Q and A part 1

A question was recently posed to me about what to do if you are in a trucks blind spot and they start to move over.  The answer(s) is simple and yet somewhat complex.  Actually, though, there are at least 4 answers to that question, in my opinion.  I will   list them in the order I believe would be most important to least important, depending on the situation.

1)      Don’t travel in the trucks blind spots.

This is the most effective way of avoiding an accident with the truck and really needs no further explaining.  I.E. if you ain’t there they can’t hit you.

2)      Adjust your position by either;

a.       Speeding up

b.      Slowing down

c.       Changing lanes

This is most effective when you are on the open road and there are minimal amounts of traffic around. However, if you are in rush hour traffic, getting out of the way might not always be feasible.

3)      Honk your horn

Effective, but, not very effective.  Inside the cab of a semi and be noisy. Most of the trucks that I have been in have air leaks in various places. Crack your drivers side window sometime and listen to the noisy air blowing by your ear. Now add to that the noise of a diesel engine, music from the radio and it can get noisy inside these trucks.  Most car horns are barely audible in this situation.   

4)      Flash you lights at them

During daylight, this would be of no value. At night time, flashing bright lights at a truck could result in a serious accident.  Let me explain.  Take a flash light, go shine it in your bathroom mirror and then multiply that times 3.  The reason I suggest this is because most trucks are equipped with 3 mirrors on each side.  A long mirror, a spot mirror and a hood mirror.  Flashing your bright lights at them could cause momentary blindness. Turning your headlights on and off momentarily is not recommended either. This is generally the signal given to the truck driver that it’s ok to change lanes.

The bottom line is this. You have to do whatever is safe and prudent for you to prevent being hit. Each situation is different each and every time.  You have to be ready to make a split second decision based on the scenario you are in.  No matter what situation you find yourself in, you should ALWAYS leave yourself a safe way out.

As always, let’s be safe and courteous to one another. The life you save could be your own. Happy motoring………………………….

blind spots and other info

Blind spots

Driving safely around trucks: Vision Decision

Many motorists believe that truck or bus drivers can see the road better because they sit higher than the driver of a car. In fact, large vehicle drivers have serious blind spots into which a car can disappear from view.

Side blind spot: Be careful when passing a large vehicle. If you can't see the driver's face in his or her side mirror or window, he or she can't see you and may not know you're there.

Front blind spot: When passing a large vehicle, make sure that you can see the entire front of the truck or bus in your inside rear-view mirror before you pull back in front. It takes a large vehicle twice the time and room to stop as it does a car.

