People Really Are Not Smart.....

So, the other day I was in heavy traffic near Chicago. There was one of those two seater smart cars coming down the on ramp. I could not move over and the traffic was moving so I was not about to hit the breaks. I just maintained my speed and following distance. This guy speeds up and then has to slam on breaks because he did not have enough lane to get ahead of me. Mind you, I was not driving fast. I was doing 55 mph. He whips in behind me and then into the left lane beside me. He speeds up, pulls his little itty bitty smart car in front of my 79,689 pound truck and slams the breaks. Really? Then he gives me the middle finger salute and takes off.

I started laughing so hard. Does this guy really think that a break check in that little car was smart? OMG! At best he was a speed bump and a small one at that! So, people really are not smart.....

Do you ever wonder how some of these people actually were able to live so long without killing themselves?

Not to mention, it still amazes me how many people still text while driving. Wow!

There really truly are some very stupid folks on the roads. I have had that happen to me several times in the last couple of years. Like you, I just kinda found it to be very funny that folks do that sort of thing not realizing just how dangerous it is for everyone involved, especially them.

Ernie

So, the other day I was in heavy traffic near Chicago. There was one of those two seater smart cars coming down the on ramp. I could not move over and the traffic was moving so I was not about to hit the breaks. I just maintained my speed and following distance. This guy speeds up and then has to slam on breaks because he did not have enough lane to get ahead of me. Mind you, I was not driving fast. I was doing 55 mph. He whips in behind me and then into the left lane beside me. He speeds up, pulls his little itty bitty smart car in front of my 79,689 pound truck and slams the breaks. Really? Then he gives me the middle finger salute and takes off.

I started laughing so hard. Does this guy really think that a break check in that little car was smart? OMG! At best he was a speed bump and a small one at that! So, people really are not smart.....

Do you ever wonder how some of these people actually were able to live so long without killing themselves?

Not to mention, it still amazes me how many people still text while driving. Wow!

The society we live in shows up big time in how people drive. Courtesy and respect for others is too scarce. Some people would sooner die than slow down or wait a few seconds. We see it also in road rage and even parking lot rage. I had a customer become disable for life because a lady became furious that she took "her" parking space at Walmart. She hurried out to park her car, then hurried back to catch up to the lady and attacked her! It doesn't seem to matter what it is, being FIRST is most important to a lot of people.

Another one is when people pull out in front of you to get into the traffic.......and all they had to do was wait a few seconds and it would have been wide open. Then to top it off, they go about 100 yards and then slow down to turn. I don't think it's 1 part stupid and 1 part selfish. Then these same people will be complaining that their insurance rates went up. Gee, I wonder why!!

I meant I do think......

I think this has happened to almost everyone from time to time. Thank god have a really good drive cam now and had not had to use it yet for anything though it records 24/7.

As most safety experts will tell you that if you swerve in a big truck it will cause bigger problems. Either missing the car in front of you and run off the road and flip the truck possibly killing yourself OR you swerve into the lane next to and hit someone completely innocent and kill them. It's lose lose all the way around.

Most companies and safety experts say don't swerve at all so as to minimize other accidents and liability. I guess those same people that are trying to brake check a big truck would Crap themselves if they knew this. Thank god I have a drive cam and hopefully never have to use it to defend myself against someone else's stupidity but If something that bad were to happen at least I have evidence to prove I was not at fault.

I would like to think that I would try to avoid killing someone if that were to happen but then again my sense of self preservation is through the roof so I can only hope they are not depending on me to run off the road and flip my truck. Not going to happen.

Thank god have a really good drive cam now and had not had to use it yet for anything though it records 24/7

That's what I was going to mention. That's the perfect case for having a dash cam. I think nowadays you're crazy if you're driving professionally and you don't use a dash cam to protect yourself. If that guy had successfully caused you to hit him and there were no witnesses to back your story you would likely have been blamed for the accident and maybe even lost your job. A $250 dash cam could easily have saved your job and a ton of headaches.

Note to self: Get a dash cam.

Do most companies allow a personal dash cam? Reading this story makes me want to have one. If the camera is not company issued, I wonder if that has any bearing on its credibility when having to prove one's innocence? Do you need a computer for it to constantly record, or do some of these cameras have their own built in memory device or storage? 24/7 recording seems like an awesome idea.

