My Weekend Tow Story

Dftodd · Jun 27, 2015

Had a guy tailgating me tonight while I was towing a piece of equipment. I was doing the speed limit, sometimes a little less depending on the corner. Guy had several passing lanes where he could have gone around but chose not to. I was coming into a small town that is known in this area for being a speed trap. Cops will pull you over for any tiny infraction, so when the speed limit dropped, I made sure I was doing that speed. Guy blew past me just as we were entering the town. Got to the other end of town and the cops had him pulled over :thumbsup: Couldn't help but give the guy a wave and nod as I was going by. Especially after seeing him cussing and swearing and hand gestures for twenty miles behind me. He had a pretty nasty look on his face when I drove by

crashz · Jun 27, 2015

Thanks for hearing me out guys! Love the bumper stickers!

Mace Canute · Jun 28, 2015

I had some goofball right up on my rear bumper the other day on a long two lane street with a 60 kph speed limit with not all that much traffic at the time. I just kicked it into neutral and coasted to a stop. She stayed behind me, right on my bumper, all the way to a standstill.

RobertN · Jun 28, 2015

From Ca DMV handbook

Turnout Areas and Lanes

Special "turnout" areas are sometimes marked on two-lane roads. Drive into these areas to allow cars behind you to pass. Some two-lane roads have passing lanes. If you are driving slowly on a two-lane highway or road where passing is unsafe, and five or more vehicles are following you, drive into the turnout areas or lanes to let the vehicles pass.

dstig1 · Jun 29, 2015

I recall that from my time in Calif. Not that I ever believed anyone would do it, but they did. Calif driving is weird as despite the awful traffic and the occasional whackjob/psycho, people actually drive respectfully and try to get along for the most part. You need to merge, someone will let you in. Unlike driving in the upper midwest where signalling to merge all but guarantees the drivers in the other lane will speed match you and block you out. And drive below the speed limit in the left lane. Especially after just getting on the freeway and dangerously diving across 3 lanes of traffic to get to the left lane...

ullinghair: Etc etc...

rd_macgregor · Jun 29, 2015

I don't know about other states but California has had the 5-car rule for at least 50 years. I once witnessed the patrol stop someone driving in the mountains outside San Bernadino for failing to pull over to let the followers pass. What I was never clear on was whether someone going the speed limit was still obligated to pull over to let 5 tailgating speeders pass!

Bob

gladehound · Jun 29, 2015

No driver error is worth further endangerment to life. If someone makes a mistake be thankful when nobody gets hurt and continue driving as safely as possible. If you're holding people up, don't be self righteous about it, just pull over! For all you know they are trying to get to the hospital. Assume good intent and move on. Of course, the SUV in the video is totally in the wrong even if the truck did force him to move out of the way earlier.

rgr33 · Jun 29, 2015

I drove semi for 42 years, hauling about every thing except people. In Oregon we do have the 5 car back up rule, but if you try to hold to it strictly, you will never get anywhere, so we just do the best we can.
When you are driving a rig that is big, slow, and heavy, you feel like a whale in an aquarium. I have always said, you see the absolute worst part of nice people when they are in their car. Many times while hauling a heavy load I have had drivers cut in front of me and jam on their brakes. If they knew what we know, they would never do that.
As another driver told me thirty years ago "Idiots will always be idiots"

Cord · Jun 29, 2015

Been there. In heavy Chicago traffic in hard rain a ricer pulled around me and cut in. He then slammed on the brakes. I locked the fronts and knew that I'd lose it if I didn't release. I have now vowed that if this happens again that I'll him them than lose my rig. Brake checking is illegal so it's just a matter of making sure the truth is heard.