WRECK-LESS DRIVING©

GOING DUI ON ALLERGY MEDICINE

2008-10-20T12:11:00.000-04:00

GOING DUI ON ALLERGY MEDICINE
CASSAHOWITZKA, FL :A letter from Eileen M. reminds that Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) laws have been replaced with Driving Under the Influence (DUI). She says that a number of legal medicines can lead now to a driving conviction. This includes prescription drugs as well as nostrums right off the open shelves. Some of these otherwise helpful medicines can cause side effects similar to and just as dangerous for drivers as is alcohol.

One medicine in the news is the antihistamine, diphenlyhydramine, sold widely for allergy symptom relief. Researchers at the University of Iowa reported that this medicine had a greater affect on some important driving skills than does alcohol. Particularly noted was a serious decrease in steering ability which could lead to crossing into oncoming vehicles. One has to wonder whether the roadways are teeming with drivers who may not realize that the “funny” feeling they experience is not caused by the illness but rather by the trusted cure.

This danger needs much more publicity and law enforcement scrutiny. While it is relatively easy to sniff out the heavy drinker of alcohol, not so for most medicines. It is likely that many crashes have as their cause undetected medicine induced DUI rather than driver carelessness. This could explain why so many careful and normally safe drivers have crashes for which they have no explanation – “it just happened” or “it was not my fault”.

The U of I research scientists also tested a newer allergy medicine whose generic name is fexofenadine. It is the active ingredient in a popular prescription drug. This chemical substance had no deleterious effect on the driving skills which they measured.
GHD219 all rights reserved

WHY SHOULD I IMPROVE MY DRIVING?

2008-10-11T20:30:00.000-04:00

WHY SHOULD I IMPROVE MY DRIVING?
MATUNUCK, RI: Ben L, at age 70, is the typical older driver. He questions why there is all this pressure on older drivers to take a refresher program. He says he has been driving for 56 years with only a few fender benders, though most of them have occurred in the last few years. Ben claims they were all accidents and thus not his fault!

Here are some frightening facts from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:
About 5,700 persons age 65 and older die in motor vehicle crashes.

Older people (70 and older) made up 12 percent of all traffic fatalities, 12 percent of vehicle occupant fatalities and 16 percent of pedestrian fatalities, according to NHTSA.

About 82 percent of fatal accidents involving older drivers happen during the day. Seventy-four percent involve another vehicle.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, about half of fatal crashes involving drivers 80 years and older occurre at intersections and involve more than one vehicle. This compares with 24 percent among drivers up to age 65.

At age 50 about 23% of fatal crashes are at intersections.

Persons age 75 and older suffer 25 motor vehicle deaths per 100,000 persons. This is more than any other age group except the youngest who have 29 deaths per 100,000.

Drivers age 75 and older have higher rates of fatal motor vehicle crashes than any other age group except the teenagers.

Drivers age 75 and older have more crashes per mile than any other age group except teenagers.

Fatal crash rates per licensed driver rise sharply at age 70 and beyond.

For males, the motor vehicle deaths per 100,000 persons starts to rise about age 70. About age 80 and older, the crash death rate is 2+ times higher than for males age 40 to 74.

Males, at any age, have considerably greater vehicle death rates per 100,000 persons than do females of the same age. The rate for males at age 85+ jumps to 3 times greater than for females of the same age.
Is it any wonder that many auto insurance companies increase dramatically their premiums for drivers when they reach age 75? Your suggestions for improving the driving record of older persons are most welcome.
GHD218 all rights reserved

CELL PHONES IN TROUBLE STILL

2008-09-28T20:28:00.001-04:00

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

CELL PHONES IN TROUBLE STILL
SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY: Our regular correspondent, Michael A., says that starting January 1, 2001 it was unlawful to hand hold a cell phone while driving. Those caught doing so will pay a $150 fine. Accessories which allow talking and listening with both hands free to drive are OK though the distraction factor is still operative.

In the USA a number of cities have some restrictions on driving while using a handheld phone. In contrast, more than 16 countries have nationwide laws governing these devices in moving vehicles. What none have yet been able to do is to expand the regulation to cover the 4 minutes or so after such a cell conversation before the dangerous distraction is extinguished. Safety experts claim that handheld or not, cell phone use is so distractive that a driver is 4 times more likely to be in a crash.

But then why pick on cell phones as if they were the only cause of dangerous distraction for drivers? I suppose it is because a law enforcement officer can see the violation. It is much more difficult to regulate back seat drivers, playful and yelling children, frisky pets, talkative spouses, loud radios and scanners, smoking, drinking beverages, watching the scenery and a bunch of other distractors. And what about those men who shave on the way to work or those women who do their make-up while driving? Back when CB radios were the fad there was not all this concern but the distractive danger must have been there and is so still for those very few yet in use in passenger vehicles. Should police officers park their vehicles before speaking over their radios?

Of course, we should not regulate cell phones entirely out of motor vehicles. After all they are a wonderful tool even for those who are safety conscious and stop in a protected place to use them. Also, more than 200,000 emergency calls are made each day from car phones (not necessarily by the driver). In Y2003 there were about 150 million cell phones in use in the USA and it is at least triple this now. It is only a guess, but one can believe that most of them are carried at least part-time in motor vehicles.
GHD217 all rights reserved

NATIONAL COST OF ROAD CRASHES

2008-09-08T08:47:00.000-04:00

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

WAHKIAKUM, WA: “Just how much do road crashes cost our Country each year”, asks Stuart K. Excellent question. Adding up what individuals pay directly, insurance payouts, and costs absorbed by hospitals and governments it cost us more than $200 billion a year. Medical expenses are $21billion, lost wages and production are $70 billion, and vehicle damage is more than $46 billion. Current crash data will show much higher costs because of the greater number of crashes and inflation.

Guess who eventually pays all of this? You and me in higher taxes, higher insurance premiums, and higher cost for the necessities and luxuries we buy. To be sure, those involved in the crashes pay a high price in injuries, death, and, too infrequently, with jail time. But the principals in these crashes can not begin to pay the monetary costs they have caused, so all of us have to bail them out.

Because most crashes are not accidents but the result of driver’s mistakes it would benefit each and every one of us if we could train and retrain motorists of all ages to be safer drivers. Such training is available for the youngest (high school) and oldest (50+) drivers. Driver education in high school is a once and done opportunity. From there to age 50 little retraining is available. A few state legislators have decreed that all licensed drivers who complete a safe driving course must receive an additional insurance premium reduction for several years. Then the classes have to be renewed. Most of the 36 states and DC who mandate such a discount restrict it to those over age 55. More than 10 million seniors have taken advantage of this discount offer.

In the states where such an incentive is not offered relatively few older drivers take these classroom refresher programs. All it takes is 8 hours every few years to be a safer driver. Statistically, those who complete such a course have measurably fewer fatal and injury crashes and fewer moving violation convictions. But give them a insurance premium discount and they flock in by the millions. Make sense to you?
GHD216 all rights reserved

DON"T BE A HONKEE

2008-08-31T15:58:00.002-04:00

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

DON'T BE A HONKEE
Louisville, KY. Pastor Jean Davidson writes in “These Days” Daily Devotions.
“Feel Like Honking?”
“I was driving home when I approached a cross street where cars were waiting. Only twenty feet from the crossing, a car cut in front of me. I slammed on the brake and somehow stopped with inches to spare. I looked to see what had happened to the car I had barely missed. It continued on as if nothing had happened. I wanted to follow the car and tell the driver what I thought about his driving. It did not occur to me to pray for God's best for him. I suspect that I should have. In a culture where revenge is the norm of the entertainment world, we are called to let go and live a different way, a way that blesses even drivers who nearly hit us.”
GHD all rights reserved

DO WHAT AFTER CRASHING?

2008-08-24T19:26:00.000-04:00

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

DO WHAT AFTER CRASHING?
CASANOVA, VA.: Harley G. asks if one should think ahead about what to do if involved in a crash. Each state has its own rules about the actions required of drivers involved in a crash. The rules, laws, and DMV suggestions in VA are similar to many other states so lets use them as a model.

Our first concern should be about possible injuries. If there are any injuries the police should be contacted immediately. If, luckily, there are no injuries the vehicles should be moved (if possible) so that traffic is no longer blocked or slowed.

The police should be contacted also if the vehicles are so damaged that they cannot be driven to another location and traffic cannot move safely. Call for police assistance if alcohol seems to be involved in the situation, one of the drivers has no insurance or flees the scene, or the property damage appears to exceed $1,000 (even a few bent panels can add up quickly).

Find a safe, practical way to warn on-coming traffic of the hazard ahead. Raise the vehicle hood, if possible, as a visual sign of trouble. Enlist some bystanders to help by using flares, waving a white or red cloth as a flag, and a flashlight at night. Be especially wary of fast approaching vehicles especially where the line of sight is short. Tractor trailers need a long space to come to a full stop.

All involved drivers are required to exchange full information such as name, address, license tag number, drivers license number, and vehicle description. Also seek witnesses and obtain their name, address, phone number, etc.

Carry a list of these needed actions in your vehicle. After the crash you may be too shaken to think clearly about the information you must gather or the laws about moving the vehicles. One of the best possible reasons for having a cell phone is the ability to summon medical and police help quickly. Harley says he always has one of the Kodak inexpensive, one use, cameras in both of his autos to record a crash scene immediately, before the vehicles are moved.
GHD215 all rights reserved

HOW MUCH BOOZE FOR .08% BAC?

2008-08-17T20:50:00.000-04:00

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

HOW MUCH BOOZE FOR .08% BAC?
NORTH POWNAL, VT.: Audrey S. asks how many alcoholic drinks one can consume to reach the new federal limit of 0.08 percent blood alcohol content (BAC) that defines a vehicle driver as DUI (Diving Under Influence)? She reports that about 18,000 vehicle deaths, adults and children every year are alcohol related

First lets understand that this law, passed by Congress and signed by the President, is effective only in states whose legislature adopts this stricter standard for drunk driving. Those states not having done so by year 2004 have lost a lot of federal highway construction money (I confess, I don't know which, if any).

Oh well, lets get back to Audrey’s question. A 137 pound woman will reach 0.08 BAC with three servings of 1 ounce of liquor, or 3 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer in one hour on an empty stomach. A man of 170 pounds would get there with four servings. Be advised that another factor in amount tolerated is age. Persons in their 60s, 70s, etc might get drunk on lesser amounts in the same amount of time.

Another generalization is that persons in the 60+ age group drink less alcohol on any given occasion than do younger persons. This lower BAC law will do nothing to stop the chronic heavy drinking offenders who continue to drive after loss of license and are let off easy by the courts. But it should give good guidance to the many drivers who believe it is their responsibility to drive safely or not drive.. Also, while the stated BAC is presumptive evidence of DUI, drivers with lower levels can be arrested for DUI by exhibiting other symptoms such as erratic driving or inability to walk a straight line.

The important fact to remember is that even one drink of alcohol affects driving skills, more so for some than for others. Know your personal limit and remain WRECK-LESS.
GHD214 all rights reserved

HOW MUCH BOOZE FOR .08% BAC?

2008-08-09T10:22:00.000-04:00

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

HOW MUCH BOOZE FOR .08% BAC?
NORTH POWNAL, VT.: Audrey S. asks how many alcoholic drinks one can consume to reach the federal limit of 0.08 percent blood alcohol content (BAC) that defines a vehicle driver as DUI? She reports that more than 17,400 vehicle deaths, adults and children, annually are alcohol related

First lets understand that this law, passed by Congress and signed by the President, is effective only in states whose legislature adopts this stricter standard for drunk driving. Those states not having done so by year 2004 lose a lot of federal highway construction money

Oh well, lets get back to Audrey’s question. A 137 pound woman will reach 0.08 BAC with three servings of 1 ounce of liquor, or 3 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer in one hour on an empty stomach. A man of 170 pounds would get there with four servings. Be advised that another factor in amount tolerated is age. Persons in their 60s, 70s, etc might get drunk on lesser amounts in the same amount of time.

Another generalization is that persons in the 60+ age group drink less alcohol on any given occasion than do younger persons. This lower BAC law has done little to stop the chronic heavy drinking offenders who continue to drive even after loss of license and are let off easy by the courts. But it should give good guidance to the many drivers who believe it is their responsibility to drive safely or not drive.. Also, while the stated BAC is presumptive evidence of DUI, drivers with lower levels can be arrested for DUI by exhibiting other symptoms such as erratic driving or inability to walk a straight line.

The important fact to remember is that even one drink of alcohol affects driving skills, more so for some than for others. Know your personal limit and remain WRECK-LESS.
GHD214 all rights reserved

SIDE AIR BAGS CAN KILL

2008-07-27T22:09:00.002-04:00

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

SIDE AIR BAGS CAN KILL
OWASSO, OK: Avid reader, Connie Z., asks “Do you know that the new side air bags which are supposed to improve crash safety are so powerful that they can kill small children?” Yes, Connie, this is another trade-off similar to the now well- known danger of the original front air bags which have killed or injured some small children and short, frail adults. The side bags are designed to effectively protect most adults in crashes into the vehicle’s side.

Children especially seem to like to sit close to or lean on the door or even lean out the window (unsafe at any speed) and are thereby too close to the inflating bag. Just as the driver must be at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel bag so should all persons sit some distance from the vehicle’s side. In the newer autos the front bags have decreased power and one would suppose that the side bags were designed with the experience gained in early years.

Whether the Federal Government will allow the side bags to be deactivated under certain use conditions has not been announced. The Highway Traffic Safety Administration does suggest that the car manufacturers deliver the vehicle to the dealership with the optional rear seat side bags deactivated. Then the buyer can then choose whether the dealer should switch on the bags or not. Once again, good safety intentions turn out to be less than ideal. Surely the engineers will devise an acceptable system before many more young or frail persons are victims of these crash and the safety restraining bags. No doubt the auto insurance companies have strong requirements on full use of the provided air bags.
GHD213all rights reserved

SIGNAL YOUR INTENTIONS

2008-07-12T20:16:00.001-04:00

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

SIGNAL YOUR INTENTIONS
KINGSPORT, TN: Wilma Dean requested that we discuss the use of and lack of use of turn signals by TN drivers. The State has a large number of both kinds of drivers. And, fortunately, it has a much larger number that know how to signal properly.

First, lets look at the improper use of turn signals. Some TN drivers are just too considerate of those behind them. Throughout the State one can be mislead by the driver who signals that the vehicle ahead of his/hers is signaling to turn right or left. It is not unusual to see a line of 10 or 20 or even more vehicles signaling for a turn only to find that just the first one actually makes the turn. This is unsafe and unlawful in TN. But I have never seen such a line of motorists given citations even when a law officer has observed it.

Now, about the lack of signaling. In most every jurisdiction the law requires that drivers signal their intention to make a turn, change lanes, or to stop. The stop signal is, of course, automatic with application of the brakes. For making turns it is OK still to put ones left arm out the driver’s left window as a signal (please put the window down first). The horizontal arm means a left turn and the arm bent upwards at 90 degrees means a right turn. This information is for you younger readers who were not yet here before turn lights were invented. It is good to know this as the hand/arm signal is required if the electric signals are inoperative. It is required, too, of bicyclists.

A message to those who signal properly and lawfully: Thank you for being considerate of the safety of yourself and others. May your life be full of wreck-less miles.
GHD212 all rights reserved

ABILITY, NOT AGE

2008-06-27T17:51:00.001-04:00

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

ABILITY, NOT AGE
JEFFERSON CITY, MO. “ Missouri sets the example for the entire Nation”. So e-mails laura58@tm???. What Laura passed along to us was the fact that the MO Legislature in its great wisdom has passed a law which says the older driver’s right to continue driving is not to be determined by age. Driving ability and physical and mental competence is the rule for all ages. Prior to this law, and true still in other states, age was the informal criteria for saying an older person should no longer drive. Bills attempting to make this the law have failed in most places where it has been tried.

The true facts show a much different situation. There are many drivers in their late 70’s and into the 90’s that remain safe behind the wheel. As well, there are a bunch of younger drivers who are unsafe and need either reeducation or to be denied continued licensing. Yes, as a class, drivers over age 75 have many crashes. But the youngest, under age 19, drivers are even more dangerous. Usually the young drivers have alternate sources of transportation (buddies, mom and dad, etc) while the oldest motorists have to be more self-reliant.

