Use the Hammer lane sometimes..

I'm guilty of this. I don't do it in instances like you describe, but I will do it as a courtesy just to let the driver know he has cleared me. What he does from there is his decision. I don't get mad and keep flashing until he comes over. I've had that happen to me a couple times.

 

Now, I agree that a MAJORITY are truly safe. I'll go as far a 99.5% of them. No issues there. All I am saying is there are a few here and there that have made me scratch my head and wonder how they pulled it off. Believe me, I am the last one to scream 'billy big rigger' when a veteran driver starts talking.

 

Maybe the .5% that are bad drivers had a driver trainer that you say anyone can be a driver trainer.

 

I can't remember how many times other truckers have pulled back over in front of me way too close for comfort. I consider it very unprofessional to do this. Another thing, when you pass me I'm OK with that just please keep it going, get off my front bumper, you have longer legs than I do, you just proved it now keep it going, get out of my life please. I hate it when someone passes me only to park there less than a trucks length off my front bumper.

 

When I'm done passing someone, if I have my blinker on and they haven't flashed me over yet, I'll wait until I have at least two full lane stripes of distance between what I feel is the end of my truck and the front of his. I've never had anyone get on the radio and accuse me of cutting them off.

I've had freaking tour buses start coming over even before they clear my front bumper!

 

Ditto

I flash my lights to know that there's ROOM to move over if he wants. He won't hit me. And I assume that's what the other driver flashing me means.

I'm not yet experienced enough to recognize 5 truck lengths in the mirror - but I can count seconds, and I try to make it at least 3 seconds between me and the guy I just passed before I move over. 7 would be better.

I've decided, though, that what bugs me more than cutting over too soon is cutting back over without looking. You all have seen drivers do it. I'm watching them in the mirror - I figure there's no point in flashing if they're not looking, after all. Probably 30% of the drivers who pass me never check the mirror, or don't look until they are already half way to the fog line.

Yeah, I'm slow... but maybe it's because I'm on the cellphone and not paying attention. Then you buzz by and I twig to the situation - and jump on the long skinny pedal. And I'm empty. So the lane isn't empty any more when you time your move back over.

Stupid stupid stupid.

One thing that should be beat into every driver's head with a BIG honkin' hammer: don't make a move without looking first. GOAL applies, even if you can't really get out first.

(No, it won't be me on the cell phone, and it won't be me suddenly accelerating. I won't do the first and I can't do the second. But there's more truckers than me out there)