Safety Tips

1. Please try to get into the habit of driving more slowly in parking lots. Unfortunately I have seen some parents walking far ahead of their child on the way to or from the store. The child is so small that you would not see him/her even if you look behind you and in your mirrors. Many people are in the terrible habit of speeding through the lot or backing out without looking. I know. Yesterday I almost got broadsided two different times when people didn't look before backing.... and I have a good sized pickup with a camper shell on it...There's no missing that! Parents! Take your kids by the hand...Drivers! Look, Look and then LOOK again!
2. If you do not know the language of lights, or in other words speak "Truckeez" please do not attempt to communicate with truck drivers in this way. A good rule of thumb is this... We never say anything selfish with lights (we save that for the CB) When a truck is passing another, the truck being passed will flash his/her lights to say "It's all clear, come on over in front of me" From behind, that passing truck will flash tail lights to say "Thanks". Facing one another, the lights mean "I'm slowing down for you, come on out and make your turn in front of me" or "go ahead before me" at an intersection. As you see, always polite. Now this happened to me: I'm stopped on a two lane road with my left turn signal on attempting to enter a business property. The car approaching me flashing his/her lights means go ahead, you may turn in front of me. As I start to take them up on their kindness, they accelerate and speed past me. In "Careez" the lights meant don't cross in front of me I'm speeding toward you! The problem is, there is no such language as careez. There is only Truckeez, and some car owners speak it. If you do not speak it, don't use it. In France, if you speak French wrong you may get a shoe on a plate instead of an omlette. In Truckeez you might be inviting a Big Truck directly into your path! Do NOT talk to a truck with your lights unless you know what you are saying!
3. When merging onto the freeway, get off the phone, and look left.
4. FACT: A Big Rig has 7 times less the manueverability of a car.
5. FACT: A Big Truck going only 45 mph takes the length of a football field to stop. (you don't see very many rigs going only 45 mph either do you?)
6. When overtaking and passing a big truck, you should never pull in front of the truck at least until you are able to see both of the truck's headlights in your REARVIEW mirror...and then keep on going because that's too close for your own safety too!
7. If your small sedan was a red brick, the fully loaded 80,000 pound truck behind you would be the equivalent of 32 bricks.
8. Never swoop in, in front of a truck taking up the last of the braking distance that it requires to stop at the Red Light or Stop Sign ahead. You may very well go for a well deserved ride!
9. 80 percent of Truck Accidents are caused by car drivers...So the next time you hear on the radio, "Accident involving a Big Rig", just remember that!
10. TIP: Truck drivers much prefer to avoid hitting an innocent who did not cause the trouble. A driver will choose to involve, whenever unavoidable, the person who caused the problem.
11. Truck Drivers! Please do not follow too closely to the back of any vehicle, auto or truck or?...either out of hurry or anger or dangerous habit. I have seen car occupants and truck drivers alike, killed because of this. As a driver if you keep this behavior you will most surely kill someone someday and if it is not yourself, you will have to live with that, lose everything you ever worked for, perhaps even your family and probably go to jail for a very long time. Back off some. It is not worth it!