Just a sample of a random car cutting off a random big truck. Image from livetrucking.com
We’re Big and Slow; You’re Small and Fast – We Get It
Let’s pretend I understand. You’re the driver of a small, fast vehicle. You’re in your sedan / hatchback / SUV / pickup truck –or on your motorcycle – and you want to get where you’re going as fast as possible. You’re willing to put up with some traffic, stop signs and lights and even a bit of bad weather. You’re even prepared to cope with smaller delivery trucks, garbage trucks and the like.
But evidently, from my experience, you’re not much ready to deal with the big boys of the road: the space-hogging tractor-trailers — the very same vehicles that bring all the things you love including food, clothes and cars themselves, to the places where you flock to buy them.
I appreciate that you don’t want to be behind, or even beside or near, one of these monsters. They’re huge, they move slowly (especially when gearing up), they need extra space to make wide turns and they’re scary to be nearby because they will crunch you in a collision.
Maybe most annoyingly, they often block you out even when they don’t intend to.
I acknowledge all these things and I have sympathy for you, the master of the littler roadster. I’m one of you guys when I’m not in my big rig. I drive a tiny Ford Focus hatchback. It can easily be smashed to bits by practically anything with real size and weight.
We Fear You As Much As You Fear Us
The thing is, I spend a ton of time in my truck, far more time than I get to spend in my Focus. So, when it comes to your gripes about driving on the same highways and byways as the big bruisers, I don’t have patience for your bellyaching.
Rather, I have a simple message from me and many truck drivers: as much as you detest driving near us, we detest driving near you too. You guys can be as annoying as %$#@. Some of you guys think that because you’re small and speedy, you can do anything you want in attempting to get around and away from us. You’re horribly impatient and untrustworthy and we know it’s just a matter of time before one of you makes a stupid sudden lane change. Without signalling even!
We’re constantly looking for you to do the wrong thing: getting in our way when we least expect it and causing danger to us, yourselves and other drivers.
I beg of you, please stay away from us and we’ll do our best to stay away from you. If you’re not sure specifically what I mean, watch this video or read this article. Or, do your own research on ‘how to drive safely near tractor trailers’.
Essentially…
The message we’re trying to get across to you is this: stop swerving out in front of us, drive at reasonable speeds and according to the rules of the road, read the road signs, don’t drive in our blind spots, have your headlights on at all times, heed our turn signal lights, use your turn signal indicator for each and every turn you make and keep your eyes and ears open – always.
No matter what kind of truck or large vehicle you’re behind or how long you’re delayed, it’s your responsibility to drive smartly and safely. Always avoid causing danger to yourself and other vehicles. The first – and maybe only – stupid maneuver you make may be your last. Or, it may be the causes of the last moments of someone else’s life.
Imagine this scenario: you just cut off a truck and forced its driver to swerve to avoid you and other vehicles. The highway was wet and slippery and when he swerved, his tractor-trailer jackknifed and skidded off the road and into a ditch. It rolled. He died later in hospital. So, you made it through your own error just fine but caused the death of an innocent driver. How do you feel? Never mind the criminal implications or your actions. The guilt you have to live with may kill you inside slowly, eating away at you every day for the rest of your life. I see you constantly replaying the whole incident in your mind and sobbing silently, thinking ‘If only I’d been more patient and alert.’
Let’s ALL get where we’re going safely.
Lastly, for those few truck drivers out there who are jerks, a$$holes and bad drivers, I apologize on their behalf.