Rule 16: Drive Safe.

Confessions of a Traveling Early Intervention Provider:

As early intervention home visitors, our days are filled with enough unexpected twists and turns. The last thing we need is a rogue cow (yes, it’s happened!) causing a traffic jam on our way to a session.

An Unexpected Encounter on the Rural Route

My colleague experienced a recent drive that was unexpected. Traveling along a scenic country road she found herself in a situation both comical and potentially hazardous.

Following a truck hauling a livestock trailer she watched a large cow, plop out dramatically onto the roadway. Reacting swiftly, she displayed impressive reflexes, applying the brakes and bringing her vehicle to a stop safely.

The cow, uninjured but startled, darted from where he landed with a surprising burst of speed.

The vehicle transporting the cow came to a stop, as two men ran off in pursuit of the wandering cow.

My friend, understandably surprised but unharmed, watched as the cow and cow chasers vanished into the distance. The once-peaceful commute had become an unforgettable experience.

This incident serves as a reminder that while we run the roads, unforeseen situations can arise, requiring quick thinking and controlled reactions.

Millions of workers drive or ride in a motor vehicle as part of their jobs. And, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of work-related deaths in the U.S. The type of company or job doesn’t matter — the risk is there.

MAY 16, 2024, About Motor Vehicle Safety at Work National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Tips for the Traveling Therapist:

• Awareness: Scan your surroundings constantly. This means keeping an eye out for not just other cars, but pedestrians, cyclists, and yes, even the occasional farm animal.
• Check the Weather: Always check the forecast before you head out. Bad weather equals reduced speed.
• Car Care: Regularly check your vehicle maintenance schedule. A well-maintained car is a safe car.
• Phone Safety: use a Bluetooth headset for phone calls and map directions on the go, and keep your eyes on the road.
• Leave space: Don’t try to squeeze in so many home visits in a day that you find yourself rushing. Include wiggle room in your schedule for detours, trains, and wrong turns.
• Map Mishaps Happen: Have a backup plan (a physical map!) in case your GPS decides to take you on a scenic (but unplanned) detour where there is no reception.

Remember, a safe early intervention provider is a happy early intervention provider, and a happy early intervention provider can make all the difference in the lives of the children and families we serve.

Now, buckle up, get out there, and make a difference, one early intervention visit at a time!

Been There, Done That: Future Stories for Another Day

• Hitting a pothole the size of a small crater on a deserted country road.
• Finding out that shortcut from the GPS, is actually a dirt road
• Relying on the phone map in the middle of nowhere, when it suddenly says “out of area no connection.”
• A family of deer decides to take a stroll across the highway just as you’re approaching.
• Countless dogs chasing the car as you drive by
• Snakes slithering across the road, causing everyone in the car to lift their feet as you drive past.
• Hitting a group of turkey buzzards that you thought were going to move but didn’t. Now the car smells like road kill for the rest of the day.
• Getting stuck in a muddy driveway requiring a tractor to pull out.