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mtdewr
Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 170
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:39 pm Post subject: Night driving |
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What is the best thing to do when you see a driver in front of you getting sleepy? ( Besides staying away from them )
I have tried to call them on the cb but usually no response. The other night, a flat bed went across 3 lanes in front of me kinda weaving, no signal and once they "touched" the median, signaled and came back over. Thank goodness they got off at the rest area about 2 miles later.
I was just wondering what and if anything could be done? |
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TruckerChris
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
Posts: 696
Location: Sacramento, California
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Call them on the radio and like you said, they usually don't answer. Then you call the highway patrol so they don't kill anyone out there on the road. |
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Uturn2001
Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Posts: 4623
Location: East Central IL between the corn and the beans
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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Pretty much what has been said already.
Keep your distance, try to raise them on the radio and if you feel the situation is bad enough call 911. |
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mtdewr
Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 170
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks! I just wanted to make sure that driver was safe but was happy they got off at the rest area!! :D I drive nights and have seen this a few times but most have their cbs on. Hope everyone is having a safe trip....Mtdewr |
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headborg
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 1102
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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1st off It's another professional driver- trying to make a living for their family up ahead... so cut him a little slack-- don't call the law on him until after he passes up that rest area-or obvious safe place to get off the road.
2nd: yeah, call him on the CB and ask if he's o k...
3rd: no, don't ride BEHIND him if you can avoid it... pull into the passing lane( which will keep other 4 wheelers from running up beside him.... flash you HIGH BEAMS at him( in his mirror) call him again on the radio ....ask again if he's ok... tell him to try to keep er steady...
and pass him when it's safe to do so....
you don't want to be BEHIND HIM when he has a accident...because then
YOU will a) be involved yourself b) have to do some quick evasive manover yourself to avoid being involved c) be a witness and end up spend days in court with no pay/income because you saw everything. |
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Jimbpard
Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 518
Location: Irwin. PA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Well said headborg....Damn people and wanting to call the law.... :evil: :roll: |
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bigtimba
Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 170
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:34 am Post subject: Did someone just say . . |
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. . the guy falling asleep at the wheel was a professional? Earning a living for his family?
Earning a death benefit, perhaps. |
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headborg
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 1102
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| Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:12 pm Post subject: Re: Did someone just say . . |
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bigtimba wrote: . . the guy falling asleep at the wheel was a professional? Earning a living for his family?
Earning a death benefit, perhaps.
Yeap, check the Webster's Dictionary for professional-
participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs
a amateur is defined as someone with little or no experience- such as a newbie truck driver.
also Truck driving is not recognized as a Professional endeavor- it is classified as a TRADE at best, general labor at worst.
So, don't allow the corporate world- to throw around words like that --at you -- to get THEIR desired results/ performance out of you.
Language is funny like that-- depending on you POV-
Also there's a thing called "the golden rule", someday, if you stay in this occupation- it might be YOU that might be on a HOT run- and slightly overextend yourself-- do you want some newbie behind you to grab the cell phone and call in on YOU?
In the old days; a little professional courteousy would be for two drivers to "Shepard" him into the next truckstop...
by one getting in front one behind and talk to him or 'suggest' they all stop for a break-- "I'm sure getting tired"... how about YOU?... yeah, you almost wiped out back there... just follow me into the next stop..."
but times have changed....there is little professionalism or compassion out here anymore...just people who always think they're better than the other guy.. and that "it won't ever be me" |
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mtdewr
Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 170
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| Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Thank you for all your input! I dont want to get a driver in trouble but dont want to see them or an innocent person(s) hurt either. Just checking to see if there were other options other than what I did. Thanks again!! Have a safe one :D |
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Snowman7
Joined: 19 Feb 2005
Posts: 959
Location: the Buckeye
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:29 am Post subject: |
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headborg wrote: 1st off It's another professional driver- trying to make a living for their family up ahead... so cut him a little slack-- don't call the law on him until after he passes up that rest area-or obvious safe place to get off the road.
Did you catch the part about going across three lanes of traffic? :?
headborg wrote: you don't want to be BEHIND HIM when he has a accident...because then YOU will a) be involved yourself b) have to do some quick evasive manover yourself to avoid being involved c) be a witness and end up spend days in court with no pay/income because you saw everything.
So you're saying its OK to let him have an accident, just dont wanna be behind him right? :roll:
I'll try but if I cant get his attention I'll call the law. He can't provide for his family if he's dead can he? Let alone any innocent victims. What if he went left of center and hit YOU head on? And I think it's safer to follow at a safe distance than try to get around a guy who cant stay in his own lane. I guess a few days in court as a witness is slightly better than having him run me into a bridge abutment, but hey that's just me.
You really showed your true colors on this one. |
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Malaki86
Joined: 28 Aug 2004
Posts: 2019
Location: West Virginia
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 7:49 am Post subject: |
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| I agree. I'll try to get the drivers attention any way I can, plus let other drivers on the road know what's going on in front of me. But, I also won't let it go on and on and on until it ends badly. |
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headborg
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 1102
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:25 am Post subject: |
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Snowman7 wrote: headborg wrote: 1st off It's another professional driver- trying to make a living for their family up ahead... so cut him a little slack-- don't call the law on him until after he passes up that rest area-or obvious safe place to get off the road.
