International Friends: Living in Indy

Dial 911 when lives are in danger or there is property damage.

When you call the dispatcher will ask your name, your location (either an address or a landmark), and what the problem is or why you are calling.

The dispatcher will send the right people to help.

Dial the non-emergency number for all other questions or to report problems. Know the number for your town. For Carmel the number is 317-571-2580.

If you suspect someone has eaten poison, call the National Poison Control Center: 1-800-222-1222. You can get immediate help on the phone.

Roundabouts:

Slow down and stay in your lane.
Yield to vehicles already in the roundabout.
Obey one-way signs at all times.
When traffic is clear, merge to the right and continue to stay in your lane.
Continue through the roundabout until you reach your exit point.
Avoid stopping in a roundabout.
Yield to pedestrians and bicycles when there is a crosswalk.
When exiting, signal and exit to the right.
Left turns are completed by circling around the center island and then making a right turn to exit.
Follow the signs and pavement markings when entering a roundabout to make sure you are in the correct lane for where you want to go.
It is perfectly fine to circle all the way around to get in the position where you need to be if you miss your turn.
Indiana State Police also say state law requires motorists to yield the right-of-way to semi-trucks while driving inside a roundabout.

Lights and Sirens

Whenever you see a police car or other emergency vehicle behind you (with lights and siren on), always pull over to the right (and stop).
If you are getting pulled over in a remote location it is perfectly fine to drive to a public place like a gas station or even the police station before stopping.
If you are on a multi-lane highway, move into the far right lane. If the police car continues behind you, pull over on to the shoulder of the road and stop.
If you are at an intersection and can't move, stay where you are. The emergency vehicles will go around the stopped traffic.
Never try to beat an emergency vehicle in an intersection.
If a police car is stopped on the right with lights flashing move to the left lane if there are multiple lanes on your side of the road. If you can't move over, you need to slow down 10 miles per hour (mph) below the posted speed limit.
An officer in an unmarked car will be in uniform when he/she is on duty.
There are not quotas! The officers will watch an area to assure that safe driving practices are being followed.

Traffic stops (getting pulled over)

In the United States, officers will stop behind you (their car protects you from traffic) and they will come to you.
Remain in your car. It is a good idea to put your hands on the steering wheel in plain sight. The officer may ask you if you know why your are being stopped.
The officer will ask you for your driver's license, the registration for your car and proof of insurance.
Typical reasons for being stopped: speeding, lane changes without signaling, excessive lane changes (or weaving in and out of traffic), equipment problems (headlight, brake light, tail light, license plate light, etc. out). You can receive a ticket (you are charged or accused or a warning (fix the problem).
The officer will take you licence and other paperwork back to check with the database in the police car. Wait until he returns.
You may get a warning (get your light fixed, slow down, etc.) which means that you should correct the reason for the stop.
You may get a ticket which means that you are accused of breaking the law. In that case you may need to pay a fine or appear in court depending on the level of the offence.

Check for injuries.
Get information about the injury (where is the person hurt, etc.).
Locate where you are (business names, landmarks, street names, etc.).
Get vehicle descriptions.
If there are no injuries and the vehicles are driveable, pull out of the way so traffic can move past.
Do not "leave the scene" of an accident if there is injury or more than $1000 worth of damage (which is pretty easy to get on modern cars).
Have your license, registration, proof of insurance and phone numbers ready for the accident report.
Get witness information: name, phone numbers, etc.
Accident reports are electronic: officers can scan ad print the report at the scene; this is the same information that is passed to insurance companies.

Three out of four care seats aren't installed or used properly: the Carmel police have an inspection program: appointments are available during the week and on weekends.
In Indiana any child less than eight years old must be in a child restraint.
Keep children rear facing as long as possible.
Children must be in the seat at all times (do not get them out to change a diaper, feed, or comfort) while the car is moving.

As you prepare your home for fire safety:
Be sure to have working smoke detectors in all of the bedrooms, outside the bedroom doors and on each floor.
Smoke detectors that are hard wired together (so that if one goes off, they all go off) are code in Indiana.
There are two types of smoke detectors: photoelectric and infrared. Infrared detectors respond a little faster.
Have a family plan for a fire evacuation and a meeting point outside of the house in the front of the house.
There should be two ways to get out of any room in your home. If your house has second floor rooms, have escape ladders to climb out of the windows. Be sure that the ladders can reach to the ground (if you have a walk out basement, you may need a three story ladder).
Carbon monoxide detectors are also recommended. You only need one of these to warn you against this silent killing gas. Sources include running motors (cars or lawn mowers in your garage), fire places that are not venting properly, gas appliances that are not working properly, etc.
Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. To dispose of an old extinguisher or one that has been used, release the contacts out of doors and throw it in the trash.
You can find smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, escape ladders and fire extinguishers at any hardware store, Wal Mart, Target, etc.

lives are in danger: when someone is severely hurt or

description: a spoken representation; when you use words and not pictures

vehicle: car, truck, van, etc.

bring up: introduce a subject

signaling: letting the other drivers know your intentions

excessive: way to many!

appear in court: go to court and defend your actions before a judge

International Friends