Semi driver distracted rear ends car in Houston killing one person.

Sometimes I don't feel like I'm one of us.

 

http://www.click2houston.com/news/o...-in-4vehicle-accident-on-highway-290/25559316

 

I had posted that I feel for this driver, but would like to revoke that sentiment.

Professional driver should have known better - messing with his cell phone makes it intentional in my book - his punishment should involve spending some time in a room with the parents who have weapons.

 

One report is saying cell phone, one is saying the radio. Either way, he looked away from the road for long enough that he put himself in a situation that he shouldn't have. Some may say it could happen to any of us but I don't think it's by accident that it doesn't happen to many of us.

 

Just one sad situation all the way around..

 

Oh he is distraught... poor pos..

 

We can make any excuse as to why this happened. A child is dead through no fault of his own, through a careless act by a trucker. I hate this situation because it's one more nail in the coffin of the trucking industry. The truck drivers career is probably over but we are left to pick up the pieces and endure more tin pot Govt meddling on truck driver safety, by people who don't qualify to make up such rules. The standard of driving in this country across the board is a disgrace. There's no respect for the driving lic. The powers that be allow minimal qualification and schooling in order to get a driving lic. We all know that getting a CDL involves a lot more but in the end, it's not enough. It takes a special mindset to drive any kind of vehicle. Companies hire warm bodies who don't understand the find art of driving a complex machine as a truck. Texting is the latest weapon and it's only the truck driver that gets punished for doing it. 4-wheelers are doing it all the time, as if driving is an after thought.
In Germany for instance, I've just been reading that it costs $2000-$3000 to take and pass the driving test. Imagine that. The authorities there have realized it takes complete driver education to reduce fatalities NOT speed.
That's why you regularly see cars doing 140mph on the autobahn on many areas. Germans stick to the rules, everyone understands the rules. Here It's the " we are in a hurry" mentality. Germans are more disciplined. Here on the US it's back to the Wild West. Very few care about their driving acumen. All we get especially after a tragic event like this is more micro mgmnt, more stupid infantile rules and regs....more useless band aids. The word " safety" is rammed down our throats without any thought about what it takes to be a competent driver. Much of it is a bunch of lip service, dished out by folks who are totally clueless about what it takes. After all they have to justify their jobs. They're parasites by and large and we have to endure it.
Ive said this a few times but driving a truck is an art form, many ways it's a science. Anticipation is your friend and gets you out of many lurking problems. When I drive my truck it's an extension of ME. I'm in total control and focus in on the task at hand. There's no excuse for rollovers or rear ending anyone. Being mediocre is not good enough. If so, you need to go and find another job. I've never thought speed was the main culprit. It's a myth IMHO. There's more to it than worrying about how fast you're going. Many times I feel safer going 75mph than I do at 55mph. So how come Germans can have no speed limits and we can't. Forget about trucks for a moment. It's only going to get worse. The FMCSAs of this world just love to exert their tinpot powers over us. Unfortunately for those ignorant people in that institution, they conveniently forget that it takes ALL of us to play by the rules. Until we get the 4-wheelers into line, fatalities are never going to decrease. Thanks to all that I can have a rant from time to time. God bless the little boy who died needlessly.

 

FWIW, all of the Autobahn has an "advisory" speed limit of 80 mph (130 kph) --- which means you can be found liable for all damages in an accident even if not your fault. All of the cities have speed limits, and you can be cited for speeding if their is too much traffic, the road is wet, or you don't have tires that are rated for the speed you are going. I spent one month in Germany, my impression was they did not drive as fast as I thought they would --- but you do see the occasional 140 mph porsche / mercedes / bmw.

 

I dont wish anything bad on anyone...but u know u have to be more careful in the city then the country interstate. ..he ran into the back of them and killed the boy...Harris County wont let that slide