Readers Respond to the High Number of Traffic Deaths in Portland This Year

Last week, WW wrote about three of the 34 people who have died in Portland traffic this year. To improve safety, the city has spent more than $47 million in the past two The number of traffic deaths in the first six months of 2019 equals the number for all of last year. Here's what readers had to say.

Martin Crommie: "Would be nice if someone was out there to stop the Mad Maxes that seem to think the road is for them alone."

John Retzlaff: "When Vision Zero in Portland is about being anti-car and not about pro-safety, then this is what you get. Road diets do not improve safety, half the lanes and the same amount of traffic Is not safe."

 Frosti11icus, via Reddit: "My dad always told me, 'Just assume a vehicle won't stop for you because if you're wrong you'll die.'"

Rudi Van Desarzio: "You can blame pedestrians and cyclists all you want, but that's not how the law is written and never has been. It is your responsibility as a driver to have control of your vehicle Such that you do not run into people and kill them. That's the bottom line. If it means you have to drive 5 mph and that riding a bike or taking the bus is faster, so be it. Driving around in your single occupied vehicle At 15 mph above the speed limit is not a 'right.'"

Nick Sauvie: "The fact that the majority of these deaths occur in outer Southeast Portland is a result of decades of insufficient transportation investment. Vision Zero and road diets are steps in the right direction."

Morningside: "Right or wrong, pedestrians and people on bikes need to act defensively. I see it too often where people don't pay attention to."

Harley Leiber: "East of 82nd, everyone who is bipedal should wear an orange reflective vest."

Aww, via Reddit: "As someone who is one degree away from TWO people who have killed a pedestrian while driving in the last 18 months, this article strikes home. While I know most people here mean well by sharing their experiences with transportation issues, Let me say this one thing: Please never drive while intoxicated. Ever."

Caltrans increases traffic line width with high-profile striping on the state highway system

Motorists across the state of California will notice a new generation of road striping on highways, freeways, and interstates that is wider, brighter, and long-lasting. The California DOT (Caltrans) has increased the width of all 4-in.-wide Longitudinal traffic lines to 6-in.-wide high-profile striping on the state highway system.

The new 6-in.-wide, highly reflective road striping debuted in 2017 as part of the "Across the Top" I-80 project in Sacramento. Crews made various improvements across a 10-mile section of I-80, and the $136 The million project was an ideal project to test the new striping since the interstate is heavily traveled and a main route to the capital city. Caltrans was able to see if the materials could sustain the wear and tear of heavy traffic, and monitor the durability and effectiveness Of the new striping.

Using glass bead retro-reflectivity, light rays enter glass beads and are reflected at drivers allowing motorists to better see the traffic lines on the road.

After seeing the success, Caltrans decided to re-stripe 50,000-plus lane miles of the state highway system in the next decade with the new road demarcation lines replacing the longtime standard 4-in.-wide stripes. The material of tape and thermal plastic embedded with glass beads. Both the reflective material and reflective tape used in striping contains tiny glass beads that enhance reflectivity, particularly when illuminated by vehicle headlamps or in rainy conditions. a minimum level of reflectivity despite constant heavy wear. However, not all parts of the state will see the new striping material because it will not be applied on roadways above 3,000 ft in elevation where snow removal equipment is used. The shovels that scrape snow and ice off the roadway would also remove the thermoplastic striping so Caltrans' maintenance crews will continue to repaint those lines when damage occurs.

Also disappearing, as the new striping is laid, are the raised, non-reflective pavement markers known as Botts' dots, named after the Caltrans scientist who invented them in 1953. With the advent of the new striping, the ubiquitous little bumps have lived Their usefulness as lane separators.

Caltrans has implemented the use of health marking material by developing warranty-based performance specifications, permanent tape, methyl methacrylate (MMA), and thermoplastic with enhanced wet-night visibility. The marking selection guideline was developed to aid Project Engineers with the process of selecting Traffic marking on highways. The marking material selection process is based on the estimated remaining pavement service life, pavement type, climate, location, and the expected performance of the striping material.

