PLAYINTRAFFIC's Blog

Nothing is going to change the fact the I-64 will be closing briefly.....but we must make sure that everyone that travels the areas that have been restriped to accomodate more traffic flow must realize that IF they have a problem while navigating these stretches of roadways that if your car stalls or you are in a minor crash, you MUST get out of the lanes and in the grass as best you can.  If you stay in the lane you are a sitting duck......  Do not get out of the car and walk around like it is your backyard, it is an interstate and people will not be paying attention, driving too fast, chatting on the cell phone, reading a paper, running late etc.  If you cannot get your car out of the lane, look for the safest place to relocate you and your passengers away from your car.  Get to the right shoulder if you can.  If you can relocate your vehicles, get off the roadway, a ramp or exit is much safer than the traffic lane.  You do not have to wait for the police to get there to move your cars.  They can determine who hit who very easily.

One thing that will also help is QUIT driving with the yellow low fuel light on.......E = Empty not Extended Range.....

Slow Down, Use Common Sense and drive like you did the day you took your driving test.

Good Luck all and safe driving....

 

 

Everyone should read the information on the below website about windshield replacement.

Your windshield if replaced may not have been done properly and your safety is at risk in a crash.

I would take the time to copy/paste link and read some of the info.

http://www.crackedwindshield.com/2020.html

Everyone should be aware of and read the information below about air bag safety.

Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Tips

Air bags and safety belts save lives. All Americans, and especially parents and caregivers, need to understand how to maximize the lifesaving capabilities of these safety devices and minimize the risks.

KIDS RIDE IN BACK. Infants should NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger air bag. Children, typically ages 12 and under, also should ride buckled up in the back seat.

CHILD SAFETY SEATS. Young children and infants always should ride in age- and size-appropriate child safety seats. The safety seat should be held properly in place by the vehicle's safety belts and the child should be correctly buckled in the child safety seat. A child who has outgrown a convertible child safety seat will need to ride in a booster seat for the vehicle's safety belts to fit properly.

WEAR BOTH LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS. The shoulder strap should cross the collarbone, and the lap belt should fit low and tight. The shoulder strap should never be slipped behind the back or under the arm - this is a dangerous habit, especially in cars with air bags.

MOVE THE FRONT SEATS BACK. Driver and front passenger seats should be moved as far back as possible, particularly for shorter statured people.

http://www.smartmotorist.com/air/air.htm

Airbag fraud

Imagine you and your family are driving along a rainy highway. Another car suddenly careens across the lane into yours. As the cars collide, you count on your airbags to open and protect everyone. But your airbags don't deploy. They were stolen.

Crooked body shops are stealing airbags from vehicles to make a quick dollar at your expense. Mechanics can easily remove your airbag without your knowing it.

Airbag fraud places the lives of you and your passengers in danger if you're in a crash. The swindles also cost you money.

Your next drive should be in a safe car, not an ambulance. Here's how airbag scams work, the price you pay, and how you can protect yourself.

\l "scams" \l "price" \l "fight"

 

The scams

Here are several scams you should watch for...

The pullout.

The switch.

Used & salvaged vehicles.

You may have a hard time tracing exactly what's happened to the vehicle, who repaired it, and whether they tampered with your airbags. You may only have an unsafe used or cheap knockoff bag. Or just rags and beer cans.

Cars that were totaled in a flood may still have the original airbags, but they may not open properly if the module was soaked.

 

The price you pay

Lives & safety.

Pay higher premiums.

Your own auto premiums also might go up even faster, since an airbag scam against you unfairly inflates claims against your own auto policy.

 

Fight back

Unless you have X-ray vision, you can't easily tell if a dishonest body shop tampered with the airbag while your vehicle was being repaired. The airbag compartment is tightly sealed, and hard for you to reach.

Same with that used or salvaged car you're thinking of buying. If the vehicle's history is altered, missing or incomplete, you don't know if the airbag is safe – or if you even have one.

Get a mechanic.

Watch for these warning signs...

Dashboard light works?

Invoice in order?

Any complaints?

Fake airbag cover?

Vehicle history ok?

Avoid tampering.

Support airbag legislation.

