Just Slow Down

colby4601

colby4601

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May 23, 2010
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Southeastern Saskatchewan
Just Slow Down is a public awareness campaign to help drivers understand the relationship of excessive speed to traffic collisions, injuries and fatalities.


The consequences of a single moment in time can be catastrophic. Excessive speed not only contributes to loss of vehicle control and greater incidence of collision, but a reduction of just a few kilometers per hour during impact can mean the difference of life and death…walking away and long-term disability.


Check out the website at http://justslowdown.ca and check out some of the videos. They are extremely powerful and serve as a good remind not only for citizens, but for us as emergency responders as well.


Here is one of these videos I am talking about. Take a watch:

 
Wow . . . just wow. That was stomach churningly realistic. I wish we would show video's like that every commercial break.
 
The other day was the first time I lost it on a traffic stop with my (as of 2 days ago) former dept. Stopped a lady for 51 in a 35 (construction zone, workers present, 2 lane curvy road), lit her up and she pulled into a gas station, then right up to a pump. She jumps out and demands to know whats going on. I do my usual verbal judo spill (officer rl1, elb police, reason I stopped you is for going 51 in a yadda yadda) and she keeps being pissed off, saying that was a 'stupid reason' to stop her. Asked her for her DL, then she gets more mad when I ask her to remove it from her wallet. Normally, 16 over is a warning on my shift, but her attitude warranted me pulling out the pen. While I'm writing it out, she keeps yelling I need to hurry up, etc. I write her for the 16 (usually bump it down to 14 so no points are put on the license) but do normal zone instead of the construction zone, which saved her the double fine. I go back up and explain that I tried to help her out and she just keeps on with the bitching.


'You're just being petty, I was going that fast or being reckless and I didn't even see any workers'.


'Well, ma'am you were going 16 over in a construction zone with workers present, working on the shoulder of where you were passing when I clocked you, they had amber lights on so I could have written you for move over law, and you were coming around a blind curve on a two lane road (all said in a calm voice). I hand her the ticket, explain court and payment options, and ask her to sign.


'Well, I hope you meet your quota.'


I start to get a little aggravated and say 'Ma'am, I don't have a quota, I can write as many tickets as I want'.


'Then you're just being petty for no reason. Trying to stop good people for no reason. And I'll have you know I work for the school board', still not having signed the ticket.


Now I'm starting to lose it. 'Ma'am, I am going to ask you one more time to sign the ticket or you will go to jail, which is where I'm tempted to take you now for DOC for making all these people (at the gas station) listen to you yell. I'm not from here and don't live here, so frankly I don't care where you work. And it's because you live here that you should slow down more than anyone. When you have a kid crossing the street and they get hit by a speeder, don't come crying to me, because you are 'one of them'.'


She signs then shove the book and pen back at me. I hand her the violator copy and she growls 'I didn't see any kids on that road.'


'Yeah? Well you didn't see any of the half dozen workers in orange vest, either, did you?' and walked off. Honestly, that is the most pissed off I think I've been on a traffic ever. And the best part? Even after writing 'very bad attitude' and a summary of what happen on the note's, the ticket is going to get dropped. Anytime someone who works for the city, or county, or is a business owner, etc asks the capt to help them out, he drops it without even asking the officer. He has even dropped all charges against the owner of a local company who got stopped DUI (0.2something), then shoved the officer and led him on a vehicle pursuit before finally being stopped. And they wonder why I got a different job...


Sorry for the thread hijack, but that I was trying to show one of the non-gorish reason why I think this campaign needs to come to the US and be shown at least once during every prime time show.
 
I didn't give assholes like her the satisfaction of arguing. Assholes argue, because they know they are dead wrong and will lose in court if they fight it. They just want to make you mad, because the ticket is already written, and they know it.


My line used to be, "Ma'am, we live in a great country, where we have courts to argue in. We don't do it on the side of the road. Please appear in court to fight the citation, and HAVE A NICE DAY!" I would then walk back to my car and drive off, leaving them fuming.


