Recently there was a thread started by someone questioning trucker lane placement when going through town. I have a few questions in return:
1) I'm just passing through, and I don't know the area very well. As a result, I usually go through as safely as I can and move on out of your area. However, you live there. You know where you live and where you work, it would be logical to think you also know where you need to exit the freeway. Why do you cut across three lanes of traffic from the far left because you are just about to miss your exit and, in the process, cut across my front quarter within sometimes six feet of my bumper? This forces me to jam on my brakes, which then causes a chain-reaction slow-down in heavy traffic. Why do you not plan ahead for the exit you know you are going to have to take and start moving to the right about a mile beforehand?
2) We don't mind being passed. We know we are, with a few exceptions, slower than you and we are definitely less maneuverable. Why do you cut in so close and then slow down? I know you do this because I have a forward facing radar in my bumper with a display on the dash. I can see how fast you are going and how close you are to my front bumper. I have my cruise control set at 65 mph. You come around me at 71, get in front of me and immediately slow down to 63. If you want to drive 63 mph, that's fine with me...but why do you have to do it in front of me when I was already going faster than that?
3) When I need to change lanes, I turn on my blinker and watch in my mirror for a few seconds to see what you are going to do. Usually, you will do one of two things if you are behind me: You will pace me for a while and then speed up and pass me, even though I'm getting ready to lose my lane or you will speed up just a little until you are level with my trailer tires and then hang there, making it impossible for me to move over...even if my lane ends in an exit ramp or construction barrels. You know where the construction zones and exit only lanes are. I don't. I'm not from there. So why do you do that?
4) You assume that if you can see my mirror then I can see you. That is erroneous information. If you can't see me in my mirror, I probably cannot see you. When you follow me too closely, I can't see you at all. The only way I know you are there is the shadow you throw on the ground or your headlights shining under my trailer. You like to hang out there a lot. So what are you going to do if I have to make an evasive move or if I blow a tire? Do you really want a large piece of rubber coming through your windshield?
and lastly, 5) Why do you wait until you are at the bottom of the entrance ramp to turn your head and look at the traffic you are getting ready to merge with? And on your way down the ramp, you are rolling gonads to the wall, then you slow down at the bottom so you can see where you're going. Sometimes, I will see you coming down and will wait to see what you will do. When I give you a little "toot-toot" on my electric car-style horn, not my air horn, to encourage you to step it up a little so you can merge in front of me, you flip me off. You didn't even know I was there until I beeped you. Why aren't you looking at traffic from the time you first get on the ramp so you can plan where you will merge?
There are so many more questions to ask and I'm sure other truckers will come up with them, but please tell me why you do these things.
Thank you. Injun
More Questions back to the General Public
Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by Injun, May 20, 2010.
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Sort of a multiple answer. Driving distracted, thinking about everything except what they are doing, basic stupidity.
NOBODY wants to be behind a truck. OF ANY KIND. Besides that, once they pass you, screw with you for a bit, they can then start looking for their next "challenge." Or as said in answer # 1 basic stupidity.
Many motorists just plain HATE truckers. Also, basic stupidity.
The answer to what they are going to do, is they are likely going to die. Then the surviving relatives will sue you and your company for "killing" their rocket scientist. Also, basic stupidity.
Same basic answer as for # 1. Particularly, basic stupidity.
OK, Injun, I had a bit of fun with you here. And yes, a lot of it is just plain "basic stupidity." But there are places where there is no driver's education mandated in high school. People are taught to drive by their parents, older siblings, or friends. They are certainly not taught anything about driving around big trucks.
They have no idea of "defensible space," (not JUST something rural folks use around their homes for fire protection.) They are clueless about how long it takes us to stop, or how much room we need to maneuver. They are in the habit of following way to closely, so to them, cutting in way to close just seems normal.
And they are doing everything from shaving to eating to texting or talking on their cell phones to scratching their balls. In other words, they are paying attention to any and everything except what they desperately NEED to pay attention to.
That is why we have to be "professional" and constantly be driving defensively. They may be the ones that will die, but WE are the ones that will have to live with it on our records and in our conscience for the rest of our lives.
You've made a good post, and if just ONE person can see themselves in it, and change their driving habits, then you have done us all a great service.
But don't hold your breath.
bullhaulerswife, Roadhound, Freebird135 and 4 others Thank this. -
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Well, not to "condone or promote violence," but it sounds like that driver needs a good old fashion "Arse Whuppin'!"
Skunk_Truck_2590 Thanks this. -
A good set of questions from Mr. Dickjones in his thread with a slightly different presentaion, but all still relevant. Even if the truck I have now does not have forward radar.
Thank you, Mr. Jones.
Mods, would you please merge this into Mr. Jones' thread? Thanks.
Sickboy Thanks this. -
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