Not sure if this belongs in "Serious discussions". This is something I wrote a few years back... Thought I would share it here.
From
a truckers point of view....
Driving tip #1.
What qualifies me to
hand out driving tips? I've logged several million miles behind the
wheel of a "Big Rig". In that time aside from the numerous
small birds, rodents and reptiles I've turned into road kill, I've
only hit three things big enough to damage my truck. 1 Deer, 1
Antelope, and 1 wild free range kitchen stove that was out of it's
element!!
I make no claims at being a
great driver.... shoot I make no claims at even being a good
driver!!! However I am a blessed driver. From day one I have traveled
under God's protection whether I have remembered to ask for it or
not! There have been days that when I get parked in a truck stop for
the night safe and sound, I am amazed that I'm still on the green
side of the grass or that numerous people in four wheelers aren't on
the dirt side! All I can attribute this to is to reference a song
called Jesus Take The Wheel!
I also know that there are some
truckers out here that shouldn't be licensed to drive a moped let
alone a truck. I believe bad truckers fall into 1 or more of the
following groups.
1) The Rookie, not necessarily a bad driver, has
good intentions but lacks the experience to make multiple split
second decision all at once to get himself out of jam.
2) The guy
that got his drivers license out of Cracker Jacks Box. May or may not
have years of experience but lacks the knowledge or believes he's
king of the road and doesn't care to operate in a safe manner!
3)
The driver who's having a bad day. Somebody pooped in his Porridge
that morning and it's all gone down hill from there. His give a damn
is busted!
Four Wheeler- Anything smaller than an 18 wheeler. For
illustration purpose, AKA. BB gun!!
Big Truck - Anything weighing
80,000+ lbs. AKA Canon.
On to tip #1.
When sharing the road
with a truck, stay as far away from it as possible. Another time zone
would be preferable. The safest place to be is behind a big truck! I
know you can't see anything from back there. You can see all you need
to. My brake lights and turn indicators. If you travel at a safe
distance behind me, if I have to make a panic stop, no matter how
hard I stand on the brakes, you will not hit me. Unless you're not
paying attention. It will be similar to shooting a Bull in the butt
with a BB gun, good chance he may not even feel it. Depending on the
force of the impact, you have a good chance of surviving. On the
other hand if you choose to travel in front of me and you have to
make a panic stop, there's a good chance even if I react instantly
you're going to the ER. If I'm other wise occupied, checking my
mirrors, looking at my gauges, checking out the nice looking set of
legs of the lady beside me with her feet on the dash,or checking out what strange
object I've recently picked from my nose, I will drive right over
you!! It will be like shooting a Gopher with a Canon!! You will cease
to exist!! Under no circumstance travel between two trucks or you run
the risk of becoming the filling in a truck sandwich!! There's no
coming out of that alive!!
So the next time you pull in front of a
trucker so close that they can barely see your brake lights over
their hood.... remember you could be dealing with a trucker that fits
into one or more of the groups listed above and you're about to fight
a duel with someone whose packing an 80,000 + lb Canon with a hair
trigger and all you're packing is a BB gun.
