They warned me in CLD class.... things people do to busses

[classB]

One warning the instructors gave in CDL class is never to give more than a foot or so on the right hand side of the bus, when in the right lane, and making a right turn. Why? Because cars hate being behind busses and love to try and squeeze in and floor it to get around busses. They told us people would take one foot of your lane and a couple feet of the shoulder to try and floor it around a bus. I bet they don't do that to trucks.

Today I'm making a right hand turn and leave about 1 foot space on my right hand side. There is no shoulder. Guess who comes up on the right hand side of the bus? An adult woman on a 10 speed bycicle. The light turned green and I checked my mirrors one more time before starting to turn when I spotted her. I'd hate to think what would have happened if I just went. BTW, this was after I checked my mirrors while stopped and did not see her. I only spotted her speeding up on the side after the light turned from red to green and I checked my mirrors one more time.

The other thing I was warned about is not to expect cars to help a bus when we need space to change lanes. As soon as I turn on the turn signal to change lanes people floor it to get in front of me. The cars don't care if there is construction and a lane is closed.

[Windwalker]

They don't do that to trucks???

They try to do so more often with a truck than with a bus. I've driven both. But, the truck does not take off as fast as a bus, so it's even MORE IMPORTANT for them to get in front of the truck. And, more than one has been caught between a trailer and a light pole.

[classB]

They don't do that to trucks???

They try to do so more often with a truck than with a bus. I've driven both. But, the truck does not take off as fast as a bus, so it's even MORE IMPORTANT for them to get in front of the truck. And, more than one has been caught between a trailer and a light pole.

I figure people would be more scared to do it to a truck.

[Uturn2001]

Idiots are not smart enough to be scared. :wink:

[JeffTheTerrible]

I bet they don't do that to trucks.

You'd lose money on that bet, in a major way. Presently, I'm operating a yard spotter, and I still have people do that to me as they try to dash to the most convenient parking space they can find.

The other thing I was warned about is not to expect cars to help a bus when we need space to change lanes.

Take that one to heart. It still amazes me the sort of risks people will take to shave a perceived ten seconds to a minute off of their trip.

As soon as I turn on the turn signal to change lanes people floor it to get in front of me. The cars don't care if there is construction and a lane is closed.

Preaching to the choir.

I figure people would be more scared to do it to a truck.

You ever watch Forrest Gump? Remember the line where he says, "Stupid is as stupid does"?

[Ronin]

I believe that sums it up nicely...

[MommaKay]

Even worse, perhaps, is people who work at warehouses and such. They can clearly see that the BIG TRUCK IS BACKING UP -- yet their little four-wheeler blasts behind the big truck at 20 miles an hour, coming out of nowhere. Then another follows just when you're sure nobody else is behind you or approaching you. Changing shifts is the worst time for this, but it can happen almost any time of day or night. They have no respect at all for trucks or truckers.

[BigWheels]

Oh for goodness sakes peoples!

When I'm at a light and a ferrari pulls up, I gun my diesel a few times, pop the clutch, rise up in the air an inch or two, and...eat the ferrari's dust! :wink:

One of these times I'm gonna surprise the heck out of a ferarri driver...and myself! :shock:

[BigWheels]

Even worse, perhaps, is people who work at warehouses and such. They can clearly see that the BIG TRUCK IS BACKING UP -- yet their little four-wheeler blasts behind the big truck at 20 miles an hour, coming out of nowhere. Then another follows just when you're sure nobody else is behind you or approaching you. Changing shifts is the worst time for this, but it can happen almost any time of day or night. They have no respect at all for trucks or truckers.

There's a little bitty truckstop in Sheboygan, WI. On one side is gas for the 4-wheelers and on the other side is diesel for the big rigs. That area also shares entrances/exits to a Wendy's restaurant and a Perkins restaurant.

When I'm backing up, I love it when a 4-wheeler makes a run for it and clears my rear by a few feet. :shock: 'Course I gun it and give 'em a good scare. Never see the same vehicle burn me twice!

OK...for all ya DOT and future employers monitoring this thread...I'm kidding...sort of.

[classB]

Even worse, perhaps, is people who work at warehouses and such. They can clearly see that the BIG TRUCK IS BACKING UP -- yet their little four-wheeler blasts behind the big truck at 20 miles an hour, coming out of nowhere. Then another follows just when you're sure nobody else is behind you or approaching you. Changing shifts is the worst time for this, but it can happen almost any time of day or night. They have no respect at all for trucks or truckers.

There's a little bitty truckstop in Sheboygan, WI. On one side is gas for the 4-wheelers and on the other side is diesel for the big rigs. That area also shares entrances/exits to a Wendy's restaurant and a Perkins restaurant.

When I'm backing up, I love it when a 4-wheeler makes a run for it and clears my rear by a few feet. :shock: 'Course I gun it and give 'em a good scare. Never see the same vehicle burn me twice!

OK...for all ya DOT and future employers monitoring this thread...I'm kidding...sort of.

