HEALTH DEPT. OFFERS SAFE DRIVING TIPS FOR TEENS

Holiday Season Dangerous Time for Teen Drivers. The Allegheny County Health Department is cautioning that the holiday season can be an especially dangerous time of year for teen drivers. While crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers throughout the year, such crash fatalities are even higher during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Drivers 16 to 20 are particularly vulnerable due to their inexperience and higher likelihood for taking risks.

More teens die as a result of alcohol- or drug-impaired driving than from all other causes of death combined. In 2007, drivers 16 to 20 were involved in over 1,700 alcohol-related crashes in Pennsylvania. Sixty-six people were killed in those crashes, including 34 teen drivers. Health officials remind teens and parents that underage drinking is deadly serious and hosting a party where alcohol is served to minors is not only illegal but extremely dangerous for teens, others in the community and parents themselves given the legal liabilities they face.

Nevertheless, every year teens consume alcohol at parties in their own homes or in the homes of friends and end up getting hurt or killed on highways. Teens are also reminded to buckle up, regardless of where they sit in a vehicle. Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in crashes. In 2007, 112 drivers 16 to 20 who died in crashes in Pennsylvania were not wearing seat belts.

Aggressive driving, particularly speeding, is another major cause of crashes involving young drivers. In 2007, speed-related crashes in Pennsylvania involving drivers 16 to 20 played a part in the deaths of 155 youths in the same age group. Other aggressive driving by teens includes running red lights or stop signs, making unsafe lane changes and tailgating. Such dangerous driving becomes even more risky during the winter months under snowy and icy conditions.
Inexperience and immaturity increase the possibility of a crash, especially when combined with speeding, impaired driving, not wearing seat belts, drowsy driving, driving at night, and distracted driving caused by cell phone use, loud music or having many teen passengers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teens driving with two or more teen passengers have a five times greater risk of being in a fatal crash.

Here’s how parents can help:

● Know and enforce the driving and traffic laws and always know where teens are and with whom they are traveling
● Constantly remind teens about the deadly consequences of drinking and driving.
● Urge teens to drive defensively, limit teen passengers and not allow distractions.

For additional information about the effects of alcohol on driving, aggressive driving, and Pennsylvania’s seat belt and Driving Under the Influence (DUI) laws, contact the Health Department's Traffic Safety Education Project at 412-247-7821.

 

OPEN BURNING LAWS

Now that warmer weather is upon us and people engage in outdoor activities, the police department receives many inquiries about the laws that regulate open burning. South Fayette Township does not have an ordinance that directly addresses open burning issues, but defers to the Allegheny County Code as it's guidelines. Open this file for the full text of the Allegheny County Open Burning law.

Allegheny County Open Burning Law

 

PENNSYLVANIA PREMISE ALERT SYSTEM

Announcing a program to assist individuals with special needs and First Responders in Pennsylvania. The basic concept of the Premise Alert system is a voluntary program that allows individuals with any special need, developmental disability, or health challenge to alert First Responders to their needs in conjunction with local Police and County 911 services.
http://www.papremisealert.com/index.html

OPERATION SAFE SURF (Keeping Children Safe Online)

Operation Safe Surf helps to educate kids, parents and schools about the importance of being safe online. Children are growing up in a digital age and being targeted by online predators at an alarming rate. Operation Safe Surf provides parents and schools with resources and tools to help kids learn how to protect themselves while still enjoying all of the benefits of the Internet. The Office of Attorney General Tom Corbett (OAG) has partnered with national leaders on Internet safety to offer the latest in curriculum and information for use in Pennsylvania classrooms and homes.

Operation Safe Surf

NEW POLICE CAR COLORS

The South Fayette Police Department has put into service it's newest police car and would like the public to be aware of the new color scheme. See attached picture: SFPD

 

OPT-OUT OF "Pre-Approved" Mail

Here is a link where you can opt out or opt in for all of those ‘pre-approved’ credit card offers. In light of Identity Theft, these pre-approved credit card applications are a security concern. By going to this website, you can opt in or opt out of receiving these mailings. No guarantee it will eliminate all, but should greatly reduce those mailings that so quickly fill your paper shredder.

www.optoutprescreen.com

ATTENTION: ALL SOUTH FAYETTE RESIDENTS

We have had reports of several vehicles in a few neighborhoods that have been entered and some items stolen. With the holiday season upon us, please be aware of any suspicious activities around parked vehicles in your neighborhood. If anything suspicious is seen, please contact the South Fayette Police at 911 as soon as possible. As always, keep vehicles parked inside a garage whenever possible. If you must leave a vehicle outside, don’t leave things of value where they can be seen and make sure it is locked, even if it is in your own driveway.

SOUTH FAYETTE POLICE HOST KINDERGARTEN TOUR

The South Fayette Police Department was just one stop for 181 kindergarten students on November 3rd . The students came out to the South Fayette Municipal Building to tour and learn about police, fire and EMS services as well as the South Fayette Public Library and the Morgan Post Office.

Officers from the police department, the Cuddy Volunteer Fire Department and Southbridge EMS were on hand to show the kids around and to answer any questions they had. (pictures 2955, 2951, 2948).

Pic # 2945 –Chief Louis Volle and Captain John Phoennik greet one of the classes.

Pic # 2957 – Captain John Phoennik and Officer Joe Staniszewski meet Mrs Franjione's class.

Pic # 2958 – Officer Joe Staniszewski explains police work to the students and answers question. 

 

REMEMBER TO DIAL 9-1-1

Police are reminding residents to dial 9-1-1 in case of emergencies. Recently, some emergency calls have been made directly to the police station instead of the 9-1-1 dispatch. If residents are unsure of what constitutes an "emergency", Chief Volle offers this advice :If it concerns you, it's an emergency". To contact South Fayette for any non-emergency matter, residents may contact the police department at 412-221-2170, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

TELEPHONE SOLICITATIONS

The Police Department does not support or profit from telephone solicitations. No member or representative of the department will telephone residents to solicit donations for any type of organization.