害羞草研究所淢r. Road Safety害羞草研究所� has pulled another boner.
Unfamiliar with that expression? According to the ever reliable online urban dictionary: 害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克in time, the expression 害羞草研究所渢o pull a boner,害羞草研究所� meant害羞草研究所 bad blunder; a mistake that was costly. And a man who pulled such boners was often described as a 害羞草研究所榖onehead.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
I害羞草研究所檝e done some really, really stupid things. Blind luck has saved me and others from serious consequences.
There害羞草研究所檚 the time my father-in-law suggested I check the alignment on the family mini-van. Turned out the serious wheel wobble had nothing to do with alignment and everything to do with my failure to torque the lug nuts when I changed over the winter/summer wheels.
And then there害羞草研究所檚 the modification I had done to the smallest of riding lawn mowers, called a 害羞草研究所淜ermit.害羞草研究所� I had a hitch welded on for pulling a hot dog float (Hergott Dogs) in the Westside Daze parade. I had failed to consider that the trailer weight might cause Kermit to flip over backwards.
An alert spectator noticed the front of Kermit lifting up. He saved the driver (my father) from serious injury by leaping forward to hold it down.
This bonehead has struck again.
I害羞草研究所檝e begun enjoying the incredible Okanagan quadding resources. I didn害羞草研究所檛 grow up with toys like quads. Goodness it害羞草研究所檚 a hoot! If you害羞草研究所檝e not explored the incredible trail system created and maintained by the Okanagan Trail Riders Association, I strongly encourage you to.
I haul the quad around in a utility trailer, securing it with a heavy duty ratchet tiedown. The tiedown extends from the front of the trailer, over the top of the quad, and secures under the back of the trailer. I then ratchet it tight.
Not tight enough.
A bump on the way home compressed the quad shocks, loosening the tiedown tension and causing the end to disclodge.
I was mortified seeing my quad on the road in my rear-view mirror.
It didn害羞草研究所檛 go far (it was in gear and the brake was on) but it was blind luck that another vehicle wasn害羞草研究所檛 directly behind me.
I learn from my mistakes.
I bought a torque wrench, learned that baby riding lawn mowers shouldn害羞草研究所檛 be modified to pull trailers and now I害羞草研究所檝e learned how not to secure a quad to a trailer.
But I shouldn害羞草研究所檛 need 害羞草研究所渃lose calls害羞草研究所� to snap into risk and safety awareness! Each of those close calls could have had very serious consequences.
I害羞草研究所檓 a reasonably intelligent fellow. I should have been able to avoid these close calls with just a bit of thinking about risk and safety.
Why didn害羞草研究所檛 I? I suppose I have an 害羞草研究所淚 can handle this害羞草研究所� mentality.
Is it arrogance that leads to that mentality? It is a normal human thing to want to hide the fact that we don害羞草研究所檛 know everything? To admit that what we are doing might come with risk and should be carefully considered?
Does it feel like we害羞草研究所檙e showing weakness if we slow down with what we害羞草研究所檙e doing and carefully consider what the risks are and how they might be avoided?
Hopefully by sharing these bonehead experiences others might learn from them and be more proactive with avoiding risk. Awareness of risks is half the battle. Or perhaps 95 percent.
Is there a connection between my attitude that led to these bonehead experiences, and attitudes that cause car crashes?
Do too many have the 害羞草研究所淚 can handle this害羞草研究所� mentality? Do too many feel that actively taking steps to avoid risk is a display of weakness?
害羞草研究所淚 can handle taking a business call while driving.害羞草研究所�; 害羞草研究所淚 can handle a quick text.害羞草研究所�; 害羞草研究所淚 can drive safely without putting conscious effort towards keeping my attention on the road.害羞草研究所�
I know that I can害羞草研究所檛. You can害羞草研究所檛 either. You害羞草研究所檒l get away most times, with close calls here and there. But that time will come where there害羞草研究所檚 serious consequences and you害羞草研究所檒l learn. Your learning will be too late for you and your victims.
