Several multi-vehicle crashes in Indiana today

hoosieroriginal · ‎03-04-2012

High winds, white out conditions - at one accident a man said the semi trucks just kept flying down the road when no one else could see - 9 trucks - 4 vehicles - luckily no serious injuries. I think truck drivers need to learn to drive safely in this weather. I know they have deadlines - but almost every multi-vehicle accident in Indiana today was caused by a semi. I hate driving next to a semi in good weather, let alone bad weather.

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

Stay safe out there. Hope you don't have to go out tonight. White-knuckle driving is not fun!

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
High winds, white out conditions - at one accident a man said the semi trucks just kept flying down the road when no one else could see - 9 trucks - 4 vehicles - luckily no serious injuries. I think truck drivers need to learn to drive safely in this weather. I know they have deadlines - but almost every multi-vehicle accident in Indiana today was caused by a semi. I hate driving next to a semi in good weather, let alone bad weather.

My experiences after driving hundreds of thousands of miles, many towing race cars, some on a trailer some ground towed, much of it on 2 lane roads.

In general, over-the-road truck drivers are the best ones on the roads and highways. They need a special type of license and most have driven in all types of weather conditions?

Here in the Midwest I've driven in all weather conditions. My biggest concern is and never has been truck drivers. I won't go into concern me the most, but commercial licensed drivers are not among them.

I don't no who was/is at fault, but because the driver of a car at 1 of the accidents said semi's were flying down the road? Ain't convincing to me. This is where dash cams can show what really happened.

Sorry you fear driving around a semi, but I know many that feel the same as you. Their fear is based more on then "size of the semi" and the "drafting effect wind stream produced" when following or driving behind a semi. To them it has nothing to do with the truck drivers ability to drive.

When we get our first snowfall? The roads are filled with drivers that seem to not have a clue how to handle a motor vehicle on a slick surface.

Why they don't go to large open spaces to learn? Beats me, but that is what I did, and still do to know exactly what to do to correct a slightly or fully wandering vehicle? It has to be an instinct, not a "thinking of what to do" reaction.

hckynut(john)

hoosieroriginal · ‎03-04-2012

@hckynutjohn wrote:
@hoosieroriginal wrote:
High winds, white out conditions - at one accident a man said the semi trucks just kept flying down the road when no one else could see - 9 trucks - 4 vehicles - luckily no serious injuries. I think truck drivers need to learn to drive safely in this weather. I know they have deadlines - but almost every multi-vehicle accident in Indiana today was caused by a semi. I hate driving next to a semi in good weather, let alone bad weather.

My experiences after driving hundreds of thousands of miles, many towing race cars, some on a trailer some ground towed, much of it on 2 lane roads.

In general, over-the-road truck drivers are the best ones on the roads and highways. They need a special type of license and most have driven in all types of weather conditions?

Here in the Midwest I've driven in all weather conditions. My biggest concern is and never has been truck drivers. I won't go into concern me the most, but commercial licensed drivers are not among them.

I don't no who was/is at fault, but because the driver of a car at 1 of the accidents said semi's were flying down the road? Ain't convincing to me. This is where dash cams can show what really happened.

Sorry you fear driving around a semi, but I know many that feel the same as you. Their fear is based more on then "size of the semi" and the "drafting effect wind stream produced" when following or driving behind a semi. To them it has nothing to do with the truck drivers ability to drive.

When we get our first snowfall? The roads are filled with drivers that seem to not have a clue how to handle a motor vehicle on a slick surface.

Why they don't go to large open spaces to learn? Beats me, but that is what I did, and still do to know exactly what to do to correct a slightly or fully wandering vehicle? It has to be an instinct, not a "thinking of what to do" reaction.

hckynut(john)

@hckynutjohn - I agree years ago semi drivers were the best drivers on the road -I remember them helping my mom when she broke down going across the country with three little girls in the car. I can even remember my mom purposely riding behind semi drivers in bad weather because she was sure they could see what was going on. But I think the new younger drivers aren't as safe. I think they are just out there trying to get somewhere fast, without any thought of the people around them.

