Posted on 11/08/2002 5:06:55 AM PST by PJ-Comix
Believe it or not, I am EXTREMELY lucky to even be here this morning to post on the FR. Actually I am very lucky to even be in this world. Why? Last night an IDIOT trucker hauling a load of cars and minivans, almost cause me to fatally crash. What happened was that I was on I-95 driving south around 10:45 PM last night here in South Florida when suddenly that truck smacked into the side of my car when he foolishly tried to change lanes too quickly. He had plenty of room in front or behind me but for some stupid reason (fatigue?) he started changing lanes right into my car. It happened very quickly and the MORON continued changing lanes from the lane to my left, into my car even after the sound of banging metal started. I was basically shoved into the lane to my right and LUCKILY there were no cars there so a big crash was averted.
The trucker kept on his merry way and after my initial shock I sped up to take down his license number. As I did so I noticed, that despite his heavy load of cars and minivans, he was going over 70 MPH and was weaving a lot. I called 911 and gave them the trucker's license # in order to get that IDIOT off the road.
I then pulled off the highway to check the damage. To my surprise the only damage to the car was a bit of metal grinding on the side of my rear view mirror on the door. Also, because my drivers side window won't roll up or down, I assume that the side window was shoved against the window and caused it to go off-track.
Anyway, I don't know if that trucker was drunk, on drugs, or merely fatigued. I don't know about the first two but if the trucker was fatigued, I think I know of one small way to combat driver fatigue on I-95.
Here is my suggestion. Right now they are erecting lots of electronic road signs over the highway. Currently they just have test messages but in the future they will have let the drivers know about road conditions. What I suggest is that when the road conditions are good that instead of just saying "Road Conditions Good" I think the electronic highway signs should also post quirky but FUNNY messages in order to keep drivers alert.
Here are some of my examples of the quirky funny messages for the electronic road signs:
A Bird In The Hand Is Messier Than Two In The Bush
He Who Laughs Last Was Too Dumb To Figure Out The Joke First
The Early Bird Gets The Early Worm
Redundancy Can Be Quite Catchy As Well As Contagious
If these messages are posted then drivers would pay attention to them and at least be a bit more alert on the roads. Another benefit is that it would provide some fun for tourists visiting Florida and gives them another incentive to come down here. Of course, when road conditions are bad, that information would be posted but when things are clear the signs would revert to the quirky funny messages. After my experience last night I think it is VERY important to keep drivers alert and these type of signs would be very helpful. Oh, and the funny messages would have to be constantly updated so the drivers won't become bored by reading recycled messages.
I have also have a selfish motive for making this suggestion since the life I save by keeping drivers more alert might be my own. But it could also be yours....
A lot of people don't know that Florida has a city named Hollywood but unlike the one in Calfornia, ours has a beach. BTW, Hollywood, Florida also has a boardwalk over 4 miles long. One of the best kept "secrets" in this state.
Huh? I wasn't aware that I did. ??????
The electronic signs are posted ABOVE I-95 on the overpasses. Not to the side. If there is a problem with folks reading the signs then they would not put them up there for road conditions. The main thing is to both keep drivers alert and checking the signs for info. If the info is dull, they won't check them so often. I remember when I was a kid and we would see those great signs by Pancho advertising South Of The Border restaurant in South Carolina. I don't think those funny signs caused any additional accidents. But it did keep the drivers more alert since they were FUN to read.
You WON'T Be Late
If You DON'T Tailgate
And these fools do scare me(and it takes alot to do that).
You should have seen the trucker last night. He was carrying a load of 4 cars and minivans on the back. He was going OVER 70 mph plus he was swaying back and forth a lot. After he tapped me on the side and I caught up with him to get his license #, it scared the hell out of me to be right behind him because I was worried about those cars and minivans coming loose due to the strain of all that swaying at the high speed. WHAT THE HELL is a trucker doing going so fast with such a load? I sure hope the FHP pulled him over last night.
If You're Carrying A Heavy Load
Drive Slow And Careful On The Road
If the trucker last night saw such a sign it might have been a good reminder although I suspect he might have been on Drugs or Booze by the way he was driving.
And if they are driving at night, they think their the only one's on the road and do whatever they want to.
Going over 70 mph carrying a load of cars and minivans?
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