Safety Tips

Tips on How to Handle or Avoid a Road Rage Incident
Aggressive Driving and Road Rage

Aggressive driving and road rage have been around since motor vehicles were invented. In recent years, aggressive driving has increased. When provoked, aggressive, angry drivers have been known to commit acts of violence, commonly known a road rage.

The difference between aggressive driving and road rage is that aggressive driving is a traffic offense while road rage is a criminal offense.

Aggressive Driving Defined

Aggressive driving is normally defined as a progression of unlawful driving actions such as:

• Exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions
• Failure to leave a safe distance between vehicles
• Running a red light or stop light
• Failure to yield right of way
• Failure to signal intent
• Using an emergency lane to pass or passing on a shoulder

Road Rage Defined

Road rage can be defined as an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by a vehicle’s operator or passenger(s) upon another person, when the assault was precipitated by an incident, which occurred on a roadway. Road rage requires willful and wanton disregard for the safety of others.

Examples of Aggressive Driving
(that can lead to road rage)

The following are examples of aggressive driving behavior that can lead to road rage:

• Exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph.
• Running a red light or stop sign.
• Making a right turn on red without stopping.
• Tailgating excessively
• Driving in the left lane excessively at the posted speed limit – blocking the passing lane.
• Making hand or finger gestures at other drivers.
• Unnecessary use of high beam headlights.
• Honking at other drivers blocking or slowing traffic.
• Abrupt, un-signaled changes of lanes.
• Failure to use turn signals when turning.
• Flashing lights to signal a desire to pass.

Road Rage – When & Where Does It Occur?

Survey results indicate that road rage is most likely to occur on a Friday afternoon. It is during the afternoon peak traffic hours that drivers are most apt to be both fatigued and rushed.

• Road rage incidents occur most frequently during the summer months.
• Urban areas are the most frequently reported locations for road rage incidents.
• Road rage happens most frequently in moderately congested traffic, perhaps because heavily congested traffic conditions lower driver’s expectations.

Avoiding Road Rage

• Avoid cutting other drivers off in traffic.
• Don’t tailgate – Allow at least a two-second space between your vehicle and the one ahead of you.
• Signal several hundred feet before you change lanes or make a turn.
• Avoid making any gestures or eye contact with another driver.
• Be courteous in the use of high-beam headlights.
• Don’t flash your lights or blow your horn as a signal of your desire to pass another vehicle.
• Forget winning and allow yourself ample time for your trip.
• Obey speed limits.
• Drive in the right of middle lane; pass on the left.
• Stop at stop signs and red lights; don’t run yellow lights.
• Don’t block intersections.
• Report pedestrian right-of-way in crosswalks.
• Put yourself in the other driver’s shoes. Don’t take other driver’s actions personally.
• If someone follows you after an on-the-road encounter, drive to a public place or to the nearest police station.
• Report any aggressive driving incidents to the police immediately.

Do Not Engage Other Drivers

• Avoid engaging other driver, even if they have done something to make you angry or vice versa.
• Put as much distance between you and the other driver as possible and avoid making eye contact.
• Never pull off a roadway to confront another driver.

Car Seat Safety
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia sponsors an extensive injury prevention program, which includes a program to help you maintain proper child car seat safety and choose the most appropriate car seat for your child.

Click here to access CHOP’s web site on car seat safety and links to car seat safety inspections in our local area.

Additional Information
If you have questions about car seat safety, please call the Upper Merion Township Police Department at 610-265-3232.

Tips to Keep You Safe While Traveling

• Consider locking any electrical appliances (such as blow dryers, electric shavers, etc.) in your luggage. Suitcases should always be locked so they cannot be used to carry your property out of your room.
• Determine the most direct route to and from your room to the fire escapes, elevators, and nearest telephone.
• If you are staying in a hotel or motel, take all of your luggage and valuables to your room.
• Keep a daily check of your belongings.
• Never leave money, checks, credit cards, car keys, or valuables in the room. Take them with you.
• Place extra cash, expensive jewelry, or other valuables in the hotel / motel safe.
• Report any lost or stolen items to the hotel / motel management and to the police.
• Report to the management any suspicious movements in the corridors or rooms.
• Unpack and place belongings in the closet and dresser. Arrange your things so you’ll know if anything is missing.
• Use the door viewer to identify anyone requesting entry. Open the door only if you are certain the person has a legitimate reason to enter your room. If in doubt, call the hotel / motel office.
• When occupying or leaving your room, use all auxiliary locking devices on doors and windows. You may want to purchase a portable door lock for traveling.

