hazards Archives - Comedy Defensive Driving®

Vehicle Maintenance – Tire Pressure

Daun Thompson — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:14:02 +0000

Vehicle Maintenance – Tire Pressure

Tire Pressure, Tire Pressure, Where Art Thou Tire Pressure! I know only too well the results of not keeping your tires in check. Not only will keeping your tires filled with the required amount of air (or helium if you drive a smart car) help you to maintain better fuel efficiency, it could keep you from having a mishap. I blew out a tire not too long ago. And, I must admit, it was the scariest thing that has happened to me since I started driving. My dad taught me how to drive…which was not a good thing since he was a drunk driver. So I learned to weave and drift across 3 lanes just like him. He’d set his beer can smack dab on the middle of the dashboard and say “Now line that up with the edge of the road.” Then he’d climb over into the backseat and pass out.

I learned to drive when I was 8 years old. And with all of the experience I have, nothing could prepare me for blowing out a tire. In my experience, if you don’t have your music up too loud, you can hear the tire blow. It sounds exactly like a gunshot. And it scared the crap out of me. The first thing I thought was “Who is shooting at me??” Then the car started to shimmy and I realized I had blown out a tire. Thank God it wasn’t a front tire, because I hear if you’re driving on that front rim, it could really jerk the wheel. Also, in my experience, I discovered that usually when you blow out a tire, you are doing freeway speed, which is very inconvenient. And, you’re usually by yourself and its night time. And every serial killer comes out of the woodwork to help you change that tire. I’ve seen those windscreens that you can put up in your rear window that say “CALL 911.” I wished I had one that said “DON’T STOP TO HELP…I’VE ALREADY CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE.” I felt bad because, here in Texas, there are good ole boys with good old-fashioned manners. So, of course, several of them stopped to help a woman in distress. I’ve seen horrific things on the news, so I was not taking any chances. After all, it was dark outside. I had all of my doors locked and my driver-side window rolled down just enough that I could communicate but not have someone able to reach in and throttle me. I felt bad mostly because they’d pull up behind me and risk their own lives by squeezing between my car and the semi trucks flying by, just to get to my window. Where I told them, apologetically, “Thanks for risking your life to help, but I have already called roadside assistance and they are on their way.” When, what I really wanted to say was “Didn’t I see you on Craigslist?” Like the Craigslist killer was out there changing tires.

Here’s what you can do to keep those tires inflated and in tip-top shape. Purchase a tire pressure gauge. One should only cost a few dollars, but don’t get a cheap one that may stick or show an improper reading. Most gas stations will have an air hose you can use for just a few quarters. The PSI (i.e. pounds per square inch) requirement should be stamped on the sidewall of the tire itself. Or, inside the car door, there may be a sticker that notes what the actual PSI recommendations are for your type of car. You should try to check your tire pressure when the tires are cold. Use the air gauge to check your tire’s pressure. If it is low, fill it with the air hose a little at a time and keep re-checking it with the tire gauge until it is at its appropriate level. Don’t over-inflate your tires. If this happens, you can use the tire gauge to let air escape…just enough to its recommended level. While under-inflated tires cause wear on the outside of the tire and are actually a driving hazard, over-inflated tires will wear out more quickly and can cause a blowout.

Until next week…keep your ego under-inflated and your tires at their proper inflation.

Daun Thompson
Comedienne / Artist / Writer / Idea Mogul

Tire Pressure – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Steer Clear – Hazards On The Road

Daun Thompson — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 20:38:43 +0000

Before I started driving, the first hazard on the road that I experienced was when my drunk dad skid on a patch of black ice and wrecked our mini bike. I think that would be a great t.v. show “My Drunk Dad.” I’d watch it, for one. Heck, I’d even d.v.r. it. And I know all of my friends would watch it too. Seems like most people could relate to a t.v. show or even a reality show about the antics of a drunken provider. Perhaps that show with William H. Macy would have been better entitled My Drunk Dad, rather than Shameless. But back to the mini bike. Perhaps the 7+ inches of snow contributed to its demise. The same day he assembled it, he took it apart…in a snow embankment. Well, at least he survived, but not the mini bike. Road conditions and weather conditions both led to this particular hazard on the road. But other issues such as trucks hauling hazardous liquids or materials could be an accident waiting to happen.

Steering clear of them, rather than riding close by would be your best bet. Even a landscape service truck with all of their equipment loaded in the back could wind up being a hazard on the road. You never know if that equipment is secured in the back. So, following directly behind one of those trucks could lead to your demise. One of those leaf blowers could fall out. And what if the leaf blower guy is still attached to it? After having one of those guys with the leaf blower wake you up at 6:00 a.m., it would be a tough decision whether you should swerve or not, wouldn’t it? I was thinking about purchasing a bb gun at Wal-Mart for the next time one of those guys wakes me up. Even someone hauling furniture in the back of their truck, like a sofa or mattress could be a hazard on the road. And other hazards on the road that you maybe wouldn’t even have thought about…such as a diaper delivery service truck (eww!)…or santa’s toys falling out of his sleigh…or even reindeer poo (ewww!).

So, look out for falling objects, slick roads and tiny reindeer droppings.

Daun Thompson

Comedienne / Artist / Writer

Hazards On The Road – Comedy Defensive Driving

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IT’S EVERYONE’S BUSINESS – COMMUNICATING ON THE ROAD

Daun Thompson — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 22:03:27 +0000

I can remember when the turn signal, the horn, the brake lights and even the hazard lights were all communication tools. Now, using them seems to either make people angry or encourages them to drive more aggressively toward you. Even the sunroof is no longer only used to enjoy the pleasant weather. It is now used for wagging your finger of choice at another driver. Here, we will cover not only how communicating on the road has changed, but a few harmless pointers on how to perhaps diffuse each situation.

