Off the chart irresponsibility!

During this past week a crash occurred involving three large trucks on the A-7 near the exit junction to Valencia city. I admit that I do not have the details of what happened and how it happened, so I have to be careful in jumping to conclusions. What I can say is that daily we see trucks driving in convoy, nose-to-tail, and in doing so they create a wall that prohibits other traffic from exiting, and it contravenes the law on keeping a safe distance from the vehicle travelling in front.

In recent memory there occurred a crash involving three large trucks in the same general area, but travelling in the opposite direction. At that time the truck in the lead applied brakes suddenly and the one behind ran into him and that was followed by the third running into the second. That took many hours to clear up. I suspect that this crash was probably a result of the same thing.

Truckers drive like this to save fuel. I have seen as many as seven trucks in such a convoy. They are driving in each others slipstream with the truck ahead effectively sucking along the one behind. They take turns in being the leader. When a crash occurs it is usually such a horrendous and disruptive event that the impact is spread over such a wide area that involves so many people's lives and routines it may be almost impossible to accurately measure.

This latest mess occurred at about 7am which resulted in traffic gridlock impacting several different routes. Children were late for school, teachers were late, employees were late in starting their days, banks were late in opening, cars ran out of fuel while running their engines hoping to move forward a centimetre at a time, and of course that made matters worse. People were late for trains and planes, and in general life came to a stop because of the three drivers who were involved.

Was this as a result of the usual stupidity and irresponsibility? If so what should be done to impress upon the trucking fraternity the seriousness of their actions?

I lump this type of irresponsibility along with those drivers who drive at high speed in dangerous weather when speed should be seriously restricted in the interests on safety, such as stormy, snowy, thick fog, icy conditions, etc. Drivers should slow down but many do not as they head into causing massive inconvenience to untold thousands.

To begin with if they cannot be responsible they have no business holding a driver's permit. It is a permit, not a right. Take it away from them! When we see trucks in convoy it should be made easy to report them in the knowledge that the police will be immediately dispatched to stop the convoy.

Let's get serious about this entirely avoidable problem and eradicate it once and for all!

Copyright (c) 2017
Eugene Carmichael

Encouraging News Statistics

I have been looking at the report of Deaths on Spanish Roads for 2016, which is a morbid report at the best of times, but this year it does makes good news out of bad.

The Director General of the DGT has reported that the provisional numbers for 2016 indicate that there were 1,038 fatal incidents on all of Spanish roads during the calendar year 2016 which resulted in 1,160 deaths, plus 5,067 people needing hospital treatment for their injuries.

However, in 1960 when results were first tabulated there were one million vehicles travelling Spain's roads, and today there are 32 million. On average three people died every single day during 2016. In 2000 there were 11.6 deaths every day and now it is the aforesaid 3.2 with a lot more traffic. For instance, although the number of deaths went up in 2016 over 2015, there was a great jump in traffic in just that one year to 392 million long-haul journeys , an increase of 18.5 million journeys.

In 1960 there were 1,300 road deaths and 1 million vehicles to 1,160 in 2016 with 32 million vehicles, an increase of 32 times more traffic congestion.  In realistic terms that is really encouraging. In the intermittent period we have seen a lot of outrageous behaviour including stupid drunken stuff with people seeming to deliberately want to kill themselves. Unfortunately they also killed people who were not planning to die that day.

Last year 214 motorcyclists died principally due to too much speed. Speed usually is a factor in fatal crashes, combined with other things such as inattention due to distractions, and perhaps the number one sure fire cause being simple exhaustion leading to drivers dropping off to sleep.  If we have to drive for long distances it cannot be over emphasised enough that we get lots of rest. Ideally that should be planned into our journey. Young people should plan to stop every two hours for a rest. Most likely they will not because their powers of concentration allow for longer periods of focus, but they should do so anyway.

The problem with exhaustion is that we start to feel a little drowsy but we think we can carry-on a bit farther. We´re almost there and suddenly you snap awake having closed your eyes. If you get to do that you really did only close your eyes for a Nano-second. Any longer than that and you will most likely  be counted as part of the statistics.

It has happened to me, and I am someone who is acutely aware of how that happens. The older I get the more rest periods I have to factor in which means having to leave home that much earlier as my journey will take longer.

Another cause of road fatalities can be so easily avoided and it is this: even if you may have to drive at anytime during the day, simply avoid adding alcohol to the things that may impair your judgement. Simple, just be a grown up responsible person. So many really horrible crashes occur over festival and holiday periods when we load up the car with family and as the driver we engage with everyone else in having a few drinks for the road.

For those surviving family members to learn that a whole family has been wiped out because Mom or Dad didn't have the common sense to simply not have a drink is so sad that it is off the scale of sadness.

The healthy activity of pedal cycling is on the increase in Spain, and is to be encouraged. Roads systems are being developed to include safe lanes for cyclists, yet time and time again we see cyclists totally ignoring these pathways, preferring instead to ride out in the motorised traffic where they get knocked off their bikes and killed. I wish I could know what their last thoughts were.

During 2016 there were 118 pedestrian deaths, three more than during 2015. This is an area where we need to take a moment to give some focus. As more cycling lanes are integrated into sidewalks we have a situation where pedestrians are placed into the paths of cycles, some travelling at speed. It only takes a person to step to the side without being aware that they have entered into the path for a moving vehicle and the result can be two fatalities. Such a collision will involve two people who are at their most vulnerable, and especially if one is an older frail person there will most likely be a fatal outcome. The cyclist will be thrown and should he or she land in an awkward manner that could be the end for that person.

