Traffic Task Force

March 19, 2024

Often, when I am on the pickleball courts, and my opponents are winning (which isn’t very often, I will have you know!), someone always makes the comment “teamwork makes the dream work.” While that may be true in team sports, it is also true when it comes to highway safety.

Every week, Officers, Troopers, and Deputies will team up for a multijurisdictional traffic task force. The idea is to choose an area of Harford County and flood that area with enforcement efforts. Most weeks, we also select a specific driving issue like DUI enforcement or distracted driving and mainly focus on that. This doesn’t mean that we ignore other traffic offenses, just that we go out of our way to educate the motoring public about specific bad driving behaviors. For example, today we have officers from Harford County, Maryland State Police, The Maryland Transportation Authority, Bel Air Police Department, Aberdeen Police Department, and Havre de Grace Police, targeting aggressive drivers. While it is never a good idea to go hurtling down the road at 110 miles per hour, today would probably be a particularly bad day for it.

You may be asking yourself, ‘just how effective is this Traffic Task Force you speak of?’ Well, year to date, the group has made 711 traffic stops, located 28 suspended drivers, stopped 56 vehicles with suspended tags, recovered over 1500 grams of drugs, and recovered an illegal handgun from a violator. Not bad considering it is only March.
In this case I think it is safe to say that teamwork DOES make the dream work. Especially since my dream is to have safe roads for everyone in Harford County (and to also win my pickleball matches!)

Until next week, slow down, pay attention, wear your seatbelt, and drive safely.

HCSO Main Line – 410.838.6600
Northern Precinct – 410.692.7880
Southern Precinct – 410.612.1717
HCSO Traffic Unit – 443.409.3324
traffictiptuesday@harfordsheriff.org

Watch out for Pedestrians

March 5, 2024

I went to sleep last night with dreams of Traffic Tip Tuesday dancing through my mind. As I snuggled into bed in my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle footie pajamas, I decided that I was going to give some tips about the nice weather that is coming and pedestrian safety. Imagine my surprise when I woke up and saw the torrential downpour outside my window. FEAR NOT. I won’t let some gloomy weather stop me from sharing traffic safety with all of you.

Rain or no rain, I am certain nice weather will be here soon. And with that, we can expect a large increase in pedestrian traffic. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users. They do not have the protection of seatbelts and crumple zones. In fact, when it comes to traffic crashes, a good rule of thumb is, whichever vehicle has the most lug nuts usually wins. So, unless you are setting out with hundreds of lug nuts in your pocket, you need to be careful out there, especially when crossing the street. Always use designated crosswalks, never cross against the light, and if you are walking at night, be sure to only cross the street in a well-lit area.

Now it’s your turn, drivers. Make sure you slow down when approaching a crosswalk (those big yellow signs are there for a reason). Always give extra attention when driving in a residential area. And finally, be sure to ALWAYS stop for pedestrians at a crosswalk. Not only will you save a life, but you will also save yourself an eighty-dollar citation and one point against your driving record. More information on pedestrian safety can be found at https://zerodeathsmd.gov/road…/pedestrian-bicyclist-safety
So, as we wait for this rain to eventually stop, spend your time thinking about all the ways you can make small changes in your everyday driving habits to make our roadways that much safer. Extra points if you do your thinking in your favorite footie pajamas. COWABUNGA DUDES!

Until next week, slow down, pay attention, wear your seatbelt, and drive safely.

HCSO Main Line – 410.838.6600
Northern Precinct – 410.692.7880
Southern Precinct – 410.612.1717
HCSO Traffic Unit – 443.409.3324
traffictiptuesday@harfordsheriff.org

Math Test

February 27, 2024

Hello and welcome to another fun filled installment of Traffic Tip Tuesday!

This one goes out to all my math nerds out there. Math can be confusing, confounding, and downright scary to some people. However, it is also vitally important in the world of traffic enforcement and crash investigations. This week, I want to throw some math facts your way which may help change some dangerous driving behaviors. So, sharpen those pencils, sit up straight, and put on your thinking caps. (All of this will be on the test).

Everything we hear about vehicle speed is in miles per hour. It is even on those gigantic signs that many people tend to ignore. However, for crash investigations we need to work in smaller units. Assume you are travelling at 55mph. Doing some quick math tells us that your speed is 80.3 feet per second. Those of you who are still following along probably wonder why this matters. Well, statistics have shown that sending or receiving a single text message takes your focus off of the road for about 5 seconds. This doesn’t even mean a long, complicated text. Something as simple as “I love you snuggy bear” from your significant other will take your eyes off the road roughly 401 feet. For reference, a football field is only 360 feet long. This means you are covering the length of M&T Bank Stadium without watching where you are going. And this is for ONE text. Now think about how many times you have seen someone typing essays while furiously driving down the road.

We all know that texting is dangerous, but hopefully this quick math lesson puts into a little more perspective exactly how dangerous it can be. If you are a keyboard warrior, remember to put your phone away while driving or risk a fine of eighty three dollars. And if my wife is reading this, I will see you this evening, Snuggy Bear!
Until next week, slow down, pay attention, wear your seatbelt, and drive safely.

HCSO Main Line – 410.838.6600
Northern Precinct – 410.692.7880
Southern Precinct – 410.612.1717
HCSO Traffic Unit – 443.409.3324
traffictiptuesday@harfordsheriff.org

High Beams

February 20, 2024

If there is one thing I love, it is the hit song Blinded by the Light, which was written by Bruce Springsteen (A.K.A. The Boss). If there is one thing I hate, it is being blinded by the light: especially while driving! Let’s see what The Boss has to say about this dangerous driving behavior.

Using your high beams at night is a great idea when you want increased visibility. The projected light makes it easier to see Further on (up the road). However, they can cause real Trouble in Paradise for other motorists. Bright lights can cause temporary blindness, Sad Eyes, and confusion when shined directly in another driver’s windshield.

Not only is it unsafe to shine your high beams Out in the Street, but it is also a violation of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Law. In fact, you can receive a 60 dollar fine if you fail to lower your high beams within 300 feet of a vehicle you are approaching from the rear. This fine increases to 70 dollars if you do not lower your high beams within 500 feet of approaching another motorist from the front.

Speaking of bright Party Lights, you may think that using bright aftermarket lights on your Pink Cadillac is a good idea, but it isn’t. The citation for glaring and dazzling lights is also 70 dollars.

Whether you have trouble seeing or just want the added visibility while you Drive All Night, be sure to lower your high beams when you are sharing the road with other motorists. You may think those lights are giving you a Brilliant Disguise, but in reality, they are causing trouble for everyone else. Besides, the last thing you want to do is cause a crash and have to sing “I’m on Fire”!

(How many Bruce Springsteen references were you able to find?)
Until next week, slow down, pay attention, wear your seatbelt, and drive safely.
HCSO Main Line – 410.838.6600
Northern Precinct – 410.692.7880
Southern Precinct – 410.612.1717
HCSO Traffic Unit – 443.409.3324
traffictiptuesday@harfordsheriff.org