Principle 5 Activate close to response opportunity

THANKS On December 11,1994 I was a passenger on Fit 499 from Houston to San Francisco. At the end of the flight the pilot came on the spealser and said Now that the safest part of your journey is over and you are about to make the most dangerous part of your joimiey, please remember to use your seat belt... I may have the words a Httle off, but I think you know the message. This was the second time I heard the message. The first was at fhe ASSE PDC in Dallas. 

I am an obsessive seatbelt user but when I got into fhe taxi, the seat belt was, as usual, buried in fhe seat Usually when I find this in a cab I say, the heck with it, but I can honestly say the pilot s message motivated me and I dug out the seat belt. 

At over 70 mph the taxi hydroplaned and struck the guardrail. Thank God for fhe new barriers that prevent cars from being thrown back into traffic. Thank you and the pilot for the reminder. My wife and children are also grateful. I suffered a neck and shoulder injury — I think it is relatively minor. 

It could have been much worse. I should mention the driver was O. K. He was wearing his seat belt. 

In safety it is seldom we can point to a particular event we can take credit for. This is one for you. Thanks again. 

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