What do You Do When...Road Debris is in Your Path

Houston's ABC 13 Eyewitness News reported yesterday on the death of a motorcyclist:

"A piece of debris on the East Loop played a role in a fatal accident Wednesday night. A motorcyclist drove over a large wooden board, sending his bike into the air and causing the rider to hit the guard-rail. He died at the scene. "

Wherever you drive you will find debris on the road posing a hazard to you and other drivers. Objects lying in the road can cause serious crashes, injuries, and deaths. Road debris comes from a variety of sources. Equipment can break loose from vehicles, objects being transported may fall out of truck beds or off the roofs of cars, and tire treads may separate, placing debris on the roads.

Objects ranging from blown tires and tire treads to drive shafts, bumpers, hoods, leaf springs, brake parts, and dislodged cargo have all contributed to serious crashes. One report mentions that even off beat items such as ladders are commonly found in the roadway.

At highway speeds even a relatively small object such as a hand tool, spare tire, tarpaulin, or tie-down strap can be deadly.

Every state and major city has some version of a "debris patrol". In the Houston area six Texas Department of Transportation drivers patrol every day. Their main job is looking for debris. But even then, they say the problem doesn't go away.

Texas DOT's John Zientek explained, "It's a daily battle. I'm pretty sure that when I get back out there, there will probably be another good amount to pick up just on the same area I just went through."

What actions can you take to avoid junk on the road that may hurt you or damage your vehicle?

1. Brake if traffic permits.

2. If braking is not an option you can elect to swerve around the debris, strike it a glancing blow, or drive over it.

3. If confronted with something slippery such as an oil spill or a truckload of smashed pumpkins maintain your speed and roll right through the mess. Don't brake. Don't accelerate. Don't try to get fancy and swerve around it. An abrupt change in speed on a slippery surface will probably send you into a skid. Just keep on going, even if there are crates in your way.

4. If you come upon something of considerable mass like a freezer unit, a chest of drawers or a stuffed elephant you have a major challenge. You definitely don't want to hit such things squarely, but if you brake suddenly you risk a rear end collision. A sudden swerve to avoid may put you in conflict with traffic that is on your flanks.

You will have to make a quick mirror and blind spot check and go around if possible. If you're skillful enough (and lucky as well) you may just come out of the situation unscathed.

5. If you can't execute the swerve, hit the junk off center. The glancing blow might move the object out of your way causing only bumper or fender damage.

6. When faced with mystery debris like a paper bag or a cardboard box you may gamble on straddling them if they appear to be small enough. If you win, no harm done. If you lose the debris may rip through your oil pan, put your car in the shop, and you in the hospital.

I once sent twenty-four Pepsi cans rolling all over Quentein Road in Palatine while playing this game.

Be careful out there.

A Moment in Automotive History

When did motor vehicle accidents and traffic safety become part of our culture? Who crashed the first car? Who became the first fatality? Who first thought of stop signs?

I don't think anyone can give a definitive answer to all these questions. The first recorded crash has been credited to Nicholas-Joseph Cugnot who drove his steam-powered "Fardier" against a wall in 1770. He survived the collision, but the crash put an end to his experiments with self propelled vehicles.

The earliest recorded motor vehicle fatality was Mary Ward who died on August 31, 1869 in Parsonstown, Ireland after being thrown from an experimental steam car built by her cousins.

Many of the earliest innovations in road safety are credited to a man who never drove a car himself, William Phelps Enos. He is sometimes known as the "father of traffic safety". Enos is credited with conceiving the stop sign, the traffic circle, and the one way street.

Drivers Aren't The Only Ones Who Are Tuned Out

Yesterday afternoon I posted my account of a spaced out driving student. Last night Chicago's ABC7 ran a feature on distracted pedestrians. Coincidence? Or are we just both impressed by a problem of epic proportions?

ABC7 noted in its report Tuned Out, that 4500 people were struck by vehicles in Chicago last year. Police say there is no telling how many of them were using iPods, Blackberrys or cell phones at the time -- but safety experts warn that too many people are "tuned out" on bustling crosswalks.

