PEELING BACK THE ROOF

WRECK-LESS DRIVING ©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

PEELING BACK THE ROOF
DENNIS HIGHWAY, TN: Gerald R., age 16, asks for guidance on driving on wet pavement. Here is a real-life lesson right from your backyard, Gerald .

Floyd was cutting right along in his Chevy S-10 truck on wet pavement on the Dennis. All of a sudden the truck spun around, slid across the lane, down an embankment into the drainage ditch.

The emergency first responders had to peel back the truck roof to remove Floyd. Then the rescue squad removed him to the hospital for treatment of multiple injuries. Fortunately his truck missed hitting or being hit by several other nearby vehicles. Floyd says he was trying to stop because traffic ahead had stopped. Measuring the skid marks, the accident reconstruction officer determined that Floyd was going rather fast but within the speed limit. He was not cited for his judgment error.

All this is to point out the obvious - speed limits are for good road conditions. When the road is wet it is just common sense to drive at lower speeds. When we see brake lights ahead we need to brake also, in anticipation that we may be required to stop. Those with declining processing and reaction time should be even more watchful for unexpected dangerous situations. It is good wreck-less driving practice to check the mirrors for closely following vehicles before “slamming” on the brakes.

May you have 70 or more years of safe driving, Gerald!
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EAT, DRINK, AND HAVE A WRECK

WRECK-LESS DRIVING ©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

EAT, DRINK, AND HAVE A WRECK
SCOTTY'S JUNCTION, NV: According to Scotty, in one state the Regional Safety Council estimates that 40 to 45 percent of the state's traffic fatalities involve alcohol. To help reduce these unnecessary killings many states have new regulations for restaurants and other servers of alcohol. Training of all employees who serve alcohol is mandatory. The emphasis is on more reliable identification of a customer who has had too much alcohol, thereby reducing the number of DUIs.

In one state the new law does not cover food establishments which serve only beer. Do they know something the rest of us have missed? Is beer less intoxicating? Or is there a strong beer lobby in that state?

In most states it has been unlawful right along to serve more alcohol to a drunk person. These new regulations cause the servers to become sharper at determining when enough is too much. Let us hope that this is an effective way to make the roads safer for the sober travelers. So far, other measures have worked to some extent but it is obvious we need even better control of a bad social problem.

If you drink do not drive. If your friend drinks, you do the driving.
GHD70 all rights reserved wellnessebooks.com/ebookstore.asp

TINTED WINDOWS, GOOD AND BAD

WRECK-LESS DRIVING ©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

TINTED WINDOWS, GOOD AND BAD
ANKENYTOWN, OH: Heinz B. writes that "at first we had a tinted band at the top of the windshield to minimize the sun. Then they lightly tinted the entire windshield. Now some vehicles have such dark color on most of the windows that it affects night driving".

Persons with declining eyesight especially have difficulty seeing out these obscured windows after dark. Police officers were being attacked by unsavory persons hiding behind such dark windows. Now states have set limits on the amount of light transmission reduction permitted on front seat windows. The remaining windows still can be darker and are a danger to public safety officials approaching a stopped vehicle.

My personal preference is a medium tint which aids the air conditioner in hot weather. But one that permits me to see well out of all the windows at night. Of course, that permits others to see into my vehicle, too. But then at my age everyone is welcome to see that all I am doing in there is driving.
GHD69 all rights reserved wellnessebooks.com/ebookstore.asp

KIDS IN PICKUP TRUCK BED

WRECK-LESS DRIVING ©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

KIDS IN PICKUP TRUCK BED
GUTHRIE COUNTY, IA: On Iowa Route 44 the Sunders were concerned about the pickup truck ahead of them. In the front seat were 2 adults and 2 children. In the open carry bed were 2 more small children. Though the tail gate was up, this would have been little help in preventing the 2 kids from being tossed out during an emergency stop.

This unsafe practice is seen all over our vast country. If practical, drop back a long distance so as to not be part of a possible slaughter of innocent children. Hope and pray nothing will happen.

Why do parents so endanger their beloved kids? Probably the same mind-set as with safety belts - it won't happen to us, at least not on this short trip. Pickups are less expensive than sedans and have more utility. For some families the pickup is all they can afford. So the only way to transport the entire brood is with some in the back. In some states the legislatures forbid kids under age 12 to ride back there. I guess those over 12 are not as important to save. In one state it is OK for children to ride back there but not for dogs!

This unsafe practice is going to continue, like it or not. Perhaps the safety experts at the truck design departments can invent devices that would save a few kid's lives.
GHD68 all rights reserved wellnessebooks.com/ebookstore.asp