To the trucker who 'had' to pass me (rant)

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot) 01/06/2015 at 09:15 • Filed to: Rant

7

29

Im not really fond of you. Road conditions were bad, of course I'm going to drive slow. I got into the left lane because the people in the right we're going slower than me (I was passing them). The only reason a gap happened between me and the car in front of me in the left lane was because they decided to risk going faster on a road that is full of slush.

So the idea of you gunning up about a 1.5 cars length behind me, flashing your brights, is naturally going to irritated me. I know a semi needs twice it's length to stop, if I had to stopped, I would of got seriously hurt.

And yes, I know the lane to my right has 'just' enough space between cars for my car to fit, but there was only so much play room there and if any of them would of stepped of their brakes, again, damaged car.

So you're just going to have wait til I can change lanes, safely and comfortable.

I got the company name, the route, and the time. I just don't know the which truck it is. Debating about getting the phone number for the company, and maybe reporting you too. Before your little stunt me with, I saw your haphazardly changing lanes, really pushing your luck with the other cars. I know you have a deadline, but show respect and safety for the others on the road, seriously.

Edit: apparently I need to give more context cuz some of you are swearing at me (seriously guys?).

I was in the right lane, going 60. The truck in question was coming up in front of me, with about 5 cars in front of him, also in the right lane. I was going faster then them, so I changed lanes as there weren't really too many other cars in the left lane (I saw him cut off another car earlier, I knew he had space). Now the truck was in the right lane for a while too beforehand. After I changed lanes and passed the trucks cab, he changed lanes too. The other cars were going about 57-59 mph. I slowly passed the first car, with no issue. When I got to around the 2nd car, I looked in my rearview mirror, and he got too close (imo) to me, flashing his brights, and he kept throttling his gas behind me.

He wanted me to either change lanes, or speed up. There wasn't enough room to change lanes, and the road wasn't good (you can't see it, but I promise you, there was slush). I could of sped up easily, but then I'd have to change lanes to get out of the way. I didn't feel comfortable with that because of the slush and the momentum of my car.

So I increased my speed by 2-3 mph and change lanes at the first, comfortable time.

I wasn't being a jerk by holding up the passing lane, I was passing myself, just apparently not fast enough for mister semi, who moments before was seemingly content at his slower speed.

jkm7680 > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 09:30

4

Two types of truck drivers:

1. Safe ones.

2. The ones who think their name is Cletus Snow.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 09:31

4

I'd figure that if you give them the route and time, the company can determine which truck it was. I say report him. If you're in something that can do that much damage, and you spend that much time driving, you should know better than to drive in a manner that will endanger people's lives when conditions are bad.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 09:37

1

Not to mention if you had to stop he would have most likely jacknifed the trailer across the rest of the road.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 09:40

3

To be fair, if those were the road conditions it's not bad enough to be going under the speed limit in the left lane, compared to the roads out here right now that's pretty much a prepped dragstrip.

zeontestpilot > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 01/06/2015 at 09:43

1

I'm thinking so too. i usually feel safe on the road, but the snow/ice/slush makes me nervous. Having a irresponsible truck driver nearby really pushes my limits of what I feel is comfortable.

Travis123 > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 09:44

4

Slush? That road looks clear to me. I'm guessing you don't have winter tires, right?

zeontestpilot > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 01/06/2015 at 09:49

0

In this weather I try to be overly careful too. The road may of looked clear, but you had to gently apply the brakes otherwise the car wouldnt of stopped. I ended up pumping the brakes a lot for almost near emergencies, and I always try to keep a good distance between me and the car in front too! I can only imagine the damage that semi would do.

zeontestpilot > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. 01/06/2015 at 09:53

0

The speed limit was 70, I was going an average of 60, on the straights. and it's mostly straight, it was i96 east of Lansing.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 09:56

3

I'm not saying he was in the right, as he clearly wasn't, but if that is a picture right after the incident than I probably would have flashed my lights at you too in those conditions.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 09:58

3

Snow (esp. fresh) doesn't bother me. Just be gentle on everything and leave room, snow is stable enough you can still get places quickly.

