Asphalt Stream - Transportation and Traffic

Siemens to Build Streetcars for Atlanta

2011-05-20T09:01:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Siemens Industry, Inc. today announced that it has been awarded a $17.2 million contract from Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), on behalf of the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, to provide Atlanta with four new streetcars. The first car is expected to be delivered in September 2012 with revenue service beginning in early 2013. These will be the first streetcars in Atlanta since 1949 and will mark Siemens entry into the streetcar market in the United States.

"The Atlanta Streetcar project will keep the City of Atlanta competitive with other cities by improving our transit connectivity, boosting our tourism industry, helping local businesses, and building a more sustainable future," Mayor Reed said. "Our agreement with Siemens will ensure that we have modern, world-class vehicles along the route to serve Atlanta residents and visitors for years to come."

The streetcars will be built at Siemens' railcar and locomotive plant in Sacramento, Calif., an operation powered primarily by two megawatts of solar energy. Additionally, major components including the propulsion system will be built at Siemens manufacturing facility in the metro-Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta.

"An investment in the core of the city, in Downtown Atlanta, is good for all of the metropolitan area," said Craig Jones, Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer with Cousins Properties, Inc. "In just 4 years we've seen a complete transformation in One Ninety One Peachtree Tower as well as along the rest of the Peachtree corridor with new restaurants, retail, office, tenants and now the Atlanta Streetcar. We're proud to be a part of this resurgence."

Streetcars are part of the first phase of Atlanta's project to create a comprehensive, regional streetcar and light rail transit system. The streetcars will initially run in a loop, bridging the gap between east and west downtown that was formed by the development of the I-75/85 connector. The new system will provide connectivity for the core of downtown Atlanta, improving accessibility to key business destinations and event venues. The system will also serve as the catalyst for transit oriented development within the loop.

"Siemens is a firm with a proven track record and an exceptional product. At MARTA, it is exciting to work with our partners to introduce this new generation of modern, low-floor rail transit to the greater Atlanta region," said Dr. Beverly A. Scott, General Manager and CEO, MARTA. "This streetcar starter line serves the historic Martin Luther King Center and connects to MARTA and the heart of the Capitol city at Peachtree Center."

The four new streetcars are based on the proven Siemens S70 light rail vehicle platform, which was designed in the United States and is in operation in cities such as Houston, Charlotte, San Diego, Portland and Salt Lake City. The streetcars were purchased through an existing contract with the Utah Transit Authority and will be customized to meet Atlanta's operating environment. The streetcars are fully upgradeable for future light rail operation as the regional system grows.

"Siemens S70 streetcar was designed for and will be built right here in the United States," said Daryl Dulaney, President and CEO of Siemens Industry, Inc. "We look forward to working with the city of Atlanta to provide a safe, efficient and versatile means to connect within the City that will help residents and visitors get where they need to go now and in the future."

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Ford and Georgia Tech Partner on "Green Eco School Bus" - Nation's First Hydraulic Hybrid School Bus Conversion

2011-05-16T13:42:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The Ford Motor Company Fund and the Georgia Institute of Technology are partnering on the nation's first conversion of a traditional school bus to a hydraulic hybrid vehicle that runs on recycled biofuel. Atlanta Public Schools (APS) donated the bus for the project.

Conducted by Georgia Tech, the project is financed by a $50,000 Ford College Community Challenge Grant, one of five given annually for a student-led project that matches university resources with an urgent community need related to sustainability. This project focuses on converting existing school buses into hydraulic hybrids, which could lower greenhouse emissions and reduce transportation costs for schools.

Michael Leamy, Georgia Tech assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and his students have designed and developed the hydraulic hybrid system for the 16-passenger school bus, and its installation is nearly complete.

Students at Mary Lin Elementary School are painting "the Green Eco School Bus" green and organizing a drive to collect used cooking oil for processing into biodiesel, a renewable energy source.

"Together with Georgia Tech and Atlanta Public Schools, we are taking innovation from the classroom to the community," said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. "This is a noteworthy example of the types of programs we are bringing to Atlanta as part of our new Operation Goodwill partnership with local Ford and Lincoln dealers with the goal of expanding our engagement with this community."

This project includes a cost-benefit analysis of a large-scale conversion of a school bus fleet to hydraulic hybrid powertrains designed to recover lost braking energy. Leamy said, "We expect our research will lead to cleaner, more efficient school buses that will help school districts like APS significantly reduce fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions."

Atlanta Public School officials are using the project to educate the next generation about green energy. "Our students are eager to learn about new ways to care for the environment," said Brian Mitchell, principal, Mary Lin Elementary. "The Green Eco School Bus turns a theoretical concept into a fun and exciting reality that stimulates their learning."

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Boaters Urged to Slow Down, Watch Out for Sea Turtles and Manatees

2011-05-10T09:56:00.000-04:00

Boat strikes are a common cause of sea turtle strandings and manatee injuries and deaths. Manatees and all sea turtle species found in Georgia are protected by federal and state laws.

Tips on what to watch for in the coast’s murky waters differ. A “footprint” of swirls may mark a 1-ton manatee underwater. A 300-pound loggerhead sea turtle may show only its head when it surfaces.
The best advice: Be aware, and be prepared to slow down or steer clear.

State Sea Turtle Program Coordinator Mark Dodd of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said that while sea turtles are considered common on the ocean side of barrier islands, they also frequent tidal waters. “Any time you’re in the salt marsh areas, that’s a place to look for turtles,” Dodd said.

Manatees drawn north by warming waters and abundant marsh grass and other vegetation are found in all Georgia tidal rivers, estuaries and near-shore marine waters, mostly east of Interstate 95. In recent weeks, natural resources biologist Clay George of the DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section has heard about manatees, or sea cows, sighted near Kings Bay naval submarine base, around Jekyll Island and in the Ogeechee River.

George said heeding low-speed and no-wake zones will reduce collision risks. So will sticking to the main channels when boating in tidal rivers and creeks. He said manatees “are often right along the edge of the marsh,” feeding on Spartina alterniflora, or salt marsh cordgrass.

Boaters who hit a manatee or sea turtle are urged to stand-by and immediately contact the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16 or DNR at 800-2-SAVE-ME (800-272-8363). This provides biologists the best chance to help the animal and gather valuable scientific data. Boaters will not be charged if they were operating their boat responsibly and the collision was an accident.

Boaters and others are also encouraged to report any dead manatees and sea turtles they see. (If the turtle is tagged, include the tag color and number in the report if possible.) DNR monitors sea turtle and manatee mortality through the Marine Turtle and Marine Mammal Stranding and Salvage Networks. The information gleaned, including from necropsies to evaluate cause of death, provides the primary index for threats to sea turtles and marine mammals in coastal waters.

Dodd said 51 sea turtle strandings have been reported this year in Georgia, including 18 last week. The total is up compared to recent years, and may reflect an increase of turtles in coastal waters. Boat collisions accounted for nearly 30 percent of the strandings.

No manatee mortalities have been documented in Georgia so far this year. About 25 percent of manatee mortalities in Georgia waters are caused by boat collisions.

Sea turtle strandings online
Regular updates available at www.georgiawildlife.com/node/1325 (click the “Reported Strandings” box).

See a manatee?

If you see or photograph a healthy, injured or dead manatee, please contact DNR at (800) 2-SAVE-ME or (912) 269-7587. Please note the date, time, location and number of manatees seen, as well as the coordinates, if possible. Photographs of scars on their backs and tails are especially useful because they can often be used to identify previously known manatees.

Manatees occasionally gather in mating “herds.” These groups of males following a female in estrus can include as many as 20 manatees.

Taking care for manatees

Here are some other ways Georgia residents can help protect manatees:
Look around for manatees before cranking your boat’s motor.
Use caution when navigating in shallow water and along the edge of a marsh. Manatees cannot dive away from boats in these areas.
Please heed “slow speed,” “no wake” and manatee warning signs, especially around docks.
Wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare, making it easier to spot manatees below the surface.
Watch for large swirls in the water called footprints that may be caused by manatees diving away from the boat.
Dock owners should never feed manatees or give them fresh water. This could teach the animals to approach docks, putting them at greater risk of a boat strike.
Never pursue, harass or play with manatees. It is bad for the manatees and is illegal.

Help protect Georgia’s nongame wildlife

Help conserve endangered and other nongame wildlife through buying a bald eagle or ruby-throated hummingbird license plate, contributing to the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund through the state income tax checkoff or donating directly to the fund. Each option provides vital support for the DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section, which receives no state general funds for its mission to conserve wildlife not legally hunted, fished for or trapped, as well as rare plants and natural habitats.

Visit www.georgiawildlife.com for more information, or call Nongame Conservation offices in Social Circle (770-761-3035), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218).

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Start Your (Golf Car) Engines

2011-05-09T19:23:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Golf cars will be allowed on many local Georgia streets effective Jan. 1, 2012, thanks to a bill signed by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. Known as Georgia Senate Bill 240, it creates a new class of motor vehicle called personal transportation vehicles (PTVs), which are built on "golf car-like" chassis.

The measure will allow PTVs that meet safety requirements to be driven on roads. That means residents of many communities will be able to shop, take their children to school and parks, and run other errands in their golf cars.

"This bill will allow Georgia families to stretch their transportation dollars and use green energy for miles of local driving. It also gives municipalities throughout the state a common framework for the safe and responsible use of PTVs," says Michael Alexander, Club Car's director of global business development. Club Car is the world's largest manufacturer of small-wheel, zero-emissions electric vehicles.

Qualifications and Safety Standards

To qualify as a PTV, vehicles must have at least four wheels, weigh 1,375 pounds or less, have a top speed of 20 mph or less, and transport no more than eight people.

In addition, they must be equipped with specific safety apparatus, including:

* A braking system that is sufficient for the weight and passenger capacity, including a parking brake.
* A reverse warning device that is functional at all times when the directional control is in the reverse position.
* A main power switch. When the switch is in the "off" position, or the key or other activating device is removed, the motive power circuit must be inoperative. If the switch uses a key, it can be removable only in the "off" position.
* Head and tail lamps
* Reflex reflectors
* A horn
* A rearview mirror
* Safety warning labels
* Hip restraints and hand holds

Golf cars manufactured after 2004 generally have all, or most, of the required safety equipment. Your local Club Car dealer can upgrade your golf car to meet these standards, if needed. To find a dealer near you, visit www.clubcar.com and click "Dealer Locator."

According to Alexander, who also serves as president of the National Golf Car Manufacturers Association, he and other members will work with leaders of the Georgia Municipal Association to draft a model ordinance that defines licensing and usage guidelines. Please check with your municipality if you have questions about PTV usage in your community.

The bill does not apply to all-terrain vehicles or mobility aids, such as power wheelchairs and scooters.

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U.S. Imports of Auto-related Goods from Japan Expected to Decline

2011-03-16T12:18:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The automobile industry is the largest U.S. importer of goods shipped via container transport from Japan, giving auto manufacturing and support businesses the greatest threat of disruption as Japan's industrial output struggles following the devastating earthquake and tsunami, according to data and analysis from The Journal of Commerce/PIERS. Japan is the No. 3 exporter of containerized goods to the United States, according to PIERS data, behind China and Korea. The country is second, behind only China, as an importer from the U.S., based on container volume measured by PIERS data.

Although three Japanese ports — Sendai, Hitachinaka and Kashima — have remained closed since the disaster on the northeastern coast, the country's largest ports, including Tokyo, Kobe and Yokohama in the industrial southern part of the country were open this week and handling commercial vessels. But Mario Moreno, economist for The Journal of Commerce, said Japanese exports "will weaken in the months ahead as the closing of several manufacturing plants prompted by electricity shortages, combines with severely damaged roads and bridges to hamper production."

In 2010, U.S. containerized imports of auto parts from Japan, accounted for 28 percent of the total U.S. imports of this commodity globally. Boosted by solid gains in U.S. auto sales last year, imports of auto parts from Japan rose 22 percent in 2010, according to PIERS data. The increase was already slowing in 2011, growing by only 3 percent, year over year in January 2011 versus 2010.

"The positive trend is unlikely to continue," says Moreno. "U.S. car manufacturers, like Toyota, must meet strict specifications and use Toyota-made auto parts only." Moreno's forecast issued in December anticipated a 2.5 percent decline in U.S. containerized imports from Japan, coming off high volumes in 2010.

Japan's bilateral trade includes China as its top export market, with 21 percent of its total exports in 2010, while the U.S. accounted for 17 percent. Japan's export to China was $598 billion in 2010, up 36 percent from 2009, and exports to the U.S. totaled $482 billion, up by 26 percent from 2009.(1)

(1) Containerized and non-containerized data sourced from PIERS Stats Plus

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UPS Honors Georgia Drivers for 25 Years of Safe Driving

2011-02-09T11:03:00.000-05:00

(BUSINESS WIRE)--UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced 49 elite drivers from Georgia are among 1,122 newly inducted worldwide into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.

“UPS puts a premium on safe-driving methods and training, and these drivers represent the best of the industry”

Georgia boasts 232 active Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 6,670 years of accident-free driving. Robert Millican Jr. of Flintstone is Georgia’s senior safe driver, with 41 years of accident-free driving under his belt, tying him for fifth best safe driving record among UPS’s 102,00 drivers.

Globally, 5,248 active UPS drivers are members of the Circle of Honor. Collectively they’ve racked up 147,244 years and more than 5 billion safe miles during their careers, or the equivalent of circling the earth more than 188,000 times.

The number of new inductees represents the largest increase in new members in a single year in the company’s history.

“UPS puts a premium on safe-driving methods and training, and these drivers represent the best of the industry,” said Dow Dameron, president and chief operating officer, UPS South Atlantic District. “I’m very proud of these men and women. To go at least a quarter-of-a-century without an accident is a testament to the effectiveness of that training and to the pride our people take in their jobs.”

Nationally, the most seasoned UPS Circle of Honor driver is Ron Sowder of UPS’s Ohio Valley District, with 49 years of driving without an accident. Thomas Camp of the Great Lakes District is next in line with 48 years of safe driving. Twenty-five others have logged at least 40 years without an accident.

UPS’s 102,000 drivers are among the safest on the roads, logging more than 3 billion miles a year and averaging less than one accident for every million miles driven. There are 2,574 total UPS drivers in Georgia.

UPS invested $53 million in 2010 on safety training and employs its own comprehensive driving course called “Space and Visibility.” New UPS tractor-trailer drivers receive 80 hours of classroom and on-the-road training and UPS package car drivers receive 20 hours of classroom and on-the-road defensive driving training before operating equipment. Package car drivers also complete three safety ride evaluations during their first 22 days on the job.

Founded in 1907, UPS has a rich history of safety and training. The company issued its first driver handbook in 1917 and began recognizing safe drivers in 1923. In 1928, UPS recognized its first five-year safe driver, Ray McCue, with UPS founder Jim Casey presenting him a gold and platinum watch. UPS formally established the Circle of Honor in 1955.

Following is a list of Georgia drivers inducted this year to the Circle of Honor.


Driver	Hometown	UPS Work Location
Antone Belk	Mcdonough	Forest Park
Bobby Bradshaw	Rome	Pleasantdale Hub
Waymon Brown	Lithia Springs	Pleasantdale Hub
Robert Caldwell	Douglasville	Atlanta Hub
Patrick Canupp	Watkinsville	Athens
Rowland Carros	Acworth	Pleasantdale Hub
Eugene Carter	Tifton	Tifton
Billy Cavender	Bowdon	Atlanta Hub
Danny Clark	Flowery Branch	Pleasantdale Hub
Patrick Conn	Carrollton	Atlanta Hub
Kerry Creel	Loganville	Pleasantdale Hub
Jeff Cross	Bogart	Pleasantdale Hub
Vincent Daniels	Decatur	Pleasantdale Hub
Larry Doolittle Jr	Mcdonough	Pleasantdale Hub
Walter Durrett	Stockbridge	Forest Park
Michael Evans	Lilburn	Pleasantdale Hub
Robert Fennell	Odum	Waycross
David Gamblin	Temple	Pleasantdale Hub
Terry Gibson	Marietta	Pleasantdale Hub
Michael Green	Gainesville	Carnesville
Gary Hadden	Lilburn	Pleasantdale Hub
Darrel Hagan	Dearing	Warrenton
Alan Hawkins	Tucker	Pleasantdale Hub
Jesse Henry	Adrian	Swainsboro
Jerry Hill	Murrayville	Gainesville
Mark Howell	Watkinsville	Pleasantdale Hub
David Eugene Hughes	Thomson	Warrenton
Lester Ingle	Columbus	Columbus
Joseph Ivey	Loganville	Pleasantdale Hub
Kenneth Johnson	Kingston	Rome
Kenneth Steven Johnson	Twin City	Swainsboro
Reddrick Johnson	Albany	Albany Center
Carl Lehmann	Dacula	Pleasantdale Hub
Karl Lockhart	Leesburg	Albany Center
Forrest McGahee	Decatur	Pleasantdale Hub
Larry David Parker	Dawsonville	Roswell
James Pope	Tifton	Tifton
Henry Prock	Lawrenceville	Pleasantdale Hub
Theotis Rozier	Macon	Macon
Gill Allen Salter	Cartersville	Acworth Center
Harold Boyd Shuman Jr	Richmond Hill	Savannah
Otis Sims	College Park	Atlanta Hub
Anthony Smith	Stockbridge	Forest Park
Allen Spence	Carrollton	Atlanta Hub
Terry Swindle	Gainesville	Gainesville
Charles Traylor	Hahira	Valdosta
James Stanley Westbrook	Austell	Atlanta Hub
Billy Wayne Whitaker	Warrenton	Warrenton
Theosia Williams	Douglasville	Pleasantdale Hub

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National Report Highlights Forgotten Victims of Teen Driver Crashes

2011-01-24T12:03:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- An inaugural national research report released today from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and State Farm Insurance Companies ® shows that the impact of teen driver crashes extends far beyond teen drivers' families and friends. In 2008, more than half a million (681,000) people were involved in crashes where a teen driver was behind the wheel. More than 40,000 were injured, and nearly 30 percent of those who died in these crashes were not in cars driven by teens.

"When most people think about those affected by teen driver crashes, they think of the teens behind the wheel. We must also consider the significant impact of these crashes on other members of our communities: occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and other road-users," says Dennis Durbin, M.D., M.S.C.E., co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP, and a co-author of the report. "Whether we have a teen driver in our family or not, we should all care about this issue. This report provides a concrete way to measure the effectiveness of laws, education, and other programs in reducing teen crashes and their impact on communities."

This first annual report from State Farm and CHOP mines the most credible data from diverse federal data sources, and establishes 11 indicators to help policymakers and safety practitioners determine progress in key areas affecting teen driving safety. The report is the first to compile this information into a single resource, making it more accessible and useful to those responsible for setting policy, training, and curriculum standards. Researchers focus on four key behaviors among teen drivers that contribute to crashes or crash fatalities, that can also be tracked using federal data sources: failure to use seat belts, speeding, alcohol use, and distracted driving.

"Reducing speeding and alcohol use, increasing seat belt use, and eliminating distractions for teen drivers are the four calls-to-action we see in this report that would have great impact on reducing injuries and fatalities for all road users," says Dr. Durbin, who is also an emergency physician. "More than half of teens who were fatally injured in crashes were speeding, 40 percent had a positive blood alcohol level, more than half were not wearing seat belts, and 16 percent of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving."

The report also shows that more teens die from car crashes than from cancer, homicide, and suicide combined. Teen driver and peer passenger deaths account for one-quarter (24 percent) of total teen deaths from any cause. However, the authors stress that teen fatalities are just "the tip of the iceberg." Thousands more - including friends, family members, and others on the road - suffer physical injuries, psychological trauma, and disruption to their everyday lives.

Research shows most of these tragedies are due to inexperience, and are therefore preventable. Strong Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws, which allow teens to gain experience under lower-risk conditions, are proven to be one effective measure. To further reduce the number of deaths and injuries with teens behind the wheel, public health programs and GDL and other traffic safety laws should focus on the key teen behaviors known to raise crash risk: speeding, alcohol use, distractions from peer passengers and cell phones, as well as failure to wear a seat belt.

"Since 2006, State Farm and CHOP have been working together to improve teen driver safety. Our research has provided evidence to support stronger graduated driver licensing laws and increased parental involvement in the learning to drive process," says Susan Hood, claims vice president at State Farm. "Since working with Congress to establish the first National Teen Driver Safety Week in 2007, we've seen major strides in support for teen driving programs. Safety advocacy groups, legislators, educators and teens are rallying to reduce teen car crashes and save lives. This annual report is the next step in supporting continued improvements that will help keep teen drivers safe, and those who share the road with them."

The federal government recently expanded its Healthy People 2020 initiative to include target goals related to teen driving, including a 10 percent reduction in fatality rate and a 10 percent increase in seat belt use. This report will help monitor annual progress toward these goals, as well as other important indicators of teen driving safety.

Monitoring these indicators regularly will help those who set direction in public health and safety to motivate action, measure progress and recalibrate programs as necessary to further advance the safety of everyone on the road.

The full report and more information can be found at www.TeenDriverSource.org.

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New Air Cargo Carrier Increases Hartsfield-Jackson’s European Reach

2011-01-18T15:52:00.000-05:00

Atlanta’s global trade connections are stronger today as City of Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials announce the arrival of a new all-cargo carrier.

Milan, Italy-based Cargoitalia will begin scheduled service to Atlanta on February 3. The two weekly flights between Atlanta and Milan will create about 10 jobs and will have an estimated $15 million economic impact on metro Atlanta.

“Our freight forwarders have been asking for more airlift capacity to Europe,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “Cargoitalia is a world-class, all-cargo airline that meets this need, and I am confident it will serve our customers well in the years to come. Air cargo has a huge economic impact on Atlanta and the metropolitan area, and I am committed to growing this vital business sector.”

“Atlanta is one of the most important air cargo gateways in the U.S.A., and we consider it a must-have city in our growing network,” said Roberto Gilardoni, Cargoitalia commercial director. “The facilities [in Atlanta] are impressive, and we greatly appreciate the help and support they have shown to their newest guest airline. We have great optimism about our potential in this market.”

Cargoitalia operates a fleet of MD-11 SF all-cargo aircraft based at Milan’s Malpensa Airport. It offers service to destinations in North America, the Middle East and the Far East.

“Cargoitalia’s decision to begin air cargo service to Atlanta furthers our position as one of the world’s premier logistics hubs and centers for supply chain management,” said Bob Pertierra, vice president of supply chain development for the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “This new trade lane enables companies in Atlanta and the Southeastern United States to gain access to even more customers and markets in Italy and Europe.”

Air cargo continues to grow at Hartsfield-Jackson. According to Airport data, air cargo increased by more than 18 percent from 2009 to 2010.

Cargoitalia is the 15th all-cargo airline to serve Hartsfield-Jackson and the region. Other cargo carriers to begin operating in Atlanta recently are Asiana Airlines, which began cargo service in September 2010, and Singapore Airlines Cargo, which began scheduled service to Atlanta in September 2009.

Hartsfield-Jackson offers a geographically desirable location for cargo carriers and freight forwarders that want to expand their global networks with lower operating costs. Companies readily can connect with air, road and railway transportation systems in Atlanta.

Hartsfield-Jackson has received several awards for its cargo operations, including Air Cargo Week’s Airport of the Year (2010, 2009) and Air Cargo World magazine’s Award of Excellence for the best North American cargo operations in its category (2010, 2009).
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Parts of I-20 East in Douglas County Expected to Stay Closed Until Thursday

2011-01-11T10:28:00.000-05:00

According to the GA DOT, I-20 East in Douglas County at mile marker 44 is ice covered and closed. At this time, it is expected to remain closed until Thursday, January 13, 2011.

If you must travel, please take extra precautions as reducing speed and leaving at least 10 car lengths between vehicles.

Drive safely.

