Road Safety

Too much carnage on the roads

2009-06-12T13:15:00.000-07:00

There is far too much carnage on the roads, Just this last week a number of people were killed in various types of accidents.

But this week, it's close to home, a relative was hit and killed while walking home last Saturday night.

20 year old Jeffrey Wide was struck from behind by an SUV and died at the scene.

The details still have not been released but the devastation to the family and his many friends has been done.

We've all seen the roadside memorials, unfortunately far too many.

It's so tragic that a small mistake, momentary lapse of attention or driver distraction can cause a fatal accident in the blink of an eye.

EVERYONE MUST drive like their life depends on it, because their life and lives of loved ones DO!

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
See Truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com
and my photo blog or see optical illusions, web animations or my Smoke Tree
You can listen to Pete Harris too

Tanker Slosh ?

2009-06-12T00:07:00.001-07:00

I don't know what caused this accident but it brings to mind the possibility of "Tanker Slosh"

Tankers may have baffles and different compartments to help stabilize their liquid load but just like loads shifting in an earlier post cargo that is in motion will tend to remain in motion.

If the driver makes an emergency move, the liquid may slosh about in the tank causing the driver to momentarily or totally lose control of the vehicle.

In the case of a tanker exiting a highway, if a car slowed quickly in front of this truck and he hit his breaks too quickly, half a second later the truck will lunge forward from the inertia of the liquid as it surges forward in tanks. If the truck is turning at a speed as on an exit ramp, that inertia could try to keep the truck going straight, and in this case it was straight into the ditch.

Whatever the cause, I suspect this driver may have been exiting a little too fast for the curve he was in.

Need I mention to leave lots of room for trucks especially if they are carrying gasoline and never brake hard in front of a truck, he may not be able to stop.

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
See Truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com
and my photo blog or see optical illusions, web animations or my Smoke Tree
You can listen to Pete Harris too

Is It Safe Yet?

2009-05-29T10:40:00.001-07:00

Well I thought winter was finished but for the last week I've been seeing leaves shriveling up from frost damage.

It is finished . . . isn't it?

It's almost June, surely Summer is coming, right

Then why is it still so cold (around here anyway)

I want to lose the pants and I'm tired of wearing socks with my "Flip Flops" to keep my toes warm.

Someday soon.

I can't wait till my Smoke Tree comes out in bloom and I can take summery pictures for donssite or my photo blog again.

For now you can read up on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca and Forklift Safety at liftright.net
or see truck photos, optical illusions and web animations

Load Shift

2009-05-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what happens inside a truck that has to slam on it's brakes or swerve to avoid taking out a car?

Some loads are heavy and don't take much to shift.

Banding, straps and various restraint methods may not ensure that the load remains secure in an emergency move.

Sometimes the packaging or improper loading can contribute to damage from an evasive action.

Best thing is to leave lots of space between vehicles and don't give trucks a reason to make evasive moves, it just might save your life!

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
See Truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com
and my photo blog or see optical illusions or web animations

Now you can listen to Pete Harris too

Smoke

2009-05-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

I still haven't heard what burned in this "industrial fire".

The police had the area blocked off pretty good and the radio only said industrial fire when they talked about it, though they did mention plastics.

I'm sort of curious because I used to work real close to the "scene".

Thick black smoke was drifting across the highway and it was during rush hour so commuters were not impressed with the back-up which went several miles. Luckily I was going the other direction.

Read up on Road Safety or on Forklift Safety or Optical Illusions, Web Animations, My Photography, or Truck Photos.

Wheelies on the Highway

2009-05-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

I've seen a lot of stupid moves on the highway by a lot of people that should not be allowed on the highway but a couple of nights ago I saw what absolutely had to be tops in stupidity and the most dangerous stunt I've ever seen.

I was driving along in a construction zone at night in fairly heavy traffic where 3 traffic lanes were re-aligned several times over a couple of miles. The lanes shifted suddenly along the stretch with uneven pavement and poorly marked lanes.

