Hard Braking Event

If you do see a red light camera, go for the hard brake. I was going through Hannibal MO with a heavy load, the light changed to yellow at exactly the wrong time. I didn't feel like I could safely stop in time, so I layed on the air horn and sure enough, light changed to red as soon as I hit the stop line. Camera flashed as soon as I was in the intersection. I'm still waiting for the citation to come in the mail, that was back in early Oct...

I may be wrong but in NY the citation almost always takes 1 month. You’re going on almost 2 months without receiving anything. Maybe the plate was obstructed & the camera didn’t catch it? It definitely won’t catch the tractor plates due to the trailer blocking that one. Is the trailer your own or is it a company owned one? If its the company’s, did you make your dispatcher aware so as to avoid them being caught by surprise? Also, if it’s the company’s, this may explain why it’s taking longer than usual. They have to track down who was on that equipment when the infraction occurred.

I haven’t learned the rules for truckers yet about right on red turns but as a 4 wheeler, I found out the hard way about these rules. In Long Island they have red light video/still cameras. I received a citation that provided an internet link to watch myself approach an intersection, go into the crosswalk, stop & then make my right turn on red. Well this citation included the text that explained that a vehicle is supposed to stop for 3 seconds prior to entering the crosswalk!

Imagine my surprise when this little know rule was brought to my attention. That’s right, stop before the line of the crosswalk, wait 3 seconds, then proceed only to stop again & make sure there is no traffic approaching. I paid my “lesson fee” of $76 but was happy it doesn’t go on your driving record.

I guess the moral is like everyone keeps saying, nothing beats being hyper-vigilant/aware of approaching traffic signals & other 4 wheelers around your proximity. Driving in NYC since the late eighties has been the best boot camp for this very important life lesson. Good luck with not getting that citation!