Friday, May 16, 2008
Stop Light Massacre
A couple of weeks ago I heard someones life change forever.
Early on a rainy morning I walked outside to take out the trash and I heard two thuds that sounded like hitting a metal trash can with a baseball bat.
I walked out to the road but I couldn't see anything and traffic was moving by normally so I went back in the house.
Then a couple of minutes later I heard a siren, I rushed out and saw a Police car arriving to join a fire truck and ambulance a block down the street.
I started walking down the street then saw that the stop light in the southern median was on the ground in the middle of the intersection.
A bystander said the driver was in pretty rough shape which was understandable after looking at the accident scene.
The really unfortunate thing is that it keeps happening.
I've seen the stop light in front of my house taken out three times in the last two years and twice they rolled over after hitting median curb. (Above)
I can't help thinking, Maybe it's time for suspended stop lights.
More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
Or see my photos at donssite.com
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
LOOKOUT for the BIKES
What a beautiful day it was today. So nice that I saw a few motorcycles out and about.
Motorcycles are so rare to see in the winter that drivers tend to forget about them. The temperatures will soon be reaching "t-shirt" weather and bikes will be everywhere.
It's particularly important for drivers on the highways to start paying extra attention when changing lanes and performing other maneuvers that pose a risk to bikers in traffic at highway speeds.
Bicycle traffic is also beginning to appear on the city streets along with many other "nice weather" hazards such as kids outside playing near the road or pedestrians, dog walkers and joggers.
Human traffic should be aware of their surroundings enough to stay safe around motor vehicle traffic but many pedestrians or cyclists are killed or injured every year because someone made a poor judgment call or the driver didn't see the pedestrian or the pedestrian didn't see the car.
Just commit to always using a little extra caution while behind the wheel.
More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
Or see my photos at donssite.com
Motorcycles are so rare to see in the winter that drivers tend to forget about them. The temperatures will soon be reaching "t-shirt" weather and bikes will be everywhere.
It's particularly important for drivers on the highways to start paying extra attention when changing lanes and performing other maneuvers that pose a risk to bikers in traffic at highway speeds.
Bicycle traffic is also beginning to appear on the city streets along with many other "nice weather" hazards such as kids outside playing near the road or pedestrians, dog walkers and joggers.
Human traffic should be aware of their surroundings enough to stay safe around motor vehicle traffic but many pedestrians or cyclists are killed or injured every year because someone made a poor judgment call or the driver didn't see the pedestrian or the pedestrian didn't see the car.
Just commit to always using a little extra caution while behind the wheel.
More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
Or see my photos at donssite.com
Monday, April 7, 2008
Red Light Camera and Seat Belt Fines
In this last week, two traffic control issues have come up in Toronto.
A Toronto Councilor wants to raise the fine for red light camera tickets to $1000.00 and drastically increase the number of cameras.
I would only agree to a higher red light fine if an officer witnessed and stopped the vehicle, I have always been against any traffic cameras.
The idea of raising the fine for seat belt violations to $1000.00 per person also came up in Ontario after 4 people were ejected from a van that rolled in Toronto.
Money, Money, Money. The OPP regularly set up seat belt traps at hidden on ramps, They are going to make a fortune at $ 1000.00 a pop.
Why don't they crack down on the shootings in the Jane and Finch area or home invasions and street violence elsewhere in the city.
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
A Toronto Councilor wants to raise the fine for red light camera tickets to $1000.00 and drastically increase the number of cameras.
I would only agree to a higher red light fine if an officer witnessed and stopped the vehicle, I have always been against any traffic cameras.
The idea of raising the fine for seat belt violations to $1000.00 per person also came up in Ontario after 4 people were ejected from a van that rolled in Toronto.
Money, Money, Money. The OPP regularly set up seat belt traps at hidden on ramps, They are going to make a fortune at $ 1000.00 a pop.
Why don't they crack down on the shootings in the Jane and Finch area or home invasions and street violence elsewhere in the city.
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
Friday, April 4, 2008
Aggressive Highway Driver
There is a dangerous behavior I encounter occasionally while driving a truck past highway entry ramps. Vehicles entering the highway racing past the end of the on ramp to get in front of the truck.
A guy in a pick up truck did it today when I was already going 60 mph in solid traffic, he almost clipped me as he passed then instantly slammed on his brakes to avoid hitting the car in front of me when the shoulder narrowed and he had to merge.
Luckily I wasn't carrying an unstable load because I had to hit my brakes to avoid hitting him.
He has stolen MY SAFETY SPACE and could have potentially caused a serious accident.
Some people just don't get it when it comes to road safety.
Road Safety tips at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
or see my photos at donssite.com
A guy in a pick up truck did it today when I was already going 60 mph in solid traffic, he almost clipped me as he passed then instantly slammed on his brakes to avoid hitting the car in front of me when the shoulder narrowed and he had to merge.
Luckily I wasn't carrying an unstable load because I had to hit my brakes to avoid hitting him.
He has stolen MY SAFETY SPACE and could have potentially caused a serious accident.
Some people just don't get it when it comes to road safety.
Road Safety tips at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
or see my photos at donssite.com
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Flat tire on the highway
Well, I was heading into work today in heavy traffic bound for Toronto when I started to feel this sickening feeling "in the seat of my pants" then the dreaded sound like a small propeller driven airplane. A rapid flat tire, and I'm in the middle lane going 50 mph.
As I begin slowing and manage to get into the right lane, I see there's nowhere to go. No shoulder whatsoever but an entry ramp is coming up in about a quarter of a mile so I kept going to the ramp and got off as far as I could. Then got out and looked at my chewed up tire.
I don't get flat tires very often, so I wasn't really prepared to deal with it. The spare tire is mounted under the van, WHAT A STUPID PLACE to put the spare, rusted into place, there's no way I'm getting it off so I had to get towed in to get a new tire.
Luckily, (the only good thing about my day) Canadian Tire covered it and another tire under their road hazard warranty.
So, I get to work about three hours late, but at least I got there.
Things could have been much worse, It could have been snowing or raining, it could have been my front tire, I could have been going much faster and It could have caused an accident.
It goes to show that you have to be ready for anything while you are driving, you can never "let your guard down" in highway traffic.
Drive Safe,
Safe driving tips at http://ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at http://liftright.net
or see my photos at http://donssite.com
As I begin slowing and manage to get into the right lane, I see there's nowhere to go. No shoulder whatsoever but an entry ramp is coming up in about a quarter of a mile so I kept going to the ramp and got off as far as I could. Then got out and looked at my chewed up tire.
I don't get flat tires very often, so I wasn't really prepared to deal with it. The spare tire is mounted under the van, WHAT A STUPID PLACE to put the spare, rusted into place, there's no way I'm getting it off so I had to get towed in to get a new tire.
Luckily, (the only good thing about my day) Canadian Tire covered it and another tire under their road hazard warranty.
So, I get to work about three hours late, but at least I got there.
Things could have been much worse, It could have been snowing or raining, it could have been my front tire, I could have been going much faster and It could have caused an accident.
It goes to show that you have to be ready for anything while you are driving, you can never "let your guard down" in highway traffic.
Drive Safe,
Safe driving tips at http://ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at http://liftright.net
or see my photos at http://donssite.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)