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Remember the show "Wonder Woman"? I always liked that show. The stories were well written, the acting was top notch, and the special effects were spectacular. OK, that is all a bunch of crapola. Let's face it, there were better shows. However, none of them had an invisible jet.

I always liked Wonder Woman’s invisible jet. Remember that thing? She would jump in it and take off, flying all over the place and no-one could see her. Didn’t think about the fact that she wasn't invisible. 

Well some time ago, something happened that made me think about this invisible jet.  I was doing what I do every day. Driving.

I was heading south to Louisiana. Most of the way down there, and most of the way back I experienced what we truck drivers like to call rain. Sometimes heavy, sometimes light, but always wet and always a nuisance.

I noticed something as I was driving along I-55 that I guess I noticed before but, for some reason it really struck me and I’d like to share it with you. You see, there were more cars and trucks than I could count that were driving without their lights on. I do not understand this, especially on a busy interstate with lots of cars, buses, and trucks with heavy spray coming off of every one of them.

I know some people think that they don't need to turn their headlights on because it’s daytime and it doesn't help you see any better, but the point is not to necessarily help you see the road, but to help others see you.

At one point there was a car riding beside me that I didn't even know about. Now, I check my mirrors regularly, so I know this was not a car that crept up on me. She was caught in the spray of my truck, with no lights on, I could not see her. Good thing I didn't need to change lanes. In poor visibility conditions, always make sure to double and triple check your mirrors.

See and Be Seen

As a professional truck driver, how many times have you heard the statement “see and be seen”? Yet some people do not grasp the concept. In most states it is the law. In ALL states it is a good idea. Whether rain, snow, fog or just poor visibility conditions, having your headlights on makes it easier for people to see you.

Also, remember with modern dashboards the gauges may be lit, but that doesn’t mean your headlights are on. Automatic headlights are a great thing, but they don’t always come on when conditions are poor. Make sure to turn them on manually. It's a good thing Wonder Woman wasn't flying around in her invisible jet or I may have ran that poor lady off the road. Although, invisible Jets flying around with a visible pilot would probably be pretty distracting.

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Clark W Reed

Clark Reed of Roscoe, Illinois is an OTR company driver and trainer for Nussbaum Transportation based out of Hudson, Illinois. He has been driving since 2005 and has driven van, reefer, and tanker. He currently hauls dry van to all lower 48 states. Clark is passionate about MPGs and how driver habits influence them. The lifetime average of his 2018 Cascadia is 9.75 mpg, with eyes on 10. Clark, along with Henry Albert, was one of the seven drivers in 2017's "Run on Less" by NACFE, a road show, demonstrating what fuel efficiency can be obtained with existing technologies.

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