Quote:
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Originally Posted by Snowman7
I think we all agree on trying to get his attention first. Using the CB, lights and air horn are all good ideas, if safe to do so.
I hope we all agree that if unsuccessful in getting his attention then we should report him if he is still an unsafe driver. And that doesn't mean after one incidental swerve.
As for this comment:
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Originally Posted by headborg
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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Before you stereotype us, remember you were the one who said to pass him so if something does happen you won't be inconvienienced by a court appearance. That doesn't sound like you give a damn about me or anyone else this professional driver might hit later on down the road. It takes a man to make a tough decision and do the right thing. I hope you'll give this some thought if you're ever in the same situation as the original poster. Three lanes is not a minor swerve. Instead of being tired the driver could also be sick, faint, confused or about to pass out, we just don't know. |
The #1 reason for passing the Impaired driver is to avoid being involved Yourself in a accident- it is per Smith Defensive Driving rules and will prevent YOU from being guilty of Negligent Homicide in a civil court.
Take the following Scenario:
You're following this tired driver-- you back off and dial 911-- stistics show that the average driver only backs off 50 yards(150 feet)-
What's the stopping distance for a 40 ton rig running 55mph?
now while on the phone with 911- the tired driver drifts off the road and suddenly wakes up-- auto-reflex is to try and recover back onto the roadway-- most all fatigue related semi crashes result in a ROLL-OVER--
usually because the driver over reacts swerving back onto the roadway-- and lays it over on it's side across the lanes of traffic-- once on the side- contrary to the movies -- it doesn't slide more than 3-5 feet before coming to a complete stop.
You now have 155 feet to stop your HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE-
now, the car behind you-- couldn't see the impaired driver ahead of you-- and now you suddenly locked up your brakes!
As you yell Oh Shit in the phone to 911 and manage to get your rig shut down just before hitting the overturned semi ahead-- you feel this unusual
surge pushing you Forward and hear the crunching of metal--- you look in your mirror and see other vehicles coming to a stop- getting out and running to the rear OF YOUR RIG- not the overturned semi.
You exit the cab and walk to the rear of your rig in horror to find a car full of teenagers-- have run up under your DOT Bumper and are dead!
When the police arrive-- you're not at fault .. but since your rig didn't hit or mix with the overturned semi-- in some states-- it will be written up as 2
seperate accidents.
When the families of the dead teens have their lawyers review the facts and evidence-- it shows you had 15- 20 minutes while you were riding behind the fatigued driver-- that you could have gotten around him- and thus not have been involved in the death of their children.
Remember what YOU'RE DRIVING!
Scenario 2:
Instead of passing the fatigued driver-- you elect to back off and ride behind him- so you can call 911( Forgeting that you can do the same from in front of him just as easy)--or you are afraid he'll run you into the bridge abutment, etc. You now come to a down grade-- and you watch in horror as the fatigue driver steadily gains on a group of unsuspecting 4 wheelers ahead of him--- you watch in horror as he RUNS OVER a slower moving car ahead of him....
you could have passed him... you could have put YOUR RIG between Him and a small 1 ton car-- you could have flashed your lights-- blown your airhorn and cleared the road ahead--- but you can't do any of that from BEHIND HIM.
YES, LAST BUT NOT LEAST--- since you were helplessly behind the fatigued driver-- you will now have to go to court and be a witness--- because you had a front row seat at very least... Or perhaps-- you had to take the ditch yourself when he finally screwed up.....might as well go to court-- your rig is wrecked and you're still recovering from your injuries.
