Faming, Saturday, May 12,1979
1
Truck driver offers safe driving tips
WASHINGTON - Plan
ning ahead and constantly
staying alert have gotten
America’s top trucker
through 3.5 million often
hazardous miles 'without an
accident.
And, says Frank M.
Waldron, the 1979 Driver of
the Year of the American
Trucking Associations, Inc.,
“there are plenty of com
mon-sense ways of avoiding
accidents used by truckers
that automobile drivers can
practice, too.”
Waldron has driven ac
cident-free for 43 years, and
feels his safety suggestions
are especially pertinent
during National Tran
sportation Week, May 13-19.
Since he’s hauled
everything from dynamite
(during the 1950’5) to huge
steam generators as a heavy
specialized load hauler,
Waldron in very conscious of
the need for planning to
avoid accidents.
“You’ve always got to be
one step ahead of the other
guy who might hit you,” he
says.
Each year, Waldron drives
almost 100,000 miles
carrying heavy loads for C &
DON'T LOOK ANY*FURTHER!
WE ARE YOUR COMPLETE SPRAYER HEADQUARTERS
Myers*
IHyproJ
SDID mamurm C®
MIST BLOWERS SPRAYERS
H Tansport Co., Inc. of
Dallas. Keeping those loads
safely on the road is a job
that demands the utmost in
concentration.
Before Waldron leaves his
home 'terminal in Phoenix
for a run, he makes sure his
rig is in safe operating
condition.
He begins by walking
around the vehicle while it is
running with its lights on to
make sure safety devices
are working.
Waldron acknowledges
that this practice is not
always convenient for a
motorist each time he
drives, but adds:
“This inspection should be
done at regular intervals so
you aren’t driving a car with
lights out or a loose wind
shield wiper blade that could
come undone at any time.”
After this “pre-trip” in
spection,” the motorist
should take careful note of
highway conditions - and
realize that not all other
drivers are doing the same
thing.
“No matter how much a
driver adjusts his driving
habits to unsafe or wet
JOHNSON
Jff LIQUID FERTILIZER
yfr applicators
SWANSON
SPRAYERS
r i'
conditions, it’s wise to
remember there are a lot of
people on the road who will
drive the same speed at all
times, regardless of
weather. It’s best to always
keep alert for their unsafe
habits so they won’t involve
you in an accident,”
Waldron cautions.
After adjusting to road
conditions, drivers should
watch merging traffic
coming into their lanes from
all side streets, and this is
especially true on interstate
highways.
“You can’t really depend
on people obeying yield
signs, although most safety
conscious drivers do. Always
be prepared to take evasive
action,” the 43-year
professional driving veteran
advises.
And always, Waldror
cautions: “Remember then
are people behind you tha
don’t have any idea what you
plan to do without some
warning. Always use turn
signals before switching
lanes, and make sure to
leave plenty of room for the
guy in the next lane. He may
not be paying close enough
attention to brake if you
switch too soon.”
The veteran trucker is a
firm believer in the 55-mph
speed limit for both saving
lives and fuel.
“The 55 limit saves wear
and tear on both me and my
rig. And, that speed gives a
driver a lot more time to
react to possible trouble than
a 65 or 70 miles per hour
limit,” he notes.
In obeying the speed limit,
it’s wise for drivers not to
allow themselves to be
hemmed into large clusters
of vehicles.
As the Driver of the Year
m TA— NOZZLES
Teejet F -° GS
• A 9
li|Mrrt Ed*»
FlooAM
explains, “If a motorist will
get the most space possible
between his vehicle and
others, he stands much less
chance of being caught in the
large pile-ups involving
many cars that seem to be
happening more often.”
“Slow down, enjoy the
scenery, and let the pack run
ahead of you,” Waldron
adds.
Staying alert is essential
for .the professional and
private auto driver, Waldron
emphasizes.
“If you are tired, pull oft
the road for a while for some
rest, or maybe a cup of
coffee and a nap. It’s
amazing what 15 minutes of
rest will do even after hours
of driving,” he advises.
Above all, Waldron adds,
“If a driver realizes he is
really tired, it’s silly to try to
make a two-day trip in one
day. Pick a place to spend
the mght, and then start out
fresh in the morning.”
What irks him the most?
Drivers who insist on
passing in no passing zones,
improper use of turn signals,
drivers who won’t let a truck
pass them when the truck is
acting legally and safely,
and tailgating.
“Life on the road is a lot
easier for all of us when the
simple rules of common
courtesy are used,” he
concludes.
York Co. FFA Judging
contests held
RED LION - The York
County FFA Association
recently held its dairy and
livestock judging contests.
Contestants from Dover,
Eastern, Kennard-Dale,
Northern and Red Lion Area
Schools met at Red lion
Area High School for the
contests and went to various
farms to judge the different
species of livestock.
Kevin Holtzinger and
Donald Lanius hosted the
dairy judging teams while
James Parlett, Mrs. Paul
Ebaugh, and Donald Walter
provided the swine, sheep
DEAD STOCK
REMOVED i-ia
promptly |mm
ANYTIME ANYWHERE
We Charge For Distant Pickups.
A. F. DRANDT’S SONS
RENDERERS
ELIZABETHTOWN, PA
(717) 367-6026
and beef classes for the
livestock contest.
Greg Fantom of Kennard
Dale High School won the
dairy judging contest
followed by Jimmy Shoff,
Kathy Arnold, Barb Kilgore
and Jim Innerst, all of Red
Lion.
Capturing the livestock
contest was Greg Innerst of
Red Lion with fellow Red
Lion Area FFA members
Leroy Bowles, Brenda
Walter, Beth Holtzinger, and
Tom Muller rounding out the
top five.
€♦