Virginia police ticketing truckers who park on the side of the road following fatal crash

Wednesday,Thursday and Friday were rough days for I81 in VA. Wednesday, you had this accident going south. Then Thursday, at the 167mm you had a southbound fed ex crash through the median and came to rest on the northbound side shutting down both sides. And in an effort to avoid stopped traffic a car hauler ran into the median. Then Friday(I forgot what MM) an RV fire going northbound I believe it may have been about the 215 mm.

 

The shoulder of the road is for emergencys only !
Not naps
Not 30 minute breaks
Not qaulcomm messages
Not texting
I've quit moving over for some of these morons as opposed to the risk of a lane change .

 

California plates and Amazon trailers i dont even consider moving over for unless I see triangles which is maybe 1 out of 1000.

 

No 4 ways on or reflectors out, hold your lane.

 

Which is also within 20 miles of 2 pilots, 1 loves, and a Petro with about 400-500 spots.

 

Ok guys well there is always that one jerk that can come up with one exception to the rule as to why parking on the side of the road my be necessary, and why not moving over just because you don't see hazards on doesn't mean the driver doesn't want them on, BADLY.

When I first got dropped in an antique Cascadia that I think still had a cassette deck, I was driving along 57 south, hit a big bump (bridge transition) and the next thing I know EVERYTHING shuts off, including the engine. I mean it was INSTANT. I had no time to think about anything other than getting to the side of the road to figure out WTF happened. Being night time with no headlights I crapped my pants. That was instant darkness that scared the helll out of me.

Since EVERYTHING was dead, it was of course running night fedex for Ozark and so it was pitch dark, my hazards didn't work and no lights came on when I opened the door. I only knew where my phone was by feel and turned on the little flashlight app. I finally found the flashlight I do my pretrips with but still, unable to put any lights on this vehicle I just knew I was going to get killed.

After fumbling around for a good while under the hood and pulling the battery cover off and looking for loose wires, I sucked up my pride and called the shop. At 2am the guy said "sounds like the master switch is off." I said what the #### do you mean? He said look by the drivers seat, there is a switch. I look with my flashlight and sure enough, my rubber mallet for tire thumping had fallen down and hit the switch, turning it off.

So just because you see someone on the side of the road without lights or anything doesn't mean he is a moron. He could have a legit issue. So do us all a favor and move the hell over and don't be a jack ash about it.

 

So you are saying that it is your opinion that he wouldn't be a moron for putting his rubber mallet near the main power switch that controls the power for everything?

 

It wasn't near the switch. It fell down on the switch. It was behind the seat. How it managed to make a complete 90 around the seat and whack that switch is beyond me.

And nobody told me where the master was on this truck. So I had no idea anyway. I do now. I don't get in and out of the drivers side, I use the passengers side exclusively so I hadn't opened that driver door in weeks.

 

My company will #### can your contract for shoulder or ramp parking.

Personally - on ramp is OK for a last resort. Like said - for a 15 minute shut eye vs. falling asleep - but it’s still a risk.

 

Maybe I am a little bias when it comes to Virginia. I live here, but born and bred in N.C., which I am not too proud to say. But to me, the state of Va. is one on the easiest state to run thru as far as the law goes. Now mark what I said, "as far as the law goes". Obey the law, relax and enjoy the ride.
Weight is not right? Pull around and see if you can get it right. Speed limit 70, 73 or 74 will not get you stopped, but push it 75 or better, you are asking for a ticket. When you get stopped, 9 times out of 10, you will come away with a ticket. But always, it all depends. Now, one word of warning, do not push your luck on 1-77 between Wytheville and N.C. line. At 4am, in zero weather, the DOT Trooper on that section of road is one dedicated employee of the State.
Don't park on the Interstates, the law plainly states that. The ramps are part of the Interstate.