When it comes to transportations types, The U.S. seems to have adopted the most uncomfortable forms that exist today. Does this make Americans transportation masochists? Let’s investigate.
Driving a car is very much a test of how long you can stay awake. A certain amount of pain helps. I have a coccyx that protrudes that assists in that regard. But a couple of years ago I was driving at about 5PM. Perhaps I should have had a sleep in the afternoon, but I was anxious to obtain a cement mixer to be used on the following day, and since the local Bunnings megastore had no stock, I decided to drive for an hour to another branch. I got to the outskirts of town where the speed limit drops from 110kph to 80kph before I fell asleep, wandered off into a slightly depressed grassy hollow that separates two lanes of traffic and trundled along for perhaps about 50 meters before waking up in time to see a crossover with a power pole directly in my path. It was too late to avoid it.
To extend the life of timber power poles the practice is to drive three lengths of railway line into the ground and leave two and a half meters of steel above the pole and to strap the whole lot together with heavy grade stainless steel.
Fortunately, a steep rise to the level of the road associated with the provision of a concrete pipe under the crossover, lifted the front of my Toyota Utility to the extent that the chassis below the radiator struck the pole perhaps a meter above the railway line snapping it cleanly in two. At that point I would have been in a reclining position and my posterior driven into the seat which cushioned my spine to the extent that my head was not carried forward with sufficient momentum that would have instantly broken my neck. As I write this, I remember that this is how my father died in his sixties. I was 78 at the time.
The power lines were intact and supported the remnant portion of the top half of the pole at a crazy angle. The utility landed on the driver's side, so I was unable to open that door. There was white stuff in the air, perhaps from the air bag that had inflated. But the bag was not in evidence. I was not injured but concerned that there might be an explosion. It's actually difficult to open the passenger side door when you are standing on the driver's side door. A person appeared and I asked him if he could open the door so that I could get out and he obliged.
There were many stationary cars in the vicinity.
Bits of plastic and metal were all over the road. I was of course extremely embarrassed and began tidying up as best I could.
My helper suggested that it would be best if I accompanied him to the hospital that was close by. About three hours later they allowed me to depart, having discovered nothing untoward.
The Toyota was written off by the insurance company.
When my family purchased a second vehicle and Mum learned to drive for the first time, we would take a trip just to have a look at the countryside. I still enjoy the open road, but my preference is for road alone, free of impediments like trees, poles, posts and other vehicles.
I don't envy those who have to drive a car to work through the city. Think of the opportunity cost in lost time when you sit behind the wheel of a car. Work out what you could earn if you drove a vehicle for 15000 km a year at an average speed of 60 kph. Add that to the costs attached to the vehicle itself. Consider how much it would mean to you if you worked from home and could obtain the necessities of life in the street in which you live. Consider what it would mean for your children if you were at home when they walked home from school via streets full of pedestrians rather than projectiles.
Driving a car is very much a test of how long you can stay awake. A certain amount of pain helps. I have a coccyx that protrudes that assists in that regard. But a couple of years ago I was driving at about 5PM. Perhaps I should have had a sleep in the afternoon, but I was anxious to obtain a cement mixer to be used on the following day, and since the local Bunnings megastore had no stock, I decided to drive for an hour to another branch. I got to the outskirts of town where the speed limit drops from 110kph to 80kph before I fell asleep, wandered off into a slightly depressed grassy hollow that separates two lanes of traffic and trundled along for perhaps about 50 meters before waking up in time to see a crossover with a power pole directly in my path. It was too late to avoid it.
To extend the life of timber power poles the practice is to drive three lengths of railway line into the ground and leave two and a half meters of steel above the pole and to strap the whole lot together with heavy grade stainless steel.
Fortunately, a steep rise to the level of the road associated with the provision of a concrete pipe under the crossover, lifted the front of my Toyota Utility to the extent that the chassis below the radiator struck the pole perhaps a meter above the railway line snapping it cleanly in two. At that point I would have been in a reclining position and my posterior driven into the seat which cushioned my spine to the extent that my head was not carried forward with sufficient momentum that would have instantly broken my neck. As I write this, I remember that this is how my father died in his sixties. I was 78 at the time.
The power lines were intact and supported the remnant portion of the top half of the pole at a crazy angle. The utility landed on the driver's side, so I was unable to open that door. There was white stuff in the air, perhaps from the air bag that had inflated. But the bag was not in evidence. I was not injured but concerned that there might be an explosion. It's actually difficult to open the passenger side door when you are standing on the driver's side door. A person appeared and I asked him if he could open the door so that I could get out and he obliged.
There were many stationary cars in the vicinity.
Bits of plastic and metal were all over the road. I was of course extremely embarrassed and began tidying up as best I could.
My helper suggested that it would be best if I accompanied him to the hospital that was close by. About three hours later they allowed me to depart, having discovered nothing untoward.
The Toyota was written off by the insurance company.
When my family purchased a second vehicle and Mum learned to drive for the first time, we would take a trip just to have a look at the countryside. I still enjoy the open road, but my preference is for road alone, free of impediments like trees, poles, posts and other vehicles.
I don't envy those who have to drive a car to work through the city. Think of the opportunity cost in lost time when you sit behind the wheel of a car. Work out what you could earn if you drove a vehicle for 15000 km a year at an average speed of 60 kph. Add that to the costs attached to the vehicle itself. Consider how much it would mean to you if you worked from home and could obtain the necessities of life in the street in which you live. Consider what it would mean for your children if you were at home when they walked home from school via streets full of pedestrians rather than projectiles.