A week ago today, PGA golfer John Daly had an encounter of a strange kind in Mobile (the movie was partly filmed in the Port City). He drove his bus/motor coach into the roof of the 12-foot high Bankhead Tunnel. Daly says the warning signs are confusing and denies there were chains hanging down from them to let drivers know their vehicles are too tall. What's truly amazing is the fact that parts of Daly's bus crashed to the ground behind him, striking another vehicle, and yet Daly didn't realize there was anything wrong till he was pulled over further down the road? UH, just how loud was that radio? The only picture of the warning signs I could find online is the one above. I don't see any chains, but gee, it sure seems well marked. I suspect the "chain sign" is earlier on the roadway, and I'm quite sure the law firm hired by the driver of the following car has a complete collection of pictures at this point.
[UPDATE: DUH, NOW I see the chains in the photo, though there's no indication when the picture was taken, and Daly complains they don't give drivers enough notice. If these are the ONLY chains, he had a point. What is someone supposed to do if they hit the chains a few dozen feet from the opening? Stop and back up?]
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Jun 22, 2009
Dilly Daly
A week ago today, PGA golfer John Daly had an encounter of a strange kind in Mobile (the movie was partly filmed in the Port City). He drove his bus/motor coach into the roof of the 12-foot high Bankhead Tunnel. Daly says the warning signs are confusing and denies there were chains hanging down from them to let drivers know their vehicles are too tall. What's truly amazing is the fact that parts of Daly's bus crashed to the ground behind him, striking another vehicle, and yet Daly didn't realize there was anything wrong till he was pulled over further down the road? UH, just how loud was that radio? The only picture of the warning signs I could find online is the one above. I don't see any chains, but gee, it sure seems well marked. I suspect the "chain sign" is earlier on the roadway, and I'm quite sure the law firm hired by the driver of the following car has a complete collection of pictures at this point.
[UPDATE: DUH, NOW I see the chains in the photo, though there's no indication when the picture was taken, and Daly complains they don't give drivers enough notice. If these are the ONLY chains, he had a point. What is someone supposed to do if they hit the chains a few dozen feet from the opening? Stop and back up?]
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Tim,
ReplyDeleteThe chains are very visable in the image. They are hanging down from the sign. Daly was drunk...again.
For many years, I've had a "full blown" CDL. That is, my class A Commercial Driver License has all endorsements, doubles/triples, hazmat, passenger, tank, vessel (boat) and motorcycle.
ReplyDeleteWhile I've not driven professionally for quite some time, I continue to hold myself to, and maintain that higher-standard license. Not only would it be a waste to lose it, but "it's cheaper to keep her." As well, if for any reason any of the organizations with which I volunteer needs a CDL licensed driver, I'm ready to help.
Daly has a well-documented public struggle with alcoholism. And, it's not uncommon for any long-term alcohol abuser to have at least one run-in with the law for DUI. In fact, being charged with a DUI is almost a proof-positive of alcohol abuse.
Yet while it seems evident from the story that Daly was not charged with DUI, for any driver to apparently be so oblivious of their vehicle is a very dangerous sign.
If all things check out (that is, if it's determined that the chains were in place, etc.), it very well may be that Mr. Daly had "A Momentary Lapse Of Reason."
Perhaps he would claim that those "unheeded warnings, I tought I thought of everything, no navigator to guide my way home, unladened, empty and turned to stone."
Can't he keep his "eyes from the circling skies? Is he tongue-tied and twisted, just an Earth-bound misfit"?
Lyrics excerpt from "Learning to Fly"
ASCAP Title Code: 423103457
BMI work #844028
by Jon Carin, Robert Alan Ezrin, David Jon Gilmour, Anthony John More
Publishers: Pink Floyd Music Publishers, Inc.
Performed by: Pink Floyd
Tim, you wrote that, "...Daly complains they don't give drivers enough notice."
ReplyDeleteIMO, Daly's point is well taken.
Here's why: As seen in the picture to which you linked, the chains are located/situated AT the entrance!
There should be a warning at LEAST 1/4 mile BEFORE the tunnel, or at a point where a driver can exit that route if they discover they can't clear the height of the tunnel ceiling.
At it is now, suppose the case of the driver of any vehicle that prepares to enter the tunnel. Upon passing what is ostensibly the entrance sign, they're ALREADY COMMITTED to entering.
Suppose they suddenly discover that they can't clear the chains.
What're they gonna' do? Stop and back up?
It's a two-lane, two-way street.