The Kansas Department of Transportation recently announced the winners of their “Put the Brakes on Fatalities” poster contest, in which kids ages 5 through 13 were invited to create artwork on the theme of traffic safety.

The Kansas poster contest is part of a national Put The Brakes On Fatalities Day, held annually on October 10th to raise awareness of the importance of traffic safety. The goal is to encourage everyone whether as a driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist to take extra caution each and every day to prevent crashes from occurring.

Three winners — one in each age category: 5-7, 8-10, and 11-13 — were selected in each of six Kansas regions, and they each received a free bicycle and helmet. Three statewide winners (one in each age category) received a family vacation at select destinations in Kansas.

The following are a few of the winning entries on such important topics as bicycle safety, driving while distracted, and pedestrian safety:

“Look Both Ways, Share The Road”
Kassie Zimmer, Age 5, LaCrosse, KS

“We All Deserve A Chance To Live”
Joseph Bennett, Age 11, Manhattan, KS

“Distractions Can Be Deadly”
Logan Proffitt, Age 9, Columbus, KS

“Signs Are Important!”
Stephanie Barrientos, Age 7, Dodge City, KS

Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you for leading the way in improving traffic safety. Everyone can learn for your example.

From The Topeka Capital-Journal, discussing the state of the city’s sidewalk system, and what it means to people who rely on them to travel safely around the community:

Traffic hums along at 40 mph at S.W. Huntoon and McAlister on Topeka’s west side, and Don Robinson looks for his break.

Robinson’s head darts back and forth, scanning traffic on S.W. Huntoon from the east and west, as he looks for a clearing so he can cross the five-lane street in his motorized wheelchair.

On this Tuesday morning, he only needs to wait about a minute before he sets sail.

Other days, the wait is much longer, and with heavier traffic, crossing the street is much more dangerous.

Such is the life for Robinson and others in wheelchairs who not only have to contend with traffic but also whatever sidewalk conditions they are dealt.

“No, I don’t feel safe at all,” he said. “Especially at an intersection where people can turn right on a red light — or those where people can turn left at a green light after the traffic has cleared — because all they’re looking for is if the traffic has cleared.”

Robinson and others in wheelchairs say navigating around town is even more difficult in neighborhoods that don’t have sidewalks.

Complicating matters, some sidewalks may not be equipped with curb cuts, making going from one block to the next a difficult — if not impossible — proposition.

Mike McGee, Topeka’s deputy director of public works and ADA coordinator, said the city doesn’t have a sidewalk construction program at this time, meaning no plans for new sidewalks are on the table. Sidewalks are apparently “not at the top of the city’s priority list” and “many neighborhoods still don’t have sidewalks and may never get them”.

Read more: Wheelchair-bound Topekans ‘don’t feel safe’ on city’s sidewalks

From the Concord Monitor in Concord, NH:

As of Jan. 1, 2009, a new state law will require motorists to allow bicyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing, with an additional foot required for every 10 mph increment above 30 mph.

New Hampshire becomes the 20th state in the nation to implement the so-called “three-foot rule.”

Provisions in the new law will also address rumble strips, which can force bicyclists into traffic, and drain gates, which can cause accidents when bicycle tires sink into the grooves.

The new law was passed with the support of the Bike-Walk Alliance of New Hampshire, a Concord-based pedestrian and bicyclist advocacy group, but the impetus for the law was a local citizen, Judy Andersen, an avid cyclist of 30-plus years, who read an article about a similar law being passed in Maine, and decided that the Granite State should have it’s own version of the law.

Of course, it didn’t hurt that her husband is a State Representative, who sponsored the bill. Still, Judy and BWA education and safety director Dave Topham personally lobbied the Department of Transportation, Department of Safety and Department of Motor Vehicles, and voiced their support at hearings for the bill at the statehouse.

As the advocacy group says on their web site: “BWA-NH is very pleased with this result after just six months of submitting a bill deemed controversial by some parties, likewise we wish to express sincere thanks to Representative Gene Andersen of Lebanon as the sponsor who made everything happen. Bicyclists and motorists need to understand that our shared roadways are meant to transport people via any type of legal vehicle. HB-1203 helps to further legitimatize the bicyclist as a true vehicle operator by making both motorists and road construction crews more aware that our roadways are meant for more than cars. Also, a word of thanks to everyone who sent emails and letters to the House and Senate Transportation committees or testified in person during the hearing process. The NH legislators heard you loud and clear.”

Read more: Law: Make way for bicyclists, full text of HB-1203