W.H.P.D.
NEWS
Police
Officer Applications -
The West Hartford Police is currently accepting applications
for the position of police officer. Click
here to see the requirements to become a police officer and
for a job application.
| Distracted Drivers and School Zones Are a Deadly Combination |
What you should know to help your children stay safe as they walk:
As kids head back to school, Safe Kids’ new study “Characteristics of Distracted Drivers in School Zones: A National Report” reveals a scary truth: One out of every six drivers in school zones is distracted. With cell phones, email and text messaging being added to the list of more traditional distractions like eating and grooming, there are more ways than ever for drivers to become distracted – and potentially dangerous to children as they walk to and from school.
About 10 percent of drivers were caught using hand-held electronics—such as cell phones, PDAs, and Smartphones. These devices were the leading cause of distraction. And while laws on using electronics while driving are still being hotly debated, this research shows that simply having a law on the books could help reduce distracted driving. States that have laws are 13 percent less likely to have distracted drivers in school zones.
The Danger of Distracted Driving Recent studies have measured the driving skills of distracted drivers showing they perform as bad or worse than drivers who are drunk. This is frightening for anyone on the road, but it’s a particularly dangerous situation when kids are added into the mix.
Common Traits of Distracted Driving
Seatbelt use. Drivers that don’t wear a seatbelt are 34 percent more likely to be distracted than drivers who are buckled up. As a driver, if you engage in one risky behavior – you are more likely to engage in multiple unsafe driving behaviors.
Time of day. Afternoon drivers are 22 percent more likely to be distracted than morning drivers. Throughout the year, one in three child pedestrian deaths occur between 3 and 7 p.m., making afternoons the most dangerous time for children to walk.
Gender. Female drivers are 21 percent more likely to be distracted than male drivers. Moms today have a million things on their to-do lists and too often women are multitasking behind the wheel. But that doesn’t mean male drivers are off the hook—their rate of distraction was still way too high.
Traffic volume. People driving on roads with a lot of traffic are 16 percent more likely to be distracted than those driving on roads with less traffic.
Top Tips
Be a Safe Kid
- Always cross the street with an adult until age 10
- Pause your music, hang up the cell phone and don’t text until you’ve safely crossed the street
- Never play hand-held games while walking
- Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks
- Look left, right and left again when crossing
- Always walk, never run, when crossing streets
- Walk on sidewalks or paths
- Walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible if there are no sidewalks
- Never run out into the street or cross in between parked cars
Be a Safe Driver
- Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods and school zones
- Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings
- Watch for children on and near the road in the morning and after school hours
|
Laws
of Interest:
Car
Seat Law - Any
person who transports a child six (6) years of age and under and
weighing less than sixty (60) pounds, shall provide and require
the child to use a child restraint system. Any person who
transports a child under one (1)year of age or weighing less
than twenty (20) pounds in a motor vehicle on the highways
of this state shall provide and require the child to ride
rear-facing in a child restraint system.
Free Gun Locks - The West Hartford Police Department has received a shipment of gun locks. These gun locks were provided to agencies across the country through Project ChildSafe and is funded by a $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. West Hartford residents can pick up a free gun lock at the police station (limit 2 per person).
