Road Safety and First Aid for Xmas

[2020hindsight]

Here's a suggestion!!!
You know how we all say "Have a nice day" these days !!! - and half mean it!! Something we all picked up from the kids at McDonalds - who are instructed to say it. Not that it doesn't help to make people feel better (why else do the mind manipulators behind the McDonalds tell them to do it?)

Suggestion:-

Change it to "Safe motoring friend!" - with a smile (and fully mean it) - and see it you don't feel better. !
(doest matter where - whether in a car or just leaving the office)

a) it shows we want people to look after themselves,
b) heck it might even prompt them to pass on the saying to someone else, and
c) when it becomes an epidemic, everyone will be wishing each other "safe motoring"
Now wouldn't that be better that repeating something that Ronald McDonald tells kids to say to win your support business?

 

[2020hindsight]

Or better still "happy motoring" - like Bob Dyer used to say .

Here's something not to do :-
http://www.unoriginal.co.uk/footage128_1.html cars and posts

Also this :-
http://www.unoriginal.co.uk/footage24_4.html sky diver - this man - he has no respect for the odds. I remember Bill Moyes (pioneer hang glider person) commenting once on seeing film footage of someone taking unnecessary risks, " that man will die doing this" - fortunately the man was within hearing (as Bill well knew when he said it !!) and changed his ways. Happy ending that one.

http://www.unoriginal.co.uk/footage46_2.html gr8 party trick
http://www.unoriginal.co.uk/footage47_1.html and again - toasted drink here.

http://www.unoriginal.co.uk/footage22_4.html crazy bike crash . I saw a motorcyclist come off a couple of years ago - just spun the wheel on a steel plate and did a triple flip. Anyway very busy road - short line of sight- oncoming cars wouldnt have seen him - he was lying stunned in the "granny lane" (nearest kerb). anyway I parked the car between him and oncoming traffic - told kids to exit asap. Fortunately no problems, and asap we got him up on the footpath, and I got that car outta there.

http://www.unoriginal.co.uk/footage61_3.html control tyre

http://www.unoriginal.co.uk/footage109_5.html dog climbs ladder- this dog is so clever he should train his master to hold the ladder lol

 

[chansw]

Talking about the road safety, I had a car accident myself yesterday morning on the way to work. I was travelling at 60 km/h (the legal limit) on a very busy main road, another car at the stop side on the left (wanted to turn right into the main road) suddenly came out (that driver forgot to look right again after left). I hit straight into her car (front side) even though I pressed hard on my brake (the distance was too close). I had my car total loss and my insurance company will pay me the agreed value of the car. Now, I have a big shopping to do for Christmas. Luckily, I was escaped with no injuiry (another driver was OK as she drove a big car). People need to be more patience when they drive. It is always hard to turn right into a busy road. If you cannot turn right into a main road because of too much traffic, how about turn left first and find somewhere u-turn? It might take a few minutes more but you might avoid an accident.

 

[2020hindsight]

It is always hard to turn right into a busy road. If you cannot turn right into a main road because of too much traffic, how about turn left first and find somewhere u-turn? It might take a few minutes more but you might avoid an accident.

gr8 advice chansw - I also reckon that nearly everyone is capable of the following mistake (which seems to keep panelbeaters rich as well):-

TURNING ON GREEN ARRROW
you are facing oncoming cars at lights - but you want to turn right across the bows of the cars ahead. Lights chance to green , but you forget that you should wait for the green ARROW, not the big round green one.
I've seen 2 prangs like this, and almost done it myself heaps of times - had to yell to my mate who was driving (I was passenger) last week, when he started to head out into the oncoming traffic as well. Whilst sitting there, remind yourself "wait for arrow, wait for arrow" - say it over and over 100 times ...
or until the green arrow whichever comes first lol.

TALKING IN CAR
I also have a theory that 90% of accidents when the driver is talking to his passenger, maybe occasionally even taking his eyes off the road.

ADVICE TO KIDS WHEN TEACHING THEM TO DRIVE
I have drilled it into my kids ( now have 3 more drivers in the family) .. .
"WHEN you have your first accident, I bet you will be talking to a friend",
"at least Make sure you are driving slowly when you talk to friends, and dont take eyes off road"
and "DON'T do it twice"

PS I have a friend who has taught heaps of people to drive. He's brillinat at it. He gets em to apply brakes FLAT TO FLOOR - whenever he reaches out and bangs on the dash. lol - by the way - make sure , if you try this, that there's noone following.

