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SUMMER TRAVEL IS INTERMODAL

The new ONE DOT initiative is ensuring cross-agency cooperation like never before at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in Washington, D.C. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater kicked off ONE DOT in October 1998 to build and strengthen collaborative efforts, reduce duplication and save resources. The U.S. DOT is organized by mode of transportation, and ONE DOT has become key to the Department’s planning and operations. The initiative reaches beyond the federal government to include partners in state and local governments, trade associations, and the business community.

State and community programs may find success with a similar commitment to intermodalism. August is a great time to make intermodal safety a key theme in your safety message. Vacation time is when people may be most likely to experience multiple modes of transportation over a short period of time. Here are a just a few ideas and suggestions for support from NHTSA, other agencies within the DOT, and the private sector.

Railroad Safety

Rail travel is statistically much safer than driving, so it is a great choice for vacation travel. Passenger trains are not equipped with safety belts, so child safety seats are not necessary while traveling. Parents can bring rear-facing infant seats on board; the Federal Railroad Administration recommends they be placed on the floor so they don’t tumble off the seat, but not in the aisle.

However, few trips involve train travel only. If children will be passengers in motor vehicles once they reach their destination, child safety seats should be brought and checked as luggage while on the train.

The greatest hazard of trains is at grade crossings, when motorists try to "beat" an oncoming train, ignore gates or lights, or get stuck on the track. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the private sector group Operation Lifesaver both have programs to educate motorists about the hazards of grade crossings and to encourage responsible behavior.

Federal Railroad Administration
Office of Safety (RRS-23)
1120 Vermont Avenue, NW
Stop 17
Washington, DC 20590
Phone: 202-493-6299
Web: http://www.fra.dot.gov

Operation Lifesaver, Inc.
1420 King Street, Suite 401
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Phone: 703-739-0308 or 800-537-6224
Web: http://www.oli.org

Airplane Safety

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a new public information campaign called "Turbulence Happens" to educate the public on the sudden air movements that cannot be seen or predicted, but that can cause concern and distress. The campaign focuses on the need for restraints and how to avoid injury caused by turbulence.

The FAA recommends that all air travelers stay buckled up for the duration of a flight, and not just for take-off and landing. Children weighing under 40 pounds are safest when sitting in a certified child restraint system – a rear-facing infant seat for those under 20 pounds and a forward-facing child safety seat for those 20-40 pounds. Most child safety seats on the market today are certified for air travel (check the label). Harnesses and booster seats are not allowed, as older children are better protected by the plane’s seat belts. The design of the plane’s reclining seat backs and tray tables and the lack of shoulder belts make it dangerous to use harnesses and booster seats.

Children under age two are not required to have a separate ticket. Many airlines, however, offer significant discounts on fares for children under two, as much as 50 percent. If at all possible, parents should purchase a ticket for the child so they can be assured of a place for a child safety seat. If this is not practical, families should fly during non-peak times to increase the chance of an available seat for the child safety seat. If neither option is available, a child under two may be held in a parent’s lap while the child safety seat is checked as luggage. Flying is very safe, and mile for mile a child is safer flying unrestrained in an airplane than riding restrained in a motor vehicle.

Danger: Trunk Entrapment During a summer heat wave in 1998, eleven children died while trapped inside vehicle trunks, prompting NHTSA and automakers to revisit the idea of trunk latch release mechanisms. A panel of experts is now looking into a range of possible solutions. In the meantime, highway safety professionals should warn parents about the dangers of letting children play in or around open vehicle trunks. Although trunk entrapments are relatively rare, the problem worsens in the summer when interior temperatures can quickly reach 130˝-170˝. All of the children who died last summer were victims of hyperthermia and asphyxiation.

The Federal Aviation Administration offers information for consumers, including brochures such as Tips for Safe Air Travel with Children and Are You Sure You Have Everything Baby Needs for the Flight? Contact the FAA Consumer Hotline at 800-322-7873 or visit them on the Web at http://www.faa.gov.

Boating Safety

According to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG):

• 76 million Americans enjoy recreational boating each year.
• More than 800 Americans die each year from boating accidents.
• 77 percent of all fatalities on the water involve people who do not wear their personal floatation devices (PFDs).
• More than half of all fatalities on the water are alcohol-related (this figure is likely much higher, as estimates are that only 10 percent of alcohol-related incidents are reported).
• Young males are at greatest risk – men ages 20-39 account for the vast majority of boating accidents each year.

The USCG emphasizes the three keys to safe boating:

• Every boater should wear a personal flotation device (PFD).
• Alcohol and boating are a dangerous combination, and alcohol should not be part of the outing.
• All boaters should take a course in boating safety.

The USCG Nationwide Safe Boating Campaign emphasizes the use of PFDs and uses the popular cartoon character Snoopy from "Peanuts" to emphasize their importance.