Just can't help but to do a little Bi!!!!ing about some the idiots on the road that are towing and think they can dirve like it's a 2000lb sports coupe. I drive plently fast when towing and actually I probobly push the limits more than I should but theres always somebody else on the road pulling a 35' trailer with an F150 doing 80MPH weaving through traffic!!! Yeh all is fine and dandy untill they clip somebody, can't stop, or the trailer takes off and drags the truck with it. I see at least a dozen Jack knifed/flipped over campers and boats every summer and 80% of the time it's because they were doing something they shouln't have been doing or acting like it's a car instead of a 15000lb load. No offense to the half ton drivers as the heavy duty trucks are just as bad and maybe worse because now these people think they are bullet proff in there big tough 3/4 or 1Ton Truck!!! It's not only that but the guy who tows 10K with out lights/brakes/Safety chains and thinks he should drive 75MPH in a 65 Zone. I speed my fair share but when I'm towing a fair load it's a different story. Also there are some truck (semi) drivers that should know better. Visablity was absulutly terrible a couple of weeks ago and this Semi about rear ended me because he thought he could drive 70 in the middle of a snow storm on a two lane road. Yeh, my lights were on and I was probably doing 50 and I was affriad of running into the back of somebody, The Nerve!! What tops the cake is when he had to pass me when he couldn't see 100yds ahead. There are all kinds on the road I'm just ashamed that I have to drive on the same road a these Idiots.

Sorry for the long post, Just had to vent after just about being ran off the road by one of these poeple this morning. Seems to be a commen reoccurance of people having no commen sense when towing a trailer!!

Have a Merry Christmas

 

As a fireman and responder to the rescue of these idiots, I suppose it is job security. As a father and husband, I suppose it is a terrible shame and a frightening reality that there are very stupid people out there on the road, threatening the lives of our loved ones. Making trucks handle so well these days probably doesn't help as people become overconfident behind the wheel.
Glad your okay after your unfortunate experience, Tim

 

people drive to the limit of thier vehicle. if more sately items are installed then they will just go faster and drive even stupider. I agree about people needing to slow down, especially when the weather gets bad but you can only tell them so much. then they just need to learn for them selves and it is usally the bad way, either their life or someone elses. One thing now that really scares me is the people who drive a 3/4 or 1 ton and buy way to much trailer. they thing because it is a diesel it can handle a 15000lb or more trailer and still drive like a bat out of hell. makes you wounder.

 

Just cuz you can pull it doesn't mean you can stop it.

 

good post, and here is my two cents worth. I understand being a cop is a tough job, just about as tough as being a roofer, a welder or anything else trying to make a decent living and provide their family with a good home. Now something that bothers me is all the idiots on the road as in your post. What I never see or hear of is the police ticketing people for all the obvious safety infractions.
Yes, people who are speeding need to be ticketed, but some common sense should apply. But so should the people who never use their directionals, who travel in the passing lanes at slower speeds and won't move over even when they see the cars behind them. Also at fault, not even coming close to a complete stop, and really pushing it on the red lights.
The roads are scary enough, and most of the bad drivers don't even know how bad they are. Just because you don't speed doesn't make you a good driver. I got my first speeding ticket in fifteen years last year, and the officer said to me "be safe" upon leaving me with the ticket. I am a safe person and a safe driver. Sixteen over on a clear day in a modern truck on one of the most rural highways in the country doesn't make me unsafe. The idiots who make all of these unsafe moves on a daily basis need to know how bad of a driver they really are. glmf

 

Traveling out to the popular motorcycle and atv riding areas here in southern California, I have seen many of these idiots pulling big trailers at way too fast speed for the road conditions, nevermind the speed limit. We have a 55mph speed limit for big rigs and for pickups towing trailers, but I have yet to see even close to a majority of drivers abiding by it. Most pulling trailers don't even stay within the regular speed limit for vehicles without trailers. I often wonder, as they zoom past me with 10,000-15000 lbs behind them at 70+mph while I poke along at 55-60mph in the right lane with camper on and trailer in tow, can they really control that truck and trailer if something unforeseen should happen in front of them?? So far, I have not had to come to any of their rescues further down the road after passing me, but I imagine that day will come at some point in the future, unfortunately.

