OBG, has it become pretty standardized now that highway patrol approaches vehicles from the passenger side? Over the past couple years I've noticed east coast highway patrols no longer seem to go to the drivers side of the vehicle, instead going to the passenger side (even when they place their car far enough to the left to help block from getting hit). It's not just one or two states though, it seems like it's all over. I was just wondering since I've been spending a lot of time on the highway lately and it has caught my attention.

All I can speak for is CA, and my recent observations in WY. The CHP went to the right side approach probably 15-20 years ago (altho some dummies still walk up on the drivers side). They did that because we were having so many officers picked off by passing traffic while standing at the drivers door. In years past I have actually had my butt brushed by a passing car doing about 75. That might have something to do with my grey hair falling out. In WY I have seen officers do nothing but left side approaches, then go back to sit in their vehicle to take care of the paperwork. Not a good place to be sitting when someone rear ends your patrol vehicle. Not to mention your delayed response when the bad guys you are writing a ticket to decided to jump out and blow you away...

About four days after I went off the antibiotics a 3/4" strip of dead flesh came off my finger, but the skin underneath was a healthy pink. It seems the only long-term effect will be a scar that looks like someone put a cigarette out on my finger and I won't be able to afford a new canoe for a while.

To try and steer this back nearer to the original topic, here in Texas a law was passed stating you have to slow down 20mph under the posted speed limit if you are in a lane passing a cop or emergency worker parked on the side of the road. That being said, a motorcycle cop was picked off by a passing motorist the day after my buddy got shot. Houston is hard on cops.

-Blast

OBG I got off onto the old road asap. In fact, history repeats itself! My grandfather used to point out a tree where gypsies parked their horsedrawn wagons because it was safe there from observation, wind and wild animals during the Depression. We woke up parked under that still surviving old tree!

Good man! Having worked in the Newhall area for almost five years, the stories I could tell you...

Stories? I was out on the 5 when the Newhall quake hit.We were on a then popular C.B. radio t-hunt. Watching the freeway literally rippling like a shook blanket and bouncing my '66 Chrysler 300 ( rebuilt CHP H.D. suspension, twin magnum headers and mild spyder manifold on a 383 ) and then simply falling down ahead of us gave this then 16 y/o driver a good dose of religon. Instead of new rims ( those big Chryslers always popped the hubcaps off,) I bought a fire extinguisher,flashlight, blanket ( my mother thinking I had romantic uses for it)and a first aid kit.

"...blanket ( my mother thinking I had romantic uses for it)..."

Good ole Chris: even in the early formative years, recognizing multi-purpose when he sees it!

Sue

"But mom! I need the condoms to store fresh water in...seriously!"

When I was that age I used to carry a blanket in my car too, and with raging hormones, EVERY thougth I had re that blanket were romantic...

That little voice in my head is why I have 80 years mileage on a 49 year old body!!!