Slowing to the shoulder to let faster traffic by.

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by bentstrider83, Aug 7, 2020.

  1. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,011
    41,499
    Jan 13, 2013
    SW Arkansas
    0
    The Colorado portion of 287 is good road with wide shoulders. At one time, I would move onto the shoulder to let to let another truck pass, but after I picked up a small bolt that holed a nearly new steer tire, I stopped doing that. The debris on the shoulder is too small to be able to see at any speed and with someone passing you can hardly steer to miss it anyway
    .
     
    skellr, bentstrider83 and not4hire Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

    19,660
    130,560
    Apr 26, 2013
    Gettin' down westbound
    0
    No. Let em wait.
     
    Snailexpress and not4hire Thank this.
  4. bad-luck

    bad-luck Road Train Member

    3,023
    5,437
    Nov 16, 2013
    Baltimore, Maryland
    0
    I go out of my way to be courteous to other drivers, I will move over to the right lane to let faster traffic by. But I don't move on to the shoulder, reason being I own my own equipment and there is a lot of debris on the shoulder that will give me a flat
     
    D.Tibbitt, bentstrider83 and not4hire Thank this.
  5. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

    11,181
    71,477
    Mar 19, 2014
    Arkansas
    0
    Unless, you’re in Texas, people there use shoulders as turning lanes or driving lanes if they’re going slow.
     
    bentstrider83 Thanks this.
  6. not4hire

    not4hire Road Train Member

    7,142
    26,950
    May 16, 2012
    Calgary
    0
    I don't do it.

    If I'm that slow and traffic was piling up behind me (never happened... but I suppose it could ;)) I would find a safe place to pull off and stop, or wait for a passing lane and slow a bit.
     
    bentstrider83 Thanks this.
  7. bentstrider83

    bentstrider83 Road Train Member

    1,670
    1,573
    Dec 26, 2011
    Portales, NM
    0
    Seems like road debris is the number one issue here. If someone doesn't like the hold up and decides to give me a piece of their mind, that's what the Hazmat suit and riot gear I keep in the side box are for. Got to be prepped for engagements of both the physical and viral variety!!
     
  8. buzzarddriver

    buzzarddriver Road Train Member

    3,229
    8,699
    Feb 1, 2011
    Dallas, TX
    0
    To be courteous, when you come to a long stretch where visibility is good, slow down just a bit and let the fools come around. Beats having them pull out to pass your 65 mph truck and they are governed at 68. They are accidents waiting to happen and you may be involved with them.
     
    bentstrider83 Thanks this.
  9. not4hire

    not4hire Road Train Member

    7,142
    26,950
    May 16, 2012
    Calgary
    0
    It isn't just road debris.

    One of the fundamentals of defensive driving is "Leave Yourself an Out." By driving in the shoulder, you are removing that safety zone and increasing your risk exposure. It's similar to why you never stop on a bridge or next to a barrier.
     
    JolliRoger, D.Tibbitt and Long FLD Thank this.
  10. bentstrider83

    bentstrider83 Road Train Member

    1,670
    1,573
    Dec 26, 2011
    Portales, NM
    0
    I'm not even in the shoulder for long though. Just enough time to let these people scoot away. I'm thinking it's time to get away from these single lane tourist channels.

    You'd think with the pandemic, the overall traffic would be lighter. Nope. Just more than ever before. Some of us were taught many forms of defensive driving. But like all knowledge, it tends to rot in the brain until it's needed.

    More reasons to stay close to home I guess. I've been driving mainly local for the past eight years and have only been taking these overnight things for a couple of months. 2-4 nights out and I'm ready to roll back home.
     
  11. black_dog106

    black_dog106 Road Train Member

    1,786
    1,664
    Mar 29, 2009
    MA
    0
    Alil off topic....
    As bentstrider83 just said, judging by traffic volume, the virus is over. During the week, the morning and afternoon commute the traffic isn't the worst, yet. The weekends however are as bad as any time. Wonder why this virus is gaining momentum?
     
    bentstrider83 Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.