But stupid goes to the bone. Wife called a while ago to relay a local news story. Seems a TRACTOR-trailer was stopped on the street in traffic. Some dummy wanted to cross the street and the semi was in his way. Instead of walking in front or behind the truck: he decided to walk under the trailer. Yep, you guessed it. Hospital reports critical but stable.
- Thread starter mmfan55
- Start date
Stephen Newell
Well-known Member
Stupid is the new national pastime.
Tractorcedric
Member
- Location
- Garland. Utah
Natural selection
I have started to believe that truck drivers seem to believe that they are invincible. They do things that are less than considerate because they know that they are bigger than the other guy. Kind like them being a school yard bully. Maybe the driver was not aware that the pedestrian was attempting to cross under his truck or maybe he knew he could scare the crap out of this guy and is going to plead ignorance.
blue_tractor_man
Member
I'm not a truck driver, a friend allowed me to drive his big Freightliner down the road back in about 1980. I missed a gear, had to stop the truck and start all over. I don't know what sde has against truckers. I have to take exception. I run a small business that takes deliveries of material every day. I find the truck drivers to be some of the nicest, friendliest, most patriotic people I ever come across. I can't thing of a one who I would mind having as a neighbor.
Grandpa's Fords
Member
You just can't fix stupid!
BarnyardEngineering
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rochester, NY
No, the truckers are just trying to survive out there. It's your behavior that makes them look inconsiderate. They are bigger than everyone else, yet you treat them as if they can stop on a dime and maneuver like a Prius. You cut them off, then stab on your brakes. They blow their horn while trying to get the rig stopped before you're obliterated, and they're the bully?!?!!? They just saved your life.
No, the driver was not aware that someone was trying to cross under his truck. How could he be? Why would anyone cross UNDER a truck? How could anyone be that stupid? The trucker would have no reasonable expectation that someone was under their truck in the middle of a busy street.
The pedestrian was jaywalking, doing something incredibly stupid, yet it's the trucker's fault??? No wonder so many people think we're on the brink of societal collapse.
Grandpa's Fords
Member
I agree Barnyard;
Couple years back I was running a chase truck behind our lowboy carrying a D6t with a 12' blade permitted with guard rails, all the signs, flags and flashing lights. About to pull out from a busy intersection 5 people that couldn't wait at the crosswalk crossed over the trailer behind that machine, there was no way that driver could see that happening, they crossed between 2 trucks next to him and his window was only about 10" between the rails and the adjacent trucks. I was back 3 vehicles because other cars cut in front of me but thankfully noticed and radioed to him
"DON'T MOVE"
No one got hurt except the driver was shaking Knowing he could have killed someone. That would have been his fault whether it was or wasn't.
Couple years back I was running a chase truck behind our lowboy carrying a D6t with a 12' blade permitted with guard rails, all the signs, flags and flashing lights. About to pull out from a busy intersection 5 people that couldn't wait at the crosswalk crossed over the trailer behind that machine, there was no way that driver could see that happening, they crossed between 2 trucks next to him and his window was only about 10" between the rails and the adjacent trucks. I was back 3 vehicles because other cars cut in front of me but thankfully noticed and radioed to him
"DON'T MOVE"
No one got hurt except the driver was shaking Knowing he could have killed someone. That would have been his fault whether it was or wasn't.
Crazy Horse
Well-known Member
In the list of things that people do that don't make sense (or are just plain stupid), this story simply sits in the middle somewhere. There are a lot dumber things that happen and believe it or not, some are done by truck drivers as well as teachers, plumbers, janitors, lawyers, writers, movie stars, athletes, the unemployed, and yes even politicians ..... especially politicians.
1948CaseVAI
Well-known Member
People around here do that with trains. I suppose there are fewer now that they have elevated the tracks all the way through the downtown area so foot and vehicle traffic can go under safely. 10 or 15 years ago it caught up to one who ended up dead. Of course it is a lot longer, usually, to walk around a train. I always figured if I had to go across a train I would try to go over, for sure not under.
Crazy Horse
Well-known Member
Grampa ...... holy smokes, close call for sure. How does one trucker get in such immediate radio contact
(CB maybe) with the other guy in a situation like that? Sounds like it all happened in seconds. Are all
truckers in an area on the same channel or is that just a chance thing? Or maybe you just happened to be
talking to him at the time when all of this happened?
