King of the Road (wreck)

[Ncostello]

Being a captain on Volunteer Fire/Rescue Department along a busy 4 lane highway unfortunately allows me to see all kinds of accidents. Today was one of the strangest I've ever seen.



The driver of a big Pete noticed a white Neon in his right mirror as he was in the left lane. It was supposedly behind him some distance. He signalled to move over to the right lane and noticed the car was not there so he assumed it had pulled in behind him. As he moved over he noticed it was not in his left mirror where he had expected it to be behind him. So he got back in the left lane again. The car had sped up and was in his blind front corner. He clipped the rear quarter which spun the car around directly in front of him. Amazing thing was he kept driving more than a 1/4 mile and was told by another truck he has pushing the car sideways in front of him. He didn't hear or feel a thing. So he slowly pulled over. The troopers thought the black skid marks were from this trailer but were in fact from the Neons tires going sideways.



The car had three drivers ed students and an instructor in it. No one was injured and the vehicles were not hurt bad. The truck was released to go. The driver had 30 years of a clean driving record. The students learned exactly what a Peterbilt emblem looks like. I bet that lasted forever.

 

[Stranger]

Did I get this right?

So, if I get this right, kids aren't born stupid, they're taught stupid.

 

[jmeehan]

Another good argument against small cars. Heck I loose them in my blind spots, I don't know how big rigs deal with them!

 

[MMeier]

85, you just found out now, didn't ya' ?? Also where did the troopers think the black skid marks INSIDE the Neon came from??

 

[Shovelhead]

Proctologists are STILL tring to find the Neon's seat covers. :-laf

 

[Philip]

The teacher was a idiot. I bet he adds watch out for truck blind spots to the driving course now.



I hope they fire him.

 

[Ncostello]

When I took drivers ed... we had three weeks of class room time, parking lot cone driving, and a test before we could go out on the road. And you had too pass them all first.



Now, around here, they have kids driving, on the freeway, on their first and second days depending what group your in!!! Guy at work said his daughter came home from her second day at class and told him she drove about 35 miles on the highway. She had never driven a car in her life!!

 

[Ncostello]

This was the students view for most of their trip. "Gee that grille has some awfully big bugs on it Mr. Jones!"

 

[GTX]

I think it should be mandatory in drivers ed that they drive something big like a motorhome or truck and trailer. They need to get them out of the little cars so the kids know that trucks can not stop as fast as a car and have blind spots.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I agree with GTX - teach everyone how to drive a class-8 truck with a loaded trailer. Then the 4-wheelers out there will be a lot more considerate of the tractor-trailers out there.



I remember my driving instructor driving all us kids to the registry... . she was going 80 in a 55. I bet she had every intention of setting a good example of safe driving.



Don't driving instruction cars have a brake on the passenger side for the instructor? All the ones I have seen have this feature... .



Matt

 

[loncray]

I had precisely the same thing happen to a friend of mine back in my Army days - I was second 5-ton (with a big hut on the back and a big generator on a trailer) in a convoy pulling into Ft. Bragg. Now, it's pouring down rain, on a two-lane road. Some yoyo in a compact car passed me on the shoulder. If he'd pulled in between me and the 5-ton in front of me he'd've been alright. But he went to pass the lead truck - sideswiped the generator trailer, then proceeded to pull up next to the lead truck. That driver couldn't see the car at all, so when the guy started to move in front of him, he just kept plowing along - caught the car on his front right fender and swung him around in front of the truck. He then pushed the car sideways about 100 yards before his freaked out co-driver convinced him that it wasn't a joke, that he really needed to stop. Had he gone another 100 yards, the car would've gone into a river. Totalled the car, put a scratch in the paint on the bumper of the truck, nobody hurt. The car's driver later tried to sue the US Army and my buddy, but it was thrown out of court.

 

[duaneparks]

I distinctly remember my driver's ed instructor telling us that tractor trailers cannot stop as fast as a smaller car, it was physically impossible. The momentum of a 70,000 lb vehicle at highway speed is enormous.



I never forgot that and I still give them any room they ask for. I can't believe the instructor didn't see any turn signals from the truck. Or if he did see them, why would *anyone* speed up to go around a truck like that if he's asking for room to get over?



I have quite a few hours of seat time in a 30K lb motorhome, a diesel pusher with a Cummins even, and other drivers simply act unaware of the fact that the vehicle cannot stop as quickly as they can. I almost fed a lady in an old Crown Vic her rear bumper in Chattanooga one evening. She just had to get into my lane and then jammed her brakes to get into the next lane so she didn't miss her exit. Idiot.



That instructor should count his lucky stars that he isn't being considered for the Darwin awards.



Duane

 

[Ncostello]

The instructor had the brake and I asked him if he hit it. He said he didn't because he was too busy telling the kids to remain calm and not panic. The car driver said he kept telling the instructor "what do I do now!!" and the instructor just told him to remain calm. Later on the instructor also told me he was thinking the whole time that he was on his way to the great drivers school in the sky.



