Back to school, back to safety

When school starts on Aug. 18 drivers need to keep a watchful eye for pedestrians big and small.

“We’re going to have all kinds of kids out, we’ve got new drivers coming out,” said Cheyenne County Sheriff John Jenson.

Both Jenson and Sidney’s Chief of Police BJ Wilkinson advised that drivers slow down and pay extra attention in school zones.

“With school coming up, they really need to get their head wrapped around, it doesn’t matter how late they are, they need to leave earlier and allow more time,” Jenson said.

Motorists need to remember that kids might not be the only distracted parties on the road once school begins, he said.

“Put the cell phone down,” Wilkinson said. “Quit texting, quit talking in school zones. Whatever business you need to take care of, you can take care of it after you leave the school zone.”

Jenson and Wilkinson agreed that distracted driving was a huge problem in the Sidney area.

“Your inattention makes you manipulate the car just as if you were under the influence of alcohol,” Wilkinson said. “In the time it takes you to look down at your phone for three seconds and then look up at average speed, you’ve covered about a football field and a half.”

In 2012, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributed 3,328 deaths to distracted driving crashes.

Area drivers are not generally conscientious of pedestrians or bikers, in the opinion of both Jenson and Wilkinson.

While motorists should stay vigilant in watching for cyclists, bikers should also be aware of traffic laws.

“Bicyclists need to know, that they’re required when riding on the roadway to follow all traffic laws just as if they were in a car,” Wilkinson said. “So they have to signal, they have to stop at stop signs and stop lights, they have to ride with the flow of traffic.”

Cyclists should always wear a helmet and bright clothing.

“Because I can tell you that the pavement is very unforgiving, as are car fenders,” he said.

Drivers should remember to leave enough space between their vehicles and cyclists when passing a biker on the road. Motorists often forget to leave extra room to allow for side mirrors, which is especially a problem when driving a truck or SUV with extended mirrors.

“So you think you’re swinging out wide enough and the next thing you know, you’ve clipped a guy in the head with your mirror,” Wilkinson said.

Although drivers need to be on the lookout for those traveling on foot, walkers should also practice road safety.

“Pedestrians need to cross at corners and use the cross walks,” Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson cited an accident in April of this year as the perfect example of why those traveling on foot should heed traffic laws. When Donald Deaver was crossing 10th Ave., near Newton St., he was hit by a pickup truck and sustained severe head injuries.

“Stepping in between cars and jay walking will get you hit,” he said.