Suddenly, a motorcycle passed me doing a wheelie at about 75 miles an hour in the inside lane. That IDIOT was followed by a Honda Civic passing me in the outside lane swerving in and out of traffic with about twenty seven kids hanging out the windows shooting videos with their cell phones. I guess it will be all over youtube by now, maybe I can find it and include it in a follow up post.

This stunt could have turned fatal so quickly in so many ways.

The motorcycle was totaly invisible to me as it approached because his headlight was pointing upward, he continued on passing a number of other cars after me. He passed me where the lanes shifted and the uneven pavement shifted across each lane at an angle and where the lanes were not clearly marked. I could have drifted in front of him without realizing and it would look like it was my fault.

I wonder if any of those kids would volunteer their videos if there was an accident.

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
See Truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com
and my photo blog or see optical illusions or web animations

Pete Harris Video

2009-05-14T14:59:00.000-07:00

I just thought I'd drop a link to one of Pete's Videos

Listen to Pete's Music

maybe look at Optical Illusions, Web Animations or Truck Photos while you listen to Pete or see My Photography or Photo Blog or these sites on Road Safety or on Forklift Safety

Done, for now

2009-05-13T15:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I've finished the music portion of Pete Harris Web Site for now and it's time to get back to complaining about lousy drivers and idiots that should lose their licenses forever for some of the stupid things they do.

Ah, but I remember how mellow traffic was around Sebastian Florida and around Micco and Little Hollywood. Maybe I'll get back to traffic tomorrow.

for now, have a listen to Pete's Music

maybe look at Optical Illusions, Web Animations or Truck Photos while you listen to Pete or see My Photography or Photo Blog or these sites on Road Safety or on Forklift Safety

Pete's Site

2009-05-12T08:44:00.000-07:00

I should be finished with the main music portion of Pete Harris' website today.

I have finished making the "Juke Box" players for 3 of his CDs and just have a couple more songs to transfer for Still Breathing

Once I finish the music section I can start to rebuild the information section of the site, which will take some time.

Eventually I hope to transfer his older vinyl music to a digital format and Pam Harris still has original unpublished material she is about ready to have released.

See my Cotinus Obovatus (Smoke Tree), look at optical illusions and web animations or see truck photos, my photo blog or my other photos at donssite.com

Information on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca and Forklift Safety at liftright.net

Pete Harris Site

2009-05-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

I have been spending time reviving the website for Pete Harris Music to ensure his music lives on.

Have a listen to his unique laid back Florida style Country music

Songs From The Hammock

Waterways

See these sites on Road Safety or on Forklift Safety or Optical Illusions, Web Animations, My Photography, or Truck Photos.

Oh yeah, you can check out my Smoke Tree too.

Gone for a while

2009-04-30T17:04:00.000-07:00

I've been gone for a while, but I'm back now.

I had to make a quick trip to Sebastian Florida to help with my Mom after a Hospital stay and have been away from computers for a couple of weeks so I haven't posted anything lately.

The timing of my trip turned out to be very special as the day after I arrived, my sister (Pam Harris) got a call to inform her that the City of Sebastian was dedicating a plaque to honor her late husband Pete Harris at Riverview Park on the upcoming Saturday which I was able to attend.

Listen to a sample of Pete's Music - Sebastian Song

Pete Harris was a song writer and musician. He was sort of a local legend in Sebastian and South Florida with his unique style and original songs about living in Florida.

Many of his songs were about Sebastian, Micco, Sebastian River, the Intercoastal Waterway and even about local people and places.

Pete had many followers from the Ft Lauderdale, Delray Beach and Boca Raton areas that would travel to see him at Ozzies or Captain Hiram's Resort while he was becoming an Icon in Sebastian.

Buy Pete's Music

Pete lost a battle with brain cancer two years ago but his memories and music will live on forever.

Reviving Pete's Website

More on Road Safety or on Forklift Safety or Optical Illusions, Web Animations, My Photography, or Truck Photos.

