Half of the people are below average.

[fishinwrench]

Even though I drive as little as reasonably possible it seems that I experience a "close call" once a month or so.  Either a deer or some idiot veering into my lane or pulling out in front of me.  The last one was a dumptruck....and that would have ended bad for me for sure if he hadn't "woke up" and jerked it back into his lane.  

Reoccurring things like that just totally take the fun out of driving.  Can't just relax and cruise, I gotta be all tense and prepared every second of the way, always planning an escape route with every single vehicle that I pass because there's no magical spirits out there looking out for me.     I hate that.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I had to honk at 3 different people the other day at green light because there nose was burried in their phones.   Phones are the most annoying thing ever. When im out here in Kansas driving I get pretty bored and every car that passes me on the interstate i will glance over at. at least 4 out of 10 will be looking at their phone.  

[jdmidwest]

Years ago when riding street bikes, I learned a valuable lesson.  You don't just watch the traffic near you, you look further down the road.  On a motorcycle, you don't have much protection, you can get hurt pretty quick.  Something flying up off the road hitting you, dogs running out, birds.  I just learned to pay more attention to my surroundings.  It carried over into my auto driving too.  I seldom get caught off guard, but have idiots do stuff on a daily basis that could have caused an accident.

I drive about 25 thousand miles a year in a company truck and 25 thousand on a personal vehicle on my time off.  I have alot of windshield time.  Doing the math, I spend about 38 full days in a vehicle a year.

[Old plug]

I been out here tooooo long I cannot stand the traffic in St Charles.

[snagged in outlet 3]

9 minutes ago, Old plug said:

I been out here tooooo long I cannot stand the traffic in St Charles.

Well quit visiting and give us locals a break would ya?

[patfish]

All these "numbers and percentages" reminded me of this song....

 

 

[jdmidwest]

Brings me to another pet peeve.  That silly MODOT sign that has the little cheap looking dot messages that they decided to erect along the interstates several miles apart.

634 people have died on Missouri roads.  62% were unbuckled.

So, 38 percent of the people buckled up died.  Following that train of thought, 38% of the 62 percent unbuckled would have died also anyway.  So the sign should read 76% of people in fatal car accidents will die no matter what.  Seat belts are only not the reason 24% of the people die in car accidents.

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, jdmidwest said:

634 people have died on Missouri roads.  62% were unbuckled.

The other 38% were reading a sign instead of watching the road.

[jdmidwest]

9 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

The other 38% were reading a sign instead of watching the road.

MODOT wasted my tax dollars erecting them.

My favorite quote yesterday got a good laugh. Airbags Are Not Pillows, Don't Snooze And Drive!  It was about 2 miles down the road past a little Prius that had bounced off the catch wires and landed in opposite ditch, air bags deployed.  Either snoozing or texting, only 1 car involved but chewed up pretty good.  Trooper had just pulled up when I passed.