Safety Triangles

Was rolling west on 40th street with an oversized Friday. An eastbounder hollered at me on the radio and told me about an accident on my side that had just happened when he went by. A pickup truck slammed into the back of a big truck. I was 30 miles away. He told me that there were no emergency vehicle on scene when he went by and no backup, but by the time I get there, there will be a backup. He also told me of an easy route around it. I thanked him, but I was routed by the state and the only way I could go off route according to the terms of my permit is if HP shut the bigroad down an set up a detour.

Well, the backup was only 2 miles long. Then I saw it. Big truck sitting on the shoulder. The ICC bumper was mostly intact, but the left side of the trailer axles were knocked off. The pickup was loaded on a rollback. The hood and the engine were laying in the bed. Had to be a fatality. Had to. A driver comes on the radio and says, "I sure hope that driver wasn't asleep on the shoulder." Another driver got offended, "Why does everyone always think that the truck driver is automatically at fault?" I didn't say anything, but I didn't see any triangles, or remains of triangles out. Hence, the reason for this post.


Rookies and wannabes, let me give you all a heads up: there is a section on the CDL test dealing with those triangles. All trucks are required to carry them and use them. Your CDL handbook will tell you how to place them and how long you have to get them out to place them. You can bet your bottom dollar that the first thing HP did when they rolled up on that accident is look for the triangles. Guess what it means if you don't have them out and someone hits you? Doesn't matter if they are drunk, high or suicidal, you are in deep trouble.

If at all possible, avoid pulling over on the shoulder of the bigroad or any major hwy. it's the first thing the bloodsucking lawyers are going to try to get you on.

say for example, you see a car go off the bigroad and on a nature drive. You get out of the truck to help. First thing you do, set up the triangles. CYA!!!!!!! Don't let being a Good Samaritan be the way the bloodsuckers take you down. And they will most certainly try, regardless of your good deeds or intentions. Protect yourself at all times.

Adios.

 

Someone sent me a pic of the accident. It's not very clear but...

View attachment 62891

This is was the accident I was referring to on 49. MM298 i40 wb. The pickup truck is in front of the semi loaded on a rollback.the engine and the hood went through the cab and the top of the cab was now at the very front. You can see the damage to the drivers side trailer axles. If this driver didn't have those triangles out, he's in a world of trouble.

Thats true, and the bloodsuckers will mention that, and the bleeders on a jury will probably still try to award a non driving, drunk 8am in the morning, non driving persons family a settlement. That's why I try to avoid if at all possible, pulling over on the side of the highway unless it's something with the truck that forced me off the road immediately...like a blown steer. Point is, in this situation, if those triangles were out, this driver is already guilty.