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Old 03-05-2008, 02:37 AM   #1
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Just thought I'd share

I try to do good everyday...you know, that "good deed" that goes a long way. Well, today has been hellish for me...stressful to say the least. There's just a lot of crud going on. But, I got these two emails and I thought I'd share. They send a good message.

First read...I know we get on it sometimes. But, remember that the unexpected happens...and those in the car with us have to live w/ the drivers decisions...as do the other people on the road. Be careful, ladies and gents...we all want to see ya'll many more years down the road enjoying the ride...and getting home to your families...

Read This Slowly




Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often?













When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror. The cop was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand.














Bob? Bob from Church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A cop catching a guy from his own church. A guy who happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow.
















Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd never seen in uniform.














'Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this.'














'Hello, Jack.' No smile.














'Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids.'












'Yeah, I guess.' Bob seemed uncertain. Good.







'I've seen some long days at the office lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit -just this once.'













Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement. 'Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?' 'I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct .' Ouch. This was not going in the right direction. Time to change tactics.













'What'd you clock me at?'















'Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?'













'Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as I saw you. I was barely nudging 65.' The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.














'Please, Jack, in the car'













Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window.














The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad.














Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?














Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the left. There was Bob, a folded paper in hand Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.













'Thanks.' Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.













Bob returned to his police car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror. Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost?













Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke?














Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:
















'Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it- a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters, all three of them. I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her again.
















A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me. And be careful, Jack, my son is all I have left.'















'Bob'















Jack turned around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road... Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.













Life is precious. Handle with care. This is an important message; please pass it along to your friends. Drive safely and carefully. Remember, cars are not the only things recalled by their maker.


And folks, please....PLEASE....wear your seatbelts. Something as simple as that click of the belt could one day save your life. And be strong enough to tell the others in your car to wear it too...when that time comes, they might not notice it was you, but you'll know.



Here's another little something that I thought was nice. Just thought I'd share. It's called The Dash...and supposedly has been viewed over 40 millions times.
http://www.dashpoemmovie.com/
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Old 03-05-2008, 02:43 AM   #2
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Good story and great video.

It's things like these that make you think. I know I'll be driving home slower than the posted 65 tonight unconsciously.

Seatbelts can save lives. Wear them.
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Old 03-05-2008, 02:55 AM   #3
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What really, really tears me up....is when we take accident reports where kids were thrown from the vehicle and killed. It's just sad. These kids are young...they don't know...and it's the parents who aren't strapping their kids in at all times. I mean....if the kid takes off the belt while you are driving, pull over to the side and put it back on. If he/she takes it off again, I've got a NEW belt for them. No...I've never taken a belt to either of my boys, but you get the message....discipline. We don't go anywhere w/out them and my boy knows it's "cool" to wear his 5 point "racing" harness....hehe.

And thanks, Mindz. I think you've seen that seatbelt vid before. I'm pretty sure I posted it a while back...just sends a powerful message, IMO.
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Old 03-05-2008, 06:33 AM   #4
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Wow,great story and video (never seen it before) both hammer the point home. Should be posted more often as reminders.
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Old 03-05-2008, 07:21 AM   #5
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Just to echo what Tag is saying. My Mother-In-Law is Ret. Highway Patrol in AZ. After five minutes of talking to her about accidents she worked... It's pretty easy to figure it out.

Thanks Tag,
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Old 03-05-2008, 08:31 AM   #6
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Thanks Tag. I think it's a good reminder to everyone to slow down a little.

It's a shame that, anymore, it feels like a "mad rush" whenever you're on the road. :( Today, there seems to be too many speeding, inconsiderate, and rude drivers on the roads. :(

Relating a personal experience, after my recent return from Fla., where I spent two days driving home, I noticed (at least it seemed to me) that there seemed to be a little more "give and take" on the highway the farther south I traveled. People used their signals, noone tried to run you over as you merged into the passing lane, people actually slowed and made space for you to merge, no horns, etc.. Since arriving home, I've tried a little "experiment", following the speed limits, always using my signals, and basically just relaxing behind the wheel. I've found the rides to be more enjoyable, safer, and I arrive within a minute or two of the ________'s who drive with reckless abandon.

Life's too short people. When behind the wheel, take a deep breath, relax a little, and drive responsibly, (re; do the speed limit, show some consideration to fellow drivers, etc.) and I believe we'll all get more enjoyment out of our commutes and be alot more safer.
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Old 03-05-2008, 10:46 AM   #7
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Before spring break every year we have a mandatory lecture on the dangers typically associated with that holiday. For the past few years they've been all about alcohol abuse but this year we had EMT's present a lecture on the dangers of not wearing seatbelts (I think it was called Street Smarts). They showed some very grisly crash footage and I'm pretty sure convinced all 4,400 of us to wear our seatbelts whenever we drive.
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Old 03-05-2008, 01:12 PM   #8
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Wear your seatbelts:

"Fbodys arrive Alive."

I'm not gonna pretend that I'm a saint. I've sped before. But ONLY on the highways. And unlike most, when there's people in the car, or in another car close to mine...I don't. <period. I'm not trying to rationalize, or justify myself; but to point out that even IF you speed...little common sense things like that can have ENORMOUS effects.