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Georgia DOT Crews Battle Ice and Snow Laden Roadways: Cautions Georgians to Stay Off Roadways

2011-01-10T12:35:00.000-05:00

Since 6:00 pm on Sunday, Georgia DOT crews have been out in full force battling wintery conditions across Georgia. A shift change is underway so that our employees are fully rested to begin the next round of work.

“We have been preparing for this event since the middle of last week and our maintenance crews are working as hard as they can to clear the lanes,” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr. In the first 12-hour shift, which ended at 6:00 am this morning, more than 900 Georgia DOT maintenance crews and employees have used 578 pieces of equipment to spread more than 2018 tons of salt and gravel material.

“Our biggest concern are people being stranded on the roadways, so again, we need people to stay off the roadways unless there is an emergency,” said State Maintenance Engineer, Eric Pitts. “The interstate is a very dangerous place for people to walk around so please stay off if you can.”

· The Transportation Management Center (TMC) Emergency Operations Center (EOC): Media Phone Lines – (404) 635 8093 and 8094. Karlene Barron and Jill Goldberg will alternate 12- hour shifts at the EOC. (Note - This is the Department’s statewide command center and the clearinghouse for real-time conditions; it is your best source for current status of roadways.

· Cheshire Bridge Road (Metro Atlanta) Maintenance Facility: Mark McKinnon at (404) 326-6672 and David Spear at (404) 326-6668 will alternate 12-hour shifts at this site.

· District One (Northeast Georgia) Gainesville Headquarters: Teri Pope and Rick Parham, both at (404) 274-6436, will alternate 12-hour shifts at this location.

· District Two (East Central Georgia) Tennille Headquarters: Cissy McNure at (478) 232-3331 will be available as needed.

· District Three (West Central Georgia) Thomaston Headquarters: Kimberly Larson at (706) 741-3439 will be available as needed.

· Districts Four (Southeast Georgia) and Five (South Georgia): Craig Solomon at (229) 309-9706 in Tifton D4 Headquarters will be available as needed.

· District Six (Northwest Georgia) Cartersville Headquarters: Mohamed Arafa at (770) 359-9523 will be available.

Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about this or any other construction project on interstates and state routes. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, and delays due to inclement weather. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.

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CDC Study Finds Seat Belt Use Up to 85 Percent Nationally

2011-01-05T11:57:00.000-05:00

Almost 6 out of 7 U.S. drivers surveyed report that they always wear a seat belt when driving or riding in a motor vehicle, according to a study released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seat belt use has become the national norm in most states, though rates of self-reported seat belt use vary widely from state to state, with a high of 94 percent (Oregon) and a low of 59 percent (North Dakota).

Still, every 14 seconds, an adult in the United States is treated in an emergency department for crash-related injuries.

"A simple step that most drivers and passengers in the United States already take—buckling their seat belts—cuts in half the chance of being seriously injured or killed in a crash," said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH. "Yet, about 1 in 7 adults do not wear a seat belt on every trip. If everyone in the vehicle buckled up every time, we could further reduce one of the leading causes of death."

The study was in Vital Signs, a section of CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

The study found that states with primary seat belt enforcement laws, where police officers can pull cars over and issue tickets solely because drivers and passengers are unbelted, have higher rates of seat belt use than states with secondary enforcement laws, which only allow officers to issue tickets to drivers who have been pulled over for violating another law. States with primary enforcement laws had an overall seat belt use rate of 88 percent, whereas states with secondary enforcement laws had an overall seat belt use rate of 79 percent. The national average for seat belt use is 85 percent.

If the secondary law states had achieved 88 percent belt use in 2008, it would have resulted in an additional 7.3 million adults buckling up.

Though 1 in 3 U.S. adults lived in states with secondary enforcement laws in 2008, residents of these states accounted for 49 percent of the unbelted drivers and passengers on U.S. roads. Nineteen states do not have primary enforcement seat belt laws.

"As seatbelt use increases and more states pass primary enforcement laws, we are seeing crash-related injuries decline," said Linda Degutis, Dr. PH, MSN, director of CDC's Injury Center. "This indicates that primary enforcement laws, paired with vigorous enforcement programs, get more people to wear seat belts. We know that buckling up can make a life-saving difference."

For the study, CDC researchers analyzed two national sources: 2009 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program data on non-fatal injuries treated in emergency departments nationwide and 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data on self-reported risk behaviors.

To help increase seat belt use and protect more people on the road, CDC supports:

Primary enforcement seat belt laws that cover all drivers and passengers of appropriate age and size, regardless of whether they are sitting in the front or back seat of the vehicle.
According to previous research by CDC and others, everyone is encouraged to take the following steps:

Use a seat belt on every trip, no matter how short.
Encourage everyone in the car to buckle up, including those in the back seat.
Make sure children are properly buckled up in a seat belt, booster seat, or car seat, whichever is age- and size-appropriate.
Have all children ages 12 and under sit in the back seat.
CDC is also releasing "Policy Impact: Seat Belts," one in a series of briefs highlighting key public health issues, and important science-based policy actions that can be taken to address them. Through this new publication, CDC supports state-based efforts to strengthen seat belt policies and prevent crash-related injuries and deaths. (www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/seatbeltbrief)

CDC's Injury Center works to protect the safety of everyone on the roads, every day. For more information about seat belts and motor vehicle safety, please visit www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety and www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns.

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States Warn Drunk Drivers: Over the Limit. Under Arrest

2010-12-13T10:45:00.000-05:00

More than five hundred Georgia police agencies are conducting DUI road checks and patrols to keep families safe on the road this holiday season. The state's Operation Zero Tolerance (OZT) enforcement mobilization runs Dec. 17 through Jan. 2.

The Governor's Office of Highway Safety's (GOHS) is also launching a Thunder Task Force initiative targeting a county with some of the highest traffic fatality stats in the state. This is a three month program to reinforce local jurisdictions with increased state-coordinated traffic safety enforcement, focusing on DUI during the mobilization. GOHS Director Bob Dallas joins trauma surgeons and DUI victims to kick off the campaign with a news conference at a Savannah trauma center. Other news conferences are being held around the state to announce regional high visibility crackdown activities.

GOHS is supplementing its radio and TV paid media campaign with live radio announcements during traffic reports and University of Georgia football game broadcasts. UGA Coach Mark Richt begins every home game with a JumboTron stadium message: “Hang-Up...Buckle-Up...and Drive Sober so everyone has a safe trip home.” GOHS is also targeting drivers in high-risk, Hispanic, and minority communities with gas pump-topper ads at neighborhood convenience stores, and is using Facebook to reach millions of 18- to-34 year old high-risk drivers online.

/PRNewswire/ -- The Governors Highway Safety Association strongly supports the national "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." holiday drunk driving enforcement crackdown. According to GHSA Chairman Vernon F. Betkey, Jr., "State highway safety agencies are aggressively participating in this year's effort. State law enforcement partners will be making a very visible enforcement presence by increasing their drunk driving checkpoints and saturation patrols."

GHSA members are purchasing paid advertising and conducting a variety of awareness events to remind drivers that there's zero tolerance for those driving drunk this holiday season. Those citizens who may selfishly consider driving drunk should know that they will be pulled over and the consequences will be severe.

The holiday season is too often a deadly time on our roadways. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in December 2009, 753 people were killed in crashes that involved a drunk driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher – above the legal limit in every state and the District of Columbia.

To help move the nation toward zero roadway deaths, GHSA has been actively addressing the issue of impaired driving. Just last month, GHSA and NHTSA brought together a variety of state officials to discuss best practices in implementing alcohol ignition interlock programs. In 2011, GHSA will begin a three-year NHTSA-funded research effort to determine the most effective elements in a model interlock program. The Association strongly supports these devices and urges that they be required for all convicted drunk drivers. According to Chairman Betkey, "The technology exists to make it impossible for a person convicted of drunk driving to get behind the wheel of their vehicle unless they are sober. Every state should support these commonsense, lifesaving laws for all convicted offenders." Currently, 12 states have passed these laws.

State efforts will complement NHTSA's multimillion dollar "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." advertising campaign. The national holiday crackdown is organized by NHTSA and implemented by state highway safety agencies with the support of local law enforcement and other organizations. The crackdown runs through January 3.

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Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) Receives Grant

2010-12-09T10:02:00.001-05:00

Funds Earmarked for Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program
The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) announced today the receipt of a grant totaling $104,700.00 earmarked for the DDS’s motorcycle safety training known as the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP). The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) approved the funding to be used for increasing the awareness of motorists and motorcyclists on sharing the road responsibly and safely. The funds will be used to pilot test a mobile licensing project and to purchase training motorcycles.

“The important partnership between DDS and GOHS allows our agencies to continue to provide quality rider education and safety awareness messages across the state. We are proud of the significant achievements that this cooperative spirit has produced.” said DDS Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier.

The Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program offers basic motorcycle training for new riders or those who want to learn how to ride a motorcycle safely in today’s traffic mix. Students do not need a motorcycle since the Program provides both a motorcycle and a helmet. After the course, successful graduates receive a license waiver card that exempts them from both the written and on-cycle skills tests at a DDC Customer Service Center.

Two out of Five Drivers Admit to Falling Asleep at the Wheel, Finds AAA Foundation Study

2010-11-08T09:32:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Two out of every five drivers (41 percent) admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel at some point, with one in ten saying they've done so in the past year, according to a new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study. More than a quarter of those surveyed admitted they drove despite being so tired that they had difficulty keeping their eyes open in the previous month.

Eighty-five percent of drivers surveyed felt it was "completely unacceptable" for someone to drive if they are so tired they are having trouble keeping their eyes open. Unfortunately, drivers may not always be aware of the effects of fatigue resulting from a lack of sleep. In recognition of this week's Drowsy Driving Prevention Week®, hosted by the National Sleep Foundation, AAA wants all drivers to recognize the seriousness of this dangerous, yet underestimated, driving practice.

"When you are behind the wheel of a car, being sleepy is very dangerous. Sleepiness decreases awareness, slows reaction time, and impairs judgment, just like drugs or alcohol, contributing to the possibility of a crash," said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. "We need to change the culture so that not only will drivers recognize the dangers of driving while drowsy but will stop doing it."

A new analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash data estimates that about one in six (16.5 percent) deadly crashes, one in eight crashes resulting in occupant hospitalization and one in fourteen crashes in which a vehicle was towed involve a driver who is drowsy. These percentages are substantially higher than most previous estimates, suggesting that the contribution of drowsy driving to motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and deaths has not been fully appreciated.

"Many of us tend to underestimate the negative effects associated with fatigue and sleep deprivation and, conversely, overestimate our abilities to overcome them while driving," said Kathleen Marvaso, vice president, AAA Public Affairs. "This data underscores the importance of educating drivers on the simple, yet effective steps they can take to prevent a possible tragedy. Unfortunately, too many drivers have adopted the 'I'm tired, but I can make it' mentality, often to their own peril or to the peril of others."

David Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation, added, "It is shocking to consider that one quarter of drivers admit to operating a vehicle in the last month in an incapacitated state." The National Sleep Foundation has been championing better drowsy driving awareness and education since 1991. Cloud adds, "We applaud AAA's work to elevate this issue for public scrutiny and action."

To remain alert and avoid drowsiness, AAA suggests:

* Getting plenty of sleep (at least six hours) the night before a long trip;
* Scheduling a break every two hours or every 100 miles;
* Traveling at times when you are normally awake, and staying overnight rather than driving straight through; and
* Stop driving if you become sleepy; someone who is tired could fall asleep at any time.

Symptoms of sleepiness include but are not limited to:

* Having trouble keeping your eyes open and focused;
* The inability to keep your head up;
* Daydreaming or having wandering, disconnected thoughts; and
* Drifting from your lane or off the road, or tailgating.

These findings were part of the AAA Foundation's third annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, a nationally-representative survey conducted by Abt SRBI Inc. The Traffic Safety Culture Index was a telephone survey of 2,000 U.S. residents ages 16 and older conducted from May 11, 2010 through June 7, 2010. The estimated proportion of crashes involving a drowsy driver is based on analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System, a nationally-representative sample of crashes involving a passenger vehicle that was towed. Data analyzed was from years 1999 – 2008.

For more information about the drowsy driving study, including the full report and fact sheet, visit www.AAAFoundation.org.

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Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) Reminds Teens of Driving Restrictions

2010-10-30T19:46:00.000-04:00

Curfew (for driving by teens) is midnight to six a.m. – no exceptions!

Parents and teens should be mindful of Georgia’s teenage driving restrictions especially as holiday activities ramp up. Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) lists all the restrictions on their website www.dds.ga.gov. Restrictions for teens holding a “Class D” license (sixteen to eighteen years of age) include:

1. No driving between the hours of 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. No exceptions.
2. Passenger restrictions:

For the initial six-month period immediately following the issuance of a Class D license, any Class D license holder shall not drive a motor vehicle upon the public roads, streets or highways of this state when any other passenger in the vehicle is not a member of the driver's immediate family. During the second six-month period immediately following issuance of a Class D license, any Class D license holder shall not drive a motor vehicle upon the public roads, streets or highways of this state when more than one other passenger in the vehicle (who is not a member of the driver's immediate family) is less than 21 years of age. After the second six-month period, any Class D license holder shall not drive a motor vehicle upon the public roads, streets or highways of this state when more than three other passengers in the vehicle (who are not members of the driver’s immediate family) are less than 21 years of age.

“Buckling up is the first safety step, but please be mindful of teen passenger restrictions and the limited driving hours,” said DDS Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier. “These laws are mechanisms which support safe teen driving, and they do make a difference with lowering crashes and fatalities when observed,” he added.

Most recently, the Georgia Legislature passed new teen cell phone legislation which forbids any teen operating a motor vehicle from any cell phone use – including texting.

For more information including access to many Internet Services, please visit www.dds.ga.gov.
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Mayor Kasim Reed and the City of Atlanta Announce Partnership with Nissan North America to Advance Zero-Emission Mobility in Atlanta

2010-10-29T20:30:00.000-04:00

Atlanta Prepares for Nissan LEAF 100% Electric Vehicle

Today, Mayor Kasim Reed announced the city’s efforts in readying for electric vehicles and joined Nissan North America Inc. (NNA) to celebrate Atlanta as one of the first cities in the Southeast to launch the Nissan LEAF Electric Vehicle. NNA announced that it is entering into an agreement with Clean Cities-Atlanta (CC-A) to advance zero-emission mobility by promoting the development of electric vehicles and an electric-charging network. The announcement was part of the City of Atlanta’s Sustainability Week, a series of events to raise awareness throughout Atlanta about issues such as energy and water conservation, the creation of green jobs, locally produced food and fuel efficiency.

The Nissan LEAF, the country’s first all-electric vehicle designed for the mass market, makes its global debut in December in certain states and will be rolled out throughout the United States in 2011.

Earlier this week, Mayor Reed unveiled Power to Change, a plan that will guide the City of Atlanta’s sustainability efforts for the next several years. As part of the plan, Mayor Reed has set the aggressive goal of making Atlanta a top 10 city for sustainability.

“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a critical component of making Atlanta a cleaner, greener and more sustainable city,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “We appreciate Nissan for choosing Atlanta to be one of the first cities in the southeast to launch the Nissan LEAF. This public endorsement affirms our commitment to alternative fuels and supports our drive to be a top-ten sustainable city.”

As part of the agreement, NNA and CC-A will collaborate on plans to promote a charging infrastructure for EVs, as well as the deployment, operation and maintenance of a charging network. CC-A is a coalition of government agencies, utilities, public interest groups, and public and private fleets that advance the use of alternatives to gasoline, and diesel fuels in cars, trucks and buses. The partners in the agreement also will work to coordinate the establishment of policies and help streamline the deployment of an EV infrastructure.

“The Renault-Nissan Alliance is committed to becoming a global leader in zero-emission vehicles, and Clean Cities-Atlanta has shown similar leadership through their progressive policies and focus on clean energy,” said Eric Noziere, vice president, Corporate Planning and Program Management Office. “This agreement further demonstrates the commitment by Atlanta to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We look forward to bringing the zero-emission Nissan LEAF to the roads of metropolitan Atlanta.”

The agreement adds Atlanta to a growing network of zero-emission vehicle initiatives across the United States and around the world. Nissan, along with its alliance partner Renault, has formed partnerships with more than 80 governments, cities and other organizations to advance the deployment of electric vehicles. It is the only automaker committed to making affordable, all-electric vehicles available to the mass market globally. The Nissan LEAF will roll out to the state of Georgia in 2011.

Consumers and other interested drivers have their first opportunity to test-drive a Nissan LEAF in select markets through the “Drive Electric Tour.” The tour provides information about the car, its technology, and its features, along with the first public test-drives. Interested drivers can learn more about the tour, including specific locations, and register to drive the Nissan LEAF at www.drivenissanleaf.com.

The Nissan LEAF is a five-passenger compact electric car that uses no gas, creates no emissions and has no tailpipe. It has a top speed of 90 mph and is powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries, which provide the car with a range of 100 miles on a single charge as tested on the LA4 test cycle, enough to satisfy the daily driving needs of more than 90 percent of Americans.

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010 and has been recognized as a 2010 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America, the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.
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Day and Night Lane Closures Week of October 25th on I-85 Express Lanes

2010-10-25T11:11:00.000-04:00

Lane closures continue this week on the Interstate 85 Express Lane project in DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties. Georgia DOT’s contractor, World Fiber Technologies will work day and night next week as weather permits.

The work plan will require the overnight closing of the outside lane of I-85 northbound from Pleasant Hill Road to State Route 316 in Gwinnett County starting at 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, 25th through Friday, 29th. “If the weather cooperates, crews will bore under the interstate for the third week. Boring is the first step to running the hundreds of miles of conduit needed for the technology that will operate the Express Lane system,” explained Georgia DOT District Construction Engineer, Randall Davis.
Daytime work will occur Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The outside southbound lane of I-85 southbound will be closed from Dawson Blvd to I-285 so crews can inspect and repair existing communications equipment. The lane will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. only.

The I-85 Express Lanes Project includes installation of 16 miles of fiber and signage along Interstate Highway 85 between Chamblee Tucker Road and Old Peachtree Road and along State Route 316 between I-85 and Riverside Parkway. This $11.7 million project was awarded to World Fiber Technologies, Inc., of Alpharetta.

When completed, registered transit buses, motorcycles, alternative fueled vehicles and vehicles with three or more passengers will be allowed to use the inside (left) HOT lane for free, while single- and double-occupant vehicles will be allowed to use the lane if they choose to pay a variably priced toll.
For additional information and construction updates on this project, please email Teri Pope at tpope@dot.ga.gov.

Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about these or any other construction projects on interstates and state routes. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, and delays due to inclement weather. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.

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Avoid Deer on Road by Taking Extra Caution During this Time of Year

2010-10-14T10:34:00.000-04:00

With an estimated 50,000 deer-car collisions annually in Georgia, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division advises motorists across the state to be extra cautious of increased deer and wildlife sightings this fall season.

Increased deer sightings occur for a number of reasons – increased populations, habitat fragmentation and mating season are a few. With fall breeding season in full swing – a peak time of year for deer-related car collisions – the division offers motorists some tips and information to help avoid potential collisions.

“Some Georgia motorists may only expect deer to cross rural roadways, while in fact, urban and suburban roads are also prime areas for deer-car collisions,” explains Don McGowan, Wildlife Resources Division biologist. “Hunting is oftentimes mistakenly blamed for increased deer-car collisions in autumn when, in reality, deer are on the move due to a series of both natural and human causes.”

One such cause is mating season. Deer mating season occurs between October and early December. Male deer go into rut and begin actively searching for mates. This greatly contributes to the increased movement of deer, bringing them across roadways.

Increased human population and rural development also lend to increased deer sightings. As the human population continues to grow and expand into traditionally rural areas, deer lose their natural food source and consequently move into new areas in search of food and water.

Additionally, as we begin to “fall back” for daylight savings time, our days become shorter and nights become longer. Rush hour for most commuters tends to fall during the same hours in which white-tailed deer are most active – at dawn and dusk.

The division advises drivers of the following:

·    Unpredictable: Always remember deer are wildlife and therefore, very unpredictable. A deer calmly standing on the side of a road may bolt into or across the road rather than away from it when startled by a vehicle.

·    One Deer Usually Means More: Take caution and slow down when a deer crosses. Deer generally travel in groups, so if one crosses, be prepared that others may follow.

·    Time of Day: As deer are most active at dawn and dusk, they typically are seen roadside during the early morning and late evening – the same times most people are commuting to and from work.

·    Time of Year: While many deer-car collisions occur in early spring and late summer, when natural food sources are scarce, the fall breeding season is also a peak time for such accidents. Road shoulders generally provide green food both during extremely dry times of the year and following a long, hard winter.

·    Minimize Damage: If it is too late to avoid a collision, drivers are advised to slow down as much as possible to minimize damage – resist the urge to swerve to avoid the deer, this may cause further damage, sending drivers off the road or causing a collision with another vehicle. If an accident occurs, alert the police as soon as possible.

For more information on deer-car collisions in Georgia or to learn more about white-tailed deer or deer seasons, visit www.georgiawildlife.com , contact a Wildlife Resources Division Game Management office or call (770) 918-6416.

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2011 Jump Start Conference: Defining Success in Transportation

2010-10-13T10:46:00.000-04:00

January 17-19, 2011
Renaissance Concourse Hotel
Atlanta, GA
Sponsored by SMC³
www.smc3conference.com

At the SMC³ 2011 Jump Start Conference you will:

· Hear from the CEOs of major shippers, carriers and logistics service providers on trends and business concerns in 2011.
· Learn the risks and rewards of integrating sustainability concepts with traditional supply chain practices.
· Get updated on global economic indicators and domestic legislative initiatives.
· Extend your network of shippers, carriers, and 3PLs—2011 Jump Start brings all the supply chain players together.
· Enjoy outstanding conference value, including free bonus sessions on supply chain outsourcing, temperature-controlled LTL, and international LTL costing.

Know what to expect in the global supply chain and how to strategize for it—the information you discover at 2011 Jump Start will define your success in the coming year.

Clayton State Students Affairs Receives Grant from Governor’s Office of Highway Safety

2010-10-13T10:40:00.000-04:00

The Division of Student Affairs at Clayton State University recently received the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) grant in the amount of $7,490. The grant is effective Oct. 1, 2010 through Sept. 30, 2011.

André Clanton, assistant director of Student Conduct and chair of the Alcohol and other Drugs Education and Prevention Team (ADEPT) at Clayton State, along with Deborah Dupree, director of Special Projects for Student Affairs, worked together on the grant proposal.

“The GOHS grant will be used to provide alcohol and other drug education and prevention programming at Clayton State University,” Clanton says. “In addition, the grant will support a peer health educator position, survey tools to assess the alcohol and other drug climate on campus, education and training for our BACCHUS (Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students) peer health educators, and attendance to local alcohol and other drug education conferences.”

Clanton is excited about receiving the grant.

“This grant will help us educate students and provide them with the knowledge they need to make wise decisions regarding alcohol and drug use and abuse,” he says. “It also helps us teach other students how to share this information with their peers. As a student affairs professional, I am all about education, prevention, and leadership development.”

Clanton admits that it was challenging to gather statistics on alcohol related incidents involving Clayton State University students as well as creating a programming agenda for the entire year. However, despite the challenges, Clanton feels rewarded by the experience.

“What's most rewarding is seeing some of the results of our labor,” he says. “Over the summer, our institution received its BACCHUS Network Charter. We received our charter through the hard work and dedication of our student peer health educators. We also attended the Governor's Office of Highway Safety Young Adult Conference. While there, we interacted with other institutions and shared struggles and triumphs of alcohol education and prevention on our perspective campuses. What we learned is we are all fighting for the same cause...saving lives.”

Clanton notes that BACCHUS is affiliated with Clayton State University ADEPT.

“The grant will be used to train our BACCHUS students to develop programs, present information, and recruit members,” he says. “In addition, the grant allowed us to purchase an assessment tool to help us collect statistical information about Clayton State University students' actual use and perceptions of alcohol and other drug use and abuse on campus.”