Thus it is an extreme hardship to deny driving privileges except for those who are truly a menace to self and others. The goal should be to help older persons be independent as long as they are competent.

Missouri has provisions for qualified persons to report to the State, without recourse, drivers that ought to be given new tests for vision, knowledge of traffic rules, and behind the wheel ability to be safe. In most states the adult children must agonize over their parent’s reaction to their keys being taken away, the auto disabled, or being reported to the license bureau. Children have been disinherited for this. And medical professional have to worry that they will be sued for such reporting. Not so in MO where such reporting is confidential.
GHD211 all rights reserved

YOUR DRIVING WELLNESS SCORE

2008-06-15T17:36:00.000-04:00

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

YOUR DRIVING WELLNESS SCORE
BLAND VILLA, GA: Thanks to Howard K. we are able to share with you one way of determining just how well you do drive. Please read these statements and give yourself one point for each one that is true for you:
¨ involved in many fender benders
¨ when looking straight ahead cannot see objects at road side
¨ concerned that your driving may cause severe personal injury to others or self
¨ often do not notice traffic signs or lights soon enough
¨ confused by the many things you must observe; children, dogs, cats, bicyclists, traffic lights, signs, curves, markings, weather conditions, trucks, etc.
¨ unable to see far enough ahead to avoid obstacles or slow down
¨ have much more anxiety whenever driving
¨ find that your mind wanders away from attention to being safe
¨ are distracted easily by the radio, passengers talking, grandchildren having loud fun
¨ very uncomfortable and unsure during left turns in traffic
¨ been charged with failure to yield
¨ cannot keep up speed with surrounding vehicles
¨ misjudge speed and distance of other vehicles
¨ it is difficult to turn your head enough to see behind when changing lanes or backing
¨ cannot find your way in places you used to know well
¨ your friends and family insist on their doing the driving, even with your auto
¨ frequently must brake heavily because suddenly an obstacle appears in front of you
¨ it hurts to work the pedals and you wait too long to move your feet
¨ you feel uncomfortable on multi-lane roads, especially in heavy traffic
Of the 20 danger situations how many “yes” marks are there? Too many to suit you (or your family)? What are you going to do to improve them? Any one of them can cause you life long grief. Reading this column regularly can help you but a safe driving class would help you even more.
GHD210 all rights reserved

YOU GOT PICTURE

2008-06-08T10:15:00.001-04:00

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

YOU GOT PICTURE
COMMISKEY, IN: No longer does a law enforcement officer have to witness your running a red traffic light in many cities and towns. Jerry H. faxed us a newspaper article that reports that about the many automatic cameras installed now at dangerous USA intersections. These are ones where for unknown reasons motorists are most apt to try to beat the light or just plain ignore it.

The article goes on to say that the number of such photogenic crossings will double each year. The cameras are tripped automatically when a vehicle violates the red light. Captured on the film are the vehicle and its license plate number. Shortly thereafter the registered owner receives a summons by mail. What if the owner was not driving, maybe not even in the vehicle? I do not know if the court will accept that as reason to dismiss or if the owner is held legally liable for the sins of the borrower. The popularity of the camera (with the police and law abiding tax payers) includes the ability of the police force to use its time on more serious matters.
Still, there is controversy over these automated cops. The AAA is afraid that they will be used more to increase police department revenues than for pure safety reasons. Much like the speed traps are popular money sources in some towns. Civil-rights activists claim that such surveillance is an infringement of personal privacy. And chronic violators hate them.

Violation of stop lights is involved in more than 260,000 crashes a year. That is a 24 % increase from 1992 to now. Or to be necessarily morbid, over 800 killings and some 121,000 injuries of various degree occur annually at traffic light controlled intersections. In one city 5 months after installation of the cameras there was a 57 % reduction of red light violations.

See www.stopredlightrunning.com the national campaign to stop red light running for the latest state-by-state information.
GHD209 all rights reserved

ON THE WEB

2008-05-26T21:49:00.000-04:00

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

ON THE WEB
GNEGY CHURCH, MD: A frequent correspondent, SueAnn M., has requested a listing of web (www.) sites where she might read much more information about automobile safety. Here are the ones with which I am most familiar:
www.stopredlightrunning.com the national campaign to stop red light running
www.crashtest.com tells about crash-test results and risk data from insurance companies on used and new vehicles.
www.aaafts.org is the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. It discusses teen driving, aggressiveness, crash avoidance, pedestrian safety, and more.
www.aarp.org message boards have a number of pages with useful information about travel, auto safety, and much more.
www.nhtsa.dot.gov is your taxes at work. It is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration site and is loaded with authoritative data.
www.hwysafety.org is a site for The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a non-profit research group owned by a number of insurance companies.
www.countonshell.com offers free pamphlets: ROAD TRIP SURVIVAL GUIDE
www.aarp.org/drive for more about the AARP DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM.
http://wrecklessdrive.blogspot.com more columns like this one.
If you need to look further than this your internet service provider has access to many search engines which will find more than you want to know. Also try these search engines google.com or dogpile.com or http://search.yahoo.com
GHD208 all rights reserved

RUNNING RED LIGHTS

2008-05-16T20:38:00.000-04:00

RUNNING RED LIGHTS
MENOMINEE, NE: Rudolph H., age 17, asks what age group of drivers is most notorious for running red traffic control lights. I suspect he knows already that the least offenders are age 56 and up. About 35% of them admit to doing it. And no surprise, the youngest drivers ,age 18 to 25, have 75% saying they have done or still do it. But in the brain mature 26 to 35 age group only 2% fewer (73%) own up to their scofflaw tactics. While it is no excuse for their recklessness it is likely that the younger, more agile drivers are safer in their law breaking than are the oldest ones.

I wonder how many of that oldest group go through the red light because they do not see it in time? Or go through it knowingly because they believe there is no opposing traffic when in truth their reaction time has slowed so much that they simply do not see the hazards? Or are driving too fast for their ability to react and stop in front of the red light? I do not mean to pin this label on all older drivers of a certain age. There are excellent drivers at all ages and some very poor ones at all ages. We do know though that as we age our hearing, seeing, mobility, and reaction time slowly become less acute. Thus it is their responsibility to the safety of others on the roadways to drive within their ability to be safe.

Safe driving classroom refresher courses designed by traffic experts especially for over age 50 drivers are available in every state. In 36 states and the District of Columbia the legislators are convinced that these classes save lives and property damage. They have passed laws requiring an additional insurance premium reduction for those older drivers who complete such a course. Such courses are available also on the Internet.
GHD207all rights reserved

SPEEDING IN WORK ZONES

2008-04-27T20:55:00.002-04:00

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

SPEEDING IN WORK ZONES
BRANCHBURG, NJ
While serving with the American Red Cross Disaster Services in the Hurricane Floyd flood zone I had 3 weeks to observe daily how NJ drivers behave in the continual heavy metro area traffic. Most are very courteous even when almost bumper-to-bumper at 75 mph in rush hour on I-287. Something I see rarely in many other states..

They were very good about signaling their intentions. And I found that when signaling my intentions they would make room for me to change lanes or merge. When coming from a side road or driveway many would stop in slow heavy traffic to let me go in front of them. I saw no road rage and little unacceptable aggressive driving. Despite the speed they acted safely and I saw no crashes during my daily 60 mile round trip. The “speed cops” seemed to be working the Interstate only on weekends when they could safely pursue and stop an errant motorist.

There were many construction work zones on Route 22, all marked for lower speeds and doubled fines. Again most drivers obeyed, by 5 mph or so. Because of heavy daytime traffic and the disruption caused by construction most of the highway repair work was done at night. By 4:00 am the work had ceased and the lanes were open again to traffic. Other states might do well to adopt this timing also.

Across the USA, each year, more than 700 people are killed in work zones, including about 100 highway repair workers. If the work were done during the night, as in NJ, there would be fewer motorists and workers exposed to the dangerous but necessary situations.
GHD206 all rights reserved

FLUORESCENT ROAD SIGNS

2008-04-12T18:37:00.001-04:00

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

FLUORESCENT ROAD SIGNS
HAZEL DELL, IL: “Have you seen the new fluorescent yellow/green road signs? They seem to be used only for warning of the possible presence of pedestrians or bicyclists” So asks Ella D. in a recent letter about road signage. Yes, Ella, I had seen them on a CD-Rom from The U. S. Department of Transportation. They looked impressive on my computer and should be very effective on the roadways .

One, of many, vision problems motorists have is seeing moving objects early enough when they are smaller than automobiles. Judging their distance and speed is a problem for many older drivers. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and small animals are in peril when on the roadways. While motorcyclists burn their headlamps in daylight to be more visible we do not see many pedestrians carrying lit flashlights during the day. Bicyclists could burn their handlebar lights but the batteries would run down all too soon. As for animals, well, we can see their eyeballs at night but they do not reflect enough during daylight.

A special sign warning of the potential presence of these smaller travelers is an excellent improvement in posting effective street and highway signs. These new signs are used in only a few locations right now and simply cannot be at all places where smaller mobile road users may be. Thus we need to continue our safe driving practice of keeping our full attention on our driving. Distractions such as cell phones, exciting radio programs, smoking while driving, out of control children, and back seat drivers do make it more difficult for the driver to be watchful for dangerous road situations of all types.
GHD205 all rights reserved

CHEATING ON THE SHOULDER

2008-04-05T19:27:00.000-04:00

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

CHEATING ON THE SHOULDER
DEPOSIT, NY: A professional long distance driver, Sally. A, wrote to say that there is highway construction going on across the nation. This causes traffic delays and sometimes miles-long lines. Delays are caused, too, by collisions, slow drivers, and inclement weather. Whatever the cause there are a few drivers who cannot suffer the delay and “cheat” by driving on the shoulder or emergency lane.

This is unlawful everywhere. Mainly because such impatient drivers may thereby block emergency vehicles from reaching quickly the scene of the traffic problem. Human lives are thus endangered even further. In Kansas I saw a line of such shoulder cheaters stopped just short of the next exit ramp by a police officer with a fat book of blank citations. Serves them right!

You have, no doubt, been upset by drivers refusing to move over until the last moment at places where lanes merge. Then they force their way into the front of the long line. Perhaps you have done this yourself at some time when you felt your convenience came first. Sally says that when she sees them coming in her rear view mirrors she moves her rig to cover parts of both lanes. Says she gets a lot of good CB radio vibes from the 4 wheelers whom she “protects” with this tactic. I wonder if that maneuver is lawful?

Tennessee has a new law which carries a hefty fine for not merging at the sign which directs all to merge. And that sign is now placed a greater distance from the protected zone to .make the process fairer and safer. It is the law in 29 other states, too.
GHD204 all rights reserved

BEATING THE TRAIN

2008-03-21T21:20:00.001-04:00

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

BEATING THE TRAIN
EPHRATA, PA: NancyK@???.com observes that a number of drivers stop their vehicles on the railroad crossing and too often one gets demolished by the on-coming train. She asks, “Why do they drive onto the tracks and stop?” Nancy, I do not know why. It seems stupid to do that but psychologists say that the things we do which appear dumb to others seem rational to us at the time we do them.

Perhaps these errant drivers thought they had enough room to squeeze in behind the vehicle ahead. Or their auto stalled (unlikely for newer cars). Or when they saw the train coming they panicked and simply froze at the controls. One might suppose that a very few did it on purpose. Or, or, or - we can continue to speculate but lets just say they made a mistake. Sometimes a deadly one.

Annually there are more than 600 persons killed at rail crossings in the USA. A fully loaded train at average speed requires 1.5 miles to come to a complete stop. Most rail crossings have signals and most of them work properly. It must be a conscious choice to move forward when crossing signals and train whistles are warning of the danger. Even if the train is stopped at the crossing do not believe it is safe to ignore the warnings. There may be another train approaching on a parallel track which you cannot see because the other train blocks your line of sight.

And, of course, at unguarded crossings STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN

But, as Nancy asks, what causes drivers to stop on the tracks? Why do some drivers weave around the lowered guard arms? What is your answer?
GHD203 all rights reserved

HIGHER SPEEDS DO NOT KILL MORE

2008-03-08T14:41:00.000-05:00

HIGHER SPEEDS DO NOT KILL MORE
ARMONK, NY: Longtime reader, Adele A., tells me that a column I wrote several years ago has been proven wrong. At that time I reported the fears of many traffic experts that raising the long standing Interstate speed limits to above 55 mph would cause many more crashes, and fatal ones at that. Adele refers me to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics which show that traffic deaths dropped to a new low in 1998. True, even in the 33 states which immediately raised their speed limits in 1995.

In 1998 there were 66,00 fewer highway injuries than in 1995. In fact, in 1997 the number of injuries per 100 million miles dropped to a new record low. The question has been raised, though, whether the drivers tend to be more alert to the potential danger while traveling faster, or do many continue to drive at the older lower speeds, or are our newer automobiles safer at any speed? Some data suggests that average highway speeds driven have remained below truly dangerous levels.

Older drivers may feel uncomfortable at the new maximum allowable speeds. There appear to be a larger number of white-haired drivers moving at slower speeds, often to the annoyance of other motorists. Should followers of this column come upon additional information on speed related subjects please tell us on this blog.
GHD202 all rights reserved

DRIVING ON ANTI-ANXIETY DRUGS

2008-02-29T20:02:00.000-05:00

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

DRIVING ON ANTI-ANXIETY DRUGS
OKARCHE, OK: Motorists on Valium and similar diazepams are more than 2 times as probable to cause traffic collisions than those not using these anti-anxiety medicines. Worldwide, it is estimated that thousands of lives are lost annually in crashes where drivers were using these drugs to control stress related problems and muscle spasms. For the first few days of their use they cause drowsiness. However studies show that crashes occur with their use even in later days when the initial drowsiness is gone.

Labels on these drugs warn of the driving dangers as do also the dispensing pharmacists. Yet many persons ignore the advice either because they believe they can overcome the effect or because they absolutely must be behind the wheel. Smart persons simply do not drive if using these medicines. They get someone else to drive or make other arrangements to accomplish their errand.

In a study of 19,386 traffic crashes over 3 years in Dundee, Scotland it was found that 1,731 drivers were using an anti-anxiety drug. Four of the crashes involved deaths. However, one medical researcher in Dundee suggested that the real crash cause may not have been the drugs but the physical condition for which the drugs were being used.

So, if you have anxiety problems or muscle spasms do not drive whether you use controlling drugs or not. Once again it is the same good advice as always- do not drive if for any reason your ability is impaired by some physical or mental condition or by the chemical substances you ingest. How dare you endanger innocent passengers, other motorists and pedestrians just to serve your needs? Selfish and probably criminal!
GHD201 all rights reserved

THE COURTEOUS DRIVER

2008-02-15T09:44:00.000-05:00

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

THE COURTEOUS DRIVER
CHOWCHILLA, CA: With all the sensationalism about aggression and rage, Donny B. offers these California style acts of courtesy to his fellow drivers all across the U.S.A. He hopes his rules will gain equal time in the media and eventually replace all the bad stuff we read and hear.
Be thoughtful about the needs of other drivers. As example, yield the right-of-way when clearly you should but do not be so extra gracious that you please one and irritate many behind you.
Use the left lane as intended. It is for passing. To stay there forces faster drivers to weave around you - a danger for them and for you. In some states it is unlawful to hang out there (even at the top posted speed?).
Use the 3 second rule for following in good weather. When the vehicle ahead just reaches a stationary vertical roadside object adjust your speed to reach there at least 3 seconds later. Both tailgating and driving too slowly are discourteous to those around you.
Drive around parking lots in the obvious lanes and perimeter roads. Cutting across empty parking spaces is a prime cause of fender benders and a sure way to annoy other drivers.
Yellow means STOP, not go faster. Donny says he is extra cautious on green lights when his brother Danny is driving nearby because Danny often is in the intersection when his light turns red. Have you ever wondered what type of drivers leave those skid marks we see at some traffic light intersections?
Stay off the emergency lanes except for, well, emergencies. They are not for driving around traffic jams nor for parking to change drivers nor to hike into the bushes. On high speed roadways misuse of the emergency lane can and does create fatal emergencies.
Thank you Donny. Please show this column to Bro Danny.
GHD200 all rights reserved

WANTS TO KEEP ON DRIVING

2008-02-08T20:31:00.000-05:00

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

WANTS TO KEEP ON DRIVING
CHICAGO, IL: Our reader, Arlene J., writes that she knows she ought to quit driving but that alternate transportation is not an option for her. So, she asks, what can she do to sharpen her driving skills and remain independent for more years.

