Friendly Reminder

[arkjarhead]

I just wanted to post a friendly reminder to all the drivers both veteran and newbies alike. Whatever you do, don't forget your following distance. You have to keep it. Yesterday we had a fatality accident here in town that could have had a little better outcome had someone kept there following distance.

Basically what happened was truck A was going a little less that 40 in a 40 mph zone because I passed him in the left lane doing 40. A four wheeler pulled out in front of him at the last second and truck A had no time to stop due to the fact that he was fully loaded with chickens and was maybe given half of a second tops to realize what happened, react, and get the truck stopped. A fully loaded t/t doesn't do that, so I feel he wasn't at fault for t boning the 4 wheeler and the Police must have agreed as he wasn't ticketed. Truck b on the other hand was right on truck A's DOT bumper after I got out from in between them, thank the Lord.Before I got in the left lane he was on my rear bumper, and after I got in the left lane he sped up and got on truck A's DOT bumper. Truck B smashed into Truck A's trailer. So Truck A had a smashed up front end and a smashed up trailer, and Truck B had a smashed up front end. The driver of the four wheeler was killed. Truck B was ticketed for the rear end, but not the death. Evidently the impact from Truck A would have killed the person regardless. I hope this makes sense.

Whether or not you understand how the accident unfolded keep you following distance. Even if you have to slow way down for a few seconds to regain your distance after someone passes you it is better than rear ending someone. If you have to slow down very much, throw on the four way lights, that is what they are there for.

 

[LDB]

Your explanation is perfectly clear and a good reminder to all. Thanks for a timely and well stated reminder.

How do you tell a stupid truck driver? By the less than 6 seconds minimum distance between his/her truck and the vehicle in front of it.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Good post, Ark! I might also add that, especially in cities, we need to pay attention to 4 wheelers entering the roadway, and anticipate what they may do. I didn't see the accident you're talking about, but I have avoided a few myself by making myself noticed by those cars, either by slamming on the brakes and/or laying on the air horn, when they look like they're ready to floor it.

Also, you made a good point about stopping distance. The more weight you have, the more distance you need.

 

[ATeam]

Driving a four-wheeler the other day, I was on a divided highway that closed one lane for road construction. As traffic slowed, a Mac dump truck came up on my bumper and hovered just inches away. Traffic sped up, I pulled away, he caught up and hovered again. The cycle repeated as we went through the construction zone. Whatever our speed was, the truck hovered when it was able. There was no doubt about it. I had a bully truck driver on my tail.

His behavior immediately changed when I took out my camera, reached over the seat, pointed it out the back window and took some photos. When the driver saw that he might have to account for his behavior, he became a perfect gentleman and every bit the professional driver.

Running someone's tail, for whatever reason is a choice. It is a bad choice and a serious violation if you are caught at it. Still feeling the warm glow of attending Sunday night's Green Bay Packer game, I was not in a mood to get into a confrontation with a truck driver. But on another day, I may very well have made an issue out of it.

Car drivers who encounter bully truck drivers can help get them off the road by photographing the incident, the truck's license number and the writing on the side of the truck that will show the company that owns or leases the truck. Get a picture of the driver too, if you can safely do so.

Sending the photos and a complaint to the company can make a positive difference. If your camera is video capable, a few seconds of video will leave no doubt about how the truck is moving relative to the car.

If you are a truck driver that likes to intimidate four-wheelers or just ride close to the vehicle ahead of you, know that more and more people carry camera and camera-equipped phones now. Your chances of getting turned in increase as cameras spread.

Drivers that fail to maintain safe and courteous following distances are not just stupid, they are a threat to others. The more we can do to change their behavior or get them off the road, the safer we all will be.

Most of the time, when someone cuts me off and thereby eliminates my safe space (reduces my following distance), the offending vehicle is gone as fast as it appears. If not, it only takes a moment to cut off the cruise control or ease off the gas to re-establish the safe space. One of the advantages of driving just a little slower than the posted speed limit is that the safe space pretty-much takes care of itself.

 

[Turtle]

Running someone's tail, for whatever reason is a choice. It is a bad choice and a serious violation if you are caught at it.

I'm guessing that taking out your camera, reaching over the seat, pointing it out the back windows and taking some photos, might also fall into the 'bad choice and serious violation' if caught category. Even more so if you're caught trying to video the whole thing to show the truck's relative motion to the car. Just something to keep in mind. It would be really embarrassing to rear-end someone while taking pictures of someone tailgating me.

My own personal advice is to pull over or exit at the earliest opportunity and let him pass. I'd sure hate to have reached around the seat and taken some pictures only to later have found out that the bully truck driver had just received a Dear John text message from his wife a scant few minutes after his boss called him and told him to bring the truck in right now 'cause he's fired.

 

[cheri1122]

Looked at from another perspective, maybe Phil's "bully" driver was simply trying to prevent the real bullies of the road from zooming past a long line of vehicles to cut in at the front. We all know that trucks are a favorite target for them to cut in front of, no? I do my best to prevent them from cutting in front of so many others, because they are the kind of selfish "me first!" drivers that endanger us all.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Cheri... I read it as the road was already down to one lane. Gotta agree with Turtle tho. That would be pretty stupid to rear-end someone, or hit a barrier or soft shoulder because they were taking pictures behind them. Besides... if you only take pics, the driver could just as easily say traffic was only going 5mph.

I would've slowed down to 25 or so, then sped up. If he did it again, I'd slow down again.

 

[ATeam]

I'm guessing that taking out your camera, reaching over the seat, pointing it out the back windows and taking some photos, might also fall into the 'bad choice and serious violation' if caught category. Even more so if you're caught trying to video the whole thing to show the truck's relative motion to the car. Just something to keep in mind. It would be really embarrassing to rear-end someone while taking pictures of someone tailgating me.