The grant will be used for National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week programming, which occurs from Oct. 17 to Oct. 23, during which BACCHUS will be sponsoring programs with the Campus Events Council.

The first program is a dinner/movie program on Monday, Oct. 18. BACCHUS and CEC will be showing "Higher Learning" and having a discussion about the many issues it addresses. Clayton State’s Peer Health Educators are Charnele Dobbins, sophomore Nursing Major and Chanielle Lee, senior Healthcare Management Major.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

Teens Not Exposed to Diverse Driving Experience Prior to Licensing, Finds AAA Foundation Study

2010-10-12T09:48:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- In advance of National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 17-23), today the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released the first naturalistic study using invehicle cameras to capture teenage drivers and their parents during their supervised driving phase. Nearly half (47 percent) of parents in the study reported that after the yearlong learner's stage, there was still at least one condition in which they did not feel comfortable letting their teen drive. Yet, more than one-third (37 percent) of these families allowed their teen to obtain a license within a month of being eligible, although a few families restricted driving in certain scenarios.

The average amount of weekly driving varied greatly among families, ranging from just twenty minutes to almost five hours the study found. Sixty-eight percent of parents reported that opportunities to drive together were limited by busy schedules of both parents and teens. Teens averaged just over an hour and a half of supervised driving per week, mostly on routine trips along the same routes. Meaning, few teens gained significant experience in more challenging situations, such as driving in inclement weather or in heavy traffic. After a full year of driving:

* One in three parents said they still didn't consider their teen ready to drive unsupervised in heavy traffic or on the highway.
* One in five didn't think their teen was ready to drive unsupervised in the rain.

"Driving in a variety of settings is the best way to build competence; starting early and practicing often can make the crucial difference between being a tentative novice driver or one capable of handling challenging and unavoidable driving scenarios," said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. "Until now, there's been almost no scientific research on what parents actually do while supervising their teens' driving. This study reinforces that parents are ideally positioned to assess their teen's early driving ability and provide invaluable training and guidance during this critical time."

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in this country. The first few years of unsupervised driving are the most dangerous – 1,363 U.S. teen drivers age 15-18 died in traffic crashes in 2008. However, teens are clearly a danger to others as well because the total number of deaths resulting from these crashes was 3,495.

"Humans learn complex tasks like driving more from direct experience than by being told what to do," said Arthur Goodwin, the report's primary investigator and a Senior Research Associate with the University of North Carolina (UNC) Highway Safety Research Center. "Parents should ask themselves: Do I want my teen to learn how to handle bad weather, darkness, rush hour traffic or narrow rural roads without me in the car?"

Although graduated driver's license (GDL) systems vary by state, most require at least six months of supervised driving for beginners; several states require up to a year. During the supervised stage of GDL, the research showed parents need to:

* Ensure ample practice in all driving situations– including frequent practice at night, in bad weather, in heavy city traffic, on rural highways and on busy interstates.
* Share their driving "wisdom" to help teens spot dangers that aren't obvious and see the "big picture."

Parents should use "I" statements, explaining what they would do in critical situations, so teens will be more likely to listen to and remember.

* Teach teens to drive defensively, be wary of other drivers and anticipate the unexpected things they might do. For example, "Even when I have a green light, I always glance both ways to make sure other cars are stopping, because sometimes they don't."

The AAA Foundation commissioned the UNC Highway Safety Research Center to conduct the study. The initial phase concluded in January 2010 and the second phase will conclude this fall as researchers continue tracking teens once they obtain their provisional license. Ultimately, the study will shed light on how teens handle the high-risk transition to independent driving and provide insight on the nature of distractions facing newly licensed teen drivers.

AAA offers online tools and information to help parents work with their teen drivers. The motor club's new Web site, www.teendriving.aaa.com, helps parents and teens manage the complex learning-to-drive process by providing them with state-specific information that they need based on the teen's progress toward licensure.

The site features AAA StartSmart, a series of online lessons and newsletters based on the National Institutes of Health's Checkpoints program, which has been proven to help parents improve teen driver safety and is being offered nationally for the first time. Launched this summer, the site also offers an online version of AAA's Dare To Prepare workshop and lessons from the motor club's Teaching Your Teen To Drive program, both of which assist families that are or soon will be learning to drive.

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Official release: GDOT, SRTA Boards Approve GA400 Lease Extension

2010-09-24T14:24:00.002-04:00

Toll Funds to Be Used for Improvements to GA400

State Route 400, also known as GA400, is now in position to receive a series of improvements that will reduce travel times on GA400, many adjoining surface roads, and at its interchange with Interstate 85. The projects have been developed between the State Road & Tollway Authority (SRTA) and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) after considerable input from many metro Atlanta government officials, civic leaders and business executives.

The State Transportation Board approved extending the ground lease for GA400 to SRTA until September 20, 2020. The SRTA Board also approved the lease extension as well as a resolution to issue toll revenue bonds and to establish the toll rate and the toll expiration date. The new bond would be paid for with tolls set at the same rates that are in place today.

“Metro Atlanta and the GA400 corridor have experienced phenomenal growth since this road first opened 20 years ago,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “While growth was expected, nobody could have foreseen the amount of growth that has taken place. Both the roadway and its interchanges are in desperate need of improvements to better manage traffic flow. A plan is in place and can now be implemented to make those much-needed improvements.”

New connector ramps that join GA400 and I-85 are specified in the new lease agreement. The connector ramps were part of the original plans for GA400 when the road was first built but were excluded because of budget. Cost to build the ramps at the time was approximately $21.5 million. Today, the cost is projected to be $40 million and an initial scheduling projection states the ramps can be completed in 2013. According to GDOT, if a new toll is not used to fund the project the earliest that this or any other GA400 improvement project could take place is 2020.

“I had the privilege of being involved with GA400 when it was first conceived as a way to open the north Georgia suburbs to Downtown Atlanta,” said Tom Moreland, former GDOT Commissioner and head of Moreland Altobelli Associates, Inc. “That was a very different time. We anticipated a lot of growth, but you have to remember that this was at least five years before we knew Atlanta was even getting the Olympics. There’s no way that any of us could have anticipated the growth that Metro Atlanta has experienced. A lot has changed since then, but tollways are still one of the best ways to effectively build, improve and maintain intercity expressways and GA400 is no different. Keeping the tollway makes perfect sense.”

SRTA and GDOT initially developed a list of 160 possible projects with input from the North Fulton Atlanta Mayors Association; Buckhead, North Fulton and Perimeter CIDs; Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and various city and county planning and transportation entities. Those projects were then reviewed based on their impact to GA400 corridor, mobility, strategic objectives and project schedule. The short-list of 11 projects ranked the highest based on these criteria.

“SRTA and GDOT have been jointly exploring many different options for GA400, which include both removing and keeping the tollway,” said SRTA Executive Director Gena Evans. “After a significant amount of input from community groups and civic and business leaders, SRTA is recommending that a new toll be implemented to fund much needed improvements along the GA400 corridor.”

The next step is to solicit public comments on the projects for a 30-day period. This comment period will look much like the GDOT Open Houses before a project is confirmed.

The 11 projects that are recommended for implementation are:

· New ramps that connect GA400 and I-85 so motorists no longer need to travel on local surface streets, saving 4 to 7 minutes of travel time;

· Improving the GA400 southbound to I-85 southbound merge so GA400 has a dedicated lane in I-85;

· Widening GA400 from McFarland Rd. to SR20 with a third general purpose lane;

· Extend the third northbound lane approximately ¾ miles to enhance the transition from the existing four lanes to two lanes near McFarland Rd that extend to SR20 in Forsyth County;

· Extend the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and Highway Emergency Response Order (HERO) north from McFarland Rd to SR20 by providing video detection and ramp metering to more effectively manage congestion and reduce the impact of incidences along GA400;

· Install ITS from Barnwell Rd on SR140/Holcomb Bridge Rd to SR9/Alpharetta Street, utilizing existing Active Traffic Management System devices to optimize costs and coordinate with the existing City of Roswell traffic infrastructure;

· Construct a triple left turn lane for the Mansell Road corridor between the GA400 northbound exit ramp (Exit 8) and the North Point Parkway intersection with Mansell Rd to accommodate planned growth from the current 18,650 cars per day to the projected 59,700 cars per day in 2034;

· Continue funding the GRTA Xpress service from Forsyth County to the North Springs MARTA rail station near Perimeter Center and direct service to Downtown Atlanta from Cumming;

· Reconstruct the ramp from westbound Abernathy to northbound GA400 to allow motorists additional time and distance to merge onto GA400; and

· Increase capacity and make operational improvements to the three intersections that directly tie into the Northridge Road intersection at GA400, which are Northridge Road at Dunwoody Place, Roberts Drive and Somerset Court, and Roberts Drive and Dunwoody Place, and add a traffic roundabout at Somerset Court to the east; and

· Initiate Preliminary Engineering (PE) of managed lanes between I-285 and McFarland Road.

GDOT has final approval over plans and specifications for any such construction projects before they can be put out to bid.

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announces partnership with US Department of Transportation to combat distracted driving by workers

2010-09-21T12:24:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Because motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of worker fatalities, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a partnership between the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation to combat distracted driving.

"It is imperative that employers eliminate financial and other incentives that encourage workers to text while driving," said Secretary Solis. "It is well recognized that texting while driving dramatically increases the risk of a motor vehicle injury or fatality."

Prohibiting texting while driving is the subject of an executive order signed by President Barack Obama last year for federal employees and the subject of rulemaking by the Department of Transportation.

OSHA is launching a multi-pronged initiative that includes:

* An education campaign for employers, to be launched during "Drive Safely Work Week" in early October, will call on employers to prevent occupationally related distracted driving, with a special focus on prohibiting texting while driving.
* An open letter to employers to be posted on OSHA's website, http://www.osha.gov during "Drive Safely Work Week." The website also will showcase model employer policies and encourage employer and labor associations to communicate OSHA's message.
* Alliances with the National Safety Council and other key organizations as outreach to employers, especially small employers, aimed at combating distracted driving and prohibit texting while driving.
* Special emphasis on reaching younger workers by coordinating with other Labor Department agencies as well as alliance partners and stakeholders.
* Investigating issue citations and penalties where necessary to end the practice when OSHA receives a credible complaint that an employer requires texting while driving.

"We call upon all employers to prohibit any work policy or practice that requires or encourages workers to text while driving," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "The Occupational Safety and Health Act is clear; employers must provide a workplace free of recognized hazards."

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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Car Seat Inspections Offered Nationwide as Part of Child Passenger Safety Week

2010-09-20T09:02:00.000-04:00

From Savannah to Kennesaw, car seat inspections will happen at many points throughout Georgia on Saturday, September 25.

/PRNewswire/ -- Safe Kids USA and its network of coalitions will inspect thousands of child safety seats during Child Passenger Safety Week (September 19-25) by conducting more than 400 car seat checkup events for families and their children across the nation. Nationally certified child passenger safety technicians will lead the inspection events and deliver hands-on education to parents and caregivers throughout the week.

In partnership with the General Motors Foundation since 1997, Safe Kids Buckle Up, the child passenger safety program of Safe Kids USA, has inspected 1.28 million car seats; held approximately 65,000 car seat checkup events around the country; donated more than 457,000 car seats to families in need and educated more than 21 million parents and caregivers.

Research shows that as children age, they are less likely to be in the appropriate child safety seat for their age and weight," said Torine Creppy, Director of Safe Kids USA Buckle Up programs. "Safe Kids USA would like to change that by helping assure that each child in a vehicle is properly protected. Every child deserves to grow up safely, and we are pleased to work through our coalitions at the state and local levels to promote and improve child safety in vehicles during this week."

Safe Kids coalitions will also join the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in activities to support Seat Check Saturday on September 25.

"When it comes to child passenger safety, there is absolutely no room for error. It's critical that parents and caregivers understand how to properly install their child seats in their vehicles," said Administrator David Strickland, U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "We urge parents to visit one of the thousands of seat check sites across the nation to ensure kids are safely buckled up – every trip, every time."

Checkup events will be held in locations convenient for families. Parents and caregivers can locate a Safe Kids Buckle Up checkup event in their community by visiting www.safekids.org.

"General Motors commends the many committed members of the Safe Kids community and their partners who dedicate their time and expertise to improve child safety during this week of focus and throughout the year," said Michael J. Robinson, General Motors vice president of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy.

A 2008 report from NHTSA shows that children from birth to age 1 were in a car seat 99 percent of the time. Children from ages 1-3 were in car seats 92 percent of the time and kids 4-7 were in seats 89 percent of the time. Sadly, as kids get to be between 8-12 they ride in a restraint only 85 percent of the time.

Also according to NHTSA, child safety seats reduce the risk of death for infants (under 1 year old) in a vehicle crash by 71 percent, and reduce the risk to toddlers (1 to 4 years old) by 54 percent. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have laws requiring children to be restrained while riding in cars.

Parents and caregivers should follow a few basic guidelines to determine which restraint system is best suited to protect their children in a vehicle:

* For the best possible protection, keep infants in a back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible—up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. Never turn a child forward-facing before age 1 and at least 20 pounds, although keeping kids rear-facing until at least age 2 is safer and preferred if the seat allows.
* When children outgrow their rear-facing seats, they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in a back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular harnessed seat. Many newer seats exceed the old 40 pound weight limit.
* Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats, they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly.
* Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt rests on the shoulder or collar bone (usually when the child is between 8 and 12 years old, approximately 4'9" tall and 80 to 100 pounds).

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Fifty Propane Autogas Vehicles Hit the Roads in Florida, Georgia as Part of Department of Energy Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Program

2010-09-15T14:22:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- West Palm Beach, Florida-based Peninsula Propane and Pendergrass, Georgia-based Force 911 converted 50 vehicles from gasoline to clean propane Autogas last month as part of the groundbreaking Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program. The $8.6 million Recovery Act-funded Program will put nearly 1,200 propane Autogas vehicles on the road in nine Southeast states and Washington D.C., implement at least 20 refueling stations, and create dozens of American jobs.

"Thanks to our dedicated partners, we are making tremendous progress on the deployment of this extensive Program," says Chelsea Jenkins, the director of Virginia Clean Cities at James Madison University, which is managing the Program. "With the DOE funding and the Program participants who are leading the way in adopting alternative fuels, we are advancing the use of green fuels and technologies in the Southeast."

Peninsula Propane is an affiliate of a paratransit, shuttle and taxi company with more than 1,200 transport vehicles in South Florida. John Obeid, a Peninsula Propane managing partner, says the company became a certified propane Autogas vehicle conversion center more than a year ago because they're dedicated to reducing the area's vehicle emissions.

"Propane Autogas vehicles are cleaner than gasoline vehicles, and they have a history of lasting longer and saving fleets money," says Obeid. "Many of our vehicles chart 75,000 to 100,000 miles per year, so if we convert our vehicles to propane Autogas, and convert other Florida fleet vehicles, the displaced emissions and gasoline will add up quickly." Peninsula Propane converted 6 vehicles in August and is scheduled to convert a total of 250 of their vehicles.

Force 911 is a full-service law enforcement vehicle outfitter and a certified conversion center for the Program. The center works with government agencies to provide customized vehicles based on their specified needs, such as K9 transport systems, prisoner transport units, and bi-fuel propane Autogas vehicle conversions. Force 911 has already converted 44 vehicles from gasoline to propane Autogas for Carroll and Cobb County fleets in Georgia and is scheduled to perform more than 200 vehicle conversions under the Program.

Force 911 President Wayne Abbs says: "We are proud to be a part of this project and provide Georgia law enforcement agencies with low-emissions propane Autogas vehicles. Vehicle performance is paramount for officers, and propane Autogas vehicles provide virtually the same power as gasoline vehicles while reducing emissions and using a domestic fuel source."

Peninsula Propane and Force 911 were trained and certified by Alliance AutoGas, a national network that provides shovel-ready propane Autogas vehicle solutions to public and private fleets. Alliance AutoGas - with founding partners Blossman Gas (the largest independent propane supply company in the nation) and American Alternative Fuel (alternative fuel vehicle systems specialists) - is training technicians to perform the vehicle conversions for the Program, installing the refueling stations and supplying the propane Autogas fuel.

"Propane Autogas is a clean, domestic and cost-effective fuel that's available now, and this Program, along with the other ARRA-funded projects, are contributing more than 250 propane Autogas refueling stations to an already-strong national refueling network," says Stuart Weidie, Alliance AutoGas president and Autogas for America founder. "This project is making it easier for fleets to fuel up with Autogas, but it's also a major step toward bringing Autogas into the national alternative fuels discussion."

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New Survey Shows Importance of MADD's Work to End Drunk Driving

2010-08-26T16:37:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today released a National Survey of Drinking and Driving Attitudes and Behaviors confirming the importance of MADD's work to eliminate drunk driving and keep alcohol out of the hands of kids.

"The survey makes one thing very clear: drunk driving remains a primary threat to the American family," said Laura Dean-Mooney, MADD National President. "This means that MADD's work won't be done until cars are turned into the cure, eliminating drunk driving forever."

While drunk driving fatalities have dropped nearly 44 percent since MADD's inception 30 years ago, four out of five persons surveyed still consider drinking and driving as a major threat to their personal safety. The survey also showed support for in-car breathalyzers, known as ignition interlocks, as well as sobriety checkpoints, both key parts of MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®.

"It is gratifying to see that Americans overwhelmingly support MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®," said Dean-Mooney.

The campaign aims to protect families by supporting the heroes who keep our roads safe through high-visibility law enforcement; requiring convicted drunk drivers to blow before they go with the use of ignition interlock devices; and turning cars into the cure through the development of technology that automatically determines whether or not the driver is above the legal limit of .08 and failing to operate if the driver is impaired.

The survey also shows that underage drinking remains a significant problem among America's youth. When young people decide to combine drinking and driving, they do so after drinking heavily.

"We know that the younger kids start drinking alcohol, the more likely they are to become drunk drivers," said Dean-Mooney. "This data reiterates that point and makes it clear that parents need to talk to their kids about the dangers of drinking underage early and often."

Understanding that parents are the number one influence in their child's decision to drink, MADD launched a new program with the support of Nationwide Insurance called Power of Parents, It's Your Influence®. The program provides parents the tools necessary to talk to their children about alcohol.

"Ultimately, the survey just emphasizes the importance of MADD's work," said Dean-Mooney. "We must continue our work to make American families safe from the dangers of drunk driving and underage drinking - lives are at stake."

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CDC Study Finds Annual Cost of Motor Vehicle Crashes Exceeds $99 Billion

2010-08-25T12:20:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- In a one-year period, the cost of medical care and productivity losses associated with injuries from motor vehicle crashes exceeded $99 billion - with the cost of direct medical care accounting for $17 billion, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The total annual cost amounts to nearly $500 for each licensed driver in the United States, said the study in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention.

The one-year costs of fatal and non-fatal crash-related injuries totaled $70 billion (71 percent of total costs) for people riding in motor vehicles, such as cars and light trucks, $12 billion for motorcyclists, $10 billion for pedestrians, and $5 billion for bicyclists, the study said.

CDC researchers used 2005 data because, at the study time, it provided the most current source of national fatal and non-fatal injury and cost data from multiple sources.

"Every 10 seconds, someone in the United States is treated in an emergency department for crash-related injuries, and nearly 40,000 people die from these injuries each year. This study highlights the magnitude of the problem of crash-related injuries from a cost perspective, and the numbers are staggering," said Dr. Grant Baldwin, director of CDC's Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

The study also found:

-- Costs related to fatal motor vehicle-related injuries totaled $58
billion. The cost of non-fatal injuries resulting in hospitalization
amounted to $28 billion, and the cost of injuries to people treated in
emergency departments and released was $14 billion. More men were
killed (70 percent) and injured (52 percent) in motor vehicle crashes
than women. Injuries and deaths among men represented 74 percent ($74
billion) of all costs. Teens and young adults made up 28 percent of
all fatal and nonfatal motor vehicle injuries and 31 percent of the
costs ($31 billion). These young people represented only 14 percent of
the U.S. population.
-- Motorcyclists made up 6 percent of all fatalities and injuries but 12
percent of the costs, likely due to the severity of their injuries.
Pedestrians, who have no protection when they are hit by vehicles and
are also often severely injured, made up 5 percent of all injuries but
10 percent of total costs.

Motor vehicle crash injuries and deaths and the associated costs are preventable. CDC's Injury Center supports proven, effective strategies for prevention such as:

-- Graduated driver licensing (GDL) policies: these laws allow new teen
drivers to get experience on the road in lower-risk situations as they
gain experience over time and are proven to reduce teen crashes.
Strong GDL laws have been associated with up to 40 percent decreases
in crashes among 16-year-old drivers.
-- Child safety seat distribution and education programs: increased use
of correctly installed and fitted child safety seats could help reduce
the $3.6 billion annual bill for injuries to children, the cost number
found in this study.
-- Primary seat belt laws: these laws allow motorists to be stopped and
cited for not wearing seat belts. Seat belts reduce the risk of death
to those riding in the front seat by about half.
-- Enhanced seat belt enforcement programs: Enhanced enforcement programs
in which law enforcement officers focus on getting people to buckle up
(e.g.: Click It or Ticket), are effective at increasing safety belt
use and reducing deaths and injuries.
-- Motorcycle and bicycle helmet laws: helmets can reduce the risk of
death in a motorcycle crash by more than one-third and reduce the risk
of brain injury by 69 percent.
-- Sobriety checkpoints: these checkpoints, where drivers are stopped to
assess their level of alcohol impairment, can reduce alcohol-related
crash deaths by more than 20 percent.

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Seniors Slam Car Company Efforts to Escalate a Repair Parts Monopoly That Harms Older Americans

2010-08-24T15:07:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Today, RetireSafe President Thair Phillips, representing 400,000 older Americans, slammed the car companies' latest effort to enhance their monopoly over repair parts and car repairs. "There is a certain irony that after a year-long parade of car company recalls, a number of car companies are attacking aftermarket repair parts in an effort to push their own, usually much more expensive repair parts," Phillips said. "In the toughest economy since the Great Depression, seniors and all American consumers count on having the money-saving choice of high-quality aftermarket parts to repair their vehicles," he stressed. Phillips called recent statements by Hyundai and Honda pushing Hyundai Genuine Parts and Honda Genuine Parts, "shameless efforts to strangle vital competition that we absolutely need to have more of in the automotive marketplace."

He noted that "after billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded bailouts and 'Cash-for-Clunkers' sales promotions that we paid for to push new car sales for them, it's even more insulting to have car companies bash far less expensive, high-quality aftermarket parts which are certified to be safe and more often than not, made by the very same parts makers who make the original equipment parts." Phillips continued, "These same companies even attack perfectly good recycled parts - parts from vehicles they originally sold."

"Consumers pay a huge price for these car company repair parts monopolies, and Congress should act to protect the older Americans held hostage by these automotive shakedowns," he stated. "RetireSafe has long supported legislation that would do just that in both the U.S. House and Senate," Phillips said. He urged Congress to immediately "pass H.R. 3059 and S. 1368, the Access to Repair Parts Act."

"It's time for Congress and the White House to stand up for seniors by putting a stop to car company monopolies that destroy competition, harm consumers, and eliminate free choice in the marketplace," Phillips concluded.

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Extreme Heat May Increase Vehicle Fire Threat

2010-08-12T09:01:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The extreme heat experienced in communities across the U.S. makes conditions ripe for vehicle fires. State Farm reminds car owners to be vigilant and have their autos inspected and properly maintained during severe hot weather.

"Nobody wants to be that person standing by the side of the road watching helplessly as their car is engulfed in flames. And the very hot conditions across the country increase the chance of a vehicle fire--especially in older models," said Tom Hollenstain, research administrator at the State Farm Vehicle Research Facility. "But if you keep your car in good operating condition, you'll do a lot to help avoid that danger."

