So somebody (I won't mention any names) went to all the trouble of conducting an official survey to determine that New Yorkers are the angriest, most aggressive drivers in the country? That seems like a colossal waste of time, doesn't it? On the other hand, this is NY's first win in a survey that's been done before (last year Miami was #1). Now I question its validity. I have driven in both, and Miami drivers are no slouches when it comes to idiocy on the road, but more aggressive than New Yorkers? I don't think so. Come on, survey people, you can do better than that.
Here's an evolving message that started out as one of those wacky 911 calls, progressed to a lesson on what not to do if you're in Texas driving drunk in your Ferrari and ultimately became a good excuse to review a couple of Mother R's more critical driving commandments: Don't Drive Drunk and Follow the Rules of Trains.
Just for fun, let's do this post in the form of an animated movie from the fabulous free make-your-own-movie site, Xtranormal. Check it out...
Quite a story, eh? And as tempting as it is to judge this guy a total moron, but using language that wouldn't be appropriate for this cheery blog, to be fair he has apparently been through some tragic times recently and is suffering from severe depression. So let's show some compassion as we tell him kindly but quite sternly: "We're very sorry for your loss, but that is no excuse! Don't you ever do that again, mister!!"
And we won't ever do it either, will we? Of course not!
Mother Rider is always glad for a good excuse to say I told you so, especially on one of her favorite lecture topics, so she was thrilled (and grateful) to find a link to these photos in an email (subject: WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT) from her friend Laura. Check it out...
Notice how the driver's seat remained remarkably intact in the midst of the mangled wreckage around it, and imagine how different the driver would have looked from that fellow we see casually checking his cell, without a seat belt holding him securely in that small refuge. OK, that's enough; I want you to buckle your safety belts, not to have nightmares! Quite a vivid demonstration, wouldn't you say?
Surely after looking at these photos you are not still thinking of lame excuses not to buckle up, are you? I doubt it, but just in case, let me share this link to snopes.com, where the ever popular what if I'm trapped in my seat belt and can't get out? argument is soundly debunked: Risk-O Inferno And by all means, get yourself one of those handy little hammer/slicer escape gadgets at any discount or auto parts store, or online at Amazon. You'll feel better.
Mother R is proud to see that seat belt use in America is creeping up (from 82% to 83% in 2008, according to the NHTSA's NOPUS), with a #1 performance by Michigan at 97.2% (you go, Michigan!) but she's still pretty mystified as to what the heck is wrong with the other 17% of you! Come on, folks, you know I keep saying that there is no reason for mandatory safety belt laws because we are smart enough to buckle up without being told, yet a few of you continue to make me look bad (never mind getting yourselves killed) by failing to buckle up. Now I want you to get with the program and get those numbers up to 100% for 2009. Do you hear me? Do I have to tell you again? Right, well I guess that's about enough harping for one day.
So I will leave you to enjoy a Happy Easter Sunday, with my thanks for your best and most salubrious driving behavior, and with special thanks to Laura and the anonymous individual who was so generous (and smart) as to assemble and send along this amazing testimony.
This one is called Speed Demon, and you teens will be glad to hear that it shows particular sensitivity to your privacy concerns, because it was invented by Jon Fischer, one of your own who was inspired by the tragic death of a fellow teen in a high speed crash. His website (www.livefastdriveslow.com) shows his motivation in statistics that link excess speed to fatal accidents. Jon doesn't want you all to kill yourselves, but he appreciates that you don't want to be spied on, and has set up the Speed Demon so that won't happen as long as you don't speed. Clever, eh?
Here's how it works. Parents purchase the Speed Demon unit and program their acceptable parameters for speed, with variations for highway, city and country roads, or for time of day, then set up notification by email or text and install the unit in the teen's car. As long as you teens keep your speed under the limit, your location is your own business (not that we're saying you're going anyplace you shouldn't, mind you). Whenever you go over, your speed and location are reported.
There's a $15 monthly fee for the tracking service and the unit sells for $250, so it's a bit pricey, but we parents think you kids are worth every dime, don't we? So for you folks who are looking for another tool in your arsenal of ways to get your kids through their teenage years alive and well, check it out.
No, no, Scott's not belated; I'm the culprit. Seems it was nearly two weeks now since he sent me a link to an astonishing story about a recent (well, it was recent at the time) CDC report on the deadliest driving states between 1999 and 2005. You're probably thinking New York, New Jersey, California, maybe Massachusetts or Florida, right? Yeah, me too. Well we are so wrong!
The deadliest state in the US, at 31.9 annual deaths per 100,000 people on the average, is Mississippi, followed by Wyoming (27.7), Montana (25.6), Arkansas (also 25.6) and Alabama (25.1). Over half of the deadliest states are in the south. Do you think it's because they don't have enough snow and ice? Maybe after last winter's nasty weather, they will improve their standings.
And where would we be safer, you ask? I have to warn you, this one is a shocker. The least deadly state of all is Massachusetts, with an average annual death rate of 7.9 per 100,000. Can you believe it? New York (8.4) is next, then Rhode Island (8.5), New Jersey (9) and Connecticut (9.3). California (you do want to know about California, don't you?) comes in at number 8, with an annual average death rate of 12. I can only conclude that on the congested coasts, you really just can't get going fast enough to kill yourself.
So there you have it, and much as I'd like to advise you on what to do about this exactly, I'm going to leave this one up to you. Good luck!
You bet! This is a winter commandment, one that wouldn't normally apply in the south, but the way this winter's been going, y'all had better listen up too. Here it is...
Before you hit the road, always make sure to clean off the ice and snow.
Why? Because Mother Rider says so, of course, and so does her sister Kacey. And in some states because it's the law. But mostly because you could kill somebody with that stuff!I'm serious; it's happened.You're having a bad enough day already trying to drive on the crappy roads. Do you want to make it worse by killing or maiming the folks in the car behind you or on the sidewalk? Of course not!
I briefly considered citing various state laws on this topic as backup, or even compiling a complete state law digest. Some, for example, forbid any ice or snow and others just worry about the windows. Still others don't mention ice or snow specifically but will bust you for anther offense that's close enough, like an unsecured load or negligent driving. Fortunately, before I went to all that trouble I remembered that you all are smart enough to get it without extra help. You don't care if it's the law, because you know it's the right thing to do. Right? Right!
