Merlins Bite

Just thought I'd put in a few things that I think about while driving our nations highways, by-ways, and backroads. Generally, my tractor-trailer weighs 75,000-80,000 pounds loaded. Your average car or pick-up truck weighs 1,500-3,000 pounds. At the very least, that's a 72,000 pound difference. And yet, some drivers think that they can pass me at higher speeds than I am traveling, then swerve in front of me, only to slam on the brakes and take an exit, turn onto another road, or come to a complete stop. How long does it take you to go from 60 mph to 0 mph? That means stopped. A 3,000 lbs vehicle stops SO VERY MUCH FASTER than a 75,000 lbs vehicle. Think of it like this. Go as fast as you can on a bicycle. Slam on the brake. Look at the skid-mark. Now take a car. Same place. Same thing. Look at the skid-mark. See where the bikes mark ends? See where the cars marks end? You ran right over where your bike stopped. Now try this. Your car full of your family, friends, relatives (that you like). And dont forget your favorite pets! Hit the interstate. You normally drive about 5-10 mph over the speed limit. 70 is the posted limit. That puts you at 75. You see your exit a 1 mile away. There's an 18-wheeler thats almost there. Suddenly, what I call the "Me First" attitude takes over. There's no cops. You punch the accelerator. You catch the truck, but there's your exit. You pass the truck-swerve in front of it-hit the brakes so you dont pass the exit-SLAM. Now the traffic is backed up for 5 miles. You've missed your exit. But, none of this matters to you anymore. You see? You Are DEAD! You have just killed your ALL of your loved ones. Your car is totaled. The "Jaws-of-life" will not get you out-there is nothing left of your car, your loved ones, or you. AND-now there are 2 truck drivers who are seriously injured-yes, they will live. They WERE a husband and wife team. He was driving. She was asleep in the bunk (the sleeper-berth, where the bed is). He has 4 broken ribs, a shattered leg, and a broken arm. She, on the other hand, is not so lucky. She was thrown out of the bunk. Her head hit the desk behind the drivers seat. Her legs hit the closet behind the passengers seat. Her body was thrown onto the floor and slammed into the gearshift and the dash. She is cut, bruised, and has a broken back. She will spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair and visiting doctors. He will spend the rest of his life being thankful for not losing his wife and having nightmares about you. Their children will be thankful that that they did not lose either of their parents. The trucking company is out $18,000,000 because of the freight, the cleanup, and the rig. And, of course, someone has to pay for your funeral. Now... is all the rush and the "Me First" attitude REALLY worth it? I personally, do not think so. No, this is not real. I made it up. But, it happens every day. Please be curtious and think BEFORE you get into your cars and while you are driving. LIFE isn't worth the risk. Thanks. Merlin

Category: General