A Safety PSA (January 2026)

A young woman is talking on her cell with her husband while driving along a curvy mountainous two-lane road. The winds at this elevation are strong and the roads are icy. A young man is driving in the opposite direction, speaking with a friend on a hands-free phone.

A utility pole has fallen across the road and the wires have snapped and are lying on the ground. The man pumps his brakes and comes to a smooth stop about 20 feet from the pole. The woman brakes but skids off the road onto the shoulder. The vehicles are about 100 feet apart but the drivers are visible to one another. Outside the car, the winds are howling through the trees.

The man lowers his window and urgently motions to the woman with the palms of his hands facing her. She nods her but then reaches for her seatbelt. He shouts “NO” and shakes his head vigorously. She pauses.

Now that he has her attention, he points to the wires in the roadway and simulates being electrocuted. She nods again.

Next, he puts his left hand to his ear as if he’s holding a phone. She nods. Then holding up her wrist, she points to her watch.

He holds up his right index finger as he speaks into the receiver (little finger) of his left hand. She waits, takes a deep breath and puts the palm of her hand on her forehead and pushes her hair back.

He signals with all five fingers of this right hand. Then, he points towards her, gives an OK signal and shrugs his shoulders with the palms of his hands upturned.

She nods and motions the same question back to him.

He nods and leans back putting his head on the headrest.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees the door of her car begin to open.

He honks repeatedly and screams “NO,” shaking his head as if willing her to stay put.

She opens the car door just enough to let a little fluffy white dog out to pee.

Again, he screams and honks but it's too late.

* * *

The utility workers arrive and assess the situation. After a couple of minutes, they confer. Then, they give the thumbs up.

“Lucky for ‘Precious’ these were telephone wires,” says one of the workers as he shakes his head.