Should I have been better prepared for this?

Always expect a 4 wheeler to do something stupid. Too many distractions on the road. Ipods,cellphones, running late all the time. Had a lady the other day who was paralel parked in a downtown area, wheels turned toward the curb try to squeeze out in front of me.I did not want to let her out just to be stuborn but I do not need the BS that would come if she hit me so I let .her in gave her a wave and kept on moving.

 

mamy moons ago before we all had antilock brakes all of us truckers would disable them
afraid we couldnt the truck if we couldnt lock em up
of course grossing 100000 coming out of Cape Hatteras wasn't to smart either
but it was a different era. I would pay a fine at the scale and go on still weighing 100000

 

and to add to what some of us have seen, i have seen many DRIVERS of 4 wheelers, watching a movie on a DVD...

so we can ALWAYS EXPECT, the unexpected.

 

Really? Are you sure?

 

You need to make it a habit to read EVERY highway sign, if you had been paying proper attention to the signs, you would have been aware that the lane was dropping and be better prepared.

 

You are incorrect in saying you can learn more from a forum than actual experience on the road with a trainer!!!! Have you ever heard the term "Book Smart"???? It applies to people that do plenty of studying and reading, can answer all questions regarding the subject 100%, but could not put what they know into practice!! Many college professors are "Book Smart", but could never make a go at the professsion they are teaching!!

 

There is no point where you limit anticipating possibilities. Never.

Only advice for this situation is to slow down a bit going through cities. When you see that there are cars all bunched up and merging into traffic you should assume one of them is going to do something stupid. There is always a car that can't go with the flow and has the need to jump out ahead of traffic. He is always going to jump out in front of YOU.

You don't need a trainer to point out things like the smaller hash marks mean the lane to the right will be ending. That's stuff you should be observing and remembering as you drive in more different situations.

Yes, you got your CDL on your own with no school. You got your first job with zero real experience behind the wheel. That doesn't make you a driver. You are still a student. Learn from everything.