Eclectically Eccentric » Blog Archive » Perspective of a Professional Driver

**WARNING: ONE PISSED OFF TRUCK DRIVER**

 Ok, I have to rant a bit about 80% of the non-driving f***ing idiots behind the wheel in America today.  I have been a professional driver for 10 years now and have seen all parts of the continental U.S.  The main thing I have noticed (besides never-ending construction) is that no matter what city or interstate I have driven on, most people behind the wheel have no clue.  I have always known this about the average driver but thought it was just the morons in the state I live in.   People like to bitch about traffic not realizing they are part of the problem.  It is not that there are too many cars and trucks on the road; it is the driving habits of people who do not know how to correctly drive causing chain reactions.  Let me define and give an example.

Chain Reaction: a series of events in which each event is the result of the one preceding and the cause of the one following.

 Practical example on the average road.   Driver 1 is going a little below the speed limit.  (36 in a 40mph zone) Driver 2 is going the speed limit and comes upon Driver 1.   Driver 2 then has to apply his breaks to slow down to Driver1’s speed.  Not being perfect, Driver 2 slows to a speed slightly slower than Driver1 (say 34-35mph) and then speeds up to match Driver1.  This is how the reaction starts. Now we add the next driver. Driver 3.  3 is also doing the speed limit but now he approaches 2 and has to slow down.  Usually with the same result, meaning he will slow to a speed less than that of 2 and speed back up to match.  This puts driver 3 at about 31-33 mph for a moment. Add driver 4, 5, 6,

The result is that drivers 20 and on are having to actually come to a complete stop.  Welcome to rush hour.   There are many other factors that contribute to the chain reaction effect.  Add to the mix 1 Semi pulling a 53’ trailer weighing in at 80,00lbs.(there’s a lot more than one but for the sake of simplicity)   Said semi is driving down the road and has to maintain a 6 second (8 is a lot safer) gap between him and the vehicle in front. (80k lbs don’t slow quickly). If a car in front of him slows by 5 miles an hour for just a second or 2 the gap closes quickly.  Then said car speeds back up and goes on its merry way.  Not so for the truck driver. The sheer weight of the truck makes it both difficult and slow to decelerate; it also makes it slow to speed back up.  While the car can resume the speed in a second or 2, it may take the semi several minutes depending on how level the road is.  During the time he spends getting back up to speed, cars and other trucks behind him are doing the chain reaction shuffle cubed. Always wondered about the massive rush hour backups with no accident, construction, or broken down vehicle?  You just learned the reason.

 

More ranting!   SEMI SAFETY.   It is obvious to anyone who has ever driven one of these 40 ton behemoths that 90% of car drivers haven’t the slightest idea how often they put their lives and the lives of others around them in real mortal danger.   Thinks to know about big trucks:

 

1. 1.     They can’t see you!
2. 2.     They can’t hear your little horn!
3. 3.     They cannot stop or take off quickly.    MORE:  SOME TRUCKS MAY TAKE A FOOTBALL FIELD LENGTH OR MORE TO STOP!
4. 4.     Trucks do not have self canceling turn indicators.  This means that after they turn the blinkers do not shut off.  Due to the fact truckers often have to use blinkers/flashers for long periods of time, there is no loud noise letting them know it’s on.  If you see a truck with his turn signal on for (what to you) seems a long time) going down the road, DO NOT assume that he is not turning. You get in his way and you run into rule 1 and 2 and 3
5. 5.     In busy traffic you are trying to switch lanes to get the “faster” lane and you see a semi with a gap in front of him. DO NOT fill that gap. The gap is there so he don’t kill people in front of him. If you jump in the gap, until he can slow down you put your life on the line.
6. 6.     Never follow close behind a semi.  Several reasons: A Rules 1 and 2 B Semi tires are very heavy and they do have blowouts. People are killed by heavy chunks of flying tire all the time.
7. 7.     Never drive the same speed as a semi in the lane next to him. ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ON HIS RIGHT SIDE.   On the right, he cannot see you, and on both sides all the other rules apply.  Either drive faster and get past or slow a bit and fall behind.
8. 8.     You may be late for work; the semi driver may be late to get home to see the family he has not seen in a couple months. 

All semi companies try to get there drivers to care for the welfare of the other cars on the road. Telling them to wreck the truck rather than hit the car.  Sorry folks, if you fuck up in front of me and I have the choice of rolling my truck over or hitting you and possibly killing you, I will chose to smear you all over the road.  If I chose to wreck my truck I could lose my career and I work for my family not yours.  Keep that in mind next time you’re around a semi.

Still more ranting:   The LEFT LANE people.  Call out if you know what the proper use of the left lane on a highway is.    Wrong, wrong, wrong!   The proper use of the left lane is to pass.  It is called “Hammer lane” “Fast lane” and other catchy phrases.  The main thing to know it is to be used to pass another vehicle going slower than you are.   This lane has only has a couple rules.  First if you are in the left lane and someone comes up behind you, switch back to the right lane.  Do not make that car slow down to your speed.  It does not matter if you are already going 20 miles over the limit, get the hell over and let the other car go by.   Second, in many states it is illegal to drive in the left lane. It is only permissible to use it to pass. That is why it is the passing lane. You don’t need to be in it if you are not going faster than the other cars.

HEADLIGHTS!!!!!  If it is raining turn them on!   It does not matter if it is daytime and you can see just fine.  Behind your car is spray from water on the road. This spray effectively hides your car from behind. Turn your damn lights on so there is at least a red glow behind you and you can be seen.

Getting on and off the highways.   How many times do you see some idiot stop at the end of an onramp to the highway?  Onramps to highways have PLENTY of room to get even a YUGO up to highway speed so you can either slow down or speed up to MERGE into traffic.  Do not get to the end of the ramp doing 25mph and expect to be able to get into traffic. If you do then you are a dumbshit and need your license suspended.  Do go down the ramp and get on the highway in front of someone going below the speed limit.  The other driver should not have to slow down because you’re too dumb to get to know where the accelerator is in your car.  I don’t know how often some moron gets on the highway in front of me doing 45-50 in a 65. I have to hit my breaks and slow down then they speed up to 90 and jump in the left lane……GRRRRRR this is why it should be legal to shoot morons. “Yes officer, he was only going 40, so I had time to aim” 

If you are in a car and a semi is trying to get on the highway ALWAYS let him in.  Speed up, slow down, get over, or whatever, just let him in. His vehicle does not do 0-60 in seconds.  It does it in minutes!  If you are on an on ramp and a semi is in the lane you are trying to merge in, DO NOT MAKE HIM SLOW DOWN FOR YOU.  He may be having a bad day and not feel like doing the extra shifting for your dumb ass.  I have run people into the Jersey walls before because they refused to adjust their speed while trying to get on the highway.   IT IS A MERGE, the traffic does not adjust to you, and YOU ADJUST TO IT!    When taking an on ramp, it is not necessary to slow down to 30 before starting to take the exit. Most exits have plenty of room to decelerate, don’t do it on the highway or someone my hit your ass because there busy texting.  When that happens, you start one hell of a chain reaction

Simple rules of driving people.  Maintain speed, let faster people go by and stay away from big trucks.   Now stop reading this on your iPhone and drive asshole!

Ralimore

Posted on
Sunday, May 8th, 2011

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