(Austin, TX) – With Austin City Limits Music Festival kicking off this weekend, AAA Texas reminds drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists to follow traffic safety laws, obey traffic safety signals and use good, common sense to stay safe during the musical celebration. This year ACL Fest will take place Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 9-11 in Zilker Park.
“With the increase in pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle traffic in and around Zilker Park, it’s extremely important to pay extra attention to your surroundings,” said AAA Texas/New Mexico Representative Doug Shupe. “Unfortunately, too many people are dying in traffic crashes in the Capital City. Preventing these tragedies should be an effort on everyone’s part.”
AAA Texas has these simple tips for those traveling to and from ACL Fest:
Pedestrians
- Obey all traffic signals.
- Stay off the road when possible.
- Monitor the traffic around you so you can assess the risks you face.
- Never assume that because you can see vehicles they can see you.
- Eliminate distractions such as cell phones and iPods.
- Wear reflective clothing when walking at night and walk in well-lit areas.
- Never walk or jog along interstates or try to cross them on foot.
Bicyclists
- Ride as far to the right as safely and reasonably as you can.
- Don’t hug the pavement edge where debris or gravel might cause you to swerve into traffic.
- Always check over your shoulder and signal your intentions, even when just changing position in a lane.
- Ride on the street—not the sidewalk—and in the direction of traffic.
- Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
Drivers
- Don’t be distracted. Adjusting controls, passengers, cell phones, eating/drinking and objects in the car can all be distractions. Taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of being involved in a crash.
- Never text and drive. Texting while driving is a triple threat – visual, physical and cognitive. It takes a driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and mind off driving safely.
- Slow down and pay attention at all times, especially in areas with a lot of pedestrian traffic.
- Check mirrors and blind spots for bicycles before turning, changing lanes or opening car doors.
- When passing a cyclist, reduce speed and give plenty of space.
- Always signal your turns.
- Never honk your horn at a bicyclist. They could be startled and swerve off the road or into traffic.
- Drive sober. Alcohol-impaired drivers make up about one-third of all motor vehicle deaths resulting in an average of one death every 45 minutes in the United States. Always have a designated, non-drinking driver, cab or ride-sharing service, or plan for an overnight stay if you plan to drink alcohol.
As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 55 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Founded in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.