It appalls me to see or hear about how many cars every day that blatantly cut off trucks while they are coming through intersections, tailgate and pass directly into an oncoming truck on an open road.
Tailgaters can not be seen in the mirrors of a truck so if the driver had to emergency brake the next thing going through the minds of everyone in that tailgating car would be their backsides.
Passing directly into an oncoming truck with less than 100 meters of clear road ahead think of this (e=mc2) 30,000kg x90 x90 = 243000KG of force is going to hit you head on in a 100kmh zone in a 50 zone it wont be so bad but it will hurt like hell if you get hit and you may live or you may die.
Just think about it next time you think about passing a vehicle while there is an oncoming truck if you have less than 100 meters of clear road, think about it when you tailgate that truck and you can only see the number plate or the rear diff. Most importantly think about those kids or friends you have in the back seat.
These have been from my own observations when I have been out on work experience driving trucks and when out in the training truck with the instructor. Truck drivers are required by law to do their bit too to keep everyone safe but we can't stop as quickly as you guys in cars can and then it is us that get asked why did you not avoid that oncoming car by the police when they investigate, and you have to say it was take him out while trying to stop or take out others to avoid killing that person who was in my lane or kill myself by hitting a bank to avoid that car because there was no where safe to try and stop.
whqqsh,
Mar 10, 4:21pm
amazes me how many trucks run red lights, change lanes without indicating, sit in the outside lanes of motorways doing 80kph or sit sidebyside blocking the whole motorway, push their way through intersections without giving way etc etc good & bad in all categories aye
gunhand,
Mar 10, 4:25pm
Problems like this, and many more, have been going on since the invention of the wheel. The main problem is that rubbery but vastly complicated thing that is wedged between the ears of the human animal. Its problem mostly is its lack of use. And I have no doubt the problems will continue untill the wheel becomes square again.
meathead_timaru,
Mar 10, 4:26pm
What does the Theory of Relativity, e = m c², have to do with this! Who is approaching the speed of light! That's a little dangerous.
lookoutas,
Mar 10, 4:36pm
Didn't realise there was a Trucker's Church on Sundays.
splinter67,
Mar 10, 4:37pm
If it upsets you enough to post on a message board you should consider another career because you will see a lot worse than this
sr2,
Mar 10, 4:51pm
Thanks for pointing that out Meathead mate, all this time I thought it was just a recipe for brewing beer!
silvervixen1962,
Mar 10, 5:08pm
Energy =Mass(weight) x constant(speed) x constant(speed)
eajo1mbwass,
Mar 10, 5:16pm
yep and the cars that must get in front of the truck only to turn off into a drive way half a km down the road , how silly is that to have 44 ton truck behind and do this when 2 min longer waiting behind it would be much safer
matarautrader,
Mar 10, 5:36pm
In the last week I have had to wait while 3 loaded trucks cross intersections on a red light. In every case my green came on, I looked up and the cab of the truck was about in the middle of the intersection, with the rest still to come. Two of the truck were loggers, one was a Fonterra tanker and they were all truck and trailer setups. They all had time to stop. Whats so important that the drivers have to put every other user of the intersection at risk. Not just the drivers but the pedestrians as well. Some little kids have been taught how to use the crossing signals. Their green "man" comes on, they know to go. They don't look to see if there a red lighter as they have been taught that it is safe to go on the green cross sign. 44 ton of truck wouldn't do a pedestrian much good!
skiff1,
Mar 10, 5:45pm
I think you were looking for k =1/2mvsquared
pollymay,
Mar 10, 5:56pm
lol. Kinetic energy is what you are after, not e=mc^2 in which the C is the constant speed of light.
If you take your truck at 30 tonnes and 100kph I can match your energy by doing a mere about 450kph in my car. If you wanna see who wins we can arrange something
grangies,
Mar 10, 6:10pm
You'll both lose. Especially you.
Because the truck is higher and once the initial impact has occurred the sheer size of the truck will continue to go over you.
meathead_timaru,
Mar 10, 6:20pm
LOL Do a skid first!
meathead_timaru,
Mar 10, 6:21pm
That depends on the height of the CoG of each vehicle above the road.
pge,
Mar 10, 8:45pm
The car driver wil certainly CREATEa skid (in their daks) during the ensuing incident.
flashgordon_nz,
Mar 10, 8:52pm
well, ive been a courier1/2 years, and a truck owner/driver just on 3 years. to be honest, no one is perfect. i have seen all the above, abd more. been involved with 2 head-on's (neither my fault) but there can/are faults on both sides. Some truck drivers just make me cringe fully. not indicating at intersections, tailgating cars, etc etc. Thou some cars make me wonder. Tailgating trucks is popular, but a trend i have noticed lately is following with lights on high beam. and they know they are doing it cause they dip for oncoming traffic then back up to high-beam. bloody frustrating when you have big convexe mirrors that amplfy the light into the cab.
redhead96,
Mar 10, 9:04pm
Would never get close to the back of a truck as you never know what it is carrying (enclosed ones). Would fog lights also affect you like the full beam!
ally-oop,
Mar 10, 9:09pm
+1
mind you there are also some (but sadly not enough) really considerate and professional truck drivers
flashgordon_nz,
Mar 10, 9:10pm
nah, yellow i can stand. its the white spot or highbeams that stay up. to light up the 100m of road between car and truck rear. LOL
ally-oop,
Mar 10, 9:12pm
those big gay convex mirrors on modern euro etc trucks are a stupid idea
ally-oop,
Mar 10, 9:15pm
as is the recent inpractical cosmetic propensity for functionless shiney stainless panel across lower rear of truck trailers which very distractingly reflect following vehicle's headlights
I think more than a few car drivers have been appalled by the behaviour of truck drivers too, many of the OP's observations about motorists behaviour is mirrored with interest by some members of the road transport industry, and that includes courier drivers. Some of the loon behaviour exhibited here simply wouldn't be tolerated in other countries, particularly the exceeding of speed limits, overtaking, and the use of anything other than the left lane on motorways. I don't see why motorists should have to contend with heavy trucks at all on our main highways that travel between cities serviced by rail, its absurd transporting large quantities of goods by road in these juggernauts between our main centres when we have an under utilised rail system that stands largely empty beside the roads, roads that sustain considerable damage and cost a bomb to upkeep because of it.
ally-oop,
Mar 10, 9:52pm
too true
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