I almost screwed-up badly this weekend. I almost rear-ended a car that was stopped on the highway. If I went left, that would have put me into oncoming traffic. If I went right, it was a "NJ Barrier" wall that would have put me back into oncoming traffic, possibly on the truck's side. So, I stood on that brake pedal like your supposed to, and this 3 1/2 tons of truck stopped, probably an inch off the car's bumper.

I could not believe it. I don't know how fast I was going, or how far the stopping distance was, but, at age 43, I know these brakes are a huge improvement. I'm EXTREMELY impressed. The truck stayed straight as an arrow, too.

Besides now being a firm believer in ABS (as if the engineers, researchers, and testers were all lying), I've been thinking of a couple of things ........

After 26 years of driving (many of them driving professionally),I've never been behind the wheel and had an accident. I drive as fast as anyone, just never careless or reckless. The car I almost hit was stopped, illegaly, on a highway waiting to make a left hand turn. But the truth is, I almost rear-ended her, and I consider that a big f**k-up on my part. Kinda shook me up.

And the other thing I was thinking is that we have a responsibility driving these trucks. Many here have stating they love having their families in these big, heavy trucks, and that's where I have my sons. But we have to remember that there are lots of young mothers with their small children riding around in Honda Civics and the like.

Not preaching, just food for thought.

Jim Ledet

 

I hear ya. Glad to hear it was only a close call. We tend to take too much for granted and at times the mind isn't on the road as it should be. I'm as guilty as anyone and I investigate accidents for a living. I see some horrendous events. Your post is appreciated and good food for all! Thx.

 

Great non-accident story. Just yesterday I had to remind my wife that she wasn't in her F150 and needed to leave a little more room for stopping my truck in traffic. Sometimes these huge things just make us feel TOO safe... if that's possible.

 

>But we have to remember that there are lots of young mothers with their small children riding around in Honda Civics and the like.

I don't even want to think what would happen if I, or any of us, were to hit a small car like that. Scare the .....well enough to want to put my 4 in an Excursion.

Front apge of my paper the other day had a head-on with a Chevy 2500HD and a Hyundai Accent. It was a low speed crash. The bumper on the truck was bent and the grill cracked. The Hyundai was totalled!

 

Nice job of getting your truck stopped. I'm a crash investigator with my department and I see the difference in "rolling mass" and weight. Its not a pretty sight when a 1 ton hits a subcompact...

Kudos to you for avoiding the collision.. BTW, did the idiot getting a citation for illegally stopping in the roadway?

Quikirk, are you "on the job" ( in the business)?

 

>

>
>Quikirk, are you "on the job" ( in the business)?

Slammer, I investigate casualty losses for an insurer in NE PA.

 

I work the LE end of it so I imagine you see alot our reports, photos, statements etc....


Gets pretty gruesome at times doesnt it

 

Good post.
It's situations like yours that make us stop and think.

>And the other thing I was thinking is that we have a
>responsibility driving these trucks. Many here have stating
>they love having their families in these big, heavy trucks,
>and that's where I have my sons. But we have to remember
>that there are lots of young mothers with their small
>children riding around in Honda Civics and the like.
>
>Not preaching, just food for thought.
>
>Jim Ledet

If only this could be conveyed to the idiots that cut in front of us and then lay on the brakes because of slower moving traffic ahead.
:-X23

 

Glad you avoided the learning impaired left turn idiot.
She should be even more glad.
>
>If only this could be conveyed to the idiots that cut in
>front of us and then lay on the brakes because of slower
>moving traffic ahead.
>:-X23

I had a Cebby pass me in my loaded camper AND boat on a 2 lane road last week (speed limit 55). I was doing the 55-58, and he passes me and sees a OSP with radar parked on the shoulder ahead. Of course the idiot jams his brakes on and swerves in front of me. Sure woke me up. Wish the cop had written him up just for being a bonehead

 

>I work the LE end of it so I imagine you see alot our
>reports, photos, statements etc....
>
>
>Gets pretty gruesome at times doesnt it

Yes, and yes it does. Over the past 15 yrs I've had the unfortunate opportunity to sit in tears at the kitchen tables of the family members of many victims, young and old. A lot of them, as you know, didn't have to happen. All we can do is our best to try to educate and contribute what we can to public awareness.