Caltrans recognizes the potential cost-effectiveness and safety enhancement of broader traffic stripes and warranty-based markings on a system-wide basis. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Amendment (SNPA) to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Based on the document, the minimum retained retro-reflectivity of markings.

Based on the technical literature and agency responses, wider stripes improve driving conditions such as long-range detection under nighttime, stimulation of the peripheral vision, lane positioning, and driver comfort. Markings provide an important means of visually communicating how drivers must use a roadway The new 6-in. striping, with its wider and brighter profile, is expected to enhance safety for older drivers and truckers as well as in challenging conditions such as rain. Per FHWA's Handbook for Design Roadways for the Aging Population, the increase in the width of longitudinal traffic lines benefits older drivers and increases the visibility of lane line delineation for all road users by providing improved roadway guidance, especially during periods of impaired visibility, such as wet night conditions.

Markings must be capable of conveying information during inclement weather and evening hours when there may be little to no illumination from overhead lighting. The 6-in.-wide striping provides a valuable continuous stream of information about the roadway that signs or signals cannot supply. They alert drivers to changes in the roadway and help them maintain their position inside the lane without requiring the driver to take their eyes off the road. Striping is used to separate vice traffic streams and channel traffic into the proper roadway positions. When motorists operate a vehicle, they use markings to guide them through the roadway.

More visible markings with wider widths and higher retro-reflectivity can increase the distance with which the lines are detectable and may improve a motorists' ability to perceive the marking in their peripheral vision. These enhancements improve lane keeping and positively impact safety.

As Caltrans prepares for future innovations and technologies, the department has been proactive in reaching out to transportation industry leaders. Caltrans consulted with auto manufacturers Tesla and Google, two major players in the autonomous vehicle industry, about the striping changeover. Autonomous vehicles feature configured sensor The technology of the digits of the highways, the lines of the highways and the high-performance markings of the highways and the markings. The 6-in.-wide highly reflective striping will be a better roadway guide for autonomous vehicles than the 4-in. striping.

Caltrans'goal is to enhance safety on California state highways and make it easier to navigate no matter what time a person travels. In the past, fog and heavy rain have hindered motorists' abilities to see the striping on the road so it is Caltrans hope With the bright material 6-in. striping will provide more visibility. With the new material being used to enhance reflectivity and the light rays from vehicle headlamps that project off the glass beads, the white 6-in. reflective striping will shine a safe passage For motorists traveling in the Golden State.

Not wearing life jackets is among the causes of deaths in marine accidents

Lack of wearing a safety jacket on small, medium and large vessels is among the causes of deaths during navigation in the Amazon rivers. So says the Fluvial Captaincy of Santarém, Pará. In 2017, the Captaincy opened 28 inquiries to investigate nautical accidents in the region. In all, 19 people died from accidents.

Small boats are widely used by the riverside as a means of transport. Most vessels even have the safety vest, but crew and passengers are unaware of wearing it. For individual use, the vest allows the person to remain afloat in the water in the event of a wreck.

"Usually what we see here in Santarém and the municipalities of the jurisdiction is a disobedience to the rules. Many times we approach some vessels that their crew have their vests with reflective tape, but insist on not wearing them," explains the deputy commander of the Fluvial Captaincy of Santarém, Renato Ferreira.

The Fluvial Captaincy states that any vessel must offer life jackets for the right amount of crew and passengers. Throughout the year, campaigns are developed in schools to warn of the risk of accidents and the importance of using rescue equipment while traveling.

CRUISING WITH DOGS

We are five minutes out of the port of St. Petersburg, Fla., bumping up against a light chop coming across the long fetch of Tampa Bay, and Junior Seaman Sammy has what looks like a smile on his face. But I recognize that Mona No, he's thinking about giving back the breakfast kibbles that are suddenly sitting uneasily on his stomach. I can tell that he's thinking about how to keep his balance because his four legs are splayed. He's hunkered down like a basketball player waiting for the tip-off. In other words, he's trying with all the might his five-month life experience can muster to be ready for anything. He just has no idea what it's going to be.

