Dangerous Weapons

1. Dangerous Weapons

2. Vehicle Safety • Pedestrian Safety – how to move safely around vehicles • Passenger Safety – being safe with someone else driving • Driving Safety – being a safe driver • Vehicle Safety – knowing the vehicle you are driving is safe

3. Pedestrian Safety Operational Risk Management Getting hit by a car can result in injury (long or short term injury) or death. The resulting damage can include physical limitations, loss of income, loss of life and various amounts of emotional grief for self and family members. Getting robbed, kidnapped or assaulted from a vehicle is another possible hazard. Injury from falls are another hazard.

4. Risks • Location (low or high traffic area) • Conditions (visibility, traffic speed) • Frequency of pedestrian travel • Level of alertness • Following safe practices • Population of walkers

5. Location • Parking lot • Neighborhood road • Highway • Bus Stop • Sidewalk (suburban or downtown) • Crosswalk • Hiking Trail • Mall

6. Conditions • Visibility • Dark outside • Poor Weather • Are you alone? • How tall are you? • Are you in a driver’s blind spot? • Can you see the drivers face? • What is the drivers state of mind? • In a hurry to get home? • Drunk or altered state of consciousness?

7. Pedestrian Practices • Alone? With Friends? Other people around? • Distracted? Tired? • Do you walk this route a lot? (good & bad) • Do you know safe pedestrian practices and do you follow them? • Stay alert & have keys ready.

8. Statistics • 70 percent of pedestrians killed in 2007 were males. • Almost three out of every four pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas (72 percent). • Nearly half (48 percent) of pedestrian fatalities occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

9. Walking Safety • Walk on the Sidewalk • Stay on the sidewalk and crosswalks. Avoid walking in traffic where there are no sidewalks or crosswalks. If you have to walk on a road that does not have sidewalks, walk facing traffic (i.e. walk on the left side of the road). • Cross at Intersections • Most people are hit by cars when they cross the road at places other than intersections. • Look left, right, and left for traffic • Stop at the curb and look left, right, and left again for traffic. Stopping at the curb signals drivers that you intend to cross. Cross in marked crosswalks and obey the signal. • Don’t Hitch hike.

10. Walking Safety • See and Be Seen • Drivers need to see you to avoid you. Stay out of the driver's blind spot. Make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy streets. • Wear bright colors or reflective clothing if you are walking near traffic at night. Carry a flashlight when walking in the dark. • Do not let kids play near traffic or cross the street by themselves. Kids are small, and drivers may not see them if they run into the street. • Watch kids • Children should not cross streets by themselves or be allowed to play or walk near traffic. Kids are small, unpredictable, and cannot judge vehicle distances and speeds. • When kids get older, teach them three things to do before they cross the street: 1) Try to cross at a corner with a traffic light. 2) Stop at the curb. 3) Look left, right, then left again to make sure no cars are coming. • Hold children’s hands in parking lots & don’t let them play in parking lots.

11. Passenger Safety • Hazards for riding in a car include: • Death of self or loved one • Injury of self or loved one • Damage to car or other property • Emotional grief

12. Risks • Proper restraints – on & used correctly (air bags on & not blocked, child restraint devices in use) • Distracting the driver? • Hands & feet inside the vehicle? • Sitting up properly • Secure lose objects in vehicle • Riding with driver who is impaired by drugs or alcohol • In possession of dangerous objects • Hot drink • Sharp objects

13. Driver Safety • Hazards for drivers include: • Death of self or loved one • Injury of self or loved one • Damage to car or other property • Emotional grief • Causing an accident for someone else • Being fined or imprisoned • Facing legal action • Being Carjacked

14. Risks • Proper restraints – on & used correctly (air bags on & not blocked, child restraint devices in use) • Distracted driver? (radio, cell phone, grooming) • Physical limitations (health, visual, DUI) • Sitting up properly • Loose objects in vehicle • Passengers (hitch hikers, distractions) • In possession of dangerous objects • Hot drink

15. Risks • Vehicle limitations (e.g. blind spots, ability to accelerate) • Location • Visibility (weather) • Other drivers • Knowledge of driving laws, safety rules, manufacturers guidelines • Alertness

16. Vehicle Safety Risks • Equipment failure • Tickets or fines • Damage to vehicle or property • Injury or death to occupants or others • Using the vehicle in a way other than it was intended to be used • Too many passengers or too much weight

17. Risk Management • Do regular maintenance per manufacturer’s guidelines • Inspect vehicle prior to driving • Don’t start a vehicle in a closed garage, open the garage door first. • Wear your seat belt • Check your mirrors and adjust seats prior to moving the vehicle • Don’t ignore warning lights • Keep proper insurance on the vehicle as well as tags & title up to date.