Additional Information
If you have questions about additional hotel or motel safety tips, please call the Upper Merion Township Police Department at 610-265-3232.

Criminals look for the easiest opportunity when deciding to commit a crime. Shoppers can be vulnerable to such crimes as theft, robbery, and assault. The following crime prevention tips or recommendations are designed to make shopping as safe of an experience as possible.

• Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Knowing who and what is around you can help you avoid being surprised. It also allows you time to react if something does appear suspicious.
• Display confidence. Criminals choose the victim who looks like the easiest target. That choice is partially based on their perception about your abilities to react to an attack. If you walk with purpose, scan the area around you, and make casual eye contact with others, you are displaying confidence.
• Trust your instincts. Your body will tell you when someone or something is suspicious. If you have an intuitive feeling something is wrong, do not second-guess yourself. React immediately and take action to reduce your risk.
• Carry only what you need. Extra cash, credit cards, checks, jewelry and other items should be left at home. If it is necessary to carry a purse, keep it in front and close to your body. Men should keep wallets out of back pockets where they are easily stolen. Carry wallets in front coat pockets or use a money clip as an alternative.
• Don’t be overburdened with packages. Carrying several shopping bags makes you look vulnerable. Request a store to hold your merchandise until you are finished with your shopping. If the store does not offer that service, place your purchases in the trunk of your car before you buy additional items.
• Shop with others. The chance of being victimized drops dramatically when you are with a companion. If there are three or more people together, the chance of being targeted for crime is 90% less than when alone.
• Ask for an escort. Many retailers have security personnel. Ask for an escort to your vehicle if you are uneasy about venturing into the parking lot alone.
• Be prepared. Have your keys in hand when walking to your vehicle. The keys can be used as a defensive weapon and you will not waste time trying to find them when standing outside your vehicle. Carry a whistle or personal alarm. These devices will alert those around you something is wrong.
• Plan ahead. Choose areas to park where lighting is good and activity is high. Valuables in your vehicle should be kept out of view. Be sure to lock the car at all times.

Most thefts from vehicles occur on vehicles that are left unlocked.

Can I say ‘No’ to a solicitor

Whether the thought of a door to door salesman brings up memories of the local vacuum cleaner salesman, or it fills you with dread thinking about an unwanted bother at your door, it is important to know about solicitor safety. Any vendor engaged in solicitation door to door within the Township shall first secure a permit before beginning the solicitations. A picture of the solicitor will be on the permit.

If someone comes to your door without you asking them to come, you should be very cautious about their intent. While not everyone going door to door is a criminal, there are many different types of scams that are conducted in this manner. It is best to be careful in circumstances of an unsolicited solicitor; you don’t know what their true intentions are.

• If a solicitor is unwanted, the best thing you can do is not open the door. Simply wait for them to leave.
• If you do open the door, ask to see their permit issued by the Township. If they do not produce one, simply say no thank you and close the door. If they do not leave then call the Police and provide the description stated below.
• Call the Police. Chances are the solicitor does not have a valid permit. Be prepared to give a full description of the person who came to your door, what vehicle they were driving, and what direction they went. Please call for anyone in your neighborhood who appears suspicious.

A door to door salesperson that applies for a permit in the Township must provide personal information, and are checked by Police. If a permit is in order, it simply means that the Township will be able to identify the individual and the business in the future. It does not mean that their products or services will be any good, or that they will deliver what they promise you. As with all sales arrangements the buyer must beware.

• Do not let any solicitor into your home. Keep the solicitor outside so neighbors may see if there is a problem.
• Do not give any money to someone you are not comfortable with.
• Do not give any money before the product is delivered or the service is rendered.
• If you already purchased something from a solicitor, and have paid by check and do not feel comfortable with the transaction, cancel the check as soon as possible.
• If considering the service or product, ask the salesperson to return at a later time before buying. Take that time to check out their company online, with the Better Business Bureau, or with others to ensure you are comfortable.
• Do not pay with cash. Pay by check to ensure payment can be stopped, or the transaction can be tracked later if needed.
• Tell your children to never open the door to any stranger.
• Be wary of a person that uses high pressure sales tactics.
  Read and understand any document before signing it.
• Get a receipt for any purchase.
• Ask lots of questions and request brochures and business cards.
• Just because they use the name of a recognized company does not mean they represent them.

Salespeople are trained to sell and to overcome your objections. They know how to create a perceived need when none exists. They want you to make an emotional decision to buy and may use high pressure tactics to get the sale. Always remember that you did not ask them to be there. If you really want the product or service, get it from a local business instead of someone passing through, with no commitment
to the community.