Click

Taken from: http://www.insurancefraud.org/airbag_warning.htm

 

Urge your state legislators to support tough penalties for body shops that commit airbag scams. Don't try to open the airbag compartment yourself. You could be injured, and also damage an expensive airbag system. Thinking about buying a used vehicle? Get its history report from commercial services. If the report shows the vehicle was in a major crash or flood, you should have a certified mechanic or airbag technician check it out before buying.The body shop might place a real-looking cover over the airbag space to hide the theft. But fake airbag covers rarely have your vehicle's logo imprinted. The color also may be slightly off, even if it does fit well. See if the body shop has a history of consumer complaints – before you get repairs. Check the shop's complaint history with the Better Business Bureau. Check the body shop's invoice to make sure the shop bought the airbag from a car manufacturer, dealer or recycler. Newer cars have a dashboard light that comes on for a few seconds when you start the car. This signals that the airbag system is working properly. If the light stays on, starts flashing or doesn't flash on at all, your airbag system probably isn't working. But watch out: Crooked body shops can install devices that make the airbag light flash properly even when the airbag is gone.When in doubt, have an outside mechanic you trust check out your airbag. Make sure the mechanic is certified, or seek a reputable airbag technician.Airbag fraud also takes hard-earned money out of your pocket. The swindles raise auto premiums for every honest driver because insurance companies must pass the cost to all policyholders. Your life is in danger every time you step into a vehicle without good airbags. Your passengers' lives also are at stake if you crash and the airbags don't work right. Innocent drivers have died in crashes when crooked body shops stole their airbags. Are you and your friends or family members next?Maybe you're buying a used or salvaged vehicle (which was rebuilt after the insurer declared it totaled). Be careful.The body shop removes your un-deployed airbag and installs another deployed one to make it seem the original bag inflated during the accident. The mechanic then puts back your original bag after the insurance company makes a repair estimate. Or, the mechanic may simply insert rags and other junk, then sell your original bag on the black market. A dishonest body shop pulls out your airbag so it seems like the bag deployed during the accident. The mechanic then inserts a cheap knockoff bag after your insurer finishes the estimate for replacing the original airbag. Or worse, the mechanic stuffs old rags, cardboard or beer cans into your empty airbag space. The body shop bills your insurer full price for "replacing" the bag – up to $2,000 or more – even though your original is long gone. "airbag_sc_inf_losses.htm" for full-length article on airbag scams.

I posted this on myfoxstl and am posting on myfoxkc:

If you did not know this year there is a House Bill (HB 90) (Missouri) that needs to pass for a Primary Safety Belt Law. Law Enforcement needs the tools to do their job so they can better protect our citizens when it comes to safety belts.  Too many lives are being lost each year in Missouri.  Please take the time to check a couple of links below to see what you can do as a citizen or a company to let the legislators know we mean business and we care about our community and the safety on our highways.  Please take time to check out some of this information.  savemolives has some good info on not only safety belts but young and older drivers as well.
http://www.savemolives.com/
http://www.modot.mo.gov/expresslane/primarysafety.htm
<

If you did not know this year there is a House Bill (HB 90) (Missouri) that needs to pass for a Primary Safety Belt Law. Law Enforcement needs the tools to do their job so they can better protect our citizens when it comes to safety belts.  Too many lives are being lost each year in Missouri.  Please take the time to check a couple of links below to see what you can do as a citizen or a company to let the legislators know we mean business and we care about our community and the safety on our highways.  Please take time to check out some of this information.  savemolives has some good info on not only safety belts but young and older drivers as well.
http://www.savemolives.com/
http://www.modot.mo.gov/expresslane/primarysafety.htm<
/a>

I had received an email last year that brought a good idea to my attention concerning your cell phone.

If something happens to you and your cell phone is available to who ever finds you, you should put your emergency contact as the first one on your contact list.

I cannot remember what they called it but last year I programmed all our cell phones like this:

A ICO Emergency

I put the A first to ensure it would be at the top of our lists.

This could also benefit if you misplace your phone or loose it. An honest person could call this to find out who's phone it is and get it back to the rightful owner.

Just a thought.

Many of you may not know but here is an additional tool to help protect our children in the event you are in a crash and emergency responders need to know info on your child.

There is a wonderful program out here called "CHAD" Children Have An iDentity.

These are stickers that you place on your childs safety seat in case of emergency.

"This safety seat child identification program has been developed as the result of a traffic crash involving a 13-month-old boy named Chad. The babysitter who had been driving was killed. Chad was injured, but no one at the scene knew his identity. Only because an emergency room nurse recognized him could his parents be quickly located and his injuries treated. To ensure rapid identification of your child place it on the right corner (child's right) under the cushion or center back of your child's safety seat."

They can be obtained thru the website below (larger orders):

http://www.modot.mo.gov/OrderSystem/pub/displayOrder.do


I would suggest contacting MoDOT or Idot and they can help you get the stickers you need.

You can also find these at most Safety Fairs in your area.

When is the last time you checked to see if you have the lastest/up do date insurance card in you car?

Most people forget about this when the new cards come in the mail.

