Tragedy in the Buckeye (trailer, installing, companies)
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I do believe that the government does get into our personal lives way to much. And in an emergency the cell phone does come in handy. So with that I stand with Crew Chief.
But, if an accident happens because a person is "Texting While Driving" or "is on the cell phone", then maybe it would be a good idea for the insurance company to step in and make a call on it. Such as a disclaimer to the policy, "If your on the phone or texting while driving and we find that your at fault as well the police report, then you get to pay for your own medical bills and auto replacement and we'll only take care of the folk's you screwed up". And then they get to drop them, or they're force the moron to pay for HIGH RISK Insurance.
Remember it was the Ins.-Doctor lobbies that had laws enacted to wear helmets and seat belts to protect us from ourselves...a 911 call can be made on a cancelled cellphone as long as its charged they could do the same thing to override my safety system idea to save both the stupid and innocent lives.How about a car that will drive itself when it goes left of center or any deviation while moving ? Back up cameras are to be standard on newer vehicles soon how about a system that recognizes you are using texting and reports you to Big Brother for breaking the law?They use cameras at intersections for running red lights and equipment to catch speeders there is nothing to stop Big Brother from saving us from ourselves.
Remember it was the Ins.-Doctor lobbies that had laws enacted to wear helmets and seat belts to protect us from ourselves...a 911 call can be made on a cancelled cellphone as long as its charged they could do the same thing to override my safety system idea to save both the stupid and innocent lives.How about a car that will drive itself when it goes left of center or any deviation while moving ? Back up cameras are to be standard on newer vehicles soon how about a system that recognizes you are using texting and reports you to Big Brother for breaking the law?They use cameras at intersections for running red lights and equipment to catch speeders there is nothing to stop Big Brother from saving us from ourselves.
DOT has been testing a blind side warning device on big rigs to let them know if a vehicle is on either side of them if they try to change lanes. And another device they're trying out is a "Close Proximity override", if you get to close to the vehicle in front of you, the truck will automatically back of to a safer distance. I think a smart truck driver would save the company more money if they would use a little commonsense and drive smarter.
Just using your brain and paying attention to what your doing is the best of any "technology".
DOT has been testing a blind side warning device on big rigs to let them know if a vehicle is on either side of them if they try to change lanes. And another device they're trying out is a "Close Proximity override", if you get to close to the vehicle in front of you, the truck will automatically back of to a safer distance. I think a smart truck driver would save the company more money if they would use a little commonsense and drive smarter.
Just using your brain and paying attention to what your doing is the best of any "technology".
Earthbound, my company decided, several years ago, to install both anti-collision radar and a fender-mounted camera on the passenger-side fender. The anti-collision radar activated frequently on bridge abutments and other non-moving obstacles and also went off so frequently during rush hour traffic that most drivers quickly learned to tune it out. Most of the units have been removed. Our "bullseye" mirrors on the right fender were removed when the cameras were installed. Most of us drivers are alll for technology. WHEN it works. But to remove the cheaper solution (mirror) when the cameras were installed just made NO sense...
My personal experience with the cameras (when they are operational, that is...) is that they are too bright at night for me, despite dimming the brightness. And, since the right turn signal lamp is in the camera's field of view, it's like having a flash bulb continuously go off every time you turn on the right turn signal.
Just like you said; all the technology in the world will not replace good driving skills...
Multitasking While Driving seems to be the biggest problem on the road today. When your cruising at speeds greater than 55mph, you really need to pay attention so the next fella can make it home safely, too. But with all the junk they put into cars, trucks and big rigs today, its a wonder that any of us make it home alive. When I was driving dump trucks hauling asphalt, must if not all the road crews would till the driver, "If we see you on the phone while in our paver, we're sending you home". And all the asphalt plants had sign, "NO CELL PHONE USE WHILE UNDER THE SILO!"
People just need to pay attention to what they're doing and pay attention to the roads, "Not the next text coming in", this family would still be alive today if the father wasn't screwing around and texting while driving about a silly ball game in the middle of a rain storm.
Whats tragic about this situation is, you would expect a younger person to be texting while driving, and not someone who is older and should be responsible, especially when he has his entire FAMILY in the car!! When my family is in the car, I am extra careful, because I have 'precious cargo' in my opinion.
