By Fiona de Young, Community Relations Manager
Speed is the number one driver-related crash factor in fatal highway collisions, according to the Bureau of Transportation. Here at the Rincon Valley Fire District, we are asking residents to slow down, pay attention, and use caution.
“We have seen a significant increase in motor vehicle collisions this year,” said Chief James Tucker, “In fact, in 2020 we responded to a total of 75 collisions. So far in 2021, we have already responded to 76.”
“Not many drivers understand the risk of taking their eyes off the road for a few short seconds. At 40 miles per hour, your car will travel about 58 feet per second. If you take your eyes off the road for two seconds due to a distraction, you have traveled about 116 feet,” he added.
A lot can happen over that distance.
“Those few short seconds of distraction may cost you much more,” he said.
Rain and heat play a big role in driver safety, but they aren’t the only factors. Follow these tips to keep yourself and your loved ones safe:
Protect lives by never texting or talking on the phone while driving. In Arizona, it is illegal to talk or text on a cellphone while driving, unless in hands-free mode.
Use headlights – especially during monsoons or cloudy weather.
Check the weather first, and if possible stay home in a storm. Never attempt to cross a flooded roadway or wash. As the saying goes, “turn around don’t drown.”
Always bring water and heat gear such as an umbrella for shade.
Slow down. Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you, increase it in bad weather.
Focus on driving. And when it comes to other drivers, expect the unexpected.
In case you didn’t know, we have a car seat program. That means you can call us to inspect your child’s car seat and make sure it’s properly installed. We can also provide you with a free car seat and connect you to local resources. Our crew members are certified to do so.
As always, if you see flashing lights on the side of the road, slow down and move over. That keeps our crews safe, and helps us get to accident victims as quickly as possible. You can check our social media pages for accident updates, such as highway closures. Safety is a community effort and we appreciate your support.
It’s wildfire season! Our free home assessment program is becoming a Vail favorite. To find out more about creating a wildfire ready home, sign-up for a home assessment program by visiting our web site at rinconvalleyfd.org or call us at (520) 647-3760. Residents must reside within the Wildland Urban Interface to be eligible for a home assessment.
Fiona de Young recently joined the Rincon Valley Fire District as its new Community Relations Manager. In this role, she is responsible for managing the District’s community engagement and media relations. Before joining the District, Fiona worked as an aide to U.S. Senator Martha McSally. She holds a Master’s Degree in Information Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Fiona loves hiking in the beautiful mountains of Southern Arizona.
