A Sad accident Avoided

Caution: Cause no Harm!

The day that I wrote this was March 14th, 2011. It is the day that I avoided what would have been one of the saddest accidents, had it happened, and although it would not in any way have been my fault, I would have been devastated to the point where I’m not sure I could have ever got over it. So, I came home and wrote about it right away. The story goes like this. While driving along an empty country road during the day I fought the temptation to put my foot down and sail right along. This was out of habit because being that the road is in the country and that it cuts through many fields of orange trees, there is always the possibility that a farmer will be moving about on his slow tractor.

As I moved along a straight stretch, I suddenly saw a car that wanted to enter the main road from a side road, and in a flash there appeared a small dog that ran out into my path. Obviously the dog wanted to go with its owners in the car. It should have been tied up or secured in the house, but there it was running alongside the car. When the car stopped the dog continued on into the middle of my lane. I had zero time to think about it, and zero time to react, but I wrenched the wheel so that I went into the opposite lane. I missed hitting the dog by only centimetres. In my rear view mirror I saw the driver come out of his car and scoop the dog into his arms and hug it while he burrowed his face in its coat. That’s when I began to tremble and I slowed the car down to a crawl as I tried to regain my composure. This was a carbon copy of two other incidents of accidents that didn’t happen.

One involved a child of about four who was with his father and another man. They were talking and nobody was watching the child, so I thought that I had better do so. Suddenly as I drew close to them the boy took it into his head to run out into my path. He just stood there looking into my lights. It seemed to take the men forever to even notice. That was an accident that wasn’t going to happen with me. The other incident involved a young girl who was riding her cycle with her mother. The mother had changed sides of the road, and was quite oblivious of what the girl was doing. I thought that I should hang back because I was sure she was going to change over as well, probably without looking back. That is exactly what she did and the accident was avoided.

Stupid mother; stupid father; stupid animal owner, stupid adults! I’m not saying that I have never done anything stupid, but it sure feels good when I can make up for other people’s stupidity.

Copyright © 2011 Eugene Carmichael

The Greatest Trashing

What a sad thing to happen to a good car.

This is really a story of Japan’s overwhelming disasters. It goes without saying that the loss of life, both human and animal are of paramount concern, and much attention has been given to these aspects as it should have been.

Thinking with my transport cap on, my attention was drawn to the many stories of motoring calamities. I was watching one scene of the tsunami carrying things downstream. There were several boats, of various sizes, and houses in bits and pieces; but there were also many cars and trucks and buses that were floating upright. I did a double-take as I could not believe my eyes.

My first thought was whether people occupied them. I would rather not imagine what it would be like to be driving along and suddenly to find myself sailing along. Make no mistake, this is as serious as can be, and my sympathy goes to those who met their untimely deaths, and even more so to their living survivors who have no idea of where the bodies are.

There were two incidents that involved extraordinary good luck. The first was the man whose house was swept from its foundation, and he managed to make it to the roof and was swept out to sea where he was found alive and adrift 16 kilometres off-shore, without drinking water or food. I believe that is as far as his luck extended because I think he lost other members of his family.

The second situation concerned a bus full of tourists who were en-route at the time of the earthquake, and just as the tsunami swept in they were travelling in a direction that put them in direct collision, but at the last minute the bus drove up hill that left the waters to rush on past.

They were securely in the hands of the Gods at that minute.

Copyright (c) 2011 Eugene Carmichael

A lower Speed Limit: The Plot Thickens

They are out to get us!

“The Spanish Government has decided to impose a lower speed limit in order that motorists will use less fuel, thereby saving money.”

My argument was that it is a good idea for motorists to slow down to save fuel as the cost continues on the way up, but do we need a law? Wouldn’t a mere suggestion have been enough for most sensible people? Perhaps, I mused, there’s a hidden agenda.

Well, it’s hidden no longer.

As from the 7th March the following is the case:

Should you exceed 30kph by even one kilometre, (the in-city driving limit) you will be fined 100 euros. (Between 31 and 50 kph.) It’s too bad if your speedometer needs calibrating, that will be your tough luck as the authorities are now taking a zero- tolerance attitude.

There are sliding scales of offences and punishments, such as driving at 81, or more in a 30 kph zone will result in a 600 euros fine, and loss of 6 points. The same formula is set in place for the various other limits, up to and including 110. Of course, there have always been the various limits but drivers along Spain’s roads usually take no notice as we simply do not have the discipline. On one occasion I was stopped for driving at 80 kph in a 60 kph zone. The area was one over which I travelled several times per week, and to make matters worse I had passed four signs along the path warning me that 60 was the maximum. (Bloody cost me 200 euros, a very costly lesson.)

So, this is not about actually simply saving money for the motorists, but rather the government needs to top up the coffers, and as usual governments always look to the soft targets when imposing these types of ex-oficio taxes. It’s true that Spain gets about 20% of its oil requirements from Libya, and while that source has been cut off it will have to roll back demand until the shortfall can be found elsewhere.

The police have been pissed about having had to give up 5% of their pay, so they haven’t been booking people for speeding, so let the radars do it. You pass a radar over the limit and you get a ticket in the mail. That’s all there is to it.

So, they’re out to get you, and this time they’re serious. Come to think of it, they’re out to get me as well. Yikes!!!

Copyright © 2011 Eugene Carmichael

Another Fuel Crisis

"Speed Kills!"

It’s time once again for “Another Fuel Crisis” caused by any old excuse. The ultimate goal is to rip-off more money from you and me. I can understand that the civil war in Libya is a major cause of a shortage of fuel, but as with everything else to do with the economic crisis, no-one knows nothing! At least this time the excuse has a little more substance to it.

Spain has mandated by law lowering the speed limit from 120 to 110 kph. Most people don’t adhere to the old law, so unless they really do need to save money, that will have no effect whatsoever.

In England and Holland they have mandated by law the increase in the speed limit, from 70 mph in England, to 80 mph; and in Holland from 120 kph to 130, in the interest of improving productivity. (Whatever that is supposed to mean.)

It is a fact that the faster we drive the more fuel our cars require. So, if we feel that fuel is becoming too expensive we will: (a) use the car less; (b) we will car-pool; (c) we will drive at a reduced speed; and (d) we will switch to motorcycles where possible. What we don’t need the government to do is impose those alternatives upon us by law. When we have a lower speed limit to contend with our chances of breaking the law increase, and so does the likelihood of suffering fines.

In considering that the government impose a very high tax upon each litre of gas sold, it seems to me that the government are shooting themselves in the foot. Perhaps they are trying to seem politically correct about worrying about the costs of using so much petrol, while at the same time planning to extract more money from our other pocket through fines.

I think that I fall within the category of drivers who have no problem staying within the 120 kph limit, but when it comes to slowing down to 20 kph, I don’t do so good. These are the limits where the police have so much success in handing out tickets. We are simply not disciplined enough to apply our brakes when entering a go-slow zone. German and Dutch drivers are admirable in that they do have the self-discipline.

As a general rule I always leave home in good time to allow me to drive at 100kph to arrive at my destination with time to spare, and without stress.

I drive a Volvo, so that should tell you a lot about my driving habits, and also, you should know that the optimum speed limit at which your speed –to- fuel usage is best is 90 kph. Between 90 and 100, the usage increases far more dramatically than ten simple kph would suggest.

One other thing to bear in mind: Speed Kills”

Copyright © 2011 Eugene Carmichael