Missouri Drivers' Responsibilities

It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle in Missouri without automobile liability insurance. The vehicle driver must show proof of insurance to any law enforcement official, upon request, or a traffic ticket will be issued to the driver. If convicted of “failing to show proof of insurance,” one of three things will happen to the driver:

The court will send the conviction to the Driver License Bureau. The conviction will be entered on the driver’s driving record and four points will be assessed. It only takes a total of eight points within an 18-month period to lose your driving privilege in Missouri.

The court may enter an order of supervision. This order is sent to the Driver License Bureau so that the driver can be monitored to ensure automobile liability insurance is being maintained.

The court may enter an order suspending the driver’s driver license for failing to show proof of insurance. This order is sent to the Driver License Bureau at which time the driver is notified of the suspension of his or her driver license.

I work at many crash scenes. At almost every crash scene someone involved cannot produce the card needed as proof of insurance. Here are my recommendations:

1. Check for the most recent card and place in glove box, visor or console.

2. Remove any old cards that are expired.

3. Do this check everytime you get your renewal or new cards come in the mail. This is for all of your vehicles.

4. Show anyone that drives your car where it is kept.

Just some helpful information above.

Lets_Pay_it_Forward

Jan 19, 2007 | 5:40 PM

Has everyone ever seen the movie "Pay it Forward" from the year 2000 with: Haley Joel Osment,Helen Hunt and Kevin Spacey?

If not I suggest you rent and see it.

The basic idea in this movie could be a wonderful thing to try within our own lives/community.

We should start a blog and have everyone attempt to pay it forward to three people we know, (do a kind thing for three different people) tell them the plan that they must also pay it forward to three people they know and so on and so on.

We could make ourselves and our community so much better with this simple little idea.

Attempt this during the month of February. post on blog when you have successfully completed your three and so on. Dont have to give names or exact details but kinda what you did. And stick to the plan.

I posted once and never made the cut to get to the front page, hope more people read and think about this.

Tell me what you think?

Has everyone ever seen the movie "Pay it Forward" from the year 2000 with: Haley Joel Osment,Helen Hunt and Kevin Spacey?

If not I suggest you rent and see it.

The basic idea in this movie could be a wonderful thing to try within our own lives/community.

We should start a blog and have everyone attempt to pay it forward to three people we know, (do a kind thing for three different people) tell them the plan that they must also pay it forward to three people they know and so on and so on.

We could make ourselves and our community so much better with this simple little idea.

Attempt this during the month of February. post on blog when you have successfully completed your three and so on. Dont have to give names or exact details but kinda what you did. And stick to the plan.

Tell me what you think?

Everyone should look at getting the kids done or updated. This weekend at a couple of different locations MOCHIP is doing this free for parents. It is a very comprehensive child identification program including, photo, digital finger prints,dna and dental impressions.

Everything needed for an Amber Alert.

here is there website: www.mochip.org

I have been working with my family this week to get all the kids done and updated including my new grand daughter.

Please think about this and get it done. We are.

The PLAYINTRAFFIC FAMILY

I have seen all the talk about the Mark M. sign on I-70, people want it removed some say let it stay.

Here is my idea.

Designate Highway Signs for Missing Children, with Name and Picture. Just like the posters but very LARGE.

Lets focus our attention on the missing children, not home runs.

This could help get the word out and let us never forget about these children that have been missing for so long.

If one sign could help find one missing child, it would be well worth it.

It could spark the tip that leads to the safe return. All it takes is one tip.

Let me know what you think.

If Mo is to redesign plates in 2009 here is my thought....

You have a standard plate
You have a Personalized Plate
You have Organizational Style Plate
You have a Charity or Other Type Plate and so on

I would like to add a new plate to the list

DWI Offender Plate

Anyone that has been convicted of a DWI and allowed to drive again, should be issued a DWI plate, this would make them stand out in a crowd (of cars that is). Bring extra attention to Law Enforcement...and motorists....

These would look good sitting in front of a bar.

Even if it were as subtle as the first letter in the plate “D”

How about a Sex Offender Plate:

You could go further and add a sex offender plate. First letter “S”

Think a car with one of them would want to be seen in or around a school...or in front of a house in a subdivision (occupied) on a dark street?

Got any other ideas?.... (Dead Beat Dad/Mom?)

I'll let you take it from here....

To the webmasters at Fox2, here is a suggestion. I have seen on other sites they have a tab for "Amber Alerts" it is a direct link to the missouriamberalert.com website.

From my understanding the first 24 hours are the most crucial in locating a missing child. I know they run on bottom of the tv screen and post on message signs on highway, for the people that visit your site it could one more way in getting the "Word" out. (To the computer geeks).

Or if one is issued would it run on bottom of website screen on all pages as we navigate thru your site.

Just a thought.