Weekly Update
May 28, 2019
Sheriff Tom Reich, Eaton County Sheriff’s Office
Overall the Eaton County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to 965 calls for service/events. The following were our more higher call volume numbers - Alarms 29, Car/Deer Accidents 16, Assist Citizen/Assist Motorist 37, Check Well-Beings 41, Domestic Disputes 15, Shoplifting Complaints 25, 32 Larcenies, 56 911 Unknown Calls, Operating While Impaired 8, Personal Injury Crashes 10, Property Damage Crashes 27, Suspicious Subject/Situation/Vehicle 69, Traffic Hazards 31, Traffic Stops 204, Traffic Violations 35, and Vacation Checks 7.
June is Bicycle Safety Month. While the memories of the moment our kids rode their first tricycle and then 2-wheeler for the first time are something that we’ll never forget, this also brought out the beginning of us teaching them the responsibility and safety that came with their new-found skill.
School will be out soon and here are a few bicycle safety rules to help you teach your little ones:
- Protect Your Head. Wear a helmet!
- See and Be Seen. Wear proper Clothing - Clothing should be light in color and close fitting to avoid being entangled in the moving parts of a bicycle.
- Go with the flow of Traffic, Stay on the right side - A bicyclist must obey the same traffic laws as motor vehicles. Stop signs and stop lights, road marks and road signs are for a cyclist as well as a motor vehicle operator. Always use hand signals! Never weave from lane to lane or tailgate or hitch rides on moving vehicles.
- Keep your eyes on the Road. Be aware of traffic around you - Seven out of ten car vs. bicycle crashes occur at driveways or other intersections. Before you enter a street or intersection, check for traffic and always look left, right and left. Walk your bicycle across busy streets and crosswalks.
- Stay Alert - Keep a lookout for the unexpected.
- Drive your bicycle defensively - Watch out for potholes, sewer gratings, cracks, railroad crossings, loose gravel, and broken glass. Before going around any object, look ahead and behind yourself for a break in traffic. Plan your move, and then signal your intention. Be especially careful in wet weather and at night.
- Bicycling at night - Beware the Night! Be cautious when bicycling at night.
- Make sure your bike has lights and reflective material - Always have operational front and rear lights on your bicycle when riding at night. Wear reflective clothing or material on your helmet, ankles, back and wrists. Ride in familiar areas or streets that are well lit.
- Use Off Road paths and follow designated bike routes - Bicycle routes are marked by signs and are usually rated according to their difficulty. They are reserved for bikes only and can be ideal for new riders.
- Fix it up. Check your bike! - Your bike should be correctly adjusted to fit you. Your feet should rest on the ground while properly sitting on the seat. Before using your bike, check to make sure that all parts are secure and working. The handlebars should be firmly in place and the wheels should be straight and secure.
- Properly stop your bike - Control your speed by using your brakes. If your bike has hand brakes, apply the rear brakes before the front breaks. Remember to ride slowly on wet, slippery pavement, and to apply brakes earlier since it takes more distance to stop.
- Keep your wheels on the road - Wheels should be securely fastened. Check your wheels before every ride, after every fall, or after transporting your bicycle to insure that they are properly fastened and secured. Make sure that tires are properly inflated.
Yours in Public Safety,
Sheriff Tom Reich