People with CDL's that drive for a living have a lot more to lose than they do. If we get in an accident, even if it is not our fault, we can still get fired. Our employer will say the accident was preventable. The guy in his car will call his insurance company and his problems are over. He won't get in trouble at work.

It's not exactly fair. We have to look out for ourselves, and we also have to look out for everyone who is a quarter mile within our range.

[stormothecentury]

I was backing into a place off the street one time and had a four-wheeler actually drive over a few dozen feet of sidewalk to get around me while I was in motion, backing in. That was a new one...

[Ronin]

Yeah four-wheelers do a lot of stupid things out there. I often ask myself are they fools? or do they merely lack common sense?

[hatt91]

I often ask myself are they fools? or do they merely lack common sense?

Yes

[Windwalker]

Yeah four-wheelers do a lot of stupid things out there. I often ask myself are they fools? or do they merely lack common sense?

First of all... Look at the size of the cars today... They have room for two kids, the dog, the cat, the canary, two suitcases, a potted plant, and... no, they don't have room for common sense... That's going to have to stay home.

I wish they still had the show "STREET SMARTS" on TV. It was about the best example of America's intelligence I've ever seen.

Example:
Question: What does it mean when they say someone is a VIP?

Answer: It means that person only has a few weeks to live.

[turnleft]

I believe before a new liscense is issued and all liscenses are renewed 4-wheeler drivers should have to take a written exam on how to behave around any large bus or truck. Strange that it may seem, but the general 4-wheeler driving public is not educated enough on the dangers of sharing the road with an 18-wheeler, and yes there are the truly stupid, no amount of educating is gonna help. I believe also the general driving public should be held to the same kind of standards the trucking industry uses, for instance using preventables and non preventables to determine if they are allowed to continue driving. I'm paying $172 for the bare basic auto insurance coverage,monthly, and have never had an accident in a truck or car in my life. Now some jackwipe down the block has had 3 accidents in 2 years, get him off the road, if like 2 of them were preventables, and lower my payments.

[repete]

I was backing up to hook my trl that was at a dock and looking in the left mirror when all of a sudden a guy comes running out from between! :shock: I didn't see him till he came out and was REAL close to bumping the trailer. I was so stunned I just sat there for a second before setting the brakes and takeing a look behind me 3-4 feetof room! the other guyacted like it was no big deal :evil:

[classB]

I was backing up to hook my trl that was at a dock and looking in the left mirror when all of a sudden a guy comes running out from between! :shock: I didn't see him till he came out and was REAL close to bumping the trailer. I was so stunned I just sat there for a second before setting the brakes and takeing a look behind me 3-4 feetof room! the other guyacted like it was no big deal :evil:

Was it a dock worker in his car? Or did other cars come through the area? If it was a dock worker they should know better.

[RebelDarlin]

Even worse, perhaps, is people who work at warehouses and such. They can clearly see that the BIG TRUCK IS BACKING UP -- yet their little four-wheeler blasts behind the big truck at 20 miles an hour, coming out of nowhere. Then another follows just when you're sure nobody else is behind you or approaching you. Changing shifts is the worst time for this, but it can happen almost any time of day or night. They have no respect at all for trucks or truckers.

There's a little bitty truckstop in Sheboygan, WI. On one side is gas for the 4-wheelers and on the other side is diesel for the big rigs. That area also shares entrances/exits to a Wendy's restaurant and a Perkins restaurant.

When I'm backing up, I love it when a 4-wheeler makes a run for it and clears my rear by a few feet. :shock: 'Course I gun it and give 'em a good scare. Never see the same vehicle burn me twice!

OK...for all ya DOT and future employers monitoring this thread...I'm kidding...sort of.

People with CDL's that drive for a living have a lot more to lose than they do. If we get in an accident, even if it is not our fault, we can still get fired. Our employer will say the accident was preventable. The guy in his car will call his insurance company and his problems are over. He won't get in trouble at work.

It's not exactly fair. We have to look out for ourselves, and we also have to look out for everyone who is a quarter mile within our range.

Fair? Did someone tell you life was fair? You choose to be a professional driver, so yes you have much more resposibility than the 16-90 year olds behind the wheel. And you have to constantly watch and try to out think them. Just yesterday, I was in the right turn lane, signaling to make a turn and some dumb blonde in a mini van full of kids makes a right turn from the left lane right in front of me. No signal, nothing. They don't think at all. And yes if I had hit her it would be a preventable.

The "best" bus accident story however, happened about a week ago. Bus stopped, loading passengers. A man running on foot across 4 lanes of traffic runs into the side of the bus. Knocked himself out cold. Blood all over the side of the bus from his face. Told the police he didn't see the 40 foot transit bus sitting there. When asked if he'd been drinking, he replied "oh yeah, all day". And yes, I had to fill out an Accident report, and take a breathalyzer and drug test. Company policy.

I'm sure in review it will be "preventable" because as I'm loading passengers and taking fares, bus in neautral and parking brake on, I'm also supposed to be able to watch 360 degrees around the bus.
I truly beleive that transit busses become "invisible" to people. They see them so much, they don't see them.