Who Needs Backup Sensors Anyway?Sidetracked Sisters

I’ve never been known as an awesome driver. As a matter of fact, I’ve been teased relentlessly over the years for developing ADD tendencies while behind the wheel.

This propensity to ADD while driving has its drawbacks. But sometimes I get into trouble even when I’m clearly 100% focused. like. when…backing up.

“Protective” Barriers

Most recently, I had a day job driving a forklift. I loaded freight onto a pallet and moved said freight to a staging area. On one fateful day, I had a “big and bulky” load of only 2 items. I was “looking alertly in the direction of movement with my body appropriately having 4 points of contact with the lift and using a wide-legged supported stance” as I maneuvered my pallet into the lane. Unfortunately, the load of boxes was blocking my ability to see the barrier rod that prevented people from entering a conveyor area.

When the tines hit, my body continued moving six inches to the backrest. Unfortunately, the backrest of my lift was made of steel and my nose hit–forcefully. I immediately covered my nose with my hand as I waited for my poor brain to reboot. I quickly realized that blood was dripping from my hand and a quick trip to the restroom revealed that I didn’t have a bloody nose, just a centimeter-wide gash across the bridge of my nose.

This event brought up stories of other times I’ve struggled baking up a vehicle.

Trees

Many years ago, around 10:30 pm on the Friday night of Labor Day weekend, I was pulling into random driveways trying to find the fire number of our weekend cabin rental. Upon backing out of one driveway, the cottage’s lights turned on, and as I hurried my backing…I crunched into their mature tree beside the driveway. When the irate owner asked why my backup sensors didn’t alert me to the object, I responded that my sensors hadn’t worked since the last time I backed up into a tree.

Speaking of trees. This wasn’t the only tree I’ve backed into. I also took out a backup sensor when driving down my own driveway. That’s what happens when is 4:58 am and you and your daughter are running behind meeting up with others for a dance competition. So…you try making up a few seconds by speeding down your driveway, backwards, unable to really see in your mirrors because of the dark and the fog. I didn’t realize until it was too late that I was 4 feet off the driveway. Oooops.

This skill, or lack of skill is still with me. And it doesn’t just show up when I back into trees. Sometimes it shows up with garage doors.

Garage Doors

I currently don’t have garage privileges due to the fact that the garage door is now disconnected from the electric opener. You see, I “tapped” the garage door while exiting in February and similarly “tapped” it again in March. The second time really messed up the rollers that sit in a groove and are supposed to guide the door as it goes up and down…

I think I’ve had issues with the garage door four or five times total over the years. I don’t usually go through a totally closed door. My problem is impatience. I usually begin backing before the door is all the way up.

I’m not sure there are any lessons here.

Maybe this is one of those cases where you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

Maybe I should have a personal driver.

Perhaps someone should take away my keys.

Whatever the solution, backup sensors shouldn’t really be counted on as part of the equation.