Let's be careful out there on the roads

[OakRidgeStars]

Damn! This guy's Ez-Pass bill is going to be HUGE!

http://www.wlbz2.com/story/news/local/2 ... /24474825/

[SHMIV]

You guys will be happy to hear that I was not involved in that fubar.

I've said it before, and I will say it again: Stay clear of trucks! You never know who's driving it, what his experience level is, or what part of his drive shift he's in. You also don't know the state of the truck.

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[dorminWS]

Well, what I learned from that is that it takes more concrete than I thought to stop a truck.

[Swampman]

Guessing the booth was empty?

[Swampman]

Hey SHMIV, got a question. If I'm behind some azzhat 18-wheeler who takes great joy in riding in the left lane is it ever safe to pass him on the right to get around?

[SHMIV]

@Swamp: No. However, I fully understand the urge to do so, and I realize that one simply must arrive at there destination as quickly as possible, on occasion.

So, while it's never safe, it IS, sometimes, the only reasonable option. Just be quick about it. Make sure that you have a clear shot around the truck, and scan the shoulder, too. If that driver is truly oblivious (there are lots of those!), he may not realize that you are passing, so you may need to bail to the shoulder, to complete the pass, lest you get hit by a truck. So be very aware of the trucks movements.

You may be tempted to use your horn to express your displeasure to the offending driver. Unless you drive an old Cadillac with the stock tugboat horn, he probably won't hear it. Even with that sort of horn, he may not hear it. Truck cabs are noisy.

I hope that this helps. BTW, occasionally, there are legitimate reasons for trucks to ride the left lane. Not always, but it would be nice if anger was reserved until it becomes known if it's deserved.

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[Reverenddel]

One word: DDDDDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!

And that was for the blonde reporter! WOW!

[Palladin]

Yup Roland definitely took that rig for a Joy ride...

[Swampman]

@Swamp: No. However, I fully understand the urge to do so, and I realize that one simply must arrive at there destination as quickly as possible, on occasion.

So, while it's never safe, it IS, sometimes, the only reasonable option. Just be quick about it. Make sure that you have a clear shot around the truck, and scan the shoulder, too. If that driver is truly oblivious (there are lots of those!), he may not realize that you are passing, so you may need to bail to the shoulder, to complete the pass, lest you get hit by a truck. So be very aware of the trucks movements.

You may be tempted to use your horn to express your displeasure to the offending driver. Unless you drive an old Cadillac with the stock tugboat horn, he probably won't hear it. Even with that sort of horn, he may not hear it. Truck cabs are noisy.

I hope that this helps. BTW, occasionally, there are legitimate reasons for trucks to ride the left lane. Not always, but it would be nice if anger was reserved until it becomes known if it's deserved.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Verifies what I always thought. I take those "blind spot" markers on the back of the wagons seriously. When something outweighs you 10 -20 times over, you better think twice. I hate passing the big guys on the right. When I do, I do it quickly.

Some construction zones require the trucks to be in the left lane. Guessing that's to make it easier for us little guys to hit our exits without causing mayhem in the left lane.

On long trips I put in a radio and will politely ask them to move over so I don't have to scoot by on the right. Most times they will, or they'll tell me go ahead on the right. Either way, they know I'm there.

[Monkey]

Had a VERY bad experience as a teen-age new driver vs an 18 wheeler. Ever since, I NEVER stay along side a tractor trailer for any period of time, and I usually pass with authority to get out of the danger zone.

[WRW]

Had a VERY bad experience as a teen-age new driver vs an 18 wheeler. Ever since, I NEVER stay along side a tractor trailer for any period of time, and I usually pass with authority to get out of the danger zone.

I like that description: "with authority". I don't dally, even when passing cars.

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[SHMIV]

I never can understand why people want to ride right next to me; especially on the right. I hate having other vehicles near me, whether I'm in the truck, or in my personal vehicle.

Sometimes, motorcycles will plant themselves in my blind spot. That really boggles me. If I have a blowout, that could be fatal to a motorcyclist. I could see a tire chunk decapitating someone, pretty easily.

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