My family just got back from a week's vacation in NC. I was AMAZED at how many unsafe drivers there are on the road. This is the first time I've driven any long distance since I've committed to becoming a trucker, and started driving using the safety principles I've learned while studying for my CDL. We hit lots of traffic near the beltway, especially Richmond, VA. I maintained a safe following distance and it was incredibly satisfying to not have to constantly jam on my breaks with the rest of the stop and go traffic. I allowed the traffic to move around and ahead of me, always adjusting my following distance accordingly. It was great practice! Driving has started to become like a game of chess - it's very strategic. I really enjoy anticipating traffic patterns. Still, there were a few instances where I was abruptly cut off by cars moving in front of me in the right lane. Nothing I could have really done about it. I suppose there's only a certain amount of experience, anticipation, and safe driving principles you can apply - you will never be able to control another driver. I'll never forget the saying that one member on this forum passed along, to drive in a way that you don't affect another driver. I thought about that frequently while driving this past weekend.

Wine Taster,

I used to say that SNOW brings out the stupid (which is true) but just as you have pointed out there are lots of "stupid" going on without snow as a catalyst. Back in the 90's I ran a company in the "bay area" of California that had about 5 10-wheelers with specialized equipment mounted on the chassis. These trucks were close to maxed out weight wise long before we picked up any debris (these were "air mover" dry vacuum trucks). I used to do some of the training for new hires and the first rule I taught them was to "kill the idiot that CAUSED the problem, not innocent bystanders." In other words, I tried to train them to keep a straight path when cut off which would mean they would hit the car that caused the problem and not swing into adjacent or on-coming traffic as a result of swerving to avoid the idiot who cut them off. It is such a natural reaction to "jerk" the wheel to avoid the offending car but absolutely the wrong thing to do in most circumstances. I had early on experienced just what can happen when you jerk the wheel without considering the consequences. I was going about 55 MPH in the slow lane at night on I-880 through Hayward, CA when a guy ran up the on ramp and right into my lane without even slowing down to merge properly. It was not a situation where you could see him very far ahead or I would have changed lanes before I got to him. In any case, I jerked the wheel to the left to avoid hitting him and before I could do anything else that big old truck was ALL OVER three lanes and would have crushed anyone who happened to be next to me. After my heart stopped seizing (about ten minutes, I think) I realized that from then on I would make a point of keeping the truck under control and keep a straight line even if it meant hitting (and crushing) the jerk who cut me off in the first place. From then on I emphasized that point to try to condition my drivers to not make an automatic reaction that put innocent people in jeopardy. The recent FedEx vs School bus accident in northern California is a perfect example of what I mean. Ten people dead and the car who caused it was simply "grazed" by the FedEx truck as the driver swerved to miss them. Sorry to say I would much prefer that the driver who caused the truck to swerve experienced death rather than the ten people who suffered a fiery death as a side effect of the truck driver trying to avoid hitting the offending driver.

Jopa

I have had smart cars do a brake check in front of me. I have had school buses stop dead in front of me then turn on their lights. I have even had other semi drivers pull around me, hit their brakes and take off the exit.

There is no license needed for stupidity. And it can't be outlawed.

How many here know of the "famous" 5 lane exit that is so big around the Dallas/Fort Worth area? I see it at least 5 or 6 times every time I go around Dallas.

About a month ago, I was being passed by a car hauler. I looked over at the driver. He had ear buds in both ears just jammin' away. I had a feeling in my gut something was about to happen. I let off my accelerator and slowed down as he was going around me.

He wasn't even past me when he turned into my lane. And no, no turn signal. I had to slam on my brakes (very happy no one was behind me) to keep him from taking off my front bumper with the read end of his trailer.

So, stupidity is not limited to only 4 wheelers. Yes, they have more than their fair share, but you have to watch all traffic out there.

With all of the 4 wheelers and the steering wheel holders out here, you have to be on your toes all the time. And no, I won't tarnish the good name of Truck Driver and use it on that car hauler. Not only was his driving terrible, he was a fool for having both ear buds in while driving. And yes, I could see both wires from the ear buds.

Any driver will tell you. You spend enough time out on the highway, you start getting a "sixth sense" for what other drivers will do. By how they act while driving. By their maneuvers while they are driving. Some one ahead of you that keeps turning their head from side to side is looking for something. Prepare for him/her to slam on their brakes at the last minute.

ALWAYS BE ALERT. (The world needs more lerts).

Be a Truck Driver and not just a steering wheel holder.

Keep it safe out here, the life you save might be your own. Joe S.