Let's have a conversation about hands-free...

Lately, I have done some extensive high way driving and I can't tell you the number of times I have been almost run off the road because a driver in the next lane was so busy holding a cellphone it rendered them incapable of checking their mirrors before attempting to change lanes (or just staying in their own lane).  Seriously folks - this has to stop.  

Quite frankly - none of us should be driving while distracted but by the same token there are times when we need to take or make a call while driving.  But there is a better way(s).

Now I have actually pulled off the road to make a call or check my phone - which is what we are told to do - but I can't tell you how many times I did that and 5 seconds later had a police officer pull up behind me and send me on my way - so its a bit of a mixed message, you know? 

So if pulling off the road isn't an option, what do you do?

Well I will have to admit that I'm spoiled - my Focus comes with the Sync® system - which allows me make and take calls using buttons on my steering wheel as well as a set of controls on the panel.  See below:

I LOVE this system! It is really easy to use and super convenient.  With a flick of a button, I can tell my car to call a specific number in my contacts and that's it.  On some long trips, I even forget that I have an actual phone because I don't have to pick it up to make a call.  Bonus? I can run my Pandora on my cell and run it through the console (before I pull away from the curb, of course) for easy listening.  Even better? Newer models come with the ability to work some of your phone's apps through the console via voice commands (the 2012 doesn't have that feature).  Super plus bonus?  Depending on your cell provider, you may even have the ability to voice answer and respond to texts completely hands free! (unfortunately my provider isn't one of them....). I honestly can't say enough good things about this system.

For the purposes of disclosure, Ford isn't paying me for this but I am a proud Ford stockholder (all 20 shares!). 

So what do you do if your car doesn't come with a nifty hand's free system? Well, there is always a Bluetooth device, but they aren't for everyone.  My dad never liked them and I couldn't ever get them to stay in my ears. So I did a little research and a few Christmas's ago, I got my dad a headset like the one pictured below. He really liked it and I was impressed with the sound quality on those occasions he used it while talking to me.  I also liked that they are inexpensive and what's a few bucks when using a device like this could save a big ole fine?  When I started working from home and had to attend hours of conference calls, I purchased one for myself and it has been a lifesaver. (I do like things that are multi-purpose) 

For more disclosure, Taotronics isn't paying me for this, either.

Now, while doing some research for this, I can't tell you how many photos I saw on the net of people with cell phones strapped to their heads with rubber bands....or duct tape.  Seriously? That is a hundred ways impractical and unsafe and NOT hands-free. 

All I'm saying is that so many states are now requiring hands free devices so its good to know your options so hop on board the 'safety-train' and keep yourself from a ticket, or a wreck...or being honked & hollered at by the blonde in the Focus you almost ran off the road.

BTW - I got curious about texting so I looked it up....Have a look at this article from the MotherJones website - it dates from 2008 but it will show how much your state fines for texting while driving. I feel bad for those Alaska folks.... $10,000 and a year in prison! And that is for a FIRST offense.  I kid you not. I was so surprised I looked it up! 

Thanks and be safe!

Note: photos are NOT mine - I take no credit for them.  See Ford's website or Amazon.com for more information on these products.

I follow Mack Truck on twitter - mostly for Throwback Thursdays - because on 'TBT' they post the neatest photos of classic Mack Trucks!  Usually I forward them to my Dad to see what he can tell me (if anything) about them or just because I think they are cool and want to share them.  Sometimes Mack will post a photo as a sort of contest and people have to tell them about the photo - of course I tap my Dad for these, too and he usually has the answer!

Thus far - this next photo is my favorite - because my Dad drove one of these!  Isn't it a beauty? 

So, if you like history and especially Mack Truck history - follow them on twitter at @MackTrucksInc - you will be glad you did!

Some things to keep in mind!
 
There are a lot of things we know about driving and a lot of things we don’t know or just haven’t occurred to us.  So below are a list of things to keep in mind when sharing the road with a tractor trailer and some tips to make sharing the road a more pleasurable experience for everyone.

