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STOP SIGN REMINDER POLICE SAFETY TIPS Four-way stop intersections Shorter days lie ahead as daylight hours diminish this time of year and we set our clocks back one hour on October 31. Driving at dusk and in the Motorists are sometimes dark is dangerous.As night-time hours confused when they find them— increase,we need to be especially vigilant selves at a four-way stop intersec- as motorists,pedestrians,or bicyclists. Lion. Drivers can find them- Nearly one-half of all fatal pedestrian • selves looking at one another, accidents,and almost one-third of fatal hoping for a clue as to who is accidents involving bicyclists,happen in low-light or dark going to make the first move. conditions.The Police Department offers the following There are three elements to determine right-of-way tips for a safer autumn and winter. at such an intersection: MOTORISTS TIME • Adjust the rearview mirror to the "night" setting to avoid headlight glare. A car that arrives at the intersection clearly • Wipe off your headlights and keep your windshield ahead of other cars and that has completed clean (inside and out). a lawful stop,may proceed first. • Take off your sunglasses at dusk. TURNS • Drive at safe speeds. Slow down when poor light, The driver of a car intending to turn left at weather,or road conditions warrant it. an intersection must yield the right-of-way • Be thoughtful when using your headlight high beams. to any vehicle approaching from the Be sure that they are turned to normal when another opposite direction. vehicle approaches. TIES PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS When two cars approach an intersection • When walking or riding at night,wear a brightly from different directions at approximately colored hat,helmet, or windbreaker. Reflective clothing the same time, the driver of the vehicle on helps you to remain visible to motorists. Avoid colors the left must yield the right-of-way to the that make it difficult for drivers to see you. vehicle on the right. • Carry a flashlight or equip your bicycle with a light. • Avoid jaywalking or crossing between parked cars. Remember that pedestrians in crosswalks ALWAYS Crosswalks are safer and insure greater visibility. have the right-of-way over any vehicle at the • "Stop,look left-right-left,and listen"before stepping intersection. off of the curb. Don't depend on traffic signals. Always look before you step into the street. MCCASLIN BOULEVARD TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYNCHRONIZATION The Public Works Department has synchronized the traffic signals on McCaslin Boulevard from Dillon Road to Via Appia to allow for better traffic flow and to reduce trip time and vehicle emissions. The lights were programmed with three different traffic patterns that are dependant upon the time of day. The McCaslin Boulevard traffic signals will be set to 120-second cycles. Meaning that it will take 120 seconds for an intersection to go though all four directions of traffic during peak hours. Off-peak traffic times will be set for 90 seconds. The City conducted travel time surveys prior to implementing the traffic signal timing. These studies will be repeated after the signals have been programmed. 1' This traffic signal synchronization will not affect the flow of traffic through the McCaslin Boulevard/US 36 interchange. The traffic signals in this interchange are under the jurisdiction of the Colorado Department of Transportation. Although the lights on McCaslin Boulevard are synchronized with the interchange in mind, there is no interconnect between the two signal systems. Because the interchange frequently operates at or beyond capacity, signal timing has only the limited ability to improve traffic flow. Once one is through the intersection, travel time on McCaslin should be decreased. Autumn 1999