I’ve heard the same about many younger drivers. No longer the Princes of the Highway.
I was a “professional” driver for a while. Buses and occasional straight trucks. The heavier responsibility I bore for my passengers and other drivers was always on my mind.
I was also the recipient of a hit and run by a semi-driver who made a right turn from the left lane with no signal.
I didn’t realize it had such a reputation. I can say I remarked to my wife, while driving that stretch, that this was strange. Almost no cars, yet all lanes filled with semis.
I’m sure there are plenty of Horror Stories related to I-70?
Let me add that it’s more than likely that those stories would fade to nothingness, when people open up about travel on I-17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff. Especially in the summer on any given weekend, and twice as bad on a Holiday. In short, -YOU couldn’t buy a Cop , and the State of AZ’s answer is: WELL, ... we just don’t have it in the BUDGET.....so, all Y’all .. are on your own.
Happy Motoring!
My $0.02: I-70 filled with trucks because of the death of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
The traffic had to go somewhere. It ended up on the (public-funded) interstate highways.
I am a long time driver, pull doubles on that stretch of road every day. Our trucks are equipped with active radar-based distance and braking systems to help us avoid such collisions. We also have had ELD systems on our trucks for several years to disallow over-hours driving. That being said, I have a complete disrespect for the vast majority of motorists out there who drive around us as if we are nothing more than obstacles to be overcome. Those drivers DO act as if we are not important in any way and regularly take their own lives in their hands.
Its not only I-70. I-80 is all semi’s across Illinois. The increased traffic is because of the logistics warehouses popping up like mushrooms. Regional distribution reduces cost. I-80 in Illinois is a major artery for Chicagoland like I-70 in Indiana is for Indianapolis. I would bet there are a ton of centers around Indy.
This is where I am from. Traveled on it many times. The city of Terre Haute is now patrolling I-70 through there because of all the accidents. My brother-in-law is a police officer there. Most of the accidents are distracted drivers not paying attention to actually driving. Also not heeding the speed limit for construction zones. My family avoids I-70 and travels US 40 instead.
The first thing drivers are taught is the importance of following distance and it’s the first thing they forget. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to tell a trainee to pull over after warning them about speed and following distance.