The National Fire Protection Association® says most highway vehicle fires occur in the months of July and August on Friday afternoons. This report also cited mechanical or electrical failure (leaks, breaks, worn-out parts) as causing approximately 49 percent of U.S. highway vehicle fires.

To lessen the likelihood of a highway vehicle fire, State Farm recommends the following car care tips:

-- Engine Coolant - Maintaining the coolant at the proper level is vital
during hot summer weather. Refer to the vehicle's owner's manual for
additional instruction or consult with an automotive technician. Never
remove the engine's coolant cap if the vehicle has been in operation.
-- Engine Oil Level - Motor oil is the life blood of the engine. It not
only provides lubrication, it also assists in engine cooling.
Maintaining the oil level at the proper range will reduce the chances
of engine damage or failure.
-- Belts & Hoses - During hot weather, additional stress is placed on the
engine's belts and hoses. Gaskets and seals may leak, hoses might
deteriorate, and belts could become brittle causing oil consumption to
increase. A failed hose or broken belt may cause the engine to
overheat. Before turning on the engine, inspect the belts and hoses
for unusual wear and cracks.
-- Keep it Clean -- Have the engine degreased to cut down on the buildup
of oil and grease.
-- Slow and Easy - All vehicles should be driven easier during hot
weather. If there is a heat advisory, motorists should try to avoid
heavy traffic, idling, high speeds and aggressive driving, all of
which contribute to the vehicle's engine overheating.

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Study: How to Increase Federal Highway Investment by $10 Billion a Year Without a Tax Increase

2010-08-03T17:09:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Where can we find the money to modernize and maintain our major highways? The federal government would have an additional $10 billion a year to spend on crucial highways if it stopped diverting federal gas tax money to projects with no national benefits, according to a new Reason Foundation study.

The federal gas tax was supposed to be used to build and maintain the Interstate Highway System. Today auto and truck drivers pay federal gas taxes that are diverted to ferryboats, trails and mass transit programs. Since these other programs aren't national, are unable to generate significant user revenues and require large subsidies, the Reason Foundation report says they should be funded by state and local governments. The 18.4 cents a gallon federal fuel tax should be refocused on rebuilding and modernizing vitally important Interstates.

"Sooner or later Congress is going to have to deal with the highway bill and the major shortfall in highway investment," said Robert Poole, principal author of the report and director of transportation policy at Reason Foundation. "It is time to rethink and refocus the federal transportation role more on core federal purposes and less on peripheral concerns. Congress could dramatically increase funding to reduce the large backlog of cost-effective highway projects by shifting non-highway programs either to states or to general revenues. This would restore the users-pay/users-benefit principle of the Highway Trust Fund by focusing on rebuilding and modernizing the Interstate system. This Interstate 2.0 approach would increase federal investment in the nation's most important arteries by nearly $10 billion a year without raising taxes."

The study explains how refocusing the Highway Trust Fund can restore the public's trust in infrastructure spending, which has been severely damaged by too many bridges to nowhere. Along with needed investment in an Interstate 2.0 system, the proposal would also reduce federal mandates and give states more control over their transportation spending. The Interstate 2.0 approach would give states incentives to reduce waste and administrative costs; prioritize projects that will produce the largest benefits; embrace public-private partnerships that shift financing and risk away from taxpayers and onto private investors; and utilize technology, tolling, and congestion pricing to produce a sustainable, user-pays 21st-century highway system.

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Opinon: Beware Where Policy-makers Go With Transit

2010-07-30T16:33:00.000-04:00

The drumbeat for more public transportation by planners and policy-makers rises in inverse proportion to the public's enthusiasm. The reality of the steady decline in Americans' use of public transportation fades into the background, overwhelmed by transit-oriented hype.

It started with "smart growth" and "new urbanism." Now this elitist focus on public transit as the solution to congestion now has a frightening hold on the U.S. Department of Transportation. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, who has long cited his preference for "livability" instead of mobility, this month announced a $293 million "investment" so that "residents in dozens of communities nationwide will soon enjoy major transit improvements, including new streetcars, buses and transit facilities." It would "boost economic development and recovery, and further reduce our dependence on oil.”

Free-market think tanks and policy analysts around the nation who oppose this approach are maligned as "anti-transit." Not so. Transit is a necessary tool in the transportation policy toolbox to accommodate the needy, those unwilling and unable to drive and a growing elderly population. What's at issue is (a) what type of transit to choose and (b) who should manage it.

Why are these issues? First, the numbers of transit users are low and declining. Demographer Wendell Cox reports that in 1955, transit's market share was more than 10 percent; by 2005, it was at 1.5 percent. By 2008, amid high fuel prices, transit market share climbed – to 1.6 percent. It is also high cost. The farebox covers around 25 percent of operations. It requires massive subsidies from already-struggling taxpayers.

Unfortunately, planners are opting for trolleys, street cars and rail. President Obama's $8 billion in grants for "high-speed" rail have over-excited states. And Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff says, “Streetcars are making a comeback because cities across America are recognizing that they can restore economic development downtown. ...These streetcar and bus livability projects will not only create construction jobs now, they will aid our recovery by creating communities that are more prosperous and less congested.”

Atlanta's Beltline greenbelt project proposes using light rail, estimated at $25 million to $50 million per mile and the costliest of three options. Cobb County also is looking at light rail. Planners maintain it encourages economic development.

Which leads to management: With taxpayer funds materializing from the federal government to cover up to 90 percent of the cost of the projects they support, policy-makers inflate requests with expensive, ambitious projects that have little relevance to consumer demand. LaHood's streetcar initiative will fund up to 80 percent of projects. The profit motive of a private-sector investor can encourage efficiencies and protect taxpayers.

The feds do appear to be rethinking their generosity. Rogoff said recently it is time to "put down the glossy brochures. ... At times like these, it's more important than ever to have the courage to ask a hard question: If you can't afford to operate the system you have, why does it make sense for us to partner in your expansion? ... [A]re we at risk of just helping communities dig a deeper hole for our children and our grandchildren?"

This is especially not the time to commit funds to fixed transit as a solution. An Atlanta Regional Commission "snapshot" of congested corridors resembles the can of worms it is. Regional planners are considering delaying needed maintenance to fund new projects. The region needs a stunning $56 billion through 2040 just for repairs and maintenance, and $113 billion more to build, operate and maintain "all additional identified needs in the region."

The good news is that even in automobile-oriented Georgia, where land is cheap so lots are large and business centers dispersed, there are less costly transit options. The law enabling regional referenda on a transportation sales tax also creates a commission to investigate combining regional transit entities into one, and another to encourage transit cost-sharing by various agencies.

Then, too, the proposed high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane network proposed for the metro region could provide a seamless, congestion-free transit network for express buses and bus rapid transit (BRT). For reference, the Beltline's estimates for BRT are $15 million to $25 million a mile.

Nobody's taking the train. Georgians must demand that social engineers stop trying to get them on board. Georgians want mobility: freeing their cars from congestion, not moving them out of their cars. As transportation policy advances, focus the finite dollars on practical plans that advance regional mobility, not on modes from which Americans have long moved on.

Read the Foundation's proposals for transportation policy in Georgia at http://www.gppf.org/pub/agenda2011/transportationagenda.pdf

By Benita M. Dodd
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American Honda Expands Vehicle Recall Information Availability for Consumers

2010-07-23T12:24:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to improve access to information as vehicle ownership changes, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is providing details about Honda and Acura vehicles with open recalls to Carfax.

American Honda's participation with Carfax seeks to ensure that shoppers can research recall details through a convenient third-party database, in addition to those already available from American Honda. By transferring information daily to Carfax, American Honda is taking additional measures toward enhancing safety recall awareness within the used-car market.

"Recall completion is critically important to us," said Jim Roach, senior vice president of Parts & Service for American Honda. "By working with Carfax, American Honda provides another way for customers to increase their awareness and need to address recall repairs."

Millions of used car buyers and sellers every year rely on Carfax Vehicle History Reports as part of their used-car evaluations. Open recall information reported to Carfax for Honda and Acura vehicles appears on Carfax Reports and also is available free to consumers at carfax.com/recall.

"Carfax and American Honda are committed to keeping our roadways safe," said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax. "Adding Honda and Acura to the list of manufacturers providing open recall information to Carfax helps notify car owners and buyers and gets these cars into dealerships to be fixed."

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Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed Appointed Chair of the Transportation and Communications Committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors

2010-07-14T11:19:00.000-04:00

Committee will play a pivotal role in developing sustainable transportation policies for cities and regions across the nation

Mayor Kasim Reed recently was appointed Chair of the Transportation and Communications Committee by the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations greater than 30,000. There are 1,204 such cities in the United States today, and each city is represented in the conference by its chief elected official, the mayor.

“I am extremely honored to be appointed by Mayor Kautz as the Chair of the Transportation and Communications Committee by the U.S. Conference of Mayors,” Mayor Kasim Reed said. “I am committed to helping develop real transportation solutions in our country. To help resolve many of the nation’s transit governance issues, the Transportation and Communications Committee will work to ensure that federal transit policies meet the needs of urban communities across the country. We also will share factual information on transit plans and benefits.”

The president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors appoints standing committees and designates the chairperson for those committees. Once the president proposes the committees and its chairperson, those candidates must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. The Transportation and Communications Committee is responsible for developing and implementing sustainable transportation and communications policies for the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

"As called for in our 2010 Metro Agenda for America, Mayor Reed and the Transportation and Communications Committee will fight to fix our nation's broken transportation system,” said Conference of Mayors President Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz. “Our federal government must redeploy existing resources and commit new resources to reduce congestion and increase our nation's energy security. Specifically, we must increase investments in transit, and provide dedicated funding for high-speed intercity rail program equal to the investment our nation made a half-century ago building the Interstate Highway System."

Mayor Reed has been a leader on transit governance issues for most of his political career. As a member of the Georgia State Senate, Mayor Reed served on the Senate Transportation Committee and was a strong advocate for improving the state’s regional transit network. This spring, he played a key role in the passage of House Bill 277, a groundbreaking transportation funding bill.

Most recently, Mayor Kasim Reed was voted Chair of the Regional Transit Committee (RTC), a newly developed policy committee of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). The Regional Transit Committee focuses on issues of regional transit system planning, funding and governance. The RTC is a policy body specifically charged with governance of a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional regional transit system.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors strives to promote the development of effective national urban/suburban policy; strengthen federal-city relationships; ensure that federal policy meets urban needs; provide mayors with leadership and management tools; and create a forum in which mayors can share ideas and information.

Governor Announces Transportation Infrastructure Project Grant Awards

2010-06-30T20:07:00.000-04:00

Eight Georgia Community Improvement Districts to receive funding totaling $10 Million

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the approval of $10 million in grant funding for eight transportation infrastructure projects in Metro Atlanta. The projects were developed by Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) and focus on improving mobility and congestion in business centers. In addition, the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) today approved parameters for financing transportation infrastructure loans totaling up to $4 million. Funding for the grants and loans will be provided by the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB), a revolving infrastructure investment fund established in 2008 by Georgia legislators as a part of Governor Perdue’s legislative agenda. Only CIDs are eligible for the grants. The eight CIDs awarded are as follows: Town Center, Perimeter, South Fulton, Downtown Atlanta, Gwinnett Village, Buckhead, Evermore and Cumberland.

“These partnerships have resulted in transportation investment that will decrease congestion and increase the efficiency of our existing transportation facilities,” said Governor Perdue. “The projects approved today are a testament to the commitment these communities have made to advance major transportation improvements in their area.”

SRTA manages the GTIB funds, as well as the extensive grant application review and selection process. Final approval is made by the SRTA Board.

“The projects awarded today represents over $60 million in total project value and provides much needed transportation improvements to communities that have approved this innovative financial solution,” said SRTA Executive Director Dr. Gena Evans. “In addition, GTIB loans will offer competitive rates and terms for those communities trying to accelerate completion of projects or redirect focus on projects that were previously overlooked.”

Serving as a member of the SRTA Board, GDOT Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr., applauded SRTA’s efforts and the partnerships created in the eight community improvement districts.

“These projects represent exactly the kind of collaboration and partnerships between state and local governments that will help us move transportation forward throughout Georgia,” said Commissioner Smith.

SRTA began receiving applications for grants in October 2009. Thirteen grant applications and two loan applications were received totaling over $21 million in requested funding. Grant applications were scored using a point system based on the following criteria: transportation/engineering merit, economic merit, local, state and federal matching funds and project specifics including the project phase and feasibility.

Below are details of the eight CID grant projects:

Town Center Community Improvement District

The Town Center Community Improvement District Project will restructure segments of Big Shanty Road in order to alleviate congestion at the Chastain Road/I-75 Interchange. Grant funds will also help to provide a more direct route for the Kennesaw State University population and local residents to access the Town Center Regional Activity Center and the Noonday Creek multi-use trail. The GTIB grant award is $1.75 million.

Perimeter Community Improvement District

The Perimeter Community Improvement District Project is intended to relieve the severe congestion along Ashford Dunwoody Road in the area surrounding I-285 through the diverging diamond interchange (DDI) concept, the second DDI in the United States. The DDI would provide additional capacity without reconstructing new lanes by restriping, altering signal timing, improving turning conditions and reconstructing a ramp. The GTIB grant award amount is $800,000.

South Fulton Community Improvement District

The South Fulton Community Improvement District Project will widen 1.69 miles of Oakley Industrial Boulevard from two lanes to three lanes and will tie to a new bridge over the CSX railroad to the west and a new development to the east. The project is intended to increase safety by reducing conflicts between industrial and residential traffic. The GTIB grant award amount is $1,500,000

Atlanta Downtown Improvement District

The Downtown Atlanta Traffic Signal System Upgrades and Retiming Project will serve to improve traffic signal system operations, mitigate traffic congestion and ensure consistent wireless communication among signalized intersections in downtown Atlanta. The GTIB grant award amount is $1.49 million.

Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District

The Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District Project will heighten economic development, relieve traffic congestion and provide for safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians through the intersection of Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Singleton Road. As a part of the Urban Redevelopment Plan, this project will address the prevalent issues around the corridor including vacancy, blight and crime that has deterred existing businesses to relocate while new businesses and residents have not replaced those vacancies. This trend has been partly due to inadequate infrastructure, traffic congestion and obsolete land use patterns. Redevelopment of this area can halt this trend and revitalize a once thriving business community. The GTIB grant award amount is $1.5 million.

Buckhead Community Improvement District

The Buckhead Community Improvement District Project has three phases in which the final phase will enhance a portion of Peachtree Road from Maple Drive to Shadowlawn including access management, median with dedicated turn lanes, street-scaping, ADA improvements, signal upgrade, street lighting and furniture and innovative bicycle facilities. The project will address through traffic and local circulation, improve efficiency and address safety related to left-turns, multi-modal traffic, pedestrian movement and high density development. The GTIB grant award amount is $1.75 million.

Evermore Community Improvement District

The Evermore Community Improvement District Project will construct a two-lane road that will run parallel to Highway 78 for a distance of one mile from Hewatt Road to Britt Road. The project will include sidewalks and a refuge island to provide for pedestrian safety. As a result, the project is intended to provide an alternate route for commercial truck traffic, reduce the number of turning conflicts on Hwy 78, re-direct traffic to signalized locations and retain businesses on the corridor. The GTIB grant award amount is $763,961.

Cumberland Community Improvement District

The Cumberland Community Improvement District Project will enhance the Cumberland Parkway Intersection by reconfiguring turning movements, replacing “strung” traffic signals to mast arms, improving right hand turn movements from Paces Ferry Road onto Cumberland Parkway. These enhancements will also include improving crosswalks, installing countdown signals and reconfiguring ingress and egress into nearby shopping center. The GTIB grant award amount is $445,039.

Additional funding of the projects consists of CID investment funds and two projects will receive GDOT and federal earmarks. For information on GTIB loan and grant procedures including application, guidelines, terms and interest rates are available on the SRTA website www.georgiatolls.com.

Department of Driver Services (DDS) Offers Advice for Replacing a Driver’s License or ID Card Lost or Stolen on Vacation

2010-06-28T08:12:00.000-04:00

If you survive your Summer vacation, but your driver’s license does not, the Department of Driver Services (DDS) offers these valuable tips for obtaining a replacement.

Plan Ahead

Make a copy of your driver’s license or make a note of the driver’s license number from the front of your card. Keep the copy in a safe location, so you can access the information quickly if your license is lost or stolen. This may also come in handy in case of natural disaster such as a fire or flood.

Replacement of a Lost License

A replacement license may be ordered from DDS online at www.dds.ga.gov. You will need to provide the license number, your social security number and have an American Express, Discover, Mastercard or Visa credit card. A replacement license will be mailed to you within thirty days.

To obtain a replacement license in person, please bring proof of identity which includes your name as it appears on your driver’s license. All documents presented must be originals or certified copies. No photocopies or faxes can be accepted.

The easiest way to prove your identity is with your birth certificate or passport. If the name printed on your driver’s license does not match that on your birth certificate, you should also plan to bring along your marriage license or whatever court order documents the name change.

If a birth certificate or passport is not available, customers should be prepared to show two items from the list below:

• Original Social Security Card

• Certified Copy of Marriage License

• Previous Year's Income Tax Return

• Current Auto, Home, Life or Health Insurance Policy (Cards Not Accepted)

• Current Auto Registration Receipt

• Voter Registration Card

If you are a victim of theft, please bring a copy of the police incident report with you when you visit a DDS customer service center so that your new driver’s license or ID card can be issued with a new license number.

DDS Hours of Service

All DDS Customer Service Centers statewide are closed on Monday. Tuesday is typically the busiest day statewide. The middle of the week during the middle of the day is the best time to visit DDS. Most centers open earlier to serve you better. A complete list of locations, services and hours can be accessed at http://www.dds.ga.gov/locations/LocationList.aspx.

Driving in Another State

A valid Georgia driver’s license is acceptable proof to drive while visiting another state. However, drivers must obey all traffic laws and procedures which may be different from Georgia’s.

Receiving a ticket from another state.

A ticket issued in another state will be sent to Georgia DDS and will affect your driving record just the same as if you had received the ticket in your home state. Citations from other states typically appear on your Georgia driving record within 60-90 days after your court date.

Be diligent in following up after a citation. Failing to respond or appear in court on a ticket issued in another state can result in the suspension of your Georgia driver’s license. DDS attempts to notify all customers prior to a license suspension or revocation. However, many notices are returned to DDS undeliverable. To verify that your license is valid, you may call (678) 413-8400.

DDS also recommends purchasing your driving history or motor vehicle report (MVR) at least once a year to see if the DDS shows tickets that were not issued to you just as you would review your credit report for fraudulent activity. An MVR can be accessed online, or you may obtain a certified copy by visiting in person.

Please visit the DDS website at www.dds.ga.gov for complete driver’s licensing and testing information.
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Idlying buses bad for air, kids

2010-06-23T07:25:00.000-04:00

The sign in front of Fulton Science Academy Middle School is clear: “No Idling. Little lungs at work.”
As cars line up to drop children off at the Alpharetta, Ga., school, the rule is strictly enforced. Monitors walk along the carpool line and tap on windows to remind drivers to turn off their engines.

Dispelling the myth

“You can sit and idle in a carpool line for 30 minutes,” said Sharon Gibson, a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist and director of the Children, Youth and Families at Risk – Sustainable Communities Project. “There is a myth out there that it’s cheaper to keep your car running and it’s better for your car. It’s a total myth.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, idling uses more gas than turning your engine off and restarting it. “Idling your car for 30 minutes in a carpool line causes more wear-and-tear on your engine that driving the same amount of time at low speed,” Gibson said.

Saves money and the environment

There are even bigger savings when it comes to school buses. The EPA warns that idling buses increase air pollution, cause wear-and-tear in bus engines and waste gas and money.

“A line of idling school buses doesn’t just pollute the air around the buses,” said Pamela Turner, a UGA Extension housing specialist. “They also pollute the air in the bus and can emit particulates that can enter the school, reducing the air quality inside, too.”

Asthmatic children suffer most

According to Gibson and Turner, pollution from idling buses is particularly problematic for children with chronic respiratory problems like asthma.

“Diesel exhaust has particulate matter that can cause health risks,” Turner said. “Thousands of them can fit on the period at the end of this sentence. They easily pass through the nose and cause real problems for children.”

Most at risk, they said, are those who have existing heart, lung or respiratory problems. The particulates are most dangerous to children and the elderly.

Polluted air drifts into schools

“And, where do we idle?” Gibson asked. “In front of schools.”

The particles can even contribute to creating more haze. “Idling buses aren’t just a health risk, they’re an environmental risk and can cause long-term damage,” she said.

Schools can take simple steps to reduce risks and save money.

“Today’s bus engines don’t need to be warmed up for long periods of time,” Turner said. “They should be warmed for less than five minutes.”

Idling wastes fuel

According to an idling calculator on the EPA website, reducing idling to just 10 minutes a year saves 300 gallons of gas. Turner estimates reducing the warm-up time for just 20 buses will save more than $1,200 per year.

Changing policies isn’t easy, Gibson said. But, she offers these suggestions to get the discussion going at local schools.

Look at the EPA’s National Idle-Reduction Campaign website and learn the facts. “Once people know the facts, they can start a movement in the community or the school’s parent organizations to show the risks and benefits if the practices are changed,” she said.

Take the 'walking bus'

Start a “walking school bus” in your neighborhood. “If your neighborhood has adequate sidewalks to the school, a walking school bus is an excellent idea,” Gibson said.

The idea is to arrange a group of parents who walk to school and pick children up along the route. “The kids are escorted to school safely by adults,” she said. “They benefit from the exercise, no fuel is used and no emissions are put into the air.”

Gibson also said this concept builds community among parents and children.

Some parents say they choose carpooling over buses because they are concerned about bus safety or enjoy the extra time with their children. “They get both of those benefits in the walking bus, too,” she said.

Make these changes

American school buses travel more than 4 billion miles a year. While EPA agrees that school buses are the safest way to transport children to and from school, the agency offers these suggestions to school systems to reduce the impact of buses on the environment:

Use cleaner fuels.
Upgrade bus engines to reduce emissions.
Replace older buses with less polluting buses.

“It takes individual, family and community action to change these practices,” Gibson said. “Each person taking baby steps will add up. If every parent waiting in line to pick up their children turns their car off, it helps.”

For more information on EPA’s National Idle-Reduction Campaign, visit their website at http://epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/antiidling.htm .

To calculate the savings from not idling, check out the calculator at www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/idle_fuel_calc.htm .

By J Faith Peppers
University of Georgia

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States Strengthen Seat Belt and Texting Laws

2010-06-05T09:11:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- GHSA applauds Georgia, Kansas and Vermont for enacting new laws to improve highway safety in their states. Kansas and Georgia strengthened their seat belt and distracted driving laws, while all three states have banned texting for all drivers.

Yesterday (June 3), Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed a bill that removed a pickup truck exemption in that state's seat belt law. Now, all Georgians must 'Click It or Ticket.' State estimates indicate at least 100 lives annually will be saved by requiring pickup drivers to be belted. Today (June 4), Governor Perdue also signed a bill banning cell phone use for novice drivers as well a ban on texting for all drivers. Georgia is now the 28th state to ban texting for all drivers.

Earlier this week, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas added his state to the list of those with a texting while driving ban. In only three years since the first statewide texting ban, states have been quickly acting to address this problem. GHSA expects more states to come on board in the near future.

Last week, Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson signed a primary seat belt bill that allows Kansas police to stop drivers who are not buckled up. Prior to this, Kansas law enforcement officers could only issue tickets for failure to wear a seat belt if a driver was stopped for another traffic violation, such as speeding. The new law also requires all vehicle occupants to buckle up, not just those in the front seat. Kansas will get $11 million in federal funding for passing the new law, which becomes effective June 10. Governor Parkinson also recently signed a statewide texting while driving ban.