Meanwhile, Chief Security Officer Bindi, with a year and a half of maritime work under her belt, has assumed her customary perch beside the helmsman and is dozing unsympathetically as we get underway. Ho-hum, she's thinking, at least I'm not in the car. For the day, she'll keep to the shady side and lap up a bit of water from the cockpit water bowl. Otherwise, she'll sleep or, when the sales are up, keep one wary eye Out for signs of rebellion. You can't trust a sail to stay where it belongs is her motto. She's a born powerboater.

Which is all part of the great adventure that is cruising with pets? When you introduce a dog to cruising, you can never be sure what's going to happen. Sammy, for example, has just completed his first month aboard and considers every inch of the Down runs, Sammy has his sleeping crate and a basket of toys to play with; on deck, he has boats to watch and ducks to bark at. Day and night, his home rocks gently in her slip.

But then one morning, the lines come in, the hum of the engine, and without warning his home is slurping along through the water. And Sammy's whole world changes. What's his reaction going to be, I wonder. First, the Mona Lisa smile and the Seeing that no one else seems the least bit ruffled, he searches for a safe place to settle. Thirty minutes later, he is sleeping soundly on the cockpit floor, his legs twitching as he dreams. The junior cadet is now a junior cruiser.

Sammy, like all other novice seamen, has a lot to learn about cruising on the Bay, whether he's off on a day sail or a two-week cruise. So here are some of the things that he and others like him-and, of Course, their owners—need to know.

Every dog, like every human crewmember, needs to have a sturdy, well-designed lifejacket. You want one that fits well and won't slip off, yet also doesn't impede movement. It should also have good handles for lifting out of the water, guiding on and off the dock and snagging if the dog decides to jump ship. The lifejacket should have light-reflective tapes or even an emergency water-activated beacon. Bindi wears an Aussie Natural, while Sammy sports a Paws Aboard model. Rough Wear also makes good

When does your dog need to wear it? That depends on some factors and, in the end, your good judgment. Slip it on when the weather is rough if your pooch tends to fall (or jump) off things On the afternoon, the occasional wear lifejackets offshore and in rough weather. Lifejackets are also required when riding in the dinghy more than a very short trip In calm water. When it's rough, I also add a tether to make sure they stay in the cockpit. I'll also do that while docking because mine is always ill-behaved and run around and bark. Perhaps yours are better.

For all those non-lifejacket occasions—like dozing in the cockpit and people-watching in the slip, Bindi and Sammy wear their harnesses. Bindi and Sammy's current models are called Truelove and have reflective tape all over and small but sturdy handles on the back There are some other good ones. Getting a good fit is key.

I use European leashes as tethers because they have a lot of rings to allow for varying lengths.

Finally, they need identification tags on harnesses and life jackets. I particularly like the ones from Boomerang, which slip over the straps rather than dangle from the leash ring.

For short cruises, teaching the dog to "go" on the deck or an artificial grass pad or pee pad is probably not necessary, unless you plan to anchor out where there is no land access. There are a few anchorages on the Bay with nice Sandy beaches in parkland, but most of the Chesapeake is private property and owners are often not keen on having cruisers dinghy up with their dog—especially if they don’t clean But after matter where you are, as a pet owner you are obligated to pick up pet stuff and hang onto it until you get to a receptacle. Be sure to carry plenty of biodegradable poop bags. We store the picked up poop in a separate little garbage can until we get home or into a marina. Many marinas now provide poop-bag dispensers and a separate collection can.

I've never met a marina on the Chesapeake that didn't welcome dogs. So many people now cruise with their pets that it would be bad business for them not to put out the Fido mat. As I mentioned, many now provide Poop bags. Some have designated walking areas, but if they don't, avoid the picnic areas. Common sense applies.

Some marinas are better for dogs than others, either because of their docks or because of their location more than anything else. Floating docks are a dog-cruiser's ideal. But most of the Bay's marinas have fixed docks because there is little tide change; On and off is usually pretty easy.

