Another Wreck.

People are just idiots at times on the road. Thank god I have a Dash Cam!

I showed it to the cops when they showed up and was set free. Damage on my truck and trailer but I took it to the yard and called it a day as my nerves were shot. If his car was smaller I would have driven right over him and we would have had smashed bodies in a car. If I could post the vid I would just to show you all, but it's beyond my ability. I even tried to email it to my boss and that ain't happening either. Here are the basics...

Dual Turn lanes, from a busy street to Southbound I-25 on-ramp. I was in the right turn lane as I should be. As you all have seen many times, the two lanes become one just before the interstate so folks must merge before getting on the interstate and there is a long merging lane when you get to the interstate so folks can get together and speed up before entering the interstate lanes.
I had a guy try to pass me at the last minute after I had let a couple of others go past as I can't speed up as quickly, and he ran out of room. Then he got really pissed off after backing off and getting behind me while honking his horn and telling me I was number 1. Then when I was about to merge onto the interstate he tries to cut me off by pulling in front of me back into the merging lane after swinging out into traffic and pulling alongside me.
He tried to pull in front of me BEFORE his car was past me. Clipping my LF corner, spinning around in front of me, bouncing off of the right corner of my truck and then bouncing off the guard rail and the side of my truck and trailer a few times before I got stopped.

After the cops viewed the video they told me to have a safe day and not to worry. His car got taken away on a hook and he got the ticket.

Please be careful on the roads and don't let Road Rage get to you. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone here as I know we are all gentlemen. But a few seconds waiting can save a life, or keep you from having to buy a new car as this guy will have to do. It was toast!

Yes, some people / drivers are idiots. We see them every day, multiple times a day.

Oh you big Semi Truck Bully you!:rofl2::roflmao

Some people just think that they are 'Special' and don't think about the consequences of their actions.

I've always headed the advice of a friend of my dads who drove semi's. And that is to always make sure that you can see the driver in his left hand mirror cuz if you can't see him then he can't see you.

Hopefully they take his license. People like that don’t belong on the road, it’s how people get hurt or killed.

Glad you’re ok, and got video of it, I watch people do similar things every morning. It’s surprising that there aren’t more accidents. Merging is something they don’t teach, at least it wasn’t part of my requirements to pass the test for my license. Patience seems to be a lost character attribute.

Be safe.

Take care brother. Glad everyone is okay. That is great you could show cops the footage.

Other driver is probably telling people a truck driver did a pit maneuver on him.

Glad you are OK.

I have only encountered one dual turning lane from a busy street onto an expressway on ramp that merged into one lane before you merged onto the expressway. Still wonder if they were trying to create even more opportunities for accidents to happen with that kind of set up.

Bob

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jfk742

Hopefully they take his license. People like that don’t belong on the road, it’s how people get hurt or killed.

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Unless he has a record, they won't. There are people with multiple DUIs that still have their license.

Jerry, I'm glad you're okay (and they say teaching is stressful, jeez!). I swear that people have gotten more aggressive and entitled on the roads in the last few years. My theory is that more crowded freeways, longer commutes, people on their phones, and the perception of being more isolated in more insulated, sound-proof, larger vehicles with more horsepower are all contributing factors. And just basic decency/civility in public seems to be a thing of the past. I'm a pretty laid-back guy (usually), but these aggressive drivers send me over the edge. You know a cowardly piece of s*@t like that wouldn't stand in front of you cursing, flipping you off and being such an a-hole.

Get in some "Zen" honing time on those j-nats to clear your head, my friend!

Living over in Europe I can say without a doubt that there are idiots in traffic everywhere, a lot actually and it's only getting worse. Many of them have no business operating a motor vehicle.

Stay safe out there, good to hear you're OK.

Dang Jerry, they just focus on you don't they?

Sorry to hear this, but very glad you're ok Brother :tu

I drove a quad axle dump truck for some time, Jerry.

I think everyone should learn to drive one, before getting in a car. It would sure enlighten people to give a bit more respect to the truck drivers, and understand what its like driving a 80,000 lb. rig.

The important thing is that you are ok.

I know you don't drink, so yes, some Zen time on the hones will be good stress relief, which I'm sure you need now.

Pete <:-}

Hello Jerry,
I am glad that you are OK. I am also glad for the Dashcam.

