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Traffic Enforcement: Do We Have Enough?

I’ve received a number of questions focused on various traffic violations that end with a similar refrain: Why don’t the police do more enforcement of (fill in the blank)? Collectively all these questions hint at the larger question: Are we doing enough traffic enforcement in our community? Instead of answering that question with a yes or a no, I’ve done some research on how much enforcement is happening in our county. I’ll give you the numbers and let you reach your own conclusion. Continue reading “Traffic Enforcement: Do We Have Enough?”

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World Day of Remembrance 2018

The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) is commemorated to remember the many people killed and injured on our roads, together with their families, friends and many others who are also affected.  It is also a day on which we thank the emergency services and reflect on the tremendous burden and cost of this daily continuing disaster to families and communities, and on ways to halt it. This year’s theme is “Roads Have Stories.” Continue reading “World Day of Remembrance 2018”

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Just Put Them at 9 And 3

Q: I was taught to keep my hands at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel, but I’ve heard that if your car has airbags you should keep your hands at 8 and 4. Is that right? It feels weird.

A: Allow me to split the difference and recommend 9 and 3. Back before airbags, 10 and 2 was the standard hand position on a steering wheel. But once car manufacturers started installing explosive devices in the steering wheels we realized that our hand position needed to change. (At the risk of stating the obvious, steering grip position is generally described by visualizing the steering wheel like the face of a clock. Hand position corresponds to the numbers on the clock’s face.) Continue reading “Just Put Them at 9 And 3”

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Church – A Sanctuary From Traffic Crimes?

Q: If you were pulled over and you had to pull into a church parking lot is it legal for the officer to arrest you on church property?

A: Back when I was a kid, when we played tag we’d often designate a base; let’s say it was the tetherball pole. As long as you were touching the pole, the person who was “it” couldn’t tag you. In present day United States we don’t have a legal equivalent to “base” in the game of tag. If you could travel back in time 800 years and get yourself to England, you might be able to benefit from the sanctuary laws at that time that would allow a criminal to seek temporary refuge at a church. But 800 years ago in England you wouldn’t have been driving in the first place. Continue reading “Church – A Sanctuary From Traffic Crimes?”

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Hyundai’s Irresponsible Ad

This isn’t actually a PSA; it’s a criticism of a car advertisement. I didn’t want to give any attention to a car company that tacitly endorses high-risk driving behavior in their advertising, but I can’t help it; this needs to be called out. The purpose of features like lane departure notification aren’t so that you can take more dumb risks while you’re driving; they’re there to protect us from our own inevitable human failures even when we are trying to pay attention.

Continue reading “Hyundai’s Irresponsible Ad”

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When Your Stuff Gets In The Way

Q: Is it illegal to obstruct the view of the driver out the side windows? On my bicycle I have been nearly hit more than once by mail delivery drivers. They have right hand drive and stack mail on a shelf opposite them blocking their view out the left window. When they are making a right turn they can’t see me on my bike and pull out in front of me. If not illegal it’s dangerous. 

Continue reading “When Your Stuff Gets In The Way”