Drafting? Yay or Nay

Drafting is a VERY foolish thing to do, to brag about it just simply lets everyone know of your inability to practice safe driving techniques and that you seem to have very few manners or common sense while out on the road.

just check this out:
<LI class=bodytext>If your speed is 60mph, your thinking distance is 4.5 car lengths; your braking distance is 13.5 car lengths so your total stopping distance is 18 car lengths. <LI class=bodytext>If your speed is 70mph, your thinking distance is 5 car lengths; your braking distance is 19 car lengths so your total stopping distance is 24 car lengths.
http://www.merseyside.police.uk/html/sefton/initiatives/general/16-01-deathandinjury.htm

OR this from MODERN RACER

A racing driver with a 0.25 second reaction time and good road car brakes might stop from 30 mph in 11 + 25 = 37 feet. An older person with a one-second reaction time and a normal [COLOR=#33ffff! important][COLOR=#33ffff! important]car[/COLOR][/COLOR] would need 44 + 43 = 87 feet.
http://www.modernracer.com/tips/brakingdistance.html


Use some commons sense, the 30 cents you drafters save in gas is NOT worth the costs of a new windsheild or the stress/aggravation you are causing others, if ya cant afford the gas to drive down the road under your own power.......get a bike, take a bus or walk but whatever you do, QUIT putting other peoples llives and employment on the line for your own gain.

 

Chriswill - Where are you from - just checking - making sure it's no where near my Hubby!!

 

Would you like it if we drafted you? You ever see what a vehicle looks like when it goes under a DOT bumper? I don't think there is anyone left alive to tell you about it, but I would bet if they could do it again they would not worry about the 95% drag reduction. What would probably break all of you of doing this would be for another truck to ride your bumper while you are drafting. Then maybe one on the side to box you in nice and tight.

 

Christwill why did you even bother asking about "Drafting" (tailgating) it seems that you had your mind made up that you were going to do it no matter what us "trucker folk" have to say about it.

What you are talking about is illegal and just plain dumb. You tell us to get over ourselves, and that compared to us you can "stop on a dime" and that "as long as you are paying attention" you can easily avoid whatever the situation.

You would put yourself and every other driver on the road at risk to save a couple of bucks in gas? That's sad man.

I hope that when this little "habit" of yours does come back to bite you that you don't end up costing yourself your own life or the life of someone else. It's not just about you, it's about all the other drivers on the road. It's about all the husbands and wives and parents on their way to and from work or running out for a second to buy their kid a Happy meal or whatever. Or about all the loved ones who won't make it home that night or ever again, just because you hope that you can save some money.

We truck drivers see millions of miles and we see your kind all the time. As a matter of fact we see it daily. The total disregard for anyones safety. I don't know what makes you think you are above some other driver and you could react or handle your vehicle any better but it will prove you wrong eventually.

I know this won't make any difference in your decision to continue with this stupidity and all we can do is deal with it just like we always do.

Maybe it is hard for you to see past your wallet to the bigger picture, but all I can say is good luck and drive safe.

Sorry about the soapbox. I guess I'm done.

Dave

 

Thanks Firebird, and your right, it probably won't stop him from doing it agian.

Christwill, if you read my posts, I'm the wife of a trucker, we have kids. Next time you do it, remember the answers you got here, and then think, if something happens "this" time (it would only take one time), can I live with myself? You'll not only mess up your life, but it could be mine and my families too, or someone elses family. You could be dead, our families would still be here, trying to piece things back together, because some idiot wanted to save a few cents in gas - get real - it's not worth it to me!

Maybe you should grow up, take some lessons from here, and make a little part of the world you live in a better place!

 

The pebble thing, companies are held responsible for them, but unless you're hauling uncovered gravel(which used to p*ss me off) there's no reason for someone to go batsh*t.