communicating with head lights

Loved it, Lurchgs!

'Course, if he doesn't signal at all, and then moves over, I flip up the protective cover on the De-Trafficator switch, preparatory to blowing his rig, with him in it, to kingdom come!

Where can I get one of those "De-Trafficators?" Can I get it painted camo?

 

I hear ya, Sahyinepu,

"So does this whole not talking to "four wheelers" and including them mean you don't like help getting from one side of the interstate to the other so you don't miss your exit in busy city traffic?"

Uh, I don't mean anything personal, just, I don't mean to include four-wheelers in anything I do. I should have the brains to plan for my exit# and have my truck where it should be, to take my exit. I would never expect to inconvenience four-wheelers for anything, as most of them are not knowledgable in proper behavior around big trucks. To expect cooperation from them is suicide. It's not fair to expect safe behavior from people who have never been educated in safe behavior around big trucks. It is suicide.

I never put myself or my truck at the mercy of a four-wheeler. I would be just asking for it. I know many truckers that do. I see it everyday. I tell myself I'm glad I know where I'm going.

Heck, most truckers don't know proper behavior around big trucks. They still think like four-wheelers themselves. Some never learn to be one of us, not one of them. They're part of the problem themselves. That's hard enough to deal with, without bringing four-wheelers into the mix.

It's just a mistake to start "talking" to four-wheelers, either on the radio or by headlights. Those tools are for surviving the long haul road and they are only respected when the truckers use them, for the right reason.

When I'm in my personal truck, I don't try to communicate with the trucks because for one thing, they aren't supposed to look to four-wheelers for anything they need. They look to the truck in front of them and in back of them to afford the usual courtesies to our fellow drivers.

I, in turn, am careful to allow them to do whetever they want to do (as they are bigger than me, as it hurts a lot when you get smushed by one of them!). They own the road and deserve all the room they want. When I'm in my personal truck, they don't know I'm a driver. I'm just another hazard for them, something else they have to worry about now, so I try not to be a hazard for them and stay out of their way. That's all I can do as a four-wheeler.

Big trucks have different needs and live a diffrent lifestyle than "normal" people in cars. It's like all day we fight and struggle with the traffic on the highways, dodging suicide attempts and RV's who don't realize how big they are.

When we finally pull off the road to a truck stop and slide into a slot for the night, we don't want to look out the window later to see one of those RV's parked next to us. We get off the road to get AWAY from the problem, not to have to sleep next to it. And they just don't get it. Truck stops are for trucks. They have RV spots up front for them. It's really hard to hang with that stuff going on. I usually slide out and look for another slot to sleep in. I need my sleep and my peace of mind.

Oh, don't get me wrong. When I finally quit driving a big truck, I'll probably climb into a Camper or RV, but I'll know my place out here on the road. I'll be parked up front, where I belong and where the diesel is a little cheaper!

 

DngKat,

While I understand your point, I will say that when I'm in my POV and a big truck passes me and if we're the only ones grouped together I will turn my lights off and back on to let the driver know he is past me, (and I give him good clearance before I do), otherwise I let the big boys talk among themselves. I think if you signal him properly and not use your high beams at night, the driver has an indication you knew what your were doing. I have also had big trucks lower their beams for me when I pass them and I say thank you with my flashers, and you know what, many times they tell me,. "you're welcome!"

 

I agree here. I don't expect the truck to flash me back in the lane )and I always say 'thank you' if they do(, but nothing out there prevents me from flashing HIM back in.

DngKat - I got the idea from the Dilbert cartoon that ran on TV a few years ago. Actually, if I had my 'druthers, it would operate like a Star Trek phaser - bright light, chirpy sound.. and nothing left but monatomic dust. Nothing left to puncture tires or pose a mess for state DOT to pick up.

Realistically, it would be a top-mounted missile rack, loaded up with high velocity missiles. Guidance system would fire 3 missiles at staggered intervals, aimed for the rearmost left set of tires still on the highway. First missile takes the trailer up in the air and to the right.. second missile takes drive wheels, and third missile either takes the left side steer, or just punches into the cab and goes boom.

The idea being, of course, to blow the whole thing off the road and away from endangering other drivers.

There are design alternatives, but that's the core design.

Problem is, I can't get either FMCSA or the state to OK it for legal road use.

Lamers

 

keep in mind that if you have a newer car with automatic daylight running lights, chance are you will not be able to flash your lights during the day. Flashing your highbeams in daylight will likely not be noticed.

As for road-rage fantasies, I was tempted to run a line from my air tanks through a foot pedal air valve (in the cab) with a hopper of paintballs and out thruogh the bumper, so I could "tag" 4-wheelers that cut me off :smt072. I may have actually tried it, except pnumatic weapons are considered firearms in many states (therefore a felony offense ).

 

huh - My car has auto-headlamps... but I can turn them on/off anyway. Just takes an extra step.

 

Okay,.......... I'm readin' all kinds of explanations here and it's gettin' so complicated --- I think my head might 'splode!

So here's what I think I think -----------

I'm a professional Big truck truck driver.
Inasmuch -- I'm required to drive the other vehicles as well as my own.
I learned that in drivin' school and I've heard it repeated a million times.

If a Big truck is passin' me on the left -- and his flashers are already on -- I figure the driver is in a hurry to get over. To aid their desire, I'll slow down and flash my lights as soon as it's safe to do so -- indicating the trailer is clear of me, and I'm aware of their desire.
Or, at least that's what I imagine they're thinkin'. It really isn't important as long I'm doin' the right thing at the right time to insure safety.

As for trusting other drivers ------
As a professional driver, it's expected that we're aware of our surroundings. I've noticed we're surrounded mostly by other vehicles -- so I observe how they're driving around me.

Experience and Instinct ---
Do I trust 4-wheelers signing me?
Not as a general rule BUT --- SOMEtimes Big truck truckers drive 4-wheelers, AND if y'all are payin' attention, you can usually tell who's who by the way and the timing in which they signal.

When I'm drivin' low to the ground while travilin' --- I'll pick a Big truck that's drivin' about the same speed I want to -- and drop in behind 'em for the draft effect at a safe distance. If I see a left flasher, I'll take the left lane and hold speed while the big truck moves over. And return to the right lane before them -- if I can --- and flash 'em over.

A trucker payin' attention will notice what I'm doin' for 'em and why. Follow the leader for a couple hundred miles.
There were times when the Big truck exited before me --- and it's almost like a friend is leaving -- and they musta felt the same, 'cause they've blowed their air horns and waved as I passed.

That's what experience is.
Gawd it's a beautiful thang.

And let me say this ---
I Shakey AfterShock ADMIRE 4-wheeler drivers who make the effort to learn how to share the road with Big trucks and their drivers.
God bless y'all!

To those I remind ---- ALWAYS be AWARE of the surroundings and potential situations around you. If you can see an on-ramp, and there are cars on it that will be tryin' to merge -- DON'T flash a Big truck over at that time. It could cause disaster if they meet.

If you're going to take on the added responsibility of flashin' Big trucks, assume all of the things that go with that. We appreciate the extra eyes when y'all do that.
Yes we do.

 

I agree, AfterMarket, or AfterThought, er AfterBirth, er whatever your name is..hehe heh

You're rat on!!

 

AfterMarket sells used Big trucks --
but he says he "gives 'em away."
AfterBirth is an OBGYN.
They're both kin of mine.

I'm Shakey AfterSHOCK.
Of the SoCal AfterClan.

BTW, have you had a chance to meet my cousin
AfterDinner-Mint, ........ yet?
Watch out for her!!
She's a man eater and the wrong kind-0-paradise.