To add to the problem cyclists don't seem to appreciate that the rules of the road actually apply to them as well as all other traffic. We are going through a learning curve where a lot of these people don't wear headgear. I guess they must think their heads alone are sturdy enough to cope with crashing into an immovable force. They will learn, and then die.

I offer a serious suggestion that cycles be fitted with a mandatory warning system much like those for lorries when reversing. A bell needs to be fitted that rings frequently warning pedestrians of an oncoming cycle.

To conclude, although there is much more work to be done by all of us who use the roads, Spain suffers a loss of 36 road deaths per one million inhabitants versus the EU average of 52, making Spain's roads some of the safest, but that is cold comfort if someone you have loved so much becomes one of those who will lose their lives during 2017.

Drive carefully, the life you save maybe your own, or better, it may be mine. 

Copyright (c) 2017
Eugene Carmichael

The Trials and Tribulations of a Cuban Car Owner

Sometimes we here in Europe grumble over keeping our cars properly maintained and running, but essentially we have all we need to do that, with the possible exception of enough money. I count myself very lucky to have in my Pueblo an excellent family garage run by highly experienced mechanics who are wonderfully ethical. I love my Classic Jag, but at times getting parts can be a bit difficult. However, no matter how many problems I encounter I have to remember that the issue of transportation for many other people can be a real challenge.

One of the best examples would be that of the Cuban driver. The picture that is presented to the world by American media is that of a range of American brand name cars that were operating at the time of the Revolution that started on July 26, 1953 and continued until January 1, 1959. People fleeing Cuba left these cars behind and they were commandeered by new owners who continue to operate them  today. That was sixty-four years ago that they have been kept running without manufacturer support. How have the owners managed to do this?

The answer  is through ingenuity and perseverance. The Cuban mechanic has come to be a master at  creativity, including crafting his own parts, to replacing motors and drive trains by stripping certain Russian models.

During Cuba's collaboration with Russia modern transport needs were kind of met through the importation of Russian cars and trucks. The West takes a very poor view of Russian quality in motoring, but at least Cuba could bring in vehicles and spare parts without difficulty.

One of the most common cars was the Lada which is hard to describe. I don't think I would like to be seen even dead in one, but the motors from these were often used to replace the big motors in Fords, and Chevrolet Bel Airs, the most common type of car that was left behind. Naturally those motors didn't drive the heavy Americans very fast, but at least they did move forward.

The Russians also exported into Cuba the Gaz 2410, that is being used mainly for taxi use, and The Vaz 2105 that resembles an old model Mercedes.

The principal solution to daily transport seems to come from China in the form of the Geely Emgrand EC7. This is a modern looking car along the lines of what you might expect from any of the European suppliers. The car is used by the government and it is also used as a hire-car for tourists. China also exports into Cuba a 4x4 model, the Beijing BJ212. In China this vehicle is used by the military and the police and it serves the same purpose in Cuba, although there is no prohibition against private ownership in Cuba, if you can afford the price. They will be very interested in you if you can afford it.

Cuba is a country that is 700 miles long (42,000 square miles ) and occupied by 11.2 million people. The average wage is only about $25 per month, so I find it difficult to understand why we are even discussing private car ownership in Cuba in the first place. At least gas costs about $1.20 a litre and diesel about .60 cents.

I am obviously missing a very big part of the puzzle.

Copyright (c) 2017
Eugene Carmichael

 

How 200 vehicle pileups happen.

During this past week we have had to contend with thick fog across the country here in Spain. Naturally driving has been fraught with danger. Most of my fellow drivers got the message to moderate our speed as in places visibility was down to less than 50 metres. I know this because when approaching an exit and you pass the markers that count down from 300 metres to 200, and then to 100, when I passed the 300 metres sign there was no indication that there was another sign ahead.

It is a weird feeling when you are in a situation like that. At times you seem to be all alone in the world as you are socked in on all sides by solid mist, not that you get much time to be looking around you.

On the motorway I was cruising at about a maximum of 80 kph, as were most people but those monsters who walk around with excrement where their brains are supposed to be were passing us at speeds ranging anywhere from 120kph on up. They would come out of the mist and then they were gone in a flash. They could no more see where they were going than I could. All it would have taken would have been for one vehicle up ahead to get into trouble and the pileup would have begun. Once it gets started it would have a mind all its own. When would it end? Only Heaven knows. I have no idea of how it would stop.

While we can see how easy it is to start something like that happening the question persists, why even take the chance?

That person who thought he had to drive so fast and risk us all, was he thinking I'm late for an appointment and I'm in a hurry? A hurry to get to his death? There is a lot of truth in the old saying, more haste, less speed. If we leave home when we do, so that we have to make up time on the road, you lazy bastard, next time get out of your bed earlier and give yourself adequate time to arrive safely and without putting other people at risk.

If I were controller of the Universe I would swoop down and snatch your speeding car from the road and I would crush your car with you inside. You are an irresponsible shithead and you have no place among decent and reasonable people.

So, be my guest, go kill yourself by running into a very stout tree.

Copyright (c) 2017
Eugene Carmichael