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 To My Kids 7/5/00 12:46:08 PM
Bill Rees
Private Citizen
William H. Rees 5652 N. Pike Lake Rd. Duluth, MN 55811 (218)729-5852/whrees@aol.com 7/5/2000 To NHTSA Re. Comments on driver distraction. I sent the article “Distracted drivers cause up to half of traffic mishaps, safety group says,” in the June 28 issue of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, to my three teen-age drivers, and with it sent the following comments. I pass the comments along in response to your request for comments about the distracted driver problem. I add that holding manufacturers and vendors responsible for driver distractions is an appallingly bad idea, one with limitless legal implications. Teach safe attitudes by all means, but never sue a manufacturer for stupid use of a product. Sincerely, William H, Rees ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Rees Drivers, (7/4/00 Driving Distractions) This article brings up a point that simply cannot be over-emphasized; never, ever, allow distractions to affect your driving. Always, under all circumstances, maintain control of your vehicle. This means that if a bee lands on your hand, and is merrily stinging the hand, first above all else control your vehicle, for stings will heal and death will not. Needless to say, a bee flying around inside the vehicle is even less cause for concern, for he just wants to get out. It is of course therefore hardly necessary to mention that stupid and rude drivers, and those who give you the finger, never justify distraction. Don’t ever forget this! That said, I have some problems with the article. The 15% in the poll is probably more like 1% (a lot of people lie to pollsters). Everybody does some of the mentioned things. I do them all, but always with vehicle control first in mind. When I need to do something distracting I first pick my place and time. I pour coffee only when the road is wide, straight and clear. I don’t eat things in the car that may drop a mess in my lap. If there is no safe place and time, I pull over and stop the vehicle. If I drop something on the floor, I know It will stay there until I can safely get it. If I drop a lit cigarette in my lap, I knock it to the floor and leave it there until I find a safe place and pull over. In short, one can do all the listed distracting things, but NEVER do them in a distracting way. It’s really a matter of attitude. The accident in which pedestrian Steven King was run down deserves a comment. You are never safe just because you have the right-of-way. King had a perfect right to walk alongside the road but a stupid driver still put him in the hospital. Thoughtless use of crosswalks is perhaps less safe than careful jaywalking. Whenever a vehicle is in a position where it can get you, make sure it doesn’t. All accidents are unexpected. I shudder to read the words, “Manufacturers and vendors have a responsibility...” They tell me that this advocacy group would favor lawsuits against people who produce or sell things that somebody can blame for their distraction. Bad drivers can thus become victims rather than perpetrators, a very bad idea. People become distracted only because they allow themselves to become distracted. Don’t let it happen to you! Love, Dad
Kids, etc. 7/9/00 8:13:29 PM
Children may be the root of All Evil 7/14/00 7:10:42 AM
Left lane slow drivers 7/14/00 7:20:06 AM
How do you know they are slow in the left lane?? 7/14/00 5:42:15 PM
Women and mirrors 7/14/00 5:45:30 PM
Bright Running Lights 7/14/00 9:12:04 PM
Question those statistics! 7/14/00 11:12:07 PM
people overly distracted by their children 7/15/00 1:00:36 AM
Your speedometer is an indicator of your speed. 7/15/00 4:01:02 AM
Kids not necessarily the root of All Evil 7/15/00 4:15:37 AM
Is it just me, or what? 7/15/00 4:21:16 AM
If it's illegal to have a TV within view of the driver, why should cell-phones be any different? 7/15/00 11:33:58 AM
The Speed Limit is slow in the left lane 7/15/00 12:17:09 PM
Daytime running lights 7/15/00 5:05:19 PM
Billboards, mobile billboards, and "autowraps" and other advertising 7/16/00 12:08:51 PM
OUTDOOR ELECTRONIC ADVERTISING 7/17/00 5:44:03 PM
Not Just Electronic Equipment! 7/18/00 3:05:19 PM
Vacant and Careless Drivers 7/18/00 5:39:31 PM
