That was funny how FReeper hotshot toggled from no caps and nearly no punctuation in one post to breathless CAPSLOCK in the next! 
~ Blue Jays ~
Posted on 08/21/2006 6:50:52 PM PDT by SJackson
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation trumpeted it as good news.
Accidents involving big trucks on our state's roads and highways declined in 2005.
In fact, the State Patrol's Bureau of Transportation Safety said that the 7,762 truck crashes during the last year represented the lowest number in 16 years. Just 10 years ago, large truck crashes totaled more than 9,400, it said.
The number of people killed in crashes involving semis and other large trucks in 2005 was 94, the fewest since 1992, when 90 people perished in such collisions.
State Patrol Capt. Chuck Teasdale credited the better numbers to the patrol's "extensive safety inspections" and "close monitoring of drivers."
"Traffic law enforcement is another key component because it focuses on truck drivers' decisions and behaviors that often cause crashes," he said. "We also are working with trucking companies and organizations to educate drivers about safety issues."
Frankly, we could all use some good news about the growing dangerous mix of passenger cars and ever-more-powerful semis on the roads. Only a few days ago, another tractor-trailer rammed into the rear of stopped traffic on the Beltline, the driver unable to bring its heavy load to a stop. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, although traffic was stopped dead on the busy Beltline for most of the morning.
Drivers on the Jersey Turnpike last week weren't as fortunate. Four people were killed and four more injured when a flatbed truck loaded with bricks slammed into stopped traffic. The truck wasn't able to stop. It pushed one car under the trailer of another truck, killing three of the four people in it. It then careered over a guard rail and overturned, spilling the bricks onto a second car, killing the woman who was driving it.
Now it's true that trucks don't always run into the rear of passenger cars and it's also true that many of the accidents are more the fault of the car drivers than of the truck drivers. Trouble is, the car drivers don't stand much of a chance in an encounter between the two.
And it's also true that the lethal mix of the two is becoming more volatile as the increase in the number of cars and the growth of the trucking industry continue unabated. We may have had a good year in 2005, but that's bound to change as the unhealthy mix of the two gets more severe.
The time will come when passenger cars and trucks will have to be separated, either through a redesign of our national highway system or encouraging even more use of railroad rights of way.
Congratulations to the State Patrol for a good year, but don't hold your breath for the future.
Really? (Not being sarcastic) I see that a lot around here and I do it all the time myself. I know how hard it is to judge distance when all you see is a pair of lights at night. I'm also teaching my kids to do that as they learn to drive.
That being said, I avoid the interstate at all costs. We live very close to one and it is extremely easy to hop on and zip to where ever, but there are plenty of much less stressful state and county routes that run parallel to it that I take the vast majority of the time. It may take a few minutes more but it's so much more relaxing, and safer, IMO.
Becasue we're spending all the highway money on schools employing a caste of Democratic Party operatives cleverly disguised as educrats. ;)
FHP WILL NOT RESPOND TO CALLS MADE ABOUT TRUCKS AND ANY OTHER VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATES. I WITNESSED AN ACCCIDENT IN WHICH TWO TRUCK COLLIDED BECAUSE TWO CARS PULLED OFF THE SHOULDER IN THEIR PATH. THE CARS DID NOT STOP, I CALLED 911 WITH THE TAGS, DESCRIPTION WITH DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND WAS TOLD FHP WOULD NOT PURSUE OR STOP THEM. THE TRUCKS WERE DAMAGED BUT NO ONE WAS HURT.
I DO NOT CARE TO MAKE MONEY ON IT.
Why are you shouting on this thread?
~ Blue Jays ~
This narrative sounds like the Florida Highway Patrol needs to evaluate how they respond to called-in emergencies to their 9-1-1 system. In any case, it appears that the truckers were the unfortunate victims according to what you described.
~ Blue Jays ~
Recognition of sarcasm clearly isn't one of your strengths. Each of your concerns was completely addressed in post# 86 earlier in the thread.
~ Blue Jays ~
Wow, two incredibly fast vehicles in one video. As an automobile enthusiast, Car & Driver magazine just did a story on the Audi RS4 sedan and it is quite impressive. Lots of power available on tap and it won't get stuck in the snow, either!
~ Blue Jays ~
Maybe in some places, but neither of those statements is universally true. And that's fine since it means, in some aspects, federalism is alive and well and the 10th. amendment means something.
Post 53:Hi apackof2-
"...My girlfriend was flashed by a pervert trucker and she had her kids with her. However she got the license# and company name and when she got home she told her hubby and he called the company and read them the riot act and the trucker got fired..."
The words *girlfriend*, *her kids*, and *hubby* were underscored in your response to her, which they weren't in apackof2's original post (#10)
Then in post 75 another freeper pointed out your blunder; that you ASSUMED that apackof2 was male. Only then did you try to CYB and bail out by putting forth the pathetic excuse that you were just being sarcastic.
So, yes, I recognize sarcasm, but I also recognize slander, which is what those comments about apackof2 and her friend were.
Then we're all sarcasm-impaired, evidently, because NO ONE on this thread caught your intent.
Not even you, until Post 148, it would seem.
Silly . . . he didn't use any caps in his first few messages, and now he's using all caps. He's trying to be fair and balanced.
(BTW, he uses all caps in FReepmails.)
FReepers italicize, underscore, and highlight the text of others to illustrate points and poke fun everyday. I can't help it if your lack of basic HTML skills doesn't allow you to participate in similar fashion.
Slander against "apackof2" you say? LOL! Participants on this board are anonymous for crying out loud! Feel free to tell everyone in your local community that "Blue Jays on Free Republic" worships goats and wears a pink tutu to the supermarket and see if I care. It sure would be tough to sell that as slander since we're all safely tucked behind our keyboards.
This is intended to be a low-stress thread about cars, trucks, highways, trains, railroads, and even the (alleged) occasional weirdo-in-a-truck flasher. You appear to be strung very tightly and need to relax, it's much better for your heart.
~ Blue Jays ~
Hey, it happens. But then again, I'm especially clever!
~ Blue Jays ~
That was funny how FReeper hotshot toggled from no caps and nearly no punctuation in one post to breathless CAPSLOCK in the next!
~ Blue Jays ~
I hear ya, but you know that's not going to happen. Progress is a race between the simplification of technology and the amplification of idiocy. Which side of that bet do you want?
It has been a while since I ruffled some feathers. Got bored so I logged in.
Wrong, Tony.
Who do you think are _running_ those trains?
Why, enginemen and conductors that belong to an outfit called the "BLET". That stands for "Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen".
And what _larger_ labor organization is the BLET a part of?
Why, none other than the TEAMSTERS. Yes, you are reading this right.
I'm a member (I run trains for a living, for 27 years).
By the way, I voted AGAINST the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers/Teamster alliance. Guess I was in the minority on that one!
Cheers!
- John
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.