"Where there's SMOKE, there's fire!"
Def. The very presence of a rumor means that something is afoot, even if not exactly what is rumored. - The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
I preach this incessantly in the Stewards office. If a driver see's smoke, near or far, it should immediately set off alarm bells in thier head that extra care must be taken. With few exceptions, the first step in taking that caution is to slow down. Period. Speed kills, and in this case it ended up kiling several drivers.
I tried to come up with some reasons WHY someone would not slow down in this position. Please feel free to add more, I would really like to hear alternative views:
A) Confusion - the classic "deer in the headlights" syndrome. Again, caution is the better part of valor and slowing if your not sure of what's going on ahead is likely the best scenario.
B) Advantage - "looks like carnage up ahead, if I can just sneek through..." Well, beside being "unsportsmanlike" and in most cases illegal [passing under Yellow Flag conditions] it is also most likely that you'll create more carnage than avoid.
C) Reverse Advantage - "If I slow down, I might get passed, so better to keep my foot in it..." That logic is not necessarily wrong on it's face, you
might get passed by another driver. BUT... if the event was far enough ahead to warn you, it will also have been far enough ahead to warn the driver behind. If you do get passed in this situation, it will be the passing driver who will suffer; penalty at best, joining the carnage at worst.
Lastly, if I hear the excuse of "I didn't see the smoke, because I have it turned OFF...", please send me a private message so I know! I will gladly let you by when the appropriate time comes!
