Almost caused another wreck

I am sorry if i wasnt thorough enough on my situation. I was in the granny lane on the interstate. The hammer lane was empty and there was a row of cars merging. I moved over to let them in. The lady in the mini-van was at the front, and she moved to my right, everyone else behind her moved behind me (the hammer lane). There were about six cars behind me once we all passed the on-ramp. I moved over out of courtesy but mainly because I didn't want to slow down to 35 mph to let everyone in. I figured once everyone funneled in, everyone around me would pull to the left (behind me) and pass me. My legal speed limit was 55. I adjusted my speed to 62 to match the lady on my right, then dropped it down to 45 in hope to let her pass. Then I sped up again, and slowed down again... that is when I turned on my signal, but again, I never left my lane, I only showed intent of what I wanted to do. I hope this helps clarify some things.

 

No but it would have proved he didn't change lanes and run her off the road

 

yes it would to a point....... it would show that you didn't leave your lane, the audio would pick up the sound of the turn signal, if pointed right it would also show your nose mirror. it would show you moved over to let the witch on, her hanging out in the NO ZONE, that you didn't leave your lanes you had your turn signal on and she lost it......

 

i got me dash cam at TA for $99.98 and upgraded the memory (it came with a 2gb card) to a 32gb card (walmart $19.99) so it will record 8hr's of 720 hd before it loops....
if you have it set to it will autostart (has a built in battery) if you truck is hit when your not in the truck, ever see someone come out of the truckstop to find someone took their hood off and no one knows who did it....?

 

I only change lanes anymore when I see no one within a 1/4 mile behind me at least. More often than not I just get hung out there trying to do the nice thing, I just let off the fuel and use the jakes to slow me down until they match my speed off the ramp or start to pull away. Some drivers just have to be up against that governor at all times though.

 

That is a great idea but I would also get a second card so that if something like this happens you can swap out the card and save the video incase the Leo's come nocking

 

the dash cam can plug into your laptop (usb) so you can download any vid you want to save and the bigger screen of the laptop is great if you need to show it to LEO. you could also burn a copy to a disk to give to LEO if needed. the dash cam has a built in 1.5ln screen. you can set it to record 1, 3, 5, or 10 min blocks (video files) i have mine set for 3min.... when the card is full it just loops....the video has time and date stamp in the video. mine will record 8hr's before it loops.. also handy for when you put your truck in the shop you can just lay it on the dash and let it run.... you will have audio/video of what was going on in the cab when you weren't in the truck...?

 

I think you should change the title of your post because that is you automatically assigning yourself blame. Maybe you should not have changed lanes to let someone in. I guess each situation dictates what will happen like someone posted previously. The fact that you turned on your signal to "show intent" does not mean that "you" almost caused and accident.

 

Merging is a lost art. I witness some of the dumbest drivers trying to merge. They'll match your pace, "expecting" you to get over, they'll run out of merge lane, running over the rumble strips before they decide to speed up, or slow down to merge on. When they slow down, they immediately get into the left lane, and pass going over the speed limit. Why not go ahead and speed up while merging, and get in front of me? I can be the only truck within a mile, and people still cannot grasp the concept of merging into traffic. I almost feel like I'm enabling drivers by getting over. They'll never learn to merge if they aren't forced.

If it's busy, or a truck getting onto the interstate, then yes get over. If it's a car, with plenty of space in front or behind you, let them merge with you. States should actually make people learn to drive before giving out licenses. In order to get a standard license, you should have to take a general knowledge test about sharing the road with trucks.

The toughest part of this job is trying to predict what the 4-wheeler next to you is going to do next. Especially when they are typing a 500 word email while merging in/out of traffic. I actually say a dude in TX wearing a nurse or DR uniform reading some kind of paperwork, going 10 below the speed limit in the hammer lane, while talking on the phone. Yet, DOT is a mile down the road waiting to fine and ticket the hell out of truck drivers.

 

Please someone show me the statute from ANY state that defines legality for changing (or not changing) to the left lane to allow vehicles coming down the ramp a better opportunity to merge. That yield sign at the end of the ramp means the same thing it means everywhere else..SLOW DOWN OR STOP IF NECESSARY TO MERGE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC...which means, the oncoming traffic in BOTH lanes have the right of way. PERIOD.

And the OP has nothing to worry about in this case. There's no way he's at fault for putting on his turn signal. If she was on the phone, the reason she freaked out and ran out on to the shoulder was because that was the first time she looked up to see a triple trailer beside her. I doubt she even saw the truck before that point.