This forum is for non aviation related topics, political debate, random thoughts, and everything else that just doesn't seem to fit in the normal forums. ALL FORUM RULES STILL APPLY.
Most of the time if someone has their high beams on, no matter how many "wheels" is has, I don't stare at them like a frickin deer! Try looking at bit to the right.
You are missing the point completely, the truck drivers are asking you to dim their lights because you have them on high beam and it is degrading their ability to see where they are driving.
Common courtesy dictates you dim your lights, refusal to do means you are deliberately making it unsafe for the oncoming driver.
It works real good. And, if someone is coming up from behind, I use that little dimmer lever on the mirror. It was put there for a reason.
Trucks have very large mirrors and they do not have a dimmer lever.
And I'm pretty sure my lights are aimed properly.
Which means you are being discourteous and also putting others at risk through your ignorance.
Flame away.
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The most difficult thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
After over a half a century of flying I can not remember even one trip that I refused to do that resulted in someone getting killed because of my decision not to fly.
CAN'T YOU BELIEVE THIS $HIT!?! A show on the History channel about driving a truck....on the ice. Let's see. I'm in a truck and I'm driving...on the ice.
keep your eyes on the channel ..buffalo airways should grace your screen very soon and watch out for the resulting posts on avcanada should be entertaining ..
Closing comments on a thread I feel has pretty much run full circle.
Trip7, I think most of the replies posted since your last response pretty much sum up the common denominator here. First, understand what's being asked or stated. After that, perhaps we can work out a solution. If only you could spend a couple of days in a big truck, you'd probably revise some of your posts. Several years ago, I "traded" paint with a four wheeler in Montreal. After he climbed into the cab to exchange paperwork, he remarked at the lack of visibility. He assumed (incorrectly) that I had him visual right up to contact point.
All that being said, we ain't no saints in Transport industry!! There are some real characters out there. Whenever running my car past trucks, I do it as QUICKLY as possible. Some of the stuff I've seen late at night has even me looking for an "out" with the truck.Why risk mixing it up with an inexperienced driver? Just get on down the road. With the explosion of North American trade over the past 15-20 years, the trucking industry has struggled to find (and retain) experienced personnel. The more elder guys are getting out, while the younger generation wants nothing to do with it. As a result, if you have commercial driver licence, and a heartbeat, you might just be prime trucker material!!! And tripleseven, forget about shifting gears, most North American fleets are transitioning to automatics. Kinda hard to fail a guy on a road test for bad shifting when it's an auto!! IMHO, I feel the standards have declined in this industry. This creates industry image problems, which further warps the public's opinion when something goes wrong.
Thanks for the thread, 777! If your post had been the only one, I would have been banging my head against the wall groaning about how I deal with your type on a daily basis. Much too my surprise however, based on these responses, you're definitely a minority. The mood evolving in the trucking world is somewhat of an "us vs. them" mentality regarding car drivers. Judging by the level of understanding posted here, perhaps we are drawing wrong conclusions. I know the above responses have been refreshing. Anyway, drive and fly(of course!), safely,
As a result, if you have commercial driver licence, and a heartbeat, you might just be prime trucker material!!!
Just like in aviation.
We had idiots in aviation when I started too, but today there are just more of them because there are more airplanes and like trucks they are making them easier to drive..
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The most difficult thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
After over a half a century of flying I can not remember even one trip that I refused to do that resulted in someone getting killed because of my decision not to fly.
I think Triple 7 that the point you might be missing, specifically to lights, is that your eye to wheel height is about 5 or 6 feet. With the eye to wheel height of a truck at about 9 feet, the experience IS different.
If trucks are flashing their lights and asking you to dim yours, it's cause your high beams ARE bothersome. It's not cause they're being pricks about it. There isn't a secret trucker club that's all about ruling the highway thru dimmed headlights.
And as far as cruise control and managing momentum. Yep, pretty much all trucks since the late 80's have fairly advanced engine and cruise control tech. Sorta a 'drive by wire' system if you will. I drove for one National carrier in the mid 90's that had the FCU dialed into the GPS/Satcom unit. Thru most of North America we had 370 hp avail to save fuel. But when we traveled thru a designated 'mountainous' region, power was automatically bumped up to 500hp. In fact as a measure to encourage truck drivers to use cruise control, a punitive system that has been pretty much universally adopted, is to have as much as 20 % more power avail on cruise than on the pedal. Which means drivers are loath to tap the brakes and loose the power.
Having said that, going down a grade with a load on, you easily roll past the governor. Now, the truck computer system ( sometimes instantanously) reports the over speed to Management, the brakes Do come on. But there is Some (small - usually about 5 % of total trip time) tolerance for O/Speed, and most Down grades turn into up grades ( going thru a valley ). So you let a little overspeed build to help you get up the other side. 'Cause no matter how much power you have, you won't have enough to hold onto the speed limit going up hill with a real load on.
