I really need a break.

Its summer and I really need a break from all the crazy drivers out there playing chicken with their lives and mine.

So I am on vacation and going camping. Not too far from home, and just for a few days.

Post: The camping trip was the perfect get-away for me and the girls.

My Uncle's story

I meet my Uncle at a funeral service this past weekend for another Uncle. He knows I am a professional driver and he asked me a question:

Can the driver of a Freight liner Columbia see me over his grill? My uncle was driving a 2door Hyundai.

Seems that they were stopped at a traffic light.  The trucker stopped too close and my Uncle's car vanished. The trucker was aware of my uncle's car, but again was too close and when the trucker looked up and saw the light was green let off the gas and the automatic truck moved forward enough to "kiss" my uncle's bumper.

Yes, the trucker was at fault, my uncle is safe and his bumper has some marks on it; but its cosmetic damage and he and the car will be Ok. The truck was not injured. The trucker was embarrassed and very sorry about what he did.

This story helps to underline that a truck has a very limited field of vision. So here are some rules of thumb.

1. If you don't see the driver in the mirror from behind, he can't see you.
2. If you don't see the driver through the windshield he can't see you.
3. If a trucker has their signals on and needs to come into your lane, either pass him or flash your lights to tell him that its OK to come into your lane.
4. Give trucks lots of space to move. They really don't want to come into contact with you or your car.
5. Truck don't have crumple zones like your car does. Trucks are covered with a very thin skin which only helps move the air around the truck and decrease fuel consumption.
6. Never pick a battle with a truck. You will lose.

Be safe, and give trucks lot of room.

Every 5 yrs

So what if you were required by the province to take a written and/or physical driving test to renew your driver's Licence? Lets not talk about $ for the test just yet. Lets talk about the possible good & bad which such a requirement would mean for us.

Highway Traffic Act changes from time to time. New signage is installed and updated. New vechicals and classes of vechicals change and are retired. We have a changing and aging population who have not had their ability to drive tested since they were licensed. Most people agree that there are a growing number of bad drivers out there. Where is the quality control of drivers? Did you know that you can get your G class test in some 17 different languages?

What about insurance rates? Would they go down, if more driver's were not allowed to be behind the wheel because they failed the test? Would the rates of those who did fail increase because they failed? Would the test help to remove uneducated drivers from the roads, to help ease congestion and help promote transit?

Currently those who hold a A, B, C, D, E, F class of licence are required to pass a written test every 5 years; as well we have to pass medical testing and have other requirements  just to hold our jobs? Yes we do. We are professionals and really don't mind keeping up to date with all the changes.

I and other professional drivers just want to help reduce congestion by remove dangerous drivers who we believe would not be able to pass a written and physical driving test. Thus they would be forced to retrain and improve their skills to get back on the road. This would make our roads safer, and easier with all the reduced traffic. Less traffic would see a HUGE savings by reducing fuel cost, grant us more parking spaces when shoping, and make the highway system more productive and less expansive.

What do you think?

May the Fourth Be with you?

Yes every May 4 is Star Wars day for its fans. We are only looking to celebrate and fun with Star Wars, no Star Trek etc. Yes,  I did remember the day and had some fun with it. But I stopped short of watching one of the movies since well, I just don't have to kind of time during a work day.