We had just finished two months of bicycle-touring in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. This was our first day of transition to driving our new factory-fresh VW camper van. What a change!
I was trying to back into a tight parking spot in Wiedenbrück. My then wife was ‘directing’ me. No hand signals, just, “Okay, okay, okay…”, followed by a belated, “OKAY!” and a loud thud. To date, I have still been unable to find a woman who can correctly marshal a vehicle.
HOW TO MARSHAL: 1) Stand beside the object the driver is blindly reversing toward. 2) Arms should be extended wide apart, palms facing each other. 3) Ensure that the driver can see you in the vehicle’s mirror. 4) NO vocal communication should be attempted. 5) As the vehicle slowly backs up, the marshal’s palms should slowly come closer to each other. 6) When the marshal’s palms meet, they should do so without a slap, without any noise whatsoever. Vehicle and surroundings are safely in correct position.
Those are similar to the guidelines followed by deck marshals on aircraft carriers. Because of the extremely high noise levels of the aircraft and vehicles on the deck, visual communication is essential.
Each deck-hand wears distinctively-coloured clothing: Yellow for those managing aircraft movement on the flight deck, directing catapults and arresting gear. Blue is for those handling aircraft with tractors and forklifts, and applying chocks and chains, and operating elevators. Those wearing purple (nicknamed ‘grapes’) are responsible for fueling aircraft.
Whether directions are being given at a construction site, or an aircraft carrier deck’ or in a chaotic Walmart parking lot, efficient communication is essential for safety – and harmony within a marriage.
As a reward, the well-trained marshal should be awarded a badge, a peak cap with MARSHAL on it, a framed certificate, a brilliant yellow jumpsuit and a dinner at a fine restaurant.
Result: a long and happy marriage, and no expensive insurance claims.
L’article Follow my directions est apparu en premier sur Cornwall Seaway News.