Did you catch the part about going across three lanes of traffic? :?
headborg wrote: you don't want to be BEHIND HIM when he has a accident...because then YOU will a) be involved yourself b) have to do some quick evasive manover yourself to avoid being involved c) be a witness and end up spend days in court with no pay/income because you saw everything.
So you're saying its OK to let him have an accident, just dont wanna be behind him right? :roll:
I'll try but if I cant get his attention I'll call the law. He can't provide for his family if he's dead can he? Let alone any innocent victims. What if he went left of center and hit YOU head on? And I think it's safer to follow at a safe distance than try to get around a guy who cant stay in his own lane. I guess a few days in court as a witness is slightly better than having him run me into a bridge abutment, but hey that's just me.
You really showed your true colors on this one.
I did catch the part about the three lanes( of traffic?)-- I'm sure if there had been TRAFFIC in those lanes- there would have been an accident right there! Did You catch the part about not calling the law UNTIL HE HAS SHOWN LACK OF CONCERN-LACK OF DOING THE RIGHT THING AND GETTING OFF THE ROAD WHEN POSSIBLE? Yes- sometimes you have to call the law-- but usually-- when a person falls asleep- drifts like that- they
have good sense to shut it down as soon as they can.
yeah, I am saying :dung: happens- and You or I are not in a position to really Control that-- no you don't want to be behind him and try to avoid the accident. And it's not gonna be " a few days in court"-- at least 2 weeks.
You must have missed the part about Flashing your highbeams at him and getting HIS attention- before trying to get around him.
hey yeah it's just you-- you're driving a rig too right?-- so unless he forces you off the road-- by intentionally running you off the road-- if he "drifts" into you while you're passing him--- just push back-- it's that simple-
also- after a few years on the road you will learn how to tell the difference between a Tired driver who "drifts" then suddenly wakes up- and corrects.
and a Drunk driver who is simply -- all over the road-
in this case I'm only saying-- if he's simply tired- cut him a little slack until pops off on the cb something like---"you drive your truck, I'll drive mine"
or "mind your damn business" etc. |
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Snowman7
Joined: 19 Feb 2005
Posts: 959
Location: the Buckeye
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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OK three lanes whatever. :roll:
I have no problem with trying to get his attention and getting him off the road.
If that fails then I have no problem calling him in. If he doesnt give a sh!t about the lives of other people why should I give a sh!t about his job? Besides what are they going to do, fire him for a lane violation? |
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hitman
Joined: 28 Oct 2005
Posts: 231
Location: Clayton, Delaware
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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headborg wrote: 1st off It's another professional driver
After all your attempts to get his attention has failed, what's wrong with calling the law? Sure the first thing they will probably check is his log book, but if he is a professional driver, he will be compliant and sober, with nothing to worry about, and they will probably just escort him to the nearest rest area, of safest place to park it. Calling the law is better then killing himself or others. |
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headborg
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 1102
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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hitman wrote: headborg wrote: 1st off It's another professional driver
After all your attempts to get his attention has failed, what's wrong with calling the law? Sure the first thing they will probably check is his log book, but if he is a professional driver, he will be compliant and sober, with nothing to worry about, and they will probably just escort him to the nearest rest area, of safest place to park it. Calling the law is better then killing himself or others.
because, we're all human and not perfect.
after only one swerve did he continue to display lack of control of the vehicle? then yes do what you Must- call the law
how do you know he wasn't just(stupidly) digging in the bottom of his cooler for another can of soda- or dropped his cigs?
how do you know if his CB isn't broke? or maybe he doesn't have one?
I've been there-- you can get tired anytime of day...maybe it will happen to you someday--- you'll eat that big buffet lunch then hit the road...
In the original post-- She said-- he hit next rest area---
All I'm saying is -- give the guy a chance to do the right thing.
I can tell you this-- when you call 911 on him and describe his vehicle & location-- I bet it will be a tleast 25 minutes/25 miles before there's a patrol car behind him..... the patrol car will follow him a few miles to video tape any "failure to maintain lane control" before they pull him over and DOT level 3 him-- log book- etc, Sobority test- maybe even that new draw for Blood test...
all the while ....telling him one of his trucking professionals called in on him as a "concerned" citizen.
there you go with that --if he's a professional driver-- all his ducks will be in a row- You're a complete lier if you expect me to believe YOU always have everything completely perfect yourself 24-7, 365 days a year. Perfect vehicle inspection everyday.
Because when they get called out--- they will FIND something to write a ticket for...
These same law enforcement officers-- are the ones who --WAKE UP tired drivers-- and tell them to HIT THE ROAD you can't park here! and put them on the road-- to be ahead of you--so you can call in on them or possibily kill someone.
No they won't escort him anywhere---unless his log book is behind or he's over HOS-- they will just ticket him for something and let him go.
In the old days(before cell phones)--- calling the law was much harder. You had to get to a pay phone.
It was easier to use the "carrot" than the 'stick". You'd get up there beside the guy and blow your air horn-- pull in front --and get his attention-- then you'd be "civil" and ask-- hey! where's the next truckstop? or anyone seen a truckstop around here--- I'll buy you cup of hot Joe , If you'll park that rig..... you almost bought the farm back there...
But those were the old days when Drivers knew they were all in the same boat out here...and gave a damn about each other.... today, it's just easier to dial 911 from you cell phone... and then...feel like you did something big..and hurry along your way...got to go...go..go. |
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