Who asked for a WHITE CHRISTMAS

Four snowstorms in a week!



THAT'S ENOUGH. I've already had it with that powdered sunshine &5#@>&^* and it's only Xmas Eve.

We had record snowfall last year and so far this year we are about a foot ahead of normal.

I sure hope the weather pattern changes real soon, whatever happened to Global Warming anyway? Bring it on quick, it's cold out there.

My snowblower decided not to start the other day. What a piece of junk it has been, it gives me problems every year. I think it sucks in snow which melts then refreezes and cuts off the fuel.



Anyway, Watch out on the roads, they can be treacherous at times, leave lots of extra space between vehicles in this weather and slow down, it's better to be late than be in the ditch!

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
or see optical illusions or web animations

Taste of Winter

Well the first week of December and most of the States have had at least a little taste of winter weather soon to come.


The most important things about winter driving are keeping speed relative to road conditions which could be much lower than posted speeds, and keep lots of distance between vehicles. Be especially careful using on-ramps and off-ramps, that's where a lot of people lose it often on black ice.

A seasonal hazard on the roads in many areas will be the snow plows and salters.

Give them the room they need to make your roads safer.


On the bigger roads, Conga Lines.

You don't get by these guys, they are probably running along at about 30 or 40 MPH depending on conditions.

As each guy plows his pile to the guy on his right, they may be spreading a salt, sand or gravel mix for traction and to melt or prevent ice. You don't want to drive into that stuff bouncing around on the road as they spread it, it dings up your paint job pretty good.

I have the pleasure of driving behind these several times a year. It can be frustrating but it sure makes the highway an awful lot safer than without.

What a pleasure it is driving through the south in the winter.


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

Eight Crashes on Highway 427

At the end of my driving day yesterday I had one last run up highway 427 when our little snowfall came. We only got just over an inch by the time it was over but the temperature was just below freezing so it turned to ice as tires compressed it on the road.



The ten mile stretch that I drove took me more than an hour and a half as I passed crash after crash after crash.

Eight crashes (none serious) as well as several spin outs and a couple of cars in the ditch were the main reason for traffic to be moving about walking speed. Once in a while traffic would speed up to about running speed until someone started sliding then back to walking speed again.



This was a perfect example of drivers either ignoring the road conditions or not being able to recognize them. Almost all of the collisions I saw were due to vehicles being too close to each other when they had to brake and not being able to stop or slow down enough then CRUNCH.



Oh what a day to own a body shop. I had a friend that owned one and he was as happy as a pig in mud when weather was like this.



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

Winter has arrived!

Well, it's here. The snow has arrived and ten minutes into my first flurry a car spun out in front of me as I was turning through an intersection.



The driver looked like he saw a ghost, he did a 180 and was facing me (driving a truck right at him) when he stopped.

Winter driving is much different than warm weather driving with some obvious hazards but sometimes there are hidden hazards as well such as "black ice". Black ice is a thin layer of ice that forms on the road that is invisible and causes a tremendous number of accidents each year (mostly vehicles in the ditch).

Whenever the temps drop below or even near freezing drivers must adjust their driving habits to suit the conditions. SLOW DOWN, LEAVE MORE DISTANCE BETWEEN VEHICLES and PREPARE TO STOP SOONER.

Drive safe!

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

Freak accident is deadly

Truck trailer plummets sixty feet off overpass and crushes 4 cars below killing one man.





I had to make my way around the massive congestion caused by this crash three times today with one trip passing right by the scene. My camera battery was dead when I drove past the scene though unfortunately, I had my camera on too long earlier taking the long distance shots shown here.





I have seen many many crashes over the years but never anything as dramatic as this one. The wreckage was more like a pile of scrap metal pushed across the road.






All together the westbound lanes were closed about twelve hours for the investigation and clean-up.

Beyond the human cost of the tragedy, can you imagine the other costs of this accident paralyzing the south west corner of the city the entire business day and into the evening.


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

Distracted driver or following too close?

Just about two blocks from where I start my driving day, this collision snarled traffic for a while.



Not stopping to ask, it looked like the SUV was going to turn into a business on the left (very common on this stretch of road) and the driver of the car may not have noticed in time and rear-ended the SUV.



I see one of these "turning" accidents along this stretch of road (about 4 miles) about every other month some more serious than others.