Too many people are taken by dumb drivers. And too many people learn how to drive by learning a fundamental principal first: All other drivers are dumb - so watch them. It's a sad fact that that is true. It shouldn't be.

Be careful on the roads. And seatbelts save lives - or else they wouldn't be put in cars. Don't sit on them, wear them.
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Old 03-06-2008, 12:47 AM   #9
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Wow...Powerful message!
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Old 03-06-2008, 09:34 AM   #10
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really something to think about!
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Old 03-08-2008, 10:09 PM   #11
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Great post Tag. It's always helpful to have those little reminders here and there for people.

A little off topic but still along the general lines, there is a program here in Las Vegas called Every 15 Minutes. The concept is based that a person loses their life every 15 minutes to a drunk driver. They do it at a few local high schools across the valley each year and basically create a fatal crash scene right by the school with Flight for Life and everything and allow the higher grades to witness it all. I was involved in the scene itself at my school as the "drunk driver" and had to go to prison and everything. The whole program also included every 15 minutes someone being taken out of class as their obituaries were read aloud to signal a death in the school for that day and it even went to the extent of the police calling the parents (who were informed ahead of time that it was all just a program, but still hit home) informing them that their child was killed by a drunk driver. There was also an assembly the next day with speakers and such.... very emotional, I can officially say that made me think twice about doing anything wrong behind a wheel.

We should all be careful with anything behind the wheel, whether it be knowing when to not drive, or something as simple as clicking that belt into place. Be safe.
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Old 03-09-2008, 03:04 PM   #12
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Cities should do more to educate motorists about the potential consequences of speeding, drinking and driving and or reckless operation. It seems all they're interested in is citing you for the violation and taking your money. You get no literature, videos, a good talking to.... nothing, except a yellow copy demanding your cash. That's all they want. I don't believe cities (as a government) really want you to slow down, but they do want your money- so much that they'll throw you in jail if you don't pay up.
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Old 03-10-2008, 01:36 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roflmao View Post
Great post Tag. It's always helpful to have those little reminders here and there for people.

A little off topic but still along the general lines, there is a program here in Las Vegas called Every 15 Minutes. The concept is based that a person loses their life every 15 minutes to a drunk driver. They do it at a few local high schools across the valley each year and basically create a fatal crash scene right by the school with Flight for Life and everything and allow the higher grades to witness it all. I was involved in the scene itself at my school as the "drunk driver" and had to go to prison and everything. The whole program also included every 15 minutes someone being taken out of class as their obituaries were read aloud to signal a death in the school for that day and it even went to the extent of the police calling the parents (who were informed ahead of time that it was all just a program, but still hit home) informing them that their child was killed by a drunk driver. There was also an assembly the next day with speakers and such.... very emotional, I can officially say that made me think twice about doing anything wrong behind a wheel.

We should all be careful with anything behind the wheel, whether it be knowing when to not drive, or something as simple as clicking that belt into place. Be safe.
I really wish more schools and departments got together to do things like these. It really does hit home like you said.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eisenhower View Post
Cities should do more to educate motorists about the potential consequences of speeding, drinking and driving and or reckless operation. It seems all they're interested in is citing you for the violation and taking your money. You get no literature, videos, a good talking to.... nothing, except a yellow copy demanding your cash. That's all they want. I don't believe cities (as a government) really want you to slow down, but they do want your money- so much that they'll throw you in jail if you don't pay up.
Oh, just a yellow copy of a ticket is not all they get from me!

I have no problems with explaining a few things to people when I pull them over (and I don't run that much traffic as I've said before). But, when I do stop someone, you should know that it IS for a good reason!

I've even stopped by mom and dads house on one occassion just to "inform" them of their sons repeated reckless driving (cut the kid a break twice w/ his crazy driving). That kid got 6 out of 12 tickets that I could have written him.....(me being the nice guy). And, AND, his actions could EASILY have been deemed reckless making it a Class B arrestable offense. Talk about going easy....mmm hmmm.

9 times out of 10, Eisenhower, no one cares to hear what the officer has to say. They are already pissed because they are getting stopped and "hey...he did it too...why not stop him?" That attitude is more common that you think. But yes...tickets bring in a ton of revenue for the city...which goes to pay for many, many things.
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Old 03-10-2008, 06:53 AM   #14
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You know what... If you don't want an F'n ticket don't speed. People that complain about speeding tickets are in the same category as the dumba$$es that can't use a top mounted gas cap.

If I think I've been caught speeding. I do everything I can to pull over before the officer can turn his lights on. Only one officer has given me a ticket when I've done this, and that was because his supervisor parked right behind him. He might have been lying I don't care. I was speeding so end of story.
And yes I've been in a pack of cars doing 85-90 on an open freeway and was in the middle of the pack and was the only car pulled over. Again, my fault for speeding in a dropped, blue and yellow flammed custom truck with exhaust mods. They're not gonna pull over the grey acura when they see me.

I know this isn't the point of the thread. SAFETY and SEATBELTS. I haven't had as many tickets as I make it sound. But every time I've been pulled over, I can say I deserved it. And most officers appreciate it when you treat them with respect. You might still get a ticket, but it may for 10 over instead of 20.

Sorry for the rant Tag, But, Your post got me fired up.
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