GHSA Executive Director Barbara Harsha notes, "Georgia, Vermont and Kansas have set a good example for other states by strengthening their highway safety laws. We know that primary seat belt laws are the single most effective thing states can do to save lives on their roads. And texting bans send the message that drivers need to focus on the task at hand--driving."

For a list of all state seat belt laws, visit: www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/seatbelt_laws.html.

Distracted driving laws can be found at: www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html.

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Governor Perdue Signs Transportation Resource Plan

2010-06-04T09:10:00.000-04:00

Governor Perdue today (June 2) joined Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and House Speaker David Ralston to sign legislation that will result in a comprehensive plan to provide additional resources to invest in Georgia’s transportation network.

“We have worked extremely hard to bring a level of accountability never seen before in our transportation planning process,” said Governor Perdue. “Now, voters in each area of the state will have a chance to approve a plan that meets the needs of their area of the state while also connecting to the state’s transportation network.”

Governor Perdue’s support for new transportation funding follows passage and successful implementation of Senate Bill 200, which transformed the state’s transportation governance system. Governor Perdue also today signed the statewide strategic transportation plan, which is now driving the decision-making process on how and when to make additional investments that deliver results.

“A year ago we passed Senate Bill 200, a meaningful transportation planning component for the entire state,” said House Speaker David Ralston. “The funding bill signed into law today completes the circle and positions our transportation policy well into the future. The bi-partisan, inclusive leadership by members of the General Assembly, Governor Perdue, Lt. Governor Cagle, and others throughout the state who helped craft this landmark legislation shows that our state remains serious about competing for jobs and improving the quality of life for our citizens.”

“Today is a testament to how important the issue of transportation is to our state and how committed we were to working together to agree on a solution that will bring results,” said Lt. Governor Cagle. “I want to thank Governor Perdue and Speaker Ralston for their commitment and dedication to stay at the table and accomplish this for Georgia. I especially want to thank Sen. Jeff Mullis for his leadership in the Senate and hard work on this issue. This bill allows us to tell people and businesses that are looking to move or relocate their company to Georgia that we have a plan to fix transportation and that we are serious about addressing these issues.”

The final version of House Bill 277 creates special tax districts for transportation that mirror the state’s 12 regional planning boundaries.

“These district lines are important because they recognize our state’s regional business centers, and the areas from which those centers draw consumers,” the Governor said. “This approach will mean dollars spent in a region remain in that region, and the projects will benefit the entire region.”

Voters in each region will have the ability to decide on new transportation improvements by voting on a one percent sales tax. The transportation districts will enable a collection of counties to make strategic decisions that will produce growth in their region. The state’s director of transportation planning will work closely with local communities to create a project list for each transportation district. The project list will knit together transportation improvements that connect our cities and regions, making the movement of people and goods faster and more cost-efficient.

The bill calls for a statewide vote to be held, with the voters in each transportation district considering their specific list. If the district votes yes, the additional sales tax collected in their district will be used to fund their list of projects. If the district votes no, the tax will not be levied.

Governor Perdue also thanked members of the General Assembly that have worked hard on transportation over the past two sessions.

“The question has not been whether to invest in transportation, but whether or not we could get a return on transportation investment that the people of Georgia could support,” the Governor said. “Thanks to the hard work of many, we now have a plan in place that meets that goal.”

“We are proud of the leadership shown by the Governor and the General Assembly this year,” said Dave Stockert, President & CEO of Post Properties and chair of the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s transportation policy committee. “The business community is ready to support the transportation referendum in every way possible as we move into the next phase of this process.”

“Investing in Georgia's transportation infrastructure is critical to our long term economic health,” added Phil Jacobs, chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Transportation Committee. “We are pleased that this legislation will allow every region of our state to have a voice in what those investments will be and that it will provide a mechanism to improve upon our state’s many transportation assets.”

Earlier this year, the Governor announced that his FY 2011 budget recommendation included $300 million in bond projects for transportation. These projects are aligned with the statewide strategic plan and focus on projects of statewide significance. The General Assembly included $200 million in transportation bond projects in the final FY 2011 budget. This bond funding will allow Georgia to strategically target investment to fuel Georgia’s job growth and to position the state as a national leader in economic recovery.

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First Rollover Tests of Midsize SUVs: 5 of 12 Models Earn Marginal Ratings

2010-06-02T10:57:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- New test results show that some automakers are doing a good job of designing vehicle roofs that perform much better than current federal rollover standards require. The roofs on other vehicles need improvement. In the first Insurance Institute for Highway Safety roof strength tests of midsize SUVs, 6 earn the top rating of good for rollover protection, 1 is acceptable, and 5 others earn the second lowest rating of marginal.

Midsize SUVs earning good ratings are the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox (twin GMC Terrain) built after March 2010, Jeep Liberty (twin Dodge Nitro), Toyota Highlander and Venza, plus the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Kia Sorento, both 2011 models. The 2010 Ford Edge is rated acceptable. The worst performers, which earn marginal ratings, are the Honda Accord Crosstour, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-7, Mitsubishi Endeavor, and Nissan Murano, all 2010 models.

In addition to earning good ratings for rollover protection, the Equinox, Grand Cherokee, Highlander, Sorento, and Venza also earn the Institute's TOP SAFETY PICK award. To achieve this, a vehicle has to earn good ratings for occupant protection in front, side, rear, and rollover crashes. It also has to have electronic stability control.

The rollover rating system is based on Institute research showing that occupants in vehicles that roll benefit from stronger roofs. Vehicles rated good must have roofs that are more than twice as strong as the minimum required under the current federal safety standard. The ratings, products of the Institute's roof strength testing program, add to consumer information tests that rate vehicles' front, side, and rear crashworthiness. The rollover test is designed to help consumers pick vehicles that will protect them the best in one of the most serious kinds of crashes.

"Midsize SUVs are a big group so we're testing them in stages," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "First results show that automakers are making progress in rollover protection, but it's disappointing that a new design like the Crosstour didn't perform better."

Top performance in the roof test is important because nearly 10,000 people a year are killed in rollover crashes. When vehicles roll, their roofs hit the ground, deform, and crush. Stronger roofs crush less, reducing injury risk from contact with the roof itself. Stronger roofs also can prevent people, especially those who aren't using safety belts, from being ejected through windows, windshields, or doors that have broken or opened because the roof deformed. Roofs that don't collapse help keep people inside vehicles when they roll.

The best occupant protection is to keep vehicles from rolling in the first place. Electronic stability control is significantly reducing rollovers, especially fatal single-vehicle ones.

When vehicles roll, side curtain airbags help protect people. Safety belt use is essential.

In the Institute's roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 corner of a roof at a constant speed. To earn a good rating, a roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. For an acceptable rating, the minimum strength-to-weight ratio that's required is 3.25. A marginal rating value is 2.5, and anything lower than that is poor. The Grand Cherokee, Highlander, Liberty, and Venza, for example, withstood forces of nearly 5 times their weights. This compares with 2.8 times weight for the Crosstour and about 3 times weight for the Endeavor and Pilot. A strength-to- weight ratio of 4 reflects an estimated 50 percent reduction in serious or fatal injury risk in single-vehicle rollover crashes, compared with the current federal standard of 1.5.

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Experts Warn Floyd and Bartow Residents in for ‘Rude Awakening’ if US 411 Connector is Built

2010-05-20T09:58:00.000-04:00

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The US 411 Connector is so poorly designed it could actually exacerbate traffic between Floyd County and Atlanta while causing irreparable harm to the environment in Bartow County. That’s the assessment of experts who detailed substantial deficiencies in Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) plans for the proposed highway from Rome to I-75 during presentations for concerned community and business leaders and elected officials.

Professional engineers (PE) showed that the design of the US 411 Connector alignment currently championed by GDOT – Route D – does not fulfill GDOT’s promise to build a freeway for the residents of Rome and Floyd County that will provide quick, safe access to I-75. Rather, Route D’s complicated interchange requires multiple traffic lights, would not alleviate stop-and-go travel from Rome to I-75, and will actually increase traffic jams on I-75 itself.

“If the goal is to provide direct and efficient access to the interstate from Floyd County, then Route D isn’t it,” said Lee C. Davis, an attorney for the Rollins family, whose Cartersville ranch would be bisected by Route D. “Meanwhile, the residents of Bartow County would see Dobbins Mountain destroyed with collateral damage to aquatic resources while the enormous expense of the project (to blast the mountain away) will siphon money from other needed road projects. Everyone loses with Route D – so you have to wonder why GDOT continues to insist on it.”

Davis notes that in addition to the inferior interchange design, GDOT has inexplicably planned Route D to go through Dobbins Mountain, requiring an 800 foot wide, 125 foot deep gash to be blasted through the Bartow County landmark. That’s roughly equivalent in width to that of four 747s, sitting wingtip-to-wingtip, and in height to a 12 story building.

“There’s a cheaper, more environmentally friendly way to build a road than to blast through Dobbins Mountain, said Pierre Howard, president of the Georgia Conservancy. “The proposed route was a bad idea years ago, and it’s a bad idea now. It is unfair to taxpayers to build the most expensive route that also does the most environmental damage.”

Another proposed route, now known as Route G, a shorter alignment that would have a fraction of the environmental impact, was initially preferred by GDOT; however, the agency abandoned those plans in favor of Route D for reasons it has never fully explained. Route G also could be built for a fraction of the price – $80 million less than Route D.

Inefficient traffic flow

Walter Kulash, PE, a nationally known transportation consultant with more than 30 years of experience in road design, analyzed traffic patterns for Routes D and G. From a traffic management perspective, Kulash said one of the biggest problems is that Route D attempts to combine the 411 Connector, SR 20 and I-75 into a single interchange. The result is an expensive, complicated and unnecessarily hazardous interchange that requires drivers to reduce speeds below those typical for such junctions and negotiate at least one traffic signal. Incredibly, Route D does not provide access from the 411 Connector eastbound to I-75 northbound. GDOT’s plan makes the illogical assumption that people using the road will only want to travel south on I-75.

By comparison, Kulash noted, Route G provides a shorter, more direct route to I-75 and has a simple and dedicated interchange with immediate northbound and southbound access that requires no traffic signals or unusual reductions in travel speeds.

“In my experience with road projects all over the US, whenever you see a design with as many flaws as this – going through a mountain, an inefficient interchange and dubious traffic forecasts – it’s usually the result of politics, private interests – or both,” said Kulash. “Route D is an awful design that is clearly not about helping drivers get to the expressway quickly, and residents of Floyd County are going to be in for a rude awakening if this road is built. But by then, of course, it will be too late.”

Environmental destruction

Tony Greco, a scientist and expert in aquatic biology, described an accumulating chain of impacts to local surface and ground waters resulting from land use changes, including the proposed road. The vast increase in ‘impervious surface’ (i.e. concrete and asphalt) over the land in Bartow County creates additional stormwater runoff, further exacerbated by the steep slopes of the road cuts and paving across Dobbins Mountain.

Greco noted that runoff will not only impact the groundwater aquifer and flood plains, but will have a detrimental effect on threatened species in local waterways that are part of the Etowah River watershed, including species that are unique to this area. As proposed, Route D also requires 13 bridges, most of which are designed to cross streams, wetlands and open water. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has recognized that shading from such bridges has proven detrimental to aquatic ecosystems.

“The way Route D is designed will require 36 acres of fill to be introduced into local flood plains and that’s just the beginning of a long list of environmental impacts that will be seen in Bartow County,” said Greco. “And unfortunately it is going to be residents of Cartersville that are going to have to live with the consequences of the environmental destruction, not the people passing through on their way to I-75.”

High cost

In addition to substantial traffic and environmental problems, Route D also would be substantially more expensive to build than Route G, according to Chris Harrell, PE, a civil engineer with Summit Engineering Consultants. In an analysis comparing Routes D and G, based on GDOT’s published specifications and cost projections, Harrell found that Route D is 2.5 miles longer than Route G and would require seven more expensive bridges and overpasses.

Harrell noted that Route D also requires the excavation of 5.1 million cubic yards of earth and rock because it is routed through the mountain, while Route G more closely follows the area’s natural topography. To put 5.1 million cubic yards into perspective, that is more that the total amount of concrete (4.3 million cubic yards) used to build Hoover Dam, one of the largest public works projects in U.S. history.

“We developed the same level of engineering designs and cost estimates for Route G that GDOT has published for Route D in order to provide an apples-to-apples comparison,” Harrell said. “The bottom line is: Route D would cost in excess of $80 million more than Route G. GDOT is already short on money so overpaying for this road makes no sense when you look at all of the state’s priorities. Certainly with these flawed designs, commuters are going to get much less than they’ve been promised.”

Unanswered questions

Among those in attendance, members of the Coalition for the Right Road (CORR) made clear that they are not opposed to the US 411 Connector project but wonder why GDOT is insisting on Route D in light of its higher cost, environmental impact and the fact it will not provide ease of travel to I-75.

“For a lot of people the 411 Connector project is starting to be a little too reminiscent of the Northern Arc debacle – where the lack of any credible explanation ultimately revealed a slew of insider deals and GDOT pandering to special interests,” Davis said.

“But a closer examination of this project should make anyone suspicious and deeply concerned. Here again, GDOT has not provided a credible explanation for why it wants Route D instead of Route G, which is shorter and cheaper and could be built sooner. Route G would actually get the folks in Rome the road they want – and deserve – years faster, without unnecessary court battles. You have to wonder – is there something about Route D we don’t know? And you have to ask, who is going to benefit if Route D gets built? It’s sure not going to be residents of Floyd and Bartow counties.”

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Where to Go with Transportation?

2010-04-30T14:48:00.000-04:00

Commentary By Benita M. Dodd

The Georgia Legislature has finally approved a funding mechanism for transportation. Next comes the jockeying for placement on project lists among advocates, agencies and authorities for the various modes. Just because there's finally an opportunity for transportation funding, however, doesn't mean throwing good money after bad. Taxpayers must be vigilant and demand sound solutions and bang for their buck – or their 1 percent sales tax, to be precise.

On the bright side, Georgia's Transportation Investment Act of 2010 (HB 277) would spur cost-sharing through a new Coordinating Committee for Rural and Human Services Transportation representing the State School Superintendent and the departments of Transportation, Human Services, Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Community Health, Labor, Community Affairs and the Governor's Development Council. It provides some financial relief for the struggling Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and creates a Transit Governance Study Commission comprising legislators and representatives of regional organizations and agencies to investigate combining all the regional transportation entities into one.

Most important is the creation of 12 districts in which a "special district transportation sales and use tax of 1 percent" can be imposed for 10 years – and renewed. "The General Assembly intends through the creation of such special districts to enable the citizens within each district to decide in an election whether to authorize the imposition of a special district transportation sales and use tax to fund the projects on an investment list collaboratively developed by the affected local governments and the state," the legislation states.

Among the exemptions from the tax are energy used in the manufacturing process, jet fuel at Atlanta's airport, and locomotive and motor vehicle fuel. But the tax will apply to the first $5,000 in an automobile sale or lease, which is likely have the biggest impact on lower-income buyers who can least afford the added burden.

The legislation has a series of deadlines. The state transportation planning director must provide local governments in each special district with recommended criteria to develop an investment list of projects and programs; by August 15, 2011, he or she must deliver to them a draft investment (transportation project) list. The list must include a statement of the "specific public benefits" of each project on the investment list. "Examples of specific benefits include, but are not limited to, congestion mitigation, increased lane capacity, public safety and economic development."

The problem: "'Project' means, without limitation, any new or existing airports, bike lanes, bridges, bus and rail mass transit systems, freight and passenger rail, pedestrian facilities, ports, roads, terminals, and all activities and structures useful and incident to providing, operating and maintaining the same. The term shall also include direct appropriations to a local government for the purpose of serving as a local match for state or federal funding." Oh, yes, and the kitchen sink.

The stick: The district representatives ("roundtable") must approve the investment list by Oct. 11, 2011, or a "special gridlock" is declared and the district may not hold a public referendum for another two years. Local governments unable to come to agreement must ante up a 50 percent match for local DOT grants "until the special district roundtable approves an investment list meeting the special district's investment criteria and an election (referendum) is held within the special district." The roundtable must hold at least two public hearings. If, during the referendum, voters reject the sales tax, the local match required is 30 percent in that district.

The carrot? The match is 10 percent on projects if voters approve the tax in a referendum, to take place in 2012 on the day of the statewide primary elections.

There are huge challenges for Georgia. The state needs to invest in the freight network; eliminate the "last mile" bottleneck at the Savannah port and focus on reducing congestion in the metro Atlanta area, as well as routine road maintenance and repairs. The federal government not only has warned that funding is dwindling, but the Secretary of Transportation maintains that "mobility" is less of a concern than "livability" – which may mean even less funding toward Georgia's road and freight network.

There are good signs, too. In the summer, construction begins on the high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane demonstration project on Interstate 85 in metro Atlanta. The state continues to inch toward the perfect public-private partnership. (Bob Carr, former premier of New South Wales, Australia, will be in town May 14 to recount his conversion from an opponent to proponent of PPPs). It's encouraging that the state finally has a funding avenue for transportation and the "two Georgias" seem to be moving closer together.

Ultimately, however, unless policy-makers ensure that mobility and congestion relief are the priorities in funding projects, "all structures useful and incident" and other nebulous phrases in the law could gridlock transportation policy, hinder economic progress and disenchant voters.

Benita M. Dodd is vice president of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, an independent think tank that proposes practical, market-oriented approaches to public policy to improve the lives of Georgians. Nothing written here is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before the U.S. Congress or the Georgia Legislature.

© Georgia Public Policy Foundation (April 30, 2010). Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided the author and her affiliations are cited.
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Muscogee: North & Southbound Lane Closures Continue on I0185 Near Fort Benning

2010-03-26T11:31:00.000-04:00

WHEN: 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday, March 29 through Friday, April 2

WHERE: I-185 north and southbound between mile markers 0.0 (Victory Drive/SR 520) and 3.0 (Saint Mary’s Road).

WHAT: The Georgia DOT has scheduled single lane closures on I-185 north and southbound in order for the contractor to continue work on widening lanes on I-185.

This is a WORK ZONE and extreme caution is necessary. Motorists are advised to reduce speeds as they travel through this construction work zone. Message signs, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert the public of the upcoming changes. Drivers should be aware that personnel and equipment will be operating in close proximity to travel lanes.
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Pike: Eastbound Lane Closure on SR 74

2010-03-12T11:38:00.000-05:00

WHEN: 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., daily Monday, March 15 through Wednesday, March 17

WHERE: SR 74 eastbound at the intersection of SR 18 and SR 109 in Pike County

WHAT: The Georgia DOT has scheduled a single lane closure as crews make improvements at this intersection. Delays are expected in the area as work occurs. A pilot car will be utilized to assist motorists traveling through this work zone.

This is a WORK ZONE and extreme caution is necessary. Motorists are advised to reduce speeds as they travel through this construction work zone. Message signs, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert the public of the upcoming changes. Drivers should be aware that personnel and equipment will be operating in close proximity to travel lanes.

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150 Highway Improvement Projects Underway or Completed in Georgia Thanks to Stimulus Law

2010-03-09T11:03:00.001-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- There are currently 150 American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-financed highway construction projects underway or completed in Georgia involving $465.8 million in funds, according to data released today by the Washington, D.C.-based American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The projects underway or completed have supported or are supporting 12,960 jobs in Georgia that would otherwise not exist, says ARTBA Vice President of Economics & Research Dr. Bill Buechner.

ARRA, signed into law on February 17, 2009, provided $48 billion for transportation improvements over two years, including $27.5 billion for highway, bridge and related construction projects nationwide. The law is having significant impacts on the transportation construction industry in all 50 states.

ARRA provided $932.8 million to Georgia for highway, bridge and related improvements. This one-time bonus added more than 81 percent to Georgia's regular federal highway funds under the current federal surface transportation law - Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) - bringing the state's total federal highway funding in 2009 to a record $2.08 billion.

According to Buechner, a Harvard-trained economist, another 193 projects have been identified and are slated to be under construction shortly.

The following shows the number of ARRA-financed highway projects and amount obligated in each Georgia congressional district.

Congressional District  Number of projects    Amount Obligated
  ----------------------  ------------------    ----------------
                        1                    34          $86,665,347
                      ---                   ---          -----------
                        2                    43          $86,835,121
                      ---                   ---          -----------
                        3                    38          $85,771,226
                      ---                   ---          -----------
                        4                    19          $56,778,387
                      ---                   ---          -----------
                        5                    12          $38,240,488
                      ---                   ---          -----------
                        6                    23          $66,378,240
                      ---                   ---          -----------
                        7                     8          $63,631,194
                      ---                   ---          -----------
                        8                    31         $117,272,487
                      ---                   ---         ------------
                        9                    22          $21,766,493
                      ---                   ---          -----------
                       10                    43          $87,392,499
                      ---                   ---          -----------
                       11                    18          $42,277,506
                      ---                   ---          -----------
                       12                    37          $43,465,818
                      ---                   ---          -----------
                       13                    13          $39,155,780
                      ---                   ---          -----------
       Multidistrict                          2           $1,171,095
       -------------                        ---           ----------

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Online Services Smart Choice for Driver Services

2010-03-06T14:24:00.001-05:00

Department of Driver Services (DDS) reminds customers that many transactions may be initiated online twenty four hours a day even when all locations are closed.

Please visit www.dds.ga.gov for more information on replacing a lost license, making a change of address or obtaining a motor vehicle report.

Also, all eligible customers will receive information from DDS by mail on renewing their license online or via mail. Customers can renew without visiting a DDS location and will still be mailed Georgia’s newly designed and more secure driver’s license.

“If you have an opportunity to renew online or by mail, please do so. It is fast and secure and will save you valuable time,” said DDS Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier.

For more information, visit www.dds.ga.gov.
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Harris County: Northbound Lane Closures on SR 85

2010-03-03T11:52:00.001-05:00

8 a.m. until 8 p.m., daily, beginning Thursday, March 4 and continuing through Saturday, March 6.

State Route 85 northbound beginning south of Ellerslie, GA near State Route 315 and continuing to the Talbot County line.

The Georgia Department of Transportation advises motorists traveling northbound on SR 85; one right lane will be closed in order to resurface this section of roadway. Motorists are advised to reduce speeds and expect congestion as they travel through this construction work zone.

Speed limits have been reduced and will be strictly enforced. Message boards, signs, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert and channel motorists through the area.

Consumer Reports Suspends Recommendations for Recalled Toyotas

2010-01-29T15:48:00.001-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Reports has temporarily suspended its "recommended" status for eight Toyota vehicle models and one Pontiac model that may have accelerator pedals that can stick and cause unintended acceleration.

Consumer Reports are also advising used-car buyers to avoid purchasing any of the affected vehicles until this issue is resolved.

"Although incidents of sudden acceleration are rare, we are taking this action because the vehicles have been identified as potentially unsafe without a fix yet being available to consumers, and in general our position is that you shouldn't compromise on safety," said Jim Guest, President of Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports.

Toyota said Friday it is working to get new parts to its factories and is finalizing a fix for dealers.

Consumer Reports recommends that owners of the estimated 2.3 million vehicles involved in the recall become familiar with the warning signs of trouble, which may include the accelerator pedal being harder to depress, slower to return to its upper position, or simply not operating smoothly. It adds that all drivers should know what to do if their car suffers sudden unintended acceleration, and has posted specific steps for safely regaining control of a runaway vehicle at www.ConsumerReports.org/acceleration.

The affected models include:

2005-2010 Avalon
2007-2010 Camry (excluding the Hybrid and some other models)
2009-2010 Corolla
2010 Highlander (excluding the Hybrid model)
2009-2010 Matrix
2009-2010 RAV4
2007-2010 Tundra
2008-2010 Sequoia
2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe

Toyota told dealers earlier this week to stop selling new vehicles on this list. Under federal law, dealers cannot deliver affected new cars to customers until the problem is corrected. Separately, GM halted sales of the Pontiac Vibe, which was included in the recall because it is nearly identical to the Toyota Matrix.

