The rules of the road are changing once again and AAA Northern California wants drivers to be aware of several new laws that will affect them in 2016. Some of the new regulations are aimed at clarifying child passenger safety laws, and promoting safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

“As a driver, you want to be aware of the new rules of the road, and AAA hopes to alert people to the latest changes,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “AAA actively works to promote safe and responsible transportation, and we supported many of these new laws.”

New laws for 2016

Child safety seats

Assembly Bill (AB) 53 will require children under age 2 to be secured in a rear-facing child safety seat, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatricians. Previously, only children under age 1 were required to ride rear-facing. Children over 40 pounds or over 40 inches tall will be exempt from the new law because some rear-facing car seats cannot accommodate children exceeding these criteria. Current law generally requires children under age 8 to be secured in an approved child safety seat. The new rear-facing requirement takes effect January 1, 2017.

Reporting traffic crashes

Current law requires any motorist involved in a traffic crash in which an injury occurs or in which there is property damage in excess of $750 to report the incident to the DMV by filing the appropriate SR-1 form. Senate Bill (SB) 491 raises the threshold amount for reporting accidents to $1,000, effective January 1, 2017.

Earbuds

SB 491 clarifies existing law by explicitly prohibiting the wearing of earbuds or headsets covering, resting on, or inserted into both ears when operating a motor vehicle or bicycle. The purpose is to ensure drivers and bicyclists can hear sirens, horns, and other safety alerts while driving. The previous law did not explicitly include earbuds.

Electric skateboards

AB 604 creates a new definition for an electrically motorized board, which generally is a four-wheeled device designed to be stood upon and is not longer than 5 feet and wider than 18 inches. Electric boards may be equipped with an electric propulsion system with less than 1,000 watts (1.34 horsepower) and capable of a maximum speed of 20 mph on a level surface. Electric boards may only be operated by persons age 16 or older, and the user must wear a bike helmet. Boards may be operated up to a speed of 15 mph on sidewalks, paths, trails, and highways with a speed limit of no more than 35 mph, unless the board is operated entirely within a Class 2 (striped bike lane) or Class 4 (physically separated lane) bikeway. Local governments and other agencies can enact regulations restricting use.

Electric bicycles

AB 1096 establishes new categories of electric bicycles and places restrictions on their operation. Electric bicycles will now be placed into one of three categories based on their maximum motor speed and the type of assist the motor provides.

Class 1 e-bike

Pedal-assisted electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases assistance when the bike reaches 20 mph. A bike helmet is required for operators younger than age 18.

Class 2 e-bike

Throttle-assisted electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance whether the rider pedals or not and ceases assistance when the bike reaches 20 mph. A bike helmet is required for operators younger than age 18.

Class 3 e-bike

Pedal-assisted electric bicycle equipped with a speedometer and a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases assistance when the bike reaches 28 mph. Operator must be at least age 16. A bike helmet is required for all operators.

Class 1 and 2 e-bikes may use bike paths or trails, unless specifically prohibited. Class 3 e-bikes may not use bike paths or trails unless expressly authorized by local governments. E-bikes do not require a driver’s license, registration, or license plates; however, e-bikes must follow the same regulations governing standard bicycles, including traffic laws, biking-under-the-influence laws, and equipment laws.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – In order to provide for public and employee safety, a temporary closure has been placed on Forest Service road M5 on the Grindstone Ranger District between the junction of 17N78 north and junction 17N78 south, located south of the Stonyford Recreation Area.

A substantial washout has made a section of the road impassable. The closure went into effect Dec. 27 and will remain in effect until it is repaired.

A detour is established on road 17N78 to bypass the washout. Signs are in place to direct vehicles to the detour.

The closure order is formally referenced as Order Number 08-15-13. It is available online at www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .

“The M5 road is a popular area due to its proximity to the Mendocino National Forest world-class Off-Highway Vehicle trail system,” said Grindstone Ranger District Implementation Officer Lori Cayo. “Safety concerns to both visitors and forest resources arise when severe weather conditions bring unexpected hazards. We want everyone to enjoy their trip to the forest, while staying safe. To help with this, visitors are asked to check Forest closures before leaving, be prepared for changing conditions, and minimize impacts to saturated roads and trails.”

With recent drenching storms, and more to come this winter, other forest roads may be impacted. If you come across an area where the road is compromised or washed out, please report it to Forest Engineer Shannon Pozas at 530-934-3316.

For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino . Get the latest updates and alerts easily by following us on Twitter, @MendocinoNF.

122715 Forest Road M5 temporary closure

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Ringing in the New Year should not include a visit to the hospital or behind bars for drunk driving.

If you’ve been drinking during end of the year celebrations, AAA Northern California will take you and your car home for free.

AAA’s Tipsy Tow program is open to everyone. You do not need to be a AAA member to take advantage of this service to the community.

AAA will offer the service to drinking drivers from 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, to 6 a.m. Jan. 1, in Northern California.

Drivers, potential passengers, party hosts, bartenders, and restaurant managers can call 800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP) for a free tow home of up to ten miles. Just tell the AAA operator, “I need a Tipsy Tow,” and a truck will be on its way.       

The service will provide a one-way ride for the driver and vehicle to the driver’s home. If there are additional passengers who need a ride, they will be taken to the driver’s home as long as there is room for them to be transported safely in the tow truck. You cannot make a reservation.

