Originally posted by NVR FNSH
And where on a public road are you going to have 1/4 mile for an emergency stop? Emergency implies unexpected and I've never seen a situation where a driver had a 1/4 mile 'cushion' to stop... .
These kinds of things on a public road are ridiculous. On a dirt road on private property - knock yourself out.
Brian
I take it you've never been to southwest Kansas?
Let me put it this way... my first sort of radar detection was my buddy in the passenger seat with binoculars. You are more likely to encounter farm machinery on the "public roads" than an emergency.
Those of you concerned about the stopping distance's are correct. It does take longer. But I challenge you to test your own rigs for stopping distances loaded and unloaded, then cram it down as if you life depends on it and report those back.
Now to put a spin on this stopping discussion... Are The accidents that involve stopping distance caused by
a. vehicle gross weight?
b. failure to yield right of way?
c. following to close?
d. driver(s) preoccupied?
e. vehicle(s) speed?
f. road or weather conditions?
Personally I feel that any combination plays into each accident and probably some I haven't mentioned.
In my senario, I am always watching 1/2mile+ down the road, If a vehicle is traveling slower than me I back off to safe distance, If a vehicle enters an intersection I slow down (even though I have the right of way), and I stay clear of town.
Personally I would say that I am just a safe overloaded as the the John Doe that just rented the big UHAUL and has is car in tow, or the OTR driver on crank pushing 40 tons of steel down the road.
I know what I was doing was illegal! But by the grace of god no one was hurt, and for that I am grateful!
The rest of this post was just some gibberish to ponder while your hauling a legal load drinking coffee and talking to your stalk broker.
happy motoring
Brant