Nearly all of these type of collisions are totally preventable if the drivers would pay more attention to driving and give it top priority as if it were a life or death situation.


ALL TOO OFTEN . . . IT IS!



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

Fatal Truck Rollover

Tragedy strikes quickly and takes the life of this truck's driver.



The driver entered the highway ramp too fast and the top heavy load caused the truck to roll onto it's side.



The driver was partially ejected when the truck overturned pinning him under the vehicle, authorities said he didn't stand a chance and was killed instantly.


This is Toronto's 47th traffic fatality this year.

Many people don't realize the shear inertia that a loaded truck has once it gets moving.

The "load" wants to remain in motion at the same speed and direction and sometimes the physical abilities of the vehicle cannot control that force of inertia and tragedy strikes.

Always give trucks a little extra space for your safety and theirs.


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

Another Rear End Collision

Another case of a driver somehow being distracted when the brakes came on.



The pick up truck careened into the silver car thrusting the poor guy into the black SUV in front of him and shoving the SUV into a tractor trailer.




Highway driving requires constant concentration on the task of driving.

Momentary distractions can have a devastating outcome as traffic conditions can change in a split second.

Leave enough space for your reaction time plus a little extra to account for traffic behind you.


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

Rainy Day

It was a pretty wet day today and the rain caused havoc in traffic all over.

I saw several weather related accidents today.




There was a car overturned in a ditch after sliding on wet pavement that slowed traffic down a bit.

Then a few miles down the road was a big mess for several hours where a bus and truck tangled leaving the bus in the ditch.


Slow down in poor weather conditions.

No tires can grip a wet road anywhere near as good as a dry road especially when the road is "greasy" with traces of various automotive fluids and road dirt mixed with the rain.




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

What caused this collision?

How did this happen?



Was he following too close?

Was he fiddling with some GPS gadget?

Was he making a call on a cell phone?

Was he trying to send a text message?

Was he too tired to be driving?

Was he suffering from a medical condition?

Was he looking for his next delivery information?



Was he distracted by something he saw?

Maybe he was checking out the architecture and marble work of this building when the brakes went on.

Could you imagine if there was a car between these trucks.





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

Run Over by a Truck

Run Over by a Truck

Find more videos like this on Gofindhere




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

Some people know which way to go!

I don't know where he's going but he's sure getting there quicker than anyone else.






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

Crash of the day

I passed what appeared to be a red light accident this afternoon between a car and a truck.

I was amazed at how badly the truck was damaged by the car.

I guess it was because of the direction, speed and location of the impact.

The damage to the car was about what I would expect.









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

Always use the crosswalk

HMMM?

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 Oh !

I don't know what the driver is doing but I'm sure glad I'm going this direction.

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

Head on collision on major divided highway

How can this happen?

A Head on collision on major divided highway at 4:00 AM.

Why was a pick up truck driving the wrong direction on Highway 403.

ALCOHOL, DWI, DUI, Impaired, Intoxicated, Drunk, and he escaped with minor injuries after killing two innocent victims in the car he struck.

In 2008, there is no excuse for drinking and driving. Many years of media, government and public condemnation of the activity and the social unacceptability should prevent people from drinking and driving but some still do it regardless.

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

Truck crash may change commuters routes

A truck crash on the 401 express exit ramp to 404 and Don Valley Parkway in Toronto causes havoc for commuters.

Unfortunately, there will be on going delays and possible detours while repairs are done to the bridge and columns that were badly damaged by the fire.

After seeing the TV footage of the fire, I think the bridge should be replaced.

I believe the bridge is over forty years old, I wonder how it will handle a Canadian winter with tons of salt to melt the ice if they just do a "bandaid" fix.

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

Slow down and pay attention in the rain

It appears that someone wasn't watching the road.




The guy in the white car had enough inertia to the van and the black car into the pick up truck.

Ironically, I was sitting at this same stop light right about where the white pick up truck is when a car rolled forward into me prompting my earlier post "Fender Bender, Hertz don't it"

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

Five people ejected from an SUV - One Dies

Once again a serious accident where no occupants were wearing their seat belts and all five were ejected on Highway 400.

Tragically, a 19 year old has lost his life and a 17 year old has serious head injuries.

OPP investigators speculate that the SUV may have been cut off by another vehicle.