Slush I don't like, but it depends on the type. I hate the soaking stuff you get between lanes on an otherwise clear road. The stuff you get when a lot of snow comes down fast on a medium traffic road I don't mind. It's more stable than it feels and it's physically impossible to go fast in it, so nothing to worry about.

Ice— well, the morning after, if the road isn't white with either salt or snow I tread like a granny.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Travis123 01/06/2015 at 09:59

0

I'm not sure that's his pic.

zeontestpilot > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 01/06/2015 at 10:02

0

it's my pic

zeontestpilot > Travis123 01/06/2015 at 10:07

0

Earlier on the trip, I had to brake and my rear ended started to wobble to the left. It kept happening. If you look in the left lane, you'll see faint white line, that's the thickest part of it. The rest blended in with the pavement, :/.

And no snow tires. I'm strapped for cash, and the money that was for them went into regular tires, because they were bad.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 10:10

2

Oh.

In that case I don't see what slush you're talking about. On that road I would more be watching for spray to see if it's ice.

Don't get me wrong, I don't like wet roads below freezing either, but I just don't see the slush.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 10:10

1

and the truck speed limit is 65 isnt it?

I had an issue yesterday too on 275 but the opposite. Truck in the left lane on a perfectly clear road with clear lanes to it's right doing 50 mph.

come on

I move over to go around on the right, he makes like he was trying to get over (goes over the lane line) then goes back seeing I had moved. OK, I didn't give you enough opportunity to move over, I won't pass you on the right and trap you in the left lane, so I get back behind him....and he does nothing. Just stays in the left, screw this i'm going around you.

Went around him.

makes no effort to move out of the left lane until I can no longer see him in my mirror

what a jackass

zeontestpilot > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. 01/06/2015 at 10:17

0

That is a pic after the incident, but it doesn't do justice to the road conditions. In the left lane, you can see a faint white line, that's the thickest part of the slush. The rest blended into the road.

I can understand flashing the brights, it's when I can't do anything about it is what really irks me. I could increase my speed, but I felt as if it was too dangerous at the time.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 10:18

0

I guess do what you feel is safe, but in that case I would not hang out in the left lane.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 10:28

2

No offense but why are you going slow on those roads? I live on the west side of Michigan and that is perfectly clear. If this was michigan then no wonder your getting passed. I went home after work last night on snow covered highways at 70mph. (It was 2am and no traffic)

zeontestpilot > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 01/06/2015 at 10:45

0

I agree. Snow is easy to handle, slush you lose grip but it's usually easy to spot it, Ice is like a unlikable, hidden ninja.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 10:45

0

How are the roads today?

zeontestpilot > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 01/06/2015 at 10:53

1

Yeah, it shows up horrible in the pic, doesn't it? I'll have to admit, I wished the roads were that clear.

zeontestpilot > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. 01/06/2015 at 10:56

1

I edited the story, to give more context. I was originally passing him, and I was going faster. He decided to change lanes too, then he increased his speed then my story happened.

zeontestpilot > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 01/06/2015 at 11:13

0

I was traveling on i96, westward to Lansing when this happened. I can travel fast on the roads, I just try to keep in mind that if I need to use the brakes for any reason, I assume my stopping distance will be doubled if there is snow/slush on the ground. So I naturally end up going slower so my momentum decreases. I try to plan for the unpredictable.

Last winter I got into two accidents. One was because I couldn't get a grip on the snow going around a long turn. I did everything by the book too. The other one was black ice, which I purposely spun off the road so I wouldn't hit anyone else.

zeontestpilot > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/06/2015 at 11:23

0

Doable but tricky. Stopping is going to be a challenge. The worst was in East Lansing, really thick slush.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 11:46

1

I'm going to get some lunch in an hour. Should be fun. :)

thebigbossyboss > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 11:50

1

Trucks are more stable in slush because they weigh a lot more so it makes sense that he was able to go faster than you.

zeontestpilot > thebigbossyboss 01/06/2015 at 12:48

0

That's does make sense.

thebigbossyboss > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 12:55

3

It doesn't excuse him being an asshat though.

brianbrannon > zeontestpilot 01/06/2015 at 22:55

0

What excuses are we accepting for holding up traffic in the left lane?