Involved in a wreck today

[Twofingerlou]

This was a first and hopefully a last in 20 years of driving. I’m good and last report the other lady involved is good and just had a headache probably from her airbags going off.

For almost six years I’ve been driving for a living commercially. I’m probably 70k plus fully loaded. Every day is a struggle dealing with impatient people in a damn hurry always willing to play chicken with you, cut you off or having their phone shoved up their arse or down right simply not paying attention.

I’ve hade more than my fair share of close calls, probably the worst one I remember was the daycare van that pulled out in front of me while I was doing 65 down the highway. I locked it up and pulled over after dodging that one to collect myself.

Well today it unfortunately happened. Three lane highway, I stayed in the middle lane since I was approaching a on ramp off to my right with flowing traffic. This lady hops in the right lane next me coming off the ramp. I got a glance of her at the side of the truck and thought she was speeding up. Before I knew it she was in my lane and put her quarter panel in my front bumper which spun her out sending her car doors to my truck grill doing 65. She got pushed sideways for a couple seconds then the front end of her car caught as it slid across the front of my truck and out my left side she went spinning for the ditch.

I got it to the side of the road as quick and safely as I could and dialed 911. Tried shoving my stomach back down my throat and stop the adrenaline dump shakes. It all happened so fast, we do have dash cams in our trucks which got reviewed out the gate and the bosses said I did everything right in the moment and it wasn’t my fault.

Just thankful it wasn’t worse! Point of posting this is be careful folks! Pay attention, put the phone down, Slow down, give people some room big truck or not. As far as the big trucks go we’re all out there just trying to do our job.

 

[Eddiebaby1]

Glad everyone is ok mate.
Don’t let it get to you. You met an idiot and they learnt a lesson with minimal consequence.

 

[Toto'sDad]

This was a first and hopefully a last in 20 years of driving. I’m good and last report the other lady involved is good and just had a headache probably from her airbags going off.

For almost six years I’ve been driving for a living commercially. I’m probably 70k plus fully loaded. Every day is a struggle dealing with impatient people in a damn hurry always willing to play chicken with you, cut you off or having their phone shoved up their arse or down right simply not paying attention.

I’ve hade more than my fair share of close calls, probably the worst one I remember was the daycare van that pulled out in front of me while I was doing 65 down the highway. I locked it up and pulled over after dodging that one to collect myself.

Well today it unfortunately happened. Three lane highway, I stayed in the middle lane since I was approaching a on ramp off to my right with flowing traffic. This lady hops in the right lane next me coming off the ramp. I got a glance of her at the side of the truck and thought she was speeding up. Before I knew it she was in my lane and put her quarter panel in my front bumper which spun her out sending her car doors to my truck grill doing 65. She got pushed sideways for a couple seconds then the front end of her car caught as it slid across the front of my truck and out my left side she went spinning for the ditch.

I got it to the side of the road as quick and safely as I could and dialed 911. Tried shoving my stomach back down my throat and stop the adrenaline dump shakes. It all happened so fast, we do have dash cams in our trucks which got reviewed out the gate and the bosses said I did everything right in the moment and it wasn’t my fault.

Just thankful it wasn’t worse! Point of posting this is be careful folks! Pay attention, put the phone down, Slow down, give people some room big truck or not. As far as the big trucks go we’re all out there just trying to do our job.

Drove a big rig for years. It's a constant battle just to survive the day. Glad you and the lady are okay. People don't realize a truck really can't avoid anything and anything that gets in its way is going to get bent. How people feel about it doesn't matter it is what it is.

 

[Slip Kid]

Am glad you are okay! I manage the shipping department at my work and had something similar happen to one of my drivers last year. Someone in the left lane decided to cut across 3 lanes of traffic in front of our truck in the middle lane. I saw the video and am still amazed the the other driver wasn’t killed.

I’m at the point that driving is not enjoyable any more.

 

[Twofingerlou]

Drove a big rig for years. It's a constant battle just to survive the day. Glad you and the lady are okay. People don't realize a truck really can't avoid anything and anything that gets in its way is going to get bent. How people feel about it doesn't matter it is what it is.

It really is a battle more days than not, especially in this instant gratification society we live in anymore. I used to love my job but the last couple years has started to wear me out. Getting your back pounded 10 plus hours a day, dealing with all the idiots on the road, it’s not as fun or appealing to me anymore. Today really kinda confirmed some stuff for me.

 

[Twofingerlou]

Am glad you are okay! I manage the shipping department at my work and had something similar happen to one of my drivers last year. Someone in the left lane decided to cut across 3 lanes of traffic in front of our truck in the middle lane. I saw the video and am still amazed the the other driver wasn’t killed.

I’m at the point that driving is not enjoyable any more.

I used to love driving! I run a couple hundred miles a day plus local for work usually, then I’d go adventure on my weekends. Lately I don’t enjoy driving to work and back anymore.

 

[Milspec]

The way people drive these days, people have become more like deer than humans.

