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dangerous mismatch that neither of us can do anything about, and it's a fact of highway life that a commercial vehicle, when involved with a car, wins all ties. Try to always keep as much distance as you can when you are in front of us, and don't tailgate us. The worst nightmare a trucker can have is to walk back and see a car half way under our back bumper; and listen to the screams and pleas for help when there's nothing they can do until the E-squad arrives, if then. With the volume of trucks on the road now-a-days, it's hard to stay clear of us, but try nonetheless . It's not that we don't want you around; we just don't want to hurt you and yours.

One of the biggest wastes of time has been seat belt laws. They're virtually unenforceable, and are always a matter of personal choice. You decide, whenever you turn the key, to buckle up or not. At that point, no one policeman can write you a ticket; there's not enough of them. It's your call as to whether you wear them or not, and I wear mine religiously, but I didn't always. In 1985 I ran across I-78 in Pennsylvania, and found a good spot to eat just outside of Allentown, Pa. It was called simply the Midway Diner. A lot of truckers stooped there because of the ample parking and great food, and there I met a man who changed my attitude about seat belts. His name was John; that's all you need in road life, last names aren't important. He was old enough to be my father, and he took a shine to me right away.

We'd talk trucking and safety, and we both refused to wear a seat belt. That last night we talked for three cups of coffee about this being his last run before retirement. He told me about his cabin in the Pocono's and his bass boat by the lake; he was one happy man. We shook hands, I wished him all the luck in the world, then he went east and I went west. Thirty-two miles later, traffic came to a halt and John couldn't. He swerved hard to the right to avoid the bloodbath he knew he'd create, hit an embankment and was thrown through the windshield. John was D.O.A. My friend was 62. I'm leaving this profession someday, and it's definitely not going to be through glass.

I know what I've written may sound a little morbid, but the sad fact is more people die in highway accidents each year that in the Vietnam War years combined. Odds are since you started to read my article someone has departed early, maybe someone you know. It happens every day, but it doesn't have to happen to you. Not many people these days look out for other's safety, so you have to look out for your own. Safe, defensive driving brings new meaning to the phrase "looking out for number one." So, happy motoring and please drive safe.

Learn more about this author, Tom Rinkes.
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