ROAD WATCH COL. FOR March 8
(Spring Clocks Ahead; Cell Phone Debate; SEPTA savings)
Daylight Saving Time starts at 2 a.m. today when clocks spring forward one hour, meaning you lost an hour of sleep.
Each year this event coincides with the end of National Sleep Awareness Week when PennDOT urges motorists to avoid drowsy driving and get enough sleep before doing so.
According to PennDOT, over a five-year period ending in 2007, there were 107 fatalities involving fatigued drivers statewide. The peak hours for drowsy driving crashes are 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. when 13 percent of such crashes occur.
Each year, drowsy driving crashes throughout the U.S. result in at least 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Like alcohol and drugs, sleep loss or fatigue impairs driving skills such as hand-eye coordination, reaction time, vision, awareness of surroundings, decision-making, judgment and inhibition.
PennDOT recommends motorists get enough sleep – 7 to 9 hours – take breaks about every two hours on long trips, stay away from sedating medications and always buckle up before driving.
According to a study by the National Sleep Foundation, 60 percent of Americans have driven while feeling sleepy and 37 percent admit to actually having fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year.
Drivers who sleep less than six hours per night on weeknights are significantly more likely to risk a crash than drivers who sleep eight hours or more.
This is the third year in which Daylight Saving Time begins earlier.
The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandated that, beginning in 2007, DST would begin the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday of November.
DST formerly began on the first Sunday of April and formerly ended on the last Sunday of October.
SEPTA Pre-Tax Transit Savings
The economic stimulus package signed into law by President Obama doesn’t just provide funding for transit agencies like SEPTA, it also provides pre-tax savings for those who ride the transit systems.
The law raises the amount of pre-tax income that workers who use public transportation and who enroll in employer-sponsored commuter benefits can use to pay for their daily commute on SEPTA. That means an increase in employer and individual employee cost-savings benefits.
The federal stimulus package increases the pre-tax transit benefit from $120 to $230 a month per employee, depending on their commuting costs,according to SEPTA Chief Press Officer Jerri Williams.
This increase goes into effect immediately. By taking advantage of the pre-tax transit benefit, a SEPTA rider can protect the money they spend on their bus, train or trolley commute from federal income tax and FICA taxes, saving them hundreds of dollars over the course of the year.
The increased maximum brings parity to the financial incentive to take public transportation and finally matches the pre-tax allowance for parking. Employees may simultaneously receive both subsidized parking and mass transit benefits.
SEPTA offers four programs for corporations that want to provide transit benefits for their employees. For more information, call 215-580-7138 or visit www.thecommuterschoice.com.
Give Me A Break
I heartily disagree with a Philadelphia columnist who believes yakking while driving reduces your blood pressure in a traffic jam or when somebody cuts you off. In short, it can be good for your health.
Last week, she blasted New Jersey for cracking down on motorists using hand-held cell phones, calling it a revenue-maker. She contends it’s not a safety measure.
Rather than lowering my blood pressure, it really bugs me every time I see someone yakking away and holding only one hand on the wheel while making a sharp turn at a busy intersection or on a sharp curve.
Granted, some studies have shown that using hands-free cell phones and being preoccupied in a conversation instead of focusing on traffic conditions can still be a distraction.
So no law’s perfect, but I commend state Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, for hanging in there the past few years and again introducing legislation, House Bill 538, to ban using hand-held cell phones while driving. Hands-free devices would be permitted.
Years ago, I remember being instructed by my high-school driving instructor that you should try to keep both hands in the 10 of 2 o’clock position – or something similar – so that it’s easier to go hand-over-hand while turning the wheel making turns. With me, it’s more like 10 of 3 o’clock – because my steering wheel has a cross-brace at that position which is easier to grab.
The main point is that people can hardly control their vehicles with two hands – alone with one, while holding a cell phone or hamburger.
One-handed driving only fosters sloppy turns and lack of evasive driving – period.
Oh, by the way, how’s blabbing away with an irate girlfriend or spouse, or teen daughter or son who’s got a personal problem -- or maybe you are late while driving somewhere -- lower your blood pressure? Pull over and park, if you have a pressing, personal problem.
Such talk can lower your blood pressure, she writes – give me a break.
Ben Franklin Bridge Painting
The fifth and final phase of the Ben Franklin Bridge De-leading and Painting Project is nearing completion, according to the Delaware River Port Authority.
In preparation for this final phase, the DRPA will hold an Open House 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Philadelphia Veterans Mujlti-Service & Education Center, 213 N. Fourth St., Philadelphia.
The agenda includes a presentation on the schedule and technical description of the work that needs to be done, discussion of the steps that will be taken to minimize impacts to neighbors and a question-and-answer session.
“The authority remains committed to keeping the public informed as the de-leading and painting of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge draws to a close,” said DRPA CEO John J. Matheussen. “We will continue to work hard to cause as little inconvenience as possible.”
The $20 million project is scheduled to be completed Dec. 15.
Traffic Delays
I-476 South – Haverford, sound wall repairs/preparation to set up barriers, right lane closed between Lancaster Avenue (U.S. Route 30) and West Chester Pike (Route 3) interchanges, 9 p.m. Wednesday-3 a.m. Thursday.
Ridley Park – Ridley Avenue, Aqua utility installation, closed/detoured between Constitution Avenue and Crosswell/Tasker streets 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays and through Aug. 28. Work began March 9.
Marple — Media Line Road, Aqua utility installation between Lovell Avenue and Highland Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May. Work began Jan. 12.
Also, West Chester Pike (Route 3) – Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation at Franklin Getz Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through March 13. Work began Feb. 25.
Springfield -- Route 320 (Sproul Road) – PECO utility installation at Kennerly Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through March 11. Work began Feb. 16.
Chester — Flower Street, ramp construction with a new traffic pattern at Fourth and Second streets, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Also, Norris Street, ramp construction with lane restrictions at Front Street and Delaware Avenue, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
U.S. Route 1 North — Middletown, PECO Energy utility installation between Red Roof Road and Pennell Road (Route 452) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through April 1. Work began Dec. 22.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.