All nine of the models involved in this recall had performed well in Consumer Reports' road tests and reliability Ratings, and had earned our "recommended" designation as a result. In view of that fact, and the fact that the vehicles have also done well on government and insurance industry safety tests, we expect to be able to reinstate the "recommended" tag once we are satisfied the problem has been resolved.

"We continue to feel these are fundamentally good cars," explained David Champion, director of the group's Auto Test Center. "The instances of sticking accelerator pedals appear to be few compared to the millions of affected vehicles that have been sold. We took this step simply because we did not feel comfortable continuing to recommend them until the accelerator problem is fixed."

The ConsumerReports.org website is being updated to remove the "recommended" tag on the affected models and replace it with a note saying the designation has been temporarily suspended. That update is expected to be complete sometime over the weekend.

While the Toyota problem is at the center of public attention at this moment, Consumer Reports also noted that unintended acceleration has been reported in other brands of vehicles. That underscores the need for all drivers to be aware of how to deal with this risk, however small it may be. See "How to cope with sudden unintended acceleration" for more information.

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NADA Statement on the Toyota Recall

2010-01-27T16:16:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) issued the following statement today on the Toyota recall:

"Toyota is doing the right thing. The safety of the customer is of paramount concern. Toyota has a reputation for resolving problems quickly. We certainly hope that's the case in this situation as well.

"This is creating a very difficult situation for dealers, in an already tough market. NADA is working with Toyota to identify a plan to help get dealers through this. In the meantime, we are encouraging Toyota dealers to check to see if they have business interruption insurance that might help them weather this crisis.

"For the consumer, Toyota has set up a toll-free number to answer customer's questions. That number is 1-800-331-4331."

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Coweta: Lane Closures for I-85 Northbound, SR 34 & SR 14

2010-01-21T12:52:00.000-05:00

Contractors for the Georgia Department of Transportation are performing major reconstruction of I-85 at different locations between mile marker 39 (near Exit 41; SR 14/US 27 Alt) and mile marker 48 (near Exit 47; SR 34). To ensure motorists and contractor safety, this work will warrant lane closures along this section of I-85, which could cause delays.

Georgia DOT reports the following construction activities are tentatively planned for the period of Monday, January 25 through Friday, January 29:

I-85 NORTHBOUND: Northbound lane closures will be in place between mile markers 39 – 41 and 46 - 48 during the daytime hours of 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily, Monday, January 25 through Thursday, January 28.

I-85 SOUTHBOUND: Southbound lane closures will be in place between mile markers 48 - 46 during the daytime hours of 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily, Tuesday, January 26 through Thursday, January 28.

SR 34 NEAR I-85: East and westbound lane closures will be in place between mile markers 15 and 16 during the evening hours of 7 p.m. through 5 a.m., Monday, January 25 through Friday, January 29.

SR 14 NEAR I-85: East and westbound lane closures will be in place between mile markers 10 and 11 during the evening hours of 7 p.m. through 5 a.m., Monday, January 25 through Thursday, January 28.

Details will be provided by message boards throughout the corridor.

The Georgia DOT notes that the above construction schedules are proposed activities planned by the contractors and may change due to weather conditions or other factors.
As in any work zone, motorists are reminded to pay special attention to traffic control devices, signs and posted speed limits to ensure safe passage through the work zone.

Muscogee County: North & Southbound Lane Closure I-85 near Fort Benning

2010-01-21T11:06:00.000-05:00

WHEN: 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday, January 25 through Friday, January 29

WHERE: I-185 north and southbound between mile markers 0.0 (Victory Drive/SR 520) and 3.0 (Saint Mary’s Road).

WHAT: The Georgia DOT has scheduled single lane closures on I-185 north and southbound in order for the contractor to continue work on widening lanes on I-185.

This is a WORK ZONE and extreme caution is necessary. Motorists are advised to reduce speeds as they travel through this construction work zone. Message signs, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert the public of the upcoming changes. Drivers should be aware that personnel and equipment will be operating in close proximity to travel lanes.
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Coweta County: Lane Closures on SR 16 Continue

2010-01-21T11:05:00.002-05:00

WHEN: 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday, January 25, daily through Friday, January 29, 2010

WHERE: The intersection of SR 16/Wells Street, Broad and Luther Bailey Road in the City of Senoia.

WHAT: The Georgia DOT has scheduled periodic right lane closures and will be utilizing a flag man as crews work to improve this intersection. Delays are expected in the area as work occurs.

This is a WORK ZONE and extreme caution is necessary. Motorists are advised to reduce speeds as they travel through this construction work zone. Message signs, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert the public of the upcoming changes. Drivers should be aware that personnel and equipment will be operating in close proximity to travel lanes.
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Harris County: Northbound Lane Closures on SR 85

2010-01-21T11:05:00.001-05:00

WHEN: 10:15 a.m. until 5:15 p.m., daily, beginning Monday, January 25 and continuing through Friday, January 29.

WHERE: State Route 85 northbound beginning south of Ellerslie, GA near State Route 315 and continuing to the Talbot County line.

WHAT: The Georgia Department of Transportation advises motorists traveling northbound on SR 85; one right lane will be closed in order to resurface this section of roadway. Motorists are advised to reduce speeds and expect congestion as they travel through this construction work zone.

Speed limits have been reduced and will be strictly enforced. Message boards, signs, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert and channel motorists through the area.
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Henry County: Shoulder Closure on I-75 Southbound Near Hudson Bridge Rd

2010-01-21T11:02:00.002-05:00

WHEN: 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Friday, January 22, and daily, Monday, January 25 through Friday, January 29.

WHERE: The right shoulder on I-75 southbound between mile markers 227 (I-675) and 224 (Hudson Bridge Road/Eagles Landing Parkway).

WHAT: The Georgia DOT has scheduled for the right shoulder on I-75 southbound to be closed in order for the contractor to safely paint the sound barrier wall. Motorist delays are expected in the area as work occurs.

This is a WORK ZONE and extreme caution is necessary. Motorists are advised to reduce speeds as they travel through this work zone. Message signs, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert the public of the upcoming changes. Drivers should be aware that personnel and equipment will be operating in close proximity to travel lanes.
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National Safety Council Estimates That At Least 1.6 Million Crashes Are Caused Each Year by Drivers Using Cell Phones and Texting

2010-01-12T22:08:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The National Safety Council announced today that it estimates at least 28% of all traffic crashes -- or at least 1.6 million crashes each year -- are caused by drivers using cell phones and texting. NSC estimates that 1.4 million crashes each year are caused by drivers using cell phones and a minimum of 200,000 additional crashes each year are caused by drivers who are texting. The announcement came on the one-year anniversary of NSC's call for a ban on all cell phone use and texting while driving.

"We now know that at least 1.6 million crashes are caused by drivers using cell phones and texting," said Janet Froetscher, president & CEO of the National Safety Council. "We know that cell phone use is a very risky distraction and texting is even higher risk. We now know that cell phone use causes many more crashes than texting. The main reason is that millions more drivers use cell phones than text," she said. "That is why we need to address both texting and cell phone use on our roads."

"This new estimate provides critical data for legislators, business leaders and individuals to evaluate the threat and need for legislation, business policies and personal actions to prevent cell phone use and texting while driving," Froetscher said. "There was great progress made in 2009, particularly regarding a broad recognition that texting is dangerous. We now need the same broad consensus that recognizes cell phone use while driving causes even more crashes."

Froetscher said public support for laws banning cell phone use while driving is gaining momentum.

"Public opinion research conducted in 2009 by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and Nationwide Insurance show public support for total bans on cell phones at 43 and 57 percent respectively," Froetscher said. "With public support now around 50 percent, we will continue to educate people about the risks of cell phone use while driving and the value of effectively-enforced laws in changing behavior and reducing crashes."

In constructing its estimates, NSC used widely-accepted statistical methods and analysis based on data of driver cell phone use from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and from peer-reviewed research that quantifies the risk of using a cell phone and texting while driving. NSC's statistical model and estimates were peer-reviewed by academic researchers in traffic safety and biostatistics.

The estimate of 25% of all crashes -- or 1.4 million crashes -- caused by cell phone use was derived from NHTSA data showing 11% of drivers at any one time are using cell phones and from peer-reviewed research reporting cell phone use increases crash risk by four times. The estimate of an additional minimum 3% of crashes -- or 200,000 crashes -- caused by texting was derived by NHTSA data showing 1% of drivers at any one time are manipulating their device in ways that include texting and from research reporting texting increases crash risk by 8 times. Using the highest risk for texting reported by research of 23 times results in a maximum of 1 million crashes due to texting; still less than the 1.4 million crashes caused by other cell phone use.

The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads, through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

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Weather affecting roads in Heard & Coweta

2010-01-07T22:37:00.001-05:00

Georgia Department of Transportation crews have made winter weather preparations and are fully operational equipped with tandem plow trucks and gravel/salt hopper spreaders in case roads become covered with snow or ice. Georgia DOT will continue to provide updates.

Currently icing has occurred in the following counties/locations:

Heard County
SR 219 North
SR 34 (beginning at the Alabama/Georgia State line and continuing east)
SR 100 North
SR 1 North

Coweta County
SR 34 East

Motorists are STRONGLY encouraged to remain indoors and use extreme caution when driving.

Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about this or any other construction project on interstates and state routes. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, and delays due to inclement weather. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.

Obama Administration Sends Strong Message Against Texting While Driving

2010-01-01T08:38:00.002-05:00

24/7 - President Obama's administration is taking aggressive steps to curb dangerous distracted driving, especially texting at the wheel. In the spectrum of activities that can sidetrack a driver while driving, texting is particularly worrisome because it requires the combined use of eyes, hands and thought. The administration is actively responding to a concerned public, alarming scientific findings and troubling statistics.

The Virginia Tech Study

In July, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) -- based on sophisticated monitoring of over six million actual driving miles -- released the results of comprehensive studies on cell-phone impact on driving distraction. The study found texting the most dangerous of cell phone activities. In a heavy truck, text messaging while driving increased the risk of a crash or near-crash event by staggering 23.2 times.

Logically, texting takes a driver's eyes off the road for much longer stretches than listening or talking on a mobile phone. VTTI reported that texting at 55 mph can take a driver's eyes off the road for the length of a football field. Based on its findings, the VTTI recommends a total ban on texting in all types of moving vehicles and a prohibition on all types of cell phone use by inexperienced drivers.

The Distracted Driving Summit

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) hosted a two-day high-profile national conference in September that brought together 250 national experts from industry, science and government to put a microscope to the problem of distracted driving and to raise public awareness of the severity of the problem. In conjunction, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood revealed new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics that in 2008 almost 6,000 people were killed and over 500,000 injured in distracted-driving crashes.

Secretary LaHood also announced that the administration will work to ban texting by truckers, train operators and bus drivers -- both school and interstate.

The Executive Order

President Obama underscored his commitment to fighting distracted drivers when at the conclusion of the conference on October 1 he signed an Executive Order 13513, which prohibits millions of federal employees from texting while driving when using government equipment or conducting official business.

Congressional Action

Two major bills were recently introduced in Congress and are being studied in committee -- the Avoiding Life-Endangering and Reckless Texting by Drivers Act of 2009 (ALERT Drivers Act) and the Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2009. The bills would, respectively, require DOT to withhold 25 percent of federal highway funding from any state that did not ban texting while driving and give a monetary grant to a state that bans texting and other cell-phone use.

Cautious Optimism

Safety advocates are watching developments in our nation's capital with keen interest. Just as firmer government regulation of drunk driving, seat-belt and motorcycle-helmet use started at the grass roots, it appears that the federal government is poised to take meaningful action to curb death and injury caused by drivers distracted by texting.

Article provided by The McClellan Law Firm

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Liberty Mutual Provides Online Tips and Resources to Help Teen Drivers Navigate Dangerous Road Conditions This Winter

2009-12-23T15:40:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- With winter approaching, drivers in many parts of the country must prepare to cope with the season's ice, snow, and other hazards that turn roads treacherous and contribute to the more than 1.5 million annual weather-related car crashes reported by the National Research Council. And teen drivers in particular, many of whom will face wintry conditions behind the wheel for the first time, need added guidance to safely navigate the roadways through the upcoming months. To help, Liberty Mutual Insurance has a host of winter weather safety resources for teens at www.LibertyMutualTeenDriving.com.

"Driving in wintry conditions is no easy task, even for seasoned drivers, and it is especially difficult for younger drivers with limited experience to adapt to slippery roads and poor visibility," said Dave Melton, a driving safety expert with the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety. "Teen drivers need to take extra steps to protect themselves this winter, and parents need to promote and enforce safe driving habits to keep their teens safe."

Before getting behind the wheel, a driving safety video at www.LibertyMutualTeenDriving.com will help teens and parents get winter road-ready and ensure their cars are safe and in good working order. Website visitors also will find winter car maintenance tips and a checklist for a winter driving safety kit. These tips from Liberty Mutual and Dave Melton include:

-- Before you get on the road in bad weather, check your local news
stations and their Internet sites - for detailed, up-to-the-minute
weather and traffic information.
-- If your trip is absolutely necessary, give yourself extra time.
-- During inclement weather put extra distance - at least five or six
seconds - between yourself and the vehicle in front.
-- Antilock brakes, all-wheel and four-wheel drive won't help you stop
faster.
-- Turn on your headlights so other drivers can see you. In snow, fog
and rain, don't use high beams - they increase glare for both you and
other drivers.
-- Signal your intentions early - don't surprise other drivers.
-- Do not use cruise control when roads are hazardous.
-- And, slow down!

Heeding such driving safety advice is critical year-round, but even more so during the winter: car crashes are 36 percent more likely to happen in January than July, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Add in unsafe or distracted driving behaviors reported by teen drivers in a recent study by Liberty Mutual and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), including speeding (39 percent), talking on a cell phone (37 percent) and text messaging (30 percent), and our winter roadways become even more dangerous.

Since 1991, Liberty Mutual and SADD have collaborated on research and responsible solutions to keep families safe behind the wheel, including the resources found at www.LibertyMutualTeenDriving.com such as:

-- fun and easy ways for teens to brush up on basic driving skills such
as following street signs, mastering parallel parking, and managing
wet roads;
-- video demonstrations on safe driving techniques;
-- information on state-by-state driving laws;
-- a safe driving quiz that challenges teens to think about their driving
skills and compete with their parents or friends;
-- a customizable parent/teen safe driving contract with customizable
family ground rules around key safe driving issues such as speeding,
the number of passengers in the car, cell phone usage, texting while
driving, and curfews;
-- tips on how to talk to teens about driving distractions and dangers;
-- tips on buying and caring for a car, individual car safety scores;
-- and, an exclusive 50 percent discount for teens to take the National
Safety Council's online Defensive Driving Course.

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Federal and Local Government Cracking Down on Texting While Driving

2009-12-14T07:04:00.002-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Motorists are being forced to be more responsible behind the wheel and with good reason. Whether eating, changing a radio station, interacting with passengers or talking on the phone, distracted drivers raise the chance of traffic accidents occurring; unfortunately texting and driving has become a new and dangerous trend that is causing federal and local governments to crack down on not only average citizens, but government employees as well.

Realizing the danger of texting behind the wheel, an Executive Order was released by the White House on October 1, 2009 stating that Federal employees are prohibited from texting while operating Government-owned, leased or rented vehicles. In addition, employees are not allowed to text while driving privately owned automobiles while on official business or using equipment supplied by the Government, with few exceptions. Federal agencies have 90 days from the date of an executive order to become compliant and enforce appropriate disciplinary actions for violations.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Executive-Order-Federal-Leadership- on-Reducing-Text-Messaging-while-Driving/

Many states are taking similar actions as well. Currently, several states have already set laws in place which ban texting while driving and it is expected that, by January 1st, 2010, twenty-one states will be enforcing these laws. According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, distracted drivers accounted for 28,395 crashes resulting in 114 deaths 14,480 injuries. These numbers are quite frightening and many of these accidents could have been avoided.

Being responsible and attentive behind the wheel may also help protect the lives of drivers and passengers occupying the roadways. Irresponsible driving may even lead to higher costs of insuring which is why websites such as http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/ encourage motorists to practice safe driving and obey traffic laws at all times. Poor driving habits lead to tickets and accidents which can cause motorists to be in need of high risk auto insurance policies leading to inflated premiums and more difficulty finding affordable rates.

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Professional Truck Drivers Provide Life Saving Advice During Winter Weather

2009-12-09T20:28:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- With extreme winter weather blanketing the nation, and the promise of fresh snowstorms during the busy holiday travel season, million mile accident-free professional truck drivers are taking the opportunity to share their experience and help make our roads safer.

Drivers from the Share the Road national highway safety program offer this advice on how to navigate through highway traffic and arrive at your destination safely:

-- Avoid extreme weather conditions: Ice, hail and snow make roads
difficult to travel. Try to avoid driving through extreme weather
conditions, and travel during daylight.
-- Remove ice and snow from your vehicle: Clear your windows and roof of
snow to ensure you have maximum visibility and avoid creating a hazard
for the vehicle behind you. Don't allow ice and snow to create
additional blindspots on your vehicle.
-- Be aware of the vehicle in front of you: Leave extra room between you
and the vehicle in front so you can avoid snow and ice blowing onto
your windshield or maneuver around patches of ice.
-- Prepare an emergency kit: Contents should include: battery powered
radio, flashlight, blanket, jumper cables, fire extinguisher, first
aid kit, bottled water, non-perishable foods, maps, tire repair kit
and flares.
-- Be aware of truck blind spots: When sharing the road with large
trucks, be aware of their blind spots. If you can't see the truck
driver in his or her mirrors, then the truck driver can't see you.
-- Do not cut in front of large trucks: Remember that trucks are heavier
and take longer to make a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in
front of them.
-- Slow Down: When highways are hit with wintry conditions, speeding
becomes even more dangerous. Allow plenty of space cushion and reduce
your speed.
-- Buckle up: Safety belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45 percent
and are a simple way to increase your safety on the road.

"Highway travel is challenging when you add wintry conditions such as ice, snow and slush," said Share the Road professional driver Gary Leu. "Remember to take it slow, stay alert and buckle up if you need to travel during less than ideal conditions. By being patient we can all share the highway and stay safe this winter."

Share the Road is a highway safety outreach program of the American Trucking Associations that educates all drivers about sharing the roads safely with large trucks. An elite team of professional truck drivers with millions of accident-free miles deliver life-saving messages to millions of motorists annually. The safety program is sponsored by Mack Trucks, Inc. and Michelin North America, Inc. www.atastr.org

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USA to Observe Drive Safer Sunday Nov. 29

2009-11-20T08:28:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The fifth annual national observance of Drive Safer Sunday in America is set for Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, when Road Safe America urges motorists across the USA again to focus on driving more safely to avoid becoming a statistic on the busiest highway traffic day of the year.

The annual observance, supported by state and congressional resolutions, thousands of motorists, truckers and the news media, was launched on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2005 by Atlanta-based Road Safe America.

The American Automobile Association is projecting a 1.4 percent increase in Thanksgiving travel this year, although fewer people are expected to travel by air due to budget concerns, reduced airline capacity and added charges. AAA estimates 38.4 million people will be traveling at least 50 miles next weekend. AAA projects 86 percent of travelers will drive.

"The death of almost 40,000 people a year in more than 6 million highway crashes in America is an unchecked epidemic in this country," said Stephen C. Owings of Atlanta, co-founder of Road Safe America along with his wife, Susan.

The Owings founded Road Safe America after their son, Cullum, was killed on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2002 when his car - stopped in an interstate traffic jam - was crushed from behind by a speeding tractor trailer truck on cruise control going 7 mph over the posted speed limit.

Statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation show almost 1,000 truckers and about 4,000 auto drivers and passengers are killed in wrecks involving heavy commercial vehicles every year.

Road Safe America urges all of the motorists who will be traveling back home, or to school, that day to remember how dangerous a day it is and to be particularly careful. Stay alert, buckle up, drive slowly as well as defensively, and give heavy commercial vehicles plenty of room since they can't see, maneuver or stop as well as smaller vehicles. We also encourage all drivers to stay off of their communications devices, which are so dangerously distracting.

During this year's observance of Drive Safer Sunday, Road Safe America will honor Robert F. Dallas, Director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety in Georgia. Bob's support of the Road Safe America cause and especially Drive Safer Sunday has been broad and effective since the very beginning of the organization's efforts.

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State Troopers and DPS Officers Have Begun Holiday Seat Belt Enforcement Effort

2009-11-19T14:05:00.001-05:00

Georgia State Troopers and officers with the Georgia Department of Public Safety Motor Carrier Compliance Division and Capitol Police Services Unit joined their law enforcement counterparts across the United States on Monday, November 16, for Operation Click It or Ticket. The two-week, high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort will target motorists who are not wearing their seat belts or properly restraining children.

Colonel Bill Hitchens, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said seat belt enforcement has proven to save lives. "Through enforcement and education, more people are using seat belts than ever before and that has translated to more lives saved when traffic crashes occur," he said. "But, far too many people are still not buckling up or taking the time to properly restrain children."

Last year during the 102-hour Thanksgiving holiday travel period, the Georgia State Patrol investigated 10 fatal crashes between 6 p.m. Wednesday and midnight the following Sunday. "Of the 10 fatal crashes troopers investigated, six of the people killed were not wearing seat belts; one crash victim was a motorcyclist; and use could not be determined in one crash," the Commissioner noted.

Nationally, nighttime is the worst for seat belt use, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of the 231 traffic deaths in crashes occurring at night during the Thanksgiving holiday period in 2008, 67 percent were not wearing seat belts.

Colonel Hitchens said troopers will be keeping a close watch for seat belt violations during patrols over the next two weeks and MCCD officers will be watching for seat belt violations by drivers of commercial motor vehicles as well. "Federal regulations require safety belt use at all times in a commercial motor vehicle," he said.

"Wearing a seat belt costs you nothing, and may save your life or protect you from a serious, possibly life-altering injury," Colonel Hitchens said. "Not wearing a seat belt, especially during this Thanksgiving period, will definitely cost you a ticket at the very least."

Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA. Research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent.

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Governor Certifies $66 Million in Transportation Projects

2009-11-11T14:29:00.003-05:00

On November 9, Governor Sonny Perdue announced that he has certified $65.8 million in transportation projects under the “1511 Certification” that will be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“These projects will bring safety improvements and needed maintenance and support to roads, intersections and bridges around Georgia,” said Governor Perdue. “The federal funds will make our roads safe and strengthen our transportation network.”

