IMO passing an impaired driver would be the worst thing a driver could do. The amount of time it takes for you to pass could put in real danger of being hit by that impaired driver.

The safe thing to do is back-off to a safe distance and turn-on your flashers thereby warning drivers behind you of the danger.

The video posted by Random_Facts failed on both account. He/She was following to close and then passed the impaired driver.

kc0iv

 

Ok ........just watched that video--- one thing that I also noticed was the height of the headlights shinning on that drivers backdoors! He was being High Beamed by the person riding on his ass-- video taping. And the part about drunk drivers "tapping their brakes"--- yeah! right! you also tap your brakes asking for dim lights too.... just watch the video again-- when the car(video taping) goes left-- the truck goes right....

I like the related video-- the "stupid truck driver" better-- it's a CRETE driver!

roflmao


Ok, backing off to a safe distance is also cool-- problem is a person driving a semi- needs to back off at least 500 yards- if you do that -- it's gonna make it hard to read the tag number and still have that "front row" seat for the big accident-- and also hard to keep the rest of the 4wheelers behind you- but, if you do-- back off far enough -- more power to you !

 

no those arn't just stories-- they commonly happen..

and you're right--- I'm probably not going to slow down ahead of a tired driver-- that doesn't answer their CB---(but YOU CAN If You're that concerned about "all those other people on the road")---
I'll just hope and pray for them( and hope they look in their mirror)-- as I pass them too-- putting another SAFE MILE in my MiLLION MILE SAFE DRIVER BELT--- because I don't want to lose my House by missing a couple Payments... because I got a subpoena to appear in court as a witness and have to travel across the country( at my expense) and spend 2 weeks in a motel( at my expense) and eat (at my expense) ....

it won't bring back anyone's life.....

I'm also not interested in 15 minutes of fame on TV -- "I saw the whole thing!"

But YOU can Make a difference--save a life--- by being ahead of him.

 

Something I whole heartedly agree with kc0iv about.

If you are on the road behind an impaired driver...drunk, high on dope, sleepy...it's all impaired driving...you do not pass them..not if you are concerned about your safety or the safety of others. A vehicle (big truck or 4-wheeler that is swerving across lanes is dangerous. You do not pass objects that pose a danger to yourself...you back off and stay away from them.

Flashing the bright lights at the driver may be one way to attempt to get their attention, even in daylight hours....but passing them...just to avoid being in an accident with them, is simply increasing your chances of being in that accident you fear.

Calling 911 may or may not help. Not all 911 dispatchers or police officers place impaired driving at the top their response list.


On question ......If you have the horse power to get past the impaired driver,to procceed down the road on your merry way....why wouldn't you honk your airhorn as long and loud as possible, once you were beside the drivers door, to wake them up??

 

well Stan,

again it goes back to the-- not passing UNTIL AFTER you've made contact- signaled the driver- and made a judgement call as to WHAT TYPE of IMPAIRMENT.

If he's all over the road-- he's probably drunk! A drunk truck driver isn't going to answer the CB -- slurr his speech and obviously give away he's drunk-- he thinks he's driving 'er straight and steady-- "it's just the damn world that keeps spinning." No, If he didn't "get a grip" on it for a while-- I wouldn't be trying to pass. If I thought it was DRUNK DRIVING- I wouldn't pass.

A tired driver--falling asleep- is a different creature. He "drifts" in and out of his lane- and when he hits the rubble strip-- jerks back(hopefully) then usually if he doesn't lose it all together there-- can maintain control( be awake) for a mile or so--before the next "micro-sleep"-- it's during this brief period-- that you got to flash your high beams at him- (in a straight section of roadway- make contact via CB-- and let him know you're coming up around him.

This all boils down to Control of a situation-- if you're driving on ICEY/ snow covered roads-- do you stay behind another truck that's going slower than your comfort zone speed-- and constaintly have to REACT to his lack of skill, experience, judgement-- lack of all the above? Or do you pick a safe section of roadway and move around and ahead? You're not responsible for what's happening behind YOU-- it's not running into Crap ahead that's important-- give me clear roads ahead - and I'll worry about keeping my rig between the ditches.


No Stan-- Blowing your Airhorn-- right beside him-- might not be such a wise idea--- unless he starts drifting INTO YOU-- and it looks like you're screwed anyway. Ideally-- you're talking to him on the CB while getting around him. Not running along neck & neck looking into his cab to see if he's about to "take another drink" or "nod off again"

The Perfect solution would be to simply PARK your truck-- then you wouldn't be stuck in traffic jams( caused by impaired drivers)-- but then again-- you wouldn't make any money that way either.

 

I remember a time I was getting a bit drowsy and was wandering a bit in the slow lane (in the afternoon). A big rig pulled up next to me and let me have it with his air horn. Startled I looked over and he was shaking his fist and yelling at me (didn't have my CB on). Then he accelerated and was gone. Needless to say, the adrenlin took over and I didn't have any more problems with drowsiness!

Everynow and then a good horn blast is not such a bad thing when you suspect someone is getting droopy-eyed.

 

this is true-- it's happened to me too-- scares the drowsiness right out doesn't it?

but some drivers--especially new drivers-- still haven't gotten used to the fact they are pulling a 53' trailer--- and when they turn their head to look(like in the mirror) or door window-they turn the wheel too!