So cruise control or not, truck speeds vary while going down the road.
And that's another point. Empty, Most every tractor trailers weigh in at about 40, 000 # or more. They're up to 140 000 # loaded (count the trailer axles, the Garbage trucks are the worst for hauling heavy - not that they're 'overloaded', is legal, just slow to speed up and slow down ). It can take 2 - 2 1/2 KM's to get up to speed. That's with maybe 370 HP to 550 HP and a couple of thousand Foot/LBs of torque. How much equivalent HP do the Brakes have to produce to get the damn thing stopped in a hurry ? The industry caution is to make sure you leave skid marks 'to prove you tried' if your going to be in a collision.
That translates into drivers staying on Cruise to the last possible second. Coming up behind you and 'ridding your bumper' in an effort to hang on to that power. And again, it's about managing momentum. Tap the brakes and give up 10 kph and it'll take a long time to get that little bit of speed back. The person you braked for is long outa sight by that time.
I'm certainly not defending this practice or saying 'look out', just 'splaining some of what everyone sees 'out there'.
The fact is I often see stuff both from 'big trucks' and 'four wheelers' that make me wince. The Number of times I have seen a car racing down the Highway and driving aggressively, weaving in and outta traffic, in the rain, then 20 - 30 KM's upside down in the ditch !! That's hardly an accident.
Or the OPP Tooling down the 401 ... No lights, no sirens, .... doing faster than 140. What an example THEY set.
Or a big truck, faster but heavier, passing a slower but lighter one and getting jammed out in the left lane at the first grade. Come on guys, show some professionalism. Tap the brake for a moment and get right back on cruise. Let him by. You know he's faster than you, WTF ? But again, loathe to take it off cruise.
Or the Minivan with the Baby on board sign. I automatically try to give a bit more courtosey. I picture a harried soccer mom with a load of kids. But then witness the most Outrageous aggressive driving style of the day.
This winter I saw more than 10 snow plows all smashed up and the blades torn off. Who the hell is driving those ? And I only drive part time on weekends. How many were Really in the ditch ?
Most drivers I know take the job seriously. DOT makes Sure of it thru road side inspections and base audits. We do circle checks, our own version of a weight and balance, we adhere to very similar duty days.
We're not driving our cars TO work, We're AT work. And in Canada, there is Federal and Provincial legislation entitling everyone to a safe work environment.
Again, play nice and dim your lights.
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Flying is better than walking. Walking is better than running. Running is better than crawling. All of these however, are better than extraction by a Med-Evac, even if this is technically a form of flying.
My take on this as a former truck driver (not for too long, but I did have a log book and got pissed off by families in minivans cutting me off) is that most of these guys have more hours driving than anyone has flying. They know what's what, and how to drive savely. They are the professionals of the road just like pilots are professionals of the skies. If you are practicing poor drivership (airmanship) they let you know- because they don't want to kill you with their vehicle. You are doing something that can kill YOU. So they let you know.
I have LOTS of respect for truck drivers. You think you're tired flying a plane? Try driving a rig. It's amazing these drivers don't have more accidents.
I have LOTS of respect for truck drivers. You think you're tired flying a plane? Try driving a rig. It's amazing these drivers don't have more accidents.
It would be interesting to know the accident rate per hour driven for truck drivers compared to airplane drivers.
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The most difficult thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
After over a half a century of flying I can not remember even one trip that I refused to do that resulted in someone getting killed because of my decision not to fly.
Comparing a truck driver job to the pressures of a pilot is really like comparing hitting your foot with a shovel and Jesus dieing for your sins...no correlation.
I'm not saying being a pilot flying down to mins with ice hanging on your wings and an engine out is the shit hero's are made of...but all I know is that truck drivers can pull over on the road if they get into bad weather or mechanical failures occur.
niss wrote:So why do trucks have to pull into weigh stations?
Not sure...maybe their career is on the line by method of a 6 month-yearly medical exam. Maybe that their job is on the line every 6 months - year by metho of a trucker type PPC. Maybe because they have dedicated themselves to a lifetime of continuous study and improvement.
I'm not sure really but all I know that a TV show dedicated to driving on an icy road in a truck...is EXACTLY like all aspects of flying. Exactly.
niss wrote:So why do trucks have to pull into weigh stations?
So they can be checked out that they are safe and not overweight. If they are over so much per axle, or if the load is distributed improperly, that can damage roads. Any infractions are paid by the DRIVER out of his pocket. Got a cheap boss that doesn't fix the truck? That costs YOU money. Overweight, because some guy with a forklift messed up? That'll cost you too.
Incidentally, truckers do have to pass a medical. I forget how often, but I just got a notice for mine the other day. And the driving laws change just like the aviation laws.
Flying and driving a truck are not exactly the same, but there are numerous similarities, IMHO.