Truck driver said when he looked in the mirror they were behind his trailer. He admitted to doing 60 in a 55 as he had his cruise set. Therefore it seems as if the car was attempting to pass the truck... in the right lane... which I cant understand because our instructor would choke us if we went 1 mph over the limit.



When the truck driver didn't see them anymore he figured they swung in behind his trailer (another good blind spot) because he couldn't see them their either and figured they had done that to make a left turn at the next intersection. I remember him telling the trooper he did signal and this was one of those trucks with the arrows down the side of the truck that blink.



I am just thankful as nobody got hurt. Most semi wrecks we go to are cars that end up about 50 yards from the truck after being broadsided.

 

[PLaFrombois]

I remember my driver's ed days, a semester of in class with 6weeks in a simulator, then on the road driving. My last day behind the wheel the instructor handed me the keys and said drive until I tell you to stop. He then proceeded to read the sports page. He trusted my driving ability by the end of the semester to give me that freedom. Nobody else was given that opportunity. I think these instructors today push the kids through their classes like an assembly line. Get them in, get them out. Most of these kids are not ready to get behind the wheel, just like some of the instructors as seen in the photos.

Don't forget hands at 10:00 and 2:00.

Paul

 

[dpuckett]

My driver's ed course was a waste of time. I only got 1/2 credit for one semester, and missed out on a VO-Ag shop class to take it We were going down the road one day, and the windshield fogged up. I didnt know where the defroster was, and pulled over to find it, so I wouldnt drift into oncoming traffic, and the instructor chewed my butt off for it- said the windshield wasnt that bad, I needed to drive until he said to stop, turn, etc.



I got a new respect for the weight of trucks when I was helping change a tire on a farm truck- 70- something Freightliner with 24. 5s. THe hub, drum, and both tires/wheels were on a transmission jack, and it took 2 of us to maneuver it. My ex's Mazda had a curb weight of 2200# or about the weight of both rear axles. Everyone getting their license should have to pick up a tire/ wheel combo for a Honda, then attempt to move one off a Class 7 or 8 truck. THen tell them the weight difference is proportional. Might make some of htem give the truckers a little room.

 

[EMD Diesel Power]

Dl5treez,



I can see why anyone would get thinking about something like that. GH County's Finest probably hasnt a clue about the forensic technology out there. Forensics can tell if the light was lit during the accident and breakage. Pretty cool what they can do in cases like yours... especially if it proves the airheads wrong.



Did you have to resort to forensics to win? or did common sense prevail. (a miracle these days it seems).



Jeff

 

[ramsalot]

A couple of things come to mind when reading thread. I learned to drive around 9 yrs old in a 59 PowerWagon and in an open field. Dad was a good teacher and I pestered him to teach me to drive until he about went nuts. I have no clue why anyone would rely on our public education system system to teach such a vital skill to the kids they love. I drove every chance I got from then on. Time came for drivers ed. (required class) 6 weeks in the class room and sim time and we go out on the road. I drove the first leg and went about 10 miles before the instructor had me give up the wheel to another student who needed the wheel time and he never asked me out in the ed car again. This is not to say I am a great driver. I have ditched 2.



On another subject my brother (and best friend) recently got rearended (creamed more like) by a LOG TRUCK (running empty). He was almost stopped behind some one making a right turn off a 4 lane HWY and as he dropped the truck (68 GMC longbed with a GMC 4-53T for power) into 2nd to pull away he did the mirror check thing (dad, lesson number 59) he had nothing but Kenworth grill to look at. The force launched him about 100 feet and spun him 180 and he slammed into a power pole and a tree. Grace of God he didn’t "check out" on the spot and didn’t sustain major injury. He did get very banged up and most of the skin and tendons removed from the back of his left hand (Bad as a machinist) but is doing very well for the nature of the accident. Anyhow the log truck driver didn’t even have time to brake (no skid marks) and was traveling @ around 55 MPH. IDIOT. He was cited for “inattentive driving” and will likely loose his CDL for his indescression. Driving is a serious endeavor and to be taken seriously. The MOST dangerous thing we do on a regular basis.



Take care



Andrew

 

[HoleshotHolset]

...68 GMC longbed with a GMC 4-53T for power...

Sorry to hear about the accident, but... .



How's he like the truck? Sounds like it used to be a pretty cool rig.....



Matt

 

[ramsalot]

Yeah, Matt it was damn cool. But unfortunately WAS is the term. We are going to salvage the engine and trans, the rest is very trashed. The truck was built well and towed very well, but needed a “tune up” to be fast. It had a great sound and was very smooth. I’ll try to dig up a couple of pics of the truck, we owned the truck only for a short time so what we have is aftermath pics, but they are shocking so I will ask my brother if he will dig them up.



Peace

Andrew

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Sweet!



I have always wanted a little Detroit 3-53 or 4-53/71 to play with... .



Thanks for sharing the info... .



Matt