NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH- ROAD SAFETY

June is National Safety Month, which focuses on reducing injuries and death. We have already offered our tips on safety at home and work, and our final piece touches on Road Safety. Accidents involving vehicles are one of the top causes of death worldwide. It is imperative that everyone on the roadway follow all vehicle laws, to keep everyone inside and outside of the car safe. Educating yourselves, as well as others, can ensure people are responsible drivers and pedestrians.

Courtesy of LASD

Here are some California Vehicle Codes you may not know are in effect: 

• You are only allowed to have headphones or earbuds in ONE ear at a time while operating a vehicle or bicycle (27400 CVC). • You CANNOT sound your horn at a light at the car in front of you because you are impatient or they are going too slow. There must be a reason you are doing so, such as preventing an accident or there is a need for immediate assistance. (27001 (a) CVC). • You MUST yield to the right of a roadway when an emergency vehicle is approaching, and has their lights and siren activated. DO NOT stop in place. Oftentimes, the emergency vehicle needs to drive in the center of the road or in traverse traffic. If your vehicle is not stopped to the right of the road, it may block the path of the emergency vehicle, delay its response, and create a hazard for other vehicles attempting to merge to the right (21806 CVC). • If you see a school bus with its red lights flashing and a stop sign arm extended from its side, you MUST stop your vehicle. On a two-lane road, this law applies to motorists in BOTH directions. You may not proceed past the school bus until the lights are no longer flashing and the stop sign arm is retracted (22454 (a) CVC). • When you see a stopped authorized emergency vehicle, a tow truck displaying flashing amber warning lights, or a marked Department of Transportation vehicle that is displaying flashing amber warning lights, you MUST approach with caution and, before passing, make a lane change into an available lane, if practicable, and not illegal, before proceeding past (21809 (a) CVC). • California law requires all children eight years of age or younger to ride in the back seat of a vehicle. Children eight years of age OR who have reached 4’9” in height may still be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum, must be secured by a seat belt. (27363 CVC).