"We also are working with trucking companies and organizations to educate drivers about safety issues."
I've been driving a semi in the Chi-town area for many years now. It's amazing how much crap we professional drivers hear from you 4-wheelers. A truck did this, a truck did that, whaa! whaa! freakin' whaa! I'm out there working my ass off 10 hours a day puttin' up with all your impatience. How fast do you think you can get 60, 70, or 80,000 pounds from 0 - 60? Do you realize to move that much weight just from 0 - 25 we have to shift 6, count'em, 6 times!!
Occaisionally we cross the lines? Baby, them lines are 12 feet wide. The trailer is a 102 inches wide (that's 8 1/2 fett for those of you in Rio Linde) That gives us 1 3/4 feet from tire to line. With a trailer 53' long plus another 20' for the tractor, how much 'dog tracking' do you think is going to take place? Do you even know what 'dog tracking' is?!!! Where do you think the rear of the trailer is going to go on a curve? I've seen cars only 6' wide crossing the lines. You have 3 FEET TO PLAY WITH ON EACH SIDE!!!!
One of my fellow drivers was at 79th and Stoney on the south east side of Chicago. Going southbound he prepared himself to turn west (that would be right for those of you who don't drive for a living). It's a pretty tight turn so he followed the rules we are all taught. Pull up to the intersection and button hook leaving your tandems 4' or less from the curb. Do you know some moron tried to drive his 6' wide car in that 4' space? He hit the trailer then drove over the curb onto the sidewalk, nipped a firehydrant, got out of his car and started yelling at our driver!
Here. Let's play fill in the blank. Ready? O.K.
CAUTION: THIS TRUCK MAKE WIDE _ _ _ _ _ .
Now you may know what the answer is. But do you know what it MEANS? It means don't drive your 6' wide car in a 4' space next to a truck pulling up to an intersection!
Ever stuck in traffic? Bumper to bumper. Then you see this semi up ahead. Whoa! you think. He must have 20 or 30 feet between him and the car ahead of him. Slow ass truck driver. Wasting all that room. I know. I'll ride the tail of the car ahead of me, and as soon as the openings there, BAM!, I'll zip right in that spot. Brilliant!
You frickin' moron. That's our cushion!. That's what keeps us from pushing the car ahead of us under the truck ahead of him. Do it again, and if you end up like an accordian, you have no excuse.
By the way. Don't expect a truck to back up out of your way. We are instructed not to. As much as you think we have rear view mirrors, we don't. We literaly cannot see behind us. Unless your in the field of vision of the side mirrors. Do the math. Mirrors stick out 6" past the width of the truck. Truck is about 75' long. A little geometry will let you know when I can see you. Best rule of thumb?
EVERYBODY!
"If you can't see my mirrors, then I can't see _ _ _."
See how easy that one was?
Now granted. There are some drivers that just don't belong on the road. Tired. Inexperienced. Careless. Reckless. But you will find the same types of drivers driving cars. Both should be eliminated off the road.
I hope you've have gained some insight into our world. We as the professional driver are constantly be re-educated about safety. Truck drivers know more about driving safe on these highways than anybody else. We are taught to antisipate that you as a car driver will become a dangerous obstacle. We are always learning how to drive with cars, through DOT literature that is passed on to us yearly, taking our license renewal tests, company programs, ect...
When was the last time you took a course on:
"How To Drive Safely On The Highways With The Big Rigs"?
Yeah, I thought so.
Maybe it's time you all took some time to understand what we do, and how you can help.
BTW. I haven't had an accident yet.
Accident; When two or more vehicles try to occupy the same space at the same time.