Safety
Bicycle Safety
Fairfax County Police DepartmentAlthough young bicyclists should learn the “rules of the road,” it is important drivers remember that as the weather warms up, they should keep watch out for bicyclists, especially in residential areas. The most important thing drivers can do to avoid striking a bicyclist is obey the speed limit, normally 35 mph in residential areas or 25 mph in school zones. Bicycling is a great opportunity for children to have fun, but let’s ensure they stay safe as well. Make sure your children are aware of the following bicycle “rules of the road":
- Pedestrians have the right-of-way on sidewalks.
- When riding in the street, travel in the same direction as vehicle traffic.
- Children under 15 years of age are required to wear a helmet.
- A bicyclist in the street has all the rights and responsibilities of any other driver.
- Bicyclists should know all the hand signals to indicate direction of travel.
- When coming out of a driveway or crossing a street, bicyclists must make sure there is no other traffic before proceeding. Rules are the same as when crossing any street, “look both ways before entering the street”.
- Bicyclists must obey highway signs such as stop signs.
- Remember: many times drivers do not see bicyclists, so bicyclists should use bike flags and bright colored clothing to help drivers see them.
- Young bicyclists should not bike after dark.
Bicyclists should look out for other cars, other bicyclists, pedestrians, skateboarders, animals or any other potential obstacle in their path, and they should also be careful when passing parked cars to make sure a driver is not about to pull out from the space or open a car door.
Fawns - Hands Off!
Franconia Police DepartmentWhite-tailed deer give birth April through July, with most births in June. Though dependent on their mothers’ milk for the first two to four weeks of their lives, from birth, fawns are routinely left alone while their mothers leave to find food. Fawns can stand within one hour of birth, blend into their environments and within one month can outrun most predators.
In spring, it is possible to encounter fawns that are all alone, lying quietly in the woods or other areas. “Good Samaritans” conclude their mothers have abandoned the fawns and attempt a “rescue.” But experts advise against this: “If you find a fawn alone, DO NOT assume it has been orphaned,” says Earl Hodnett, Wildlife Biologist for Fairfax County. The mother will likely return later and further, fawns that have been raised by people rarely make a successful transition back to the wild.
In most cases, the best advice to would-be rescuers of wild animals is to leave them alone. According to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, “more than 75 percent of such orphans ‘rescued’ every spring should have been left alone. Most wild animals are dedicated parents and will not abandon their young, but they do leave them alone for long periods of time while looking for food.”
If you come across a fawn, and it is clearly injured or there is evidence the mother is dead, or you are still unconvinced the fawn is okay, call the Wildlife Rescue League Hotline at 703-440-0800 before making any attempts at “rescue.”
Web sites for more information on orphaned or injured wildlife:
www.wildliferescueleague.org/
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/injured.html