The good news is that one more idiot driver is off the road. I am selling my car and surrendering my license for a ID.
Too old and too slow for modern traffic where even the villages have four lane roads and melding onto the freeways from them is as you described.

Again, I am glad you made it!
Sincerely
~Richard

I could have used a drink last night but i settled for radio repair to take my mind off it. I couldn't calm myself enough to the stones. I have a headache today from the stress last night but all is well. Thanks everyone. It really makes me want to stop driving for a living. But then what else would I do.

My hat is off to you Richard for knowing your abilities are not as good as they used to be and giving up your lic. It takes a big man to do this.

I hope today will be a better day for you and that your rig will be repaired quickly.

Well I had a very close call...a near miss today.

Four Lane divided road with a 50 mph speed limit.
If I didn't absolutely stand on the brakes, I would have hit a deer that bolted out of the underbrush on the roadside right in front of me.:dropjaw:

Sure did get the 'ol ticker pumping!

Pete <:-}

You were in the right and controlled what you could.

I have driven very few big rigs and mostly small to medium size. From my experience they gave me more room with the larger truck than with the smaller ones and the larger ones had better braking ability than many of the small ones.

MN has been advertising the "Use both lanes during backups and take turns at the merge."

This would work great if people could use both lanes and then agree to take turns!:rofl2:

It's not getting any better out there on the roads it would seem.
Sometimes I wonder if it's just that I've become WAY more safe since becoming a father and dedicating my life to my family. I was once totally insane. Seriously.
When I was in Florida I thought about you Jerry.
I wanted you to get on that radio and tell the truck drivers down there to chill out. People in Florida are perhaps the worst drivers I've ever seen, and I've driven in all but 3 states, the truck drivers are no exception.
They drive as though they are in sports cars, crazy, reckless, and violent if provoked.
Now this is probably because so many other a-holes are the same, it was just a shock to me because I know that in every other state I've driven, truckers in general have a tough job and do it well with little respect from many drivers.
Took riding along in my buddies truck across the country a few times before really understanding.

Anyway I was so shocked about the truck drivers terrible driving in Florida that I wanted to PM you to see if you could make sense of it for me.
I expect regular car drivers to drive like idiots and so I'm careful, patient, and very defensive in my driving..
But dang I never expected to see truckers road rage and weave through traffic in such a dangerous way. I even witnessed one get out of truck, they both stopped, and got in a fist fight! Twilight Zone.
Drive safe guys! People are going crazy.

Hands down, the single greatest improvement to my driving was riding a motorcycle, learning to anticipate and guard against bad driving..
And remember, it may not be your fault, but it's your problem.

I just got back from checking out where there was a totally uncalled for accident. My brother had called this morning and in conversation he brought it up. A friend of his saw the entire thing as it happened.

Seems that they are doing road work starting at the eastern part of Pomeroy. This is a 35 MPH area to begin with (I'd thought it was 45 but that would have started just a bit further down) There were a couple of guys on motorcycles stopped then four cars behind them waiting for the Pilot Car. A semi truck rear ended the fourth car which started a chain reaction. The second car behind the guys on their bikes was rammed under the car in front which caused it to flip over on the bikers, killing one instantly as his head was crushed.

What I rode up for was to check out the signage. Sure as hell about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile before where the cars and bikes had stopped was the huge Lighted sign saying time and time again that there would be delays and that there was Pilot Car. Further down were those large Orange with Black lettering saying to be prepared to stop--road work ahead etc.

Not only were the bikes and cars stopped in an area where the road is straight as an arrow the road leading up to it is also straight as an arrow. Other than Not Paying Attention/Using a Cell Phone/Drug or Alcohol use or falling asleep I saw absolutely No Reason for the collision. Poor bastard was killed for simply obeying the rules.

My great grandfather homesteaded in that area, both my parents were born there so was I and my younger siblings so I still have friends and relatives there and I've asked them to keep me up to date on the situation.

https://www.yaktrinews.com/news/moto...ied/1081901438

Sorry you had to endure another dumb ass like this. You should have run over the SOB and killed him! One less idiot in the world that we would have to deal with!