Billboards are intended to be distracting. 7/18/00 8:02:56 PM
saab night panel (illumination) 7/18/00 8:48:57 PM
Personal grooming 7/18/00 11:40:00 PM
Electronic advertising in Portland, Oregon 7/18/00 11:50:47 PM
Bright lights day and night, a.k.a., DRLs, "highway lights", brights, etc. 7/19/00 6:29:48 AM
Driver Fatigue biggest problem on the roads 7/19/00 6:37:29 AM
Sign of the Times-Live With It 7/19/00 8:23:23 PM
Develop a driver alarm system to warn of pedestrians/bicycles also using roadway nearby 7/19/00 10:16:40 PM
READING BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS! 7/20/00 11:01:56 AM
It's what you make as your main focus that is important; distractions are nothing new 7/20/00 3:44:44 PM
It's called the PASSING lane for a reason 7/23/00 2:00:55 PM
Slow in left lane 7/23/00 2:06:50 PM
Daytime running lights 7/23/00 2:20:39 PM
WHY IS THE NHSTA TAKING SO LONG? 7/25/00 11:02:45 AM
Daytime Running Lights 7/26/00 7:16:46 AM
I HATE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS 7/26/00 7:56:15 AM
Daytime Running Lights are the worst hazard on the road 7/26/00 8:11:50 AM
Who initiated Daytime running lights? 7/27/00 3:32:04 AM
Lights on during the day very disturbing 7/27/00 11:34:41 AM
why is the nhsta taking so long? 7/27/00 11:38:34 AM
Too many big trucks 7/27/00 3:01:24 PM
Question your own ethics 7/27/00 3:35:48 PM
Yeah, right 7/27/00 3:45:24 PM
America home of the stupid laws! 7/29/00 9:08:11 AM
Who pushed Canada 7/29/00 10:18:40 PM
DRLs = Biggest Classaction Lawsuit Coming in History 7/30/00 12:58:36 PM
Who pushed Canada? 7/30/00 11:17:56 PM
DRLs - A Different Perspective 7/31/00 12:18:14 AM
DRLs Indeed are a hazard 7/31/00 9:52:31 AM
Indiana Tri-Level Study of Traffic Accident Causation 8/1/00 7:11:46 AM
READING BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS! 8/1/00 2:13:58 PM
Drivers over 70 8/1/00 8:44:41 PM
RE: Drivers over 70 8/2/00 6:42:04 AM
RE: READING BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS 8/2/00 7:15:31 AM
NHTSA activities re DRLs 8/2/00 10:45:37 AM
Agree, plus target young driver as well 8/2/00 7:46:35 PM
Kids too young? 8/3/00 1:01:03 AM
Re; Drivers over 70 8/3/00 8:57:16 AM
HELP ME SOMEONE!!! DRL's Are Out of Control! 8/3/00 10:27:48 AM
For the MANY who find DRLs DANGEROUS please visit www.lightsout.org 8/3/00 12:23:45 PM
DRLs & "In Your Face" Drivers 8/3/00 4:53:25 PM
DAYTIME HEADLIGHTS ARE THE WORST DISTRACTION 8/3/00 9:50:18 PM
DRLs from a motorcyclist point of view 8/4/00 7:55:16 AM
Agree - Left Lane Bandits started road rage! 8/4/00 8:03:05 AM
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL'S) 8/4/00 8:08:02 AM
Daytime Running Lights - WHY? 8/4/00 8:28:27 AM
live with it? 8/4/00 12:14:09 PM
Running lights from the rear. 8/4/00 12:32:10 PM
Please! Give us some relief from DRLs! 8/4/00 5:49:55 PM
DRLs are a stupid idea. 8/4/00 6:57:08 PM
DRLs and risk to motorcyclists 8/4/00 11:03:22 PM
Why does GM get away with it? 8/5/00 2:28:22 PM
Big Trucks On The Interstate 8/5/00 2:33:57 PM
DRL causes driver distractions on roadways 8/7/00 1:42:15 PM
Sign of the Times--Live With It 8/8/00 10:53:26 AM
Yes, but... 8/8/00 10:31:05 PM
DRLs, headlights, and highway lights using high powered, focused beams 8/9/00 6:12:21 AM
NHTSA- -Preliminary Assessment- - - -DRLs 8/9/00 12:24:19 PM
Headlight glare getting out of control 8/9/00 9:31:53 PM
DRLs in accident reports? 8/10/00 11:54:59 AM
Ban DRL's - the NHSTA Should Be Ashamed 8/10/00 4:12:38 PM
Effectiveness of DRL in Canada 8/11/00 9:15:32 AM
Police officers should not be exempt from any new regulation 8/11/00 10:03:49 AM
Response to Transport Canada posting re DRLs 8/11/00 3:25:31 PM
DRL, OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 8/11/00 4:03:20 PM
DRLs a menace and anyone who believes they are not is very misguided 8/11/00 4:08:42 PM
Very Informative Posts Regarding DRLS 8/11/00 4:34:40 PM
Transport Canada rebuttal 8/11/00 4:56:14 PM
Keep Your Stupid Drls in Canada Then 8/11/00 5:38:36 PM
It's the GLARE 8/11/00 6:51:18 PM
SLOW DOWN, REDUCE FUEL CONSUMPTION & POLLUTION, INCREASE SAFETY 8/12/00 12:44:40 AM
DRLs Damaged My Eyes 8/13/00 4:00:40 PM
Just found - If Not Too Late - please submit comment re strong disapproval of drls 8/13/00 5:58:58 PM
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