Daytime running lights

I have been noticing recently that more and more drivers are not turning out their full lighting systems during the dawn to dusk period of the day. They are turning on their parking lights, and dashboard lights; but not turning on their rear lights.

This means that they can see the road and their dashboard, but I can't see them from behind. And so a few times I have been surprised by their car just appearing in front of me. Why are they not turning on their rear lights?

 There are some drivers who after you find them and flash your high beams will turn on their rear lights, but most just drive on.

I wish that so much of a car was more automatic, and more out of the control of the person driving it. Here are some ideas for automakers:

• Cell phones should be disabled while the car is in motion. 
• Black boxes should be in every car and truck - easy access for cops after an accident to find fault. and should record everything fro speed, signals, lights, if a cell phone was touched or used. 
• booster seats for those less than 5 feet 5 inches tall.
• snow tires for November through till may

Here is another idea for our government to start doing.

Every driver should have to take a written test every 5 years. - Driving is NOT A RIGHT, but a privilege!
Professional Driver already have to take a test every 5 years... why not force every driver to?

This will create jobs and help to ensure that drivers are keeping up with the new and old rules of the road. That we as drivers are dependent on those around us to make to where we are going safely.

I really want to come home each day safely. But more and more people are making that a HUGE challenge.

My sister's cross country trip

My sister, after 6 years of living in Calgary, Alberta has come to a close and now she is packed up and driving home to Toronto, Ontario.

First off, I am not a fan of my sister driving alone home, even with two dogs in the back seat. I was really hoping that she would have asked my Mom to come with her, but my sister has her own mind, and well that's it.

So needless to say we are tracking her progress and praying that she comes home safe with no horror stories. I am sure that she is prepared for the trip and has done all she can to avoid the auto related disasters, but still the family worries.

There is a huge difference between how I would make the trip as a man in a commercial truck. I would have taken 3 days to drive the 3,500 kilometers. She is taking 7 days and going through the USA and making stops along the way as she and the dogs seem fit. But she doesn't really drive that far and that long like I have gotten used to, and well that's good.

Pray for safety, pray for endurance, and pray for wisdom as she drives.

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.

I really can't see you!

I guess with the nights becoming longer and there is more darkness in our work days, I have been noticing or rather not seeing people on/in/by the road as I drive around Toronto and Area. People wearing the tradition BLACK clothing walking where cars even with their headlights on can't see you...

Why Oh Why are you hiding and trying to kill yourself?

People don't seem to understand that dressing in BLACK or dark colours makes you very hard to see at night and in the glare of wet roads?

Can you see the bike?
This is the view from my Truck's window. The biker was riding beside me and pulled up to the car in front of me. There is nothing reflective on his bike. I could barely see him.

Cars and trucks have LIGHTS so that they can been seen.... Bikes are required to have the same during night riding... by law he should get a ticket.

The worst is I could have bumped into him and killed him.... I could not see him until it was too late.

The gov.uk.com site had a great idea.... riders must wear reflective clothing while on the road.

People walking should also ALWAYS wear something reflective when outside.... I really do want to see you.

Yet this evening as I was driving around, I saw about 2 people wearing reflective vests.... so there is hope.

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?