It seems most school bus accidents go largely ignored by the press here in California, unless a student is severely injured. Some may think there are few school bus accidents, but if you simply view the CHP logs, there are many, and the press is simply either ignoring them, or for some reason, doesn't want to "let the cat out of the bag" because the real numbers of buses in accidents would probably alarm parents.
Every day there are numerous minor bus accidents in San Diego County alone, yet the only ones you ever see reported are those where the student is transported by ambulance, due to injuries. And, you might not actually see those if the news doesn't care to report on it.
Parents need to demand an accounting for the safety of their children on school transportation, be it privately operated under contract, or operated by the school districts themselves. There are many highly qualified, safe operators out there. But I can tell you from first hand experience, there are operators who regularly exceed the speed limits daily, and calls to their district and supervisors, while met with surprise and promises to take action, do nothing to slow them down.
In numerous cases, while operating FCC licensed moving radar, school buses have been clocked at 15 to 20 miles over the 55 mile per hour mandated speed limit with students on board. Some buses pass all too frequently, fail to signal and allow students to stand while the bus is in motion. All of which lends to the severity of injury in event of accident.
Children are our most precious resource and the most precious cargo carried on the buses of any transportation system in the world. For them to be anything less than 100% safe is tragedy waiting to happen.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
With Great Pleasure...Good News for FORD
The one out of the Big 3 US automakers that stood on its own two feet, or four wheels, and didn't take a government bailout, has now turned a profit!
Today, Ford Motor Company announced a 2009 full year net income of 2.7 billion dollars, and a 4th quarter net profit of 863 million dollars, the first profit in four years. It will also start giving out profit sharing checks to US hourly workers in March, the first time that's been done since 2004. And Ford expects 2010 to be profitable as well.
My congratulations to the management and all the people at Ford who made it through the storm. They have fought hard and kept their hands out of the government till, while keeping the government hands out of their pockets as well. They have succeeded where GM and Chrysler have failed. In Chrysler's case, failed multiple times, and judging by the way things continue to go, will likely fail again. Not to beat a dead horse, but how many times do they think they should be bailed out anyway?
Once again, American ingenuity and ability can do the job. Congratulations Ford on a job well done!
Today, Ford Motor Company announced a 2009 full year net income of 2.7 billion dollars, and a 4th quarter net profit of 863 million dollars, the first profit in four years. It will also start giving out profit sharing checks to US hourly workers in March, the first time that's been done since 2004. And Ford expects 2010 to be profitable as well.
My congratulations to the management and all the people at Ford who made it through the storm. They have fought hard and kept their hands out of the government till, while keeping the government hands out of their pockets as well. They have succeeded where GM and Chrysler have failed. In Chrysler's case, failed multiple times, and judging by the way things continue to go, will likely fail again. Not to beat a dead horse, but how many times do they think they should be bailed out anyway?
Once again, American ingenuity and ability can do the job. Congratulations Ford on a job well done!
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010 Arrives and Death Follows
Happy New Year.
I was hoping to start the new year with some great positive, uplifting information. I honestly tried. I woke this morning feeling great, looking at a sunny sky, and feeling like Ralphie after he discovered his Red Ryder 200 shot Carbine was really a Christmas present after all.
Unfortunately, that all went south after finding out that a 21 year old pregnant female was killed by a suspected 30 year old drunk driver, as she sat in a friends' vehicle that was awaiting roadside assistance on the freeway. The unborn child was also killed and two other occupants, as well as the drunk driver, were taken to a local hospital with major injuries. The suspected drunk driver was arrested for felony DUI.
In our county, this is the third fatality in less than 12 hours, at least two of which are attributable to drunk driving. More injuries can be attributed to drunk and impaired driving as well. Even with DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols, the carnage continues.
Worse, the numbers continue to climb. Are there more DUI arrests because there are more people being caught? Or because there are more people driving under the influence? The television stations report more drivers are using their cell phones to turn in drivers who appear impaired. If the numbers are climbing because of vigilance and closer scrutiny by the law enforcement authorities and the public, it's a good thing. If it's because more people are driving under the influence, it's not.
At one time I was appalled to hear that 41% of all people on the road were impaired by some substance, legal, illegal or otherwise. That's a huge figure. Look at it this way...if you're sitting in your vehicle, there's a huge potential that the person next to you, and either the one ahead or behind you, is impaired. Two out of the four vehicles surrounding you! Whew...that's one helluva number! That's plain scary at freeway speeds!
Bottom line is that if you drink, or otherwise are impaired, please don't drive. Take a cab, bus, or have a sober designated driver. That young pregnant mother-to-be didn't deserve to die on a cold, dark freeway this morning. She didn't do anything wrong; she was an innocent victim who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's the tragedy of most of the victims of drunk drivers. They happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, or get in the vehicle with the wrong driver without thinking, as they themselves are impaired.
I wish you a safe and healthy New Year filled with love and peace.
I was hoping to start the new year with some great positive, uplifting information. I honestly tried. I woke this morning feeling great, looking at a sunny sky, and feeling like Ralphie after he discovered his Red Ryder 200 shot Carbine was really a Christmas present after all.
Unfortunately, that all went south after finding out that a 21 year old pregnant female was killed by a suspected 30 year old drunk driver, as she sat in a friends' vehicle that was awaiting roadside assistance on the freeway. The unborn child was also killed and two other occupants, as well as the drunk driver, were taken to a local hospital with major injuries. The suspected drunk driver was arrested for felony DUI.
In our county, this is the third fatality in less than 12 hours, at least two of which are attributable to drunk driving. More injuries can be attributed to drunk and impaired driving as well. Even with DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols, the carnage continues.
Worse, the numbers continue to climb. Are there more DUI arrests because there are more people being caught? Or because there are more people driving under the influence? The television stations report more drivers are using their cell phones to turn in drivers who appear impaired. If the numbers are climbing because of vigilance and closer scrutiny by the law enforcement authorities and the public, it's a good thing. If it's because more people are driving under the influence, it's not.
At one time I was appalled to hear that 41% of all people on the road were impaired by some substance, legal, illegal or otherwise. That's a huge figure. Look at it this way...if you're sitting in your vehicle, there's a huge potential that the person next to you, and either the one ahead or behind you, is impaired. Two out of the four vehicles surrounding you! Whew...that's one helluva number! That's plain scary at freeway speeds!
Bottom line is that if you drink, or otherwise are impaired, please don't drive. Take a cab, bus, or have a sober designated driver. That young pregnant mother-to-be didn't deserve to die on a cold, dark freeway this morning. She didn't do anything wrong; she was an innocent victim who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's the tragedy of most of the victims of drunk drivers. They happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, or get in the vehicle with the wrong driver without thinking, as they themselves are impaired.
I wish you a safe and healthy New Year filled with love and peace.
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