In just one afternoon, ABC7 saw hundreds of people who were "tuned out" at intersections with PDAs, mp3's and cell phones. ABC7 found one woman ignoring a "don't walk" sign as she crossed Michigan Avenue on her cell phone.

Two people listening to headphones at intersections recently died in New York City, so one New York state lawmaker is proposing a law to fine pedestrians $100 for crossing streets while on a cell phone, PDA or mp3.

Personally, I don't think we need any more laws limiting our freedoms. If people want to walk around in a daze that's their prerogative. Don't pass any laws banning electronic devices or fining the users. Let the law of natural selection take over.

However, I would propose legislation that would absolve drivers of any fault should they strike pedestrians who committed unsafe actions while engrossed in the operation of electronic devices.

Bicycles Riding Against Traffic - How Smart Is That?

Yesterday Thelma and I were driving through a residential area on our way to pick up another student for driver’s education. Thelma is a pretty good driver - she's level headed, attentive, and an athlete with great reflexes. All these attributes stood her in good stead after we took a right turn into a quiet residential street and found ourselves on a collision course with a bicycle coming hard at us - against traffic.

This time it was no big deal. Thelma simply applied gentle brake pressure and steered slightly to the left. She evaded the bicycle and was able to return to our side of the road before meeting the car in the oncoming lane. She did a great job and everything turned out fine.

I just wonder what would have happened had the oncoming motorized traffic been any closer than it was. What kind of choice would we have made? Yes, the brakes would have been applied with much more force. Would that have been enough to stop before making contact with Mr. Bicyclist? I doubt it. How would we have evaded contact if braking was not enough? Beats me. Would we have steered left to evade the bicycle? Not on your life. Would Mr. Bicyclist have known that we had to hold our course or collide with another motor vehicle? He was oblivious. Could he have taken evasive action to avoid us? I don't think so.

Yep, that bicyclist was certainly putting a big burden on us and all the other motorist he was driving against. By riding against traffic (presumably so he could see and react to us in case we steered towards him), he was forcing us to make some tough choices.

What were we supposed to do to evade him when he unskillfully veered into our path of travel? Drive into oncoming traffic or just come to a dead stop and risk a rear end collision?

If we had come up against a tight situation while he was going with the flow, the only action required would be to slow down to his pace while we waited for the situation to clear up. He denied us that option by breaking the law.

So you bicycling, fair-haired children of the roadway, why don't you present us motorists with some better choices? How about choosing to play by the rules?

Rear - Ended

"We cannot lower our guard or relax our vigilance..." ~ Hui Liangyu

Ralph brought that '95 Cavalier to a smooth stop so he could wait out the oncoming traffic and complete a left turn into his subdivision.

His behind-the-wheel session was coming to an end. He was looking forward to getting out of the car and going to shoot some hoops in his driveway. I was looking forward to taking a break and going to teach the evening classroom.

Ralph had approached this turn with picture perfect precision. He had initiated his turn signal 200 feet in advance (as this was more of a rural area where one must signal earlier). He had kept the front tires centered and the car pointed straight up his lane while he waited for a decent gap in which to maneuver.

Then the sound of burning rubber. A very loud and prolonged SCREEEECH - during which I got out half a sentence:

"Who the h&## is... " BANG! CRUMPple!

A jolting impact from the rear jammed me back against my seat and propelled our vehicle forward nearly 50 yards.

"... burning rubber!" I finished.

"Well now I know!" I chuckled. At least I think I chuckled.

"What did I do wrong?" cried Ralph.

"Not a thing buddy. But the guy behind us screwed up real bad. You did real good Ralph. We'd be dead if you hadn't kept those front wheels pointing straight forward."

"Man, I think I'm going to puke!" moaned my student.

"Nah, you're OK. You've taken harder hits on the football field. Haven't you?"

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right! I have! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

Ralph was kind of shaky. Really couldn't blame him.

