A 34 year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department who has spent the last 29 years as a motor officer in the Phoenix Police Department, Traffic Bureau. He is nationally recognized as a leader in traffic safety and has taught officers across the United States about traffic issues. He is continually called upon by civic leaders to address traffic safety issues at public gatherings as well as presentations for media outlets. He is currently the Traffic Complaint Coordinator which oversees traffic issues raised by citizens of Phoenix and surrounding communities and is an advisor to other City Departments on decisions about traffic concerns.
COPS CORNER
SCHOOL”S BACK IN – watch out for the children.
In today’s society, physically taking your child to school is more of the norm than putting them on a bus or letting them walk to school. Most schools have “TRAFFIC CHAOS” during arrival and pick up times on streets in and around schools. We preach, WATCH KIDS AROUND SCHOOLS and especially slow down and obey the 15 MPH signs in school zones. One other reminder, STOP for everyone in a yellow school zone crosswalk and remain stopped until EVERYONE (x-guard included) is off the street and out of the crosswalk.
Another problem is the sheer volume of vehicular traffic generated by parents and/or guardians who come to pick up the children. We are seeing a total disregard for any and all signs that are posted on the streets around schools. Parents/guardians are ignoring no parking signs, stopping where signs clearly state NO STOOPING, and dropping off and picking up kids in the middle of the school zone. Some are even picking up or dropping off kids on the street opposite the side of the school, forcing children to unsafely cross where traffic is flowing. This is against the law and fines can reach $200.
SOLUTION. Everyone who goes on vacation plans the trip by seeing the best route to get to a destination. Parents, PLAN THE DESTINATION to your child’s school. Call the school and find out the proper location for drop off and pick up, go to the school during off hours and familiarize yourself with the signs, and last but not least, if at all possible WALK them to school. For everyone who simply gets caught up in the TRAFFIC CHAOS, please try to avoid the area during those times but if unable, take a deep breath and drive carefully, CHILDREN COUNT ON US.
Officer Terry Sills
Traffic Complaint Coordinator
Phoenix Police Department
602-534-SPEED (7733)
traffic.complaints@phoenix.gov
WHY IS TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION SO DIFFICULT?
Rush hour traffic and the light turns green. No green arrow so you have to wait until the oncoming traffic clears to safely make your left turn. You inch out into the intersection and suddenly the light goes to yellow. Cars are still coming, cars behind you are honking their horn all alone and afraid to move. What do I do?
Left turns are at the top for collisions and more left turn arrows are being installed. So just how do you confront the above scenario? First, after the light for your direction turns green, and the opposite direction is cleared, you can pull into the center and wait for oncoming traffic to clear. The actual intersection is the imaginary elongation of the curb line from curb to curb. The crosswalk is usually before this imaginary line. Your vehicle must be past that imaginary elongation of the curb line in order to be lawfully in the intersection. So if you merely “inch out” you may not even be in the intersection when the light goes from yellow to red and you try and make a left turn. In other words, if you are not clearly out in the intersection and you wait until all traffic is cleared and the light has changed to red, you may have just run a red light.
The law mandates that anyone making a left turn at an intersection MUST yield the right of way to oncoming traffic that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. Simply put, when the light turns yellow, make sure oncoming traffic is slowing to a stop, even if the light is turning to red, before making your left turn. All of this takes place in about a minute, was it worth it or would right turns be easier?
Drive safe - next month – THE SCOOTER RAGE, LEGAL OR NOT?
Officer Terry Sills
Phoenix Police Department
Traffic Complaint Coordinator
602-534-SPEED (7733)
traffic.complaints@phoenix.gov
SEAT BELTS……everyone knows that seat belts save lives. We hear it, read it, our kids remind us because the nice officer at school said they MUST wear one, and we make the right decision and actually buckle up everyone before hitting the road. When, if ever, should a seat belt or car seat be replaced? Did you know that if you are involved in a significant automobile crash, the seat belts and child safety seats that are used by the occupants should be replaced?
A significant crash can be an activation of air bags, disabling damage to vehicle, or injury to any occupant. When an occupant protection device is used in a significant crash, the nylon webbing usually stretches and weakens the fiber. If a child safety seat is used, the nylon webbing attached to the car seat as well as the seat belt or latch system could also be stretched and lessen its safety capabilities. The webbing helps the occupant “ride down” the forces of the crash. When the restraint system works properly, occupants are held in but the webbing stretches somewhat to allow the ride down affect of the crash.
Some of you out there have driven by a yard sale and see a new looking child safety seat for sale “cheap” and you know it’s a nice neighborhood so it must be good. Others have been offered a “free” child safety seat from a friend or relative and are using it. Do you know the true history of that “good deal”? Do you know how to tell how old it is? Car seats are not that expensive, especially compared to what it carries and what it was designed to protect. Precious Cargo.
Next time……WHY IS MAKING A LEFT TURN SO HARD TO DO?
Officer Terry Sills
Phoenix Police Department
602-534-SPEED (7733)
traffic.complaints@phoenix.gov
Silent Witness
Safety Cop - Officer Terry Sills