Suicide knob

When I drive the golf cart for my weekly volunteer gig at the regional cancer center, I like to use the knob that attaches to the steering wheel. It makes turning easier. But recently, when starting my shift, I was asked if I wanted the “suicide knob.” Huh? I had no clue why this helpful knob was called a “suicide” knob. The explanation that I received is that a long-distance big rig driver, when trying to make a sharp turn to avoid a collision, turned the wheel only to have the knob snag in his shirt. A collision ensued. The driver survived but blamed the knob for the accident. He called it a “suicide knob” and the name stuck.

I am not deterred. I use the suicide knob when driving my golf cart. Might be bravado. Or maybe I am simply resigned to my fate. If death by golf cart is my destiny I doubt that my use of the suicide knob will be a contributing factor.