JustJazzmom · ‎03-09-2010

I have to agree with @hoosieroriginal re: semi truck drivers. It's now get the job done as fast and as quickly as I can so I can get paid. It used to be that way (maybe back when I first got a driver's license) but now not anymore.

And in certain areas of the country there are double tandem trucks to worry about!! --Imagine two 18 wheelers hooked behind each other and traveling at highway speeds!! Scary!!

And I live in an area where there is a lot of traffic-- we call one of our highways-- The 'biggest parking lot in the world' or the 'Long Island Distressway'!

☼The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. GBShaw☼

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
@hckynutjohn wrote:
@hoosieroriginal wrote:
High winds, white out conditions - at one accident a man said the semi trucks just kept flying down the road when no one else could see - 9 trucks - 4 vehicles - luckily no serious injuries. I think truck drivers need to learn to drive safely in this weather. I know they have deadlines - but almost every multi-vehicle accident in Indiana today was caused by a semi. I hate driving next to a semi in good weather, let alone bad weather.

My experiences after driving hundreds of thousands of miles, many towing race cars, some on a trailer some ground towed, much of it on 2 lane roads.

In general, over-the-road truck drivers are the best ones on the roads and highways. They need a special type of license and most have driven in all types of weather conditions?

Here in the Midwest I've driven in all weather conditions. My biggest concern is and never has been truck drivers. I won't go into concern me the most, but commercial licensed drivers are not among them.

I don't no who was/is at fault, but because the driver of a car at 1 of the accidents said semi's were flying down the road? Ain't convincing to me. This is where dash cams can show what really happened.

Sorry you fear driving around a semi, but I know many that feel the same as you. Their fear is based more on then "size of the semi" and the "drafting effect wind stream produced" when following or driving behind a semi. To them it has nothing to do with the truck drivers ability to drive.

When we get our first snowfall? The roads are filled with drivers that seem to not have a clue how to handle a motor vehicle on a slick surface.

Why they don't go to large open spaces to learn? Beats me, but that is what I did, and still do to know exactly what to do to correct a slightly or fully wandering vehicle? It has to be an instinct, not a "thinking of what to do" reaction.

hckynut(john)
@hckynutjohn - I agree years ago semi drivers were the best drivers on the road -I remember them helping my mom when she broke down going across the country with three little girls in the car. I can even remember my mom purposely riding behind semi drivers in bad weather because she was sure they could see what was going on. But I think the new younger drivers aren't as safe. I think they are just out there trying to get somewhere fast, without any thought of the people around them.

Back in the day (like 40 years ago or more) truckers were some of the best on the road.

But it is just crazy what they are giving CDL's to these days. The training is a joke at many 'schools' and the need for drivers keeps increasing so anyone is going through.

Since I started driving in the late 1970's, I'm amazed at how the truck traffic has increased on the highways. I used to love to hit the open road, but the open road just doesn't exist anymore.

I, too, am so leery of driving around trucks these days, and I find them to often be the rudest and most careless vehicles on the road today. Of course not all, but so many more than used to be.

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@JustJazzmom wrote:
I have to agree with @hoosieroriginal re: semi truck drivers. It's now get the job done as fast and as quickly as I can so I can get paid. It used to be that way (maybe back when I first got a driver's license) but now not anymore.

And in certain areas of the country there are double tandem trucks to worry about!! --Imagine two 18 wheelers hooked behind each other and traveling at highway speeds!! Scary!!

And I live in an area where there is a lot of traffic-- we call one of our highways-- The 'biggest parking lot in the world' or the 'Long Island Distressway'!

Some of my younger hockey players, along with some of my older friends, are present over-the-road drivers. Many of them drive pretty much the same routes and are not paid "by the run", but weekly like many other non-hourly jobs.

They have no more reason to hurry than you or I do. Many drivers, not in a semi, want to always be the lead car. Ever have a driver pass, only you, and than pull in front of you and leave the same exit as you? Why? Lead car!

