Lots Of Driving
3 hours ago
Saturday, March 3, 2018
Life at 60 knots
I always say life makes more sense at 6 knots -that's the speed of a smallish mono-hull sailboat. This winter we've been traveling at something more like 60 knots -down the highway in the van.
Last night we decided to “camp” at a truck stop. It actually worked out pretty well. I found a 12 volt fan for sale in the trucker's supply section. Being able to run a fan directly on 12 volts saved me from having to turn on the inverter. That conserved a fair amount of power.
Lots of people spend the night in truck stops, not just truckers. There was everything from some high end motor homes, to sedans, to a couple of hippy vans. It's all good. I actually slept better at the truck stop than at the last campground we were at.
Our spur of the moment travel brought us to the Swannee Fl state park where all the music festivals are held. I'm writing this in the afternoon. We'll be catching some live Southern Rock later this evening. I'd planned on driving about twice as far, but we saw the sign for the park and changed our minds. Our schedule has some leeway, just for such occurrences.
There was a nasty car accident on Rt. 75. I saw a huge plum of smoke way off in the distance. Soon after all traffic came to a halt. I didn't get a good look at the accident when we came along side. My attention was focused on getting through without causing another accident.
The driving appears to be getting worse over the years. Maybe I'm just getting old, or many it's that so many people are on their cell phones. All I know is that people are taking a lot more chances than they should. When I see a bad accident, it makes me want to be on the water.
-Sixbears
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The 4 car accident on I-75 at the north end of Gainesville was involving cars following too closely and a distracted driver in a pickup plowing into a micro-suv. SUV driver did not survive. And, yes, the driving has been getting bad over the last couple years. I have been out on that very section of road 3 times in the last two weeks (last was Thursday) and I swear I needed to go to confessional for all the bad things I said about 'my fellow' drivers. My wife doesn't normally get scared of traffic, but she was freaked by all the idiots.
ReplyDeleteHere's the link from the Gainesville newspaper, which is weird as normally even highway deaths don't show up.
http://www.gainesville.com/news/20180302/i-75-nb-reopened-in-gainesville-after-fatal-crash
Wow. I knew it was bad. Did not realize it was a fatal. Thanks for the info. Another senseless death.
DeleteSadly , people are not held responsible for their negligent driving either. If they have no assets and insurance. The party which hits and damages you and property walks away with a minor traffic ticket.
ReplyDeletePerhaps if they were held criminally responsible and did prison time for damages. People might pay more attention.
It doesn't help that every state is different too. How one makes out can depend on which side of a state line the accident happens.
DeleteIt's criminal how lives can be ruined and there is very little recourse.
I've seen my share of accidents on 75 in the years I've traveled South. Now it seems that people are paying more attention to their electronics than the road.
ReplyDeleteIt is scary out there.
DeleteDriving IS getting worse. Around here, I tend to blame it on "furriners" (out-of-state transplants) and cell phones, but I think the reality is that people are simply meaner and more stupid than they used to be.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I think you might be right there Gorges.
Delete