Adults and children reminded of safety around trash collection trucks

FALLBROOK – Waste Management of Southern California encourages residents to review summer safety tips around waste and recycling collection trucks. As school closing bells ring in summer break, safety precautions are especially important in the summer months when children enjoy more time playing outside.

"We care about the neighborhoods we serve, and ensuring the safety of residents is our top priority," said Eloisa Orozco spokesperson for Waste Management of Southern California. "Children are always fascinated by waste and recycling trucks, and how they work, but parents should teach them to keep a safe distance and use common sense."

Waste Management drivers created these Summer Safety Tips – seven tips to encourage safe habits around residential collection vehicles:

Summer Safety Tips

• Learn the schedule of when service vehicles are in the area. Waste and recycling trucks, postal vehicles and other package delivery services keep regular schedules within each neighborhood.

• Keep a safe distance from the truck – at least 15 feet. Never

climb on the truck. Do not play or stand in or around waste and

recycling bins or cans, since residents may not know when the truck is coming to empty them.

• Do not attempt or allow children to help with loading any materials into the truck. In addition to moving truck parts, debris

can come out of the truck when its contents are being compressed.

• Vehicles like Waste Management trucks make frequent stops and often back-up, so don’t follow the truck closely while walking, running, biking or skating. Stay alert and listen for the back-up

alarm with “beep-beep-beep” sounds.

• There are several areas where the visibility is restricted for the driver. If residents can’t see him/her in the eyes, the driver most likely can’t see them.

• It takes service vehicles about twice as long to stop as a passenger car, so never cut in front of or stop suddenly in front of one. Always keep a safe distance from a truck.

• Every Waste Management truck is equipped with a back-up alarm. Whether people are walking or driving near one of these trucks, if they hear this sound or see the white back-up lights, they should be sure to move out of the way of the truck.

It only takes a few minutes to talk to children about these important Summer Safety Tips. That’s less time than it takes for an ice cream cone to melt.