"Here, pull out your permit and dig through this packet to find the insurance cards and registration. Stay right here. I'm going to check on the car and our hard charging friend back there."

The Cavalier's trunk was crumpled in. We weren't going to get anything out of there for a while. Thank God the vehicle was still drivable.

The walk back to the Nissan pick-up that had nailed us seemed to take forever. It was like walking in a dream - underwater. I guess I was pretty shaky myself.

The front end of the pick-up was in pretty bad shape. Steam was rising from the hood. A puddle of green coolant had collected under the crushed radiator and was starting to trickle down to the curb.

"Look at what your student did to my truck!! He should never get a license," accused the chunky, Rosy O'Donnell-like senorita.

"What do you mean - 'What my student did'?"

"He jammed his brakes on RIGHT in front of me!! And he didn't even signal!"

I reckon she was practicing her lies on me so she'd sound real smooth when she had to explain things to the police.

I just shook my head and turned to walk back to the Cavalier.

"Where are you going?" she screeched.

"Back to my student and then to find a phone to call the cops. You can sell your crap to them. I don't argue with idiots."

About this time a nice looking lady emerges from one of the cars stuck in the jam behind the Nissan and catches up to me.

"Hi, here's my name and phone number. If you need a witness feel free to call. I've been following her for the last 10 miles and she's been driving like a fool the whole way."

"Gee, thanks!"

It's always nice to have someone in your corner.

Since there were no serious injuries I had Ralph drive onto the shoulder to help clear the road. Then I went to the nearest house and had them phone for police support.

When the police arrived 20 minutes later, Ralph and I had all of our documentation ready for inspection. The Nissan's driver had to rummage around for her license.

"Oh, where is that thing? Oh, I forgot the other officer took it when he gave me this ticket."

She had trouble finding her insurance card as well.

"Well this is my uncle's truck. He must have it."

"Mam, you won't be able to pay this citation by mail then. No insurance card means an automatic court appearance," explained Officer Nash.

After that I drove Ralph home and helped him fill out the accident report. We got all the info we needed from Officer Nash's notes.

Someone else taught the classroom that evening while I swapped cars back at headquarters to get ready for the next day of fun and high adventure.

Rosy O'Donnell's look-alike got stuck with the blame and the bill - as well she should have. But could Ralph and I have done anything to avoid that collision?

The answer of course is yes. There is always something each party involved could have done to have averted the crash.

Ralph and I were too focused on the stream of oncoming traffic and didn't pay enough attention to the rear. Since then whenever we're stopped waiting to take a left turn, my students and I devote more attention to our rear view mirrors than we did back in 1996. And, my student is ready to hit the gas if we see any vehicles barrelling down on us.

Let The Other Guy Merge

"We shall show mercy, but we shall not ask for it" ~ Winston Churchill

We did some expressway driving yesterday. Alfonso had driven on limited access highways with his parents on several occasions already so he was highly confident going there with me.

He did a pretty competent job too. He merged in well. He executed all lane changes smoothly. He was comfortable with the high speeds. He kept the Malibu centered in his lane - even in curves. He appeared to have a good handle on this kind of driving. He and his parents had put a lot of good work into this.

Just one flaw. When driving in the right lane near merge areas, he didn't want to adjust his speed to help the entering traffic come onto the roadway. On the contrary, he charged into them like he was Vince Papale (from the movie, Invincible) on kick-off coverage - ignoring my commands to slow down.

"Ease off, Boyo!"

I finally intervened by applying the instructor brakes from my side of the car.

"What are you trying to do to this white van?!"

The van lumbers onto the expressway just a foot or two in front of us.

"He's supposed to yield to us!" exclaims Alfonso.

"You need to lighten up and let these people merge in. And you're supposed to drive safely. What was he supposed to do? Jam on his brakes and be rear-ended? Drive onto the shoulder? Or crash into us?"

How I despise youthful arrogance.

Anyway, Alfonso got sucked into that cry-baby blame game I mentioned a few posts ago.

