County

Holiday driving hazards

RBC I Driving safety expert Doug Horn says motorists not only need to exhibit extra caution while encountering treacherous road surfaces and reduced visibility during the weeks ahead, they also need to stay on high alert for four dangerous driving behaviors, which he says could make December one of the most dangerous months ever for motorists.
“When accompanied by poor road conditions, these four dangerous behind-the-wheel behaviors combine into a perfect storm of risk for drivers,” says Horn, founder of the driving safety program “Drive by Example” (www.drivebyexample .com).
The Winter Holiday’s Four Most Dangerous Driving Behaviors:
1. Distracted Driving:
“This includes driving while using cell phones for both talking and texting holiday messages to friends, co-workers, and family,” Horn says. “It also includes driving while checking out store hours and locations using a smart phone to surf the web.”
2. Impaired Driving:
“Year end dinners, parties and celebrations typically involve consumption of alcohol, and in too many cases, use of drugs,” says Horn. “An increase in the number of impaired drivers using the roadways during the winter holidays has been well-established by law enforcement, and the loss of life resulting from impaired driving is also well-established.”
3. Pressured Driving:
“The winter holidays typically bring with them increased pressures, especially financial pressures and the stress created by trying to do too much in a short time span. Drivers often react to these pressures by driving too fast for conditions, making aggressive lane changes, failing to yield right-of-way, and generally disregarding the needs and safety of others using the road,” he says.
4. Fatigued Driving:
“Increased demands and activities during the winter holidays often mean significantly reduced sleep schedules,” Horn says. “According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, people who slept six to seven hours a night were twice as likely to be involved in a crash as those sleeping eight hours or more, while people sleeping less than five hours increased their risk four to five times.”
Horn says it’s not uncommon for a single driver to manifest all four dangerous driving behaviors at the same time, especially in the final 10 days of the year.
“Drivers in warm climates with good road conditions also need to be alert to these dangerous behaviors,” Horn says. “During sunny days when roads are clear, drivers become ‘risk averse’ and drive faster while taking their attention off the physical activity of driving. Putting your vehicle on ‘autopilot’ is extremely dangerous at anytime of the year, but especially so during the holidays when traffic volume increases.”
To help motorists stay accident-free over the holidays, Horn has compiled some tips for safe driving which he says can and should be used 365 days-a-year by every motorist:
n Drive Alert: “This is especially crucial at intersections where failure to notice traffic control devices can result in violent collisions and pedestrian injuries,” Horn says.
n Drive Buckled: “The use of seat belts reduces risk of crash fatality by 45 percent according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Organization,” Horn says.
n Drive Cautious: “Drive at safe speeds for conditions, keep proper distance between vehicles, obey traffic signs, and signal all turns,” he says. Resist the temptation to make a sudden lane change or another risky maneuver.
n Drive Defensively: “When you drive alert, buckled and cautious, you are effectively protecting yourself, your passengers and other motorists against risk of violent collision, injury and fatality,” he says.
n Drive by Example: “When drivers model safe driving behaviors, they are in the best position to protect themselves, their passengers, and others on the roadway,” Horn says.

ABOUT DOUGLAS R. HORN (www.drivebyexample.com)
Attorney Douglas R. Horn is founder of the Horn Law Firm in Kansas City, where he specializes in motor vehicle accident law and crash litigation. Recognized as one of the country’s leading experts on driving safety, Horn has dedicated himself to raising public awareness to the dangers of distracted driving through frequent public speaking engagements and appearances on radio and television. He is a member of the Governor’s Highway Safety Association and is the founder of the driver safety organization Drive By Example.

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  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
  • Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
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