As I sat around this summer counting the days until ski season begins again, I started thinking of my most favorite subject. SAFETY!

While I was out on the bike path for my run (more like walk!) someone approached on their bicycle, and as they were getting closer to my back side they announced, “on your right”.  That was a good sign, much appreciated and just good common sense, and I started thinking about other instances outside of ski season when such politeness is expected, even required.

When one plays golf to pass the time between ski seasons, someone will shout FOUR if they think a ball might have a possibility of hitting you.  It’s a warning, to protect everybody’s safety.

A couple incidents while driving my car also got me thinking. When we drive, we use – or should use – directional signals when preparing to turn.  Agan, it’s for everybody’s safety.  When someone is a reckless driver, there is a chance they can get a ticket, get in an accident, even lose their license.

Driving on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey recently, a pickup truck sped past me on the inside lane at 80+  mph and suddenly cut in from of me with no directional signal.  So I flashed my lights, in case this driver was trying to run me off the road.  He hit his brakes and tried to edge me off with a few birds flipped at me.

That was extreme and only happened twice in my life of 82 years, both times young and crazy drivers.

Luckily, there are few such these incidents – including on the slopes when a reckless skier or boarder cuts you off and you yell and get the bird.

Recently also, two motorcycle drivers sped by me on the inside at an extreme speed weaving in and out of traffic to a point that I expected to see them somewhere off the road in an accident. Such young drivers on crotch rockets are the basic statistics of motorcycle accidents and deaths – although they won’t stop me from riding my motorcycle or downhilling on my skis.

Driving is dangerous and lethal at high speed and is a weapon of sorts, so you must pass a skill test to get a license, and insurance to own, even rent, a car.

What else requires a license?  Boating.  You need to take a safely course before you can operate a boat, of course all reason disappearing when one drinks, but that never happens when out boating! Now the waters are patrolled by the local jurisdiction frequently.

Hunting – the same goes, with safety courses required before getting a license.  Also scuba diving. Because recklessness can cause injury and/or death.

So, let’s talk about what we could do to improve our chances on the slopes, which appear to be the most under regulated situations.  Possible introduction to skiing should be a safety course.  It should be requried when newbies rent ski equipment.

There must be other ways to get the message out. An article here on SeniorsSking about “Ride Another Day” aka “Snow Angel” promotes safety education to know to give the skier in front of you the right of way.  In my opinion of all the safety rules that is the most important because it deals with the other person and not just yourself. Technically the other skier is a weapon, and you are the target and with limited protection it can and has been lethal.

I have had many instances when someone passed me too close, but when I caught up to them and said something, I was yelled for getting in their way, instead of apologizing for nearly causing an accident.

Recklessness is a common issue on the slopes, whether that’s caused by alcohol, cannabis, or a simple lack of education and courtesy.

The big question is what and how can we do something about it?