Mike T, It's the same everywhere. Truck drivers are not much, if any better. I see it every day. Not trying to toot my own horn, but I drive very carefully nowadays. I'm paid by the hour and this has caused me to relax a lot! I'm not in a rush anymore and if someone cuts me off I will make a bad comment under my breather to myself, but that's about it. I have seen it all in my years of driving. From dead bodies on the road to young ladies flashing their breasts. Although that one hasn't happened in a long time. Years ago it happened often.

Tonight I came across a car stopped in the middle of a 5 lane section of I-25 in a dark part of the road. I stood on the breaked and got stopped. Next, a car behind me swung over to avoid hitting me, must have been texting as he wasn't close at all, and collided with the car in the next lane. Not I'm not proud of my thoughts or actions at that time, but it made an opening in the traffic so I could get around the dead car in the road. I left as fast as I could because a loaded fuel tanker is not what you want sitting in the middle of the road at night. I hope the guy was smart enough to get out of his car but I dought it. People will sit in a dead car and make phone calls. Next thing they are being rammed from behind at 60 mph. I just don't understand it, but it happens.

Thanks to everyone for the good wishes. Its the job I choose to do but its getting harder every year to keep doing it. I've spent so much time today filling out forms and talking on the phone to bosses and insurance, emailing stuff and reports to everyone, I'm not sure who I've talked too. I know I was in the right and thank god for the video as they can't argue with that! The wife said I need to get 3 more of them. Back and both sides of the truck. It won't work I told her, but it was a good thought.

Be safe out there on the road everyone. I still remember the video they made me watch in school (before they started charging for the classes), it was called "The blood runs Red on the Highway". Scare tactics. Maybe they should bring it back.

Sometimes I humor myself with the idea that since our natural predators have become less, that some kind of universal balancing has filled the void..
In the form of stupidity!
One can only shake the head in disbelief, and move on, thankful that the "Balancing Effect" has not rendered this one an idiot!
Ever seen the movie Idiocracy?
Man that movie hit the nail dead center!

Sorry about the accident Jerry. I'm glad all is okay with you.
I'll say this, many people on the road are idiots! I've seen it too many times in my truck & on my Harley. Everyone is in such a big hurry these days & for no given reason. They sure as hell aren't going to a fire! If they cause an accident, they will lie, I know, it has happened to me twice now & one was when my Harley was wrecked last. Many of them are foreigners who don't obey the law because they go to a driving school owned by a foreigner & will lie so they aren't held responsible for their actions which is why I have a dash cam. I know this because there is one of those driving schools near me & they will practice driving in my neighborhood. Everyone of them will be foreigners so one of them is the instructor. Apparently they pass them whether they pass or fail because they get a larger turnover from every student driver. There were 2-3 of those schools near me but now I only know of the one. It's possible the others already got rich or moved to another location. I avoided many accidents on my Harley & 99% of them were on their cell phones. When I put it back together, I have a place on my handlebars for a dash cam, right there near the risers from the front end. Most people don't look out for motorcyclists so they won't know about the dash cam I'll have either. Whether on my Harley or in my truck, I always leave the lawful amount of space in front of me, 10 mph for every 10 mph the vehicle is going but every time someone comes along, usually a compact, gets in front of me so I slow down to the correct length again & another person will do it. People in larger vehicles do it to but mostly the smaller cars. It's a never ending cycle! I've been thinking of writing the PD & DPS, telling them they can bring in more revenue if they start ticketing these people breaking the law plus all cops have dash cams & body cams on them. Everyone is in such a hurry these days & for no reason as I stated. Almost 11 years ago when I was riding my Harley back from Milwaukee, I hit pouring rain from Hurricane Gustav in Arkansas, so I rode in the slow lane. Most of the high wind had died down, it was just 180 miles of pouring rain & the cars were so disrespectful coming up on my ass nearly hitting me, passing just enough to get back in front of me spraying water all over me making it more difficult to see & I would back off the normal length like I do. The truckers were different. I could see them coming in my rear view mirrors & they would get over about 100 yards behind me, pass & get back over in the slow lane about 100 yards ahead of me. Now people driving cars have gotten worse & so when I do get my Harley back together, it won't be a daily rider since I now have my truck. Most people don't use turn signals anymore if they ever did! It's like a free for all on the road plus with road rage these days & more. There are some motorcycle riders who think they are bulletproof & they are ones on crotch rockets because I can be riding the speed limit & they must be going 120 plus mph because they will pass & in a split second, they're only a tiny dot in front of me & many go in & out of traffic. It has gotten too crazy driving & law enforcement needs to do something about it! Don't get me wrong, there are also Harley riders who break the law but not near as much as those on sport bikes. There have been times when I would be on my Harley & as soon as a light turns yellow, I slow down for the red but as I'm sitting there & the light turns red, 3,4 & maybe even 5 vehicles will run it! I could go on & on & on but I think you all know what I mean.

