[VHFcontesting] VHFcontesting Digest, Vol 81, Issue 14

[Les Rayburn]

Gene,

I can only speak from my own limited experience. I operate both while in 
motion, using loop antennas, and also "point and shoot" with longer Yagi's 
when stopped. When stopping the vehicle, I try to operate from out of the 
way places with little or no vehicle traffic. Areas such as scenic 
overlooks, rest areas, etc. But despite my caution, it's not unusual to have 
cars moving in or near my area.

Since I'm focused on the contest and operating, I think it's reasonable to 
wear a reflective vest to decrease the chances of an accident. If I have to 
pull over to adjust an antenna, etc. then I turn on my flashers.

I'm not advocating driving around with a lot signage or reflectors, but I do 
think reasonable precautions are in order.

I've been approached or stopped by law enforcement on every rove to date. In 
all cases, I comply with their instructions, show them my drivers license, 
amateur license, and credentials from the Alabama EMA. I've never had a 
single problem. This is one more good reason for amateurs to be involved 
with ARES/RACES.

In this part of the country, amateurs do a lot of mobile storm spotting, and 
work closely with our served agencies providing emergency communications. 
Amateur radio has a very favorable reputation with law enforcement, and we 
generally don't have too many problems. Your mileage may vary.

Lastly, I should point out that there is nothing inconspicuous about a six 
band or more rover! (ha, ha)

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
EM63nf
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114


--------------------------------------------------
From: <vhfcontesting-request at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 2:00 PM
To: <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
Subject: VHFcontesting Digest, Vol 81, Issue 14

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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: Rover/EMCOMM Vehicle Visibility (Eugene Zimmerman)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:10:26 -0400
> From: "Eugene Zimmerman" <ezimmerm at erols.com>
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Rover/EMCOMM Vehicle Visibility
> To: "'Les Rayburn'" <les at highnoonfilm.com>
> Cc: 'VHF Contesting' <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
> Message-ID: <005e01ca366a$7c559fe0$0f00a8c0 at gene>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hi Les
>
> This is wonderful information for emergency vehicles. But not so good for
> rovers.
>
> Rovers need to obey the law - emergency vehicles sometimes do not. For
> instance if your rover operates essentially only when it is stopped, or 
> even
> if you are a run and shoot rover who occasionally stops, it is ABSOLUTELY
> incumbent on you to get your rover off the road as far as you can and in 
> any
> case far enough that NO part of the vehicle or the antennas you use is on 
> or
> over a travelled road. Then there is no reason to worry about being hit
> unless some drunk runs off the road and hits you. And then no amount of
> markings will help.
>
> Secondly you should make your rover as inconspicuous as possible. That 
> can't
> be the case for a run and shoot rover but a rover that stops and sets up 
> can
> often have the antennas collapsed to the point that from a distance it 
> looks
> like a few bags of oats for the family horse or some fertilzer for the
> garden. I guarantee you will be hassled by the authorities who know 
> nothing
> of amateur radio or roving. If you are in a car covered with neon stipes 
> and
> you are wearing a yellow safety vest, what are you going to do when you 
> are
> approached by the local sheriff? If you tell him that you are an emergency
> vehicle he is first going to ask what emergency and then ask for
> identification - as an emergency vehicle - and second he can't be faulted 
> if
> he thinks you are not playing with a full deck of cards. In the latter he 
> is
> correct as many rovers including me will tell you. I don't know about
> Alabama and the Florida panhandle but I'll bet law enforcement officers 
> are
> very wary of folks they think are crazy. He may be looking for the target 
> on
> your back. :-)
>
> Brian the Rover ND3F/N3IQ is probably the expert on dealing with 
> authorities
> and how to avoid a bad outcome from such encounters. I'd suspect ND2F/5
> knows more than anyone else about authorities for a run and shoot rover -
> how to dress, how to pull completely off road, what to say, etc. But 
> making
> the rover vehicle any more conspicuous than it already is and wearing
> clothing that is - to be nice - odd is probably a good way to get on the
> wrong side of the authorities.
>
> 73  Gene  W3ZZ
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: Les Rayburn [ <mailto:les at highnoonfilm.com>
> mailto:les at highnoonfilm.com]
>
> Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 3:39 PM
>
> To: Sean, KX9X Kutzko; K1CE at cfl.rr.com; VHF Contesting Reflector; DEC 
> Region
>
> 2 WX4AL
>
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] Rover/EMCOMM Vehicle Visibility
>
> Amateurs who operate "Rover" in VHF/UHF Contests, and those who operate
> mobile response vehicles for emergency communications deployments should 
> pay
> particular attention to their safety while on the road. For some great
> suggestions on how to improve your chances of not being involved in an
> accident, you may want to read a new study just released by the United
> States Fire Administration (USFA), in partnership with the International
> Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), and supported by the US
> Department of Justice.
>
> Emergency Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity Study (PDF, 2.2 Mb).
>
> According to the study, numerous law enforcement officers, firefighters, 
> and
> emergency medical services (EMS) workers have been injured or killed along
> roadways throughout the US over the past decade. While I'm not aware of 
> any
> serious injuries to amateur radio operators, most of us who operate mobile
> can share stories of many "close calls". The study discusses the 
> importance
> of addressing emergency vehicle characteristics and human factors to 
> reduce
>
> injuries and deaths.
>
> The key findings of the study were:
>
> . Retro reflective materials hold greater promise for enhancing the
>
> conspicuity of emergency vehicles.
>
> . Being visible and recognizable are important facets of emergency
>
> vehicle conspicuity.
>
> . Contrasting colors can assist drivers with locating a hazard amid
>
> the visual clutter of the roadway.
>
> . Fluorescent colors offer higher visibility during daylight hours.
>
> The following are the key recommendations of the study:
>
> . Outline vehicle boundaries with "contour markings," using retro
>
> reflective material.
>
> . Concentrate retro reflective material on lower half of emergency
>
> vehicles.
>
> . Use fluorescent retro reflective materials in applications where a
>
> high degree of day/night time visibility is desired.
>
> . Use retro reflective material on law enforcement vehicles on rear
>
> to maintain stealth when facing traffic or patrolling.
>
> . Apply distinctive logos or emblems with retro reflective material
>
> to improve emergency vehicle visibility and recognition.
>
> To that, I'd add another suggestion. When operating rover, I always wear a
> bright yellow "safety vest" sold at Lowes, Home Depot and similar stores. 
> It
> includes the highly reflective 3M materials that seem to almost "glow" 
> under
> headlights. I wear this vest even when parked...so that if I suddenly exit
> the vehicle during the action of a contest, I don't have to remember to 
> put
> it on.
>
> I consider myself a very safe operator/driver, but recognize that I get
> caught up in the furor of operating and might make a mistake. I've also 
> got
> a set of yellow flashing "caution lights" that I use on the truck whenever
> I'm storm spotting, or driving in poor weather conditions.
>
> Thanks to the EMR-ISAC for summarizing the report, most of the content of
> this e-mail is theirs. The study is well worth reading, and might save 
> your
> life.
>
> 73,
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
>
> EM63nf
>
> 121 Mayfair Park
>
> Maylene, AL 35114
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
> End of VHFcontesting Digest, Vol 81, Issue 14
> *********************************************