Fortunately there are a number of actions you can take, Arlene. The first is to calculate the total annual cost for maintaining and driving your car locally. Would this same amount of money pay for taxi fares to get you to the same places? Ask at the Senior Center if reduced taxi fares are available to you. Does your community have a low cost bus system especially for those without vehicles? Or is there someone who could drive you in your auto - a grandchild or neighbor teen, for example? Have you considered a community living center which uses vans to transport seniors to the needed critical locations?

If you absolutely must continue to drive, Arlene, then you must do the following:
*Take a safe driving classroom course, repeat it every year.
*Avoid rush hour and freeway traffic. *Drive only in daylight and when not tired.
*Watch the weather news and stay home when it is more than you can handle.
*Plan your stops to avoid repeated left turns. *Be extra vigilant on mall parking lots
*Match your speed to the weather and traffic conditions - not too fast or too slow.
*Use the vehicle lights properly; head and tail lights always on, turn signals off after turn.
*On longer trips plan the route, driving time, check the weather, use a map, rest hourly.
*Alternate driving days with senior friends and neighbors.
*Do not hold lengthy conversations or get involved with a radio or tape program.
*Carry a cell phone only for emergencies, not for gabbing while driving.
*Do not return perceived aggression.
*When you can not or will not do the above stop driving before your driving stops you.
GHD199 all rights reserved

OLDER DRIVERS SHOULD QUIT?

2008-02-02T09:01:00.000-05:00

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

OLDER DRIVERS SHOULD QUIT?
CHASSAHOWITZKA, FL: From the retirement heart of West coast Florida comes a letter from Howie D, age 23. He complains that Route 19 is impossible to drive because of the thousands of creeping older white haired drivers, especially during the Winter season. Howie would like to give them reasons to quit driving. His first suggestion is retesting of all drivers age 60 and over.

What Howie fails to understand is that there are poor drivers and good drivers at all ages. Yes, many of the older ones drive too slowly and dangerously for those others who are in a hurry to arrive somewhere. But those in a hurry may drive dangerously fast and the youngest among them (those under age 26) have the least driving experience, the most collisions and lack full brain maturity. Also, Howie, most taxpayers refuse to authorize and support massive retesting because it costs a lot of money, even if it were fair to single out any one age group alone for such observation.

There is a time at which most drivers should give up their license and the keys. This is when that person has become a real danger to self, others in the vehicle, and to nearby pedestrians and motorists. We Americans are married to our cars, so much so that previously available public transportation has been cancelled for lack of use. Thus it is near impossible to exist without a motor vehicle. Self-limiting trips to the vital ones such as grocery, pharmacy, hardware medical, worship, and similar works for some half-way competent drivers. But most of us are unwilling to be restricted, especially when everybody but ourselves know that we are a deadly menace. Moving into costly residential or assisted living is .beyond the financial ability of most elders

Stopping driving is among the most traumatic issues we must face. Forcing the driver to quit can produce life-long bitterness, often splits apart families and may cause a change of heirs. This columnist wants to hear from those readers who been on either side of this.
GHD 198 all rights reserved

OLDER DRIVERS AT GREATER RISK

2008-01-27T15:38:00.000-05:00

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

OLDER DRIVERS AT GREATER RISK
WIKIEUP, AZ: “What is the risk of older drivers dying in a severe crash?” asks reader Sharon F. who resides near I-40 in AZ. Older drivers have crashes in much different circumstances than do the younger ones. Most often the over age 65 persons have collisions while making left turns. They fail to yield the right of way and do not always see stop signs and traffic signals. Also they misjudge the speed and distance of approaching vehicles. The younger group have theirs while driving on straight roads by speeding or following too closely.

Drivers age 80 to 84 have more than 4 times the death rate in crashes than those age 65 to 69 . The rate jumps to 6 times at age 85 and above and to 11 times compared to drivers under age 65. Most of these higher death rates are due to the greater physical and mental fragility of the highest age groups.

Why the greater driving risks? As we age our driving skills become more and more impaired. Hearing, vision, motor, cognitive and reaction time abilities decline. For some, mild dementia may be present but not readily apparent to observers. Ever faster and crowded traffic, small signs passing-by too quickly to read, and more complex auto instrument displays are some of the stress producers which the driver cannot control.

There is one corrective action available to all drivers age 50 and over - the age at which some of the declines may be evident to the driver and to others. This is an adult learning style safe driving class where in 2 four-hour participative sessions old skills are sharpened and new ones learned. It costs $10 and in 36 states and DC can earn an extra insurance discount for 3 to 5 years. Those who complete the course have significantly fewer fatal and injury crashes and fewer moving violation convictions.. Phone 1-888-AARPNOW to locate the nearest of the more tha.n 10,000 expert Instructors or for links to this same course on-line on your computer.
GHD197 all rights reserved

TOO MANY OLDER DRIVERS

2008-01-19T19:16:00.000-05:00

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

TOO MANY OLDER DRIVERS
CHOCORUA, NH: JoeyC@nhu.net, age 32, e-mailed the belief that there are too many older drivers clogging the highways. He says that it is not a problem back in the "boonies" where he lives but becomes so on the main roads all across the Country. More so in retirement communities. He wants to know what the authorities can do about it.
Yes, Joey, there are many drivers now over 65 and because most are retired you do see them all day long. But many fewer at night because they are mature enough and care enough about your safety to accept that they are less confident and competent driving in the dark. There are, also, a lot of younger drivers who do poorly behind the wheel. But most of that is over confidence rather than less than perfect hearing, vision, mobility, and reaction time.
Recent medical findings are that the human brain is not fully developed until age 26. Thus the youngest licensed drivers do not make the best safe driving decisions or are slower to make them. So, they may not be careless but just too immature to handle a killing machine with adult carefulness.
Drivers age 65 plus are generally safe and careful. They are about 14% of all licensed drivers and are involved in only 8% of crashes reported to authorities and in 11% of fatal collisions. Whereas younger drivers (age 16 to 24) are also about 14% of all licensed drivers but involved in 26% of reported crashes and in 26% of fatals.
65 plus age drivers have a lower collision rate per 1,000 drivers than any other age group. Further, they drive fewer miles per year than any other age group. Sadly, at about age 70 and older they have more crashes per miles driven than any other age group. And due to their frailty they are more severely injured and take longer to heal, if ever.
GHD196 all rights reserved

INTERSTATE COURTESY

2008-01-11T22:21:00.001-05:00

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

INTERSTATE COURTESY
KADOKA, SD: Carla S. lives within sight of I-90 and reports that there seems to be an extraordinary amount of construction and repair here and on most Interstates around the U.S. She says that the resulting work zones are especially dangerous to the repair crews and to motorists. Carla points out, too, that in many states penalties for speeding are doubled and even tripled in these zones, mostly to protect the workers.

As a result of the slow speeds and frequent stops caused by the construction there are many collisions in these slow areas. Most are caused by inattentive drivers who crash into the rear of the vehicle ahead. The damage is very severe and sometimes deadly when the careless offender is driving a heavy commercial vehicle. When in such a zone be sure to leave plenty of empty space in front of you for unexpected stops. For protecting your rear about all you can do is to give plenty of brake light warnings and, if helpful, use the emergency flashers. Glance often in the rearview mirror to spot approaching fast movers.

In 2004 Tennessee made it mandatory for all vehicles to form a single line at the sign telling them to do so. This sign is well in advance of the actual repair zone. A major reason for this new law is to prevent aggressive drivers from staying in the about-to-be-closed lane until the last few feet. They then recklessly force their way into the single lane ahead of the careful ones who merged earlier with much greater safety and courtesy.
Recently twenty-nine other states have passed similar laws to control these unsafe line-jumpers.

Our Interstate system is more than 50 years old. Much of it is too narrow (especially bridges), pavement is broken, and the hills and curves are too severe by present standards. Recent reports state that I-81 running for the Canadian border into East Tennessee is obsolete. In most areas it is only 2 lanes each way. Experts say that with the massive increase in semi-trailers and autos that it should be 5 lanes each way. In one stretch in Virginia some 20 persons had been killed during the summer of 1999. Please be careful not just in repair zones but on any high speed roadway.

Is it time for the railroads to come back into favor? A private group is promoting a railroad parallel to the obsolete I-81 in Virginia. The State is considering 2 “trucks only” lanes paid for by per mile used charges.
GHD195 all rights reserved

KIDS GET KILLED

2008-01-06T15:55:00.000-05:00

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

KIDS GET KILLED
BLACK DIAMOND, WA: Our reader and mother of school age children, Effie Z., tells us that many more children are killed as pedestrians by careless auto drivers than are killed in school shootings. So, she asks, why so little media uproar over the fact that more kids are killed by being hit by a car than the total killed by E.coli in bad food, accidental shootings, and auto air bags? Because of a few school and work shootings some persons are demanding all guns be removed from American society.

This raises the idea that if banning guns will save people’s lives then would it be all the more effective to ban motor vehicles? As many persons are killed annually in U.S. crashes as the number of heroes killed in the Vietnam mess. Common sense, however, leads one to understand that our world is full of products which can kill if misused by us humans. More intelligent would be greater efforts to teach us how to use these wonderful inventions with safety to ourselves and to others.

That is what this column is all about - making motoring safer by .learning the best ways to drive a potentially dangerous vehicle. We advocate, too, that those persons who cannot or will not drive safely be banned from driving. Makes more sense, does it not, than banning all vehicles because of a few violators? Same goes for bureaucrats forcing us to drive small lightweight cars because they do less damage to other vehicles in crashes. This overlooks the greater harm done to these small autos and occupants when hit by large commercial vehicles. Of course, the oil shortage situation modifies the anti small vehicle stance.

We started out this column discussing children hit by autos. Many, if not most, occur on residential streets where kids are likely to playfully run and fail to pay attention to nearby cars. Should we ban autos from these streets or should we do more to teach safety to both the children, their parents and the drivers?
GHD194 all rights reserved

MAAD (CONTINUED)

2007-12-27T16:31:00.000-05:00

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

MAAD (CONTINUED)
KINGSPORT, TN: Last week we discussed some of columnist-attorney Shelburne Ferguson’s suggestions for avoiding being caught up in a road rage mess. Aggressive drivers seek some time or position advantage over others but do not intend to do harm - though they do sometimes cause severe crashes.

Those with road rage intend to “get even” for some perceived slight, frequently by imposing physical harm - though they may be injured also. Police authorities claim, however, that road rage is only about 1% of the incidents. Also, some traffic experts say that aggression is a growing problem only in our minds, that in reality it hardly exists. That we have been sensitized to it by excessive talk and see it now in every minor move made by a nearby motorist. Could that be? Is this column guilty, too?

Here are some more of Ferguson’s thoughts (paraphrased) on keeping our cool:
If stopped, leave sufficient space between autos to pull off-line and head for safety.
Have your auto serviced and in good condition before making the trip.
Keep the vehicle’s windows clean to reduce your stress over poor vision.
Give yourself enough time to allow for delays. Know alternate routes.
Plan for frequent leg stretching breaks, especially on long trips.
Do not stress yourself by using the cell phone while driving
Do not throw obscene gestures at other motorists.
Tailgating can be interpreted as aggression. Avoid giving that impression.
Know that a few seconds saved in an aggressive maneuver may lead to grief.
Forgive the driver whose single action offends you. Perhaps it was not intentional.
Remember, you can only control yourself. Trying to control others may escalate from aggressive driving to deadly road rage.

All of the above is just common sense and courtesy. One Florida traffic expert coined the acronym FIDO. “Forget it, drive on”. Excellent and safe advice.
GHD193 all rights reserved /

MAAD (part one)

2007-12-15T10:33:00.000-05:00

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

MAAD (part one)
KINGSPORT, TN: Attorney and columnist Shelburne Ferguson has cloned a new auto safety organization which he has named “ Motorists Against Aggressive Drivers”. While MAAD is a lets pretend group he does offer many very practical suggestions for avoiding becoming a road rage statistic. Notice that we have switched from “aggressive driving” to “road rage”. Strictly speaking the two are quite different. Yet they blend together in such a way that the line between them is fuzzy.

Aggressive driving is the act of taking advantage of each opportunity (or making the opportunity) to get ahead of what we believe are drivers that impede our desire to move faster or in a certain direction. In doing so the aggressive driver endangers other persons on the highway but has no intention of causing them harm. Yet crashes do happen when aggression gets out of bounds or the other driver becomes aggressive also to protect his/her own roadway advantage.

Road rage is an escalation of the aggression where one or more of the drivers becomes angry enough to attempt to do damage to the supposed offending vehicle and or its driver. It can start with a simple obscene gesture and move rapidly beyond a game of bumper cars to an actual shoot-out. It is then murder and not just an accidental death.

Here are a few of the ideas Ferguson provides for avoiding the deadly end game:
Stifle that natural reaction to be macho.
Avoid eye contact as it suggests confrontation.
Drive with the doors and windows locked.
If aggressed, head for a safe location where other people are present.
Use the cell telephone to call for help.
Use the horn and flashing lights to discourage someone from entering your auto.
Do not brandish a knife, gun, club or other weapon. .It may be taken away and used on you.
(Continued next time)
GHD192 all rights reserved

THIS CAFE KILLS

2007-12-08T20:22:00.000-05:00

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

THIS CAFE KILLS
WASHINGTON, DC: Our Federal Government is a killer! In the past 30 years more than 50,000 persons have died in vehicle crashes who would have survived had they been in larger, heavier autos. The reason they were in lighter cars is that almost 30 years ago Congress passed a fuel saving law, Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE), which forces auto manufacturers to produce more of the fuel saving small cars and trucks.

The U.S. House of Representatives had voted to continue the law “as is” rather than allow the unelected bureaucrats to tighten the rules even more. Tighter CAFE rules would mean many more small vehicles and more highway deaths. That’s what this anti-SUV publicity by the do-gooders is all about. They tell us they want to save lives but the Federal Government’s own records of these past 30 years foretell what even more small cars and trucks would cause. More persons die each year because of the US. Government CAFE rules than die under the higher Interstate speed rules allowed some years ago..

Originally the CAFE rules were intended to reduce petroleum use at a time when the oil rich nations were putting us through a price squeeze. OPEC is again squeezing us now and the activists and politicians are demanding an even stronger CAFE to conserve oil and to reduce air pollution. .

Perhaps the entire CAFÉ law needs looking at rather than just some well intentioned but potentially disastrous tinkering with it.
GHD191 all rights reserved

DRIVE-IT-YOURSELF VEHICLES ARE SAFE

2007-11-23T19:59:00.000-05:00

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

DRIVE-IT-YOURSELF VEHICLES ARE SAFE
PHOENIX, AZ: Honey S. writes that she gets very nervous when driving near the many do-it-yourself moving trucks and trailers that can be found on all the major roads. My friend, Pat Crahan, a Director of U-Haul International, told me why U-Haul customers drive safely and why Honey need not be more wary of them than of other highway vehicles.

A National Safety Council National Fleet Safety Contest annually compares the safety record of professionals such as bus and truck drivers, mail carriers, and police officers. Recently the professional drivers averaged 10.97 crashes for each million miles driven .U-Haul records show that their average citizen customers won “by a mile” with a mere 2.79 crashes per million miles. In fact in 10 of 11 years the renter customers had by far a safer highway record than the professionals.

But why are these drivers so safe with vehicles which they do not ordinarily operate? Pat Crahan gave me these many reasons:
· They realize they are not professionals and make an effort to be more conservative on the road.
· Many are in the midst of a major change in their lives (moving to a new home location) and they focus on arriving safely.
· Their life’s belongings are in the vehicle (as may be their loved ones) and they want to keep them safe and sound.
· They realize that being under the influence of drugs and alcohol endangers their prized possessions and loved ones as well as self.
· Unlike professional drivers, Joe Citizen usually allows more time to complete the trip and drives at a leisurely, attentive speed.
· The rental vehicles are built especially to haul household goods and are designed for safe use by occasional drivers.
· U-Haul, especially, uses highly visible colors and graphics which make other drivers more aware of these utility vehicles.
So Honey, not to worry anymore. You are a lot safer than you thought you were.
GHD190 all rights reserved

JUDGE JAILS DUI

2007-11-16T20:29:00.000-05:00

JUDGE JAILS DUI
MEMPHIS, TN: A drunken driver on his way to a weekend in jail for having just been convicted of DUI struck and killed a pregnant woman and her daughter. This happened in 1997 but it was not until May 1999 that he was sentenced to 49 years for the double killing. His blood alcohol was many times the legal limit and his license had already been revoked. He had two prior drunken driving convictions.

