Driving Safely On and Around NMSU Campus is Essential. With the increased congestion on campus in vehicles, utility carts and pedestrian traffic; safety and caution are absolutely critical.

Please follow these basic safety guidelines to ensure a safe campus and please REMEMBER, the pedestrian always has the right of way.

Safely Share Campus Streets

• Look and yield the right-of-way to individuals
  
  walking, jogging, or biking.
• Watch for pedestrians and vulnerable individuals in parking lots.
• Watch for pedestrians when entering campus
  streets from parking areas and driveways.
• Note the potential for individuals on the sidewalk
  or nearby areas to dart across your pathway.
• Before making a turn, stop fully and look in all directions for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing.
• Wait for a bicyclist to complete the trip through
  the intersection [Never turn right immediately
  after passing a cyclist]Stop with other stopped vehicles at crosswalks [rather than continuing], as they may be allowing a pedestrian to cross the street.Yield to anyone crossing the street when
  turning left on a green light.

• Watch for surprising changes in direction,
  especially by cyclists or carts avoiding road hazards.
• Check for approaching cyclists, when parallel parked, before opening your door.
• Leave sufficient space when passing vulnerable
  road users and take every possible precaution to avoid collision.

Eliminate Distractions When Driving

• Do not allow technology [cell phones, text messaging, web browsing, adjusting equipment] to divert your attention.
• Do allow cell phone calls to go to voicemail.
• Never read notes, write reminders, or take down
  numbers.
• Avoid eating, drinking, and changing controls.
• Never look for lost or reach for fallen items.
• Stay focused and alert at all times. Practice short glances and avoid prolonged staring.
• Do conduct personal grooming before leaving or after reaching your destination.
• Other distractions to avoid when driving: reading print media [including maps], mediating disputes between children or adults, watching in-car video, and adjusting
  the GPS or navigation system.
  
  

Watch for the Unexpected

• Pedestrians, even university students and employees,
  
  can be unpredictable, so expect the unexpected.
• Even if they are subject to traffic fines, some bicyclists and utility carts users will ride the wrong way, charge across pedestrian crosswalks, and run stops signs.
• As a motorist, you are more likely to be charged and held liable for damage and injury.
• Drivers must ensure that there is sufficient room to stop for, approach or pass the vulnerable road users.  Watch for bicyclists before opening car doors.
• Minor deviations in travel direction can affect nearby individuals.  Don’t drive distracted or after consuming
  medicines or other drugs.

Pass Bicyclists and Utility Carts With Care

• Treat bicyclists and utility carts as you would
  slow-moving cars. Don’t tailgate, and do wait until
  traffic conditions allow you to safely pass them.
• Reduce speed when passing and allow at least
  3 feet of passing space (5 feet separation by larger vehicles).  Check your mirror or over your shoulder after passing before moving back.
• Bicycles and utility carts on the campus streets are vehicles with same rights and rules as a motorist.
• Bicyclists and campus utility carts are allowed to use the entire lane when necessary.
• Don’t use your horn in close proximity to bicyclists. Scan for bicyclists in traffic and give them the appropriate right-of-way.  Recognize the road hazards that bicyclists and utility carts face and give them space to maneuver.

Drive the Speed Limit and Avoid Congested Campus Areas
.

• Obey speed limits and come to a complete stop at stop signs.  Note that the speed limit in the parking lots and campus housing areas is 15mph.
• Allow extra time to travel across campus when classes are in session.  Some intersections and mid-block crosswalks are extremely crowded during class changes.
• Often these risky congested areas can be avoided by taking an alternate route or waiting for a less congested time.

More on Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is new stuff, right? Sure, but check out this National Safety Council vintage film from 1953 at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-qiQh4mrHA&feature=youtu.be

It’s one of the very first to discuss driver distractions and the importance of the brain while driving! Join in spreading awareness about the problems of cell phone distracted driving.