what is the safest thing to do?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Freebird135, Jul 8, 2010.

  1. teddy_bear6506

    teddy_bear6506 I'm Vintage

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    I see a lot of the signs that state "speed limit XX when lights are flashing". I've driven through a lot of the zones where the lights were flashing, and nothing seemed to slow one bit. I drop my speed to whatever the minimum is, and you can see the line behind you just biotching. Many times, I get through the entire zone and there is not one worker present. For whatever reason the lights didn't get turned off. It doesn't matter to me, the lights were flashing, I slowed to the posted speed.

    I dislike the "when workers present". If you're in a 10 mile stretch of construction and there is nobody in sight, it seems folks take that to mean it's all clear to drive 10-20 above the limit. However, you can't see what is ahead at the 4 mile section, and suddenly there are workers. I prefer to go the posted limit with the expectation there are workers that haven't been seen as yet.

    My concern is protecting my CDL. It didn't come cheap, and I don't plan to lose it or pay fines because somebody else didn't like it that I went the posted speed. I am responsible for me, my vehicle and the people surrounding my space. I leave in plenty of time to allow for slow downs and I refuse to let someone intimidate me on the road because they feel they are above the limits.


     
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  3. Teddy Salad

    Teddy Salad Bobtail Member

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    My God, a lot of you have spoken about losing money to the Judicial system...I agree that paying for tickets is very costly, but hitting and killing a worker would be something that could NEVER be erased from the record of your heart/mind (at least mine). Then there is the payment after you leave this world. Driving faster than the law allows (When you KNOW it's wrong) and killing someone would be CLOSE to murder IMO. THAT payment is the one I worry about most...and we will all pay our dues when the time comes. Please be safe.
     
  4. phroziac

    phroziac Road Train Member

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    I agree. When i'm loaded i am doing the speed limit, and keeping a good following distance in front of me, no matter what i have to do to keep it.. You know what surge does in an emergency braking situation. I also really do not like passing people with a tank. I have a fast truck but i don't get on it unless i'm passing someone...and i dont think i should have to be in the hammer lane all day to do it. :).


    It's just a suggestion. It really is. You're expected to do about 10 over when conditions allow.
     
  5. phroziac

    phroziac Road Train Member

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    I dont have that problem because i am agnostic. I want to point something out though. "God" did not make the speed limit. If there truly is a perfect, caring, understanding God as certain parts of the bible would suggest....and it really is just an accident......Is God really going to judge harshly on that? Construction workers are only humans. I remember one time I was not even in a construction zone, i was in PA on I81, it was near a construction zone but not in it...I was doing the speed limit, no more, no less. A group of construction workers are standing on the shoulder, and suddenly one of them walks right out in front of me to pick a paper up off the ground in the middle of my lane! He was far enough away that I just slowed down and it gave him enough time to do his thing. I think he had gotten way too complacent with traffic. When you work a couple of feet from traffic all day, you dont pay as much attention to it as you should. It was not an emergency stopping situation or anything, but it sure scared me. What if i wasnt paying attention and killed him? What would God say?

    I would feel really bad if i killed someone, even if they deserved it. I have gotten close in the past. One time some chick did a u-turn on US20 in indiana, on a section that was a freeway...she missed her exit and did a uturn from the hammer lane on eastbound to the slow lane on eastbound, to drive backwards in the slow lane, MY LANE, to get back to the exit and do another u-turn. There were cars next to me, and i will not "swerve to avoid an accident" only to cause another accident...and in my opinion, if i hit this chick, she totally deserved it, but not anyone else. :) I slowed down and blew my horn, and she sped up. I think that if i had not sounded my highway horns, she would be dead right now.

    I'd still feel bad and all, but God wouldn't punish me for something like that...
     
  6. Aljay

    Aljay Medium Load Member

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    Wow I too have noticed the folks not slowing in construction zones.
    Slow down and relax look around take in the scenery.
     
  7. DocHoliday

    DocHoliday Medium Load Member

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    Here is my two-cents on this one,

    Driver the law is the law,
    You are a grown adult, with a CDL,
    If you Break the LAW you and you alone are going to pay the ticket.
    If you kill someone while being stupid, you will get what you deserve.
    There are many Driver sitting in jail right now for accidents that took a life,

    But if you insist on pushing the limits of the Law By all Means PLEASE do, sooner or Later you will be at home working at some fast food restaurant.
    So go ahead Truck it up, mash that gas and carry your asg get er done big trucker.
    Make room for the next guy who needs a job unemployment rate is pushing 10% keep it up.
    Now I am one sarcastic SOB cause I can not believe for the life of me any Grown Adult who is suppose to be a Professional Driver would even Brain Fart and ask "should I speed" and in a sense bodiddly that is what you did when you started this thread.

    IT is your CDL, You are IN charge of that TRUCK, You fudge up and YOU will not be driving.
    THE Days of the OUTLAW Trucker are gone,
    The Days of Being able to get away with alot ARE GONE.
    CSA 2010 is proof of that, don't you think so ?
     
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  8. Teddy Salad

    Teddy Salad Bobtail Member

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    People make stupid mistakes all the time...like being agnostic, but they do not DESERVE to be given a taste of the chrome. Why does the dumb blonde driving like an idiot DESERVE to be killed by you? Would not speeding be just as stupid? Someone else may think YOU deserve to die for throwing a piss bottle out the window. Speeding is not an accident. If you killed my wife on the highway by disregarding the speed limit or ANY other law...or even killing her by hitting her with your piss bottle, I would not kill you. I would kidnap you and torture you until you died of fright or old age. I of course would have to pay for that, but I think I would have to do it.

    P.S. Agnosticism is a cop out. Grow a pair and make a decision.
     
  9. lilillill

    lilillill Sarcasm... it's not just for breakfast

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    You must designate certain cities of refuge to which someone who has killed someone else by accident may flee.

    If the man struck someone's wife with a piss bottle so that she dies, he is a murderer and must be put to death.

    The victim's nearest relative must put the murderer to death.

    But, if the man had a delivery appointment to make in Atlanta, and someone's wife was holding up the left lane and so he accidently ran her into the wall...

    ...as long as he bore her no malice and wished her no harm, the community must protect the killer from the victim's relatives by sending him to the city of refuge.


    Numbers 35:11-24
     
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  10. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

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    I know I'm late on this thread. But I saw your post, and decided to pass along a direct quote given to me just last week. At great expense to me.

     
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  11. Teddy Salad

    Teddy Salad Bobtail Member

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    I apologize Phroziac for what I wrote. Just thinking about my wonderful wife being harmed by someone because he had to get to some dock somewhere to check in, or to a baseball game or anything, makes my blood boil.

    Thank you for the Old Testament quote lilillill, it helped straighten me out.
     
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