This DUI driver apparently has no idea of the terrible thing he did. At his sentencing he said that he is a good driver; very cautious and pays attention to everything around him. The judge said that this drunk had utter contempt for society, showed no remorse, was every parent’s nightmare, and would start drinking and driving again when he had served his time.

Did the Judge mean he would repeat after 49 years of prison time? No, he meant in 15 years because the unfair (to society) Tennessee law called for release after 30% of the sentenced has been completed. The victims father and grandfather blamed the Tennessee legal system for failing to deal effectively with this drunk many years earlier.

And therein lies our National problem; a too lenient system that waits until the drunks severely hurt innocent persons before they are put away for more than a weekend. It won’t change until you and I demand better protection by our Legislators and Judges. With this column I am protesting this - what will you do to help get better justice?GHD189 all rights reserved

MADD PROTECTS US ALL

2007-11-09T22:08:00.000-05:00

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

MADD PROTECTS US ALL
MATADOR, TX: Shirley S. was driving along US 70 on her way home from an evening defensive driving class. Out of nowhere came a high speed sports car over-stuffed with young men, beer cans in hand. Shirley’s safest escape was the ditch - a decision she made almost automatically. It saved her life and limbs and those of the youngsters in the offending vehicle who failed to stop to help her.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) says that about 18,000 people are killed each year by drunk drivers - 43% of all fatal crashes. On an average weekend night, one out of every ten drivers is drunk. Driving while alcohol-impaired is the leading cause of death for 16 to 24 year olds. Of the 60,000 annual water boating “accidents” nearly one-half will be alcohol related.

The mission of MADD is to stop drunk driving and to support victims of this violent crime. Its goals are victim assistance for the injured and families and friends who have suffered the loss of a loved one, and stricter enforcement of existing drunk driving laws. Also more effective legislation; public awareness programs; and youth education that teaches refusal skills and alternatives to alcohol and drug use.

MADD says you can make a difference by using a designated driver, and making a personal promise to never drink and drive, And not letting friends or relatives go DUI, reporting drunk drivers to the police. Also never serving alcohol to anyone under age 21 or to anyone who already has had too much. Further, speaking out in your community for MADD principles, warning young people about the life-long dangers, helping MADD and by joining them.

The summer of 2007 was made safer in many communities by “traffic stops” police activities to remove violators from the driver’s seat with arrest citations.
GHD188 all rights reserved

HIGHWAY PATROL SUPPORTS RENEWED SKILLS

2007-10-27T13:16:00.000-04:00

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

HIGHWAY PATROL SUPPORTS RENEWED SKILLS
RALIEGH, NC: The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has a driver refresher partnership with the AARP DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM. This is an important recognition because the NC State Legislature may again consider offering an additional auto insurance premium reduction for older drivers who complete an approved defensive driving class . Legislatures in most all the other Southeastern states have passed such a mandate. In fact, across the Nation 36 states and the District of Columbia recognize the additional safety provided by such classes. There is such a class near your home base (1-888-227-7669).

The newly certified officers from the Traffic Safety Information section of the patrol will be joining the more than 100 trained volunteer instructors already facilitating classes in NC. Patrol Sgt. Jeff Winstead said, “We didn’t need to go out and reinvent the program. This is the absolute best one we could find”

“The goal of this classroom refresher is to help older drivers update their knowledge and driving skills, prevent traffic crashes and violations, and maintain mobility and independence" said Richard Moore, Secretary of the NC Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. The comprehensive curriculum is designed for motorists over age 50 and includes vision and hearing changes, effects of medication, reaction time changes, State law, and methods to develop and refine defensive driving techniques.

In other states and communities police officers and sheriff deputies have joined the local AARP volunteers as certified Instructors. North Carolina is the first state in which the entire Highway Patrol endorses the AARP DRIVER SAFETY program.
GHD187 all rights reserved

NO LICENSE RESTRICTION

2007-10-20T10:29:00.000-04:00

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

NO LICENSE RESTRICTION
FAIRFAX, VA: More and more the impatient younger generation of drivers is promoting license restrictions for older drivers based on age or performance. I believe much of this comes from our crowded roadways and also the more hectic pace of life for those hustling to make a decent living. In this column we have pointed out repeatedly that age alone is not a valid measure of driving ability. There are poor drivers of all ages. Yes, all drivers should be retested periodically. And those of any age who have poor histories or obvious deficiencies should be retested.

Harry K. sent us a report from George Mason University, Study of Mature Driver Licensing, which says: “Mature drivers may require more time to perform certain tasks and to process new information. Clustered signs at intersections and poor or inadequate road markings may decrease braking and sight decision times. The increased speeds have decreased the amount of time mature drivers have to process information and to make decisions. Poorly marked roads and faded lane stripes intensify the problem of decreased night vision.”

Ultimately, many of the problems associated with mature drivers could be resolved “without license restriction or revocation” claims this report. Sounds like the GMU researchers are in favor of defensive driving programs for mature motorists. These classroom, and now on-line, courses are available in all 52 states, DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Phone toll free 1-888-227-7669 for your local locations and times. In some cities the course is available for deaf persons and also in Spanish.

An even greater problem is continued training for the youngest drivers. The human brain is not fully developed until about age 26. This means that younger drivers have varying degrees of immaturity and lesser decision making ability. Yet, the only driving training most of them have experienced is in high-school driver-ed and from their parents (who usually are in need of retreading also)
GHD186 all rights reserved

ROAD RAGE OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING?

2007-10-12T16:34:00.000-04:00

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

ROAD RAGE OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING?
BALD KNOB,AR: Jeffery L. tells us that there is great confusion over what is road rage and what is only driver aggression. He says rage appears when somebody else does not do what we want them to do. We then take revenge by using our vehicle as a lethal weapon or actually use a gun or knife ,etc.

According to Jeffery, aggressive driving occurs when the vehicle is operated in a way that endangers other persons or property. So, we are merely aggressive when we seek advantage by speeding, weaving in and out of lanes, blowing horns, flashing lights, using gestures or otherwise trying to intimidate others to get out of our way. All too often this selfish aggressiveness leads to road rage on the part of those we seek to push out of our path. Or, their return aggressiveness enrages us all the more.

Rather than spend our time trying to understand the difference between rage and aggression we should focus on avoiding both situations. Let’s start with the truism that we cannot control the other traffic. Our only control is over our reaction to the situation. Since the rage/aggression reaction will not cure the traffic problem we may as well relax and continue our attention to being a WRECK-LESS driver.

Some of the reasons for irritating traffic problems are: a 23% increase in population, 73% increase in number of drivers, 143% increase in household vehicles, 59% increase in women in the workplace (more autos and more driving). At the same time roadway surface area has increased only about 13% and roads are deteriorating faster than we can afford to repair or expand them.GHD185 all rights reserved

PERILS OF NIGHT

2007-10-07T20:41:00.000-04:00

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

PERILS OF NIGHT
GERMANY: Biological Cybernetics scientists report that the perceived motion of an object at night is really only about 75% of its actual speed. It was a complicated study involving the difference between color reception of retinal cone cells in bright light and the black and white rod receptors which take over in dim light. The research involved color blind persons who frequently have difficulty with moving objects. It is black and white rod reception which detects only 75% of the speed of a moving object.

Reading between the fancy words and translating from the German text, this is what we need to know: Under good night lighting conditions such as in congested areas there may be no problem (except for dark tinted windows?). In dim locations the roadway portion illuminated by the vehicle headlights is properly perceived by the cones. But, outside the headlight beams any objects are seen only by the less than perfect rods. Thereby we are likely to seriously underestimate the speed of vehicles, persons and animals in the distance or at the road sides. And this may cause us to increase our speed with disastrous results.

Have you noticed how much more difficult it is to hold a steady speed on dark roads? Older drivers with reduced vision and reaction time should be especially careful with night driving. Stay to well lit areas; drive more slowly than you really want to; do not drive in night rain; let a younger driver have the steering wheel; turn off distractions such as radio, cell phone, kids, and gabby passengers.
GHD184 all rights reserved

TRILLIONS OF MILES

2007-09-29T11:37:00.000-04:00

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

TRILLIONS OF MILES
EVERYWHERE USA: Can you imagine a number as large as 2.6 trillion miles? That is the distance we US drivers travel in total in just one year. To get this vast distance properly into our brain it helps to know that the planet Neptune is only 2.6 billion miles away. A rocket ship would take 12 years to get there. Multiply that by a thousand and we have the 2.6 trillion miles all of us together drive each year. And this is growing by about 2.7 percent every year.

No wonder we maim and kill so many of us with motor vehicles each year. The popular belief is that senior drivers have more crashes than do younger age groups. Not so. We oldsters have fewer collisions than the teenagers. But we drive fewer miles per year and do thereby have the most crashes per mile. Mature drivers rank lowest in speeding, following too close, and DUI. It is still the smart and safe for older drivers to get retrained to compensate for the inevitable decline in sight, hearing, mobility, and reaction time. Consider, also, that older persons are injured easier, more seriously, and heal more slowly – if ever.

A most inexpensive way to do this is by completing the AARP Driver Safety classroom program. It takes 8 hours and costs $10. In 36 states and DC the legislatures have wisely decreed that those who take such a course should receive a significant additional reduction in auto insurance rates. Call toll-free 1-888-AARPNOW to participate in a local class of adults and Instructor who share their driving experiences and wisdom. This proven course is available also on-line – go to www.aarp.org for info.
GHD183 all rights reserved

ANOTHER CELL PHONE DANGER

2007-09-21T11:51:00.000-04:00

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

ANOTHER CELL PHONE DANGER
MIDLOTHIAN, VA: Greta, age 63, was driving with due caution towards home on the Powhite Parkway when her cell phone rang. Knowing well the danger of talking on the phone while driving, especially in heavy traffic, Greta pulled to a stop on the roadway shoulder. As she sat there talking and listening, another vehicle rushing in the same direction wandered onto the shoulder with its right-side wheels. The errant driver rear-ended Greta’s auto and she suffered a severe whip lash.

So much for stopping to talk on the cell phone! This is a common advice and it is wrong - just as wrong as doing it while driving. Many severe crashes happen to vehicles stopped in the emergency breakdown lane. Often we see vehicles stopped there to change drivers or merely to rest a moment. Most of us do not realize how unsafe this is. With high speed traffic whizzing by just a foot or so from our vehicle it is easy to imagine an inattentive driver wandering a little to the right and into a major collision, especially an open driver’s side door.

It happens often enough that a number of states prohibit stopping there except for true emergency reasons. Many states now mandate that when emergency vehicles, with flashing lights, are stopped on the breakdown lane all passing vehicles must move left out of the right-side lane. If not possible to exit the right-side lane, passing vehicles must slow to 25 mph (varies by state) to protect the emergency personnel.

Looking for an exit or rest stop may cause a lost phone message but that is minor compared to lost lives. There are several other safety rules for using cell phones in a vehicle which we have reviewed before and probably should continue to harp on for the benefit of new readers. Rule #1 drivers should not use the cell phone while the vehicle is in motion. Some states are making this a citable offense.
GHD182 all rights

MORBID FACTS

2007-09-14T18:43:00.000-04:00

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

MORBID FACTS
WASHINGTON, DC: Our U.S. Secretary of Transportation provides these frightening statistics on vehicle related deaths, injuries and their costs in America:
Every 14 seconds, someone in the U.S. is injured in a traffic crash.
Every 12 minutes, someone in the U.S. is killed in a crash.
Traffic-related injuries are the leading cause of all injury deaths in the U.S.
Traffic-related injuries are the leading cause of death for persons age 6 to 27.
Traffic-related injuries and deaths cost $150.5 billion a year, includeing $17 billion for medical care.

Notice that the Secretary said “crash” rather than “accident”. That is because few if any of these vehicle and people collisions are truly an accident. The word accident implies that it was no one’s fault – it just sort of happened. We know better than that. In vehicle crashes (and pedestrian hits) one or more of the participants were careless or “under the influence”. It is that simple.

Look at the billions of dollars wasted yearly by these vehicle-related crashes. Who pays for this? We do! Auto and medical insurance rates are increased. Medicare deductions are raised. Hospitals charge the paying clients more to cover uncollected costs from those who cannot pay. Employers lose big on the injuries and deaths and pass it along in their product and service prices.

Every one of us is in some way responsible for this national disgrace. What are you going to do about it? Take a defensive driving course sponsored by your employer, a church, a senior center, or other groups? Insist on more “training” for teens and for the very elderly drivers in your family? The remedy is with each of us and not with more taxpayer dollars being thrown at it.
GHD181 all rights reserved

CRASH ON PARKING LOTS

2007-09-10T21:47:00.000-04:00

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

CRASH ON PARKING LOTS
KINGSPORT, TN: The top ten auto crash sites list in Kingsport, says the Police Department, shows parking lots as 37% of the total 2425 crashes reported.. Next highest, at 20%, was a major shopping/eatery highway. It has 3 lanes each way, a center lane (“suicide lane”) for turning when ever and which ever way, and no divider barrier. It looks more like a mall parking lot. Thirty years ago the street planners here could have looked at the larger cities and anticipated this growth and provided for access roads. It is too late now. We just accept the many crashes as bound to happen. Also, the Southern suburbs is growing another road just like it. But, back to our main subject -- parking lots.

Because older drivers frequently have declines in sight and head turning ability they need to be extra careful on parking lots. It is common for drivers to take short cuts across empty parking spaces or to back out into the lanes without much attention to other vehicles doing the same. A great recipe for a crash. While it may take a few seconds longer and burn a little more fuel it is much safer to stay in the provided lanes. Also careful drivers go around the perimeter of the lot rather than take a diagonal line to their destination.

If you have an elderly parent living in another city you may be surprised at the number of parking lot fender-benders s/he has not told you about. Also in danger from drivers with reduced acuities are young children not watched lovingly by a parent. They tend to play their way from car to store and back without being aware of the erratically moving vehicles. In fact, children are a parking lot problem also for careful drivers. Remember, 10 seconds saved may turn into a lifetime of “guilts”.
GHD180 all rights reserved

RECKLESS AND AGGRESSIVE

2007-08-27T21:06:00.000-04:00

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

RECKLESS AND AGGRESSIVE
MIDLOTHIAN, VA: Dr. George B., of Brandermill Woods, observes that reckless, aggressive and road rage driving are simply different varieties of careless driving. He says they are all bad and need to be curbed. Also he believes that true road rage is rare. It has been over-hyped in the media, while reckless and aggressive tactics are more frequent and among the most hazardous travel conditions These drivers make travel more dangerous for the very many careful, law abiding drivers.

In most states reckless driving is defined as any that is dangerous to limb, life, or property. Usually a speed such as 20 mph or more over the posted limit is judged as reckless. Such drivers dart and weave between lanes and are notorious tailgaters.

Those reckless drivers who are, in addition, hostile towards other drivers or traffic and road conditions are better defined as aggressive. Usually they speed, jump lanes, and tailgate plus honking of horns, flashing of lights, and making obscene gestures.

Drivers so overwrought that they use their vehicle as a weapon or, worse yet, use guns, knives, clubs, etc. are the true road ragers. Thankfully they are few but they can be created by other drivers who retaliate for previous aggression and recklessness.

How can you avoid being labeled as reckless? Allow plenty of time to reach your destination. Signal lane changes and look in the mirrors and blind spots before changing. Move with the traffic when in the left lane but do not tailgate. Remain calm when another driver’s actions offend you. Your vehicle is a lethal weapon, curb your anger. When “under the influence” let someone else do the driving. It is reckless, also, to not use the safety belts correctly. It is really rather easy to remain a WRECK-LESS driver.
GHD179 all rights reserved

SLEEP APNEA CAUSES CRASHES

2007-08-19T20:29:00.000-04:00

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

SLEEP APNEA CAUSES CRASHES
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA: Harlow Z. sleeps fitfully night-after-night, frequently waking up snoring and struggling for breath. Besides being out-of-sorts almost every day, his sleep deficit causes Harlow to dose at inconvenient moments, even when driving. He is a crash waiting to happen. In fact two physicians have published studies which claim that sleep apnea is the root cause of a large number of motor vehicle collisions.