Why are safety strips being attached to utility poles?

Q. What are all of the yellow stripes on the telephone poles on Division Street and Central Park Avenue? Seems more are popping up every day to elsewhere.

A. Several Ask the Times readers have asked about these reflective strips going up on utility poles at various locations in Davenport. We contacted the MidAmerican Energy Company for more information. Geoff Greenwood, media relations manager for MidAmerican Energy Company, responded:

"Those reflective yellow strips your reader spotted are safety markers that MidAmerican Energy is adding to a growing number of utility poles. The high-visibility markers improve safety by making poles more visible to drivers, particularly at night. We hope the reflective markers will also enhance our system reliability by reducing the number of vehicle crashes into utility poles."

"MidAmerican Energy installed reflective strips on 500 utility poles within the city limits."

Q. About two months ago, the bridge over I-80 in Eldridge, Iowa, was struck by a semi. How/when will it be fixed? -- Linda

A. Several Ask the Times readers have asked about the Interstate 80 bridge. We contacted the Iowa Department of Transportation with your questions. Mark F. Brandl, P.E., Davenport Construction Office, the residential construction engineer, responded on Aug. 30:

"Hopefully, the bridge will be fixed and ready to open in a couple of weeks. However, the closure barricades may remain due to the City of Davenport work at Veteran's Memorial Parkway. We're coordinating with them as the original barricades belong to the City. "

Q. Why aren't more trees planted in LeClaire Park, Davenport? All of them now are along the river. Why not come in the middle to offer more shade? -- Quad-Cities Resident

A. Steve Ahrens, executive officer, Riverfront Improvement Commission, provided the following response, "I would say that while trees in the middle of the park lawn would be great for shade, they would block the view of the stage and disrupt various layouts for the numerous festivals, concerts, and special events that take place there each year."

CPW reminds the public to wear life vests

As stand-up paddle boards become more and more popular, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds paddlers to wear personal floatation devices when using this watercraft.

He had not wear a PFD and fell off his board when the wind picked up and stirred the water. He had to be rescued by park rangers. His wife, who was wearing a life safety jacket, also fell off her board but was able to swim to shore.

"So many people see paddleboards as low risk, but if you fall off your board into cold water you can get into trouble very quickly," said Kirstin Copeland, manager at Ridgway State Park.

On rivers or reservoirs, if a paddleboarder falls off there is no guarantee that the board will remain within reach. In rivers, the board can be pulled away by the current. In lakes, a board can be pushed away quickly by the wind.

The danger is amplified on reservoirs and ponds in the afternoons in Colorado when fast-moving storms bring high winds and stir up waves. Water temperature is also a factor; even though the weather has been hot recently, water in rivers and reservoirs remain in the 50-degree range which will quickly impair swimming ability.

According to CPW regulations, on any watercraft, the number of life jackets on board must match the number of passengers. Anyone 13 years or younger, when on the water, must wear a life jacket at all times. Every kind of craft is subject to the Regulations, including paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, sailboats, and sailboards.

Last year at Ridgway State Park four adults who were not wearing life jackets had to be rescued after falling from paddleboards. Two youngsters who were wearing adult-sized life jackets with reflective tape also had to rescue. The ill-fitting PFDs did not support them in the Water properly. Children must be fitted with properly sized PFDs.

"Anything can happen at any time on the water, so we urge people to be cautious and consider their own and their loved one’s safety while they’re enjoying the water," Copeland said.

Fire Department records high attendance at weekend changing rooms

This weekend, the Military Fire Department was in full swing on the busiest beaches in the state. In all of them, actions were carried out to prevent and advise vacationers who passed through the spa, also remembering the importance of environmental awareness. The Firefighters' School of Life program, which works with children in the changing rooms, was introduced to the little ones. At Atalaia beach, in Salinópolis, besides the site preservation campaign, the firefighters attended several occurrences inside and outside the water.