Most people are aware of the dangers posed by big trucks on the roadway. In an accident involving a large 18-wheeler and a small passenger car, the consequences are likely to be severe or fatal for the car occupants. Accidents involving large trucks can occur for a variety of reasons. Truckers drive for incredibly long distances, often covering multiple states in one day, trying to meet delivery deadlines for their goods. Truckers can be overly tired or under the influence of stimulants, alcohol, or other substances. In addition, trucks may be overloaded with cargo or improperly balanced, or a trucker may drive recklessly in order to reach a certain destination before a particular time. However, it is often difficult to determine the true cause of an accident because of the variety of factors involved from both parties. Just as the large truck plays a big role in the severity of an accident, the other vehicle can actually be the true cause of the accident. Most passenger-vehicle drivers do not know the difficulties and special skills needed to drive a large truck, and therefore do not understand the proper way to drive their own cars when in close proximity with these large trucks. A well-informed motorist can keep everyone on the road safe by learning about driving safely around big trucks. Large vehicles have large blind spots. All drivers are aware of their own blind spot-- an area near the vehicle that cannot be directly seen either through the window or with the aid of rear-view and side-view mirrors. Passenger cars have blind spots in the rear quarter of their cars. If another vehicle drives in this area, the driver must physically turn and look to see it. Large trucks, buses, and tractor trailers not only have a larger rear-quarter blind spot, but may also have additional blind spots to the front, back, and right side. Longer vehicles have longer rear-quarter blind spots. If a passenger car drives in this area, a truck driver may not be able to see the car and as a result might try to change lanes. Large vehicles also have more blind spots than smaller cars. Because of the elevated position of the truck driver, he or she may not be able to see cars on the right-hand side of the truck, and may also have a small blind spot directly in front of the vehicle. Trucks do not have rear-view mirrors like passenger cars, relying only on advanced side mirrors, spot mirrors and hood mirrors. As a result, smaller cars directly to the rear of the truck may not be visible to the driver. When driving your car near big trucks, remember that it has extensive blind spots. If you cannot see the truck driver in their mirrors, the truck driver cannot see you! As the driver of the vehicle that is most dangerous to all other drivers, it is up to the truck driver to be fully aware of these hazards and to drive with caution at all times for the protection of all motorists. However, passenger car drivers should be aware of the safety issues surrounding large trucks and should know how to drive when near large trucks. All motorists can only hope that as more car drivers become informed about safe driving near large trucks, the number of unfortunate accidents we see each year will decrease.   The length and width of large trucks can create special driving situations for both small and large vehicle drivers. Sharing the road with a truck means being aware of its capabilities and limitations. The following suggestions can help drivers share the road comfortably and safely: Keep well back when following trucks. In good road and weather conditions, you should leave a gap of at least 1 car length for every ten miles per hour between your vehicle and the truck in front of you-and an even greater gap when conditions are poor. At intersections and in slow traffic, ensure you stay far enough back for other drivers to see you. This is particularly important for motorcyclists. When following at night, keep your headlights on low beam. Keep out of a truck's blind spots. Trucks have a big blind spot directly behind them, so it's a good idea to position your vehicle so it can be seen in the truck's side mirrors. This will let the truck driver know you are there-drivers can then give you plenty of warning when they intend to stop or turn. Trucks have large blind spots on both sides-but especially on their left. On multi-lane roads or when overtaking, try to avoid these blind spots, or keep the time you spend in them to a minimum. Remember: if you can't see the truck driver in their side mirror, the truck driver can't see you! Overtaking: Be patient! Be patient when waiting to overtake a truck. It takes several seconds longer to pass a truck on a level road than it does to pass a car, so it's more important than usual to make sure there's plenty of clear road ahead so you can safely complete the maneuver. Don't come too close to the back of the truck before you move out to overtake. It's important to give yourself enough room to build up speed-but remember to keep your speed to a level that is safe for the conditions. You also need to give yourself enough room to return to your lane if there's an oncoming hazard. Remember that it takes a truck longer to stop. Any motorist who cuts in front of a truck and suddenly slows or stops is at risk of causing a serious rear-end crash. Even if the truck driver manages to avoid a collision by swerving or braking quickly, this may cause a dangerous load shift which itself may lead to a severe crash. Be aware that turning trucks may cross the center line. Trucks often need to cross the center line when turning a corner-particularly when they're making a left turn. A truck turning left may initially move to the right to give itself more room to complete the turn. It's important to look at a truck's indicators-not just its movements. Trucks my also swing wide to the left in order to make a right turn as well. Never try to pass a truck while it is turning. This includes passing on the right, too, because the back end of a truck can intrude across the lane during a turn. If you are stopped at an intersection and a truck is turning into the oncoming lane, you may want to back up or pull closer to the side of the road to give the truck more room. Watch out for air turbulence when passing trucks, oncoming trucks or when following trucks. When passing an oncoming truck, keep firm control of the steering wheel to counter the effect of air turbulence. If you're a motorcyclist, move to the left of your lane to avoid the worst of the turbulence, but not so far that you risk being blown off the road. Also change down a gear, so the bike has enough power to accelerate and steer into the wind gust.  If following too close (in racing terms “drafting”) the wind turbulence can shake your vehicle and end up losing control. This can be especially dangerous in inclement weather. The cure for this is obvious, back off. Watch out for splash and spray. Traveling behind or alongside trucks in wet conditions can be tricky. Splash and spray is thrown out and can make it difficult for you to see clearly. Many motorists consider this to be a nuisance and a danger; but unfortunately, there is no equipment available that could solve this problem effectively. However, there are some things you can do to help increase your safety: Keep the windshield clean and the windshield wipers and washers in good condition; if approaching an oncoming truck, turn on your wipers just before it passes you to ensure your windshield is wiped as soon as any spray is thrown onto it, and the time your visibility is obscured will be reduced

sizes, weights and limitations

Sizes, weights and limitations

Tractor trailers come in many different shapes and sizes. This all depends on the length of the trailer and the length of the cab itself.  Most will measure from 70 to 80 feet long but can go as long as 150 to 200 feet long. Those 150 to 200 feet along are specially designed over sized loads like wings for wind mills that go on these wind farms. They require escort vehicles and will require much more room than a standard sized tractor trailer when making turns and other maneuvers.

