Sad story

My wife saw this on MSNBC yesterday. One of those situations where there just wasn't much the riders could have done to prevent it: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40190106

Read about this yesterday.

Absolutely tragic, thought are with all those involved.

That is very unfortunate and tragic. It also adds weight to my personal decision never to operate a motor vehicle after drinking any alcoholic beverage. Seeing as I don't drink alcohol it's not a problem for me. I'm not saying that Mr. Ramirez was drunk, but in such a situation I would put my vehicle in the sand before endangering other innocent motorists; assuming I was dead cold sober and in full possession of my faculties. That's the danger with alcohol. You can be sober enough to operate a vehicle in ordinary situations, but in an emergency such as that, any alcohol is going to affect your judgment, even if only a little. In an emergency, any at all is too much.

Anyway, my thoughts and prayers go out to those involved in this tragedy.

We have a police campaign running in the UK right called "No Excuses".

Sending the message no matter what you say as a get out it won't be accepted.

Drink driving - caught - No excuse!

Using a mobile phone whilst driving - caught - No excuse!

No seat belt worn - caught - No excuse!

Etc Etc.

We always tend to have these type purges before the Christmas festivities, however this year the police have ran this campaign most of the summer and are seriously getting to grips with law breaking offenders.

No crime, auto related or otherwise that causes harm can be ignored. I hope the offending Honda driver has the sense to give him self in.

I got pulled over in Oklahoma once driving my Nissan Pathfinder and the officer gave me a ticket for not wearing my seat belt.

I asked the officer "does Oklahoma require motorcycle helmets?" He replied "No sir." I asked "But they require seat belts? Does that make sense to you?"

My friend told me "Someday you are going to get tazered."

Doesn't matter if it makes sense to the officer or not. It's the law. He doesn't make them, he just does his job and enforces them. If anyone is at fault, it's the legislature, not the officer.

Yeah, that was his lame ass excuse too.