A former partner hated court, and used to add, "I hope you appear, I really need the overtime". Of course, they never did, knowing he would be making money off it, which was OK with him.


And, I would have checked the box for the construction zone!
 
Someone like that I woulda written the book for. Construction, check, move over, check, speeding, check, careless, check.
 
I showed this to my 18 year old daughter and got my butt chewed because she didn't need to see this. I feel that she did as a reminder not to suffer from head up ass syndrome. Don Myhre
 
Slow down all over but, here in MI especially in the winter and in the rain. I slow down, visibility, stopping distance, unpredictable surfaces (Black ice/ hydroplaning) all changes without notice. I would like to see more commercials like this here too, it might slow some down but unlikely because I think a lot of people here don't have a brain to shall I say drive. I think too there should be a speed limit for fair conditions (sunny) and a limit set for bad conditions say 10 to 15mph or more below fair mph's in other words for the conditions of the roads. IMO though I think too if more people would leave earlier to leave enough time for an accident detour and arrive a little earlier to say their appointments instead of late all the time, people wouldn't need to speed at all. One more thing to add is drive with the headlights on not just DRL that way with unpredictable weather change people are already set and other drivers can see you from behind. Sorry to hijack a little bit but thought it important too. Just my .02
 
Donslock said:
I showed this to my 18 year old daughter and got my butt chewed because she didn't need to see this. I feel that she did as a reminder not to suffer from head up ass syndrome. Don Myhre
Click to expand...

Sometimes the reality of it is shocking at first, and that is one way some people will cope with what they see. Hopefully, she'll remember that commercial in the back of her head when she is going way too fast and slow down.
 
I'm going to play Devil's Advocate here, and say that the speed limit on many of our highways can be safely raised. Hell, in east TX, there are two lane F.M. (Farm to Market) roads with speed limits of 70 mph, which is higher than that of many freeways. Also, in west TX on interstate 10, the speed limit bumps up to 80 mph. We don't need to slow down, we just need a better class of drivers, more strict licensing procedures, and people who will remove their craniums from their rectums and just drive! Also, it'd be nice to send back all the damn illegals who are driving around with no insurance, licenses, etc., but that's a gripe for a different day.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
colby4601 said:
Just Slow Down is a public awareness campaign to help drivers understand the relationship of excessive speed to traffic collisions, injuries and fatalities.

The consequences of a single moment in time can be catastrophic. Excessive speed not only contributes to loss of vehicle control and greater incidence of collision, but a reduction of just a few kilometers per hour during impact can mean the difference of life and death…walking away and long-term disability.


Check out the website at http://justslowdown.ca and check out some of the videos. They are extremely powerful and serve as a good remind not only for citizens, but for us as emergency responders as well.


Here is one of these videos I am talking about. Take a watch:]
Click to expand...

Damn...reminds me of the UK Texting PSA from a while back...
 
Blade Runner said:
I'm going to play Devil's Advocate here, and say that the speed limit on many of our highways can be safely raised. Hell, in east TX, there are two lane F.M. (Farm to Market) roads with speed limits of 70 mph, which is higher than that of many freeways. Also, in west TX on interstate 10, the speed limit bumps up to 80 mph. We don't need to slow down, we just need a better class of drivers, more strict licensing procedures, and people who will remove their craniums from their rectums and just drive! Also, it'd be nice to send back all the damn illegals who are driving around with no insurance, licenses, etc., but that's a gripe for a different day.
Click to expand...

I would have no problem raising the limit on some roads if we could have stricter enforcement in towns and populated areas.
 
Those type of commercials in CA and Europe will never show in the US because they are too graphic for the general public and the parents will all go running around with their panties in a bunch.


On the other hand the kids and adults need to look around before doing things because we no longer hold ourselves accountable for things that happen.