Apparently, he didnt know the dangers of texting while driving... But, with the National News, and Local News harping on it every day about someone else dying because they were texting, (take the train conductor who died and took a lot of rail passengers with him, because he was texting!), you would think someone would STOP and take notice.
I forbid my kids from doing that, when they are driving, and my Wife and I dont do it, either, (simply because we have a hard enough time, trying to turn on some of these cell phones, in order to call out, when we are stopped on the road someplace!!).
Im sorry for the loss of your friends, but, maybe someone else will learn from thier mistake. It always takes people 'dying' before something will be done, to ensure the saftey of others. Unfortunately.
The really sad part about the crash was that he was texting his buddy about stupid football game. That information came out when the investigation was completed. These young kids will never learn not to "Text While Driving" and neither do allot of adult from what I see on the roads everyday.
I had the texting modes removed from my cell phones as well as sending and receiving pictures. The place where I worked part time has a huge problem with employees texting and talking on their cell phones all the time when they should be working. As far as I'm concerned they're stealing time from the company and are taking a chance on getting hurt in the process, or damaging some very expensive equipment.
Sorry, but if their personal are that busy, then they need to stay home and let someone else have their job who's willing to work. And, if they need to stay in contact with their kids that much, then again they need to go home and stay home.
DOT has been testing a blind side warning device on big rigs to let them know if a vehicle is on either side of them if they try to change lanes.
If a truck is equipped with STANDARD required mirrors, there are NO blind spots around a truck that an alert truckers can't see/suspect a car in. None.
Exceptions (just two), you drive a low profiled, short bodied car like Toyota Tercel (how many of those are on the roads ?) and chose to drive at exactly the same speed as a truck (not equipped with a small window at the bottom of a passenger side door) on the right/passenger side of a truck at exactly right spot, I mean at exactly right spot, +/- 1 feet and you missed that sweet spot and you can be seen. The rough location of a spot, if you pass a truck on the right in a Toyota tercel, turn your head to the left, if your head is on the same line as a mounted hood mirror, slow down to a truck speed, your are in the blind spot. However, most truckers check their mirrors frequently and they know that you are passing. You got to be extremely lucky to drive unnoticed into the blind spot.
If you drive anything higher than Toyota tercel, that includes Geo Metro, you are out of luck, the only blind spot for you is 0.1 - 50 feet behind a trailer.
If a truck is equipped with STANDARD required mirrors, there are NO blind spots around a truck that an alert truckers can't see/suspect a car in. None.
I must beg to differ on that statement.
With Standard required (factory mounted) mirrors you have a couple of bad blind spots and both of them are (almost) in direct line the drive axles on both side of the tractor. But most companies will add two convex mirror on the fenders, or mount them on both sides of the hood and this helps to alleviate the problem. But no matter how many mirrors you have, there's always that one car that darts out just as you signal for a line change, just because they don't want to be behind you as your making the move.
The third blind spot that most four wheelers don't give a second thought too is directly behind the trailer. If you can's see my mirrors, I can't see you and your to close to me. On the back side of all trailers is what use to be none as a "ICC Bar". We drivers call it the "In Coming Car Bar", just for those who like to tailgate us
With Standard required (factory mounted) mirrors you have a couple of bad blind spots and both of them are (almost) in direct line the drive axles on both side of the tractor.
Multiple blind spots around trucks are a revelation to me. There is only one blind spot around my truck - behind my trailer. You do realize that truck drivers can see a car(taller than Toyota Tercel) through windshield "in direct line the drive axles" on both side of the tractor regardless whether or not a truck has fender mirrors. Factory would mount all kind of things on a truck if you are willing to pay for it. Yup, there are (large) trucking companies run by MBA bean counters out there which would save $30 per fender mirror to rip benefits of "economy of scale" on large orders. But again those mirrors just make life easier while maneuvering in tight spots, they don't do much to "blind spots" while driving.
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?) and chose to drive at exactly the same speed as a truck (not equipped with a small window at the bottom of a passenger side door) on the right/passenger side of a truck at exactly right spot, I mean at exactly right spot, +/- 1 feet and you missed that sweet spot and you can be seen. The rough location of a spot, if you pass a truck on the right in a Toyota tercel, turn your head to the left, if your head is on the same line as a mounted hood mirror, slow down to a truck speed, your are in the blind spot. However, most truckers check their mirrors frequently and they know that you are passing. You got to be extremely lucky to drive unnoticed into the blind spot. 
