Proper trailer towing saftey

[Hematite]

I've had people sit at an intersection looking right at me and "thinking" (?) about if they should go or not and then decide yes right when I'm almost on top of them. It really makes my day when nothing is behind me so it's not like they are going to have to wait any more than for me. Usually these people take there sweet time coming up to speed, about 1/2 of them turn left just up the road a little. I've also had people come up to stop sign and not even try to stop or look and pull out. Or just as bad, someone will pass me when I'm driving at least the speed limit or slightly faster. Only to jam on there brakes due to they are turning. Been a few times where I have had to slam on my brakes, and you wonder what are they thinking.

Yes, "thinking" that seems to be the problem: they don't or can't. Add a cell phone into the mix and you have a recipe for tragedy!

 

[Ryan03]

Now how in the heck can that driver that pulled out have "not seen" this huge truck and trailer barreling down on him? I know! He didn't look.

Probably not paying attention. On this past monday, one of our dump trucks was involed in a six vehicle fatal crash caused by the driver of a tractor trailer reading a map, not watching the road. It happend on a 4 lane divided highway with a 55 speed limit for trucks, the driver never slowed down for the red light, rearended a Dodge nitro, shoved it 40ft into the back of our International 4900 dump truck, then proceeded to shove the dump truck and Nitro 150ft further down the road, through 3 other vehicles before he was able to get it stopped. The driver of the Nitro was killed, the poor guy never stood a chance.

I unfortunately had to report to the scene to assess our truck to see if we needed to tow it, and coordinate the tow if needed. As I watched the rescue crews working to free the victim for an hour and a half, I felt such anger toward that truck driver, but once I got home and had a few cold ones, realized that most people have been distracted drivers at one point or another, myself included. As I have read maps, been thinking about something else, spilled a drink in my lap etc. and could have very easily caused an accident myself. I am glad to see nobody was killed in the OP posters wreck, it could have been much worse.

Man charged in fatal Concord crash - The News-Herald News : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

 

[Ken45101]

I doubt that any of us are perfect drivers. I know I'm not. The better drivers make fewer mistakes and hopefully don't cause wrecks, at least not serious ones.

Ken