Don't Run Into Stuff
A long time ago, I thought that I could be a safety director. I would bring all of the drivers in for a meeting. At .JPG.aspx?width=160&height=213)
the meeting I would stand up in front of the room. Everyone would be ready for a long, boring meeting. My speech would come. I would get up and say “Don't Run Into Stuff.” and end the meeting. It isn't that simple. Maybe it should be.
The industry has made safety more complicated. We have collision mitigation systems. We have anti lock brakes. The book of FMCSA regulations appears to be thicker than the bible. Are we burying the lead? I am a strong believer in things like collision mitigation systems, anti lock brakes, anti roll over stuff and a lot of other technology. I do wonder if they are leading the dance. They shouldn't be. A well trained professional driver will always be the most important part of 
safety.
People ask me what the best advice is to new drivers. Simple, don't run into stuff. Don't get me wrong. I am a believer in collision mitigation systems. They save lives. They do remind me of some old television ads. Triumph had a series of ads “In England, We Strive to Miss the Wall.” There is an ad with a TR6 talking about the new 5mph bumper. The car is slowly bearing down on a wall. The camera flashes back and forth between the car and the wall. They keep getting closer. Then the picture comes from the side. It appears the car is about to hit the wall, then it simply goes behind the wall. The announcer comes on and says “In England, we strive to miss the wall.”
All this “stuff” is great. They mitigate collisions. We have all seen the ads for seat belts and air bags with cars running into walls. The air bags deploy and the safety belts hold the occupants securely. Collision Mitigation systems are designed to lessen impact. The professional driver strives to avoid impact. Impact with an 80,000 pound machine can do a lot of damage. Even the little stuff-the 5 mph bumps while backing up can do damage. Trucks need to be repaired, or go become DOT magnets rolling down the highway with aerodynamic penalties. Get out and look. Don't run into stuff.
Most people who read my “stuff” already know about my ridiculous campaign to become FMCSA Chief. People tell me that I am not qualified to be in charge of a large bureaucracy like the FMCSA. Baloney Joe! That agency needs someone to cut through some of the “stuff” and remind everyone about the main goal. I even have my first speech prepared. Here it is. DON'T RUN INTO STUFF!