Niblets

You Mother's Truckers Should be More Careful!

Originally Posted Monday, 05 September 2016 at 07:21 PM
Updated Tuesday, 06 September 2016 at 03:07 PM

Yes, it's an old joke ...

A sign frequently seen on over-the-road trucks says: "If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you."

Rubbish. These folks don't understand the concept of mirrors! Because of the way cars are made -- the driver sits inboard of the edge of the car by more than a foot, and the car's body extends many feet behind the driver -- a following vehicle always is within view of the truck driver well beyond the point where a car's driver can see the truck's mirrors.

Another sign, often appearing on dump trucks: "Stay back 200 ft. Not responsible for broken windshields!"

Well, yes you are. First of all, only Superman could read your stupid sign from 200 feet away. Second, it's not an enforceable legal notice.

According to the Washington State Patrol, a sign on the rear of a vehicle or towed trailer "does not absolve the driver of any responsibility if debris falls from the vehicle. If debris drops or falls off and damages another vehicle or breaks a windshield, it is still the driver's responsibility....Any damage that is caused by falling debris is the responsibility of the driver of the vehicle that lost it, and potentially the registered owner of the vehicle."

We get the idea, and safety first, and all that. Indeed, warnings about who -- or what! -- you might pick up at truck stops might be a good thing.

But don't treat us like morons.

About The Author

Richard B. Barger, ABC, APR

Richard B. Barger, ABC, APR, is well-positioned as CornerBarPR's Chief Curmudgeon; he's our version of Andy Rooney -- loves words, particularly loves to complain about idiocy.

In his spare time, Rich runs the inventively named Barger Consulting, where he conducts strategic communications planning and research, and gives people advice whether they want it or not.

Through the years, Rich has tricked unsuspecting folks into giving him positions as managing editor of the public relations division of a 180-person agency, and as a wire service editor, an economic analyst, a federal investigator, and, bless his little muddy boots, a farmer. Really. He fancies himself a pretty fair country editor and at one time was famous among about half a dozen people as "The Voice of IABC."

At various points in what passes for a career, he's done time as a member of IABC, PRSA, and NSPRA, as well as the Gifted Association of Missouri, the University of Missouri Alumni Association, the Council of Better Business Bureaus (as a Senior Arbitrator), and a handful of church choirs.

Known as "Boom-Boom Barger" in Marching Mizzou, Rich refuses to answer the phone during University of Missouri football or basketball games, plays a hard-edged game of bridge, and is married to a woman he doesn't like to talk about much, because she's smarter and much nicer than he is.

Barger's motto: "Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once."