Drafting

I was told even in a panic stop that we the professional driver may get ticketed for the car rear ending us. WTF? Is this true or just a lie that was told to me.
I was told to allow more space in front of me so it may be possible to stop without that car rear ending me.

What I like doing in my 4 wheeler is if someone is tailgating me is ill just slow down they get mad and then go arround. The only exception is if the tailgater is a big rig I will not do it.

Please do not say that big trucks do not tail gate they have me and I was even doing 5 mph over in my 4 wheeler maybe not alot of truck drivers tail gate but there are a few that makes everyone look bad.

 

Easy, that miserable doof runs under your ICC bumper (because he's too close and traffic stops for whatever reason) and kills himself, well now the lawman has all sorts of questions for you. And then some scumball lawyer starts seeing dollar signs so he starts chasing you too.

See how one stupid decision (on someone else's part) can change your life? Even if you are not charged with anything, you will not be going anywhere for a good day or two.

Mgas- you always want to aloow enough room in front of you, the only thing I can see an officer ticketing you for is if you were out of hours, then they can make the argument that you would not have been there had you been following HOS.

 

yea I knew that I need to allow room in front of me they told me to allow even more than required when someone is tailgating.

 

Wrong again, you are not responsible for tailgaters!!!!!!



K

 

You hit the nail right on the head Wallbanger! And I like your attitude! I'm a Trucker, new to this board, and I'm also a retired police officer. You are absolutely right that it is not "drafting", it is called "following to closely" and not only dangerous, gut its against the law in every state in the Union. I can tell you from experience that the three major causes of accidents on Interstates are (1) following two closely; (2 improper lane change; and (3) traveling to fast for conditions (speeding), in that order. The question is not whether we mind "drafting", its whether it's legal or not. It's not! So please don't do it. And by the way, the Trucker will not be held to a higher standard by the Police if an accident results from so called "drafting". Back in the day, I ticketed the "drafter", apologized to the Trucker for his inconvenience, and got him on his way as quickly as humanly possible, as did the vast majority of us. The same mentality among Police remains today.

However, even though some of us may be tempted, (and I don't blame you and I also think its just harmless venting) please don't consider throwing solid objects out of your trucks, even if you can get away with it, because it's not only a felony, its not worth the reality of what happens when the other guy gets maimed or killed and then you get charged with vehicular homicide or aggravated battery if death doesn't result. Believe me you will get ample satisfaction watching the other guy getting ticketed for the crash and knowing his insurance will skyrocket.

 

Drafting Behind a Semi doesn't work any way, the Premise is totally False unless probably its a semi drafting another Semi, which is just as dumb...

Drafting as it relates to cars is where the lead vehicle "Breaks the Wind Resistance" and if your close enough to the lead vehicle your car wont have to work as hard to break the wind it will just flow over your car, How ever this doesn't work with Semi's because we are 4 feet above the ground and the air passes along the trailer it will go underneath it and cause resistance against our trailer tandems thats why you see some trailers like Conway with those aerodynamic attachments on the trailer to reduce the wind resistance against the tandems... any way if your going to try and draft us your car will be breaking the wind resistance that is being funneled underneath most of our trailers defeating the purpose...

Secondly, most of us company drivers have Company Policies about such things as a matter of fact our company policy @ US Xpress is that if we are involved in a Accident where we are rear ended on the interstate we will be charged with a PREVENTABLE Accident, because in our Safety department's Point of view we should have been paying attention and seen you get back there and we are suppose to keep slowing down and put on our flashers until you decide to pass. and we could even be fired for being involved in such an accident..

That will also go on our DAC/USIS Record and possibly prevent us from getting another Driving Job for at least 3 years in some cases..

and the Messed up part about all of this is we are being punished for what someone else decides to do but thats how it works.... we are always treated harsher for accidents

Third, you can die if something happens

 

I guess you missed the "Mythbusters" episode which showed it does work for cars.

 

while you are behind my tail lights, I don't care what you do. It doesn't seem to affect me one way or another.

I was rearended once by a dui driver, was never asked for log book where I was going. Nothing. 15 minutes later was on my way.