Dr. Paul Suratt’s conclusion is that drivers who have nighttime sleep apnea are 6.3 times more likely to have crashes than drivers who get sufficient sleep. He states that more than 23 % of men and 10% of women in the US suffer from sleep apnea. Some 80 % are not even aware that they have the problem. That means that millions of drivers are at high risk, he writes.

Suratt and his co-author Dr. Larry Findley advise that all state legislatures should pass laws which address this problem. Also they want the Federal Government to issue regulations for control of truck drivers with apnea. Further they want fellow physicians to report sleep apnea suffers to their motor vehicle departments.

Sleep apnea can lead to fatal diseases in addition to highway problems. Resulting drowsiness may be the reasons for many injuries throughout our daily routines. It is correctable. Persons who awake frequently nightly should seek medical observation, more especially if they have daytime drowsiness. Many regional medical centers have sleep disorder centers where apnea and other sleep problems can be diagnosed and treated. Drs. Suratt and Findley staff such centers in Virginia and Colorado, respectively.

When driving, at the very first sign of being drowsy protect yourself and everyone else by immediately getting of the road until the spell is over. Better still, let a wide awake driver take over the responsibility for WRECK-LESS DRIVING.
GHD178 all rights reserved

SAFETY BELTS REVISITED

2007-08-10T21:05:00.000-04:00

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

SAFETY BELTS REVISITED
ANYWHERE, USA: In recent years we have, annually, killed more than 42,000 persons on our Nation’s highways and injured about 3 million more. These motor vehicle collisions cost our economy nearly 150 billion dollars each year. Drug and alcohol problems are involved with about 40% of these fatalities and injuries. I have written often about these scourges of roadway safety but the misuse of chemical substances is difficult to change. Another large contributor to these terrible statistics is the failure to use automobile safety belts.

These belts are in every passenger automobile, except some very old ones. Why so many drivers and riders do not use them is a mystery. Occupants are four times more likely to be significantly injured or killed if they are thrown out of the vehicle. They can be flung as much as 15 car lengths away. Yet this widely known information is not sufficient for some persons – something about freedom and too much government regulation.

Only about one half of one percent of the crashes which cause personal injury involve water submersion or fire. Years of experience with safety belts prove that users of safety belts are less injured and more able to escape from a burning or submersed vehicle than those not so belted.

Seventy-five percent of deathly crashes happen within 25 miles of the home location. The greatest number of collisions happen at speeds of less than 35 mph. Crashes at as low as 12 mph have killed persons not wearing the provided belts. Older occupants are more fragile and are seriously injured and killed at low speeds. Wear the safety devices whenever the vehicle is moving, even on parking lots. Head and chest injuries are minimized by the shoulder belt thus making contact with the dashboard, windshield and steering wheel less likely.

Air bags, and now also side airbags in addition to lap and shoulder safety belts, give the best available protection. It is poor judgment to not use the belts because there are air bags in the vehicle. Lap belts alone are of slight protection.

In some states the traffic police cannot stop a moving vehicle just for non-use of the belts. Because so many of us still insist on our right not to use these life and limb savers more state legislatures are permitting law enforcement to stop and cite people primarily for this infraction, including all passengers.
GHD177 all rights reserved

BE REACTIONARY

2007-08-04T16:24:00.000-04:00

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

BE REACTIONARY
ALICEVILLE, AL: An e-mail message from alicev@?. She reports that she was minding her own business on Alabama Route 2 on her way to Tuscaloosa when around a bend came racing 2 pickup trucks, one in each lane. Alice barely had time to seek out safe refuge in a driveway and get in there as the racers roared by. She asks for a check-list that would help her decide whether she needs to improve her reaction time skills.
This is what the Maryland Research Consortium on older drivers suggests:
· Do “you feel overwhelmed by all the signs, signals, markings, pedestrians, and other vehicles that you must pay attention to at intersections”?.
· Do “you take medications that make you drowsy”?
· Are “gaps in traffic harder to judge, making it more difficult to turn left at intersections, or to merge with traffic when turning right”?
· Do “you often get lost or become disoriented”?
· Are “you confident that you can handle the demands of high speeds or heavy traffic volumes”
· Are “you slower in recognizing cars coming out of driveways or side streets, or realizing that another car has slowed or stopped ahead of you”?
Here are some ideas that will help compensate for these slow reaction problems:
· Look in all directions before entering intersections.
· Have another person travel with you so that there are 4 eyes looking for hazards.
· Drive before or after the most busy traffic hours.
· Drive in daylight and avoid most night driving, especially in inclement weather.
· Look far ahead to find hazards well before you reach them.
· When possible use roads you travel frequently, even when it is a little farther.
· For unfamiliar areas use road maps or ask for direction before you leave home.GHD176 all rights reserved

HOW TO HANDLE SLIPPERY ROADS

2007-07-28T09:37:00.000-04:00

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

HOW TO HANDLE SLIPPERY ROADS
MEXICO, NY: One October morning Darwin G. was a little late and used his heavy foot to help him get to work on time. The roads were dry and he felt quite safe with the excessive speed. But on NY Route 104, West of I-81 he entered a wet spot which was partly black ice. Having just completed a safe driving refresher course he handled the skid perfectly and saved himself from big trouble and expense.

What Darwin had just renewed in the adult learning class was this advice for avoiding skids:
· Remove your foot gradually from the accelerator.
· Avoid rapid stopping or quick turning until the tires “feel” like they have regained their traction.
· Pump the brakes gently, or with anti-lock brakes step heavily on the brake pedal.
·
Once a skid starts it takes fast thinking to do the following safely in the few seconds available:
· Keep your foot off the brake pedal. Hard braking will lock the wheels and worsen the skid. If braking appears to be necessary use gentle pumping EXCEPT for anti-lock brakes which should be applied forcefully.
· Quickly turn the steering wheel in the direction the BACK of the vehicle is skidding to straighten to the desired safe direction.
· As soon as straightening begins, turn the steering wheel back to avoid a skid in the opposite direction.
· Continue the left and right steering until you can bring the car to a safe stop

Better to be careful and avoid getting into a skid as the recovery is more difficult than the above suggestions sound.

When I was age 16 (1942) in Rochester, NY we kids practiced skids in an old Model A Ford on frozen ponds in both Seneca and Highland parks. It was a not too smart winter sport as sometimes the car would hit an ice-air pocket and drop a few feet into the shallow water underneath. Years later as a parent I frowned upon this practice as did my parents before me!
GHD175 all rights reserved

HOW TO LOSE YOUR LICENSE

2007-07-21T09:21:00.000-04:00

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

HOW TO LOSE YOUR LICENSE
GLASGOW, KY: Our reader Aileen T advises all Kentucky drivers on how to protect their license from suspension or revocation. In KY (and other states) these reasons may cause the loss:
· Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances (DUI).
· Manslaughter resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle.
· Perjury or false affidavit to the Transportation Cabinet
· Felony involving use of a motor vehicle.
· Reckless driving -- three convictions within 12 months.
· Leaving the scene of an accident, failure to stop and disclose identity.
· Theft of a motor vehicle or any part thereof.
· Failure to maintain Liability Insurance.
· Failure to satisfy a Citation or Court Summons.
· Failure to enroll in or complete State Traffic School upon Court sentence.
· Failure to satisfy a judgment for damages resulting from motor vehicle operation.
· Failure to appear for interview for accumulating 6 points on moving violations.
· Racing a motor vehicle upon a public highway.
· Attempting to elude a Police Officer.
· Failure to pay child support
Similar rules exist in most other states. Drive carefully, obey all the laws and you will save your license and a lot of grief.
GHD174 all rights reserved

SEEING IS MOST IMPORTANT

2007-07-16T13:35:00.000-04:00

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

SEEING IS MOST IMPORTANT
GASSAWAY, WV: Writes Alfredo G. from his home in WV, “there is only one of the five senses whose loss completely disqualifies one from the privilege of driving. We can compensate for loss of the other senses but not for seeing.” Which is to say, most of the requirements for safely driving a vehicle depend upon being able to see properly. Judging distances, and hence speed, depends upon good depth perception. Being able to see clearly well ahead of our vehicle is necessary. Also, having good side vision is required to know what hazards are along both sides, beyond whatever may be showing in the mirrors.

As we age it becomes more difficult to see clearly at night, or in rain, sleet, snow, fog and dust storms. Headlight glare presents dangerous situations. Inability to see well in dim light is truly a safety problem.

Alfredo tells this story on himself: he is age 59, in good health except for cataract surgery/lens implant in the right eye and waiting for the left cataract to ripen for surgery. Recently he has had 3 fender benders on mall parking lots, and more street close calls at night than he wants to admit to his children. At night, when it has started to rain, he has to phone for his wife to come fetch him home.

So, Alfredo has voluntarily given up night driving, at least until the left eye is repaired. Also, he is more careful in all daylight driving and parking. Especially, he says, he is a great bit safer driving around the perimeter of a parking lot rather than zipping across the parking spaces as he did previously. Temporarily giving up all driving is not a viable option for him because there is no alternate transportation available in his area.

Changes in eye sight often occur so slowly that we are not aware of the decline, even when others complain about our poor driving. A professional vision check at least every two years could be a life saver, for you, a loved one, or an innocent stranger.
GHD173 all rights reserved http://wrecklessdrive.blogspot.com/

IT’S HARD TO STOP A TRAIN

2007-06-29T21:32:00.000-04:00

IT’S HARD TO STOP A TRAIN
SCHOENCHEN, KS: Almost daily somewhere in the US there is a serious auto/train collision In fact, due to the size of the locomotive and its speed there is rarely a crash with a thin-skin auto that has no serious outcome. Harris H. in Kansas wrote with these suggestions for drivers of all ages in any type of vehicle:
*Never, ever stop on the track crossing. If the vehicle stalls get out of it and off the tracks immediately. Flying debris can cause terrible injury. Do not run down track, in the direction the train is going.
*Do not attempt to beat the train to the crossing; train speed is difficult to judge.
*Believe the crossing warning light, gates or other warnings; stop, look, and listen (put down your cell phone, turn off that loud radio, stop singing and hush the kids).

Because we have experienced times when the crossing warning signals were telling us a train is coming but none was in sight or it was obviously stopped we have become distrusting. So hundreds of us each year are killed or injured by rushing to judgment that it is safe to cross because once again the signals are false or that we can outrun the train. There may be another train, unseen, coming on an adjacent track. Most of the time the heavy train is impossible to stop in time. Playing chicken with a train is a loosing game

Safety experts say that almost all train/vehicle crashes could be eliminated if the drivers would simply obey the obvious rules. But because a few drivers don’t, the rail companies are closing permanently some crossings where crashes are frequent. This forces us safe drivers to go many extra miles to get around the now blocked crossing.
GHD172 all rights reserved

GETTING DROWSY? TAKE A BREAK.

2007-06-22T19:38:00.000-04:00

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

GETTING DROWSY? TAKE A BREAK.
CISNE, IL.: geraldenek@isp.ed? sent us this message. She tells of driving her 6 wheeler home from St. Louis on US 60 and trying to stay awake with the window open and the CB radio blaring. Suddenly she was aware that the 3 right side wheels were running on gravel and that her next stop was going to be a roadside drainage ditch. Fortunately the only damage was to her future self-confidence.

About 100,000 auto crashes and 1,500 deaths occur each year because the driver failed to stop when drowsy. And many of these are more severe because the long distance driver has been shorting his/her sleep for several days running.

If a long trip is planned be sure to get maximum rest and sleep the day and night before. Loading up on refined carbohydrate meals and snacks (sugar, white flour) is a bad move because low blood sugar and drowsiness will appear in a few hours. Caffeine beverages are OK for awhile but after a few hours can lead also to low blood sugar levels. Safe drivers allow enough time for stretch/rest stops every 2 hours or so. We call it “walking the dog”. Changing drivers is even better. I buy only 10 gallons of fuel at a stop. This forces me to stop every 2 hours or so.

A 20 minute nap is the best way to recover from a sleepy feeling. Taking a nap at a roadside rest stop can itself be dangerous, especially for a woman traveling alone. It has gotten so bad in some locales that armed security personnel are there all 24 hours. We regularly see daytime sleepers in vehicles on fast food parking lots. Perhaps they feel safer in crowds. A $80 motel room, even for a few hours, is a lot cheaper than the aftermath of getting mugged, or worse.
GHD171 all rights reserved

CELLING WHILE DRIVING

2007-06-09T20:44:00.000-04:00

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

CELLING WHILE DRIVING
MOUNT HOPE, CT: Driving North on CT. Route 89, Dwight L. saw that his vehicle was the only one on the road. So he felt safe picking up his cell phone to call and announce his imminent arrival. Problem is, he arrived hours later. Trying to input his home phone number while driving he misjudged a curve that he rounded twice each day. But this time he squared the curve and ran his new Taurus into a tree for a total loss. Luckily Dwight was not totaled as he was using his safety belt in addition to the air bags.

Hitting a live tree is a quick way to die. Green trees are very flexible and most of the time will throw the vehicle backwards giving the occupants a double whammy. Dead trees and wooden utility poles are more likely to snap off at the ground and cause less damage to the vehicle and persons. Metal poles at best will bend and at worst may not give an inch .But do not try to prove or disprove any of this!

Using the cell phone while driving is a growing cause of auto and truck crashes. Inattention to reasonable driving is obviously foolish in heavy traffic. Yet we can see this unsafe practice almost anytime we look about our moving vehicle. Dwight discovered the hard way that an empty highway is a danger, too.

In Connecticut and many other states it is unlawful to use a cell phone while driving. No doubt many more state legislatures will follow suit.
GHD170 all rights reserved

BAGS AND BELTS

2007-06-02T13:24:00.000-04:00

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

BAGS AND BELTS
BETTENDORF, IA: Harlowe tells us that he was driving at 5 miles over the posted maximum on I-74 when he swerved to the right to miss a wandering dog. Then he lost control and hit a roadside sign on the far edge of the shoulder. This sturdy obstruction stopped his luxury auto abruptly, throwing his body forward with great force. Had Harlowe not been wearing the lap and shoulder belts to augment the steering wheel air bag he might not be alive today.

Many otherwise safety-conscious drivers and passengers believe that an air bag is sufficient protection in a frontal crash. Not so! The lap belt keeps the body from sliding downward under the dash where the legs and knees get mangled. A shoulder belt is designed to restrict quick forward movement of the upper body to protect it from head and chest collision with, among other hard objects, the very forceful air bag. To be sure, in a severe crash the belts and bag can cause some injuries themselves. But these are far more acceptable than the injuries inflicted without them. Harlowe is a believer, now.

Another reason to use both belts is that they do offer some protection in side crashes where the front air bag is ineffective. The latest auto models have side air bags but, as before, they must be augmented with the provided belts. Is it freedom loving or stubbornness or stupidity that leads some of us to think we are smarter than the auto safety experts who designed these protective restraints? If everyone would buckle-up I would not have to write so often in this column about this morbid subject.
GHD169 all rights reserved

JUST THE HARD FACTS

2007-05-26T20:55:00.000-04:00

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)

2007-05-20T20:55:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-05T11:44:00.000-04:00

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

ANGRY DRIVERS ARE CRASH PRONE

2007-04-27T21:08:00.000-04:00

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

ANGRY DRIVERS ARE CRASH PRONE
KINGSPORT, TN; Last evening I got all uptight about the political games being played with our Country's future. Stewed about it most of the night, dreamed "if I were in charge", and awoke angry. Do you believe this affected my driving skills this morning? It sure did! Our attitude and state of mind do affect our driving. When we are worried, angry, distracted, ill, or otherwise preoccupied we become crash prone. Safe driving and being upset are not compatible. Getting angry at other drivers fits here, too.

So, cool down or let someone else do the driving. A crash would really wreck your day. Older persons, especially, seem to fasten onto some bothersome subject at bedtime and can't let it go. Keeps them awake half the night. If so, we need to be extra careful behind the wheel the next morning. Just as with alcohol, give someone else the keys.

