Truck vs truck road rage caught on dashcam

If you are driving a fast truck overtaking a slower truck it is your responsibility to check ahead to make sure it is safe to pass. If there is a disabled truck or other vehicle close to the fog line I always slow and either flash my high beams in daytime or dim my headlights at night to signal the driver of the slower truck that he/she can safely move over to give safe passage around the hazard.

There's lots of comments about "steering wheel holders" driving governed trucks, but there's plenty of examples of mindless idiots driving faster trucks that create dangerous situations on the road, passing on the right when a slower truck moves over for a broke down truck on the shoulder should be a felony.

 

I thought you were flashing because you were about to pass. I'm waiting for you to pass as you have the right of way.

 

wow.. yeah time to order a dashcam

 

Yep, I'm sure that was his mission for the day.

 

I am not making an accusation, notice my use of the word "seem" ?

 

The truck catching up to the slow truck can't always see what hazards are up ahead...can't see through that other truck (which is why it is silly to tailgate another truck, but that's another topic for another day). It is the responsibility of the truck that is changing lanes to be certain it is SAFE to do so. If there is a broke down vehicle on the shoulder, use the CB and relay that information to the truck that is catching up because at a 15 mph speed difference (22 feet per second) it might only take that faster truck 5-6 seconds (or less if you reduce your speed a little more) to complete his pass, meaning he could be past you in plenty of time for you to slide over behind him before you reach that broke down vehicle on the shoulder. Traffic in the lane has the right of way over vehicles seeking to enter the lane. It doesn't matter if you are merging onto the highway or just changing lanes, the vehicle already in the lane has the right of way.

As far as letting people over, I'm the same way. If I see something up ahead, I'll slow and let them know (usually over the CB...and then if they don't respond, with my lights) it is safe to move over. If they are extremely slow, or if I don't see the blocked shoulder until I'm already committed to the pass, I'll usually let them know over the CB that they've got the zipper if they need it, and I'll put my left side tires onto that outside shoulder to give them space to move over a little. What irritates me, though, is when that slow truck looks in his mirror and sees that I'm 1/2 of a truck length behind his ICC bumper and moves over, forcing me to brake hard to keep from hitting him. It was an unsafe maneuver, plain and simple. If I had an idiot behind me following too close, they'd hit me while I'm trying to avoid hitting you...and their dash cam would just show a "road rage" induced brake check on a tailgater. Meanwhile, the cause of the incident...the slow truck unsafely moving into the left lane cutting off faster traffic...isn't shown (my truck blocking the view) so it doesn't exist. Dash cams don't always show the FULL story.

Pay attention. Act in a manner which reflects your desire to make it home in one piece at the end of the run. It really isn't much more difficult than that.

 

Most of the trucks I have driven are governed @72 the last wasn't and frankly where it was safe to go 85 I did. Point is you drive the conditions and traffic flow. Not the speed limit or governor limit.

The fast vs slow truck thing is bs. I have driven some under powered trucks too and understand the frustration of having to drop a gear or 2 to accommodate someone else's driving.

It's really not an end of the world event. May cost a couple extra minutes. But this I own the hammer lane Road Warrior Cowboy crap is why the public has a hard on for the industry.

 

My take on it is this.

If I'm in the right lane running in my 65 mph truck and I see a disabled truck on the shoulder I'll put on my turn signal. If a truck in the left lane is coming up on me quick, I'll back off and slow down.

I learned my lesson in Texas. Working for lonestar, running 65 I changed lanes in front of a truck who was far back but still coming up fast. We were on a 75 mph road and after I cleared the vehicle on the shoulder I got back over and the guy passed me and brake checked me. We were both in the wrong since by the time I changed lanes in front of the faster truck he was already on my bumper. So he had to have been running the speed limit or faster.

Anyway, I don't agree with brake checking anyone. Now working local I deal with way more traffic and crappy drivers than I ever did otr since I'm driving in the city often. I myself am thinking about investing in several dash cams due to the amount of 4 wheelers who brake check me on a daily basis just for driving during rush hour. Our trucks are geared low and takes me almost two minutes to accelerate from 0-60 fully loaded.

 

nevermind........

 

The truck I currently drive is not governed, but even with a truck governed you still have driver that think the turn signal gives them some right of way, It does not. If you have a vehicle truck or car does not matter, you need to wait till its clear to change lanes, period. You have the option to slow down as you pass disabled or workmen.

I have had to on numerous occasion slam on my brake because a slow truck wanted to change lanes. Same is true on hills, just because I have the HP to pull the hill does not give you the right of way to cut out in front of me.

I look and decide if another vehicle is going to be in my way first. I have gone from the bottom to the top of a hill stuck behind slow trucks because I will not pull out in front of another vehicle and slow them down, if its not clear do not pull out. I have felt like brake checking drivers whom practice this but have resisted.