IMO it's always the "professional driver's" job to be the proactive driver. The folks in the cars (again, IMO) are generally more dangerous- and it's our job to watch out for them- and, often, to watch over them.

I was really affected early in my driving carreer by a CTI solo-driver. She was a lady driver and had been training (I think- this is more than a decade ago...) and was a solo driver other than that.

My husband had been talking to her via the cb about the frustration of dealing with four wheelers and she told him that she felt sorry for them. Get that? Sorry for them!

She felt sorry for them because they were so uninformed. Sure- you can say they shouldn't be uninformed. But there's no denying that they are just that dumb! It really affected be because it's TRUE!

I look at how friends and acquaintances drive- they are ignorant of what's going on even though they think the are so aware! After driving a truck, you realize just how much is going on on the roadways around you.

If you're not paying attention- to the road and to the other drivers... if you go into auto pilot... you're just BEGGING for an accident. And, as a professional, it's your job to be more aware. For your sake AND for theirs.

So- pick away at this post. As I said, it's just my opinion. But when I encounter ignorant drivers (and road raged drivers, and speed demons...) I try to take control of my emotions and, well, feel sorry for them. I'm not going to let them wreck into me, but they're destined for a rude awakening one of these days.

Can't say I always hold my temper in check. But it's a lofty goal.

 

tweety bird wrote:
Nothing to "pick away" at tweety bird. Your post is very good.
But IMO,
The 4wheels and general motoring public, are informed, but in this "Me first" society, they refuse to conform and abide by the rules. (This also applies to some of the CDL drivers as well)

 

Got to agree...Its not avoiding the accident, its seeing and avoiding the things that occur BEFORE the accident. Simply don't get involved with it before it happens.

 

Yep, nothing wrong with dropping off the throttle if you see something starting to go down in front of you. You've already broke your momentum and have your foot at the brake usually before anyone else knows what is going down since your up higher and can see over the cars.

As for the merging traffic that doesn't want to yield, I don't usually cut them any slack unless it's a truck. If I can get over then I do but if I can't I do what I can to accomadate them merging in. Sometimes I go right by them, sometimes they are able to hop on over in front of me, depends on how slow or fast they are going. I'm not going to slow down to 30 mph in a 70 though. The cars can find their own hole since they have more manueverability than us.

 

There are so many great responses on this thread; so I won't reiterate what's already been stated so eloquently :wink: -- or hilariously, as is the case of some others!

I'll mention that accidents are the bain of my existence. It wasn't long after I'd started driving that I realized how detrimental an accident could be to a CDL holder. I can't tell you my level of disappointment when I realized that a driver could do everything right and still have an accident... Earlier in my career, there were days when - after witnessing the aftermaths of truck crashes - I would park the truck and refuse to move. I was so afraid. And then as a driver, you meet other drivers and then you feel afraid for them, too! It's a constant state of fear for me..

And then...
One day, I decided that for every second that I'm on the road I would have to account for my actions. I'd have to drive for myself and for others. I'd have to make sure no one hit my vehicle and I'd have to do whatever I could to avoid hitting theirs..
Now, I say my prayers before I drive and as I drive. I say prayers for all of the other drivers out there. I thank my lucky stars (and God, of course) when I've made it to wherever I was trying to make it to -- since all I really wanted to do was my job, finish it and then get on the internet like normal people

It takes an absolutely *conscious* effort to be accident-free. Sometimes other people carelessly - and some even intentionally - try to make it impossible; sometimes it hits the fan... but a conscious effort has a great potential to reduce that likelihood. This is why it's so very important to learn to operate the vehicle as safely as possible when starting out..

I'll need to find some wood after I make this statement, but in four years, I've had MANY close calls but NEVER an accident on the road.

 

I absolutely agree with that. See the traffic patterns and avoid things before they happen. That works in cars too.

The truth is, if you get caught in a situation where you can't stop in time and have no-where to go, you are going to hit whatever is in your way. In any kind of condition where you cannot see for miles ahead on flat road, speed is your enemy.

Always remember, no matter how much crap your boss or your customer gives you, they always, always, prefer you get there with cargo intact.

 

You hit the nail on the head! You drive the Chicago area so you understand when I say they watch far too much NASCAR around here. On and off the Expessways they all drive like they're in the race.

They ALWAYS think they can "beat" a big vehicle cause it's slow, what they never seem to get is how long it takes to STOP a big vehicle. :shock:

 

i specifically avoid that Chicago stretch of 290 from 90 to the 294. i got rear-ended on that merge, and after looking at it, it's a bottleneck accident waiting to happen.

I'm very quick to hit the 4-ways if it even looks like traffic ahead of me is slowing or stopped.

 

Remember learning in school 4ways is a way of "communicate" that a "hazard" exists. Either you are the hazard or you where approaching a hazard, and the traffic should use caution. However, actual usage of the 4ways seem to indicate to the motoring public to come around the vehicle displaying the Hazard lights. I use my 4ways when appropriate but I will then go into a very defensive posture and scan my mirrors vigorously for traffic that will attempt to come around me.
RD wrote:
Your right RD....and they put a whole new meaning to the word (W)reckless almost like they are trying to get into an accident.

Im not singling out Chicago and Chicagoland...as I know other major cities have the same issues as Chicago. Of the "major" cities Chicago is the city I see most frequently.

 

Double post..... :x