scary moments

[ddesau]

Any scary moments driving lately ? I had one today - driving wife's new Toyota 4runner (she was riding shotgun), stopped at a traffic light in Salem, OR (which I might add has horrible traffic), when I looked in the rear view mirror and saw this white Van - probably a Dodge van roaring up behind us - the woman driver was doing about 50 coming up behind me and I saw the look of panic on her face - as maybe she just realized that all those red lights in front of her are brake lights !! I quickly moved into the left turn lane as she somehow swept into the right lane and avoided hitting anyone.



She quickly turned into some parking lot - no doubt to change her underwear. .



Makes you wonder how some people get thru life in one piece !





:--)

 

[mikel]

Driving in to work this morning at about 3:45 am, it's raining pretty hard and I hit some water that had pooled on the freeway. I was going about 50 or so and didn't loose control or anything, but it scared the hell out of me just the same.



Mike

 

[JSmith]

Driving to work yesterday and saw truck pulling a gardening trailer jump the curb and hit a fire hidrant, backup an almost hit a telephone pole. All I could say was WOW!!!!!!!!!

 

[RBSOB]

Why can't people see my truck???

In Feb. a Ford van changed lanes, actually,he turned right from the left hand lane, across my front end. My first accident in 27 years of driving. I have had 3 other very close calls in 3 years of owning this truck, including a Saab driver pulling out of a parking spot yesterday and a woman running a red light at speed in June. I haven't had so many idiots cross my path since my motorcycle riding days . I'm wondering WTH people can't see or even hear my 7 foot tall, 8000lb. straight piped, 4x4, diesel powered, Dodge JimG

 

[bmoeller]

Last week my boss was heading (east) out to the Quad Cities. A couple of miles away from his house, an guy that was slowing down to make a right hand turn ( he was coming from the west), all of a sudden decides to make a left hand turn right in front of him.



So instead of my boss turning right for the ditch, he had to turn left into the other lane and quickly cut back to the right (and squealing the tires) to avoid a head on with a car. TO CLOSE FOR COMFORT! :--) :--)



To top it off, the cop sitting near that corner, never saw a thing. Had been looking in a different direction.

 

[duaneparks]

Re: Why can't people see my truck???

Originally posted by RBSOB

I'm wondering WTH people can't see or even hear my 7 foot tall, 8000lb. straight piped, 4x4, diesel powered, Dodge JimG

Jim, they can't see mine either. A few months back I had a lady decide to quickly move from a stopped left lane into the moving right lane *right in front of me. * I even had my lights on! Anyway, I get stopped, but the front bumper was already about 6" into her passenger side front door. She DOESN'T stop, but rather drags the rest of the length of her car down the side of my bumper. Damaged both passenger doors, quarter panel, and broke her taillight.



Good news: Her damages were around $5K (BMW 3 series station wagon), my damages $. 50 worth of Satin Black Krylon.







Just the other day I had a lady in a Suburban try to merge into my lane as I was passing her. I swear, if people don't start seeing my truck, I'm going to invest in some air horns, that way at least they will HEAR it before they hit it.



Duane

 

[bmoeller]

Re: Re: Why can't people see my truck???

Originally posted by duaneparks

I swear, if people don't start seeing my truck, I'm going to invest in some air horns, that way at least they will HEAR it before they hit it.



Duane

Why wait? Get 'em, even if you have to make up a set of used ones.



I had someone one day that decided that it was a good idea to pass me on the right when my right turn signal was on to make a turn into a driveway to turn around. All I saw was a white streak in my mirror. Luckily she didn't hit me with her minivan. She could've come around on the left. Dumb b****.



I see that too much around here. Almost everyone is in such a big hurry, they take such stupid risks to save a LITTLE time. What good is it if you're DEAD? JUST STUPID!

 

[Ncostello]

Last week I was passing a 10 year old and 12 year old boys who were doubled up on a moped and not wearing helmets... one of those Tomas ones. They were riding the edge of this two lane highway that goes through town. Illegal as heck around here but there they were nonetheless. Car in front of me moved over a little and passed them. As I attempted the same they instantly, without looking, began to cut across both lanes of traffic without looking at all. Not even a glance over the shoulder. Neither of them.



At this point their rear wheel was dead even with my front bumper. They didn't just merge either... they made an abrupt left turn. Always anticipating bone head moves like that (I ride motorcycles and drive fire trucks and have taken EVOC courses... so its a habit for me)... I immediately cut full left and locked up the brakes. I was sliding sideways and went across the opposite direction lane and slid to a stop in the minimart parking lot... next to the unleaded pumps naturally. I was four down from the diesel pump. . All the while all I could see were two heads in my pass side window as close as they could get without physically touching it. They rode along side my skidding truck for a few seconds without realizing I was there. Finally they saw me... cut back across both lanes and took off down fourth street. If I had been tuning the radio or looking in some other direction I would have ran directly over them without knowing what was going on. The car behind me stopped cause he was certain I had hit them. But they didn't even touch me. He called 911 and before long the cops showed up and went looking for them.



Normally the minimart has cars parked right where I slid. Plus there is always oncoming traffic in the lane I crossed. But for some reason I was aware of my surroundings at that instant and knew my move was correct. Training I suppose.



Minimart attendent saw it all too and came out to my aid when the cops were there describing what happened to a tee. They couldn't find them... but the child in the car behind me spilled his guts to the cops... names and all. Apparently he goes to school with them.



Later I stopped by the Police station to see what came of it and they said since they were not on it when they found them they couldn't do anything. Next day... the same two kids are buzzing around the streets on this two stoke, smoking, no muffler moped and nothing gets done about it. I was and almost stopped them to confiscate it myself. But I figured I'd get sued for Grand Theft or child battery or ???.



Stupid idiot kids almost got smashed by 6600 lbs of Cummins diesel and could care less. Later found out the parents are just as "dumb" and dont care either... thats from the cops too.



As mad as I was... I'd still have trouble forgiving myself if I ran over two children and ended their lives. It would be tough to live with no matter the circumstances. After all I guess they are just kids and have a lot to learn.

 

[RBSOB]

Well, I'm not really surprised to hear that I'm not the only "invisible" truck out on the road. bmoeller is probably right on target with the air horn suggestion, the sooner the better. What kind of set-ups are people using, and where to buy?

 

[mikel]

Air Horns

My experience with air horns is that the only thing better would be a set of train horns. Go get a set, you won't be sorry.



Mike

 

[bmoeller]

At the Iowa-80 truckstop, they have horns set up on one of the walls. The best one are train horns. There are 3 trumpets setup in a triangle (not side by side). Thoise are GREAT! Nice and loud. They give everyone in the store a heads up when they set them off.

 

[Sticks]

Originally posted by Ncostello

As mad as I was... I'd still have trouble forgiving myself if I ran over two children and ended their lives. It would be tough to live with no matter the circumstances. After all I guess they are just kids and have a lot to learn.

Darwin... Natural selection, we really need to bring it back.