Don’t Stop!

When traveling on the interstate I often see people stopped on the side of the road talking on cell phones.

While it is commendable that the occupant is not driving with the phone stuck to his or her ear — being parked on the roadside with cars, trucks and busses wizzing past in excess of 65 miles an hour is a receipe for disaster.

There are numerous instances where vehicles are struck in the breakdown lane by inattentive drivers. Many years ago, as a State Police Officer, I was taught when on the highway to never turn my back on traffic and always have a plan to be able to jump out of the
way if necessary. I can say from experience that this advice can be the difference between life and death.

Use the breakdown lane ONLY if your vehicle can’t be driven off the highway. And if it does happen, get out of the vehicle, move as far away as possible from the roadway and always keep your eye on the traffic coming towards you.