Local rules, and safety tips are being shared for community members who are planning to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday.
For those individual who will be spending the holiday in Hockley County, community members are encouraged to exercise caution as grass fires can occur.
If winds speeds are considerable, community members are asked to make educated decisions to avoid creating higher grass fire risks given the lack of humidity in the area and extreme heat.
The National Safety Council (NSC) advises individuals to enjoy fireworks at public displays conducted by professionals, and not to use any fireworks at home.
Every year, thousands of people are injured badly enough to require medical treatment after fireworks-related incidents, with many of the injuries to children and young adults. While the majority of these incidents are due to amateurs attempting to use professional-grade, homemade or other illegal fireworks or explosives, less powerful devices like small firecrackers and sparklers can also cause significant injuries. Additionally, fireworks start an average of 19,000 fires each year.
The NSC listed several safety tips that can be followed: Never allow young children to handle fireworks; Older children should use them only under close adult supervision; Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol; Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear; Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands; Never light them indoors; Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material; Never point or throw fireworks at another person; Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting; Never ignite devices in a container; Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks; Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding; Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire; Never use illegal fireworks; and Better yet, grab a blanket and a patch of lawn, kick back and let the experts handle the fireworks show.
Citizens within city limits are reminded that using fireworks is prohibited.
Community members are encouraged to be mindful of public safety personnel responding to calls of service as roadways out of city limits are one of the popular places to light fireworks.
Fire personnel throughout the county along with EMS and county deputies will be patroling.
For county community members that plan on popping fireworks, they are encouraged to clean the area of trash and firework waste.
The City of Morton recently issued a notice on the social media page citing fireworks left in roadways.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Texas Highway Patrol is stepping up enforcement efforts during the holiday aiming to keep people safe as they celebrate America’s Independence Day.
DPS offers the following safety tips for people driving during the Fourth of July holiday: Don’t drink and drive. Make alternate plans if you are consuming alcohol.
Move over or slow down for police, fire, EMS, TxDOT vehicles and tow trucks stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated.
Buckle up everyone in the vehicle as it’s the law.
Slow down, especially in bad weather, heavy traffic, unfamiliar areas or construction zones.
Eliminate distractions while driving, including the use of mobile devices. Texas law prohibits the use of portable wireless devices to read, write or send an electronic message unless the vehicle is stopped. If a navigation device or app is being used, have a passenger operate it so the driver can keep their eyes on the road.
Drive defensively, as holiday travel can present additional challenges.
On multi-lane roads, use the left lane for passing only. Not only is it courteous driving and avoids impeding traffic, Texas law requires slower traffic to keep to the right and to use the left lane for passing only (when posted).
Do not cut in front of large trucks and try not to brake quickly in front of them. They cannot maneuver as easily as passenger vehicles and pickup trucks.
If you can Steer It, Clear It: If you are involved in a non-injury crash and your vehicle can be moved, clear the traffic lanes to minimize traffic impact. Leaving vehicles in a traffic lane increases traffic congestion and leaves those involved with an increased risk of harm or a secondary wreck. On some highways, if you don’t move your vehicle when it’s safe to do so, it’s against the law.
Keep the Texas Roadside Assistance number stored in a phone. Dial 1-800-525-5555 for any type of assistance. The number can also be found on the back of a Texas Driver License.
Check the vehicle to make sure it is properly maintained and always ensure the cargo is secure.
Report road hazards or anything suspicious to the nearest law enforcement agency.
Monitor weather and road conditions wherever you are traveling. For road conditions and closures in Texas, visit Drive Texas.