Tag Archives: OTS

Headlight, fog light glare discomfort depends on age, gender

Dear Street Smarts, Q: I ride a bike and drive to and from work in the dark these days. Is it me or are cars headlamps getting brighter? Are more people driving with their brights on? Do all these pickups … Continue reading

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Posted in California Vehicle Code, commercial vehicles, DMV, NHTSA, Office of Traffic Safety, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | View Comments

Wet weather tips for drivers, cyclists ad pedestrians

Rain is in the forecast all weekend long, as well as at least one day next week. Here are some tips to help you get to your destination safety from the California Office of Traffic Safety, with a few additives … Continue reading

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Posted in Aptos, bicycle, bicycle education, cell phones, child passenger safety, child seats, children, cycling, driver education, Driver safety, Felton, law enforcement, Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrian education, pedestrian safety, pedestrians, police, Public safety, rain, roads, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Senior drivers, seniors, Soquel, speed, Speed limit, teen drivers, teens, texting, tires, traffic laws, traffic safety, traffic signal, traffic signs, travel, Uncategorized, watsonville, weather | Tagged , , , , | View Comments

Drugged driving, cell phone use behind the wheel problems on California’s roads

Drugged drivers and those distracted by their cell phones are big problems California’s motorists would like to see addressed, according to a Traffic Safety Survey released Tuesday by the Office of Traffic Safety. Late this past summer, information gatherers questioned … Continue reading

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Posted in cell phones, distracted drivers, Driving impaired, DUI, Office of Traffic Safety, texting, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | View Comments

Holiday driving, safety

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Hope you safely celebrate this holiday with food, family and friends. If you plan to hit the road to get to your turkey day holiday celebration, keep in mind that AAA predicts 43 million people nationwide who … Continue reading

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Posted in AAA, California Vehicle Code, consumer affairs, distracted drivers, driver education, Driver safety, Driving impaired, drowsy driving, DUI, fuel conservation, highways, impaired drivers, inattentive drivers, Office of Traffic Safety, Public safety, traffic laws, Uncategorized, weather | Tagged , , , , , | View Comments

Rain in the forecast, are you and your car ready?

Rain, or at least some sort of precipitation is a possibility these next few days. Motorists, are you ready? Below are some tips to follow before, during and after a wet weather occurrence tips from the California Office of Traffic … Continue reading

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Posted in driver education, Driver safety, Office of Traffic Safety, Uncategorized, weather | Tagged , , , , | View Comments

Teen seat belt use at all time high

Seat belt use among teens has reached record proportions, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. In the past two years, teen seat belt use has jumped from 94 percent in 2010 to 96.1 percent this year, a number … Continue reading

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Posted in Office of Traffic Safety, Santa Cruz, seat belts, teens, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | View Comments

Side-by-side cycling not illegal, but there are rules to follow when doing it

The topic of bicycle riders traveling side-by-side on local roads is an ongoing discussion. Most recently, a conversation has been taking place on the blog and in the comments section after cycling related Street Smarts columns appear on the Sentinel’s … Continue reading

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Posted in bicycle, California Vehicle Code, cycling, Office of Traffic Safety, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | View Comments

Street Smarts not quite so fair, reader says

Dear Street Smarts, Q: Ramona–you were doing well with this article (“Us vs. them,” Monday, June 25) until you laid all the blame on motorists: ‘Even if it is perceived that “the other guy” is being inconsiderate, try to be … Continue reading

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Posted in Bicycling, bike safety, Capitola, county, cycling, distracted drivers, driver education, Driver safety, Felton, Motorcycles, Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrians, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, share the road, skateboards, traffic laws, traffic signs, transportation, Uncategorized, watsonville | Tagged , , , , , , , , | View Comments

Us vs. them: Can bicyclists and motorists get along on Santa Cruz County’s roads?

Santa Cruz County touts itself as being laid back and a cycling-friendly mecca. But is it? Every time anything cycling related appears in this column, rage comes out. This past Thursday’s column is a perfect example. Verbal single finger solutes … Continue reading

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Posted in Aptos, bicycle, bicycle education, Bicycling, big rigs, bike safety, California Driver Handbook, California Vehicle Code, Capitola, CHP, cycling, disabled drivers, DMV, driver education, Driver safety, Felton, law enforcement, Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrian education, pedestrian safety, pedestrians, Public safety, road rage, roads, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, Scotts Valley, Senior drivers, share the road, Soquel, speed, tailgating, teen drivers, teens, traffic, Traffic collisions, traffic hazards, traffic laws, traffic safety, transportation, UCSC, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | View Comments

Distracted driving, cell phone use behind the wheel means less brain power for driving

Recently, Street Smarts received a letter from a reader who wanted to spread the word about the dangers of tailgating and, more specifically, driving while texting and/or talking on cell phones – even while using hands-free capabilities. You see, she … Continue reading

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Posted in cell phones, distracted drivers, driver education, Driver safety, inattentive drivers, Intersection, Office of Traffic Safety, Public safety, Red light runners, Senior drivers, tailgating, teen drivers, texting, Traffic collisions, traffic laws, traffic light, traffic safety, transportation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | View Comments