My particular tractor trailer combination measures 75ft from nose of tractor to end of trailer. This is pretty much a typical configuration. The turning radius is approx 100 to 200 ft. This means they need that much room when turning in parking lots or other tight maneuvering situations. 

The legal weight for tractor trailer combinations is up to 80,000. This includes weight of tractor trailer and product.  Weights can exceed that only with special permits.

Stopping and following distances

Contrary to popular belief, a tractor trailer does not have a brake on each wheel. I E an 18 wheeler does not have 18 brakes.  There are 2 brakes per axle. Generally speaking, there are 5 axles on tractor trailers. Each axle has 2 brakes on it. Therefore a 5 axle truck will have 10 brakes.  If the truck is fully loaded to 80,000lbs, that means stopping power of 8,000 lbs per brake. That would be the equivalent of stopping two 4,000 lbs cars with just 1 brake!

A fully loaded semi traveling at 60 mph requires 300ft to safely stop. That is the length of a football field.  This length will increase as road and weather conditions decrease.  Cutting of trucks can become very hazardous to your health. 

Following distances

Although there are no laws stating how far cars must follow behind a semi, I would like to present some thoughts for consideration.

                Blown tires:

                                Truck tires are made of hard rubber with steel belts inside. They are filled to approx 110lbs of pressure and can weigh over 50lbs when fully inflated.  When they blow, there is a tremendous amount of force released.

                                Example 1: A mechanic, who weighed 150lbs, was inflating a recapped tire. When it blew, the force of it slammed him into the wall 20 feet behind him. (If the dumbass would have followed established safety procedures, he probably would not have been hurt).

                                Example 2:  I was traveling on an interstate in Illinois when a trailer tire blew out. The mud flap (5lbs) and its metal hanger (5 lbs) elevated about 10 to 15 feet in the air at 65mph. if someone had been tailgating; I hate to think what kind of damage would have been done.  There have been accidents recorded where tire treads have flown through windshields.

                Falling debris:

                                Truck drivers cannot safely remove snow and ice from on top of their trailers when the trailer roof is 13ft 6in off the ground.   

A good safe following would be a minimum of 1 car length for every 10mph. Keep in mind that this should be increased during bad weather and times of reduced visibility.

                Stop signs and stop lights:

                                It’s a good idea to stop about 10-15 ft away from a semi when necessary to come to a complete stop, especially when on an uphill.  When starting out, a semi may “drift” or roll back wards when releasing the clutch and engaging the throttle. Good truck drivers know how to compensate for this. Not all truck drivers are good drivers!

By the way some states do have laws requiring how far semis are supposed to be following. In Iowa, it’s 300ft. In Wisconsin, it’s 500 ft.  It’s really scary to me when I see trucks following much closer to vehicles then they should be.

                Speed limiters/inhibitors. (Commonly referred to as “Governors)

These are computer controlled devices that limit the speed of a truck when heading down a flat stretch of road. A vast majority of companies use these on their company trucks not only as a way of controlling vehicle speed, but also as a fuel saver.  Companies themselves generally dictate what speed these are set at. Some companies out here have theirs set as low as 58mph while others are set as high as 75mph.  a vast majority of the trucks are set at 62 to 65mph. This can create problems when traveling in states where the posted speed limit is higher than the truck is capable of doing.  If you are traveling in a state where the speed limit is 70miles per hour on the interstate and the truck in front of you is only going 65, chances are that is a fast as he can go. If weather and traffic conditions permit, please continue on at the posted speed limit.  Too often cars will fall in line behind the slower truck for no apparent reason. When enough cars and trucks do this, this creates an unnecessary traffic back up and can become a serious safety issue. Some states also have split speed limit laws. Take Michigan for example. Cars are allowed to travel 70mph on the interstates while trucks are only allowed to go 60mph.

                Slow moving vehicles:

Because trucks are considered slow moving vehicles, they are often restricted to the right lane of travel on an interstate. This allows for the fast more agile vehicles to safely pass on the left.  This is especially true in mountainous/hilly terrain. Often times, trucks will travel uphill or downhill with their 4 way emergency flashers activated. In some states, it’s the law.  Therefore, as traffic and weather conditions permit, safely pass them on the left and continue on your way. 

                Trucks carrying hazardous material:

Hazardous material (HAZMAT) Haulers can be identified by the square on point, triangle shaped placards that are supposed to be displayed on all four sides on the vehicle.  By law these vehicles are required to stop at ALL railroad crossing, put on their 4 ways flashers and safely proceed once they have verified there are no trains coming. Some states like Wisconsin provide slow down/speed up lanes just for this purpose. Most states do not. Please be patient with the trucker. The life they save, by following the law, could be yours.