On average, every DAY there are 18,000 auto crashes (don't call them accidents). No doubt many are caused by emotionally upset drivers. After the crash they are even more upset!
GHD165 all rights reserved

BACKING THRU THE REAR WINDOW

2007-04-21T21:27:00.000-04:00

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

BACKING THRU THE REAR WINDOW
CLEMSON, SC: Tony K. was backing out of his driveway by holding the driver door open and sort of leaning out. He has been doing this for years and believed it the best way to get up the narrow, tree-lined drive to the street. Only thing is, he got too close to a small tree along his side of the drive and ripped the car door off its hinges. Tony no longer believes in the open door backup method. He was lucky, the tree could have caught his head, a small child could have run behind his car from the other side, who knows what else?

Also unsafe is relying entirely on the mirrors. Turn your head and look out the rear window while backing. Older persons may find it difficult to turn their head far enough and should compensate by turning the shoulder also. Backing onto or on a busy street offers even more hazard's, especially to those who have impaired acuities. When it is unavoidable, be extra aware of all that is happening around you. An additional minute is insignificant compared to the hours demanded to arrange for repair of a wreck or healing of a body.
GHD164 all rights reserved

36 STATES REWARD DRIVERS

2007-04-15T16:02:00.000-04:00

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

36 STATES REWARD DRIVERS
COLUMBIA, MD: Surprisingly, most of our Country's drivers do not know whether their state legislature has given them the benefit of an extra insurance premium reduction. This incentive would be given to those who complete a safe driving classroom program. It is the best bargain the legislature can offer. This takes no tax dollars to make the roadways and streets safer.
The insurance companies give up a little premium and gain a significant reduction in injury and death claims. One major auto insurer says that its 10% extra discount is fully justified by its claims experience. Those completing the program have significantly fewer injury and fatal crashes and fewer moving violation convictions. Employers save money too. They have lower medical insurance premiums and less lost time and retraining costs because fewer employees are injured.

Everybody wins in these 36 states (and DC): AK, AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, KS, KY, ID, IL, LA, MN, MS, MT, ND, NM, NV, NJ, NY, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WY. In the remaining 17 states and territories sponsors of such legislative incentives need your help in getting their bills passed. Meantime, be one of those who says, "Safety Does Sell" and take a few hours to become a better mature driver. The premier safe driving course, easily found in both live classroom or on Internet, can be reviewed at www.aarp.org/drive.
GHD 163all rights reserved

STUMPING ON THE INTERSTATE

2007-04-07T19:19:00.000-04:00

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

STUMPING ON THE INTERSTATE
LAREDO, TX: Howie X. was driving on I-35 after a quick trip across the Rio Grande to get some truly hot salsa. He saw what could have been his own crash about to happen. There was an ancient auto stopped in the right driving lane and several young men were outside the vehicle looking at a tire.

It is absolutely foolhardy to stop on a busy highway unless the vehicle simply will not move another inch. On Interstates, vehicles are not permitted to stop on the roadway except in dire emergency. If your auto breaks down, move it off the road to the service lane. Raise the hood or tie a white cloth on the door handle or antenna. Stay inside your locked auto until reliable help arrives.

A woman alone invites real danger by using the CB radio to call for help. Every kook within hearing could go looking for her. Does anyone except truck drivers use a CB anymore? A cell phone on a minimum cost contract is an inexpensive safety device for all drivers. I carry an old retired cell which, by law, is allowed free connection to only 911. Be aware, cell phones do not "connect" everywhere – esp. outside of civilization in the wide open West.

Finally, do not walk along the service lane to obtain help. Stay put! Each year more than 90,000 pedestrians are hit by autos. About 5,500 of them die from the injuries.
GHD162 all rights reserved

SLIPPING AND SLIDING

2007-03-30T21:05:00.000-04:00

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

SLIPPING AND SLIDING
TIFFIN, OH: The air temperature was exactly 32 degrees F. Irene approached a small bridge on State 18 near Heidelberg College. Ahead, June, age 72, in another auto had spun out of control, had hit the side rails and gone through them, partly. Another foot or so and the vehicle would have dropped into the deep, cold water. Fortunately the elderly June was not injured, but the car was a real wreck. This raises the question, "why was the bridge so slippery?"

At 32 degrees (zero C.) the somewhat warm tires of previous vehicles had partially melted the icy surface. This thin and slick layer of water was just enough to send June's auto spinning. On the roadway before the bridge the warm tires had melted the ice also, but down to the pavement. The wind blowing under the bridge kept the bridge surface colder than the road so some ice remained there (sometimes this cold air refreezes the water).

In freezing temperatures be careful of bridges, especially when the road itself appears to be safe. This is particularly true in southern areas where ice storms are more prevalent than dry snow. Older drivers should make allowance also for slower reaction and decision making time in a highway crisis such as this black ice incident.
GHD161 all rights reserved

KNOW YOUR COLORS

2007-03-24T11:57:00.000-04:00

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

KNOW YOUR COLORS
WASHINGTON, DC: Do you know that all across this nation the roadway sign colors have a uniform meaning?
RED: Stop, or Yield, or Do Not Enter, and The Wrong Way.
YELLOW: General, or Warnings (for your safety, not for enforcement)
ORANGE: Maintenance, or Construction.
BLACK: Regulations, or Route Markers.
BROWN: Public Recreation Areas, or Parks.
GREEN: Distance, or Direction, or Information.
WHITE: Regulations (enforceable)(
BLUE: Motorist Services.
YELLOW/GREEN FLUORESCENT: presence of pedestrians or bicyclists

There is one sign that is usually posted on the left side of the roadway. It is the white or yellow pennant shape "No Passing" sign.

Knowing what the colors signify tells us the type of information that is coming long before we can read the words. The states are beginning to recognize that older drivers may read and process more slowly. So the newer signs are larger and may be repeated several times. But the color code remains the same.
GHD160 all rights reserved

TAILGATERS BEWARE

2007-03-14T22:15:00.000-04:00

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

TAILGATERS BEWARE
THREE LYNX, OR: Driving in the rain on highway 224 Jay Clark was surprised at the number of drivers who were tailgating - driving too close to the vehicle ahead for the road condition. In fair weather on good roads older drivers should use the 3 second rule. When conditions change to less favorable the safe driver backs off to at least a 4 second space cushion. This is measured by selecting a stationary object along the roadside, when the vehicle ahead passes it start counting. Your vehicle should not pass that same object until after the 4 second count.

Sure enough, a few miles ahead Clark came upon a fender-bender. Some critter had run in front of the first car and the car behind could not stop soon enough. None of these older persons were hurt badly, perhaps a whiplash, and certainly a summons for following too close. Maybe a nasty lawsuit. All to save a few seconds which were lost in hours of the crash aftermath. Think about it - how much later will you arrive at your destination if you keep another 25 feet between your car and the car ahead?
GHD159 all rights reserved

FINDING A SAFE DRIVING CLASS

2007-03-10T21:59:00.000-05:00

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

FINDING A SAFE DRIVING CLASS
SALISBURY, MD: Following my keynote speech at the State TRIAD meeting some of the attendees (police chiefs, sheriffs, and AARP members) asked where they can find AARP Driver Safety Program classrooms in their communities. Others asked how they can sponsor these classes in their facilities.

In either case, one need only locate an Instructor in the home area for this information. Many communities have an AARP Chapter which sponsors classes or can point you towards the local Instructors. The Area Agency on Aging and Senior Centers usually know of these classes. Your local Chamber of Commerce may have a contact number. Other sponsors are hospitals, banks, churches, VFW, American Legion, auto dealers, police and sheriff's departments, optometrists, ophthalmologists, orthopedic surgeons, insurance agents, and hearing and vision centers. Any organization or business which serves older persons would be a willing sponsor. Classes can be found, too, by calling AARP at toll free 1-888.-aarp now (227- 7669) and at www.aarp.org/drive.

In smaller towns individuals can establish classes on their own. Just bring together 12 or more older drivers. A facilitating organization will send an Instructor to your eager-to-learn group. Across the USA more than 1% of the drivers over age 50 complete the course each year. There is a great need for more sponsors and Instructors to help the remaining 50 million Seniors maintain their driving skills. Over the next 15 years another 75 million persons will celebrate their 50th birthday. This column is written to help older drivers keep the streets safer for all of us.
GHD158 all rights reserved

DEFENSIVE DRIVING AT ITS BEST

2007-03-03T21:18:00.000-05:00

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

DEFENSIVE DRIVING AT ITS BEST
SAN BERNARDINO, CA: Samuel, driving in the left lane on a 4 lane road caught up with an auto in the right lane. The vehicle was a 15 year-old "lead sled", in perfect condition. It had a CB antenna on the roof, a compass on the dash, and the ancient driver was looking through the steering wheel to see out the windshield. Samuel's safe driving training told him to be wary of this oldster, to watch his hands and anticipate any abrupt move.

Instinct paid off again. Suddenly the ancient one's hands started pulling the steering wheel to the left and just as suddenly Samuel's foot was on the brake pedal. The uncommunicative driver decided at the last minute that he wanted to make a left turn. He did not look in his left-side mirror where Sam would be seen easily. Nor did he turn his head and shoulder to check his mirror's blind spot. All of which would have been a more noticeable sign of his intention, to say nothing of using the turn signals. Lucky for him, he got to make the turn without mishap.

Probably he still is not aware how close he came to disaster. Next time some other driver might not be as tuned in to his potential for unsafe maneuvers. He moved abruptly to the left turn lane and sat there with the wheels turned to the left Hopefully no one hit him from behind and pushed him into on-coming traffic. When stopped to make a left turn keep the wheels straight ahead until it is clear to move.
GHD157 all rights reserved

TO YIELD IS TO WIN

2007-02-24T11:53:00.000-05:00

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

TO YIELD IS TO WIN
McDONOUGH, GA: Lena was in a small hurry and drove across an intersection where her view was obstructed by a homeowners decorative corner bushes. Harry, coming on the cross street barely had time to skid to a stop a scant foot from Lena's front door. Both would have saved all that heart stress by slowing or stopping and then easing into the uncontrolled intersection.

Failure to yield the right-of-way is the second most frequent cause of crashes for Seniors. Remember though, that the claimant of the right-of-way has the duty to use due care for the safety of self and others. Older drivers who may have some loss of reaction time, hearing, vision, or head/neck mobility should be especially careful at cross streets where signs, vegetation or buildings block the line of sight.

Auto safety experts reported that in Y2006 over 17, 000 GA drivers age 50 and older became safer drivers by completion of a classroom defensive driving program. In addition they were eligible for an extra 10% insurance premium reduction provided by the GA Legislature with no use of scarce tax moneys.
GHD156 all rights reserved

SLOW DRIVING NOT ALWAYS SAFE

2007-02-16T20:43:00.000-05:00

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

SLOW DRIVING NOT ALWAYS SAFE
ALL OVER THE USA: Several months ago we discussed unsafe slow drivers at the top of a hill. Since then many readers have asked what is regarded as slow driving. Most states have regulations on this. In general, a vehicle moving at 10 mph less than the posted minimum is "slow moving". If a line of 5 or more vehicles forms behind, some states require that the slow vehicle must turn off or pull over to the side where it is safe to do so. Many roads, of course, do not have a posted minimum speed.

The problem with slow movers is that they encourage impatient others to pass them even when it is unsafe or unlawful to do so. Thereby the slow mover may be involved in a crash just because someone behind was in a hurry. We all know that some vehicles, large trucks or disabled cars, may move slowly. What really frustrates us are those "Sunday drivers" who could move in keeping with the traffic but will not. They lack the courtesy to move over as may be required by law in their state.
GHD155 all rights reserved

SIRENS, HORNS, FLASHING LIGHTS

2007-02-10T19:51:00.000-05:00

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

SIRENS, HORNS, FLASHING LIGHTS
HOT SPRINGS, AR: Ren and Ben were driving along in moderate traffic on the town square (really a triangle). Suddenly, over the noise of the AC fan, they heard the sirens and horns of an ambulance behind them. Its flashing lights helped them to follow its progress in the mirrors. Being in the right-hand lane they were able to pull over to the curb and let the Rescue Squad pass. Sadly, some vehicles, perhaps with radios on high volume, failed to move over.

The law says we must yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles. Sometimes, in heavy traffic with multiple lanes that is impractical. The next best action is to just stop and allow the emergency vehicle to maneuver through the tangle. Move when it is obvious that you should, when for instance, the emergency vehicle is trapped in the traffic. Always be alert for more such vehicles coming from the same or other directions. They are on a life-saving mission and all-too-often we impede them, putting them and ourselves in danger.
GHD1154 all rights reserved

LIMITED ACCESS ROADS ARE SAFER

2007-02-04T17:42:00.000-05:00

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

LIMITED ACCESS ROADS ARE SAFER
POSEYVILLE, IN: We drove mostly on the "back" roads on our way to speak at the Illinois Older Driver Summit. It was sponsored by the Illinois Department on Aging. State highways have many more interesting sights and reasons to stop and look. Interstates are designed to move traffic quickly from point to point. They are not meant to be scenic routes, though a few do pass through some breath taking gorgeous places such as I-26 and I-40 through the TN mountains.

Did you know that despite their higher speeds the limited access roads are safer per mile driven than the slower "back" roads? Frequently older drivers avoid the Interstates because the high speed of other vehicles makes them feel unsafe. And perhaps feeling that way they are less safe out there than on slower roads. But they need to be aware that the crash statistics show the opposite. Thus, older drivers need to learn how to cope with the traffic on all types of roads and to compensate for their declining physical capabilities. While behind-the-wheel driver retraining is costly and difficult to find, the many classroom refresher courses are economical and do produce safer senior drivers.
GHD153 all rights reserved

SLOW GO ON THE INTERSTATE

2007-01-30T17:08:00.000-05:00

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

SLOW GO ON THE INTERSTATE
SUNAPEE LAKE, NH: Joey complains about the many slower drivers in the high-speed lane on I-89. And there are drivers behind the slow ones blowing horns, flashing lights trying to move them to the right lane. But it doesn't work, so frustrated Joey makes the lane change and passes watchfully on the inside.

Just how slow are we allowed to go in the left lane? The minimum speed in the Interstate left lane is 55 mph day or night except as may be posted. Many states have posted a 40 mph minimum in the right lane. And some states had retained the old 55 mph maximum in all lanes rather than the more common 65 mph. But now the Feds have given full speed control to the states and the above may be obsolete in some places. Maximum speeds are 55, 65, 75 or unlimited depending upon where we are. They are being changed, still.

Will we see more crashes and more fatalities and thus higher medical and insurance rates? Or will the number of crashes remain about the same but the human and property damage seriously escalate? Stay tuned for the new statistics. Consider also the fuel savings at lower speeds.
GHD152 all rights reserved

DOGS CHASE FIRE TRUCKS

2007-01-21T15:28:00.000-05:00

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

DOGS CHASE FIRE TRUCKS
BARRE, VT: Horace, age 69, and Freda (age not given) were driving downtown to shop. Fire sirens sounded behind them from out of nowhere. It is amazing how these vehicles, despite their very loud signals, seem to appear suddenly near-by. Could it be, perhaps, that Horace and Freda were having a loud conversation? Was the CD player at high volume? Or was Horace not paying attention to his driving? Maybe his hearing is less than perfect (oh no, not that)?

Horace got out of the way and then continued on his planned route. Several other autos ahead of him pulled over too. But then they appeared to take off at higher speed to chase after the fire truck. He doubts that they were volunteer fire-persons. Chasing after fire trucks is a big NO, NO.

In many states it is unlawful to follow a fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm unless you are on official business related to the emergency. Nor shall you drive into or park within the block where the apparatus has stopped. Lastly, it is unlawful to drive over unprotected fire hoses unless directed to do so by an official.

Stay out of the way and let the experts handle the emergency. And why would we want to chase after and watch some other person's misfortune?
GHD151 all rights reserved

INTERSTATE SIGN SAVVY

2007-01-16T07:24:00.000-05:00

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

INTERSTATE SIGN SAVVY
EAST MILLNOCKET, ME: Len Brewster, in heavy traffic, was worried whether his I-95 exit might be on the left. On top of the large Interstate sign announcing an exit 1 mile ahead should be a smaller sign with the exit number. If this smaller sign is on the top left of the larger sign Len's exit ramp would be on the left and he should be in one of the two left lanes. An exit to the right should be indicated by the small sign being on the top right side.
Odds, evens; North or South? Odd numbered Interstates go South and North, evenly numbered ones go West and East. Confusing are those which run on the diagonal. Perhaps the bureaucrats flip a coin to number these. Mile markers start at the West or South end and the numbers increase from there on both sides of the Interstate. The numbers start over again when crossing a state line. In most states the exits are numbered to match the nearest mile marker but some still use the less informative consecutive exit number system.