Oh yeah, you can check out my Smoke Tree too.

Driver fatigue

2009-04-08T13:56:00.001-07:00

This accident may have been a case of driver fatigue or perhaps health related.

The tracks leaving the road were gradual and straight with no skid marks at all.

The area where it occurred is near the end of a very long stretch of highway bordered only by fields and wooded areas for miles, a fertile area for tunnelvision to occur.

Drive Safe

More on Road Safety or on Forklift Safety or Optical Illusions, Web Animations, My Photography, or Truck Photos.

Oh yeah, you can check out my Smoke Tree too.

Victim of weather or fatigue? - Maybe both.

2009-04-08T08:37:00.001-07:00

Another victim of the last winter blast . . . or was it?

The tracks from this truck were straight as the road started to take a gentle
bend. Maybe the driver was suffering from fatigue or tunnel vision and did not notice the bend till it was too late.

This region is notorious for white outs, so perhaps the driver could not see the bend in the road.

The driver may have been trying to look through a dirty or snow covered windshield.

Whatever the reason, the damage is done and it becomes another learning opportunity and an example of winter hazards drivers deal with in northern a climate.

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
See Truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com
and my photo blog or see optical illusions or web animations

One last blast

2009-04-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

That's it, No More!

I don't know where this cold white stuff came from, I was sure it was gone for the year.

I spent all day Sunday outside doing spring stuff in reasonably warm weather then suddenly back into snow and cold.

I heard something like 400 accidents reported on local news, how quickly people forget how treacherous snow and ice can be.

DRIVE SAFE!

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
See Truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com
and my photo blog or see optical illusions or web animations

A gaggle of geese

2009-04-03T19:55:00.000-07:00

In reply to my last post, "It" was a gaggle of geese having a gander over the galley.

They kept taking turns coming to the edge looking down at my dog going nuts trying to find a way up to get at them. I should have taken a video.

See Truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com or my photo blog
or see optical illusions or web animations

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net

Guess What - from a different point of view

2009-04-02T15:46:00.001-07:00

I heard a bit of noise outside this morning coming from the roof, it's been really windy overnight so I didn't know what it was.

When I looked up I saw it.

My dog started going nuts barking like crazy when she looked up and saw it.

I'll let you ponder what it might be, then maybe tomorrow I will post a picture from a different point of view.

Meanwhile, it's a good time to check out optical illusions or web animations, see truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com or on my photo blog

More on road safety at ezee.ca, or forklift safety at liftright.net

Good Bye Winter

2009-03-31T21:18:00.000-07:00

I won't miss winter and I bet I'm not the only one.

I've seen enough of the white stuff this year, I don't mind seeing it go away.

Now the construction season is upon us.

SLOW DOWN in construction zones,

let the workers enjoy the spring too.

More on Road Safety or on Forklift Safety or Optical Illusions, Web Animations, My Photography, or Truck Photos.

Oh yeah, you can check out my Smoke Tree too.

2009-03-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

Created by The Car Connection

The Bikes are Back in Port Dover

2009-03-17T16:53:00.000-07:00

Another Friday 13th has come and gone without any notable news from Port Dover where thousands upon thousands of bikers go EVERY Friday the 13th.

I live about an hour from Port Dover (not a biker) and had several hundred bikes go by my house through the day in some very large groups where a normal nice March day there might be twenty or thirty all day.

This is an excellent time to remind people to look out for the bikes, they've been scarce in the Northern areas for a while.

Check your mirrors twice, of course make sure they are aimed for maximum view, and give the bikers a chance, a motorcycle is no match for a car or a truck when it changes lanes.

Drive safe!

More on Road Safety or on Forklift Safety or Optical Illusions, Web Animations, My Photography, or Truck Photos.

Oh yeah, you can check out my Smoke Tree too.

Run over by a truck

2009-03-05T16:40:00.000-08:00

I have posted this video of a truck driving over my camera before, I need to shoot it again but this time with some lighting on the ground pointing upwards to light up the chassis as the truck drives over.