“Everybody wants to have fun at a New Year’s party,” said Cynthia Harris, spokesperson for AAA Northern California. “But if you’ve been drinking, don’t get behind the wheel. Give AAA a call and we’ll make sure you get home safely.”

According to 2010 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired crashes. That is one death every 51 minutes. As little as one drink can impair vision, steering, braking, judgment, and reaction time.

Nationally, drunk-driving crashes accounted for about 36 percent of highway deaths of young people age 16 to 24, according to 2008 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As little as one drink can impair vision, steering, braking, judgment, and reaction time.

AAA estimates that a first time DUI conviction in California can cost up to $12,000 in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees, and added insurance expenses. You can’t put a price tag on a crash that causes an injury or death.

The latest survey from AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed little change in motorist behavior versus previous years, in regards to “do as I say, not as I do” attitude about alcohol impairment:

– 91 percent of drivers believe it is completely unacceptable for somebody to drive when they think they may have had too much to drink.
– 92 percent of drivers think that people driving after alcohol pose a somewhat or very serious threat to their personal safety.
– 41 percent of drivers think drunk drivers are a bigger problem today compared to three years ago.
  
Despite this, one-in-eight admit to driving when they thought their alcohol level might have been close to or over the legal limit at least once in the past year.

When it comes to prescription drug use and driving, Americans report feeling even less concerned, with just over a quarter reporting feeling the same “very serious” threat to their personal safety. 

However, many of these drugs, along with over-the-counter medications, can impair a driver in similar ways as alcohol.

Previous studies have found that a single dose of some cold and allergy medications can have the same effect on driving as being above the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration, and certain antidepressants have been shown to increase crash risk by up to 41 percent.

“Just because a doctor prescribes a drug, or you can purchase it over-the-counter doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe to use while driving,” says Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “Always discuss potential side effects and interactions with your doctor or pharmacist before getting behind the wheel.”

To educate drivers on the impact that prescription and over-the-counter drugs can have on safe driving ability, the AAA Foundation developed RoadwiseRX – a free, interactive tool that allows users to input various medications and check for side effects and interactions that can lead to driver impairment.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) wishes its customers a safe and happy new year. 

The utility encourages customers to celebrate responsibly and help prevent fire and electric hazards by following these safety tips.
 
Metallic balloon safety

· Celebrate with helium-filled metallic balloons by making sure they are tied to a weight heavy enough to prevent them from floating into power lines. Do not bundle metallic balloons together.

· If a balloon is caught in a power line, contact PG&E immediately at 800-743-5000 to report the problem. Never attempt to retrieve anything that is on or near a power line.

· In 2014, more than 300 power outages were caused by metallic balloons in PG&E’s service area, impacting approximately 150,000 customers for more than 11.5 million minutes.

Avoid electric hazards

· “Mind the lines!” When making preparations for a New Year’s Eve party, be aware of your surroundings and check for overhead power lines nearby.

· Look up before lifting ladders and other long-handled tools outdoors to avoid accidental contact with overhead power lines. Be especially mindful of lines over your roof and lines attached to your home

· Never go near a damaged power line that has fallen to the ground or is dangling in the air. Always assumed downed electric lines are energized and extremely dangerous. Stay away, keep others away and immediately call 911 and PG&E.

For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Area office has a new Facebook page.

The page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/CHP-Clear-Lake-1649138848671471/ .

Like and follow the page for updates and information about events and classes, as well as the agency's initiatives to keep Lake County roads safe.

Water has definitely caught the attention of Californians this past year, with the continuing drought, mandatory urban conservation, fallowed farm fields and endangered fish.

There’s a lot to contemplate about water and its relationship to people and the surrounding environment.

One way to keep up on the many forms of water and our interaction with it is the State Water Resources Control Board’s Clean Water Team calendar. It’s a free, online, interactive document that lists all the major water-related events through the year, and a lot more. It can be downloaded as a pdf for reference throughout the year.

Some examples of events listed: March 14 is the International Day of Action for Rivers; May 22 kicks off Safe Boating Week; June is Great Outdoors Month; and July 2 and September 3 are Free Fishing Days – no license required.

Many of the commemorative dates and events have interactive links – click on them and find out a lot more about the date or event, including several opportunities to volunteer or participate. The calendar also includes many non-water events or dates.

But water is the focus, and the calendar also features photographs of volunteers monitoring water quality, as well as a couple of stunning pictures of leaping salmon. It’s all free and a finger click away, here: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/swamp/docs/cwt/volunteer/cwt2016calendar.pdf .

The calendar includes contributions from a variety of local environmental and volunteer water monitoring groups, and was put together by the State Water Board’s Clean Water Team.

The Clean Water Team is the citizen monitoring program of the State Water Board. Clean Water Team coordinators work statewide to provide technical assistance and guidance documents, training, quality assurance and quality control support, and temporary loans of equipment to citizen monitoring programs and watershed stewardship organizations.

Citizen monitoring is monitoring of the environment by community volunteers interested in watershed protection.  Citizen monitoring activities include collecting water quality data, evaluating fish habitat, counting birds, or making visual observations of stream health.  Community and resource managers use monitoring information to better protect California's waters.

To learn more about the Clean Water Team and how to volunteer or join a citizen monitoring group, visit here: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/swamp/cwt_general_mon.shtml .