What are those 3 number Interstates? If it starts with an odd number the spur should go somewhere other than in a semi-circle and it will not rejoin the main Interstate further on. But, if the first number is even, it should go in a semi-circle or loop and eventually return to the same Interstate. These loops and spurs are usually encountered near the larger cities and are meant to help avoid the major traffic congestion. Read your map before entering!

Many state routes are numbered in the same odd/even system used for Interstates.
GHD150 all rights reserved

RAMP ETIQUETTE

2007-01-11T13:18:00.000-05:00

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

RAMP ETIQUETTE
COLUMBIA, SC: On her way to an Elder Hostel program Marjorie drove many miles on I-26. She noticed several drivers hesitating at the end of entrance ramps before moving onto the highway. This caused vehicles behind them on the ramp to make unexpected stops. In fact, in one place 3 vehicles behind did not stop in time and there was an instant 4-banger.

The safe driver accelerates to the Interstate traffic speed and merges at the safest point. But, of course, be vigilant for the unsafe driver who speeds up to purposely close the open space you have chosen. Why are they so afraid of another vehicle getting ahead of them? Such highway speed games can be deadly!

In July 1994 the SC Legislature approved an extra insurance premium reduction for older motorists completing a safe driving classroom program. Since then there has been a large increase in persons taking such a course (from 500 then to over 4,000 now). In SC more than 850,000 drivers are eligible for this life-saving program.
GHD149 all rights reserved

NO PARKING SIX TIMES

2006-12-29T21:39:00.000-05:00

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

NO PARKING SIX TIMES
Brooklyn, NY: The Simms' drove into Manhattan and discovered that their auto was not welcome there. Larry Simms told us that's why the City charges big money to cross a bridge or drive through a tunnel to get there but charges nothing to leave the city. The NYC Mayor is considering an additional charge just to drive within the City. And the cost to park in a secure garage for an hour is outrageous.

But what really caught Larry Simms interest were the many regulatory parking signs along the street curbs. Can you name the 6 most frequent street places where parking is a big NO NO? Here they are:
In front of a driveway.
Within an intersection.
Within 15 feet of any fire hydrant.
Within 20 feet of any crosswalk.
Within 50 feet of any railroad crossing.
Wherever else officials decide to place signs prohibiting stopping or parking.

Here is a question for you. What is the difference between stopping and parking? Generally, stopping is when we stop the vehicle and remain stationary with the engine running. In some places even a one-second stop is unlawful for safety reasons. So that must mean that parking is stopping with the engine turned off. By the way, when parked at night in a heavily traveled place do turn on the parking lights. That is what they are there for.
GHD148 all rights reserved

CRASH PROOF PARKING

2006-12-23T20:05:00.000-05:00

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

CRASH PROOF PARKING
BLACK ROCK, CT: Kirsten was pulling carefully out of the parallel parking space in front of the antique store on Fairfield Ave. First turning her head to look out the side and rear windows and engaging the left turn signals. A driver a few spaces ahead only looked in the side mirror and roared out into the Avenue. There was a loud crunch as he hit an oncoming pickup, followed by louder accusatory voices. So, the question is, what is the safest way to leave a parking space?

In most places state law says something like: "The driver must look, signal, and yield the right-of-way". When parallel parked, be sure to turn your head (and shoulder, if necessary) to look into the blind spot. Relying only on the mirrors is unsafe. Black Rock resident, Kirsten, said she always checks the blind spot before moving, "it is the smart thing to do".

Older persons seem to have many fender benders on mall parking lots. Backing out without first looking, and driving across mall parking spaces and lanes rather than driving around the perimeter leads to numerous crashes. Persons, especially children, walking to their vehicles are another parking lot hazard, especially for older drivers who may have difficulty looking in so many directions in repeated succession.
GHD147 all rights reserved

BEST WEATHER FOR A CRASH

2006-12-15T10:04:00.000-05:00

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

BEST WEATHER FOR A CRASH
BIRDSEYE, IN: We were in our white auto in the big February snow, going North on highway 64. It reminded me that Grandpa always claimed that most crashes happen in snow. Research however proves that most crashes happen in good, clear weather. Doesn't make sense, does it? We see a lot of crashes on the TV every time it snows and sleets.

But there are many more wrecks in good weather which receive no notoriety. In the bad stuff we expect the worst to happen and sooner rather than later. So most of us drive with extreme care or stay at home and watch the crashes on TV. Remember to be even more alert in perfect weather, partly because some other drivers may be too relaxed. They believe that the sunny weather is their protector.

We changed directions, turned on the headlights and headed our white car South on Route 145 to I-64 and to the nearest motel. There we watched TV and waited for the roads to be plowed and salted. It cost us a few dollars more, but a lot less than a hospital bed. And we arrived safe and relaxed only one day later than planned.
GHD146 all rights reserved

PROOF YOU CAN IMPROVE DRIVING SKILLS

2006-12-08T15:47:00.000-05:00

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

PROOF YOU CAN IMPROVE DRIVING SKILLS
ARAPAHOE, NE: Eighty-eight year old Sherman Good demands proof that a defensive driving course will make him a safer vehicle operator. He has been driving for 73 years without a crash. Got his first license at the real estate office for 50 cents. Took no test back then.

I know only about the AARP 55 ALIVE program which is designed for anyone age 50 and over. In March 2005 this classroom driver refresher course celebrated its 10 millionth graduate. In year 2005 there were another over 653,000 course completions in more than 32,200 classes. That is more than 1% of all eligible licensed drivers in the USA.

Statistical studies of hundreds of thousands of graduates and non-graduates were run by State of California experts. After matching for many factors between the 2 groups it was found that those who had completed the course had significantly fewer fatal and injury crashes over the next several years. Studies such as these have helped legislatures in 36 states decide that their licensed drivers should receive an extra insurance premium reduction as an incentive to attend such a program.

By the way, those who complete the 2 half-day sessions have many fewer convictions for moving traffic violations. Proof enough that the 8 hours and $10 are well invested.

NEW: AARP Driver Safety Online Course www.aarp.org/drive/online. Take it at your own pace at home, in the office (on your own time, of course), at any WiFi hotspot. Divide the 8 hours over as many days as you need to make this vital info your safe driving habit.
GHD145 all rights reserved

A FRIEND NEVER LETS A FRIEND DRIVE DRUNK

2006-12-03T16:16:00.000-05:00

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

A FRIEND NEVER LETS A FRIEND DRIVE DRUNK
MALAYSIA: It is beyond understanding. US newspapers publish almost daily reports about a fatal crash in which the drunk walks away with minor injuries. Reports tell how this person has a string of DUI convictions, license suspensions and revocations. Yet there he (infrequently she) is causing still another tragedy for an innocent family. Most state statutes require a jail sentence but somehow many convicted drunks manage to evade this repeatedly. Tennessee has a law allowing confiscation of the vehicle for a 2nd DUI conviction. In Malaysia the drunk driver is jailed, and so is the driver's spouse, no excuses.

Even small amounts of alcohol affect our driving skills such as judgment, alertness, vision, coordination, concentration, and reaction time. No wonder drunks cause wrecks. A national poll shows that more than one-third of our adult population believes that drunken driving is our greatest highway problem. If you drink please let someone else do the driving. A friend never lets a friend drive drunk.
GHD144 all rights reserved

IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BELTED

2006-11-24T18:09:00.000-05:00

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

IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BELTED
SALT LAKE CITY, UT: Sorel was driving on 13th Street East, very aware of the large number of drivers and passengers without safety belts showing. It seems to be mostly the young and the old who are testing fate in this foolish way. Library research suggests that because a crash does not seem immediate and sure to occur, people believe it will not happen to them - ever. But how do we control that unseen, unsafe driver who may be just a few feet away and ready to crash into us?

National statistics indicate that safety belts will reduce chances of being killed in a crash by about 75%. Combining lap and shoulder belts ups the safety to about 85%. This is the single most effective protection an automobile offers. Be aware, once these belts have been in a crash they stretch and are ineffective for continued protection. Replace them immediately.

Adding 2 air bags for better frontal protection increases even more the chance to live. Newer autos provide side air bags to decrease injury from hits on the side of the auto. Small children and frail oldsters should sit only in the rear seats as some have been killed by the forceful expulsion of the front bags. If auto manufacturers reduce the bag release pressure some children's lives will be saved. But more adults will die from the lessened protection. Some choice to have to make!

Belts must be used together with air bags. With automatic shoulder belts the provided lap belt must be used, too. Even with all this protection it is still the best first option to drive carefully and to be wary of those nearby us who drive with abandon.
GHD143 all rights reserved

CRUISING ON CRUISE

2006-11-18T09:55:00.000-05:00

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

CRUISING ON CRUISE
ST. GEORGE, DE: The winter weather teaches some bitter driving lessons. For one, cruise control is not always a most wonderful convenience. Janice was driving South on US 301. It had snowed but the roadway was in good winter condition with hard packed snow offering some traction. There were few vehicles nearby, the road was fairly straight so she set the cruise at 40 mph and sailed right along.
And sail she did! The auto came to a wet, icy slick and started to turn sideways. Lucky for her the slick was short and followed by a dry spot which helped her regain control. The vehicle behind hers lost it, too, but failed to recover and turned over in the ditch. That was the end of cruise control for Janice for several days.

Be alert when on cruise in foul weather, especially if on a dry appearing road about to cross a bridge. The cold air blowing under a wet bridge can make the surface treacherous with black ice.
Turn off the cruise control in heavy rain as your vehicle may hydroplane. Once the wheels are in the air the cruise control will cause them to spin very fast with disastrous results when they regain road contact. Without cruise control the natural reaction is to take the foot off the accelerator which, of course, reduces the dangerous excess wheel spin.

To be sure, cruise control offers great benefit for older drivers. It minimizes leg fatigue, and makes driving possible for arthritics. Also it saves fuel. Use it properly and it serves you well.
GHD142 all rights reserved

BULLHEADED DRIVER

2006-11-11T12:45:00.000-05:00

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

BULLHEADED DRIVER
ENGLEWOOD, FL: Macho Ira is a typical older male driver. He is 70 years old, started driving in New Jersey at age 16, had a crash or two, a few citations. He says he does not need to attend a defensive driving class. Thinks it might help his wife, though.

Ira could get a lot of helpful life and property saving information there. Traffic regulations change yearly. Auto technology improves constantly. Highways change. He changes, too. His eyesight, hearing, reaction time, decision making, and mobility are in continual decline, which he denies.

Macho Ira is a crash waiting to happen. When it does his insurance premiums will go way up. That is, if he is still able to drive. Older persons are more fragile, receive more serious injuries and heal more slowly (if ever), even from minor wrecks.

Probably the only benefit that will bring Ira to safe driving class is the extra insurance premium reduction. By law his Florida insurance company must give him one. In FL, last year, more than 78,000 older drivers completed a classroom course designed especially for them by auto safety experts. Statistics show that they have significantly fewer fatal and injury crashes than those who have not had such renewal within the previous 3 years.
GHD141 all rights reserved

THE SAFEST AUTO COLORS

2006-11-07T12:18:00.000-05:00

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

THE SAFEST AUTO COLORS
MONROE, LA: While on US 165 the Healey children, Michael and William, made a game of counting how many different colors of cars they could see in a 1 mile stretch of road. Some were really wild; purple, chartreuse, neon, you name it and they saw it. Someone ought to make a study of what type person drives which color auto. Do the speed police have a list of colors whose drivers are most likely to exceed the lawful limit?

All this raises the question of which colors are the most visible to other drivers. Except for some snow or fog conditions white is the most easily seen. Ivory, yellow and light blue are good choices, too. Dark blue and black are the most difficult to see, especially on dark cloudy days. Most auto buyers pay little attention to safety visibility and purchase a color that grabs their current fancy. Mine is red!

Regardless of color, added protection from crashes is had by turning on the headlights whenever the vehicle is in motion. Newer cars have automatic lights which are on when the engine is running. Some, though, burn only the headlights and not any rear lamps. Check yours to be safe! Lights should be on, also, whenever the windshield wipers are operating. For dramatically improved safety use the safety belts too. The law says you must use belts and the bags are a life-saving bonus.

HOW TO LIVE LONGER

2006-10-28T21:42:00.000-04:00

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

HOW TO LIVE LONGER
CHICKALOON, AK: Maralee Sales lost control of her van on an ice patch, flipped the vehicle and woke up in the emergency room lucky to be alive. She was not using the van's safety belts.

Sadly, only about 70% of all passengers and drivers use safety belts or child seats. This, despite laws mandating their use. In localities where the law is enforced the use increases dramatically. If we could increase the national use to 75% it would save 11,500 more lives a year. Also, at 75% we would reduce or prevent up to 600,000 injuries. In autos equipped with automatic safety belts there is an almost 50% reduction of crash fatalities compared to those without. Each year about 50% of vehicle occupants killed would have lived if they had been belted.

Newspapers and police are cooperating in an effort to increase belt use by publishing whether crash victims were using the protection available to them. Is it correct to describe an injured driver who causes the wreck as an accident "victim"? Is an injured unbelted occupant truly a victim? Seems to me a “victim” should be innocent of contributing to her/his injury. And, there are no accidents, just crashes! "Accident" implies it was no one's fault.

There are at least 6 myths about safety belts which are believed only by those who refuse to use them. These myths are debunked in safe driving classes for older persons.
GHD27 all rights reserved

MISSING YOUR EXIT

2006-10-14T20:14:00.000-04:00

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

MISSING YOUR EXIT
FORT DEPOSIT, AL: Bunk was exiting I-65 towards home when he saw this perfect example of an impatient dangerous driver. This one had over-shot the exit ramp and was backing about 500 feet to return to it. Several vehicles in the right lane had to make a fast switch to the left lane which was already heavy with cars and trucks. Lucky for the oldster, he missed being creamed.

If you miss an exit, which we all have done, do not back up. Not even on the service lane. It may take a few more minutes to reach the next exit and come back but that may be a cheap investment. The time lost, and pain, and expense, and lasting mental trauma of a crash with fast moving innocent drivers is a poor trade-off.

In 2002 the Alabama legislature mandated an extra insurance premium reduction for its 670,000 older drivers when they complete a classroom safe driving program. It takes no tax moneys to implement this life-saver. Just one crash claim for one million dollars avoided by an older driver with renewed skills will be a financial boon to the insurance companies and could lead to even lower rates for everyone.

If your state legislators have not mandated such a premium reduction send them this column with your request that they do so.
GHD138 all rights reserved

LIGHTS ON WHILE MOVING

2006-10-06T16:11:00.000-04:00

WRECK-LESS DRIVING FOR SENIORS
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

LIGHTS ON WHILE MOVING
NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE: Heading for the Tappan Zee Bridge, Mike was aware of the many vehicles with the headlights turned on in good daylight weather. He always burns the beams to let others know that he is there and is pleased to see many more doing the same.

It is the best reminder that other vehicles are about. Especially at today's higher speeds we tend to not be as aware of the position of other vehicles. This works very well for motorcycles which because of their small size are more often overlooked. More frequently now, buses and trucks run with lights on during the day. If that is that good for the large and small why not also for medium size vehicles? Newer Autos have lights which turn on when the engine is started. But check your tail lights, on some newer cars only the headlights are automatic. An innovative auto after-market manufacturer could turn a neat profit by designing such an add-on system for older vehicles.

Forty years ago I rewired my Buick Riviera so that front lights would go on with the ignition switch. Back then it was so rare that in daylight people on the street and oncoming vehicles would do me the favor of signaling that my lights were on "unnecessarily". Back then the batteries were not as powerful and it was necessary to conserve the "juice".
GHD137 all rights reserved

MANSLAUGHTER, HOMICIDE or MURDER?

