[Tom H]

Thanks Al, makes a lotta sense to me....In our local newpaper they post every accident and the cause and the names of the folks involved. I am amazed at the number of accidents caused by stop sign and red light running. Current trends and practices put a whole new meaning to defensive driving...Tom H

[decoycarve]

Im crazy enough to ride a motorcycle on todays hi-ways. Even though I know I am over the speed limit I stay with the flow of traffic in any given situation. I scan all the way around my vehicle every 7 seconds And constantly am accesing my level of danger. s don't stop as fast as cars, Try leaving a safe stopping distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. Two to three cars will pull into that gap. Cell phones and driving don't mix. When I can here the Radio of the car in front me I know that vehicle is one I don't need to contend with. People don't secure things in pickup trucks or on trailers. Ive dodged more than my share of debris. Falling from a pick up. I opt to ride so I have to keep a good attiude, Give up my right away even though I leagaly have it and just laugh at the idots on the road instead of getting mad at them.
Goody
Pic is of picnic we threw over the shop for both our woodcarving freinds and biker buddies. Now the post is woodcarving related!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Can I have my pick of those little ol hawgs? lol

[Hugh]

An awesome sight.

[Colin_Partridge]

Having spent a hockey sock full of years in law enforcement and have written my fair share of tickets. I will comment on this from a police officers perspective. Here in Canada there are certainly not as many police officers on the road as in the US. Having said that, if you are running radar and stopping everyone over the limit in this country you would have to stop every driver. I have travelled extensivly in the US and Canada and we as Canadians drive much too fast. The average freeway speed in this country I would estimate at 80MPH. If you are travelling at that speed most cars are passing you. So when I was doing traffic duty I would target the erratic drivers doing multiple lane changes at high speed. Then once you have one pulled over you are right everyone then realizes you are busy and increase their speed. The problem is too many offenders and not enough officers. They took photo radar out of this country but it is my feeling that they should put it back it sure slowed everyone down. Also what they do here on busy weekends is to place an unmanned police car on the centre medium that also slows people down but unfortunatly is is short lived once they realize it is a decoy. It is always an ongoing problem and traffic duty these days doesnt seem to be a priority.
Just my two cents worth.
Colin

[AlArchie]

Colin, glad to hear your perspective.....lets us know that "folks is folks", either side of the border. Sounds like very similar circumstances!

I think you are very right about the Canadian leadfoots, too. At least back when I was on the road, we tagged a lot of Canadians, particularly truckers. Quite often I'd ask them why they were running so hot and the usual reply from truckers was that the bonds we took (at that time we were limited to $25 bond, unless the charge was careless, reckless or OUI) was just the charge they were willing to pay for cutting their driving time due to much better roads, and their savings in fuel costs. I don't believe either of these factors is as credible now as then.

And contrary to what anyone might think, we never targeted out of staters! In fact, over the years, I ticketed several of our local mayors, three or four state senators, a US legislator or two, a couple district judges, their kids, an occasional other officer (ya, we kinda cut each other some slack, but that only goes so far), school superintendants, Scout executives, MY DOCTOR........ now that was scary, and well, you get the idea.

Unfortunately, the number of officers has been drastically reduced here too. Seatbelt usage, air bags and other safety features has reduced the number of serious injuries per incident, so the impetus has been changed on enforcement. I do think though that as speeds continue to increase, that will overpower the safety factors and the rates will rise again. Let's hope not, I don't want a new generation of officers to go through the "death message delivery" dirge that plagued us.

CAVEAT: The views expressed earlier do not necessarily
represent those of the official positions of any police
department's administration, but I believe pretty well
sum up the views of those officers "on the road"!

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Geez Colin, I thought the Canadian police "targeted" American license plates? lol "American money keeps Canada green" ha ha

[Ron Davidson]

As a pedestrian I have allot of traffic encounters that burn me. Not to mention the hot coffee in the face but the general lack of people know and obeying the pedestrian laws. There is not a day that goes by when I am walking that I don't get cut off from an impatient driver. I will be crossing the street and some bozo will turn in front of me. The only I know is when Lou stops me and I see a shadow go by. The other biggie is the ones the pull up in the cross walk that I am trying to use. Lou is trained to always go in front of the car so the driver if not too ocupied talking on the cell phone can see me. The danger here is that it puts me out into traffic lanes. Another one is the dumb #%* that thinks it's funny to honk and race their engine at me and Lou when crossing the street. They have been advertising on TV that it's legal for non police to carry Taser's I want one, I will teach them some manners. I could go on and on but I let off some steam now Good Subject.
Ron

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Be careful Ron, a man and his wife, members of our good sams group were in the LA area crossing the street, some stupid woman at the corner wanting to make a right turn was looking left and just started making the turn, ran over our friends, they were stove up for a long time! they are sighted!

[Ron Davidson]

I have that happen several times. That's one of Lou's jobs to watch out for the brain dead.