Fuel for Thought

Seconds

There are a lot of seconds. Second hand. Second helpings. Second chances. Seconds in a minute. And the list goes on. Some seconds are more important than others. 

All fifty US states have Move Over Laws. You are supposed to Move Over OR Slow Down for emergency vehicles on the shoulder of the road. If you cannot move over, you are supposed to slow down. Every day I see where a truck or a car cannot move over, yet they fail to even slow down a little bit. It only takes a few seconds to slow down and safely pass emergency vehicles on the shoulder. Those few seconds can be the difference between life and death, yours or theirs. If you don’t take a few seconds to slow down, you could hit a person that may be moving around the vehicle on the shoulder. If that were to happen, it would be too late to have second thoughts about slowing down. 

The same can be said for construction zones. Workers are trying to improve the roadway we all use and rely on daily. Slow down and watch for construction workers and equipment. Again, you will only lose a few seconds of your day. It would be much better to give up a few seconds to save a life than spend your life having second thoughts about your actions.

While we are on the subject of slowing down, school zones are another area where some drivers need to focus and slow down. Children walking to school can be as predictable as a deer in your headlights on a country road. Slow down. 

As truck drivers, our days are governed by the ELD clock. We have eleven hours each day to drive and many of us want to make the most of our time, but when required or when necessary, give up a few seconds of your day, turn off the cruise control, move over or slow down. Have a little consideration for your fellow drivers, law enforcement, medical and fire professionals and really anyone on the shoulder of the road. If you were the one on the shoulder, you would want the same consideration. At highway speeds, a few seconds can be life changing. 

When you encounter any activity on the roadside, be it a disabled vehicle, law enforcement, emergency repair service, fire or medical emergency vehicles, think twice,move over if possible or at least  give a few seconds of your time to slow down and safely pass.

See you down the road,

Greg