2006-10-02T19:55:00.000-04:00

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

MANSLAUGHTER, HOMICIDE or MURDER?
WAHIAWA, HI: "Drunk driver runs from police apprehension. Crashes into stopped auto and kills 3. Drunk not hurt".

Driving during or after drinking alcohol is a widespread problem. The consumption of alcohol by drivers is a major factor in vehicle crashes. Special studies show that crash involvement of alcohol is as high as 50% of the incidents. More than 17,000 persons are killed each year due to drunks behind the wheel.

A drunk driver murders someone every 20 minutes in the USA. For some such offenders, at least, the consequences are life shattering for them also. Conviction for manslaughter or homicide can mean severe penalties. In El Salvador convicted drunken drivers have no second chance, they are executed just for being apprehended in that condition.

In some USA courts , the Judge may give them many more opportunities to kill and even after that be lenient with them. That is what we call being a civilized nation. I wonder if these “easy” Judges get tougher after one of their loved ones is maimed or killed by a drunk?
GHD136 all rights reserved

DIP YOUR BEAMS

2006-09-23T08:23:00.000-04:00

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

DIP YOUR BEAMS
CORNUDAS, TX: Alice Lang, age around 60, complained about a vehicle which followed behind her car at night using its high beams. On rounding a curve another vehicle approached her's with its beams on high also. Thoroughly blinded she could see neither the road's center nor side lines. Alice totaled her car on a tree, as well as nearly totaling herself. Neither driver stopped to help.

At the least, blinding other drivers is thoughtless, possibly unsafe for all drivers. High beams bouncing off the mirrors and windshield can make for dangerous driving. More so for older persons who may be more sensitive to light, may see halos, and are easily distracted. It is much more difficult in the rain.

If you are in the vehicle, either behind or approaching, why would you want to possibly involve yourself in a crash? If you are driving the target car about all you can do is readjust your mirrors and slow down. Do not put on sunglasses as they will seriously reduce your night sight, even those yellow ones sold as "night glasses".

Sometimes it may only seem like the vehicle behind is burning the high beams. Pickups and vans sit higher and even their low beam halogens can annoy the driver ahead. Especially this is true if the auto ahead is a compact. This is something for the safety design experts of these larger vehicles to "fix".

Do any of our readers have an experience to tell about the new seemingly very bright "blue" headlight beams?
GHD135 all rights reserved

SENIORS AVOID NIGHT DRIVING

2006-09-15T20:55:00.000-04:00

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

SENIORS AVOID NIGHT DRIVING
CARNATION, WA: It was getting near full darkness on route 203 when Charles asked his much younger spouse to take over the driving. An increasing number of older drivers no longer drive after dark, especially in the rain. Those with cataract/lens implants in both eyes find that bright lights approaching make it very difficult to see.

Why is the fatal crash rate several times higher at night than in daylight? Safety experts report that poor eyesight and low illumination cause us to see hazards too late at the speed we are driving. We need to drive slower in dusk and dark and not "overdrive" our headlights. Also, for our own safety, we should dim our lights for approaching vehicles and hope they do likewise.

With all our new health consciousness there are joggers to avoid on the roads, even at night. Be alert, too, for the larger number of drunk drivers out there after dark. And, please do not yourself drive after drinking alcohol - it decreases your night vision.

In general, older persons do not like to drive at night and prefer meetings, classes, movies, and other events during daylight. That preference reduces the number of crashes for senior drivers.
GHD134 all rights reserved

HYDROPLANING IS NOT A SPORT

2006-09-08T19:56:00.000-04:00

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

HYDROPLANING IS NOT A SPORT
STURGIS, ND: It was raining so heavily on I-90 that water was ponding on the highway's hills. At 48 mph suddenly the steering felt mushy and Henrietta thought she was floating out of control. Fortunately she kept her convertible on the road while slowing. It was scary enough to be a true lesson on hydroplaning. Had her convertible, lacking a roll bar, flipped she would have been a statistic. She had earlier turned off the cruise control because in defensive driving she had learned that cruise control compounds the hydroplaning damages. Henrietta completed her trip at a safer 30 mph.

On wet roads, more likely during heavy rains, water builds up between the tires and the road. This lifts the vehicle from road contact, steering ability is lost and the tires feel like they are dragging.. The vehicle becomes a "free agent" with no control of where it may go and what tragedy it may cause. Hydroplaning starts at about 30 mph and full loss of road contact is experienced at about 50 mph.

Some premium tires have special tread designs which help resist this dangerous loss of steering. Even with such tires the best protection is a reasonable reduced speed until drier pavement is reached.
GHD133 all rights reserved

FOGGY DRIVING

2006-09-02T11:14:00.000-04:00

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

FOGGY DRIVING
LACONIA, VT: Being a long way from their home and wanting to avoid night driving, Peg and Sarah planned to leave by 5:00 am via US 3. But as luck would have it, heavy fog made safe driving near impossible. They waited until 10:30 for the sun to chase away the fog.

A heavy fog is extremely dangerous because of the potential for chain collisions. If you find yourself in a fog bank the best thing to do is to get as far off the highway as possible. Switch to the low beams for better visibility and use the hazard flashers to warn others of your position. Do not creep along, a faster vehicle with poor stopping power is sure to crash into you. Do not drive fast as you may crash into a slow mover. Your best choice is to get off the highway!

Safety officials have yet to devise effective methods to deal with severe fog. The best they can do now is roadway flashing lights and signs warning of fog ahead. In chronic fog areas the traffic lanes and road sides may be marked with bright reflectors. The best we can do is not drive into a fog. A few hours lost or an extra night at a hotel is less traumatic than is visiting the emergency room and less costly than a hospital stay.
GHD132 all rights reserved

EXTRA CARE ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS

2006-08-27T19:13:00.000-04:00

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

EXTRA CARE ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS
AZTEC, NM: The road to Aztec Ruins National Monument passes through a residential section. At first glance one would think there is little in this quiet neighborhood to cause drivers to be extra cautious. Hans-Martin, a resident there points out that we need to look out for school zones and buses, 2-way and 4-way stops, low speed limits, and narrower streets. Also for uncontrolled intersections, yields, traffic signs, and lane markings. There may be pedestrians, bicyclists, kids playing, pets, and unsafe drivers.

Wow! How can we enjoy such a drive? In years gone by it was a pleasure and relaxing to take a Sunday drive and to go visiting. But now driving in many places is a full time chore demanding our total attention. Thus, crowded civilization has made the auto into just a conveyance and driving has lost much of its thrill. Of course, there are still wide-open spaces in NM and elsewhere across the USA. Let’s hope it will be so always. Incidentally, the Ruins are well worth the side trip.
GHD131 all rights reserved

SENIORS IMBIBE LESS ALCOHOL

2006-08-18T21:09:00.000-04:00

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

SENIORS IMBIBE LESS ALCOHOL
THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN: Skip R., age 64, writes that when he does drink alcohol he parks and walks. Safe driving experts say “good” for him, but he should be extra careful crossing the streets or walking along highways. More than one-third of pedestrians killed by cars are legally drunk according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If you drink alcohol, better to park and sit. Cities, where a large number of seasonal tourists visit, have a greater problem with drunks perhaps because the "party" atmosphere may relax our usual personal standards of conduct. And, of course, it remains the legal duty of all drivers to be alert to persons who may be a hazard for whatever reason.

An interesting observation at dances, parties, and the like; older persons seem to be drinking less alcoholic beverages than did that same age group of ten tears ago. Must be the message is getting through to the older role models. And that’s good because there are a lot more of us seniors now and a real big bunch coming up right behind us.
GHD130 all rights reserved

KIDS IN PARKING LOTS

2006-08-12T09:13:00.000-04:00

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

LOOK OUT FOR KIDS IN PARKING LOTS
CODY, WY: Resident Knox P. says that driving in shopping and business areas gets more hazardous continually. Here are some of the things for which he says we need to be alert:: Traffic signs and lane markings. Change in speed limits. Parking lot entrances and exits. Controlled intersections. Heavy traffic with quick stops. Trucks and large RVs. And the ever-present reckless drivers. In these areas there may be more pedestrians who are distracted by the busy surroundings or intent on their errands rather than on their safety.

For older drivers all these simultaneous inputs can be overwhelming and thus require extra alertness to potential danger. Mall and superstore parking lots, especially on weekends, seem to have an abundance of playful children who are unmindful of the traffic. Be alert to children’s sudden change of direction and to their parents who may be more absorbed in remembering where they parked than in their child's safety.
GHD129 all rights reserved

WIFE SPARES HUSBAND

2006-08-06T13:14:00.000-04:00

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

WIFE SPARES HUSBAND
MONROEVILLE, PA: Georgette has stopped at the green light at the intersection where she intends to turn left. Her husband George, being a superior driver, chides her for not turning the front wheels to the left while waiting for oncoming traffic to clear. John is one of those efficient hurry-up drivers. She says that in her safe driving class she was taught to keep the wheels straight ahead while waiting. He did not attend class because it was Monday TV sports night.

After Georgette explained why, he grudgingly half-whispered that it made sense and that she was right. What she had learned was that if the wheels are turned in anticipation of a left turn, an out of control vehicle from behind could push her car directly into oncoming traffic. Her car could be in a double hitter, once from behind and one or more times on John's side of the car. Thus, Georgette may have spared Georges life.
GHD128 all rights reserved

DRIVE-IT-YOURSELF VEHICLES ARE SAFE

2006-07-23T22:58:00.000-04:00

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

DRIVE-IT-YOURSELF VEHICLES ARE SAFE

PHOENIX, AZ: Honey S. writes that she gets very nervous when driving near the many do-it-yourself moving trucks and trailers that can be found on all the major roads. My friend, Pat Crahan, a Director of U-Haul International, told me why U-Haul customers drive safely and why Honey need not be more wary of them than of other highway vehicles.

A National Safety Council National Fleet Safety Contest annually compares the safety record of professionals such as bus and truck drivers, mail carriers, and police officers. Recently the professional drivers averaged 10.97 crashes for each million miles driven .U-Haul records show that their average citizen customers won “by a mile” with a mere 2.79 crashes per million miles. In fact in 10 of 11 years the renter customers had by far a safer highway record than the professionals.

But why are these drivers so safe with vehicles which they do not ordinarily operate? Pat Crahan gave me these many reasons:
• They realize they are not professionals and make an effort to be more conservative on the road.
• Many are in the midst of a major change in their lives (moving to a new home location) and they focus on arriving safely.
• Their life’s belongings are in the vehicle (as may be their loved ones) and they want to keep them safe and sound.
• They realize that being under the influence of drugs and alcohol endangers their prized possessions and loved ones as well as self.
• Unlike professional drivers, Joe Citizen usually allows more time to complete the trip and drives at a leisurely, attentive speed.
• The rental vehicles are built especially to haul household goods and are designed for safe use by occasional drivers.
• U-Haul, especially, uses highly visible colors and graphics which make other drivers more aware of these utility vehicles.
•

So Honey, not to worry anymore. You are a lot safer than you thought you were.
GHD127 all rights reserved

POOR DRIVERS AT ALL AGES

2006-07-15T21:15:00.000-04:00

WRECK-LESS DRIVING
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

POOR DRIVERS AT ALL AGES
WASHINGTON, DC: Three million persons turned age 50 in 1996. Then in the next 18 years another 75 million become 50. Here comes once more the perennial suggestion that all drivers above an arbitrary age be road-tested every year or so. Foggy Bottom resident Clyde says he is age 71 and wonders whether he should give up his license.
A big NO! Age is not the determining factor. To be sure, our physical acuities decline with age. However there is no single age at which all of us suddenly are unfit for anything but the rocking chair. The decline is at a different rate for each of us. This column, and defensive driving classes exist to help older persons compensate for these physical changes. With improved skills we can remain independent and self-sufficient for many more years.

There are some safe drivers in their late eighties but also too many dangerous drivers of ALL ages. The difference is that most of the older ones want to learn how to compensate for their decline and thus be safe and remain independent longer. They recognize that there are some things that go more slowly for them.

Fairer and safer would be retesting of all drivers. But as a practical matter, the state auto driver license bureaus do not have the vast additional funds needed to do an expanded retesting program, even for a limited age group. Some taxpayers may wish for an age based scrutiny of older drivers but they are not willing to pay more taxes for it. Quite likely, when they themselves reach that age they will no longer be in favor of such repeated testing.

The best answer is to particepate in voluntary driver safety classes and an insurance premium reduction as an inducement to do so.
GHD207 all rights reserved

LOOK OUT FOR KIDS IN PARKING LOTS

2006-07-08T11:59:00.000-04:00

WRECK-LESS DRIVING
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

LOOK OUT FOR KIDS IN PARKING LOTS
CODY, WY: Resident Knox says that driving in shopping and business areas gets more hazardous continually. Here are some of the things for which he says we need to be alert: Traffic signs and lane markings. Changes in speed limits. Parking lot entrances and exits. Controlled intersections. Heavy traffic with quick stops. Trucks and large RVs. And the ever-present reckless drivers. In these areas there may be more pedestrians who are distracted by the busy surroundings or intent on their errands rather than on their safety.

For older drivers all these simultaneous inputs can be overwhelming and thus require extra alertness to potential danger. Mall and superstore parking lots seem to have an abundance of playful children who are unmindful of the traffic, especially on weekends. Be alert to their sudden change of direction and to their parents who may be more absorbed in remembering where they parked than in their child's safety.
GHD 126 all rights reserved

SENIORS IMBIBE LESS ALCOHOL

2006-07-02T13:56:00.000-04:00

WRECK-LESS DRIVING FOR SENIORS
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

SENIORS IMBIBE LESS ALCOHOL
THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN: Skip R., age 64, writes that when he does drink alcohol he parks and walks. Safe driving experts say good for him, but he should be extra careful crossing the streets or walking along highways. More than one-third of pedestrians killed by cars are legally drunk according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If you drink alcohol, better to park and sit. Cities, where a large number of seasonal tourists visit, have a greater problem with drunks. Perhaps this is because the "party" atmosphere may relax our usual personal standards of conduct. And, of course, it remains the legal duty of all drivers to be alert to persons who may be a hazard to themselves or to others for whatever reason.

An interesting observation at dances, parties, and the like; older persons seem to be drinking less alcoholic beverages than did that same age group of ten years ago. Must be the message is getting through to the older role models. And that’s good because there are a lot more seniors now and a real big bunch coming up right behind them.
GHD125 all rights reserved

WIFE SPARES HUSBAND

2006-06-18T16:56:00.000-04:00

WIFE SPARES HUSBAND
MONROEVILLE, PA: Georgette C. has stopped at the green light at the intersection where she intends to turn left. Her husband George, being a superior driver, chides her for not turning the front wheels to the left while waiting for oncoming traffic to clear. He is one of those efficient hurry-up drivers. She says that in her safe driving class she was taught to keep the wheels straight ahead while waiting. He did not attend that class because it was Monday TV sports night.

After Georgette explained why, he grudgingly half-whispered that it made sense and that she was right. What she had learned was that if the wheels are turned in anticipation of a left turn, an out of control vehicle from behind could push her car directly into oncoming traffic. Her car could be in a double hitter, once from behind and one or more times on George’s side of the car. Thus, Georgette, may have spared George’s life.
GHD123 all rights reserved

REWARDED TO MAINTAIN SKILLS

2006-06-03T21:37:00.000-04:00

REWARDED TO MAINTAIN SKILLS
ANYWHERE, USA: From 16 states and territories we receive messages from seniors who say that their auto insurance companies will not give them an additional premium incentive for completing a safe driving course. The insurers say that they already give a discount to anyone age 50+ with a clean record whether they have improved their driving skills or not.

In 36 states, and in DC, the consumer-oriented legislatures mandate an additional premium reduction as an incentive for older drivers to complete a safe driving class. In some states such legislation is pending and needs support from many citizens for its prompt passage. Is your state one of these?

The legislative hesitation is not understandable. State legislators should be delighted to provide this benefit to its citizens as it requires no tax money. Likewise the insurers should jump at the savings.. If an insurer can save just one million dollar claim by encouraging its clients to improve their driving skills it would be way ahead financially. In fact, one large insurer says that it has data showing its extra 10% discount is justified by its claim savings.

Rewarding drivers who make the effort to improve and become safer makes much more sense than using an arbitrary age at which seniors pay higher premiums, are retested or are denied the privilege of driving.
GHD121 all rights reserved