The last big weekend of summer is coming up. Whether you are traveling in Dallas, Houston, Austin or San Antonio, all around Texas millions of drivers will be hitting the road for one final summer getaway before everyone goes back to school and the weather turns cool. Whether you are going travel for a weekend away at the coast or a local lake or simply driving around your own area there are some common things to watch out for:

Motorcycles and Bicycles - As you head out onto the road and feel the wind in your hair or to take that cross country biking trip consider some quick rider safety tips. Drivers should be aware that motorcycles and bicycles have a right to share the road and should be treated as you would treat any other vehicle. Cyclists should also remember that they are required to follow all traffic laws just as they would in a car. Because they have a low profile, motorists often don't see a cycle until it is too late. For motorists who are entering traffic from a driveway or an intersection, remember the rule; look left, right, and then left again, before proceeding.

Pace Yourself – A long day under the hot sun will tire you out. To prevent fatigue and dehydration make sure you eat well and don't use alcohol to satisfy your thirst. Alcohol will increase your dehydration and the hot sun combined with the dehydration will only compound the effects of the alcohol. Don't stay so long that you are totally worn out before you hit the road. If necessary, take turns driving home to avoid drowsy driving and falling asleep behind the wheel. Don't rely on energy drinks to make up for a lack of sleep.

Crowds - As family and friends gather together parking lots or small town festivals can mean big crowds. Be on the lookout for pedestrians and especially for children darting out into the street or behind your vehicle.

Have a happy and enjoyable Labor Day weekend and get home safe.

Labels: bicycle safety, driver safety, drowsy driving, motorcycle safety

Texas is quickly establishing itself as a state that loves cyclists.

Through the actions of the TxDOT, various bicycle advocacy groups, city engineers and citizens, various guidelines and policies have been put into place to ensure that Texas is a state that welcomes cyclists.

This only means that the state is showing concern with the growth and anticipation for bicycle facilities and needs. Here are a few examples of these extraordinary ideas that are being put into play in Texas right now:

• Just a few weeks back, TxDOT released a new guidance memo that cements the importance of building roads to include space for people who walk or ride bicycles. John A. Barton, P.E. highlights to all TxDOT District Engineers that this action is in line with the goals of the Complete Streets Bill --- which is a bill that ensures that roads are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation.



• A more interesting take is the action being done in Austin: two dedicated staff bicycle engineers are hard at work creating green-painted bicycle-dedicated lanes. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikedenton/5219659457/sizes/l/in/photostream/)



• The organization BikeTexas and their site, BikeTexas.org is constantly filled with updates on bike-centric news for Texas. They are advocating the advancing of bicycle access, safety and education. Their site currently houses tons of information concerning Biking in Texas, including Texas bicycle laws, bicycle tourism trails and ways for people to interact with their representatives to get bicycle safety policies to be pushed forward.



• A total of eight Texas cities now have ordinances requiring cars to give 3 feet when passing bikes and pedestrians.



• Fort Worth has efforts planned throughout the year to improve bike infrastructure. This involves building hundreds of bike racks, painting bike lanes and adjusting existing roads to better accommodate the needs and the safety of cyclists.



• Both Dallas and Arlington are planning to create bike networks, policies and priorities implemented through various planned programs. All to accommodate the growing number of both cyclists and pedestrians who have as much right to road safety as motorists in cars or other vehicles.

Learn more about bicycle safety from the National Safety Commission.

Labels: bicycle safety, cyclists, defensive driving, driver education course, driver safety, TXDOT

El Paso kicks off the "Arrive Alive" campaign just in time for the holidays. This is in direct response to last year's number of accidents during the holiday season. This year-long campaign will focus especially on the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists and children.

The "Arrive Alive" campaign states that there are two parts to pedestrian safety. The first is that motorists must realize that pedestrians in a crosswalk have the right of way. The second one is that pedestrians need to know that they must use the crosswalk and not just outright jaywalk. The campaign focuses on informing both sides, for everybody’s safety.

Bicyclists have more or less the same steps to safety. Motorists must realize that sometimes, there will be bicyclists on roads. And for cyclists, they must realize that traffic laws apply to them too --- which means they must also follow road traffic rules, such as stop signs and traffic lights.

For children, the campaign will focus on the education for the correct use of child-restraint devices in vehicles, and for informing motorists to drive a little extra carefully in school zones and crosswalks, where children might be crossing.

This "Arrive Alive" campaign is a joint effort between the El Paso Police Department, the city of El Paso, The Texas Department of Public Safety, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, The University of Texas at El Paso and local school districts.

Read more Thanksgiving Traffic Safety Tips at the National Safety Commission.

Labels: bicycle safety, driver safety, pedestrian safety, traffic laws, traffic safety