Speed limit awareness key to safe environment

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Donald Osborn
  • 60th AMW Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Team Travis is only 40 days into the 101 critical days of summer campaign and 17 days into the official start of summer.

During these summer months, children can get lost in their own world while playing. Although we tell our children not to go into the street or always watch for cars, the chances of an accident happening involving a child versus a car are alarming even if it only happens once.

Accidents involving children getting hit by cars are almost non-existent here, however it can happen.

There are many dangers to exceeding the posted speed limit, and security forces are always on the lookout for violators.

"We issue out, on average, 20 citations per month for speeding," said Capt. Vincent Heitman, 60th Security Forces Squadron operations officer. "Speeding is something we take very serious here."

According to Travis Air Force Base Instruction 31-103, Travis Air Force Base Traffic Code, "The speed limit on Travis is 25 miles per hour (mph) unless otherwise posted, or as stated herein.

Housing areas, 15 mph
Sky Master St., 20 mph
Illinois St, adjacent to the Child Development Center #1 and #2, 15 mph
Parking areas, 10 mph
Troop formation or other pedestrian congested areas, 10 mph
Roadways within the 1300 area, 15 mph
Approaching any base entry gate, 15 mph

The maximum speed motorists can legally drive is posted. However, there are certain circumstances that should dictate a safer speed than the limit posted.

Driving at night on unfamiliar roads, driving in a borrowed or rental vehicle when you are not familiar with the vehicle handling, or during inclement weather such as high winds, raining, and heavy or congested traffic are some circumstances according to Noel Fagan, 60th Air Mobility Wing safety manager.

Maintaining vehicles with regular checkups can also reduce the risk of an accident occurring.

"Most common accidents occur when tire wear, tire pressure and condition of vehicle braking system is neglected," said Fagan. "Many drivers do not fully understand the antilock brakes and will release the brake pedal preventing the system from working the way it is designed.

"When towing boats and recreational vehicles, the braking characteristics are completely changed because of load distribution," Fagan added.

The Travis traffic code, in its entirety, can be found in Travis Air Force Base Instruction 31-103.