I don't work for this company anymore (LMT Transportation But I still do their website), every truck they had was immaculate, Now either Ken or Karl's truck would be newest looking and somewhat clean.

I'll see how it comes out if I can muster up the lighting and wiring if procrastination doesn't set in.

I really meant to do it all last summer and even had my camera in hand looking for Karl one day that we both had nothing to do but something came up before I found him so I put it off again.

Read up on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
See Truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com
or see optical illusions or web animations
Have you heard of Mesothelioma

Tired of this!

2009-02-25T16:18:00.000-08:00

Oh man, what a bummer to come out to.

Oh well, at least I am at home and not driving like when I had my last flat tire. That was a very bad experience on the highway in heavy traffic. (http://road-safety.blogspot.com/2008/04/flat-tire-on-highway.html)

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
See Truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com
or see optical illusions or web animations
Have you heard of Mesothelioma

Ice chunks in the air

2009-02-25T15:51:00.000-08:00

One of the hazards of winter driving are little (and not so little) chunks of ice from the tops of trucks and trailers. In this photo there are lots of little chunks of ice that just blew off the top of a truck maybe 1/4 mile ahead and the are all still moving and bouncing around amongst the traffic.

These little pieces of ice may not be too dangerous for vehicle control but they can do a number on a paint job, like stone chips, another thing auto insurance doesn't really cover well because of the deductible.

The big chunks can be extremely dangerous or even deadly, they can be large enough and heavy enough to go right through a windshield if struck at high speed.

A large layer of ice formed on a trailer can be a foot thick or more and can be as much as eight feet wide and twenty or more feet long.

A large chunk of ice can fly off a truck without any warning and break into a number of large damaging chunks that you can not avoid, unless of course you leave a good safe distance between vehicles.

Just another reason to keep your distance on the highway and keep your car insurance paid up.

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
See Truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com
or see optical illusions or web animations

Oh No, Here it comes again!

2009-02-21T01:30:00.000-08:00

Another swath of that white stuff and another surge for car accident lawyers and auto insurance agents, There will be accidents, injuries and insurance damage claims.

I know it was wishful thinking but I really hoped that the snow was finished for the winter but it looks like I'm in for another bout of shoveling my windrow.

If you don't know what a windrow is, there is a photo of my windrow in my post Its Melting, it's Melting.

Ahhh . . . If only . . .

But with my luck . . .

Take care if you have to drive in the stuff, leave early, keep lots of room between you and the other guy and . . . SLOW DOWN!

The ditch likes speeders!

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
See Truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com
or see optical illusions or web animations

Windrow Killer - The Yeti Snow Truck

2009-02-11T23:53:00.000-08:00

I need one of these to get out of my driveway sometimes as you can see in my previous post Its Melting, it's Melting

The Yeti Snow Truck!

Read up on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
See Truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com
or see optical illusions or web animations

It's Raining and Pouring

2009-02-11T11:24:00.000-08:00

Look out for the rain!

Some areas are getting pounded by rain through the Midwest which is certain to cause some flash flooding with rivers and streams swelling over frozen ground, the runoff won't drain away so quickly.

The increased run off from meltwaters added to the run off from rain could cause serious flooding in low lying areas with water rising faster and deeper than expected.

There are many dangers in these conditions for children and pets but also for motorists on and off the highways.

The first obvious danger for motorists will be pooling on the roads which can cause a car to "hydroplane" out of control.

Another not so obvious danger is the possibility of being swept away in the floodwater.

Every year some drivers do venture through flowing water over the road and all to often the water simply carries the car off into deeper water.

This danger is more prevalent than many think, it only takes about a foot of flowing water to sweep a car off the road.

Be ready for the conditions you encounter and be prepared to take the long way home or just stay where you are til the waters recede, you don't want to be another auto insurance claim or need car accident lawyers and auto insurance agents.

Stay Safe.

Read up on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
See Truck photos or my other photos at donssite.com
or see optical illusions or web animations