Defensive driving 101

My first instinct is usually to try and steer myself out of trouble, rather than stuffing the brake pedal to the floor (if its safe to do so obviously). The best defence though is to not allow yourself to get into a situation like that. I see someone coming down a merge ramp, I'm already planning an escape in case they pull something. Another vehicle is beside me, I slow down a bit and let them get ahead. I like having an escape route to the lane beside me (not to mention the dumb### is probably on the "stupid phone" and usually drifting all over the lane). Another vehicle approaches a stop light or sign at a high rate of speed (wanting to turn onto the road I'm on), I let off the throttle and get ready to brake in case they slide/blow straight through the intersection. Defensive driving is not just the ability to save your skin in a sticky situation, its avoiding those sticky situations all together.

I'm sure some of you are familiar with how dangerous Highway 63 to Fort Mac is. Average of like 8 deaths a year on that highway before they twinned it. Everyone talks of how many close calls they've had on it every time they drive it. I was on that highway every week for 5 years before it was twinned. Only had one close call. Don't allow yourself into a situation where 2 Darwins are facing off and you won't get caught in the crossfire.

 

Wow, it is simple and almost everyone missed it.

The guy doesn't take this seriously.

He should not be driving which many others who may post here shouldn't be.

If you are too concern with your phone, your CB or what's in your pants, you don't need to be on the road.

For those who want to know, it is all about something called Situational awareness which the idiot driver didn't have. It is easy to learn hard to do at first until it becomes habit. I would start with the Smith System and move from there.

By the way, this is what I consider a marginal driver, should be fired and lose his CDL - we don't need him on the road.

 

His actions have already clearly shown me that his mind is not even present prior to the accident. Note his spine leaning back and getting really stiff as eyes OH &^%$ wide prior to jamming wheel. Holding on to the stupid phone is what bothers me more than anything. His world ended when that trailer exploded in the rear view window.

Watching the first few moments as mr Darwin made his move, I was already mentally making mine. Even though I wasnt there.

One time I had a Darwin stop dead in memphis rush and take my spot where I was going to stop short. Well here I was having to stop even shorter and was not going to make it except the extra two feet offered by the outboard motor of the darwin's boat trailer so I nosed into that space with one corner and eye all over my forward right rounder mirrior hoping no one tried to get into my right steer. That truck managed to stop the last few mph in that 3 feet of space. Thank god. Then I got angry. Not so much as being stupid but the darwin was on the phone and towing a boat no less. I don't think he saw the massive green monster fixing to make his boat try to load itself into the back of his head through the cab window.

 

No escape plan on a 2 lane residential street would have been possible. After turning the corner, car was approaching slowly swerving less than 15 mph. Simplest thing to do was stop and wait for drunk driver to drive past me before proceeding.

 

There is a escape plan. A nice dash cam. If you have to mash mr Darwin and remove same from our Gene pool... that camera will at least explain everything for you in a few moments. Don't be the doofus hanging on to the precious cell phone. I cannot believe I saw that earlier today Im cranky over it..... some people show what they really value when the world is ending around them and wont let go of a 50 dollar phone to try and fix it.

 

Back befor getting in a truck and before banning cell phone use, I was driving a company van and had one of those oh #### moments. I actually dropped the phone and grabbed the wheel with both hands. Yad to yell at the phone to tell the coworker that I would call him back.

 

Oh no doubt you did right in your situation. I was commenting toward the guy in the video at the beginning of this thread.

 

I bet this moron crawled out of his tractor with the cell phone in his hand and it is still in his hand right now. He doesn't blame his phone use for what happened he blames the knucklehead in the car.

Looked up the DOT# listed on tractor in the SMS and Safer systems to see their safety record and this was the response:
U.S. DOT# 813336 is inactive. Also tried # 613336 same response.