 

I can relate with most of the statements and replies. I do have a different light to shine on a couple. The law enforcement establishment gives tickets to the easiest offenders, ie seatbelt non-use, that they can generate the most revenue from. No matter how good safety ideas are, they can't all be made into laws. People need to learn to drive with a little more responsibility and respect for the others on the road.Not hurray for me and 4Q.
In some cases bad ideas are taught as a rule to be followed. NY State has taken the idea that when leaving a stop,each car should count 3 seconds before starting to move after the car in front has moved away. Thus generating the spacing between cars. It also generates traffic conjestion, and wastes gas. Good drivers should know how to space themselves down the road, not at stop lights.
As for commercial vehicle operators driving in weather, I have driven large vehicles all my driving life and although every driver knows what it's like to drive an 18 wheeler, very few have ever had a ride around the block in one, much less spent 10 hours getting the 600mi. needed to make a living in one. I know that visibility is MUCH better from a drivers seat 8 feet higher than car seats. I have driven in NY snow storms where cars were barely moving,and was comfortable in my ability to do so, So no one should second guess a commercial vehicle operator doing his job,anymore than they would second guess a doctor doing his. This is not to say there are none who are not doing their job as well as they should. Driving in weather is THE test of driving ability. Im my humble opinion, if a driver is so scared as to drive up the interstate with the 4 way flashers on, that driver should think about sitting out the storm in the coffee shop.
thanks for letting me vent too Phil

 

I have one for you that just happen the morning of the Dec 23, 2004. I was riding down I-95 and a car was not happy a rate in which traffic was moving so he decide to pass on the shoulder of the road. I was towing my small trailer(5X8) and not two miles later another car was about to try same move by cutting of the nose of the truck. I am very close to adopting policy if you want to drive under my truck good luck. I am personally tired of slamming on the brakes because people got in the wrong lane they are going miss their exit. Sorry had to vent.

 

My favorites are the V8 Explorers pulling 10,000lb trailers.

 

Getting passed on steep windy mountain roads by Tahoes pulling triple axle trailers and boats way over the towing capacity. Its amazing we don't see more accidents...although I have seen more than a couple. All it takes is one mistake to ruin a weekend.

 

Some people just shouldnt pull trailers, fast or slow. I know a guy who has to banged up trucks because he either forgets their their when he backs up, you just losses controls. He once tooks his Dodge 1500 put a trailer on it and then put a car on it. The car was closer to the back of the trailer so there was no weight on the back of the truck. When he tried to move he couldnt because the tires were off the ground. SO what does he do? Put it in fourwheel drive! Then he goes down the road and can only go 20 in a 50 zone because the trailer will weave. So he got comfortable and got going faster, he lost control the trailer jack knifed as smashed in the side of the bed. He also has a 20 footer he put behind a gmc sonama with almost 5 yards of dirt in it. Some people just need to saty away.

 

Oh, and watch closely when being passed by a motorhome,towdollying a car . Seems like most forget the extra length,and try to put that car in your engine compartment while changing lanes LOL. I had it happen quite a few times Phil

 

The Semi You Where Talking About Had To Be On Something No One In There Right Mind Would Be Doing 70 On Slick Roads I See It All The Time And The Worst Part Is The Drivers Going At A Safe Speed [going Just Fast Enough Not To Spin Out] Witch Is Still To Fast And Some Yahoo In A 80,000 Rig Passing You. And Anouther Thing That Realy Gets My Shorts In A Ruffle Is The A@! Holes Pulling A Trailer With No Tail Lights And Stop Infront Of You I Bet I Would Get A Ticket If I Left My Drive Way With No Tail Lights. Jay

 

Please let me know the last time a roof or a piece of steel shot at you, spit at you, or tried with all it's might to kill you and then filed a suit for millions because you tried to stay alive and defended yourself?

While I sympathize with you about the ticket I must say that if a roofer or welder has as tough a job as a cop it would shock me.

Some cops can be overzealous to say the least having grown up around many and gotten my share (and some others share) of tickets there once was a time where I would agree that the situation you describe above didn't rate a cite but now I think that if you are knowingly going 16 mph over you are taking that risk willingly. I have rarely seen a cop cite for 5-7 over and have been told on numorous occasions that 7 over is the cut off but you have to agree the line has to be drawn somewhere right? Is there an acceptable amount to break the law before you get punished?

 

Sounds like you guys have been driving I-75 alot. Also The Peoples Republic of Ann Arbor on US-23.