The Dodge County Sheriff

This week will be the start-up of most public schools in Dodge County and Wisconsin. This is the time when drivers will need to expect school students standing next to the roads waiting for the school bus stop.

According to Dodge County Traffic Safety Coordinator, Bob Sell, most drivers have established their traffic routes during the summer months that didn’t encounter school bus stops. Sell said driving east into the morning’s sun, along with periods of fog will require drivers to use extra time and care. He reminds motorists that when you see a school bus, watch for kids.

Sell added that the investigation of school bus complaints has been and will remain a priority with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department.

While the Labor Day holiday is the last holiday of summer, don’t make it your last holiday! Slow down, drive sober and buckle up.

“Many state, county and local law enforcement officers will be out in force this weekend to help insure your safety while traveling to and from holiday activities. They don’t like to arrest people…but they will to keep you alive,” said Robert Sell, Dodge County Highway Safety Coordinator.

Sell observes, “The best defense against the “other guy/gal” is still the safety belt. While only about 79 percent of the people buckle up, the value of these restraining devices in almost all traffic accidents is a proven fact. Safety belts reduce the chance of death and injury by 57 percent and the use of child safety seats for children under 4 years of age reduce the chance of death by more than 90 percent and serious injury by almost 80 percent.”

Sell says, “Have a wonderful safe holiday. Be a good host…remember, friends don’t let friends drive drunk. Tighten that belt and drive within the speed limits.” He added that currently Dodge County has recorded 5 traffic fatalities to date, compared to 9 last year at this time.

WHEN YOU SEE A SCHOOL BUS, WATCH FOR KIDS. School days are here once more, and with them are the familiar yellow school buses shuttling students to and from their schools, some of which will start this week and others on September 1^st.

Robert Sell, Dodge County Highway Safety Coordinator and the Dodge County Traffic Safety Commission cautions motorists that Wisconsin’s school bus law is designed to protect school children as they cross the road to get on or off the bus.

Sell said the operator of a motor vehicle must stop not less than 20 feet from the front or rear of a school bus which has stopped and is displaying flashing red warning lights. The motorist must remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the operator turns off the flashing red warning lights. He noted that a conviction of failure to stop for a school bus have a forfeit of $326.50 and four demerit points assessed against a driver’s record. The penalties can be much more severe if bodily injury or death occurSell said that children have a tendency to take for granted that drivers see them and may not take the necessary precautions when a vehicle approaches. He said parents should take the time to teach their children to walk facing traffic, as the law requires, so they can step out of the way if danger threatens. He noted that motorists are urged to drive with special care on rural roads in early morning and afternoon hours when foggy conditions and driving into the sun’s glare require extra care as school children are walking to and from their school bus stops.

Sell added that the investigation of school bus complaints has been and will remain a priority with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department.

Dodge County Highway Safety Coordinator Bob Sell said, “Overconfidence can be a dangerous habit for motorists, bicyclist and pedestrians.” The majority of people killed and injured in traffic crashes are in familiar territory, within 25 miles of home. They felt secure because they knew the danger areas, the streets and traffic patterns. Pedestrians often forget what walking is like once they get behind the wheel.

Be prepared, when driving, cycling or walking, for the worst. “Don’t risk your life on a gamble that some stranger will let you have the right of way just because it should be yours or that the other driver isn’t going to try beating a red light,” Sell added.

Sell noted that as of August 16th of this year Dodge County has four crash fatalities compared to nine last year at this time.

The Dodge County Traffic Safety Commission asks motorists to SLOW DOWN, WEAR THEIR SEAT BELTS and DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE

Dodge County Highway Safety Coordinator Bob Sell states that some people still have misinformation about using safety belts. For example:

Myth: Safety belts can trap you inside a car.

Fact: It takes less than a second to undo a safety belt. Crashes where a vehicle catches fire or sinks in deep water and you are trapped seldom happen. Even if they do, a safety belt may keep you from being knocked out. Your chance to escape will be better if you are conscious.

Myth: Safety belts are good on long trips, but I do not need them if I am driving around town.

Fact: Many traffic deaths happen within 25 miles of home. About 20% occur on roads posted at less then 45 mph.

Myth: Some people are thrown clear in a crash and walk away with hardly a scratch.

Fact: Your chances of not being killed in a crash are much better if you stay inside the vehicle.

Safety belts can keep you from being thrown out of your vehicle, into the path of another vehicle, or onto the road surface, into trees, etc. where serious injury is caused by this second impact.

Myth: If I get hit from the side, I am better off being thrown across the car; away from the crash point.

Fact: When a vehicle is struck from the side, it will move sideways. Everything in the vehicle that is not fastened down, including the passengers, will side toward the point of crash, not away from it.

Myth: At slow speeds, I can brace myself.

Fact: Even at 25 mph, the force of a head-on crash is the same as pedaling a bicycle full speed into a brick wall or diving off a three-story building onto the sidewalk. No one can “brace” for that.

The primary safety belt law that started last year allows law enforcement officers to stop and ticket unbuckled motorists even when no other traffic or equipment violation has been observed. Sell also noted that of Dodge Counties current 4 traffic fatalities, 2 were not belted, 1 involved an ATV and 1 was a pedestrian.

Dodge County Highway Safety Coordinator, Robert Sell stated that, alcohol clouds drivers judgment and that even with the high cost of fines, insurance and possible jail time, some drivers still haven’t realized the devastating impact they can cause to themselves and others. It’s the morning after when the life changing impact of their actions starts to set in for them. This is also the same time when the innocent family members reach the full reality that a father, mother, son, daughter, sister or brother is dead and that it was caused by driving drunk.

Wisconsin had 6,429 crashes in 2009 that were alcohol related that resulted in 238 people killed and 3,793 injured. 2009 alcohol related crashes totaled 105 on Dodge County roads resulted in 8 people killed and 78 persons injured.

Don’t be a part of the problem. Choose to make a difference by understanding the impact caused by the morning after, tell a friend and help others choose not to drink and drive.

Sell added that under current Wisconsin law a first time violation for operating while under the influence of an intoxicant, controlled substance or any other drug can result in a forfeiture of $817.50 plus 6 demerit points and 6-9 months revocation. If a passenger is under 16 years of age the forfeiture goes to $1,132.50 and 12-18 months revocation.

Release for Week of July 26, 2010
WATER ON ROADWAY - HYDROPLANING

In the past few weeks we have experienced heavy rains which caused water to stand or pool on our roadways. According to Dodge County Highway Safety Coordinator Bob Sell, hydroplaning occurs when water on the roadway accumulates in front of your vehicle’s tires faster than the weight of your vehicle can push it out of the way. The vehicle tires lose contact with the road and the vehicle begins a skating like movement across the road which can cause vehicle hydroplaning. He states that if you find yourself hydroplaning, do not brake or turn suddenly as this could throw your car into a skid. Hold the wheel firmly and don’t steer in any other direction but straight ahead. Ease off on the gas until the car slows and your steering returns to normal. If you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping action. If your tires are still in partial contact with the road surface, you should be able to regain control of the vehicle in the same way that you would on snow or ice.

Sell notes that vehicle speed, tire tread depth and water depth are three factors that contribute to hydroplaning.

Release for Week of July 19, 2010
REPORT MISSING OR BLOCKED HIGHWAY SIGNS

Dodge County drivers are asked to observe and report any highway signs that are down, missing or blocked by vegetation. Highway Safety Coordinator, Bob Sell states that the sign problem should be reported to the city for city streets, township for town roads or Dodge County for state and county roads. Sell said that if the road maintenance jurisdiction is unknown, people can call the Dodge County Sheriffs Department at 920-386-3726.