Pet peeves on the open road

Everyone has a pet peeve or two. Some have a few more. Mine have grown into a list. Not a short list or a real long list, a list that is just right. These are the little things that have been bothering me for some time. So I decided to air them out, let them see the light of day. Most of my pet peeves involve being on the road. Since I’m on the road a lot with my day job.

Cellphones: I’m not a fan of those things or the drivers using them in complete disregard for those around them. They weave all over the place yakking it up about things that could wait for a later time. Best bet is to safely pull over and stop and let the world go by as you talk to the person on the other end. This is what I do if I get a call on mine. Sadly a cell phone is a necessary evil of our times.

Texting and driving: This goes out to anyone with this death wish. DON’T! Texting and driving accidents have topped over drinking and driving wrecks in recent years. People have died because some moron was texting to his or her texting buddy while doing 50 plus, going through a red light and smashing into a family of four in a mini van. I see people texting in their cars from my mirrors or in front of me at traffic lights. It is easy to tell from the head bobbing and quick looks up to check out the traffic in front of them You’re not fooling anyone dude. Actually you are scaring the bee jeebers out of me. Do us all a favor and put the dang thing down, even better turn it off. Pay attention to what is happening on the road. The life you save by doing this might be mine. Flat out, texting and driving kills.

Headlights: These do have uses like being able to see the road at night. But they have been subject of abuse and misuse. Here a few of them that get my goat:

Ultra bright headlights: You know the ones that are bright neon blue or blistering white, off the shelf numbers that light up everything for miles even on low beams? In their quest to be seen from orbit, do they even have a clue they are blinding everyone else on the road? Seriously, one shouldn’t have to dive for the sunglasses while being blinded by a car or truck coming at them in the dark at 0600 with these things blazing. In some states they are illegal for good reason.

Stealth riders: This a term I use for those who do not know what headlights are for or how to turn them on for that matter. I’m sure you have “seen” them in their quest to be “unseen”. Like in thick fog, snowstorms, rain squalls and even at night or the dark of early morning. The last two are stunners, but all too real. I have seen them in “stealth” mode fly by me and all I can do is shake me head. I have tried to flash my lights at some of these stealth riders, most times to no avail. Do us all a favor and turn your headlights on during weather events, the night and the dark of the pre- dawn. In some areas it is required 24/7 in safety corridors like KGB road. Get into the habit and be seen. Stealth mode only works in the movies. (Mine are on day in and day out.)

High beams: As in how to use them. Simple, when you come up on somebody from the front or behind turn them down. All it takes is a flick of the switch. Leaving them on can blind the other guy. Also they can be very annoying in the daylight too. And frankly unneeded during daylight hours. Use you low beams in fog, heavy rain or snow. High beams will only reflect off fog and not cut through.

Fuel station safety: Now we come to a subject that seems to happen more and more as the temps fall into winter’s ranges. I see a lot of people not turning off their engines to refuel. Some are talking on their phones while pumping gas into their rig. Others are doing both. I have two words for this: Static discharge. Static discharge is very simple to explain. Ever shuffle along on a carpet and then try to touch a doorknob or some other piece of metal? Did you get zapped? Now imagine a fuel nozzle in place of your finger getting close to that open fuel port and all those lovely fumes spilling out. Your engine is running and generating electricity for the vehicle. Ungrounded electricity from your running vehicle or coming from your actively transmitting cell phone is more than enough to create one spark. Filled with fuel vapor, one spark is all you need to create a fire filled disaster. Get the picture?

Now as temps fall and air gets even drier the risks for static discharge rises. So please turn off your car or truck and keep off the cell phone when fueling up. I have spoken up to some people when this happens in the past, but no more. The last guy really got mad and threatened me. I just shrugged and drove off from the station.

Contrary to some, you will able start your rig back up even in the winter months after gassing up. Shutting down for five minutes even in subzero temps should not affect restarting the engine. And it is in the winter months when I have seen most of this happening. Those signs telling you to shut off your engine and stay off the cell phone were put up for a reason and safety. I love BBQ’s — just not the kind that involves one idiot, one spark, a fuel station with several thousand gallons of fuel, my car and most importantly, my life. Thanks but no thanks, that’s not my idea of a weenie roast.

Bottom line after all this being discussed? I’ll take a line from a friend on the radio to sum all this up. He is a regular on morning show but I talk to him on Tuesday mornings, his name is John. Here it is: “Just watch for moose.”