Hey I thought I would share a moment or a thought on how dangerous it can be on the nation's highways.
Several days ago in the Denver Metro area two State troopers were mowed down by a youngster in a PU. One of these troopers was only 27 years old. Could have been a son of mine! These troopers were helping to put back some big plastic containers back on a trailer that had fell off on I/76.
I suppose you could argue that the cargo shouldn't have fallen off the trailer in the first place! (BUT this is interesting) It was televised that 49% of the nation's traffic patrol fatalities are caused by road related incidences not felonious assault (around 18%) as we ordinary members of the public might otherwise assume.
So I think its a reminder that we all need to be careful if we stop on the highway to check the truck or give assistance to a fellow motorist or Pinz owner. AND of course a thought goes out to the family of the officer lost this week AND to those who patrol the roads on our behalf even when at times they can be a PITA .
Dennis
ps As a special take care & stay safe to you Todd as well.
Mowed down
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lindenengineering
- Posts: 715
- Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2004 6:14 pm
- Location: Golden Colorado USA
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Mowed down
OOOps no customer bashing now
Thanks Dennis, being struck by autos is one of the leading causes of law enforcement deaths every year. Most because people just don't pay attention and slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle.
Back home a police officer and fire fighter, both friends of mine, were killed on an icy roadway while working a crash in the median of a highway. The girl that killed them was driving way too fast for the conditions and lost control sliding into the median. The penalty? She paid a fine for Excessive Speed for Conditions.
http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=15035
Most states have a "move over" law that says you have to move over one lane if available or slow down 10 MPH below the speed limit approaching an emergency vehicle on the side of the road. We VIGOROUSLY enforce this law here.
I am so glad we don't have a interstate highway here. My old jurisdiction had a stretch of I-75 running right through the middle of it. I was more afraid of working an accident up there than responding to an armed robbery in progress. I can't even count how many times I'ld be on a scene and hear tires squealing behind me. I would just cringe and hope it wasn't my time (or anyone elses).
http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=19029
That CO Trooper had a 3 year old daughter. Prayers to his family and the other recovering Trooper.
Back home a police officer and fire fighter, both friends of mine, were killed on an icy roadway while working a crash in the median of a highway. The girl that killed them was driving way too fast for the conditions and lost control sliding into the median. The penalty? She paid a fine for Excessive Speed for Conditions.
http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=15035
Most states have a "move over" law that says you have to move over one lane if available or slow down 10 MPH below the speed limit approaching an emergency vehicle on the side of the road. We VIGOROUSLY enforce this law here.
I am so glad we don't have a interstate highway here. My old jurisdiction had a stretch of I-75 running right through the middle of it. I was more afraid of working an accident up there than responding to an armed robbery in progress. I can't even count how many times I'ld be on a scene and hear tires squealing behind me. I would just cringe and hope it wasn't my time (or anyone elses).
http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=19029
That CO Trooper had a 3 year old daughter.
Prayers to his family and the other recovering Trooper.1973 712M
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lindenengineering
- Posts: 715
- Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2004 6:14 pm
- Location: Golden Colorado USA
- Contact:
Hey Todd
Thanks for posting the epitaphs links for reflection.
The law here in Colorado is to move over too, or slow if you cannot.
By 'n large the law is not enforced.
Unfortunately the traffic is too dense at times to do such desirable maneuvers due to that density factor on the highway and that behind the wheel!
Take care
Dennis
Thanks for posting the epitaphs links for reflection.
The law here in Colorado is to move over too, or slow if you cannot.
By 'n large the law is not enforced.
Unfortunately the traffic is too dense at times to do such desirable maneuvers due to that density factor on the highway and that behind the wheel!
Take care
Dennis
OOOps no customer bashing now
It's a dangerous job at any given moment. I remember one Friday night I stayed late helping another Agent write an affidavit for a search warrant to be taken to the judge on Monday AM. There was an officer needs assistance call (truck purposely tried to run over him) and we scrambled. We were about 15 to 20 miles away and were doing the red/blue lights and siren thing on a 4 way divided highway (non-interstate). Everyone is dutifully moving into the right lane as we are doing probably 80 until we got behind a Lincoln full of snow birds who decided not to go to the right lane (which is moving about 50-55 now) and to stop (Not pull off into the median) but stop in the left lane. It was only luck and the grace of God that gave me a flat spot in the median to get around him because there was not going to be an slowing down. I missed that car by inches.
Along the same lines of danger on the highways. I want to urge everyone to STOP, LOOK and LISTEN at railway crossings. Last night, at about 9 PM or so I remembered that one of my customers was coming into town today and that the deer feeder behind his house had a weak battey. So into the Pinz I jump and I'm off to replace his battery. His grand kids like to see the deer.
When I got to Langtry (Judge Roy Bean Law west of the Pecos stuff) I had to cross the Union Pacific main line to get onto the county road to his place. Well as luck would have it there was an eastbound freight train stopped on the siding and as I'm slowing down to stip it starts moving again. I was thinking thank goodness I can get going and not have to sit here forever. The last car finally clears the crossing and I'm raring to go.
If I wouldn't have been in the Pinz, with the doortops off and starting from a stop I would have driven right in front of a west bound freight train whose light was shield by the double stack containers on the eastbound train. The whistle from the train didn't go off until he was about 100 yards from the crossing or else had been masked by the sound of the eastbound picking up speed.
If I would have taken the F 250 with the A/C and good time radio I would've gotten creamed because this bad boy was doing at least 50 mph.
Long story less long, always stop, look and listen, no matter how many times you've crossed those tracks and nothings coming.
When I got to Langtry (Judge Roy Bean Law west of the Pecos stuff) I had to cross the Union Pacific main line to get onto the county road to his place. Well as luck would have it there was an eastbound freight train stopped on the siding and as I'm slowing down to stip it starts moving again. I was thinking thank goodness I can get going and not have to sit here forever. The last car finally clears the crossing and I'm raring to go.
If I wouldn't have been in the Pinz, with the doortops off and starting from a stop I would have driven right in front of a west bound freight train whose light was shield by the double stack containers on the eastbound train. The whistle from the train didn't go off until he was about 100 yards from the crossing or else had been masked by the sound of the eastbound picking up speed.
If I would have taken the F 250 with the A/C and good time radio I would've gotten creamed because this bad boy was doing at least 50 mph.
Long story less long, always stop, look and listen, no matter how many times you've crossed those tracks and nothings coming.