August 2023 edition

Back to School Safety Month

August is Back to School Month in Florida! It's a time to be particularly focused on safety: bus, pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular safety. Almost 51 million students attend America’s public elementary and secondary schools; of that number, more than 35 million attend pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.

Kids will begin commuting back to school on foot, by bicycle, and in school buses or private vehicles beginning on Thursday, August 10 in Flagler County and Monday, August 14 in Volusia County. It is important to point out that school buses are the safest way for children to commute to and from school. Students are 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a bus than when traveling by car. (NHTSA School Bus Safety)

Below are some helpful tips to keep you and your children safe on the way to and from school:

Pedestrians:

Always use sidewalks whenever possible
If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic
Use marked crosswalks to cross the street, and look left-right-left for vehicles and bikes before crossing; if there is no crosswalk, cross at an intersection
Watch the road, not your phone, and never use headphones or AirPods while walking
Walk in groups, if at all possible, as there is safety in numbers

Bicyclists:

Always wear a helmet that is properly sized, fitted, and secured (Don't have a helmet? The River to Sea TPO can help! Contact us at Pblankenship@r2ctpo.org)
Ride on the sidewalk whenever possible; come to a complete stop before crossing streets and walk your bike across the road
Watch for opening car doors, cars backing out of driveways, and other potential hazards
Use proper hand signals when turning or stopping

Drivers:

In school zone areas, always slow down and be extra cautious
When backing out of your driveway, watch out for kids walking or biking to school
Be alert! Children can be unpredictable and may dart out into the road without looking for traffic
Allow a greater following distance when you are behind a bus than if you were following a car - a minimum of three car lengths
The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for kids; stop far enough away to allow them enough space to safely enter and exit the bus
Always follow the laws regarding stopping for a school bus that is stopped (see graphic below)

National Stop on Red Week

Stop On Red Week is observed across the country every year during the first full week of August - August 6 to 12 this year - to highlight the significance of red traffic lights and to curb the deaths caused by breaking the red-light rule. Between 2008 and 2020, an estimated 10,155 people were killed in crashes related to red-light running, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that about half of red-light running crash deaths involve pedestrians, cyclists, and occupants in vehicles struck by the red-light runners. Due to the advocacy bringing Vision Zero to the forefront, more focus has been put on implementing safer road designs, utilizing technology, and educating drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists in communities across the U.S. As a result, there has been a reduction in injuries associated with red-light running. In 2020, an estimated 115,741 people were injured in crashes involving red-light running, a 22% reduction from 2019.

2022 Trends in Red-Light Running

More drivers ran red lights in May than any other month
More than 1.3 million red-light running violations occurred during the hours of 1-5 p.m.
Independence Day Weekend was the highest-ranked holiday travel period for red-light running
Nearly 4.4 million drivers ran red lights in 2022

Safety is the responsibility of everyone - not just during Stop on Red Week, but every day and every time someone takes to the road. Together, we can protect our communities, families, and children by always stopping on red. Take the Pledge today to drive safely.

River to Sea TPO

August Calendar of Activities

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
7/30	7/31 Babe James Community Center Helmet Fitting 2:00 pm New Smyrna Beach	8/1 Babe James Community Center Helmet Fitting 2:30 pm New Smyrna Beach	8/2 Executive Committee Meeting** 9:00 am	8/3	8/4	8/5
8/6	8/7	8/8 Flagler Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST) Meeting 9:00 am Flagler Gov't Services Bldg. #2 Bunnell	8/9 BPAC Meeting* 2:00 pm	8/10	8/11	8/12
8/13	8/14	8/15 CAC & TCC Meetings* 1:15 & 3:00 pm respectively	8/16	8/17	8/18	8/19
8/20	8/21	8/22 Mason Ave Public Information Meeting 5:30 pm Julia T. & Charles W. Cherry Sr. Cultural and Educational Center 925 George W. Engram Blvd Daytona Beach	8/23 River to Sea TPO Board Meeting* 9:00 am	8/24 East Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST) Meeting 9:00 am Volusia County Public Works Northeast Services Facility	8/25	8/26
8/27	8/28	8/29	8/30	8/31	9/1	9/2

*Meeting held in the Airline Room at Daytona Beach International Airport, 700 Catalina Drive, Daytona Beach, 32114 (parking will be validated)

**Meeting held at the River to Sea TPO office, 1 Deuce Court, Suite 100, Daytona Beach, 32124

***Meeting held at Votran, 950 Big Tree Road, South Daytona FL 32119

Upcoming TPO Committee

& Board Activities

This month, the River to Sea TPO Board and Advisory Committees will be taking action on a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) amendment and the Volusia and Flagler County Functional Classification Maps. A presentation on the Nova Road Coalition Corridor Improvement project will be given as well as a presentation and discussion on the TPO's Reapportionment Plan Scenarios.

Additional information on agendas for TPO Board and Advisory Committee meetings is available at River to Sea TPO Agendas

Information on TPO outreach and activities is available at Outreach & Activities