THE WATERSHED POINT WHEN TEACHING KIDS TO DRIVE.
I've taught 3 kids and given a nephew a few tips. in every case there has been a point where they do something REALLY stupid (like go through a stop sign) - OR the car beside you does something really stupid - and , (touch wood) you hopefully make it through, BUT from that point on, the penny has at last dropped. They understand that it's not just another computer game anymore.

In my dorta's case, we were driving in the granny lane, and the hammer lane driver beside us tries to move into our lane - and we're sandwiched against a line of parked cars - BRAKES!! she missed em all - with 1cm to spare each side lol.

JOKE ?? XXX STORY..
Guess you know the one about the driving instructor and the new student
"ok off we go "
"woo, woo WOOOOO ... - hey that was a red light you just went through!!"
student ..." well, my brother never stops at red lights !"

another set of lights up the road a bit ..
"woo, woo WOOOOO!!!! ... - hey that was ANOTHER red light you just went through!!"
student " well, my brother never stops at red lights !"

so they approach green lights. and the sudent screaches to a stop!!
"WHAT THE... they're GREEN boy - you dont stop at GREEN!!"

"yeah , well," he says "my brother might be comin"

 

[2020hindsight]

HUMILITY ?
another idea for teaching smart young teenagers to drive...
get em to back a trailer down a long alley
it's a bit counter-intuitive, - and ending up in the hedge a few times teaches em some humility.

you also know the one no doubt , father to teenage child "ok ok why dont you leave home, move out, go out there and sort it all out ... now , while you know everything!"

 

[2020hindsight]

few quick comments - idle thoughts ? - or thoughts whilst idling at the lights maybe
1. correct myself on the number of bandages in a first aid kit where you might score a snake bite - (and I'm working from first principles here) - but since a taipan is likely to bite several times - and since it makes sense to also immobilise a knee etc, then maybe 4 or more bandages would make more sense than 1.

2. Also how tight? - since those elastocised athletes "stockings" eg for hamstring etc - don't seem to slow down an athlete playing soccer etc, presumably also they don't slow down the blood either. So presumably must be tighter than that (?)

3. speaking of blood, I notice Red Cross are asking donors "will you help save up to 3 people with a visit to donor centre" etc. They also say "pls think about saving twice as many lives and get a mate to donate as well" - not that I'm being a smartalec donor here - just that you gotta admit that Aust Red Cross does a fantastic job - and I'd trust their blood above any other country where donations are paid for (and junkies can live by donating blood etc).

4. If you want a good investment - make sure the dog is protected from ticks this summer - costs a heap I know ($10 every couple of weeks, whatever) - but then again a vet's bill if the dog gets a paralysis tic is about $300 I'm told.

5. driving with lights on... sometimes people do this to show they are trying to have a safe Xmas, and "spreading the mood". Then again someone came up behind me the other day with lights on purely because he wanted to overtake. I let him go past ( of course - road rage gets you nowhere) ... I usually ignore them and just whisper "well mate, since you're obviously pregnant to be in such a hurry, I hope you make it !"

 

[2020hindsight]

something else (sorry as I think of things I post em - I mean , if the posting of favourite lyrics is acceptable, (or eras in spelling lol - who really gives a shinbone ) well then, so too (imho) are matters of life and death.

Are you folks aware of the rules for driving forklifts?
When you do a test for driving these, you are INSTANTLY FAILED if you back without looking backwards!!
Now there are well publicised cases out there where kids have been hurt

let's do BETTER than just turn around !! let's get off our bums - turn the motor off, put the handbrake on , walk around the car (full circle) !! and only THEN , drive into sight- unseen areas!! (and that means forward OR back).

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national...s-kearns-family/2005/10/22/1129775998731.html - phil kearnes tragedy
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=68744 phil says himself "he wants others to learn from his experience." - gr8 bloke imho.

(There is a video attached- hear it in Phil's own words)

ESPECIALLY four wheel drives (such poor sight distance) - one of which ran over my previous puppy - he didnt even see it - but I was to blame for letting the puppy sit beside me as I did the gardening down near the road , and a neighbours dog went past on the other side - but now im getting off the topic. This is far more important than dogs.

 

[new girl]

something else (sorry as I think of things I post em - I mean , if the posting of favourite lyrics is acceptable, (or eras in spelling lol - who really gives a shinbone ) well then, so too (imho) are matters of life and death.

WHAT?

 

[2020hindsight]

WHAT?

when? where? why? in which dimension?, lol
length breadth thickness time probability ..

 

[new girl]

when? where? why? in which dimension?, lol
length breadth thickness time probability ..

well I'm lost, happy?

 

[barney]

well I'm lost, happy?