Happy motoring……stay tuned……………..

merging

Merging.

 Comedian Jeff Foxworthy once stated that merging around Atlanta is a personal challenge. Actually this could be a true statement around most major cities. Merging around big trucks can be especially challenging. There are many areas to be especially cautious with merging trucks. Some of the most populated areas are rest areas, truck stops, industrial areas, weigh stations and entrance/exit ramps.  Keep in mind that trucks are not as maneuverable as cars. Depending on load weight, weather and road conditions, it can often take a semi 4 to 5 minutes to completely come up to highway speed. I have often said that I want to put a sign on my truck that reads zero to sixty in about 5 minutes.

Merging on to highways

When coming down the entrance ramp please do not rely solely on your mirrors. Take a quick glance over your shoulder to check for oncoming traffic. By doing this, you will help to avoid losing traffic in blind spots.  Please remember that when you are entering a highway, it is up to you to adjust to the traffic that is already there. In other words, if you want to occupy a space that is currently occupied by another vehicle, you have to wait for them to move out of that space.  If there is a semi in the lane that you are merging into they might not be able to show courtesy and move out of your way. You then have two options.

1)      Speed up and come onto the freeway in front of the truck

2)      Slow down and come into the lane behind the truck.

Keep in mind a semi cannot always move out of the way. They often weigh up to 80,000 lbs and cannot maneuver as easily as a car can, especially if road ways are slippery.  When coming onto the highway in front of the semi, leave as much space between you and them as you possibly can. If something should happen that you need to stop quickly, a semi cannot stop as quickly as you can.  A fully loaded semi traveling at 60 mph requires a minimum of 300ft to safely stop.  That stopping distance increases as roadway and weather conditions decrease. While it is not always possible to give that much space, you should do the best you can not to cut them off.

Merging in constructions zones

 Accidents frequently occur at merge points approaching a construction zone.  It can create major headaches for all concerned when people run right up to the last moment before merging into the proper lane of traffic. This can also lend to making the backup longer and more aggravating then it already is. A general rule of thumb to follow is start merging when construction signs indicate lane reduction is up coming.  It’s also a good idea to merge every other vehicle. 

Let’s be safe out there and happy motoring.

courtesy

Today, I was broken down on interstate 80 in Indiana. I spent 3 hours on the shoulder of the highway with a locked brake.

Interstate shoulders are 10ft wide. A semi truck is 8 1/2ft  wide. That means if a driver is out walking around there truck there is a maximum of 18" separating them from traffic traveling at speeds of 65mph or greater.  This is very unsafe and very nerve racking.

I cannot count the number of vehicles, both cars and semi trucks, who failed to move over when then had plenty of room to safely do so.  In some states the law requires that you move over for broken down or emergency vehicles who are on the shoulder of the road.

Let's be courteous to one another out there  The life you save could be your own!

a few years ago a man had stopped to give assistance to a stranded motorist. Draft created by passing traffic threw him out into a lane of traffic where upon he was run over and killed.

This past year a friend of mine had broke down on an interstate. He was directing traffic around his vehicle and the wrecker that had come to help him. The wrecker accidentally backed up over top of him, crushing him to death.

home

made it home safely

backing and maneuvering

Semi's are routinely required to operate in very tight situations. Many times trucks are required to back into loading docks from off the street and will end up blocking traffic for a short time while maneuvering into and around loading docks,  Most tractor trailers are not equipped with back up lights on their trailers.  If you see a tractor trailer with it's 4 ways flashing, chances are they are getting ready to make maneuvers or start backing up. While doing these things, a drivers vision is very limited to only what they can see in mirrors. When making maneuvers such as tight turns and backing up at tractor trailer will require approximately 100 to 150 ft of maneuvering space. It would be very helpful to the driver if you can remain outside of that maneuvering radius.

Turning. Turning a semi is not like turning a car. Again more room is needed for a truck to safely and effectively negotiate turns.  Right turns are routinely more difficult to make because trucks are closer to things like parked cars, street signs, light poles, pedestrians etc...While preparing for a right turn on a very narrow road, trucks will routinely swing out wide to the left prior to making the right turn. Sometimes this means trucks will come all the way out into the left lane in order to set up for the turn. This is especially true when road ways, like city streets, are very narrow or have many objects like fire hydrants, light posts and parked cars lined up on the right side.