Halloween safety: dangerous candy is not the only concern for children, watch out for traffic
Did you know: Children are three times more likely to get struck and killed by a car on Halloween, compared to any other day in the year, this according the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study that spanned across 15 years. There’s a lot more foot traffic on neighborhood streets and children’s Halloween costumes aren’t the most reflective. Now is the time to plan and prepare in advance to keep our children safe while they trick-or-treat. Remember things like bringing a flashlight, wearing reflective clothing and staying hyper-aware of your surroundings. Drivers, please put your cell phones down, keep your eyes on the road and slow down.
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National Pedestrian Safety Month
Staying on trend with pedestrian safety -- just a friendly reminder that October is National Pedestrian Safety month! So making sure we keep our trick-or-treaters safe out there is quite timely.
TxDOT wants to remind drivers and pedestrians to stay alert and watch out for each other. Pedestrian traffic deaths went up by 15% in Texas last year. The Lone Star State saw more than 5,000 traffic crashes involving pedestrians, and more than 800 of those crashes were deadly.
So drivers, here’s what you need to keep in mind:
- Always stop for pedestrians in crosswalks — when it’s dark, it’s harder to see them crossing,
- And your reaction time is key, so it’s imperative that you keep your full attention on the road and put your cellphones down.
- When turning, yield the right of way to pedestrians.
- Be cautious when passing stopped buses or other vehicles — be aware of students getting off the bus or people getting dropped off at their destination.
- And stick to the posted speed limit -- in case you see someone unexpectedly cross the street.
The warning isn’t just for drivers -- pedestrians play a big role in maintaining safety
- If you’re walking, cross the street only at intersections and crosswalks. Look left, right, then left again before crossing.
- Follow all traffic and crosswalk signs.
- Keep your head up! Avoid looking at something other than the direction you’re walking
- Remember to wear reflective clothing or use a flashlight — even if you’re just taking a short brisk evening stroll in your neighborhood. It’s important for drivers to pay attention and look out for people walking, and for pedestrians to make sure they take steps to be seen
- Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
Drive safely my friends :)
KPRC 2 traffic expert
Astros World Series closures in Houston
Houston is getting ready for the World Series traffic.
KPRC 2 has obtained the traffic closure plans from the Mayor’s Office Special Events. Go here for the full list of closures before roads are cordoned off and traffic moves to a crawl.
Have a traffic question? I ca
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Airports
Travelers are still experiencing temporary lane closures along North Terminal Road at Bush Airport, which leads to Terminals C, D and E. The lane closures will be in place for about four weeks. The temporary lane closures will impact traffic congestion, specifically during afternoon peak travel times between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
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Construction closures
Major Closure for Tomball: Permanent closure of the northbound Boudreaux exit ramp on the Tomball Tollway beginning Friday, Oct. 28, at 9 p.m. Drivers may use the Northpointe exit ramp to access the frontage road.
Houston’s big projects
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