Transportation

Erie County Residents Needed for Driving Behavior Study

Submitted by Queen City Blogger on Thursday, August 25th, 1:52 pm

Nearly 500 residents of Erie County N.Y. are being recruited for a Transportation Research Board (TRB) study on driving behavior. This is part of the world's largest study of driver behavior, in which vehicle-mounted equipment will observe how drivers interact with traffic conditions and roadway design. The data captured will be used for safety improvements in road design, cars, and driver training programs.

Over the course of the two-year study, vehicles of 3,100 drivers in six test sites across the U.S. will be fitted with a special Data Acquisition System (DAS), which will collect both driver and vehicle performance data. DAS technology includes forward radar, continuously recording video cameras, GPS, accelerometers, and other sensors. Environmental variables such as traffic, lighting, and weather conditions will also be collected.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Travel Advisory for I-190 and I-290 Interchange

Submitted by Greta Fenzl, WGRZ Intern

Thursday, August 18th, 2011, 8:30pm

Travel Advisory for I-190 and I-290 Interchange

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has announced that construction is continuing on the Interstate 190/Interstate 290 interchange in the town of Tonawanda, Erie County. As a result, the ramp from Interstate 190 southbound to Interstate 290 eastbound (Exit 16) will be closed to truck traffic beginning on Monday, August 22.

View Comments | Post a Comment

West Seneca School Bus Mechanic Places Second in Statewide Competition

Submitted by Breann Petro, West Seneca Schools

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011, 10:11am

West Seneca School Bus Mechanic Places Second in Statewide Competition

You might say that West Seneca Central School District bus mechanic Mike Lagoda has again “corralled” the competition, demonstrating his expertise in a statewide school bus mechanics contest on July 16.

Lagoda placed second – narrowly missing the top spot by a half-point – in the New York Association for Pupil Transportation’s 2011 School Bus “Roadeo” Day in Saratoga Springs earlier this month. The day-long event includes a State School Bus Safety Roadeo, a Special Needs Roadeo and a Technicians/Mechanics Roadeo – the event in which Lagoda competed. More than 100 school bus drivers and attendants, as well as another 15 school bus technicians competed in the three events overall.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Large Stretch of Union Road to be Repaved

Submitted by Patrick Klinck, Community Web Producer

Monday, July 25th, 2011, 3:01pm

Large Stretch of Union Road to be Repaved

The New York State Department of Transportation announced that street paving will begin on New York Route 277, Union Road, between NY Route 33 (Genesee Street) and Wehrle Drive in the Town of Cheektowaga beginning Monday, July 25. As a result, traffic will be subject to lane closures in each direction between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, for approximately one week.

The work is weather sensitive and may be delayed in the event of inclement weather.

Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone and two or more violations could result in the suspension of one's driver's license.

For real-time travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or www.nysdot.gov.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Tough Anti-Texting Measure Is Signed In Orchard Park

Submitted by Greta Fenzl, WGRZ Intern

Thursday, July 14th, 2011, 8:48pm

Tough Anti-Texting Measure Is Signed In Orchard Park

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Senator Patrick M. Gallivan joined together today in Orchard Park to sign legislation to strengthen the state’s law against texting while driving.

The bill, co-sponsored by Senator Gallivan (R,C,I-59th District), gives law enforcement the authority to pull over a motorist who is text messaging, e-mailing, transmitting images, or playing games while driving -- making it a primary traffic offense. Previous statute considered texting while driving a secondary offense, meaning police could only stop a texting driver if they had committed an additional infraction like speeding or failing to stop at a traffic signal.

“Today is about one thing – saving lives,” said Gallivan. “We have seen far too many tragedies caused by driving distracted to sit idly by any longer.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Texting While Driving Now a Primary Violation, Senator Kennedy Announces

Submitted by Senator Tim Kennedy, New York State Senator, 58th District

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011, 5:27pm

Texting While Driving Now a Primary Violation, Senator Kennedy Announces

Governor signs bill to strengthen state law against distracted driving

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Senator Timothy M. Kennedy (D-58th District) announced texting while driving is now a primary violation of state law, after Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill to crack down on distracted driving Tuesday.

For years, texting while driving was only a secondary offense. Law enforcement could only stop a driver distracted by a handheld electronic device if he or she were violating another traffic law (speeding, reckless driving, etc.). That changed today when the Governor signed the bill, which Senator Kennedy co-sponsored.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Senator Kennedy Announces Ban on Texting While Driving Approved in Senate, Assembly

Submitted by Senator Tim Kennedy, New York State Senator, 58th District

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011, 12:14pm

Senator Kennedy Announces Ban on Texting While Driving Approved in Senate, Assembly

Legislation now awaits Governor’s signature, Kelly Cline cited as driving force behind legislation to crackdown on texting drivers

ALBANY, N.Y. – Senator Timothy M. Kennedy, D-58th District, announced the Senate and Assembly have approved legislation that strengthens state law against texting while driving (S.5643|A.8106). Once the Governor signs the bill, law enforcement will finally have the tools they need to begin cracking down on texting while driving.

The legislation, co-sponsored by Senator Kennedy, makes texting while driving a primary offense – giving police officers the authority to stop a texting driver as soon as he or she is observed texting behind the wheel. Current law had maintained texting while driving as a secondary offense.

View Comments | Post a Comment