Karl on Cars - Let's avoid creating new Memorials this Weekend

Let's avoid creating new Memorials this Weekend

It's the start of Memorial Day Weekend, and you know what that means. Uh-huh, too many scary drunk drivers taking people out with there 2-plus ton lethal weapons. Normally I avoid the "Don't Drink and Drive!" rant because, well, who among us hasn't already heard it? Of course, I ask myself that question and then I listen to the news reports every Monday night at the end of this weekend and am surprised to find that, apparently, some people haven't heard it. Or else they have but think the chemical reactions between alcohol and their blood/brain are somehow different from the rest of the human race.

There are probably very few among us who haven't been affected on some level by drunk drivers. It's common for people to quote various fatality numbers related to automobile accidents, but if you dig deeper you always find that alcohol-related incidents make up a HUGE portion of these numbers. It's to the point where I avoid driving on specific days like New Year's and even at specific times of the week, like Friday and Saturday nights.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to this weekend. My Triumph Hurricane triple carb set up has been through its latest round of tuning work to get it running right...which means I've probably got a good 100 miles or so before it needs another one. I wish everyone a safe weekend as we kick off the summer driving season. Remember, the "Memorial" in Memorial Day Weekend means remembering our fallen heroes who have given their most precious possesion in service to our country. It's not about creating a bunch of new memorial services in the days that follow it.

Bring on the Summer!

Posted by Karl May 25, 2007 6:00 am

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Categories: Driving | Traffic Safety | Safety Systems

Comments

rick8365 - May 25, 2007 7:39 am (#1 Total: 5)

Well said.

Enjoy the holiday weekend and summer weather.

carlisimo - May 25, 2007 10:19 am (#2 Total: 5)

United States of America

A wise reminder, just two days after I read that the deceased St. Louis pitcher's dad is suing the bar that served him alcohol (and asked if he wanted a taxi), the tow truck driver for being in his path, and the guy whose car broke down with his family inside that would've been hit by the pitcher's pickup if the tow truck hadn't been in the way.

For the speeders out there, this is a good time to slow down , clear roads or not.

flicmod - May 25, 2007 12:08 pm (#3 Total: 5)

Good post Karl. As much as none of us like hearing the same old "don't drink and drive" speech every time a holiday come around, it's definitely necessary to remind people.

I wish everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend! Hopefully it won't rain too much in humid Pennsylvania :-)

brett8210 - May 25, 2007 12:14 pm (#4 Total: 5)

Have a great holiday, all. Here in N. Texas we have been having a very cool Spring (usually we bypass spring and just get the HOT AS HELL). I guess this global warming thing isn't so bad. Any more warming and we'll freeze to death.

[Just a joke, all you NorCal folks stop hyperventilating, it just makes it worse]

kurtamaxxxguy - May 26, 2007 12:23 am (#5 Total: 5)

portland or

A very good point about what Memorial Day means, Karl.

It's especially critical not to drink and drive when traveling the Los Angeles - SF - Sacramento I-5 corridor. Once again, cars cruise 70 - 80 mph inches from each others' bumpers, while the horsepower junkies dragstrip the spaces between the trucks, cutting in and out of traffic like the race car drivers they think they are. Those "drivers" are just as dangerous as any drunk, and sadly, their numbers are increasing.