Drivers that make us look bad

[RedDevil]

One reason why many people keep so close to whatever is up front is that they get fed up with other road users darting in between, as that's what happens all the time on the busy 4 lane highway on my commute.
You have to slam the brakes from time to time, whether you keep a good distance or not.
You cannot always anticipate on whatever is coming two lanes across.

The exception is when following semis at a respectable distance in the slow lane.
Usually nobody gets in between except at on and off ramps, and that too seldom causes problems.
If there is no side wind the draft effect even works at those distances.

There is no such thing as absolute safety on a busy multilane highway, no matter which strategy you take. Keeping a safe distance and being alert helps, but even then bad luck may find you.

[niky]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Perhaps for the person driving the vehicle that runs into the rear end, but honestly, how likely is it that the truck driver would even notice something on the order of a Civic or Metro hitting the rear of a trailer?

If the trucker doesn't notice being hit and drives away while the other vehicle is incapacitated, then he's breaking the law. And as stated before... any incidents will go on a driver's record, whether he's the guilty party or not. And if you've got damage back there from a hit you didn't even notice, guess whose paycheck it's coming out of?

[Fat Charlie]

Cobb- I had to spend some time in NOVA back in 92. Bumper to bumper at 90 miles an hour, everyone standing on the brakes to get down to 25 for a minute and then back up to 90.

That was a survival run, not hypermiling, and you couldn't pay me enough to go anywhere near a truck on that road.

[pletby]

Wow, it's awesome to come back and see all the trouble I started. Good conversation guys.

I usually don't end up drafting (at a distance when I do) as most trucks are going too fast for it to really end up helping me out unless the wind is perfect, and that almost never happens anyway. Every once in a while I get a slow truck and I get a nice boost from 4-6 seconds back where I can react to whatever silly thing eventually happens. I'm blessed to drive in really light traffic compared to places in the States I've been. Chicago stressed me out.

Liked the vid with the bicyclist going 90km/hr drafting a truck. Can't see him having a long career doing that. Imagine even a dead racoon or 2X4 on the road smoking his front tire...

[gone-ot]

Sage statement: "If YOU can not see the trucker's MIRRORS, HE(she) can not see YOU."

[Cobb]

Here is a good example of what I have to deal with. Im on the left as I need to make a left. If I dont get over early I cant get over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fshgWX2yVo#t=68

[Sven7]

I get all kinds of this crap driving my truck. Four wheel unassisted drum brakes and these idiots are cutting me off and braking. It doesn't stop at semis- don't do this to anyone. Old cars don't have the stopping power new ones have and not all classic car owners swap to discs. I always try to be nice to trucks, and if I'm behind them I make sure they can see me often. I've drafted before but it's just not worth it.

No matter what you're doing, if you're driving, cycling or walking on or near public roads, expect that everyone else is out to kill you. Be alert and be courteous.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

Sage statement: "If YOU can not see the trucker's MIRRORS, HE(she) can not see YOU."

And so? If we're driving down the highway (so the truck won't be backing up) why on earth does he NEED to see me?

If he needs to brake suddenly to avoid hitting the car in front, then he needs to do that regardless of what's behind him.

[user removed]

If the truck is going to pull over in front of me with 1.5 stripes separation and I maintain 3 stripes separation, whether he likes it or not means nothing to me. I would much rather have the JERK 1.5 to 3 stripes, OR MORE, in FRONT of me than 1 or 2 car lengths BEHIND ME, with his 30 tons climbing up my 2285 lb cars arse which he could run slam over and barely slow down.

regards
mech

[D.O.G.]

Whatever your opinion of tailgating safety, there are always those who take it too far.

Going to work yesterday, I saw a bloke on a postie bike (Honda CT110) tailgating a truck.
He was so close, from a distance I thought it was something mounted on the back of the truck.
As I went past them (downhill EOC ), I saw there was 10 feet at most between truck and bike.

For those who've never ridden a postie bike, at 80kph (nearly top speed), those tiny brakes wouldn't have a hope of stopping you in time to avoide hitting the truck, even if the rider's reaction time was perfect.

On a good note, there wasn't any mention of a rider being squashed on the news, so I guess he was lucky this time.