Involved in a wreck today

[imwjl]

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.

I'm glad no one got hurt. It was all prior to 1989 when I drove class 8 trucks and a few close calls were scary. I cannot ever forget a day on slippery roads with when a tiny car pulled out in front of me. Trying to slow I could see likelihood of a jackknife in mirror same time the car was not visible in front of the long-nose tractor.

For a short while I hauled combustibles as humbling, but nothing taught me to be chill and careful like the short time I drove a school bus. Wow was that humbling when you looked at your cargo and thought about all that could go wrong.

Good luck and continued safe travels!

 

[dkmw]

I had someone come across my bow yesterday too. When they turned into the right lane in front of me I just had a feeling they were about to do something stupid. Poised my foot over the brake pedal and was glad I did. Some people drive obliviously.

Glad you’re okay, and you did the best you could.

 

[Bob Womack]

Sorry about the dust-up. Many people aren't aware that railroad engineers live by the same rules and insurance as vehicle drivers. If some someone pulls onto an at-grade crossing at the last minute and gets ground up by a train, which takes a mile or more to stop, the engineer gets demerits on his auto driver's license and PTSD.

 

[Twofingerlou]

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

Been there done that and sold the bike. It was fun for a while but I lost the desire after abkut getting creamed a few times by some old lady’s driving boats. I think to get your regular license everybody should learn to ride a motorcycle and drive a big commercial vehicle for a bit. Those are two things that make you a better driver and more alert.

 

[Mike Eskimo]

Glad you’re OK dude!

 

[Twofingerlou]

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.

I think lots of people have the assumption since it’s big it’s slow. I can set the cruise at almost 70 just like everybody else.

 

[ZackyDog]

Sorry about what happened but glad you're OK. You made some good points above. My best wishes for a speedy, mental recovery.

 

[Festofish]

People have no idea what a truck can and can’t do in an emergency or otherwise. You did good. I couldn’t do what you do. Thanks for doing it!

I see people driving next to a truck and trailer all the time. I always wait until it’s all clear then pass. You don’t want to be next to one of those tires if they blow.

 

[11 Gauge]

I'm glad everyone is okay.

I'm only on the highway for roughly a half an hour in the morning, and then maybe a little longer than that in the evening. Despite that, it's remarkable all of the stupid stuff I've witnessed on I95, even in just the past year.

In 2017, I got rear-ended in the fast lane on I95 southbound, right around where it transitions from Baltimore County into Howard County, during the morning rush (the sun hadn't even come up yet, which made it especially scary). Somebody like 3 cars in front of me decided they needed to come to a complete stop. I was able to stop, but at least one of the cars behind me just swerved out onto the left-hand shoulder, and then some car behind them smacked into the back of me.

...I got off onto the shoulder, dialed 911, and waited. It took police like 40 minutes to get there, and luckily I wasn't hurt (aside from a stiff neck). Whoever hit me left the scene, and I'm pretty sure I saw the front of their car in the dark shooting steam from a busted radiator. There was no way I was stepping out of my car on that shoulder, with everybody whizzing by at 65+ mph.

Anyway, I was in an Accord when that happened. If I wasn't hit by another small sedan or hatchback, I probably wouldn't be here today. I loved that Accord, but hated being so low to the ground, relative to everything else. So I broke down and got a 4Runner last year, so now I at least have a much better view of what's going on on the highway in front of me.

So now the issue with the 4Runner is that it doesn't have the maneuverability or braking prowess of the Accord, and people cut me off all the time, like almost daily. 90% of the time, it's someone in either a sports car, or something sporty. I'm just hoping that there isn't eventually a situation where I can't steer clear from hitting someone, but I honestly won't be surprised if/when it happens.

The only time I really enjoy driving any more is when traffic is unusually light. Even then there's typically some idiot out on the highway. At least it's much easier to steer clear of them.

 

[Twofingerlou]

I'm glad everyone is okay.

I'm only on the highway for roughly a half an hour in the morning, and then maybe a little longer than that in the evening. Despite that, it's remarkable all of the stupid stuff I've witnessed on I95, even in just the past year.

In 2017, I got rear-ended in the fast lane on I95 southbound, right around where it transitions from Baltimore County into Howard County, during the morning rush (the sun hadn't even come up yet, which made it especially scary). Somebody like 3 cars in front of me decided they needed to come to a complete stop. I was able to stop, but at least one of the cars behind me just swerved out onto the left-hand shoulder, and then some car behind them smacked into the back of me.

...I got off onto the shoulder, dialed 911, and waited. It took police like 40 minutes to get there, and luckily I wasn't hurt (aside from a stiff neck). Whoever hit me left the scene, and I'm pretty sure I saw the front of their car in the dark shooting steam from a busted radiator. There was no way I was stepping out of my car on that shoulder, with everybody whizzing by at 65+ mph.

Anyway, I was in an Accord when that happened. If I wasn't hit by another small sedan or hatchback, I probably wouldn't be here today. I loved that Accord, but hated being so low to the ground, relative to everything else. So I broke down and got a 4Runner last year, so now I at least have a much better view of what's going on on the highway in front of me.