Sorry, no compassion here.
 
pondfly said:
Those type of commercials in CA and Europe will never show in the US because they are too graphic for the general public and the parents will all go running around with their panties in a bunch.
Click to expand...


I agree with that.. I feel like people are too soft, I guess would be the word.. too sensitive and would raise hell if they ever saw a PSA that is true to life like that.


My Chief was talking at a fire police class recently and raised the best point, "They don't care that we're working the scene of a fatal accident with a 17 year old dead in the middle of the road, the true emergency.. as far as they are concerned, getting to work or getting their kids from school is an emergency because they'll be late when we hold them up." What do you know, a few days later while working an accident scene I walked up to a few cars to let them know the road would be shut down for approximately 20 minutes and they should find a detour and I approach a car with a man behind the wheel throwing his arms up yelling. He immediately said "people need to get their f*cking heads out of their asses and learn how to drive. This is bullsh*t because I need to get somewhere, that ambulance is going to take its sweet ass time leaving." I explained that the EMTs were working as quickly as possible to move the patient and it would take a little bit to get him out of the car.. As soon as he cleared the scene, he almost rear ended the car in front of him because they were turning into their driveway and he was riding their ass the whole time.


If only people could see what we in public safety have worked with they might understand what we're saying. I know my friends have learned to slow down, especially after 2 of them passed me working a fatal accident and we had to keep traffic flowing to get the trucks through.. they saw a man laying dead on the ground with his scalp ripped off and a puddle of blood next to him. And when me and another friend both flipped our cars, it also reminded them to wear their seat belts. Needless to say, being exposed to fire/EMS for the entirety of my life I have learned quite a few times.. sure, I still take risks, I won't lie. I've done my fair share of stupid, but everyone has. But I know if something happens while I'm taking these risks, it's completely my fault.
 
I believe that it's a great thing to actually show the general public the graphic images of what really does happen. These parent need to also need to take there head out of there rear ends as well, because their kids will need to grow up sometime and learn that this world isn't all flowers and butterflies. Just yesterday i went to a double fatal accident with teens that were killed, and then had to tell their parents that their kids will not be coming home ever again. This crash could very well have been prevented but because they were going way to fast for the road and the conditions they are now dead. Speed does kill. As a side note something i'm starting to believe more and more in raising the age limit to get a drivers license and such to 18 or even 21.


Sorry didn't mean to get off topic but i felt that it needed to be shared.
 
I hear you. In all honesty, I thought I drove like grandpa when I lived in Freeway County (So. Calif) but when I moved, everyone literally drives the speed limit as opposed to 10-15 mph over. When my kids become of driving age, I'm going to try to arrange a visit with the county morgue and/or some vehicles involved in fatalities. Like many of you, I've seen my fair share.
 
How about an experience sharing...


Of the accidents (big or not) you know of, that happened to you, friends, family, heard of or worked on for you FF/LEO/EMTs out there...


How many happened because of:


-Plain bad luck or breakdown.


-Recklessness, bad habits and dangerous driving.
 
BigDogg795 said:
Damn...reminds me of the UK Texting PSA from a while back...
Click to expand...

I thought of that too. Speaking of that ad, the Fargo PD put together an ad for the local cable channels to use and I must say, they did a good job.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfTYP5_ItyM


Not as brutal as the UK PSA, but it convey's the same message pretty much: Don't be an idiot and text while driving!


I know, a touch off topic, but ads like this are slowly making way in the U.S. They just need to be a bit more graphic and shown more often IMO (like Pondfly said, screw the whiners and parents who'll get upset about these ad campaigns. Reality is much harsher than they think).
 
Unfortunatly they will not listen until it actually hapeen to them and they are the ones lying dead on the road. I had a cutomer who had 4 accident in three months because of texting while driving. After I ripped her for the one she had just a day or two before I unlocked her car I haven't seen her since. :duh: :hopeless:
 
Now it's "group hug on the highway" because no one is ever at fault.
 
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