Road Safety Knowledge Center
Empowering communities with the knowledge to make every journey a safe one. Our commitment to safety extends beyond installation to education.
Safety for Every Road User
Road safety is a shared responsibility. We've compiled essential guidelines for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians to help foster a culture of awareness and mutual respect on our streets and highways.
Eliminate Distractions
Put your phone away and out of reach. Texting, calling, or even using a hands-free device significantly reduces your cognitive awareness. Set your GPS and music before you start driving. A moment of distraction is all it takes to cause a preventable tragedy.
Maintain Safe Following Distance
Use the 'three-second rule' as a minimum. When the vehicle ahead of you passes a fixed object, you should be able to count three full seconds before you pass the same object. Increase this distance in adverse weather conditions like rain, snow, or fog.
Master Your Blind Spots
Before changing lanes, always perform a physical head check over your shoulder in addition to using your mirrors. Adjust your side mirrors to minimize blind spots, but never rely on them completely. Be especially cautious of motorcycles and smaller vehicles.
Be Visible, Be Seen
Wear bright or reflective clothing, especially at dawn, dusk, and at night. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing to ensure they see you. Avoid assuming a driver has seen you just because a traffic signal indicates you can walk.
Use Designated Crossings
Always cross at marked crosswalks or intersections. Jaywalking significantly increases your risk. If no crosswalk is available, find a well-lit area with a clear view of traffic in both directions and wait for a safe gap before crossing.
Stay Alert and Unplugged
Avoid wearing headphones or being engrossed in your phone while walking near traffic. Your hearing is a critical sense for detecting approaching vehicles. Stay aware of your surroundings and the sounds of traffic to react quickly if needed.
Follow Traffic Laws
As a cyclist, you have the same rights and responsibilities as a motorist. Obey all traffic signs and signals, ride in the same direction as traffic, and use hand signals to indicate your intentions to turn or stop. This makes your actions predictable to drivers.
Ride Defensively and Visibly
Assume drivers may not see you. Use front (white) and rear (red) lights, especially in low-light conditions. Wear a helmet and bright clothing. Position yourself in the lane to be visible and avoid riding in drivers' blind spots, especially near large trucks.
Be Aware of Road Hazards
Scan the road ahead for potholes, storm drains, gravel, and other hazards that can cause a fall. Be especially cautious at intersections and when crossing railway tracks. Give yourself plenty of space to maneuver around obstacles safely.
Of serious crashes are due to human error. Your choices matter.
More likely to be in a crash when talking on a cell phone (hands-free or not).
Of fatal pedestrian crashes occur at night. Visibility is critical.
Decoding Common Road Signs
Understanding the language of the road is fundamental to safety. Here's a quick guide to the shapes and colors of the most common signs you'll encounter.
This shape is exclusively used for Stop signs. When you see an octagonal sign, you must come to a complete stop at the marked stop line, before the crosswalk, or before the intersection. You must yield the right-of-way to any pedestrians or vehicles before proceeding.
A downward-pointing equilateral triangle is used for Yield signs. This means you must slow down and be prepared to stop. You must yield the right-of-way to traffic in the intersection or on the roadway you are entering, proceeding only when it is safe to do so.
Diamond-shaped signs are used to indicate warnings of existing or possible hazards on or adjacent to the roadway. These signs are typically yellow with black lettering or symbols. Examples include 'Slippery When Wet,' 'Sharp Curve,' 'Deer Crossing,' or 'Signal Ahead.' They call for caution and often a reduction in speed.
Rectangular signs (with the longer dimension vertical or horizontal) display regulations, guidance, or information. White rectangles with black lettering are regulatory signs (e.g., Speed Limit). Green rectangles provide guidance and directional information (e.g., street names, destinations). Blue rectangles indicate motorist services (e.g., gas, food, lodging).
A pentagon-shaped sign indicates a school zone or school crossing ahead. These signs are fluorescent yellow-green to be highly visible. When you see this sign, you must slow down, be extra vigilant for children, and obey the posted school zone speed limit during active hours.
A circular sign is an advance warning of a railroad crossing. This sign is always yellow with a black 'X' and the letters 'RR'. It is posted ahead of the actual crossing to give you sufficient time to slow down and prepare to check for trains. It is a warning, not the final crossing marker.