Do you live to drive, or are you driving your life away? Too many people drive like they want to die! Have you ever seen someone doing everything else behind the wheel EXCEPT driving? My favorite was a guy in the passing lane (3rd lane) who had a laptop on the steering wheel, was on the phone and was writing something down! I'd like to have asked him, who was driving?? No wonder we have so many accidents.Actually, I'm surprised there aren't more with the traffic being so heavy, and so many people distracted.Driving is the single most dangerous thing we do on a daily basis, but how many of us really take it that seriously? I suspect most people think they have the right to drive and they'll drive how they like. They forget that driving is a priviledge, and it can quickly be taken away, if we don't follow the rules of the road. C'mon guys, wake up and pay attention, the life you save by driving carefully, might be mine! Now i have to go out and drive somewhere, and i hope the guy with the laptop is nowhere to be seen. That's my rant of the day. Rick
The Expert View
“Ten Things You Need to Know About Driving beside a Truck”
In general, the only thing most people know about trucks, is that they are big, slow, and in their way!
What you need to know in order to drive safely around them is this:
- Trucks are far heavier than a car. The average tractor trailer can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. Your car averages about 3,500 lbs. That means that the average truck outweighs your car by 100 – 1!! Would you tangle with some one who was 100 times bigger and heavier than you? Show respect to them, it means your life.
- Trucks take much longer to get stopped than cars. Even though a tractor trailer has 18 wheels, and many sets of brakes, they take much longer to stop because of the weight that they carry. It can take up to 66% farther for a truck to get stopped than a car at 65mph. don’t stop suddenly in front of a truck, or cut them off, chances are they will hit you, and because of point # 1 you will lose!
- Trucks are much longer and wider than a car. The average length of a tractor trailer is 75 feet; your car is about 23 feet long.
(That will change when the new double trailer pilot program is in place, then they can be up to 131 feet long). Give a truck lots of room, they need it.
- A truck takes much longer to get up to speed than a car. It can take a fully loaded truck up to one mile to get up to highway speed. (Is it any wonder that you get mad because they are holding you up?) Be patient, you will soon be by them, and it’s good for your blood pressure.
- Trucks can’t manoeuvre like a car can. They can’t swerve suddenly to avoid something the same as you can in your car. They are top heavy because of their height, (13’6” high), so if they swerve too violently to avoid something they could roll over very easily. Don’t do anything that will cause them to have to swerve or take evasive manoeuvres.
- Watch out for the pressure wave! Because of their size trucks create a large pressure wave around them when they travel along the road. This can buffet your car when you try to pass them especially when it’s windy or raining. Stay back or pass quickly, and never, never stay in the rear of a truck, it’s where the most turbulence is.
- Trucks have large blind spots. There are large areas around a truck where the driver can’t see. There is a small one on the driver’s side, another larger one on the right or passenger side, and the largest of all right behind the truck. Don’t stay in those blind spots. Get through them quickly. Go by this rule: if you can’t see the driver’s face in the mirror, then he can’t see you!
- The average truck driver is well trained. Most trucking companies require their driver to upgrade their driving skills periodically as part of their continued employment. This is mandatory for drivers that haul dangerous goods or other highly sensitive cargo. Even so, there are trucking companies that still will hire you if you have a pulse and a driving license. They don’t check your driving history or your training. Be careful around trucks, the driver may not be the professional he should be.
- Truck drivers travel many more miles than a car driver does.
Long distance drivers typically drive 400-600 miles per day. (Legally about 550 miles per day is the limit). Many drivers exceed this, and are driving tired much of the time. They have tight schedules to keep, and are paid by the mile, not the hour. The more they drive the more they get paid. Realize that the truck driver may be tired and not as alert as he/she should be.
- Trucks have a far greater turning radius than cars do
Because of their length the truck needs to travel farther past a turn in order for the back wheels of the trailer to make the turn. Think of the difference in your car when you are pulling a trailer behind it. If you don’t leave more room to make the turn your trailer wheels will be going over curbs, taking down signs and posts, or in the case of a tractor trailer, running over your car because you tried to sneak in. Stay back when you see a truck turning wide until you see where he’s going and wait until he’s made the turn before going up along either side of the trailer.
In summary:
· Give a truck lots of room to turn and manoeuvre
· Don’t stay in the blind spots (if you can’t see the driver in the mirror, he can’t see you)
· If you have to pass, do it quickly and smoothly.
· Be prepared for the pressure wave to hit you
· Never stop quickly in front of a truck, it’s better to miss a turn and go around the block then to get hit from behind
· Never pull suddenly in front of a truck, or cut them off, they can’t stop as quickly as you can
· Although truck drivers are the most professional and best trained drivers out there, are still a few who shouldn’t be behind the wheel
Remember: A large truck is very different from your passenger vehicle, and if you don’t respect those differences, you can be injured or killed very easily if you collide with one. Be safe out there!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
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