Mike T-Idiocracy is now a documentary.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Mike T-Idiocracy is now a documentary.

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Har!!! That is the funniest and most true statement I've read all week. I'm gonna tell my wife, shes gonna laugh, lol.

Today I decided to start teaching my son how to drive.
He has plenty of time until he is 16. BUT I figure that some concepts would be great to get implanted in that brain long before he is behind the wheel.
Basic concepts.
1. Protect yourself from bad drivers.
2. Assume people are stupid.
3. Look both ways, even when the light is green.

I started with these. Keep it simple. Get him to sit in the middle on the back seat and watch my driving.
If he gets in the habit of watching my driving (around a million miles of perfect driving record), learning early to watch and be aware, should help..

The looking both ways thing is definitely NOT practiced by all. Every day I see people walk across the street, not one look. A mother pushing a baby in a stroller, no look!
The little green guy says walk.. No worries, he's got you covered..
Same with the green light for cars.. Green, no look just go. It's crazy. No it's just stupid.

Anyway, it all ties together...
Protect yourself from stupid people.
Automatons.
:chapeau

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MikeT

Har!!! That is the funniest and most true statement I've read all week. I'm gonna tell my wife, shes gonna laugh, lol.

Today I decided to start teaching my son how to drive.
He has plenty of time until he is 16. BUT I figure that some concepts would be great to get implanted in that brain long before he is behind the wheel.
Basic concepts.
1. Protect yourself from bad drivers.
2. Assume people are stupid.
3. Look both ways, even when the light is green.

I started with these. Keep it simple. Get him to sit in the middle on the back seat and watch my driving.
If he gets in the habit of watching my driving (around a million miles of perfect driving record), learning early to watch and be aware, should help..

The looking both ways thing is definitely NOT practiced by all. Every day I see people walk across the street, not one look. A mother pushing a baby in a stroller, no look!
The little green guy says walk.. No worries, he's got you covered..
Same with the green light for cars.. Green, no look just go. It's crazy. No it's just stupid.

Anyway, it all ties together...
Protect yourself from stupid people.
Automatons.
:chapeau

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While I learned to drive in a 'Car' starting at age 10 with my grandmother allowing me to drive her '64 Plymouth Valiant around the farm and up to the main road and then progressing to drive to the highway where Granny would take over until I was 14 when I could drive all the way into town (even though I didn't have any kind of a license) and took my driver's test in my grandparents '62 Chrysler New Yorker my very first mode of transportation was a Honda 90 Scrambler.

I got my motorcycle endorsement that same year at the age of 16 and it was the very first year that Washington State required a 'Motorcycle Endorsement'.

I had a good friend who had a Yamaha 80 and he was riding down the road (in town) when someone didn't stop at the intersection and his leg was broken. When his leg was 'set' it wasn't right and to the day he passed his left foot looked like it was at a 45 deg to his right foot.

I learned early on to take extra care when driving and it's saved my ass more than a few times and not always on a motorcycle!!!!!!

You are doing a good job with letting your child know that they need to be aware. What I'm adding is that they 'MAY' have this preconceived notion that the sheet metal that surrounds them will protect them. They are very much mistaken as I can attest to the damage done when I was in several auto accidents (none of which I was the driver).

I on the other hand know that it's not 'might' but WHEN I'm on my bike it's me and the steel that will hit me so I'm EXTRA CAREFUL.

By the way I do hope that you instill that Cell Phones aren't used while driving.

My wife told me that she feels that Im safe up in the big truck as Im out of the way being high up and Im protected much better than in a car. I just said " yes dear". I dont want to bust her bubble. Sure, I am safer than in a car, but ...

In this last one the one thing that really stuck with me was I didn't feel a thing. I seen him bounce off of me three times from the windshield and twice going down the side of my trailer but i felt next to nothing. It was odd. Seeing it but not really feeling much. And I was empty! Gross weight 30,000 lbs. Guessing the car was 3 to 4000 lbs.