Air December 15, 1999

Thank you Mark, and good morning everyone. The countdown is down to 10 days until Christmas and 16 days until the False Millennium celebrations start. I have most of my Christmas shopping done, and just a few days left to try to improve my image so Santa will at least consider stopping at my house.

With everyone in the holiday spirit it becomes sort of tough to think about much else. But let’s try. I heard this the other day and there may be some truth in it. Someone wanted to know what it was about holiday shopping that turned everyone into stupid drivers. Well, I don’t think they become stupid... Preoccupied maybe, but not stupid. But unfortunately, a preoccupied driver is not a safe driver. Now let’s add, to that already dangerous mix, a cell phone and perhaps a little snow, ice or even just rain. Now you have a recipe for disaster. Oh, but we’re not done yet. Now we’re going to put the whole family on a tight schedule to begin with, trying to get everywhere, and they were late getting started so maybe we’re driving a little fast and we’re a little tired or at the very least cranky. Now we’ve got a tragedy just waiting to occur. You see, holidays are supposed to be happy, cheery and joyous times. Yet we do everything we can to sabotage that. So, before a tragedy happens, let’s step back and try to figure out what can be done to prevent the tragedy. First of all, set limits on what you are going to try to do. Make them realistic. Maybe families just need to agree that you can’t see EVERYONE over the holidays. You’ll see some of them this Christmas and the others next Christmas. That means parents and grandparents need to stop laying guilt trips on the kids. Now, plan your schedule accordingly, allowing enough time for safe driving. By the time you stop for all the things you stop for on the road, you are not going to average the speed limit. Don’t plan on it, don’t even try to. Figure 50 mph on two lane roads, 60 on interstate and you’ll find you and the clock getting along just fine. Then finally, don’t allow stress, or tiredness or alcohol or drugs to interfere with your alertness.

If you aren’t sober, alert and focused you have no business on the road. Plan now and follow through with a safe holiday season.

This is Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent, with Ag Outlook ’99.

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