NEW GARMIN DEZL 780 & 785

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by Wave000, Mar 23, 2018.

  1. Trucking in Tennessee

    Trucking in Tennessee Road Train Member

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    You can buy them cheap on Amazon.
     
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  3. Pedigreed Bulldog

    Pedigreed Bulldog Road Train Member

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    Hood mirror? Haven't driven a truck with one of those in probably 12-14 years.
     
  4. Trucking in Tennessee

    Trucking in Tennessee Road Train Member

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    I've checked both door mirrors then looked in the hood mirror and there sits a car. Amazing how they sneak in there.
     
  5. Pedigreed Bulldog

    Pedigreed Bulldog Road Train Member

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    You should be watching the mirrors more than just when you're wanting to change lanes. You should already know who's around you and what they are doing long before they "sneak" up next to you.
     
  6. Trucking in Tennessee

    Trucking in Tennessee Road Train Member

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    When I don't need to pull out to pass there is really no need to watch traffic passing me. I focus much more on what is going on in front of me. If traffic is heavy and I see brake lights I start looking around for a way out if I need it. If I am overtaking I start looking to assess if I can get out.
     
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  7. Pedigreed Bulldog

    Pedigreed Bulldog Road Train Member

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    Your example of heavy traffic and you start seeing brake lights is EXACTLY WHY you should be constantly scanning all around your truck. You should ALREADY know who is around your truck and their approximate location BEFORE you see those brake lights coming on. Why? Because as you're "looking for a way out" you are quickly closing in on slowing traffic in the lane ahead...and by the time you realize you DON'T have an out, it could very well be too late to stop. If you try to avoid that situation by getting on the brakes as you look for your out, unless the traffic in the adjacent lanes is also slowing, you're stuck.

    Also, your habit of not looking in your mirrors until you need to pull out to pass lends itself to cutting off motorists who were quickly approaching. Sure, you were clear when you cut over...but if they didn't slam on their brakes, a second or two later they would have rear-ended you. Your clueless ### doesn't realize just how close you came to being involved in a wreck, because you weren't watching your mirrors to see that they were catching you at a pretty good clip. Plenty of videos of trucks being cut off and brake checked by PO'd cars (and even other trucks)...and being cut off like that and then trapped behind a 65 mph truck as it lumbers past a 64.5 mph truck on a 70 or 75 mph road is a likely trigger for just that sort of behavior.

    Scanning the mirrors doesn't take away from watching ahead of you...but it gives a much more complete picture of what is going on all around you. I hate to break it to you, but if you're only paying attention to what is ahead of you (and ignoring the other 90% or what is going on around you), you are NOT a safe driver. Just because you haven't wrecked YET doesn't mean it can't or won't happen...some people are lucky and their bad habits never bite them. The longer you're in this line of work, the more likely your luck will eventually run out...and if you haven't broken those bad habits by then, well, there are plenty of those videos as well.
     
  8. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    I never could understand your hangup with hood mirrors and how you seem to be against them to a fault. If you have them, use them when it's convenient. If you don't, okay. On the Freightliner, they did them right IMO. I can actually see more, the entire length of the rig, easier and faster, in a glance with that mirror than I can looking further over and checking the two door mirrors, on either side.

    I also don't know why you seem to think people who have and utilize hood mirrors are somehow less aware of their surroundings. Makes no sense to think that way. But again ... whatever. SMH

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2018
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  9. Trucking in Tennessee

    Trucking in Tennessee Road Train Member

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    Since you know nothing about me you should refrain from assuming you know how I drive. I have been licensed since 1964. I have hit one car (Very minor) in 1986. I got my CDL in 2001. Before that I pulled my 53 foot race car trailer for 5 years. I have never hit anyone while pulling a trailer. I feel so lucky since you think you are some guru of the road. I will put my reflexes up against anyone. When i raced NHRA i was on a pro tree. I could go red anytime. Could you have driven the stripe at 170 mph while looking at the guy in the other lane trying to win by .003? Or have I lost You? Keep watching those mirrors.
     
  10. Pedigreed Bulldog

    Pedigreed Bulldog Road Train Member

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    I have a dislike for most convex mirrors. They distort the image you're seeing enough to make them unreliable for judging distances. Hell, 1st thing I did when I bought my F250 was replace the "objects in mirror" mirror with a piece of flat mirror glass.

    Not only that, but those hood mirrors encourage lazy eyes while driving down the road, as you don't have to glance much off straight ahead to make yourself THINK you're getting a good picture of what's going on all around you. Seems everyone that loves their hood mirrors claims not having to turn their head to look at their side mirrors. The problem with that is when you DO need to check your actual side mirrors, it requires more effort and takes longer because you aren't used to looking at them or accustomed to the picture you're seeing in them. It takes your brain a few moments to interpret what you're seeing because it isn't part of your routine scan.
     
  11. Trucking in Tennessee

    Trucking in Tennessee Road Train Member

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    A hood mirror will show you everything beside your truck. A door mirror won't. You should be more careful.
     
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