Here's something else I have a "beef" with.....

[golfhobo]

repete said:

Just out of curiousity, Sky... was this in a heavy traffic area? You didn't SEE him on the side of the road from about 3/4 mile back? You didn't have the opportunity to move OVER to the fast lane for security reasons whether he was gonna move or not? Failing that..... you weren't able to slow down as you approached? Or flash your lights to say you were coming THROUGH?

I'm just curious, because I drive mostly on OPEN roads. I see this ALL the time, and though I don't appreciate it.... it is rarely a problem for me.

It must really SUCK to be a Truckdriver in the N.E.!! This is NEVER a real problem in the West or SouthWest. i.e: Three quarters of the country!

flash your lights cause your coming through??? Now that would cause most drivers to pull right out thinking that they are letting you in. And just cause you see someone on the side dosn,t mean you can move over a lane even if you slow down to get into a hole cars behind you move over faster and fill the hole before you can move.
I run the length og NY and back every day and see this ALL the time, don't even think twice about now

Sorry, Repete.... I forgot that there are SOME drivers out there that don't know the rules of lights. Flashing highbeams should NEVER be used to let a driver in..... flicking them OFF is the proper method. Flashing high beams is an INTERNATIONLALLY recognized signal that one is "coming through!" This is the practice in every foreign country I've been IN or heard about!

If you'll read my post, you'll SEE that I asked if he couldn't move over. AND, I mentioned that on more OPEN roads, this is rarely a problem. Then, I followed up by saying it must SUCK to drive in the NorthEast where traffic volumes make this less likely.

IF I ever drove in the N.E., I would make sure that the lane was OPEN before pulling out, or that a trucker had DIMMED his lights to tell me it was o.k. I would NEVER pull out in front of HIGH BEAMS. IMHO, using high beams means ONE thing...... I am trying to BLIND you so that you won't be stupid enough to pull out in front of me! It means I cannot move over, I'm coming through, and YOU NEED TO WAIT!

[golfhobo]

You're going to beat that merging thing to death, aren't you Hobo?

AM I, Twilight? I don't know. Do you think I NEED to?

At any rate, I didn't realize that I WAS! This is a different scenario. I was taught (in my lowly CDL MILL) that you ALWAYS move over if you can for ANY vehicle on the shoulder... especially for a truck! Where "I" drive, one can usually see such a vehicle for up to a MILE!

I actually AGREE with Sky's gripe about truckers who don't "run up" before merging..... though the instances are RARE in my experience. But, I'm not taking the chance, if I don't HAVE to.

Would you prefer that I STOP making suggestions and points that might make a noobie a safer driver? I'm certainly NOT questioning Skywalker's professionalism. I ASKED him a few questions because I didn't fully understand the situation.

IMHO, one can be part of the problem.... or part of the solution! I am dedicated to the latter! I NEVER want to hear that some trucker stayed in his lane behind a moron who "jumped" into traffic, and had to swerve at the last minute..... wiping out a TOUR BUS full of HALF of your family!

Do I think that "merging traffic" in ONE form or another is one of the most dangerous things a driver has to deal with? YES, I DO! Do YOU think I am wrong?

Do I think that 70% of a driver's responsibility is to be AWARE of, and manage, the traffic around him..... YES, I DO! Do you question my belief?

Do I think that 80% of the topics on this board have LITTLE to do with the promotion of SAFE DRIVING, and MORE to do with what IPOD is best this month? Or whose parking lot stinks the most? YES, I DO! Do you question my figures?

When I see drivers driving with the level of professionalism "I" expect from them, and I quit hearing about truck crashes taking lives, perhaps I'll contain my posts to the Comedy Forum. Until then.....

[bigtimba]

Move over or slow down . . He's coming out and you're running out of time. Save your life now and get mad later.

If it's you, never assume anyone can or will move over or slow down. They may be too busy on the phone.

Signalling anything but brake lights is a 50 - 50 proposition, at best.

The very first thing you should do after skipping and falsley logging your pre-trip is to remind yourself that your number 1 goal today is to be around to skip and falsley log tomorrow's pre-trip.

[Twilight Flyer]

Do I think that "merging traffic" in ONE form or another is one of the most dangerous things a driver has to deal with? YES, I DO! Do YOU think I am wrong?