I drive a mail truck at slow speeds from box to box, nothing like what the big rigs deal with, but every Fall when school starts up you can bet on kids to do the absolute stupidest things around your truck. There just isn't any recognition of danger in their minds and adults have become the same way on the roads.

I think Mike Rowe nailed it with his "Safety Third" policy. His belief is that the more we present things as safe, the less people think about protecting themselves. With "Safety Third" you have to remember that you need to protect yourself. All the traffic avoidance signals, air bag, seat belt, etc. people do not recognize the threats like we did back in the "good old days" before there was safety devices. When you drove an old truck with a bench seat, no seat belts, no air bags, no dash padding, and the gas tank was right behind your seat....you paid attention.

Maybe we should get rid of the air bags in the steering wheel and replace it with a fist. Then maybe people will think before they do stupid things on the road?

 

[Toto'sDad]

There is nothing like the lure of the road, until you lose your thirst for it. When I have dreams of the road, it is not electric sheep I dream of, it is looking out the windshield of a class 8 truck, and the miles and miles of traffic ahead of me.

 

[Killing Floor]

Glad you’re ok.

 

[Stubee]

I see so much ridiculous stuff at high speed that I’m surprised more crashes don’t happen. Nice detail in your story and I’m glad all are OK.

 

[Peegoo]

Whoooo glad you and the other driver were not injured. Your cool-headedness under fire probably saved that woman's life.

Bravo and well done, sir.

 

[getbent]

glad you made out okay. So sorry you had to have all that happen... the adrenaline aftermath is just awful.

 

[keithb7]

Sorry to hear about the incident. Lots of bad drivers on the roads. Lots of aggression. Increased congestion. Ignorant attitudes. Seems like a real lack of care about others on the roads. I can’t imagine earning a living driving a big truck.

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

I bet you're not going to sleep well tonight. You deserve an extra measure of whiskey or chamomile tea or whatever you please tonight. Great job keeping it together and managing the situation as best you could given the circumstances.

Its not the same, but I spent several years driving a loaded Ford Econoline company van around New England. I racked up the miles, but I had the benefit of driving a smaller vehicle with a little more maneuverability. Even so, I had my share of close calls with idiots, so I understand the pressure and adrenaline when these things happen. Bottom line is that you got home safe, and the other party avoided serious injury. I hope this doesn't impinge on your employment since you did your part to ensure a positive outcome for all.

Stay safe out there everyone, whether you're behind the wheel of a big truck, small car or, in @John Backlund's case, two wheels. We don't need to lose anyone over something like this.

 

[Tarkus60]

You ought to try riding a motorcycle in this insanity.
I swear we are not get smarter....

 

[Masmus]

Whoooo glad you and the other driver were not injured. Your cool-headedness under fire probably saved that woman's life.

Bravo and well done, sir.

The only other thing I can add is it always has amazed me when you drive a 73' rolling billboard that seems to be invisible.

 

[24 track]

This was a first and hopefully a last in 20 years of driving. I’m good and last report the other lady involved is good and just had a headache probably from her airbags going off.

For almost six years I’ve been driving for a living commercially. I’m probably 70k plus fully loaded. Every day is a struggle dealing with impatient people in a damn hurry always willing to play chicken with you, cut you off or having their phone shoved up their arse or down right simply not paying attention.

I’ve hade more than my fair share of close calls, probably the worst one I remember was the daycare van that pulled out in front of me while I was doing 65 down the highway. I locked it up and pulled over after dodging that one to collect myself.

Well today it unfortunately happened. Three lane highway, I stayed in the middle lane since I was approaching a on ramp off to my right with flowing traffic. This lady hops in the right lane next me coming off the ramp. I got a glance of her at the side of the truck and thought she was speeding up. Before I knew it she was in my lane and put her quarter panel in my front bumper which spun her out sending her car doors to my truck grill doing 65. She got pushed sideways for a couple seconds then the front end of her car caught as it slid across the front of my truck and out my left side she went spinning for the ditch.

I got it to the side of the road as quick and safely as I could and dialed 911. Tried shoving my stomach back down my throat and stop the adrenaline dump shakes. It all happened so fast, we do have dash cams in our trucks which got reviewed out the gate and the bosses said I did everything right in the moment and it wasn’t my fault.

Just thankful it wasn’t worse! Point of posting this is be careful folks! Pay attention, put the phone down, Slow down, give people some room big truck or not. As far as the big trucks go we’re all out there just trying to do our job.

well said , Iam glad the outcome could have been soooooo much worse , I am also glad it was only intimate objects that got damaged , good on you for acting responsibly! Kudos

 

[24 track]

I was incharge of a fleet of 60 Mail vehicles and if there was an accident I was the first on the scene with a camera , amazing how some people are plain idiots on the road , in this weather the long haul guys have much more to worry about than some driving acrobat whose soul ambition is to be bug spatter on a semis front grill.

my only concern as a manager was that my crew came home in the same condition as they came to work , no easy task most days

 

[uriah1]

Glad all ok. !!

 

[bgmacaw]

One of my favorite GIFs on modern day driving...