Safety between the lines

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Raul Betancourt
  • 509th Bomb Wing ground safety office
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  As a Whiteman member and fellow Wingman, we have the responsibility to keep each other safe by watching out for one another while at our home station or deployed and preventing the next mishap. 

On the road, in or out of the vehicle, is a prime time for us to be vigilant in protecting our Air Force family members and ensuring we are following the ACT model. 

Our situational awareness and use of the wingman concept can keep each other out of harms way. Pedestrians and vehicle operators must work together to keep each other safe, on or off base. 

If you are at a crosswalk, do not assume that the driver has seen you and will avoid hitting you by stopping in time. According to the Whiteman AFBI 31-204, pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks. 

Even though this is true, you should wait until approaching vehicles come to a complete stop before proceeding into the roadway. Many variables can affect both the driver's and pedestrian's ability to see and react to each other. 

In today's world, both pedestrians and vehicle operators can easily be distracted by the vibration or ring tone of a new cell phone, or shuffling through songs on a new i-Pod. 

These high tech toys can do a lot to improve our life, but we must all make sure we don't injure or take another life. Other factors to consider are; poor lighting, weather conditions, noise, visual obstructions and obscured windshields especially during sunrise or sunset. 

These factors are all common and will lead to many mishaps. We must work together; your life and the life of another can be changed in the flip of a phone, in the push of a button, or in the blink of an eye. Remember to "Stay Safe".

                                                                           Fast Facts 
Drivers
· Speed limits are designated for dry, sunny conditions. Reduced speed during other conditions.
· Immediately entering the Spirit Gate there is a heavily used crosswalk; be aware of children and joggers crossing the road.
· The driver of a vehicle emerging from or entering an alley, building, private road, driveway or parking lot shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian approaching on any sidewalk extending across such entrance/exit.
· The speed limit is five miles per hour in parking lots. 

Pedestrians
· Light-reflective and luminescent materials are particularly effective for reducing mishaps caused by poor visibility or darkness. In civilian clothes white or light colored material are recommended.
· When pedestrians are using crosswalks, vehicle operators will stop a safe distance from the crosswalk and yield the right of way.
· Joggers will wear light colored/reflective clothing during hours of darkness.
· The wearing of headsets while jogging or running, except on designated tracks/trails, is prohibited.
· The wearing of a headset while operating a bicycle, roller skates, coasters, sleds or skateboards on a street, roadway, parking lot, or sidewalk is prohibited.
· Where sidewalks are provided, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk or jog along or upon an adjacent roadway. Where sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrian walking or jogging along and upon the roadway shall, when practicable, do so only on the left side of the road, at its shoulder, facing traffic.

Reference: WAFBI 31-204, AFOSHSTD 91-100