No, I agree with you there. However, where we disagree is on who's shoulders it rests.

Do I think that 70% of a driver's responsibility is to be AWARE of, and manage, the traffic around him..... YES, I DO! Do you question my belief?

Once again, we are in agreement with the responsibility/problem, but in disagreement with where the blame lies in the event of an accident/

Do I think that 80% of the topics on this board have LITTLE to do with the promotion of SAFE DRIVING, and MORE to do with what IPOD is best this month? Or whose parking lot stinks the most? YES, I DO! Do you question my figures?

Nope, but it's a messageboard. We ain't "all truckin', all the time."

Back to the topic, I've said it before, but perhaps it bears repeating so we understand each other.

If you have traffic merging onto an interstate and you can safely move to the left with plenty of time, then do so. I'm not disputing that and in total agreement with you that if you can do it and do it safely, then do so. But you are doing so out of courtesy, not out of any rule and expectation that you have to.

But if traffic is heavy on the left and heavy behind you, then the ownership of that merge is on the person merging, not you. If they choose to merge into your truck, it is utterly and totally on them, not you. If you move left or slow down to accomodate a merger and cause an accident and/or danger to someone on the left or behind you, then you deserve everything that comes down on you from that.

[wonderman]

we are not allowed to flash our lights to tell someone to come back over. the company I work for has a policy on that....wonderman

[Skywalker]

Hobo and others..... my apologies. I should have clarified the issue. In both instances I was trapped in the slow lane, I could not move over, and I was moving at approximately 65 mph with a 45,000 lb liquid load. In both cases the drivers of the other trucks did not bother to use turn signals....just pulled out in front of me. Neither of the vehicles had 4 ways on either. I doubt that either bothered to look in the mirror to clear the rear.

I am not sure how I missed either of them....but I can tell you that it took me awhile to extricate the vinyl....... :shock:

I always move over if there is a vehicle on the shoulder....always. I will make an extra effort to do so, even if it means slowing down in order to merge into the next lane. I do not want to hit someone who may climb out of a truck or walk around it in front of me....or someone getting out of a car, or walking around it without paying attention.

I should have "clarified" it all.

BTW....I always use the shoulder to run up to at least 45 mph before merging....if I ever have to stop on the shoulder, which is virtually only due to a flat tire with a placarded load. Otherwise....I run down a ramp, or go to a T/S or rest area. The shoulder is a dangerous place to stop.

[bigtimba]

But if traffic is heavy on the left and heavy behind you, then the ownership of that merge is on the person merging, not you. If they choose to merge into your truck, it is utterly and totally on them, not you.

While I have suspected it from many of your posts, it became very clear from this one that you are not a Driver or you didn't make it as one if you were.

My duty is to anticipate, prevent and, ultimately, minimize the impact of a collision, should one occur. Absent any alternative, my responsibility would be to slow and stop in my travel lane prior to a collision. I can't let "them" hit me, even if there is no way I can prevent it. As long as my brake lights are working, I could not and cannot be held responsible for the actions of any Driver travelling behind me (other than to make the ultimate sacrafice). That's the risk I run. That's the risk they run.

[Skywalker]

But if traffic is heavy on the left and heavy behind you, then the ownership of that merge is on the person merging, not you. If they choose to merge into your truck, it is utterly and totally on them, not you.

While I have suspected it from many of your posts, it became very clear from this one that you are not a Driver or you didn't make it as one if you were.

My duty is to anticipate, prevent and, ultimately, minimize the impact of a collision, should one occur. Absent any alternative, my responsibility would be to slow and stop in my travel lane prior to a collision. I can't let "them" hit me, even if there is no way I can prevent it. As long as my brake lights are working, I could not and cannot be held responsible for the actions of any Driver travelling behind me (other than to make the ultimate sacrafice). That's the risk I run. That's the risk they run.

While I understand what TWF is saying....I tend to agree more with you bigtimba...thats why we are considered "professionals".

In the maritime laws there are many regulations regarding passing (overtaking) and so on....but there is one rule that supersedes them all:

A prudent mariner takes all actions necessary to avoid a collision.

Simply replace the word "mariner" with "driver" and it works the same way.

The unfortunate side of it all is that there are times when virtually nothing
can be done...other than attempting to minimize the impact or damage, due to the reckless acts of one party that places all others in jeopardy.