JUST THE HARD FACTS

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

JUST THE HARD FACTS
EVERYWHERE, USA: In about 40% of all traffic fatalities one or more of the crash participants (pedestrian or driver) had a measurable level of alcohol in their body. Even a level of 0.05 body alcohol content (BAC) will affect the judgment and driving skill of most persons. It becomes all the more important to not drive within an hour or so after taking one alcoholic drink. This may seem like a tough personal standard but it is past time in our great country for each of us to accept responsibility for our own actions. It’s so simple to protect ourselves and innocent other persons from harm and death by being responsible citizens. If we must drink then we must not drive. In our lifetimes (may they be long and healthy) two out of every five of us will likely be involved in a crash where alcohol is a factor. Just stop it!

What about those who will not take personal responsibility? Unfortunately, too often they are caught only after committing mayhem with their vehicles. Traffic checkpoints where sobriety tests are run on all drivers are effective in removing the drunks over the local legal limit. Those only slightly impaired get a free pass. And, of course, the police cannot spend all their time in checkpoint operations. Some legalists claim that these are a violation of our privacy. If you are arrested for drunk driving be grateful to the officer for possibly saving your life and limb as well as that of innocent others.

If a friend has been imbibing, do both of you a favor and arrange alternate transportation for him/her. The favor to yourself is that you will not have to carry a lifetime of guilt if your friend causes a dreadful crash because of your failure to take protective action. Friends do not let friends drive drunk.
GHD168 all rights reserved

A NEW WAY OF CAR-JACKING (HOAX)

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

A NEW WAY OF CAR-JACKING (HOAX)
“You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. Then you lock all your doors, start the engine and shift into REVERSE, and you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space and you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into PARK, unlock your doors and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of your vehicle the car-jackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off! Your engine was running, (ladies would have their purse in the car) and they practically mow you down as they speed off in your car.
Be wary! Just drive away and remove the paper that is stuck to your window later, and be thankful that you read this email. I hope you will forward this to friends and family...especially to women! A purse contains all of your identification, and you certainly do NOT want someone getting your home address. They already HAVE your keys!”

This story started as an Internet “put-on” and has not been reported to police as a true happening. BUT, now that it has been circulating it may have given the jackers a new plan and thus it could happen.

True or not be careful when parked near other vehicles. Watch for suspicious appearing persons who might accost you. In the evening try to walk near other shoppers returning to their vehicles, detour around nearby bushes, do not hand carry a large load of packages. The evil minded might want more than your money, packages or vehicle.
GHD167 all rights reserved

DO NOT USE HANDICAP PARKING SPACES

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

DO NOT USE HANDICAP PARKING SPACES
DENVER, CO: Angie K. e-mailed the suggestion that I write about the handicap
parking spaces. The super store's large parking lot had numerous spaces set aside for the handicapped. It had changed some angled spaces to parallel ones to accommodate vans with automatic external extension ramps for heavy wheel chairs. Many of the handicap spaces were empty. This causes some less thoughtful drivers to decide to use one even though not in need of close-to-store parking.

Do not be too quick to conclude that the person walking away from the auto is "cheating". Some disabilities are not apparent until the person overexerts, such as distance walking or returning to the vehicle with packages. We should expect the vehicle to display a special handicap decal, license plate, or placard on the dash or interior mirror. Misuse of these spaces is prohibited by law and violators are subject to citations.

Some police departments have enforcement officers who check these spaces regularly for violators. Other communities seem to not care about who uses these spaces beyond mandating that the merchant set aside a specified number. In most instances the "honor" system works. Recently an obviously handicapped person by-passed such a space and told me she can still walk and wants to save these restricted spaces for those who truly need them. Would that we healthy persons were that thoughtful!

If you are able, park elsewhere and be ever grateful that you can walk.
GHD166 all rights reserved