I don't care what a bad driver chooses as the vehicle, they are "on purposes" waiting to happen, NOT an accident. Truck drivers don't get many 2nd chances, then they lose their source of income. Why would they run that risk?

hckynut(john)

CrazyDaisy · ‎03-20-2010

I drive 30,000+ miles a year, and from my experience the problems are usually not caused by the truck drivers. It is the "white knuckle" drivers. They get scared driving on highways, when it rains, when it snows etc..

Someday, when scientists discover the center of the Universe....some people will be disappointed it is not them.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

I am not disagreeing with any comments expressed here, but just want to share what I know.

My smart, beautiful, petite, blonde haired daughter drives a semi---hit the road nearly 3 years, and well over 700,000 miles ago. She chooses to do west coast runs; has made many runs to CA, and the PNW. When the trailer is fully loaded, the total weight is anywhere from 78,000 to 80,000 lbs. The truck she drives is fully computerized, and is set to a maximum speed limit of 70 mph; many of the states she drives thru have a speed limit of 55 mph for truckers. The computer records many functions of the truck while it is being driven, speed, braking, etc., and cannot be tampered with, so it is easy for the company to check on their drivers. My daughter does team driving with a partner; they each drive 11 hour shifts, and their only downtime is for fuel, and breaks.

I give semi trucks plenty of room, and avoid traveling in the midst of multiple trucks. I make sure my headlights and tail lights are on, and stay back far enough to be visible in their blind spots. Visibility is extremely important with semi trucks, and my daughter has cautioned me many times about driving in snowy conditions on the interstate, in my white car. Even though the driver may sit up high in the truck, they CANNOT see what is directly in front of the grill on their rig, which can be very dangerous for the driver of a compact car.

Safety is always THE number one concern, and highly stressed to all semi drivers, but we all must realize our part in the safety aspect of sharing the road with any driver---particularly with those behind the wheel of vehicles that are taller, longer and wider, with visibility issues.

Plaid Pants2 · ‎03-14-2015

@RedTop wrote:
I am not disagreeing with any comments expressed here, but just want to share what I know.

My smart, beautiful, petite, blonde haired daughter drives a semi---hit the road nearly 3 years, and well over 700,000 miles ago. She chooses to do west coast runs; has made many runs to CA, and the PNW. When the trailer is fully loaded, the total weight is anywhere from 78,000 to 80,000 lbs. The truck she drives is fully computerized, and is set to a maximum speed limit of 70 mph; many of the states she drives thru have a speed limit of 55 mph for truckers. The computer records many functions of the truck while it is being driven, speed, braking, etc., and cannot be tampered with, so it is easy for the company to check on their drivers. My daughter does team driving with a partner; they each drive 11 hour shifts, and their only downtime is for fuel, and breaks.

I give semi trucks plenty of room, and avoid traveling in the midst of multiple trucks. I make sure my headlights and tail lights are on, and stay back far enough to be visible in their blind spots. Visibility is extremely important with semi trucks, and my daughter has cautioned me many times about driving in snowy conditions on the interstate, in my white car. Even though the driver may sit up high in the truck, they CANNOT see what is directly in front of the grill on their rig, which can be very dangerous for the driver of a compact car.

Safety is always THE number one concern, and highly stressed to all semi drivers, but we all must realize our part in the safety aspect of sharing the road with any driver---particularly with those behind the wheel of vehicles that are taller, longer and wider, with visibility issues.

I have great respect for drivers of semis.

When ever I come across one, I make sure to give them their space, and to stay in their mirrors. Also, when I pass one, I make sure that I can see their front grill and the road, before I move in front of them.

I have seen drivers cut them off, and the driver of the tractor-trailer have to slam on their breaks. I thought that for sure that the big-rig was going to plow in to the back of the car.

Look, I've never driven a semi, but even I know that you can't stop those things on a dime.

When I have driven behind a semi, (from a safe distance) even when the winds are light, I notice the trailer fish-tails a little bit.

Why?

Because the side of that trailer acts like a sail on a sailboat.

It isn't the driver's fault.

It's physics.

Physics.

It can either work for you, or against you.

And sometimes you don't get to choose.