In all, more than 270 calls were made in the main resorts of the state. Just this Sunday (21), the service of Life Guard of the Military Fire Department attended, in total, 166 occurrences. Salinópolis came first with 48 records in total, followed by Mosqueiro with 25; Ajuruteua with 22 and Outeiro with 20 occurrences on the beaches. The most frequent were sharps accidents, localized child, marine animal accident, emergency transport care, and excoriation. In all, 5,735 warnings and various guidelines were recorded during the prevention of lifeguards on the state beaches, only on Sunday.

On Saturday (20), the Military Fire Department attended, in total, 71 occurrences in the changing rooms. The largest number was registered in Mosqueiro, with 13 calls, followed by the beaches of Crispim and Salinópolis (12); Outeiro (09); and Beja (05). In Salinas, accidents with sharp objects were recorded; localized child; an accident with sea animals; emergency transport; kite line injury and excoriation. On the 20th, there were 2,491 warnings and miscellaneous guidance by the lifeguards, according to firefighters in the region.

Another resort that recorded a lot of movement over the weekend was Marudá beach, inMarapanim. Considered a great option for bathers to enjoy the sea bath, it was found an increase in the flow of vacationers who frequent the beach at this time of year. Thus, the Firefighters of the Castanhal Group did the prevention with its effective, also acting in the beaches of Crispim, Algodoal, and Camará, located in the same region. According to the commander of the prevention of lifeguard, Captain J. Ferreira, the most common occurrences in the health resort are the accidents with marine animals and small cuts by sharp objects found in the sand.

Two cases of drowning children mobilized search teams this Sunday (21), in Salinópolis and Cametá. Lifeguards were called in to respond to a missing occurrence on Farol Velho beach in Salinópolis. Henrique dos Santos Costa, 11, a resident of Paragominas, went on a picnic with his aunt and friends. According to the responsible report, the boy disappeared while bathing in the sea. The searches made by divers and lifeguards supported by the Air Group helicopter, but until 6 pm Sunday, it was unsuccessful in finding the child. The search resumed this morning (22).

In Cametá, firefighters responded to another occurrence of child drowning. The victim's body was found on Sunday night (21). Emanuel Santos Teixeira, 5, a resident of Curralinho, Marajó, was with his mother in a caravan on Aldeia beach, when, around 3:15 pm, he disappeared near his acquaintances in the resort.

Atalaia beach, in Salinópolis, was the perfect place for the practice of kitesurfing, a water sport that mixes the use of a kite with a surfboard, to enjoy the winds to surf over the waters. Those who circulated along the beach easily came across dozens of sports practitioners. Among them, the youngest kiteboarder in Pará. At just 11 years old, Elroy Ribeiro Teixeira was training alongside his father Elielson Teixeira, to participate, for the first time, in a competition of this sport in the beginner sport. Residents on the island of Maiandeua, better known as Algodoal, district of the municipality of Maracanã, northeast of Pará, the two went to Salinópolis, where the boy will compete.

With three years of experience in kitesurfing, Eielson passed all the lessons to her son who has been practicing the sport for a year. "It all started when I sold my house in Algodoal and with that, I came to Salinópolis, where I met and learned to practice sports," he says. When playing the sport, explains Eielson, safety is critical. For him, the life jacket with reflective tape is essential to ensure the safety of those who practice the sport. The Firefighters attentive to advise on care in the practice of kitesurfing and provide care in case of accidents during sports. There was no record of any accident with practitioners of the sport over the weekend in the municipality.

Between 18 and 21, the Department of Traffic of the State of Pará registered 502 violations. Of these, 116 were for driving with the vehicle without registration or a proper license and to alcohol, which is the act of driving under the influence of alcohol or any other psychoactive substance that determines addiction. Another 14 refusals of refusal to undergo a test, clinical examination, expertise or other procedure to certify influence of alcohol or other psychoactive substance.

Also, 75 violations recorded for failing to keep the daylight low, in tunnels provided with street lighting and on highways, and 23 violations for driving a motorcycle, scooter or moped without wearing a safety helmet with visor or goggles and reflective clothing with the norms and specifications approved by the National Traffic Council.