People, Parents, Teens, Fellow Drivers! Lend me your ear! We need to shuck this "it's the other guy's fault" mentality. If you see a problem developing, you are the one responsible for taking action to avoid collision. Don't depend on the other drivers. They just might not come through for you. Take ownership of the situation.

Do it...and you go home to your loved ones.

Do it not...and your loved ones go to your funeral.

One Lane Closer To A Collision

"The driver was in my lane and driving really fast, and that was it - bam, it's over" ~ Clark Metcalfe

"Why do you like driving in the left lane so much, Alfonso?" I asked as our green Malibu tooled down Rte 14.

"I don't know. Its faster I guess." answers my student. "You want me to move into the right?"

"Well yeah, but I'm worried about the choices you're going to be making when I'm not here to hound you."

Alfonso signals, checks his mirrors and blind spot, and takes the car safely into the right lane.

"Man, why do I always have to tell you to do that? What are the two main reasons for spending time in the left lane?"

"To prepare for a left turn and to pass." he sighs.

"Right! And why shouldn't you stay positioned in the left lane if your not going to do either one of those things?"

"Because it forces passing traffic to to weave from lane to lane." Alfonso sighs again.

"Yes, that's what the book says, but what else? What is something that's way more important to you?"

"Man, I don't know!"

"How about because when you're driving in the left lane you're closer to oncoming traffic. What happens if one of the jokers on the other side falls asleep or stoops down to pick up a a french fry? What happens if one of those cars comes across the yellow line?"

Probably a head-on collision!" Alfonso perks up.

"Well, if you're in the right lane when that oncoming traffic crosses the center line, you'll have just that much more time and space to get out of the way. Might make all the difference between a trip to the morgue or one to your girlfriend's house."

All depends on where you want to go.

Either Drive Safely or Play "The Blame Game"

"When two quarrel, both are to blame" ~ Dutch Proverb

"Mr. Sweeney, that tailgater riding our rear is really getting on my nerves! Is it OK with you if I stomp on the brake real hard and then let up on it real fast? I want to scare him off!"

"No!! You know better than that! Just relax and make sure you don't have to make any sudden stops. You don't want to be involved in a rear end collision. Believe you me!"

"Hee, Hee! Just kidding! But even if he hit us, wouldn't it be his fault?"

"Yes, Caitlin, it would be, but wouldn't you just rather get home on time?"

Just about everyday my students and I are threatened by careless or aggressive drivers. After we yield right of way to them or take evasive action, the kids pepper me with questions or comments such as:

"That wasn't fair!"

"If we had crashed, wouldn't it have been their fault?"

"Who would get the ticket?"

"Why did we have to yield to that jerk? We had the right of way!"

I'll answer with a quick analysis of what the other guy should have done if we lived in a perfect world where everyone drove by the book.

Then I ask them if they would rather be alive or right.

Word combinations like "right and wrong", "guilty or not guilty", "liable or exempt" are used in nice, comfortable offices by lawyers and insurance adjusters to sort things out after the crash.

Drivers on the cold, cruel road ought to be more concerned with phrases like "safe or dangerous" and "dead or alive".

Drivers(at least good drivers) are more concerned with avoiding crashes rather than figuring out who the bad guy is.

Good drivers yield to those who are mistaken because we'd rather go home a few seconds later than waste hours on things such as:

1. bandaging wounds
2. talking to police officers*
3. filling out accident reports (don't you already have enough homework?)
4. waiting for repairs on a busted up vehicle
5. lying in bed waiting for bones to mend
6. talking to insurance people*
7. talking to lawyers and judges*

Don't play the Blame Game. It's a game that you will lose whether you're right or wrong.

Instead compensate for the other driver's mistakes. Slow down when that knucklehead races out in front of your vehicle with only inches to spare. He shouldn't have done it, but give him some room anyway. You won't regret it.

*Not that there is anything wrong with talking to these great folks, but wouldn't you rather do so under better circumstances? Like at a ball game or a picnic?