Triple seven...your wife is as cluless as you are. If people are asking you ALL THE TIME to dim your brights, YOU ARE AT FAULT. SOmething is wrong with your car, is my guess. Are you hauling around some huge fat ass in the trunk? Becasue it sure sounds like your headlights are miss aimed. You can't tell by looking, you need to get em checked. Also if you can't see well on dims maybe your headlights are old. Or maybe the plastic lenses are dirty or cloudy. The fact that you drive a Toyota but have a BMW logo as an avatar speaks volumes about you. Just out of law school?
Nope, nothing wrong with my car. Just took it to the dealer and all four lights are aimed perfectly. I'm still chocking it up to sensitive trucker eyes. 100% of truckers think my lights are too bright, even from 2+km away, and less than 25% other vehicles do.
Who said anything about me liking BMW's? Do some research on what the company logo signifies, then call me back, fool.
tripleseven wrote:Nope, nothing wrong with my car. Just took it to the dealer and all four lights are aimed perfectly. I'm still chocking it up to sensitive trucker eyes. 100% of truckers think my lights are too bright, even from 2+km away, and less than 25% other vehicles do.100% of truckers think my lights are too bright, even from 2+km away, and less than 25% other vehicles do.
Dude, you are scary! It's like trying to convince someone that the earth is not flat!
Still not a clue that you are The One giving problems and not the other way around.
Honest, I need to know if you passed this cog test
(like a fish making its way through a net)
And I'm like Stinson4118C, when I first saw your BMW avartar it told me that either you liked the brand or had one before realizing you were talking about a Toyota.
A bit like naming yourself tripleseven. You either like the aircraft in some ways or, fly/flew it.
If 100% of truckers and 25% of others flash you: YOU are the problem.
If 50% of truckers and 10% of others flash you: YOU are the problem.
If 10% of truckers and 2% of others flash you: YOU are the problem.
If 2% of truckers and 1% of others flash you: YOU are the problem.
If 0.1% of truckers and 0.01% of others flash you: THEY may be the problem, but probably not.
I've driven hundreds of thousands of kilometres at night over the years. I've only been flashed by truckers a half dozen times. Usually when I'm very tired and forget to dip my lights.
Perhaps one private vehicle in a thousand flashes me. Maybe.
My last post here is that all of you are/were truckers at one point. Hopefully not the greasy kind.
Occasionally there are posters here who reach the outer limits of ignorance and arrogance, you are obviously a candidate for the top.
Not only was I a truck driver at one time I was also a pilot who had a career that most could only dream of.
With your attitude you would not be welcome in the right seat of any truck or airplane with me.
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The most difficult thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
After over a half a century of flying I can not remember even one trip that I refused to do that resulted in someone getting killed because of my decision not to fly.
Thought I lost this one so I gave up, till I found this:
Rules re headlights
230(1) No person shall drive a vehicle during the period from one-half hour after
sunset to one-half hour before sunrise or at any other time when conditions of poor
visibility exist unless prescribed headlights are in operation.
(2) Every driver of a vehicle with headlights in use shall change the headlights
from high beam to low beam if the driver:
(a) is at a distance of not less than 200 metres from a vehicle approaching
from the opposite direction, and shall keep the headlights on low beam until
the other vehicle has passed;
(b) is at a distance of not less than 100 metres from a vehicle that the driver
is following, and shall keep the headlights on low beam while the driver is
following the other vehicle;
(c) is at a distance of not less than 100 metres from a vehicle proceeding in
the same direction that the driver intends to pass, and shall keep the
headlights on low beam until the driver is abreast of the other vehicle; or
140
c. T-18.1 TRAFFIC SAFETY
(d) is being overtaken by another vehicle proceeding in the same direction,
and shall keep the headlights on low beam until the other vehicle has
proceeded a distance of not less than 100 metres ahead of his or her vehicle. Clause (2)(a) does not apply if the vehicle is being driven on a highway that is
divided into roadways and the distance between the roadways at the place where
the vehicle is being driven is 22 metres or more.(3)
(4) If a vehicle is stopped on a highway and the headlights are in use, the person
having care and control of the vehicle shall maintain the headlights on low beam.
2004, c.T-18.1, s.230.
So, according to the law, I'm not wrong. At least in SK.
Wow digging up a year old thread for a legal technicality. I think anyone here who is a trucker or pilot knows that what is legal is not always safe and what is safe is not always legal. This just previous what an enormous small minded jackass you really are. I would not want to share the road, the sky or any thing else with you where you command a peace of machinery that can kill me. You clearly have no common sense, which is unfortunately uncommon these days. Not to mention no no common courtesy. You do win a prize for digging up a year old thread to post this drivel after over all statement is that you where being douche bag. This just proves 100% that you are a complete and utter douche bag. That is a very special statement I reserve for very few.
