District Briefs Headquarters
Wyoming Highway Patrol participates excessive speed enforcement safety campaign CHEYENNE – The Western States Traffic Safety Coalition (WSTSC) will initiate a special effort beginning this week to identify and address the dangers of excessive speeds on our highways. The WSTSC is made up of 12 states which include the Arizona Department of Public Safety, California Highway Patrol, Colorado State Patrol, Idaho State Police, Montana Highway Patrol, Nevada Highway Patrol, North Dakota Highway Patrol, Oregon State Police, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Utah Highway Patrol, Washington State Patrol and the Wyoming Highway Patrol. These law enforcement agencies are committed and unified in keeping the people and highways in their communities safe. Although the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused people to drive less in 2020, many of those who did drive were driving faster. In 2020, factoring in the traffic patterns observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wyoming Highway Patrol experienced a 15% decrease in speed citations issued (31,021) while seeing a 29% increase in speed citations being issued in excess of 100 mph (1,481). Driving at high rates of speed is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to serious and fatal crashes for drivers of all ages. Speeding or traveling too fast for the conditions of the highway was cited as a main contributing factor in 1,637 critical crashes between 2010 and 2019 in Wyoming. Critical crashes include all fatal and serious injury crashes. Excessive speed has a devastating impact on the safety of life for those traveling on state highways. To help address this issue, the WSTSC conducted an excessive speed enforcement safety campaign June 25-27. Assertive traffic law enforcement activity with a targeted public safety focus was the purpose of the WSTSC partnership and campaign.
The WSTSC encourages drivers to plan ahead and allow plenty of time to arrive at the destination safely to avoid feeling the need to speed.
National Secure Your Load Day CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Highway Patrol reminds motorists of the dangers of driving with unsecured loads on state highways. The WHP will participate in the national Secure Your Load Day on June 6th, 2021. Governor Gordon has signed a proclamation recognizing June 6th as “Secure Your Load Day” in Wyoming.” Troopers will be educating the public about the importance of having secured loads through social media campaigns and by posting safety messages on variable message signs. “Loss of load crashes are 100% preventable,” says Lt. Dustin Ragon. “All cargo items travel at your vehicle speed, so a 10-pound item at 50 mph has a crash force of 500 pounds. Secure your load as if your family is driving the car behind you.” The Secure Your Load safety day started in 2004 through Robin Abel, a Washington resident whose daughter was severely injured by an unsecured load. Her work resulted in federal lawmakers, including load-securing recommendations to the states in the FAST Act of December 2015. In 2019 there were 739 deaths, 17,367 injuries and 89,915 incidents involving debris on U.S. roadways. Information from AAA Foundation for Safety indicated statistics show that unsecured loads are a nationwide issue. Road debris caused approximately 200,000 crashes in the past four years. Out of those crashes, about 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths resulted. As a nation, the U.S. spends about $11.5 billion on litter cleanup. Nearly 40 percent of litter is from unsecured loads. “Injuries and crashes from unsecured loads are preventable,” said Lieutenant McKay. “Our mission is to ensure the safety of all travelers on Wyoming’s roadways, which is why we are participating in this event.”
Wyoming also requires motorists to secure their loads when traveling. Wyoming Statute 31-5-228 states, “No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any highway unless the vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, shifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom.” This state law carries a $100 fine. Under Federal Commercial Carrier Regulations, a commercial truck driver can be fined $200 for an unsecured load violation and placed out of service until the load is secured correctly. Motorists can follow several tips on how to keep their loads secure. They include: • Securing loads with proper ropes, netting, or straps. • Securing large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer. • Covering the entire load with a tarp or netting. • Avoiding overloading the vehicle. • Checking to ensure the load is secure after it’s been secured.
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Bridge rehabilitation work, delays near Bosler, Medicine Bow LARAMIE – Crews with the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Reiman Corp. began work on a bridge rehabilitation project this summer, causing some delays. The project focuses on a bridge over the Medicine Bow River on Wyoming Highway 487 near the town of Medicine Bow at about mile marker 4.01, as well as a bridge over the Laramie River on US Highway 30/287 near Bosler at about milepost 310.66. Crews have mobilized equipment and traffic control in both areas. Work involves milling and paving the bridge decks and approaches, joint work and a latex overlay. A traffic signal is in use guiding motorists through a single lane across the project area in both locations. This project is expected to be complete in fall 2021. Briefs continued on page 4
July 2021
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