ACCIDENTS: What are the top causes?

I was Driving Down Westinghouse Blvd in Charlotte, NC right off Exit 1 on I-77 there's this little truck stop (maybe 10 spots) and 2 sets of lights and some train tracks in front.

So a swift driver got of I-77 and couldn't make the turn into the truck stop because of traffic at the light and he didn't want to stop on the train tracks (because thats dangerous ya know) so he proceeded down Westinghouse for about a mile before he decided he wanted to turn around ( this is an industrial area Tons of places to turn around including a Kenworth Garage). This road is 4 lanes without a median in the middle, so on a big arching left curve he decides to do a U-Turn in the middle of the road (45mph speed limit) at night! So I'm coming down the road behind him far enough behind him I didn't know he was ahead of me. As I come around the Corner at 45mph I see IFT and slammed on my brakes because his truck was a little longer then the road is wide and he didn't put his trailer ALL the way to the right before he attempted this, he had to stop and back up and then continue the U-Turn. All the while blocking 4 Lanes of 45mph traffic in the Dark. This is the kind of stupidity that causes accidents.


American Trucker

 

Increased following distance allows time for you to make up for idiocy caused by others taking place in front of you.

Therefore, I'll vote for that.

 

So does out driving your vision, no excuse for SWIFT though. SWIFT back in 2000 had so many trucks stuck in the medium of I 15 just north of Barstow, CA we started to call them SWIFT turns. Don't know the fascination with making u turn thru deep sand mediums but they did for some reason.

 

Not sure if you were referring to me as out driving my vision, I was in my car stopping distance is pretty short, so there was no worry of hitting the swift truck but I wanted to stop far enough away to give him room to get out of the road and not so far into the corner I would get rear ended by another car.



American Trucker

 

I agree tough spot, first always protect yourself, it's always easy to be subjective here ya know....

 

I think it can pretty much be lumped into one thing. DRIVING WITH HEAD UP ARSE!

 

Bull squeeze

The speed "limit" is exactly that a limit on how fast you should be driving to remain in control. There is also a minimum speed posted and as long as they stay above that limit they have every right to utilize that public highway. Your lack of control in your quest for speed is not their problem

I know you just gotta turn and burn right Gotta be the rooster cruiser to hit every frakkin' rest area and dive first so you can brag about how fast you are


Probably the same yack off that passes me 5-6 times a day as I cruise at my comfortable 62 mph. NO it is governed higher than that. I choose to drive at that speed for both mileage and stress reduction. I do enjoy the "race" a good portion of these {expletive} run with me on most days. In general I have already prepared my meal, sometimes taken my daily shower and then you see (or actually hear because of that oh so cool straight pipe jake brake usage) said super trucker attempting to look stylish while cruising the peelot looking for a pull through because backing the truck up limits their coolness. Generally they will then block the #### driveway up

 

The number one reason according to the national safety council is not enough following distance. number two is alcohol.

In trucks I kind of think it maybe fatigue.

 

You are correct... To a point! But think about it this way. Speed limit is 75, your cruising at your comfort speed of 62. Then a string a traffic comes speeding up behind you at the posted speed of 75.... I'm not going to have a issue because I already reconize that your going slower then other traffic, so I'll already be in the left lane! But all the other traffic is going to be darting this way & darting that way just to avoid the slow moving truck.... Do you honestly think that is safe?

There have been studies that prove that states that have split speed limits are deadlier when it comes to car truck accidents.... By going slower you are creating your own personal split speed limit & creating nothing but a hazzard.

I don't got to do nothing but the speed limit. Yeah, my truck will move down the highway, but 90% of the time my cruise is set at the speed limit... 60 in Michigan. 75 in Arizona. And 55 in Cali!

I don't think you were referring to be in the above quote. I know those type of people as well. But just in case you were referring to me..... Let me tell you one thing, if I pass you on the highway.... Chances are that you won't see me again unless you make it to where I shut down at. When I'm loaded, my truck don't stop except for normal daily 10 hour break or emergencies! I also don't have straight pipes & my jake sounds like a squirrel farting!!

 

That made my day!


American Trucker