Last night headed West on I86/Rt17 in southern NY about 10:00 I was coming up on a car in my lane and had another car coming up on me so I backed off and let the car pass, he then cut in hard and close to me and hit his brakes! I cut hard left and almost lost it as we where in a sweeping right hand curve. Both cars now were pulling ahead of me and I just hung back and calmed down for awhile, then started closing the gap on them I stayed in the left lane and as I passed them (watching carefully!) one of them puled in behind me REAL close and as I kept watch on him in my left mirror I ASSUMED the other car took an exit that we passed.
I then started to move into the right lane and was on the line or just over when I saw the car was running along side me WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS!! At that point enough was enough and just stayed in the left lane and dropped down to about 45MPH and they (both of them) took off down the road.
That strech of road is very dark and lonely with lots of curves we were the only 3 in sight. I think they were looking for a big truck pay day? Big truck/car accident with another car as a witness?
I run that road every night and know it well, another driver who dosn't may concentrate on the road so much that he/she may fall right into this trap so PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
At the time I didn't think to call LEO's but will stop and talk with them tonight.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVRYONE AND HOPE YOU CAN SPEND WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

 

RP...If you don't mind a suggestion...don't wait until your back in your truck to talk with LEO. If you know what town the NYSP is based at for that stretch of road...call that office, and ask to speak with the on-duty Commander. Tell that person the story. If you have seen similar activity before, that maybe didn't get so advanced...talk about it.

Anyone whom has experienced such an act as this should talk with the authorities. Insurance scams are an all to common incident, that few companies act against. As the driver though, we each have the responsibility to protect not only ourselves, but other motorists as well.

Just my thought on this subject.

Have a Merry Christmas with your family. Be safe and warm.

 

A couple of years ago, I talked with a driver that had been going through Chicago. For his son's benefit, something to do with school, he had a camera and video tape going as he was going through town. He said it was late at night, and not a lot of traffic on the road. A car passed him on the right, then cut in right in front of him and hit the brakes. He could not stop fast enough and bumped the car.

The 4-wheeler got out of the car and immediately began complaining about his neck. When the cops got there, he told them the truck had been following him and when traffic in front of him forced him to brake, the truck hit him. The driver said that he offered to show the cops the video, but they weren't interested. So, his son didn't get the tape. Instead, he gave it to his insurance company. When the lawsuit came along, the 4-wheeler found himself going off to prison for 15 years for insurance fraud.

I have given some very serious thought to rigging my truck with video recording equip. It would take one at each door to be able to get a view in the mirrors and the view through the windshield. Even if the cops don't care to look at it, the insurance companies would be very happy to make use of it.

 

not being difficult here, but when you noticed the 4-wheelers were f'ing with you, why did you proceed to speed up and catch them again? and if you "assumed" the one got off the exit then you should have not made your lane change till you were "positive".

 

I've had a 4-wheeler that was playing games on the interstate, slow down to 35 just so he could continue playing games with me. The only reason it stopped was the deer that jumped into the road ahead of him. He hit the deer and stopped. In some cases, it won't stop unless you get off the road. And, after pulling into a pickle-park, I've seen the car on the side of the road, waiting for the truck to come out of the rest area.

If the 4-wheeler is bound and determined to get the truck in trouble, what are you going to do? I carry a bottle of paint balls. If I think someone is trying to be funny on my right, I throw a handful of them out the right window. I've had a couple of them turn their lights on after the paint balls hit them. I've also heard of using WD-40, but I have not tried that one. The drawback to the paintballs is they have to be behind your sleeper.

 

WW, get why your doing it and all but make sure you never ever do that while in VA, you will be going to jail if they call the police. See the McDonald's McFlurry incident from a few years ago between 2 cars going up I-95 near Quantico. The girl who threw it ended up serving some time.

Had a buddy who used to throw BB's at cars behind him if they didn't dim their high beams. He would keep them in a cup and act like he was dumping the "drink" out the window. Either it would knock a headlight out or they would get the message real quick when 100 BB's started pelting you at 70 mph.

 

I've heard of the BB's before. Also used to know of a guy that kept a bag of small nuts and bolts on his Harley. I'm not looking to do any damage. The paint balls are washable paint, and doesn't do any damage when they hit.

 

If I get a car playing games with me, I slow down. If they continue playing the game, I call 911 and give them the Hiway number, the Mile Marker, and if the operator cops an attitude I give them the product name, quantity of the product, and the UN number.

I have made several such calls over the years. Before 9/11, it was hard to get any help from Local LEO's. Now it is a ton easier, what with the Patriot Act, and the new hazardous materials training that LEO's receive because of 9/11. With cameras on cell phones now, if I need to, I get the camera going and start recording.

There was a kid on here that drove for Swift, who had an accident while his latop and webcam were open, recording his journey. I gave that kid (Matat) hell for having his laptop open where he was able to watch it. Well....since then I have given thought to the idea of getting a camera system set up, to record activity around the truck, especially on the front and the rightside. I don't need to have it on a open screen, ut a system like LEO's use, would be usefull. There are trucking companies out there that have begun testing set-ups like that.

LOL......maybe if I had not already been in an accident that involved insurance fraud, I might not be inclined to buy a set up like that...but with the times being what they are...I see the potential for more and more people willingly getting into accidents with our trucks, for the money they can collect.

 

shoulda woulda coulda, oh well