Odds and ends, traffic edition, 4/2/08

Oh, the way things work in reverse from their original function. A study shows that red-light cameras make intersections less safe because people tend to stop abruptly.

This assumes, of course, that the primary function of the camera is safety, not revenue.

###

Want to talk about using cell phones while driving?

Carnegie Mellon University scientists have shown that just listening to a cell phone while driving is a significant distraction, and it causes drivers to commit some of the same types of driving errors that can occur under the influence of alcohol.

Sometimes I stand on a street corner in downtown Huntington and notice how many people are talking on the phone while they drive. Usually, the number is higher than I expect, even after having done this for a while.

It's like standing there noticing how many people use their seat belts and how many don't. People in pickup trucks tend to use them the least, while people in smaller cars tend to use them more. Those are my observations. Yours may differ. If so, please let me know.

###

Again, from Science Daily, some tips for keeping younger passengers safe. It seems that fatalities tend to rise when kids turn 12. Here are a few tips for keeping young passengers safer. Notice how many fall under the "well, duh" category.

Insist on seat belts. All occupants should buckle up on every trip,every time.

Set a good example. Don't drink and drive. Avoid distractions like cell phones. Obey the speed limit.

Set rules about safe passenger behaviors. Discuss what's helpful or distracting to a driver.

Monitor your child's travel. Know where he or she is going, with whom, how they are getting there, and when they will be home.

Know and trust the driver. It's not safe for your child to ride with a teen who has less than one year of driving experience.