Originally Posted by mike3fan:
Look I am guilty as anybody of following too closely, but IMO you were way too close at all times in that video for the load you were carrying. And probably any load as far as that goes. Never should have allowed yourself to get put in that position. Don't mean to sound preachy but you are the one in control of your vehicle and this was a totally avoidable incident if only you had left much more distance between the two of you.

Point taken about being too close.

Not really sure if that would have changed anything though. If a vehicle decides to pull along side and take my lane in that situation, there is pretty much going to be a problem regardless of following distance don't you think? At the speed I was driving...approx 55 mph there was almost a constant stream of traffic passing on my left. Slowing my speed to increase following distance every time a truck or car fills that gap will only serve to make more traffic on my left and an even larger speed differential making it almost impossible to change lanes. Besides, this is NY.........any gap gets immediately filled. Proper following distance is nice to talk about.....but it's a fantasy.

What put me in the bind was that truck coming into my lane.

Originally Posted by rank:
Yep. He was a foot over into my lane plus probably a foot between he and I plus I had 14 inches hanging over the side...that doesn't leave much room for troopers that park on the white line. I have no idea why they park on the line like that.

Actually Allan, now that I watch the video again, I think he may have been pissed because the truck pulled out in front of him. I think he was getting set to pass on the right until he saw the cop. Plus, he knew I was oversize and should have been giving me room.

Nothing on the CB either.

Brampton based carriers are what's referred to as "New Canadian" carriers and your chances of getting one of them on the two way to speak english would be next to impossible. Next time try Hindi, you'll have a better chance!

Originally Posted by rank:
Point taken about being too close.

Not really sure if that would have changed anything though. If a vehicle decides to pull along side and take my lane in that situation, there is pretty much going to be a problem regardless of following distance don't you think? At the speed I was driving...approx 55 mph there was almost a constant stream of traffic passing on my left. Slowing my speed to increase following distance every time a truck or car fills that gap will only serve to make more traffic on my left and an even larger speed differential making it almost impossible to change lanes. Besides, this is NY.........any gap gets immediately filled. Proper following distance is nice to talk about.....but it's a fantasy.

What put me in the bind was that truck coming into my lane.

Hey I know all too well, following too closely to a 4 wheeler is one thing you can see ahead of them, with the truck I think the problem was you had limited time to realize there was a problem. JMO from watching the video, I could be wrong and you saw what was gonna happen 10-15 secs earlier.