For more information, visit Georgia DOT’s stimulus website at www.dot.state.ga.us/gastimulus .The list of the projects approved is below:

Baker CR 122/PRETORIA ROAD FROM SR 91 TO DOUGHERTY COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Baldwin CS 701/BLANDY ROAD FROM SR 49 TO SR 22

Resurface & Maintenance

Baldwin CR 69/BROWNS CROSSING ROAD FROM SR 49 TO SR 22

Resurface & Maintenance

Ben Hill CR 254/OSIERFIELD FROM SR 206 TO IRWIN COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Berrien CR 359/WYCLIFF ROBERTS ROAD FM SR 158 TO CR 238/GLADYS ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Bryan, Chatham I-95 FROM SR 25/US 17/BRYAN TO I-16/CHATHAM

Resurface & Maintenance

Bulloch CR 577/DENMARK-NEVILS ROAD FM CR 584/GROVELAND ROAD TO SR 67

Resurface & Maintenance

Butts CR 296/BROWNLEE ROAD FM SR 36 TO CR 136 @ MONROE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Camden CR 141/HARRIETTS BLUFF ROAD FM DEEP CREEK TO CHEMICAL PLANT

Resurface & Maintenance

Chattooga CR 329/GORE-SUBLIGNA RD FROM SR 1/US 27 TO CR 29/JOHNSTON RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Chattooga CR 325/NARROWS RD FM CR 337 TO W OF CR 330 - STABILIZATION

Pavement Rehab

Cherokee SR 5BU FROM SR 140/WALESKA TO CS 785/RIVERSTONE BLVD

Signals - Safety

Clarke CR 470/MAIN ST FM CR 134/ATHENS RD TO OGLETHORPE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Clarke CR 140/OLD ELBERTON FM CR 477/VOYLES RD TO MADISON CO LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Clarke CR 120/SMOKEY ROAD FROM NOWHERE ROAD TO HELICAN SPRINGS ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Clayton CR 311/PINE RIDGE RD FROM SR 3/US 19 TO CR 312/PHILLIPS DR

Resurface & Maintenance

Clayton CR 1351/REX ROAD FROM SR 42 TO I-675

Resurface & Maintenance

Cobb CR 1720/WINDY HILL FM CR 1154/POWERS FERRY RD TO SR 3/US 41

Resurface & Maintenance

Colquitt CS 759/CS 1025/WEST BLVD FM SR 33/US 319 TO CS 753/FIFTH AVE

Resurface & Maintenance

Cook CR 247/MASSEE POST RD FROM BOONE RD TO LONNIE GRIMSLEY RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Dooly CR 320/ELKO ROAD FROM HOUSTON COUNTY LINE TO SR 7

Resurface & Maintenance

Dougherty SR 300/US 19 MEDIAN TURN LANES FROM MITCHELL CO TO WORTH CO

Turn Lanes - Safety

Dougherty WEST OAKRIDGE DRIVE FM OLD PRETORIA ROAD TO LOCKETT STATION

Resurface & Maintenance

Effingham CR 307/CLYO-KILDARE ROAD FROM SR 21 TO N OF PR 443

Resurface & Maintenance

Elbert CR 307/THIRTEEN FORKS ROAD FROM SR 77 TO HART COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Evans CR 233/OLD HWY 250 FM TATTNALL CO LINE TO CR 204/SUNBURY RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Floyd CS 1124/BROAD STREET FROM SR 1/US 27 TO COOSA RIVER

Resurface & Maintenance

Floyd CS 642/CHARLTON ST FROM SR 1/US 27 TO CR 1050/DIVISION ST

Resurface & Maintenance

Franklin CR 418/CR 419/BOLD SPRINGS RD FM SR 106 TO SR 59; EXC SR 26

Resurface & Maintenance

Fulton JOHNS CREEK GREENWAY SEGMENT 1 PART 2

Bicycle/Ped. Facility

Gordon CR 483/CRAIGTOWN ROAD FROM SR 225 TO SR 3/US 41

Resurface & Maintenance

Gordon CR 483/NEWTOWN CHURCH ROAD FROM SR 225 TO CR 21/NEWTOWN ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Grady CR 315/17TH AVE FM SR 93/SR 111 TO 0.30 MI E OF SR 38/US 84

Resurface & Maintenance

Habersham CR 387/DEMOREST/MT AIRY ROAD FROM SR 385/US 442 TO SR 365

Resurface & Maintenance

Hancock CR 180/POWELLTON AVE FM HAMILTON ST TO SPARTA CITY LIMITS

Resurface & Maintenance

Hart CR 505/LIBERTY CHURCH ROAD FROM SR 172 TO ELBERT COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Jackson CR 426/WAYNE POULTRY FM OLD GAINESVILLE HWY TO VALENTINE PKY

Resurface & Maintenance

Jefferson CS 561/MIDVILLE ROAD FROM SR 4 TO SR 24

Resurface & Maintenance

Jefferson CR 59/QUAKER ROAD FROM SR 17 TO SR 80

Resurface & Maintenance

Johnson CR 203/BAY SPRINGS CHURCH RD FM SR 26 TO MT OLIVE CHURCH RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Jones CR 292/BOWEN HILL ROAD FROM CR 107/SMITH ROAD TO SR 49

Resurface & Maintenance

Lamar CR 214/HIGH FALLS PARK FROM SR 36 TO MONROE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Laurens CS 768/ROBERSON ST FROM SR 19/US 80 TO CS 770/KNOX ST

Resurface & Maintenance

Laurens CR 526/OLD MACON RD FM EVERGREEN RD TO WILKINSON COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Lee CR 227/PINEWOOD RD FM KINCHAFOONEE CRK TO CR 229/BRONWOOD RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Lee CR 231/NORTH PHILEMA ROAD FROM SR 32 TO CR 232/NEW YORK ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Lowndes CR 779/HOWELL RD FM CR 1274/STATENVILLE TO SR 7/PERIMETER RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Lowndes CR 782/MORVEN ROAD FROM SR 122 TO BROOKS COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

LumpkinCR 134/DAMASCUS CHURCH RD FM SR 9/US 19 TO WHITE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Macon CR 282/DRAYTON RD FM CR 22/TWIN CHURCHS RD TO DOOLY CO LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Madison CR 394/LEXINGTON ROAD FROM SR 72 TO OGLETHORPE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

McDuffie CS 663/RAILDROAD STREET FROM SR 17 TO SR 223

Resurface & Maintenance

McDuffie CR 309/HAPPY VALLEY ROAD FROM SR 17 TO CR 297/SAND HILL ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Miller CR 189/GRADY COBB RD FM SHINGLER RD TO THREE NOTCH RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Mitchell CR 275/RIVER ROAD FROM SR 65 TO CR 11/SLASH ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Muscogee WARM SPRINGS RAIL LINE BIKE/PED TRAIL - PHASE III

TE-Bike/Ped Facility

Muscogee ATMS/SIGNAL/CCTV/FIBER IN COLUMBUS

Safety

Muscogee ATMS: COLUMBUS/MUSCOGEE COUNTY/GDOT REGIONAL TCC

Safety

Oglethorpe CR 77/WOLFSKIN ROAD FROM CR 240 TO CLARKE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Paulding CR 467/DALLAS NEBO ROAD FROM SR 61 TO CR 472/FROG ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Pike CR 161/KINGS ROAD FROM SR 109 TO UPSON COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Pulaski CR 198/BURNT BRIDGE FROM SR 26 TO SR 230

Resurface & Maintenance

Rabun OLD 441 FM S OF CR 218 TO CS 514 & FM CS 501 TO SR 15/US 441

Resurface & Maintenance

Randolph CR 161/LOWER SHELLMAN FROM SR 41 TO TERRELL COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Richmond CR 1509/KEYSVILLE ROAD FROM SR 88 TO BURKE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Screven CR 243/E OGEECHEE ST FM SR 73 TO SYLVANIA CITY LIMITS

Resurface & Maintenance

Stephens CR 538/BROOKHAVEN CIR FM CR 43/E SILVER SHOALS RD TO SR 328

Resurface & Maintenance

Tattnall CR 509/OLD HWY 250 FM SR 73/US 301 TO EVANS COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Tift CR 418/OLD UNION RD FROM SOUTHWELL BLVD TO OMEGA-ELDORADO RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Toombs CR 335/THOMPSON POND ROAD FROM SR 292 TO VIDALIA CITY LIMITS

Resurface & Maintenance

Towns CR 172/GUM LOG RD FM W OF WINCHESTER CRK RD TO BARNARD RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Troup CR 407/BARTLEY ROAD FROM SHOEMAKER ROAD TO SR 1

Resurface & Maintenance

Turner CR 249/WARWICK HWY FM E OF CR 96/OAK GROVE TO CR 94/LEE RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Twiggs CR 193/SGODA-HUBER ROAD FM SR 87 TO CR 185/RIGGINS MILL ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Union CR 341/OLD BLUE RIDGE HWY FM CR 117 TO LITTLE YOUNGCANE CRK

Resurface & Maintenance

Upson CR 421/BARNESVILLE ROAD FROM SR 74 TO LAMAR COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Warren CR 174/FIVE POINTS JEWELL ROAD FROM SR 16 TO SR 123

Resurface & Maintenance

Washington CR 446/RIDGE ROAD FROM SR 88 TO SR 15

Resurface & Maintenance

Wayne CR 392/SUNSET BLVD FROM SR 169 TO N OF SR 38/US 84

Resurface & Maintenance

White CR 68/HULSEY ROAD FROM SR 75 TO SR 11/US 129

Resurface & Maintenance

Wilkes CS 612/ANDREWS DRIVE FROM SR 17/US 78BU TO SR 47

Resurface & Maintenance

Worth CR 415/PHILLIP CAUSEY ROAD FROM SR 33 TO CR 412/SUMNER ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

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The following detour for I-20 is not viable.

2009-09-23T07:47:00.001-04:00

Eastbound I-20 at SR 92 south to SR 166 east to SR 70 east to SR 6 north to return to I-20 EB
Westbound I-20 at SR 6 south to SR 70 west to SR 166 west to SR 92 north to return to I-20 WB

Please Use
I-20 Eastbound
Exit 11 US 27/SR 1 North to SR 120 East in Buchanan SR 120 East to US 278/SR 120/SR 6 east in Dallas US 278/ SR 120/SR 6 to SR 120 east to Marietta SR 120 loop to I-75 in Marietta

I-20 Westbound
Take I-85 south to Exit 47 - SR 34 Newnan SR 34 west to US 27ALT/SR 16 north US 27ALT/SR 16 north to SR 166 Bypass east in Carrollton SR 166 Bypass east to US 27/SR 1 North US 27/SR 1 north to I-20 Exit 11 Bremen

Remember – tractor trailers should not be detoured to posted bridges due to weight restrictions.

CURRENT GDOT CLOSURES AS OF 4 a.m.

2009-09-23T07:39:00.004-04:00

Bridges Closed (12)

District / County / SR / MP / Crossing Facility / Comments

3 /Heard / 34 / 13.9 / Daniel Shoals (Lumpkin Creek) / Closed

3 / Heard / 34 / 13.5 / Chattahoochee R Trib / Closed

7 / Douglas / 166 / 21.5 / Chattahoochee River / Closed

7 / Douglas / 6 / 1 / Sweetwater Cr / Closed

7 / Douglas / 166 / Anneewakee Cr / Closed

7 / Rockdale / 138 / 14.3 / Yellow River / WB closed

7 / Douglas/Fulton / 92 / 13.1 / Chattahoochee River / Closed

7 / Fulton / 70 / Utoy Creek / closed

7 / Fulton / 6 / Chattahoochee River / Closed

7 / Fulton / 41 / Peachtree Battle / water over bridge

7 / Douglas / I-20 / 42/44 / Sweetwater Cr / Closed

Roads Closed (7)

1 / Gwinnett / 8 / 8 / shoulder damage / road closed

3 / Taylor / 96 / 22 / 1 lane closed / Closed

3 / Dooly / 230 / 18 / roadway damage / Closed

6 / Paulding / 6 bus / 2.5 / closed due to road damage / Closed

7 / Fulton / 372 / 1 / Water on roadway / Closed

7 / Cobb / 3 / 17.6 / closed due to road damage at Butler Cr / Closed

7 / Douglas / 92 / @ Riverside Drive / Closed

Total of 19 Roads and Bridges Closed
Maintenance Personnel Responding - 107

I-20 over Sweetwater Creek between Thornton Road and Lee Road remains closed.

The main detour is:

Eastbound I-20 at SR 92 south to SR 166 east to SR 70 east to SR 6 north to return to I-20 EB
Westbound I-20 at SR 6 south to SR 70 west to SR 166 west to SR 92 north to return to I-20 WB

However, to alleviate some of this traffic Georgia DOT is also suggesting the following alternate routes.
I-20 Eastbound
Exit 11 US 27/SR 1 North to SR 120 East in Buchanan SR 120 East to US 278/SR 120/SR 6 east in Dallas US 278/ SR 120/SR 6 to SR 120 east to Marietta SR 120 loop to I-75 in Marietta

I-20 Westbound
Take I-85 south to Exit 47 - SR 34 Newnan SR 34 west to US 27ALT/SR 16 north US 27ALT/SR 16 north to SR 166 Bypass east in Carrollton SR 166 Bypass east to US 27/SR 1 North US 27/SR 1 north to I-20 Exit 11 Bremen

UPDATE:
The following detour for I-20 is not viable.
Eastbound I-20 at SR 92 south to SR 166 east to SR 70 east to SR 6 north to return to I-20 EB
Westbound I-20 at SR 6 south to SR 70 west to SR 166 west to SR 92 north to return to I-20 WB

Please Use
I-20 Eastbound
Exit 11 US 27/SR 1 North to SR 120 East in Buchanan SR 120 East to US 278/SR 120/SR 6 east in Dallas US 278/ SR 120/SR 6 to SR 120 east to Marietta SR 120 loop to I-75 in Marietta

I-20 Westbound
Take I-85 south to Exit 47 - SR 34 Newnan SR 34 west to US 27ALT/SR 16 north US 27ALT/SR 16 north to SR 166 Bypass east in Carrollton SR 166 Bypass east to US 27/SR 1 North US 27/SR 1 north to I-20 Exit 11 Bremen

Remember – tractor trailers should not be detoured to posted bridges due to weight restrictions.

Coweta Flood Update / Road / Bridge Status

2009-09-22T12:35:00.001-04:00

Update on Chattahoochee situation

The information below comes from Jay Jones, Coweta County’s Director of Emergency Management -

“I met with GDOT officials this morning at the Hwy 16 Chattahoochee Bridge. They advised that the bridge would remain open and the water level had dropped almost 12 inches. They were pulling the crew off of the site and moving them to Franklin at Hwy 34 and the Chattahoochee River as it intersects there. They will be back periodically throughout the day to check on the bridge. Debris has accumulated near Franklin and may cause the river to back up some, but it is unknown, how much it will affect the level of the river. The level at 7:15 am this morning showed the level at 28.99 ft.

Also- Hwy 34 in Franklin is closed and a detour has been set up. The detour is as follows – take PeaRidge Road at the elementary school to Hwy 27 to get around the Hwy 34 bridge at Franklin.”

Houston County I-75 Bridge over Big Creek closed

2009-09-22T08:02:00.001-04:00

WHEN: Ongoing

WHERE: I-75 over Big Creek. Interstate is closed northbound at Exit 121 – US 41 and southbound at Exit 127 – SR 26.

WHAT: Big Creek is flooding and waters are cresting the bridge. Georgia DOT closed the bridge until water recedes and the bridge can be inspected. Detours are in place. Updates to follow.

New ACCG Report Reveals Trends in Transportation Solutions and Funding Nationwide

2009-09-16T22:39:00.001-04:00

The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) has released a report which examines efforts by other states to increase transportation funding since 2000. This report, “Coping with Transportation Funding Deficits: A Survey of the States,” incorporates information from more than 35 states and highlights how these states are working to address transportation infrastructure investment needs through a variety of methods and revenue sources. The report identifies several trends, including the growing popularity of asking voters to approve new transportation funding that is not tied to traditional sources such as the motor fuel tax but instead is tailored to meet the specific needs of their state and local governments.

“We need to come together to find a solution that addresses both the state’s needs and allows counties and regions of counties the flexibility to meet their varied needs,” said ACCG Executive Director Jerry Griffin. “This report shows that other states are facing similar challenges and finding solutions – Georgia can do the same.”

Key findings in the report include:

· Referenda were the most frequently used method to increase transportation funding. At least 210 referenda were proposed to increase revenues for transportation since 2000, with varying levels of success. States are veering away from the traditional transportation revenue source of motor fuel taxes; instead, referenda were primarily regarding sales and property taxes, bonds and other fees.

· Many states are enabling local governments and existing or newly-defined regions to develop their own revenue generating solutions. More local tax measures (173) were proposed than any other type of referenda. In addition, 19 regional measures also were proposed. The majority (13) of these proposals included sales tax increases, and nine of them were approved.

· Most of the statewide measures that were proposed to voters were for the approval of bond projects. Fourteen of the seventeen statewide ballot measures were for bond approvals.

· Many state legislatures are taking direct action to increase transportation funding. Six states increased the motor fuel tax. Twelve raised fees, primarily vehicle registration fees, and three enabled their largest metropolitan regions to levy sales taxes for transportation.

The report inventories specific proposals at the local, regional and state level, and includes the purpose for which the funds were proposed. It also includes additional information on legislation enacted by state legislatures.

“Our primary purpose in developing this report was to assist Georgia’s policymakers by providing them with a comprehensive overview of legislative strategies used by other states,” said Matthew Hicks, ACCG Associate Policy Director for Economic Development and Transportation. “We learned that there is no single answer to transportation funding. States are developing solutions to meet their specific needs and empowering local governments with the tools necessary to address their own transportation challenges.”

ACCG is a strong proponent of investing in transportation infrastructure in Georgia to achieve state transportation goals and to provide consistent funding for transportation projects at the local level. ACCG has actively worked with the Governor’s Office, state legislators, the Department of Transportation and state transportation authorities and others including the Get Georgia Moving Coalition to meet the needs of all Georgians.

The “Coping with Transportation Funding Deficits” report was compiled using information from several organizations that track transportation funding and finance, including the Center for Transportation Excellence, a non-partisan policy research center created to serve the needs of communities and transportation organizations nationwide, and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). In addition, ACCG staff conducted informal surveys of 27 states via phone and email interviews, as well as Internet searches. The complete report is available at www.accg.org.
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New Research Shows One of Every Six Drivers in School Zones is Distracted

2009-09-01T08:19:00.001-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- As kids head back to school, new research from Safe Kids USA shows that one out of every six drivers in school zones is distracted by the use of cell phones, eating, drinking, smoking, reaching behind, grooming and reading. The study also found that unbelted drivers are 34 percent more likely to be distracted than belted drivers, afternoon drivers are 22 percent more likely to be distracted than morning drivers, and females are 21 percent more likely to be distracted than males.

The study, "Characteristics of Distracted Drivers in School Zones: A National Report," consisted of more than 40,000 observational road-side surveys conducted by local Safe Kids researchers in 20 locations across the United States. Use of electronics (such as cell phones, PDAs and Smartphones) was the leading category of distraction while driving at 9.8 percent. This is a 2.5 percent increase over a 2008 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey that showed a rate of 7.3 percent.

"The public expects drivers to be on their best behavior when they are near schools, however the new study shows the opposite is true when it comes to distracted driving," said Moira Donahue, Director of the Walk This Way program, Safe Kids' pedestrian safety program. "With recent research demonstrating that the driving skills of a distracted driver are as bad as or worse than an intoxicated driver, the overall relevance of this study is clear. Almost one in six drivers in a school zone behaves like a drunk driver."

The finding that afternoon drivers are 22 percent more likely to be distracted is significant because throughout the year one in three child pedestrian deaths occur between 3 and 7 p.m., making afternoons the most dangerous time for children to walk. Drivers who were not wearing a seat belt were the most likely group in the study to also be driving distracted, meaning drivers engaging in one risky behavior are more likely to engage in multiple unsafe driving behaviors.

While the debate over laws governing hand-held electronic device use while driving continues, simply having a law on the books may somewhat decrease the prevalence of distracted driving. The study, which covered communities in 15 states showed that those states with laws regulating cell phone or hand-held electronic device use in a vehicle are 13 percent less likely to have distracted drivers in school zones.

"Multitasking while driving can have deadly consequences," said Donahue. "Drivers need to shut off their phones and pay attention to the road, especially in areas that are filled with children."

Safe Kids Walk This Way, a grassroots pedestrian safety initiative in more than 600 schools nationwide, is made possible through support from program sponsor FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX) . Through this year-round program, children learn safe pedestrian behaviors; school communities identify the pedestrian hazards surrounding their schools; and school pedestrian safety committees and task forces lead efforts to educate pedestrians and drivers about safe behaviors, enforce traffic laws and improve environments for child pedestrians. The study on distracted drivers in school zones was made possible through a grant from FedEx.

For more information about the new report on distracted drivers, tips for drivers and pedestrians or background on the Walk This Way program, call 202-662-0600 or visit www.usa.safekids.org/wtw/.

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Governors Highway Safety Association Endorses Texting While Driving Ban for All Drivers

2009-08-31T08:40:00.003-04:00

Editor Note: At this time, Georgia only bans cell phone use for school bus drivers.

/PRNewswire/ -- The membership of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has enacted a new policy encouraging every state to ban texting behind the wheel for all drivers. GHSA Members are appointed by their governors to lead state highway safety agencies.

According to GHSA Chairman Vernon F. Betkey Jr., "The action by the GHSA membership is based on the fact that texting while driving is indisputably a distraction and a serious highway safety problem. If every state passes a texting ban, it will send a message to the public that this dangerous practice is unacceptable. We can begin to change the culture that has permitted distracted driving." Betkey noted the recent study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute influenced the GHSA membership action. That study indicated that a driver who is texting increases crash or near-crash risk by 23 times.

GHSA continues to have concerns about enforcing text messaging bans. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is expected to begin an enforcement demonstration project later this year which the Association fully supports. GHSA is hopeful that U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood's upcoming summit on distraction and the NHTSA demonstration project will provide a roadmap for developing additional enforcement strategies and countermeasures.

Despite these concerns, GHSA Vice Chairman Lowell Porter is confident that, given all the focus on the issue, effective enforcement solutions are on the horizon. "In the past, there were challenges enforcing seat belt and drunk driving laws. However, the research and highway safety communities collectively worked together and developed successful enforcement programs like Click It or Ticket. I am confident that we can do the same thing with texting bans. GHSA's new policy will help move this process along."

Chairman Betkey noted that this meeting is the first time in a year that GHSA's full membership has met. In that time, texting while driving has gained considerable attention. According to Betkey, "We want to send the strongest message possible about texting behind the wheel--it is dangerous and should not be tolerated."

GHSA's new policy was enacted during its Annual Meeting in Savannah, Georgia. The conference runs through September 2.

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State, National Traffic Safety Leaders to Convene in Savannah

2009-08-27T10:18:00.002-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety will host the annual GHSA meeting at The Savannah International Trade & Convention Center August 30-September 2. Approximately 500 top highway safety and public health officials from across the country will be in attendance. The 2009 GHSA conference theme, Toward Zero Deaths: Every Life Counts, focuses on the programs and strategies needed to reduce roadway deaths. This is the vision GHSA believes the country should strive for, with the interim goal of reducing fatalities by half in the next 20 years. The conference will kickoff Monday morning, August 31 and will feature as keynote speakers:

-- The Honorable Deborah A.P. Hersman, Chairman, National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB). Ms. Hersman will discuss steps states should take
to reduce roadway deaths and injuries. Ms. Hersman was appointed as
NTSB Chairman by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate in July.
This will be her first address before the highway safety community in
her new role as Chairman.

-- James Vondale, Director, Automotive Safety Office, Ford Motor Company.
Mr. Vondale will discuss the role of the automobile industry in
achieving a significant reduction in traffic deaths. He also will talk
about Ford's SYNC hands-free calling system, which the company
believes reduces driver distraction. In a subsequent workshop, Mr.
Vondale will discuss Ford's MyKey tool that allows parents to monitor
their teens driving behavior.

Workshops will address a multitude of traditional and emerging highway safety issues. Topics include:

-- Teen Drivers: Crashes Waiting to Happen
-- New and Cool Highway Safety Technologies
-- Rural Highways Don't Have to be Dieways
-- Getting Aggressive with Motorcycle Safety
-- What's Driving Distracted Driving?

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ARC: Transportation in the 21st Century

2009-08-19T14:48:00.000-04:00

Monday, September 21, 2009

9:30 - 10:00 AM Registration & Networking
10:00 - 11:30 AM Program

The Georgia World Congress Center
285 Andrew Young International BLVD NW
Room B-405
Atlanta, GA 30313-1591

Keynote Speaker:The Honorable Ray LaHood
United States Secretary of Transportation

The future of metro Atlanta depends on a quality transportation system. The shifting federal policy environment will have great impact on the future of our local and national transportation direction.

On September 21, US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will speak at ARC’s Fifty Forward forum on Transportation. This is an exciting opportunity to hear about the future of transportation from one of the most influential people in the transportation sector.
We hope you will join us.