(CB maybe) with the other guy in a situation like that? Sounds like it all happened in seconds. Are all
truckers in an area on the same channel or is that just a chance thing? Or maybe you just happened to be
talking to him at the time when all of this happened?
Grandpa's Fords
Member
Company 2 ways installed in the trucks with direct channels so that other radio traffic doesn't interfere, only the radios on a direct channel can use. In that case lead truck, hauler and myself were only one's on channel.
Just like a walkie talkie. We always had direct communications on oversize loads that required chase. Lead truck was already ahead to scope out next intersection.
These radios were fairly expensive but paid for themselves many times over. Range in direct was only about a mile and for the most part had to be line of sight, Radios were limited by towers of the provider, in our case they covered 90% of our work areas about 150- 200 mile radius. Extremely dependable and provider was 1st rate.
old popper
Well-known Member
I knew a man that got killed doing that very thing. He had been drinking, and decided to go under the truck. The light turned green and the rest is history.
rustyfarmall
Well-known Member
And the flip side of that is the drivers of small cars and SUVs that have NO respect for something that is WAY bigger and heavier than what they are driving.
Local guy is not too bright and likes beer. He is reported to get up in the morning, go buy a can of beer, walk over to the railroad track a block away, and walk along the track drinking his breakfast. This sort of thinking explains at least partly why there are so many local reports of people hit while walking along the tracks.
KEH
Andy Martin
Well-known Member
You missed the fact that he said he was running a chase truck following his company's truck with the CAT.
Grandpa's Fords
Member
Commonly called pilots cars or vehicles used to promote clear path for an oversize load through sometimes narrow and/or busy traffic areas. Lead to try to clear the path and guide. Sometimes stop traffic for load to clear and chase would attempt to keep traffic from passing the load in tight spots and yell out clearance for obstacles like jersey barriers other vehicles, bridge abutments etc. When permitting loads the regulating state would mandate their use due to a variety of conditions like construction, narrow bridges and traffic patterns as well the time of day to limit impact to normal traffic. Strict route must be maintained and the fines for not complying resulted in revoking the permits and you could pay for weight over gross gvw of hauler as well over width.
I've seen fines of $55,000 for one company that went off route just for a pee break.
In the case I stated previously the chase truck did exactly what it was intended for. To get back to the original thread you can't imagine the stupid you see in these positions. I was fortunate to have experienced,talented coworkers and a company that didn't skimp on the necessary precautions.
Kansasredneck
Member
I don't think any trucker would try that. They are all too aware of the devastating damage their rigs can do, and even if they were inclined to be so callous, knowing that they would loose hours on a tight schedule would dissuade them. Time is money, and if the wheels are not turning, it is not being made.
Yes, truckers can be a bit abrupt. Consider this, it costs as much to stop and start a semi as it does to travel five miles. Simple laws of physics, it takes energy to put that load in motion. Lots of pedestrians are complete jerks. We have people near me who think it is their right to go for a jog down the middle of the gravel roads and won't move over. The speed limit is 55 on gravel here, but if you go by them at 30, they still are screaming at you to slow down. The loco gov spent millions of hard earned tax dollars to build a series of walk paths for them, yet they still persist on wanting to play in traffic. Darwins law would apply, but who wants that on their conscience?
Last year I witnessed a group from the development standing near the north entrance where the speed limit is still 55, paved road, throwing roofing nails out as vehicles passed whom they thought were going too fast. Local gravel company had a pile of flats that week.
Yes, truckers can be a bit abrupt. Consider this, it costs as much to stop and start a semi as it does to travel five miles. Simple laws of physics, it takes energy to put that load in motion. Lots of pedestrians are complete jerks. We have people near me who think it is their right to go for a jog down the middle of the gravel roads and won't move over. The speed limit is 55 on gravel here, but if you go by them at 30, they still are screaming at you to slow down. The loco gov spent millions of hard earned tax dollars to build a series of walk paths for them, yet they still persist on wanting to play in traffic. Darwins law would apply, but who wants that on their conscience?
Last year I witnessed a group from the development standing near the north entrance where the speed limit is still 55, paved road, throwing roofing nails out as vehicles passed whom they thought were going too fast. Local gravel company had a pile of flats that week.
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