,' Coleman duPont once through swamps and forests and said, 'but I am going to build a across farmland. Places that had monument a hundred miles high scarcely seen an automobile were and lay it down on the ground.’ getting a modern concrete road. Written by: Doug Gelbert In 1917, the Delaware Highway © 2002 Pagewise Volume II, Issue II ~ 2010
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Get Involved. Take the Pledge. Spread the Word. Distracted driving is an epidemic that is sweeping our country, claiming lives and destroying families. In 2008, nearly 6,000 people were killed and more than half a million were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Cell phone use while driving delays a driver's reactions as much as a .08 blood alcohol concentration, according to a University of Utah study. You wouldn't put your friends and family in a car with a drunk driver, so why would you put them in equal danger by talking or texting while driving? Today, an estimated 11 percent of vehicles during daylight hours-one in tenhave a driver who is using a phone, according to data from NHTSA. If you think you can call, text and drive at the same time, you cannot. That text message or call that just can't wait could kill. To combat this distracted driving epidemic, Oprah Winfrey and Harpo Studios are launching a new public service announcement campaign and joining forces with some of the country's preeminent transportation safety organizations in a nationwide effort to make every car a No Phone Zone. No Phone Zone is a large-scale effort to honor victims of distracted driving, while also educating and inspiring Americans to end the deadly driving habits that result in senseless tragedies and loss.
Please click on the links below to find out more about the “NO PHONE ZONE” initiative.
If you think you have the texting and driving thing down . . . you do not. Make your car a No Phone Zone and pass it on. You could save a life—maybe even yours. Click on these links for more information: No Phone Zone Backgrounder **No Phone Zone Fact Sheet**
No Phone Zone Questions & Answers
Victim Profile - Lindas Story
Oprah's No Phone Zone
Visit the Delaware Office of Highway Website for much, much more: www.ohs.delaware.gov
SUMMER OUTDOOR WEATHER SAFETY Fires started by lightning peak in the summer months in the late afternoon and early evening. The results can be deadly. According to the National Fire Protection Association U.S. Fire Departments responded to an average of 31,400 fires caused by lightning between 2002-2005. Twelve people per year are killed by lightning-related fires.
Some Safety tips to remember:
If you can hear thunder you are within striking distance of lightning.
Seek shelter immediately in a house, large building or hard-topped vehicle.
Avoid shelter under trees. There is no place outside that is safe during a thunderstorm.
You should wait thirty minutes after the last thunder to leave your shelter.
Stay away from doors and windows.
If you are on the water, go to land and seek shelter immediately.
For more information on how to stay safe this summer, visit the Delaware State Fire School website at http://statefireschool.delaware.gov. ~Mike Lowe, Senior Instructor for Public Education
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Think PPP When You Think Hurricane Safety By: Jeanine O’Donnell, State Farm Agent
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e are in month 2 of hurricane season, and this is one of the more likely emergencies to impact us here on the coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts above normal activity for the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. Many people have survived hurricanes without any harm, and with modern technology it almost seems that the path of a hurricane can be mapped out perfectly. But don’t be so sure. All the technology in the world cannot predict what Mother Nature will do. It’s important to pay attention, not to just the black line forecasters use for the storm track, but also the area on either side of it. The average error during the last 24 hours is about 85 miles, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. A moment to plan for hurricane safety can give you peace of mind and keep your family and home safe. If you want to be hurricane-safe, just follow the “Three Ps”: Plan It’s always important for a family to have a plan for emergencies, whether it be a fire, earthquake or hurricane. Every family member must know what to do to stay safe. When a hurricane threatens, decide if your family will move to a safer place inland, go to a shelter or ride out the storm in your home. Make sure you stay in touch with local authorities to know the severity of the hurricane. You should also plan an escape route in case your family needs to evacuate. Do not disregard evacuation notices – remember, you may not be able to be rescued. Don’t risk your life and the lives of your loved ones to be a ―storm chaser.‖ Prepare Your home should have a survival kit prepared for any emergency. It should include non-perishable food items, a first aid kit, a battery operated radio, a flashlight, fresh batteries and drinking water. Also include other items that you might need such as medication, prescription glasses or your insurance information. To ensure your home is prepared, cover up windows and doors using hurricane shutters. If you don’t have shutters, cover your windows and doors with ¾-inch plywood. Make sure your garage door is closed and anchored. Remember that serious hurricane damage can occur when wind debris gets into your house through a broken door or window. Protect If you decide to ride out the hurricane, protect yourself. If you don’t need to evacuate the area, stay indoors away from windows or glass doors. Put as many walls between you and the storm as possible. If you don’t have a basement, go to a closet or bathroom. If you leave the area, make sure you go directly to the shelter. Take a survival kit and lock all doors and windows before you leave. Let your relatives or friends know where you plan to be. Those who have a hurricane plan do much better than those who don’t. Taking a moment to plan today may help you avoid a last-minute panic. It could save your home and family. Feel free to stop by and pick up a brochure specifically designed to help prepare for hurricanes. Remember to Plan, Prepare and Protect!
