Be Alert Bruins Safety Campaign 2018
Share the Road
Be Alert Bruins Safety Campaign 2018
UCLA Fleet & Transit, in partnership with UCLA Insurance & Risk Management and Envi-ronment, Health & Safety, will launch the 9th annual Be Alert Bruins driver safety cam-paign during the month of April. This year’s campaign focuses on Sharing the Road with others while driving on the UCLA campus and in the surrounding area.
More than 75,000 people travel on campus each weekday, including staff, faculty, stu-dents, patients and visitors. A population that large means there are a variety of trans-portation modes sharing the same roadways, such as cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, bikes and more. In addition, the substantial increase in the use of electric scooters and ride-hailing services like Lyft and Uber on campus means whether someone’s in a vehicle, on a bike or scooter, or simply walking, it’s important to share the road.
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, a pedestrian in California is killed or injured by a motorist once every hour. The good news is UCLA is a safe campus and these sort of accidents are rare. However, when they occur, they can be dangerous and costly. UCLA’s auto loss statistics indicate the most frequent incidents are rear-end collisions and low speed crashes. Commuters can avoid accidents and collisions by using simple yet proven de-fensive driving practices:
Be aware of blind spots – all vehicles have them
- Stay out of a vehicle’s blind spot, especially trucks, buses and vans
- Be aware of your own blind spots, particularly when changing lanes, turningright or backing up
Scan the road for potential hazards both ahead and to the sides of your vehicle
- Keep an eye out for bicyclists who may not see you
- Be careful around large trucks parked on the street while making deliveries
- Slow down for buses and vans loading and unloading passengers
- Watch for pedestrians who enter the crosswalk against the red light
Expect the unexpected, including:
- Bicyclists passing on the right when one is making a right turn
- Parked vehicles suddenly pulling out from the curb
- Car doors opening into traffic
- Jaywalkers crossing the street outside marked crosswalks
Avoid distraction and maintain a 360-degree awareness around one’s vehicle
- Scan your mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds
- Never text, eat, or groom while driving
Be a patient and courteous driver
Always adhere to the 20 mph campus speed limit – 20 is plenty!
Please do your part in keeping everyone safe. Remember, Share the Road…Bruins are Everywhere!
