I Made a Stupid Mistake - I Need Advice

When it rains it pours. A little lesson on U-turns gentlemen. Missed my turn one early Sunday 6AM on Hwy 101 in CA. No one was on the road so I flipped a ##### in a 120 foot truck hauling glue-lams. I no more than got that puppy headed Southbound and look who's in my mirrors. That's right CHP. Pull over and told the cop what the deal was and he says....I didn't see anything now get the hell out of here. Yes sir and I grab a handful of gears.

 

It takes a long time to pull a 180 in a full sized rig. I believe it's somewhere in the ballpark of 20 seconds. And even when you complete it you're likely traveling around 4-7 mph. How often is a roadway totally clear of traffic for 20 seconds? How often can you even see 20 seconds down the roadway? I mean we are likely talking about 1000-1500 feet (2000-3000' when considering both directions) depending upon the speed of traffic. How many side streets, drives and parking lots are in a thousand feet of roadway. Trees, signs, billboards and other objects that obstruct the 4 wheelers' view of you or vise versa?

I admit it, I've pulled a couple U-ees in my career. Usually at a traffic light in which opposing traffic was stopped and it was legal. Once I did it in MO at 3 am at night and there wasn't a single set of headlights for over a half mile in either direction. Also did it once in Tampa when I was a rookie and in a spot to try and make an appointment.

What I am saying is that U-turns should be avoided like the plague. There are almost always other options and they should be taken advantage of rather than doing a u-turn because you are impatient.

 

I once saw a guy pull a uturn at the NJ turnpike extension to the PA turnpike, right at the toll booths, middle of the day, light to medium traffic, PA trooper just sat there shaking his head.

 

u turns are also very hard on the trailer rims, tires and brearings as well as the asphalt esp when loaded, as well as a safety concern, they should be avoided, go around the block.

 

I have seen truckers pay for sidewalks for doing 180's not worth the money or time its faster just to go some where and turn around

 

if it takes you 20 seconds to do a u turn then the only problem is driver error