REGISTER NOW

Bibb: Traffic Shift on I-75 and I-475 Near Hartley Bridge Road

2009-07-27T11:32:00.000-04:00

The Georgia Department of Transportation announces plans to shift southbound traffic on Interstates 75 and 475 on Wednesday, July 29, near Exit 155 (Hartley Bridge Road).

Beginning at 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 29 until 6 a.m. Thursday, July 30, motorists should expect the following lane shifts to be in place:

the current I-75 southbound (SB) traffic will be shifted to the left (approximately 48 feet) onto the newly paved lanes
the off-ramp on I-75 SB to Hartley Bridge Road will shift north slightly in order to complete the new ramp
the new exit from I-475 SB to I-75 SB will be opened to traffic
the entrance ramps from Hartley Bridge Road to I-75 NB and I-475 NB will be changed to reflect final configuration

The Georgia DOT notes that the above construction schedules are proposed activities planned by the contractors and may change due to weather conditions or other factors.
Motorists will utilize these lanes while construction is completed on the new lanes. As in any work zone, motorists are reminded to pay special attention to traffic control devices, signs and posted speed limits to ensure safe passage through the work zone.

Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about this or any other construction project on interstates and state routes. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, and delays due to inclement weather. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org.

The Georgia Department of Transportation is committed to providing a safe, seamless and sustainable transportation system that supports Georgia’s economy and is sensitive to both its citizens and its environment. For general information on the Georgia DOT, please visit our Website (www.dot.ga.gov).

Governor Perdue Certifies $8.6 Million in Transportation Projects

2009-07-27T08:16:00.001-04:00

Governor Sonny Perdue announced Thursday that he has submitted the required “1511 Certification” on three transportation projects that will be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“These funds include needed intersection improvements and bridge repairs,” said Governor Perdue. “We are using these federal dollars to improve our transportation network and to put Georgians to work.”

For more information visit Georgia DOT’s stimulus website at www.dot.state.ga.us/gastimulus .
The list of projects is below:

County
Description
Work Type
Total Funding

Cook
SR 7/US 41 @ Giddens Mill Creek in North Adel
Bridges
$4,263,368

Pierce
SR 203/Strickland Street @ CR 309/Old Alma Road
Intersection Improvement
$2,364,863

Pike
SR 18/SR 109 and SR 74 Intersection Improvement
Intersection Improvement
$2,000,000

Grand Total

$8,628,231
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Governor Perdue Dedicates Parkway, Rail Projects

2009-07-22T18:34:00.001-04:00

Projects in Appling, Wayne counties vital to economic development in region

Governor Sonny Perdue joined local officials today to celebrate the completion of two transportation infrastructure projects designed to improve the mobility of people and products in the region.

Governor Perdue cut the ribbon on the Brunswick-to-Perry Golden Isles Parkway in Appling County which links the port of Brunswick to Middle Georgia with a continuous four-lane highway. The Governor also dedicated a new railroad passing siding on Norfolk-Southern's 183-mile track between Macon and Brunswick, the second big enhancement of rail traffic to and from the Port of Brunswick.

“Georgia continues to attract industry because business leaders understand quick and efficient movement of goods is a key to success,” said Governor Perdue. “These kinds of upgrades in our transportation network will ensure safer travel for tourists, better access for industries and improved connectivity in this area of the state.”

Formed in 2006, the 341 Alliance is comprised of development authority and chamber of commerce professionals from each of the eight counties that front Hwy 341 between Perry and Brunswick. Specifically, Houston, Pulaski, Dodge, Telfair, Jeff Davis, Appling, Wayne and Glynn counties are involved. Acknowledging the importance of the corridor to future economic development endeavors, the Alliance has been a strong advocate for completion of the four lane project.

The full widening of U.S. 341/Golden Isles Parkway now provides travelers with a direct four-lane route from I-75 in Middle Georgia to I-95 along the Georgia coast. Beginning north of Perry in Culloden and stretching to the Port of Brunswick, the Parkway runs through the heart of many small towns that are vital to the economies of middle and southeast Georgia. The expansion of the Parkway is expected to benefit future tourism development and industry recruitment efforts in this part of Georgia.

The Southeast Georgia Joint Development Authority and Norfolk Southern worked together to build a passing siding on the line that runs between Macon and Brunswick serving the Port of Brunswick. The Southeast Georgia Joint Development Authority was chartered in March 2005 and consists of six counties: Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, McIntosh, and Wayne. The current rail configuration was known to cause three hour delays as one train had to wait on another to clear the tracks. This system had the largest negative impact on unit trains with 60-75 cars carrying the same commodity and traveling nonstop.

The railroad passing siding on Norfolk-Southern's 183-mile track between Macon and Brunswick is the second big enhancement of rail traffic to and from the Port of Brunswick. The first came in September 2006 with the opening of Overton Junction, a 7,500-foot connecting track between CSX Transportation and Norfolk-Southern lines north of Brunswick. Previously, trains from the railroads had to go all the way into Brunswick and switch cars in two separate yards.
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Sumter: Georgia DOT Announces SR 27 Stimulus Project

2009-07-17T21:26:00.001-04:00

The Georgia Department of Transportation announces an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus resurfacing project on SR 27 in Sumter County has been awarded to Reeves Construction Company for $1,152,401.50. This project has tentatively been scheduled to start on Sunday, July 26 at 7 p.m., weather permitting.

This 4.266 mile project will include milling, inlay and plant mix resurfacing on SR 27 from SR 30/SR 7 extending to US 19/SR 3 and also on SR 27 beginning at US 19/SR 3and extending to SR 30/SR 27 in the City of Americus. Motorists will encounter lane closures throughout this project; however, there will be no lane closures between the hours of 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sunday through Saturday. This project is scheduled to be completed by the end of December.

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Coweta: Exit 41 Off-Ramp Temporarily Closed Beginning July 21

2009-07-17T08:10:00.000-04:00

WHAT: The Exit 41(SR 14/US27 Alt) off-ramp from Interstate 85 northbound will be temporarily closed in order for crews to pave the remaining lanes of the mainline and the ramp taper from I-85.

WHEN: Tuesday, July 21, beginning at midnight continuously until 6 a.m.

WHERE: Exit 41(SR 14/US27 Alt) off-ramp from Interstate 85 northbound

Motorists will be detoured to Exit 47 (SR 34) to exit I-85 northbound and then directed back to SR 14/US 27 Alt. Signed detour routes will be in place. Motorists are advised to anticipate delays and to avoid travel near this area of I-85.

This is a WORK ZONE and extreme caution is required. Speed limits have been reduced and will be strictly enforced. Message boards, signs, barricades, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert, and channel motorists through the area. Drivers should be aware that personnel and equipment will be operating in close proximity to travel lanes.
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Coweta: I-85 Closures Near Exits 41 and 47 on SR 16

2009-07-11T10:39:00.001-04:00

The Georgia Department of Transportation announces lane closures on Interstate 85 near Exits 41(State Route 14/US 27 Alt) and 47 (SR 34) beginning Tuesday, July 14, through Friday, July 17. The closures are subject to change based on weather conditions.

SR 16 at I-85 East and Westbound Lane Closures
Wednesday, July 15, daily through Thursday, July 16
Near mileposts 13 - 14
TIME: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
1 right and left lane closed; 1 remains open to traffic in both directions

Interstate 85 Northbound Lane Closures
Wednesday, July 15, nightly through Thursday, July 16
Near mileposts 40 – 42
TIME: 9 p.m. – 6 a.m.
1 right lane closed; 1 lane remains open to traffic, for work near Exit 41 (State Route 14/US 27 Alt)

Interstate 85 Southbound Lane Closures
Tuesday, July 14, daily through Wednesday, July 15
Near mileposts 47 - 46
TIME: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
1 left lane closed; 1 lane remains open to traffic, for work near Exit 47 (State Route 34)

The scheduled completion date for this project is December 31, 2009. Motorists should expect shoulder and lane closures on a continuing basis and are advised to use extra caution in construction work zones.

Speed limits have been reduced and will be strictly enforced. Message boards, signs, barricades, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert and channel motorists through the area.

Coweta: Interstate 85 Traffic Pacing for Utility Work July 12

2009-07-11T10:38:00.001-04:00

WHAT: Georgia Power will be raising utility lines across Interstate 85 at State Route 16. Officers will hold traffic for approximately 10 minutes every hour in order for work to be performed on the utility lines.

WHEN: Sunday, July 12, 8 a.m. until 12 p.m.

WHERE: Interstate 85 at SR 16

This is a WORK ZONE and extreme caution is required. Speed limits have been reduced and will be strictly enforced. Message boards, signs, barricades, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert, and channel motorists through the area. Drivers should be aware that personnel and equipment will be operating in close proximity to travel lanes.

MONROE County: Traffic Shift Scheduled at US 341/SR7 and SR 74

2009-07-10T23:05:00.001-04:00

WHEN: Monday, July 13

WHERE: Intersection of US 341/State Route 7 and State Route 74, near the City of Culloden

WHAT: Motorists will use the newly constructed temporary lanes while the intersection is upgraded.

As in any work zone, motorists are reminded to pay special attention to traffic control devices, signs and posted speed limits to ensure safe passage through the work zone.

Bibb: Traffic Shift on I-75 and I-475 Near Hartley Bridge Road

2009-07-09T13:11:00.000-04:00

The Georgia Department of Transportation announces plans to shift northbound traffic on Interstates 75 and 475 on Thursday, July 9, near Exit 155 (Hartley Bridge Road).

Beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday, July 9 until 7 a.m. Friday, July 10, motorists should expect the following lane shifts to be in place:
the current I-75 northbound (NB) traffic will be shifted to the left (approximately 48 feet) onto the newly paved lanes
the off-ramp on I-75 NB to Hartley Bridge Road will shift north slightly in order to complete the new ramp
the new exit from I-75 NB to I-475 NB will be opened to traffic
the entrance ramps from Hartley Bridge Road to I-75 NB and I-475 NB will be changed to reflect final configuration

The Georgia DOT notes that the above construction schedules are proposed activities planned by the contractors and may change due to weather conditions or other factors.

Motorists will utilize these lanes for approximately 6 months while construction is completed on the new lanes. As in any work zone, motorists are reminded to pay special attention to traffic control devices, signs and posted speed limits to ensure safe passage through the work zone.
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Governor Announces New Design for Georgia Licenses, IDs

2009-07-09T12:23:00.002-04:00

More secure features; harder to fake; and vertical license for under 21

Governor Sonny Perdue today announced that Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) is preparing to issue new and improved driver’s licenses and identification cards by fall 2009. The new cards will combat document fraud and protect the identities of Georgia’s citizens by using the latest credentialing technology.

“Everyone knows all we have done to reduce lines and waits at driver’s license centers, but another key priority of the department is safeguarding the identities of Georgia citizens and preventing document fraud,” said Governor Perdue. “These new cards will be the most secure our state has ever issued.”

New card production will begin at Conyers, Covington and Locust Grove in September 2009. Statewide implementation of the new system is scheduled to take approximately two months with all customer service center locations producing the new cards by the end of November 2009. All previously issued Georgia licenses and IDs will remain valid until the expiration date when they will be exchanged for a newly-designed card.

“We are very excited about these innovative changes allowing Georgians to have one of the most secure cards in the nation,” said Gregory C. Dozier, DDS Commissioner. “It is a bright and modern card that our customers will be proud to carry.”

The new documents are designed to be more difficult to counterfeit, alter or replicate. The license will remain roughly the size of a credit card. The new cards have several security features including ghost photos, a laser-engraved signature over the primary photo to minimize alterations and a tamper resistant coating placed over the card. The cards will feature machine-readable barcodes that can be used by banks, retailers and other businesses to verify the information printed on the front.

Fees will not increase, and customers will continue to choose between a five-year or ten-year license or ID.

“Under 21”

A major security feature of the new process is designed to combat underage drinking. Cards issued to those “Under 21” will be printed in a vertical format, aiding retailers and law enforcement in identifying minors.

Interim

Another new security practice will be the issuance of an interim driver’s license or ID. Interim documents will be printed on special security paper which is highly sensitive and will discolor after any attempt to alter it. It contains a photo and signature to allow its use for identification purposes. Interim cards will be valid for up to 45 days or until a permanent laminated license or ID is mailed from the central production print facility to the applicant’s mailing address on file with DDS.

Permanent License/ID

The permanent licenses and IDs will be mailed directly to the customer on a mailing carrier that is folded and enclosed in a generic envelope without exposing the actual cards. When the permanent card is received, the interim should be destroyed in accordance with Georgia law and to safeguard personal information. The carrier should be filed by the customer to access later should their license be lost or stolen.

Customer Service Improvements

The new licensing system includes a new data management system with electronic imaging to scan documents where they may be securely stored and easily accessed later. DDS has taken great care in safeguarding our customer’s private information. Each customer’s personal information becomes a part of the personal driver’s license record. It will remain confidential and is disclosed only as authorized or required by law.

When visiting DDS in person, a more efficient one-window-process provides customers with a “one-stop shopping” experience at most locations eliminating the need to visit multiple windows.

If a transaction can not be completed once begun, data can be filed and stored until the required information is presented to complete the service. A customer may visit another location where the stored information may be quickly accessed.

New state-of-the-art equipment will be installed including modern computer and photography equipment and printers that will be faster and more reliable.

For more information, please visit http://www.dds.ga.gov/.

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Johnson: Statement Regarding DOT Leadership

2009-06-18T18:30:00.000-04:00

Sen. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) made the following statement regarding Rep. Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain) being unanimously elected as Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Commissioner and Todd Long being appointed the Director of Planning for the GDOT. The planning director position was created by the General Assembly this spring with the passage of Senate Bill 200.

“I am pleased with the two professionals named today to lead Georgia's transportation planning and construction. Now we can proceed with the creation of a plan before the legislature meets again and finalizes a funding solution. This is one of our state's highest priorities.”

Governor Names Todd Long as DOT Planning Director

2009-06-18T15:51:00.000-04:00

Position created by Senate Bill 200

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that he is appointing Todd Long as the Director of Planning for the Georgia Department of Transportation. The position was created by the General Assembly this spring with the passage of Senate Bill 200.

“Todd’s qualifications and knowledge of the DOT planning process make him the perfect candidate to take on this new role,” said Governor Perdue. “I think all Georgians want a statewide transportation plan based on our needs that provides value for our tax dollars, and we are taking a big step in that direction today.”

Governor Perdue also congratulated State Rep. Vance Smith on his appointment today as DOT Commissioner.

“We have worked closely with Rep. Smith over the years, during his service as an Administration Floor Leader and as Chairman of the House Transportation Committee,” the Governor said. “I look forward to working closely with the new commissioner and the new planning director as we address the transportation needs across the state.”

Since August, Long has served as the director of all engineering, IT and business-related projects for the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. Before that, he spent 18 years in various positions at the DOT, including serving as division director for the both the preconstruction and administration divisions. He spent seven years at the District One office in Gainesville, rising to the position of District Engineer, managing all DOT activities in Northeast Georgia. He is a registered professional engineer and a registered professional traffic operations engineer.

Long has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in civil engineering – transportation, both from Georgia Tech. Todd lives in Lilburn with his wife Kelli and four children: Drew, Evan, Jack and Rachel.
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Alton

2009-06-16T11:09:00.000-04:00

Intersection of Hayes Rd and Rines Rd, closed for construction today; will advise when open.

Bibb: I-75 and I-475 Lane Closures Near Exit 155

2009-06-16T08:58:00.000-04:00

The Georgia Department of Transportation announces nightly lane closures on Interstate 75 and Interstate 475 near Exit 155 (Hartley Bridge Road/CR 740) beginning Friday, June 19, through Thursday, July 2. The closures are subject to change based on weather conditions.

Interstate 75 North and Southbound Lane Closures
Friday, June 19, nightly through Thursday, July 2
Near mileposts 154-156
TIME: Sunday through Thursday; 9 p.m. – 6 a.m.
Friday through Saturday; 10 p.m. – 10 a.m.
1 right lane closed; 2 lanes remain open to traffic
For work beginning near Exit 155 (Hartley Bridge Road/CR 740)

Interstate 475 North and Southbound Lane Closures
Friday, June 19, nightly through Thursday, July 2
Near mileposts 0-1
TIME: Sunday through Thursday; 9 p.m. – 6 a.m.
Friday through Saturday; 10 p.m. – 10 a.m.
1 right lane closed; 2 lanes remain open to traffic
For work beginning near Exit 155 (Hartley Bridge Road/CR 740)

Motorists should expect shoulder and lane closures on a continuing basis and are advised to use extra caution in construction work zones.

Speed limits have been reduced and will be strictly enforced. Message boards, signs, barricades, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert and channel motorists through the area.

Governor Perdue Certifies $146 Million in Metro Atlanta Transportation Projects

2009-06-12T17:46:00.000-04:00

List includes $25 million to help fund MARTA services

Today Governor Sonny Perdue announced that he has submitted the required “1511 Certification” on transportation projects in metro Atlanta that will be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“These funds include much needed road widening projects, improvements in our intelligent transportation system and upgrades to traffic signals that will ease congestion,” said Governor Perdue. “It also includes $25 million to keep MARTA moving.”

Projects include widening of Eagles Landing Parkway in Henry County, improvements to 14th Street in downtown Atlanta improvements and additional lanes on State Route 20 in Gwinnett County. Governor Perdue submitted the certification as part of a June 12 letter to US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood. In the letter, the Governor informed Secretary LaHood that more projects will be certified as the Georgia DOT and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) amend their TIPs to include additional projects.

For more information visit Georgia DOT’s stimulus website at www.dot.state.ga.us/gastimulus .

The list of projects:
County
Description
Total Funding
Bartow
SR 3/US 41 from Cobb County line to SR 293 Connector – median turn lanes
$20,507,550
Henry
Eagles Landing Parkway from CR 2417 to CS 867/Talon Place - GRTA
$33,561,203
Fulton
Fourteenth Street from West Peachtree Street to Piedmont Avenue - GRTA
$ 5,254,559
Fulton
Downtown Atlanta pedestrian corridor improvements - GRTA
$4,822,947
Fulton
Midtown Atlanta signal and intersection improvements, Phase II - GRTA
$1,280,812
Cobb
SR 3 Connector at SR 120 ALT - GRTA
$11,916,450
Cobb
SR 176/Lost Mtn at CR 809/Corner Road - GRTA
$ 1,747,506
Gwinnett
SR 20/Loganville Highway from Ozora Road to Brand Road - GRTA
$19,376,654
DeKalb
Deepdene Park in DeKalb County
$1,447,031
DeKalb, Rockdale
South River Trail - Phase III
$868,219
Fayette
CS 508/Lee Stree from CS 568/Williamsburg Way to SR 54
$723,516
Fulton
Fairlie-Poplar Historic District streetscapes in Atlanta
$723,516
Henry
Locust Grove Downtown streetscape - Phase II
$345,083
Paulding
Dallas Trailhead in Paulding County
$723,516
Cobb
SR 176/Mars Hill Road at CR 784/Hadaway Road - GRTA
$1,775,878
Cobb
SR 176/Mars Hill Road at CR 55/Mars Hill Church Road - GRTA
$1,038,609
Clayton, Henry
SR 138 at 12 locations - upgrade traffic signals
$1,619,546
Clayton, DeKalb
I-675 ATMS/communications/surveillance from I-75/Henry to I-285 DeKalb
$8,485,391
Fulton
CR 85/Kimball Bridge Road at Big Creek, two miles southeast of Alpharetta
$4,750,355
ARC Region
MARTA preventative maintenance
$25,000,000
GRAND TOTAL
$145,968,340

Coweta: State Route 16 Bridge Closed Over I-85 Temporarily

2009-06-12T17:37:00.002-04:00

WHAT: The SR 16 Bridge over Interstate 85 will be temporarily closed in order for crews to remove and replace the bridge decking.

WHEN: Monday, June 15, beginning at 5 a.m. continuously until 5 a.m., Sunday, June 21

WHERE: Interstate 85 at Exit 35(State Route 14/US 29)

Motorists traveling westbound will be detoured to US 29 into Newnan and then to Newnan Crossing Bypass, to Turkey Creek Road and back onto SR 16. This same detour route, in reverse, will be utilized for motorists traveling eastbound. Signed detour routes will be in place. Motorists are advised to anticipate delays and to avoid travel near the SR 16 Bridge over Interstate 85.

This is a WORK ZONE and extreme caution is required. Speed limits have been reduced and will be strictly enforced. Message boards, signs, barricades, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert, and channel motorists through the area. Drivers should be aware that personnel and equipment will be operating in close proximity to travel lanes.

Henry: Lane Closure on I-75 at Flippen Road

2009-06-12T17:37:00.001-04:00

WHEN: 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 16

WHERE: Interstate 75 northbound near Flippen Road, 1 mile north of Exit 224 (Hudson Bridge Road)

WHAT: The Georgia Department of Transportation advises motorists on I-75 northbound of an upcoming lane closure north of Exit 224 near Flippen Road in Henry County. One right lane of three will be closed in order to repair a section of the lane. Motorists are advised to reduce speeds and expect congestion as they travel through this construction work zone.

Speed limits have been reduced and will be strictly enforced. Message boards, signs, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert and channel motorists through the area.

Coweta: I-85 Lane Closures Between Exits 51 and 56

2009-06-12T17:36:00.001-04:00

The Georgia Department of Transportation announces daily lane closures on Interstate 85 between Exit 51 (State Route 154/McCollum-Sharpsburg Road) and Exit 56 (Collinsworth Road/CR 548) beginning Monday, June 15, through Sunday, June 21. The closures are subject to change based on weather conditions.

Interstate 85 Northbound Lane Closures
Monday, June 15, daily through Sunday, June 21
Near mileposts 52-55.5
TIME: 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
1 left lane closed; 2 lanes remain open to traffic
For work beginning near Exit 51 (State Route 154/McCollum-Sharpsburg Road)

Interstate 85 Southbound Lane Closures
Monday, June 15, daily through Sunday, June 21
Near mileposts 55.5-52
TIME: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
1 left lane closed; 2 lanes remain open to traffic
For work beginning near Exit 56 (Collinsworth Road/CR 548)

The scheduled completion date for this project is December 31, 2009. Motorists should expect shoulder and lane closures on a continuing basis and are advised to use extra caution in construction work zones.

Speed limits have been reduced and will be strictly enforced. Message boards, signs, barricades, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert and channel motorists through the area.

Coweta: Lane Closures on US 29 and Near Exit 41 on I-85

2009-06-05T14:39:00.000-04:00

The Georgia Department of Transportation announces lane closures on US 29 near Interstate 85 and Exit 41(State Route 14/US 27 Alt) beginning Monday, June 8, through Friday, June 12. The closures are subject to change based on weather conditions.

Interstate 85 North and Southbound Lane Closures
Monday, June 8
Near mileposts 41 – 43
TIME: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
1 left lane closed; 1 lane remains open to traffic, for work near Exit 41 (State Route 14/US 27 Alt)

Interstate 85 North and Southbound Lane Closures
Thursday, June 11
Near mileposts 41 – 43
TIME: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
1 right lane closed; 1 lane remains open to traffic, for work near Exit 41 (State Route 14/US 27 Alt)

Interstate 85 Southbound Lane Closures
Thursday, June 11
Near mileposts 48 – 46
TIME: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
1 right lane closed; 1 lane remains open to traffic, for work near Exit 47 (State Route 34)

US 29 at I-85 (Exit 35) East and Westbound Lane Closures
Wednesday, June 10, nightly through Friday, June 12
Near mileposts 10 - 11
TIME: 7 p.m. – 7 a.m.
1 right and left lane closed; 1 remains open to traffic in both directions

The scheduled completion date for this project is December 31, 2009. Motorists should expect shoulder and lane closures on a continuing basis and are advised to use extra caution in construction work zones.

Speed limits have been reduced and will be strictly enforced. Message boards, signs, barricades, barrels and cones will be utilized to alert and channel motorists through the area.
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