Dont worry about it. 20/20 confuses everybody sooner or later. (and enjoys it too I bet

 

[2020hindsight]

http://www.holylemon.com/ToughDUITest.html here's a DUI test to contemplate

 

[krisbarry]

3. speaking of blood, I notice Red Cross are asking donors "will you help save up to 3 people with a visit to donor centre" etc. They also say "pls think about saving twice as many lives and get a mate to donate as well" - not that I'm being a smartalec donor here - just that you gotta admit that Aust Red Cross does a fantastic job - and I'd trust their blood above any other country where donations are paid for (and junkies can live by donating blood etc).

I donated blood once, passed out, and was later sent a letter confirming that I had donated blood, blood type etc, but also kindly imformed me that in light of what happened that I refrain from donating blood again. Ohh well I did my good deed, but never again. Will leave it to those who can handle the sight of large needles. lol

 

[Jett_Star]

Ive heard of doing a risk assesment when you get to the scene but im not sure a capital assesment is also necessary!

:iagree:

I have just completed a Senior First Aid Certificate and we were told that it is better to try and save someone's life then stand there and do nothing... you can save someone's life, by as other's have said doing a risk assessment, and then phoning an ambulance.

Many people have accidential broken the ribs of the people they are trying to administer CPR on and have never been sued.

I know that if I had the choice between myself, or a loved one, having broken ribs vs being dead I think I know what I would prefer.

 

[2020hindsight]

here's a case study folks - someone I love very dearly and I - disagree strongly on this one.

My son was driving along a very hilly road - he arguably did not leave enough space to the car in front - a possum ran out on the road in front of the car in front - the car in front braked to an abrupt stop! - my son braked, swerved a bit , just scraped the front car's bumper.

a) who is in the wrong?
b) is stopping dead ok when there's "only" an animal's life at stake

PS quote from my daughter " are we that wealth driven !!! I mean we're losing 50 - 100 species per month - but who cares!!! - I dont even like possums that much but !!! my brother is in the wrong, no option !! "

lol - I am quietly ecstatic that this argument is happening only with animated discussion does it sink in

lol - I could tell you the rest of the story - namely that he offered to get the damage repaired (using a friendly panelbeater) - but no, they chose to ignore his offer, and a bill came back for several $K - when lol - there was ALREADY damage to the bumper he scratched i.e. it ended up a very expensive lesson lol

 

[mrWoodo]

a) who is in the wrong?
b) is stopping dead ok when there's "only" an animal's life at stake

Hi 2020,
Hmmmm, both wrong I'd say, but your son more so?

a) Your Son - What if it was a person instead of a possum? ie, he'd be even more 'in the wrong'? It has to be a blanket rule so that drivers don't waste precious tenths of seconds deciding 'what's that car in front stopping for?', but rather, spending that time trying to emergency brake. It's a tricky one, but you mention it was very hilly so I'd say he should have been driving a bit more defensively.

b) No - Well, I haven't in the past I've driven straight through a dog at 100km/hr, it was either that or get crushed by the semi behind me, on the pacific highway brisbane. Imagine if you braked suddenly to let some ducks cross a main road, and a cop car hit you from behind...... I don't think they'd be too impressed

 

[2020hindsight]

this proves neither the case for nor against, but I post it nonetheless:-

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/downloads/2005_12ruh_english.pdf
ANIMAL WELFARE
Every year many crashes involving animals occur on country roads. If you see an animal on the road (alive or dead), do not swerve violently to avoid the animal as this can cause you to lose control of your vehicle or
to hit oncoming traffic.You should stop if you can do so safely or slow down and steer around the animal in a controlled manner.
If you can’t avoid the animal safely you may have to hit it to avoid injury or death to yourself and others.
If the animal has been killed, remove it from the road if it is safe to do so. Be careful with native animals as they may have babies in their pouches. If a native animal has been hurt you should contact the Wildlife and Information Rescue Service (WIRES).
If the animal is a domestic pet, you must contact the owner, Police or the RSPCA. If the animal is injured you should take it immediately to the nearest animal shelter or vet.

I am also reminded of the hypothetical case ... do you swerve to miss a car that has suddenly stopped in front ? As I understand it ( and please check !!) it is better to BRAKE IMMEDIATELY, than to try to swerve around an obstruction / car etc. Too easy to go off the road if you suddenly get a notion that you're Stirling Moss who can manouvre around anything - only to find out you've got more in common with Phillis Dilla .

PS woodo, I think like your option a) , but the missus thinks like your option b) - we're still talkin btw lol.

 

[2020hindsight]

NSW drivers should be aware that double demerits start today - for next 11 days.
hopefully school zones are down for xmas

 

[2020hindsight]

NSW - double demerits in force for Easter - starting few hours back

 

[2020hindsight]

NSW - double demerits start tonight