Photo By Eric Pilgrim | As the daylight hours get shorter and the weather gets colder, Fort Knox Safety...... read more read more
FORT KNOX, Ky. — It’s beginning to look a lot like autumn.
As the trees change color and a chill fills the air, it’s that time of year again, say officers at Fort Knox Safety: time to start making plans for colder weather conditions, shorter days and the hustle and bustle of the holidays.
“People have to prepare now for holiday stress, hazards on the roadways, a lot less daylight time when traveling and colder days,” said Brian Wood, safety officer at Fort Knox Safety. “You have to plan for what’s coming in the fall and winter. The problems don’t go away with each new season.”
Fort Knox Safety officials break a typical year up into two segments: spring/summer safety, and fall/winter safety, each with its own set of unique obstacles and challenges.
Fall and winter focuses on four areas of concern for them, according to Wood; holiday travel plans, holiday fatalities, dangerous snow and ice conditions, and shorter daytime hours.
Based on a 2020 report released by the Kentucky State Police, most of the collisions that occurred on Kentucky roads within a year span happened between October 2019 and February 2020. The highest number — 10,118 — occurred in January.
“More people are traveling during that timeframe to go see their loved ones on vacation during Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year,” said Wood. “Accidents occur because of a little bit of stress, alcohol consumption, and not planning ahead. A lot more people are traveling.”
Some of it is blamed on the large volume of holiday travelers driving to and from home for the holidays, but not all of it.
“The roadways have additional hazards such as ice and black ice,” said Wood. “Ice and snowy weather can impact your drive time. It’s important to be prepared for all of it ahead of time.”
The following checklist, from the National Safety Council, reminds motorists of some ways to reduce the stress and danger of holiday travel:
• Prepare your car for winter and keep an emergency preparedness kit with you.
• Get a good night’s sleep before departing and avoid drowsy driving.
• Leave early, planning ahead for heavy traffic.
• Make sure every person in the vehicle is properly buckled up no matter how long or short the distance traveled.
• Put that cellphone away; many distractions occur while driving, but cellphones are the main culprit.
• Practice defensive driving.
• Designate a sober driver to ensure guests make it home safely after a holiday party. Alcohol, over-the-counter medicines, prescriptions and illegal drugs can cause impairment.
Early-morning physical training sessions outside and children walking or biking to schools pose unique challenges for motorists on post because of lowlight conditions during the shorter daytime hours.
“We have a lot less light in the mornings and evenings, so motorists need to watch out for runners on the installation,” said Wood. “And those doing PT need to wear reflective vests so they can be seen.”
In theory, the mornings should lighten up initially when daylight savings gives way to standard time Nov. 7. However, that means the evenings get dark sooner, making commutes home more challenging.
Wood said all of the planning for fall and winter should begin before conditions get bad.
“Preplanning is Number 1,” said Wood. “Preplanning relieves a lot of stress.”
| Date Taken: | 10.26.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 10.26.2021 15:26 |
| Story ID: | 408047 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 131 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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