I thought that might come up after I posted. I failed to mention that I did not turn my head to aim the small digital camera. I just pointed it in the general direction of the rear window and fired off a bunch of shots, some of which captured the scene. And yes, you are right. It would be really embarrassing to rear-end someone, which is why I was careful to not do so.

It had its desired effect. The driver backed off. Had it been my intention to make an issue out of his behavior, I would have had Diane, who was in the passenger seat, shoot for real. Another option would have been to change our route, let the truck by when the lanes opened up again, observe the truck to see if the driver tailgates again, and if he does, call 911 to report an agressive driver, details about his behavior, and his location.

Regarding the Dear John letter, there is NO excuse to use your truck as a vehicle for expressing emotions. I have no way of knowing why the bully driver was repeatedly closing his following distance to a few inches but he was.

This thread started as a reminder about maintaining following distance and I couldn't agree more. I don't know the statistics about fatalities and crippling injuries caused by trucks that rear-end other trucks and cars but there are a bunch. It is so very sad because the simple act of maintaining a safe following distance would prevent most such wrecks from happening.

 

[ATeam]

Looked at from another perspective, maybe Phil's "bully" driver was simply trying to prevent the real bullies of the road from zooming past a long line of vehicles to cut in at the front.

Not in this case. There were no on-ramps on this stretch of road.

 

[pelicn]

I always try to maintain a distance between me and the vehicle in front of me. I'm terrified that I might run over a car if the conditions warrant a quick brake. What upsets me is when I have my cushion, and 3 cars decide to fill that space as the traffic slows!! More than once, I've watched the smiling faces of children in the back seat of that last car that just HAD to squeeze into the space. I just want to scream at the driver "Is that 2 sec you just saved worth your life?"

 

[TeamCaffee]

Pelicn that is one my huge pet peeves also. I am slowing down easily so as not to disturb Bob trying to sleep and a car has to get right in front of me so I end up braking harder than anticipated. I also have to wonder about the mothers that do this to their children and it seems it is usually a girl that does this to us.

 

[Turtle]

Regarding the Dear John letter, there is NO excuse to use your truck as a vehicle for expressing emotions.

My point being, if he was just dumped, and fired, "NO excuse" is irrelevant if for a brief moment he feels he has nothing to lose and decides to take it out all on you right now. Aggressive drivers are already short-tempered by the nature of the situation, which is why they are driving aggressively in the first place. No point in adding to it was my point.

If you're in your work vehicle and antagonize or otherwise add to the frustration of an aggressive driver, "NO excuse" sounds good, but crumpled and Out-of-Service is still crumpled and Out-of-Service regardless of how 'in the right' you are. If you're in a 4-wheeler and manage to get the goat of a large truck driver (that's a large truck, the driver may or may not be large), crumpled and likely dead will be your sweet revenge.

A driver ticks you off, you give him the bird, he responds by rolling down his window and pointing a gun at you. No excuse for that, either, but it happens. If he fires, you're dead, no excuse, you win.

The "I'll show him!" attitude is really the other side of the aggressive driver coin. My advice would be to not do anything to inflame the situation, stay safe, note the license plate, DOT or company information, then report the incident when you can do so safely.

 

[nightcreacher]

My experiance of getting rid of a tail gater,JUST SLOW DOWN!,when he backs off, you can speed up.If I'm in my truck,just put your right side wheels off the road,if there are stones,he will get bombarded,or if he thiks your tired he will back off

 

[moose]

Its being 14 months since i have slowed down to 58 MPH.
never need to deal with aggressive drivers no more !
no worry about merging traffic ,no slowing down or sudden accelerate ,low blood-pressure,and can actually enjoy the view...
no tail-gate , no to short of a following distance ,Deers are crossing safely ,and bugs avoiding my windshield ...




Moose.
Brownsville.

 

[cheri1122]

Not in this case. There were no on-ramps on this stretch of road.

I didn't mean on ramps, I meant the times when lane closures funnel lanes together. 90% of drivers move over and wait their turn, but the bulllies want to zoom past most of them. Only once have I seen an intelligent way to deal with the problem, a sign that said "Use both lanes to merge point, then take your turn" Can't remember where it was, but it sure took the fun out of it for the aggressive drivers!
It is hard to maintain a safe following distance, though, as Linder & Pelicn pointed out, when someone always gets into it. You just have to keep dropping back, over & over, because the alternative is even less acceptable.

 

[pelicn]

I just wish we could shoot "suction idiot darts" when a car accumulates 3 darts, they aren't allowed to drive anymore

 

[arkjarhead]

Like I've said on here before, you can't convince of some people of anything and they always have to have the last word.

 

[gotta go]

I just wish we could shoot "suction idiot darts" when a car accumulates 3 darts, they aren't allowed to drive anymore

I like your darts. My idea has been an extension arm with the Hamburger Helper glove on it. I'd just use it to tap on their window so they'd know they'd done something stupid.

 

[nightcreacher]

4 wheelers need to have a special license to drive on an interstate,plain and simple

 

[arkjarhead]

4 wheelers need to have a special license to drive on an interstate,plain and simple

When I tested for my CDL I had to drive on interstate. That wasn't the case when I got my regular driver's license. I do agree with you though. It only makes sense. Personally I think high school students should be required to take driver's education. Why not educate them on it? It is a part of daily life. I could understand if a kid was not able to drive for health reasons or something. I took driver's education because my parents required my sister and I to take it to get our car insurance to go down a little.