Let’s take the turn signal, for instance. Letting someone know that you are going to change lanes or turn is an awesome concept. Unfortunately, in heavy traffic, people agree that signaling to change lanes will sometimes guarantee that no one will let you over. You’ve just sealed your fate. Being a reformed non-signaler, myself, I can’t explain why I wasn’t using my signal. Perhaps I was trying to save the life of the bulb, so it lasts the life of the car. And, now that I do signal, I’ve learned that you just have to be patient and someone will eventually let you in. And then, make sure you give them their thank you wave in a timely manner, or that’ll make them mad, too. I know a young man who not only signals his lane change, but in heavy traffic, he also rolls down his window and waves at the person in the next lane to get their attention. He makes eye contact with them and literally begs them to let him over. Sometimes he even cries. He never really said that, but I know him, and he probably does cry.

Now, the scariest tool, by far, is the horn. Great for communicating on the road in the past, now honking the horn is likened to scolding someone in public. While the short beep means “shame on you…wake up and drive,” laying on the horn makes people absolutely bonkers. That long, nagging, whining horn reminds me of being screamed at by my mother, before being grounded for life. And, if the person you’re honking at happens to have a gun, and they use it, the grounding for them would certainly be for life…in the state prison.

Giving someone a brake check or tapping your brakes to let the person behind you know that you think they are following too close is also now taken as a sign of aggression. If they are tailgating you and you clearly cannot move over because that lane is bumper to bumper traffic, putting your hazard lights on may diffuse their anger. Now they’ve gone from being angry at you to feeling sorry for you. It’s a little passive-aggressive perhaps, but harmless, nonetheless. You still get to kind of “zing” them without causing their anger to escalate.

And those good old hazard lights have changed their meaning too. Yes, they may be good to diffuse a tailgating situation. But using them when broken down on the side of the road is not a good idea, as one would think. Apparently drunk drivers are attracted to flashing lights (kind of like how blonds are attracted to shiny objects), and the drunk driver may drive right into your car. Better than using your hazard lights, turn on your signal light as if you are planning to re-enter the freeway. Other drivers will see this and be afraid that you could pull out right in front of them. Which may encourage them to move over and put an empty lane between you and them for their safety, which turns out to be for your safety, too.

Until next week…use those tools the car manufacturer gave you…before they become extinct.

Daun Thompson Artist / Comedienne / Writer

Communicating On The Road – Comedy Defensive Driving

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ORANGE…YOUR NEW FAVORITE COLOR

Lisa — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:00:44 +0000

Many of our cities are currently widening their freeways, lengthening their entrance and exit ramps (thank God for that) and performing general maintenance on their highways and roadways. With that, we find more construction and work zones slowing commuters down and in some cases, creating a bottle neck situation. Which only adds fuel to the fire of the common road rager (sounds like a creature on animal planet).
Those poor construction workers! Construction is already the most dangerous land-based work sector, after the fishing industry. I’ve watched that show Most Dangerous Catch. What a hellish job that would be…next to being the President of the United States, of course (Dane Cook pointed this out first, not me). For construction workers, though, not only do they have the possibility of health hazards such as asbestos, solvents, falls, electrocution and being struck by falling objects, oh…and being made fun of in those goofy looking orange vests, they also have to worry about motor vehicles passing through the construction zone. Now, I don’t know that anyone has compiled a report of the number of injuries or fatalities caused by passing vehicles, but I have already heard my share of scary stories and close-calls.
In a construction zone nearby, a young worker was telling me that he is employed to hold a SLOW sign at the beginning of the construction zone on a busy major freeway. So far, he said he’s had a Blimpie sandwich thrown at him and two, 20 oz. bottles of soda. Just whipped at his head by people who are mad at him for making them slow down on the freeway. Like it’s his fault. He said the sandwich didn’t even have a bite out of it. It was in the bag with a napkin and chips…the works! “I don’t think the dude was buying me lunch”, he said, “Lunch shouldn’t hurt.” All of that made him a little apprehensive about showing up for work each morning. But the latest incident, someone in a dually truck didn’t feel much like slowing down and their side mirror clipped him just right and dislocated his shoulder. Now, he hides behind his SLOW sign and uses it like a “shield” to protect him from the haters. I don’t know how much he gets paid on that job, but he may want to find something more safe and cushy, like a pool boy or a hand model.
Here’s a few points to remember:
• Stay alert and drive defensively, dedicating all of your attention to the road.
• Look out for and pay attention to all work zone signs and flaggers.
• Headlights should be turned on so that workers and other drivers are aware of passing automobiles.
• Never speed. Slow down as you approach the work zone and observe the posted work zone speed limits.
• Keep up with traffic flow.
• Do not resume normal speed until roadway signs indicate that it is safe to do so.
• Do not tailgate. Leave braking room between your vehicle and the one in front.
• Leave a safe distance between your vehicle and traffic barriers, construction trucks and equipment and workers.
• Don’t change lanes in a work zone or pass on the shoulder.
• Pay attention and avoid distractions such as cell phones and the radio.
• Be patient and plan ahead for delays.
• Expect the unexpected by keeping an eye out for workers and equipment.
These guys are just hard-working people. Trying to make an honest living. And improving our commute in the long-run. Cut ‘em a break. Pay extra careful attention to those guys in the orange vests. They have kids at home, too (hmmm…maybe that’s why they choose to work those long hours).
Until next week…remember…orange is your new favorite color!
Daun Thompson
(Daun Thompson is a comedienne, writer and artist residing in Dallas, Texas)

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