1. Tractor Trailers fully loaded can weigh over 80,000 pounds. Nothing that weighs that much can stop on a dime, not matter high tech their breaking system.  It is simply against all the laws of physics.  So it is very important to give them a lot of room in front and behind, to protect yourself in case of an accident or to prevent an accident.

      1B.  Bear in mind #1 should you get the crazy idea to 'break check' a tractor                     trailer (if you have no clue what I mean, have a look in Youtube) isn't                         going to be able to stop and you will get hit. SO DON"T DO IT!

      1C.  Dash Cameras - more and more tractor trailer drivers are using dash                       cameras, so if you do choose to perform any manuver with the intent of                   causing trouble for the men & women who deliver your food, clothing, and other life necessities from train to store, just remember there is a good possibility that you will be caught on camera and it will be shown to the police complete with your license number, vehicle description and possibly your picture. So you might want to rethink that antic before you perform it. 

2. Tractor Trailers have very specific blind spots – the closer you are to the truck lessens the likelihood that the driver can see you in any mirror.  It is very important, therefore, to keep your distance in all sides of a truck of any size.

3. Passing on the right – just don’t.  Ever. Ok why? Well, when you pass on the right, you very quickly move yourself into a blind spot where the driver cannot see you – if they decide to move into your lane – the driver will not be able to see you in the mirrors and you may not see the turn signals indicating the truck is
about to move over. Collision imminent. Please avoid this practice.

4. If you drive or have driven a stick shift or motorcycle, you know that it takes a bit to get going – you have to cycle up through all the gears one at a time in order to reach a specific speed.  A fully loaded truck starting from a dead stop (say at a red light) is going to take a bit to get going as it has to cycle up to the gear necessary to give it momentum/speed. By the same token, a truck moving at a specific speed will need to down shift through all the gears in order to slow down or stop.  SEE #1.  It is not logical to expect a truck of any size or weight to go from 0 to 55 in just a few seconds and it is even less logical to expect a truck to stop on a dime.  Please have patience and allow working room for the
driver.  

5. Be kind and let them in! In cases were merging is required, hang back a little and give the truck room to move in front of you.  If you see one in a lane next to you with turn signals flashing, hang back and flick your lights to let the truck know there is room in front of you to move in and then let him pull in front of
you.  In most cases, the driver will usually flash his lights at you when he’s finished to acknowledge your kind sharing of the road.  Many times allowing the truck to move in front of you provides an opening for you to legally pass the truck on the left, so working together allows everyone to get to their destination quickly and safely.

6.   About to merge or pass in front of a truck? Use the 10-mississippi rule!  Stay in your lane and begin to pass the truck (with turn signals on!) and starting counting - 1mississippi, 2mississippi, etc. until you get to 10mississippi and then move into the lane in front of the truck - this allows proper space between you for acceleration or deceleration as needed due to traffic conditions.

7.  NEVER DRIVE OR WALK BEHIND A TRUCK THAT IS BACKING UP.

8. NEVER DRIVE OR WALK BEHIND A TRUCK THAT IS BACKING UP. I know you think I’m silly to repeat this but drivers can share with you many cases where a person in a car attempted this maneuver and caused serious accidents.  When a vehicle is backing up it is at its most vulnerable and the instances of blind spots multiplies considerably and changes from moment to moment. What that means is – they cannot see you – so attempting to move around them is extremely dangerous and should not be attempted.  Remember – truck drivers are professionals – it isn’t going to take them more than a minute or so to get out of your way – a little patience keeps everyone safe.

9.    You may or may not have noticed that when a truck approaches a ramp where traffic will be merging to their right, they often move to the lane immediately to their left in order the vehicles entering the highway a chance to build up their speed and merge safely into traffic.  This is an excellent practice that is helpful for everyone to use because it keeps the traffic moving.

 10.  Remember – in most cases you are driving to your home or office; a trucker is DRIVING their home and office. And just like you need to be at a specific place at a specific time, so do they. It is to everyone's benefit to work together, share the road and be safe!