4 Wheelers

I think the biggest problems we have with 4 wheelers is they just don’t understand how to interact with an 18 wheeler.

Let me draw an analogy. I am a licensed pilot. I just fly the little ones, but my point is I can safely fly in the same air space with Capt. Big Iron. Why? I’ve been trained to understand what my capabilities are and what theirs are too. I’ve been in the same landing pattern as a big jet at a major airport and we both knew what each was doing.

So here’s my point. How many driver ed students are ever given instructions on how to share the highways with 80,000 pounds of moving mass? Wouldn’t it be great if new drivers, and a lot of older ones too, knew how to tell if a truck is loaded or empty and how to adjust your passing accordingly? How many realize how dangerous it is to pass on the right side? I’ll bet very few people know that the “on ramp” to an interstate is really an acceleration ramp. This is where you get up to speed and blend in with the traffic. I don’t know how many times I’ve been frustrated when I’m doing my best to get on the road when I see some 4 wheeler almost come to a stop, look around, and if the driving lane is free for a mile down the road, timidly enter the freeway. This is especially terrifying when you’re doing a 270 degree turn to get on the interstate.

Probably the most dangerous of all is, when in heavy traffic, you try to leave a space between you and the vehicle in front in order to stop safely, then a 4 wheeler will dive into that space and slam on the brakes. I wonder if they would do the same in front of a freight train at a crossing? I’m sure the train would win and possibly there would be one less idiot in the gene pool. The problem with jumping in front of an 18 wheeler and a collision results because the truck can’t stop in time, is that the trucker is going to be charged for following too close. It’s a lose lose situation.

If I’m on a trip in my car I look for an empty 18 wheeler that is staying near the speed limit and pace the trucker at a reasonable distance. He has better eyes on the road ahead than I do and if he slows down I know there is a reason for it and adjust accordingly and frankly I feel much safer than I do around impatient drivers, the $50,000 pick up trucks and SUV’s who think they own the passing lane and those on their cel phones.

Enjoy the day

Flat Tire