Seatbelts Save Lives. Use them, It's the law for a reason.

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
Or see my photos at donssite.com

Flying Tarp

Just a couple of days after writing about "Gators" on the road and other road debris, I saw a serious problem instantly develop on my drive into the city this morning.

A large rolled tarp fell off a truck in a center lane at 60 mph in heavy traffic.

A car right behind the truck had no choice but to run over it likely causing considerable damage as I could see the front wheel leave the ground.

The tarp immediately started opening and cars started swerving all over the highway. In my mirror I could see one car fly across three lanes onto the shoulder and back into traffic.

I don't know what eventually happened but it had to scare the hell out of many drivers.

As I always say, Leave Lots of Space Between Vehicles - AT LEAST TWO FULL SECONDS , I prefer three seconds because you never know what might happen in front of you and I like going home every night.

Another point of today's post is to Truckers - SECURE YOUR LOAD ! ! !

The overwhelming majority of truck drivers are safe professional drivers with an enormous number of accident free ticket free miles, many even reaching a million safe miles and beyond.

BUT . . . there are a handful of trucks that you don't want to be around whether the driver is unsafe, or the truck or load are unsafe.

Over the years I have seen many truck loads shift (fortunately not mine) and the majority have been because the load was not secured properly in the first place.

A good reference for cargo securement is:

National Safety Code Standard - Cargo Securement

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
Or see my photos at donssite.com

Another street racing crash

Last night there was another street racing accident in Toronto that will likely leave a 22 year old woman parallelized from the neck down. It was referred to as a Nascar-like crash by the media.

Witnesses reported a second car which Police have already impounded. The two cars may have touched causing the accident.

Ontario passed a tough street racing law for speeding more that 50 kilometers (30 miles) over the limit in September of last year and have laid over 7500 charges so far.

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
Or see my photos at donssite.com

Look out for the Gators

Look out for the "gators" on the road, they're everywhere.

A "Gator" is a slang term for a piece of tire tread that has ripped loose from a damaged truck tire.

Smaller gators are not a tremendous hazard if you run over them but the larger ones can cause some problems.

Perhaps a bigger hazard is a vehicle that swerves to miss one, that's what I saw today which luckily did not cause the accident that it could have caused.

On a busy major highway just ahead of me today, one car drove over a gator at sixty miles an hour and it flipped up in front of the car behind him. That driver freaked out, swerved to miss it and almost lost control in front of lots of traffic including me.

Any kind of debris on the road can be dangerous, I once watched (seemingly in slow motion) as a large bolt was flung up by a passing pick up truck changing lanes in front of me. The bolt was spinning in the air at my eye level as I hit it at 50 mph. My windshield shattered in circular area about a foot around with a perfect clear Hex shape in the center where the head hit. It sounded like a gun shot as the safety glass did it's job and kept it from penetrating through the glass.

I felt the instinctive urge to swerve but kept the wheel firm and ducked instead. If I had swerved enough to miss it, I would have clipped the car beside me or worse.

Just another reason to leave plenty of space between vehicles on the highway, you can see any hazards further ahead of you and take safe evasive actions to avoid hitting the debris.

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
Or see my photos at donssite.com

Traffic mess

What a Mess . . .

Two days after a 5 hour closure just a quarter mile west of this accident (previous post) another closure for several hours to clean up this mess then the next day, CLOSURE YET AGAIN for several hours, but this time it's the west bounders turn.

Highway accidents can be very serious and occur very suddenly when traffic is traveling at speed.


It's so important to keep a safe distance between vehicles, but I still see so many "packs" of vehicles maybe six or eight at a time driving at 75 miles an hour just a car length apart.

I still remember quite vividly while driving home one night in the rain seeing a car in my mirror coming up quickly from behind in heavy traffic changing lanes erratically. He lost control right behind me and spun out in front of a pack of cars, it was like a good break when you play eight ball.

All I could do was watch in my mirror as cars were going every which way, spinning into each other, into the wall and into the ditch. I quickly took the upcoming exit as I called 911 and doubled back on the service road to beside the accident scene. Luckily although there were many cars involved (probably about ten) there were no serious impacts although there were some seriously hot tempers.

This accident may have only involved three or four cars if traffic was spaced a little farther apart where each car had a little more safety space.

More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
Or see my photos at donssite.com