Every year, thousands of children are tragically injured or killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. In fact, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children age 3 and older in the United States. Securing your children properly in age and size appropriate child safety seats — in the back seat of your vehicle — is the most effective thing you can do to protect them in the event of a crash. Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) Restraint System LATCH consists of lower attachments on child seats and a set of tether anchors in the vehicle to hold the child seat in place without the use of the vehicle's seat belts. Click HERE for additional information.
Not sure which child safety seat to use? Are you looking for a vehicle safety seat for your infant, toddler or 4-8 year old child but overwhelmed by the choices and worried about how to properly install your car seat? Our 4 Steps for Kids campaign will help you properly choose and install the correct safety seat for your child. Go to the website to find out: http://www.nhtsa.gov/Driving+Safety/Child+Safety/4+Steps+for+Kids:+Forward-Facing+Seats
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National Seat Check Saturday Sept. 25, 2010
Volume II, Issue II ~ 2010
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Volume II, Issue II ~ 2010
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Thank you Partners!! Below is a list of organizations and businesses who have supported our Community Traffic Safety initiatives. Please visit their web sites and thank them for helping to keep Delaware citizens, motorists, pedestrians and visitors safe. Delaware Office of Highway Safety National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Delaware Department of Transportation Delaware Safe Kids Coalition Delaware State Police Delmarva Safety Association Delaware Camping Center Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Delaware State Fire School Delaware Public Schools Beebe Hospital Lewes Auto Mall Mr. Go Glass Nanticoke Memorial Hospital Sussex County EMS Thanking Delaware Heroes! The Starboard in Dewey is looking for heros!
Check out this month’s featured website:
University of Delaware Cooperative Extension
Delaware Office of Highway Safety http://www.ohs.delaware.gov
Summertime is here! In Sussex county, that means there is a tremendous increase in traffic as folks flock to our beautiful beaches to spend some welldeserved vacation time with their families! College students are packing the beaches. . . And the bars. Everyone’s getting outside for exercise—walking, running, cycling. Motorcycles are being taken out of literal “cold storage” from the cold, snowy winter we just came through and people are taking lots of road trips, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.
Elbert N. And Anne V. Carvel Research and Education Center 16483 County Seat Hwy. Georgetown, DE 19947 Phone: (302) 856-7303 Fax: (302) 856-1845
Summertime is here! That means there is an increased risk of accidents - auto, motorcycle, pedestrian, bicyclists. . .
Educate yourself and your family on how to make your summer a SAFE one! Visit the Delaware Office of Highway Safety website!! Calendar of Events (April 2010 2010— — June 2010) Check out the upcoming Traffic Safety Exhibits in Delaware: July 26, 2010 - Delaware State Fair, 4 - 7 p.m. Contact: Merritt Burke at 856-2585 x584 August 3, 2010 - City of Milford, 6 - 8 p.m. Contact: Gary Baily at 422-8081 August 4, 2010 - Town of Milton, 5 - 8 p.m. Contact: Chief Phillips at 684-8547. August 5, 2010 - Town of Bethany Beach, 4 - 8 p.m. Contact: Pat Foley at 539-1000 August 10, 2010 - Town of Greenwood, 6 - 8 p.m. Contact: Chief Anderson at 349-4822 August 21, 2010 - Dover Downs 5th Annual Diamond State BBQ August 28, 2010 - Harrington Heritage Day 9 - 4 p.m. Contact: Vickie Taylor at 398-7975 August 31, 2010 - Town of Smyrna, 5 - 8 p.m. Contact: Lt. Bob Wilson at 653-9217 September 23, 2010 - City of Seaford, 5 - 8 p.m. Contact: Lt. Pete Bohn at 381-4590 September 19-25, 2010 is Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week
Informative Websites: DE Office of Highway Safety www.ohs.delaware.gov University of Delaware Cooperative Extension www.rec.udel.edu DE Safe Kids Coalition www.usa.safekids.org/state_display.cfm National Highway Traffic Safety Administration www.nhtsa.gov For information on impaired vision goggles and the SIDNE go-kart: www.fatalvision.com HERO Campaign www.herocampaign.org Virtual Bar Educator www.b4udrink.org Delaware YMCA www.ymcade.org
"Cooperative Extension Education in Agriculture and Home Economics, University of Delaware, Delaware State University and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Delaware Cooperative Extension, University of Delaware. It is the policy of the Delaware Cooperative Extension System that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age or national origin."