So now the issue with the 4Runner is that it doesn't have the maneuverability or braking prowess of the Accord, and people cut me off all the time, like almost daily. 90% of the time, it's someone in either a sports car, or something sporty. I'm just hoping that there isn't eventually a situation where I can't steer clear from hitting someone, but I honestly won't be surprised if/when it happens.

The only time I really enjoy driving any more is when traffic is unusually light. Even then there's typically some idiot out on the highway. At least it's much easier to steer clear of them.

That’s one of the reasons I don’t like driving little cars! I’ll stick with my pickup for daily use. Smart move for staying in the car after all that. After I got pulled over and dialed 911 I then called my boss. He said are you ok? We’re you able to keep it upright? His next question was about the lady. By the time I got the truck to the shoulder I was a good 1/8th mile up the road on the opposite side of her. I was worried about her but no way I was gonna get out of the truck and try to run across three lanes of traffic screaming past me 70 plus.

 

[Twofingerlou]

People have no idea what a truck can and can’t do in an emergency or otherwise. You did good. I couldn’t do what you do. Thanks for doing it!

I see people driving next to a truck and trailer all the time. I always wait until it’s all clear then pass. You don’t want to be next to one of those tires if they blow.

I’ve actually had that happen passing a semi years ago and it sounded like a bomb went off. Fortunately I’ve never blown a tire on the big truck but some of the other guys at work have, it about blows the fender off the truck.

 

[Toto'sDad]

I’ve actually had that happen passing a semi years ago and it sounded like a bomb went off. Fortunately I’ve never blown a tire on the big truck but some of the other guys at work have, it about blows the fender off the truck.

I was hauling a 657 two engine scraper on seven axles into our yard back in the 80s. There was a self-serve station about a mile from our yard on the south side of the road on highway 58. Just as I got even with the station, one of the back dolly tires blew out and flew off, why I don't know, but it impacted something, and flew high into the air, and landed not three feet from a lady filling her car with gas! If that thing being a steel reinforced sidewall tire had hit the woman, well, it wouldn't have been good. You never know what's going to happen when you go trucking!

 

[Wrighty]

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

The best driver can make a mistake, doesn’t necessarily make them an idiot.

 

[USian Pie]

I drive a little Miata.

I assume trucks can't see me and I know I have no chance in an accident with one. I also assume that makes me their worst nightmare.

If I do have to change lanes and put myself in front of a semi, my next move is to stomp the accelerator and put as much space between me and the rig as I safely can.

Perhaps not surprisingly, this mutual understanding and distancing with semi drivers means I never have problems with them. Dingbats in oversized 4x4 pickups are my real natural enemy.

 

[Monoprice99]

Probably the blind spot in her mirror or a pillar and that blocked her view. Amazes me sometimes, at how at the right speed distance, there are in sync moments where trucks are never seen. I can sit in my car ata stop sign and if my own efforts to look sync with the vehicle I saw on a moment or didn't see at all. My favorite for a scariest moment, is the right turn motorist that assumes there is no pedestrian or cyclist on the sidewalk to their left that is trying to cross the street. They try to beat them to the corner, quite often rolling thru the stop sign.

 

[ZackyDog]

Scroll to 1:20; that jeep driver is a reckless ______.

 

[Twofingerlou]

I was hauling a 657 two engine scraper on seven axles into our yard back in the 80s. There was a self-serve station about a mile from our yard on the south side of the road on highway 58. Just as I got even with the station, one of the back dolly tires blew out and flew off, why I don't know, but it impacted something, and flew high into the air, and landed not three feet from a lady filling her car with gas! If that thing being a steel reinforced sidewall tire had hit the woman, well, it wouldn't have been good. You never know what's going to happen when you go trucking!

Man you both got lucky that day!

 

[Twofingerlou]

The best driver can make a mistake, doesn’t necessarily make them an idiot.

True but drive commercially and that might change your mind.

 

[Twofingerlou]

I drive a little Miata.

I assume trucks can't see me and I know I have no chance in an accident with one. I also assume that makes me their worst nightmare.

If I do have to change lanes and put myself in front of a semi, my next move is to stomp the accelerator and put as much space between me and the rig as I safely can.

Perhaps not surprisingly, this mutual understanding and distancing with semi drivers means I never have problems with them. Dingbats in oversized 4x4 pickups are my real natural enemy.

Pick your next move, Shiznit or get off the pot as my grandpa used to say.

 

[Twofingerlou]

Probably the blind spot in her mirror or a pillar and that blocked her view. Amazes me sometimes, at how at the right speed distance, there are in sync moments where trucks are never seen. I can sit in my car ata stop sign and if my own efforts to look sync with the vehicle I saw on a moment or didn't see at all. My favorite for a scariest moment, is the right turn motorist that assumes there is no pedestrian or cyclist on the sidewalk to their left that is trying to cross the street. They try to beat them to the corner, quite often rolling thru the stop sign.

She came along beside me, for how long I don’t know. I was busy scanning my front and left side then I caught the glimpse of her at my right. It happened fast after that and boom there she was in my bumper.