There are a few things that irritate me when driving. Mostly it has to do with people who have no idea how a semi driver thinks.

I was driving on the interstate the other day, going the posted 70 mph. I was behind a semi and content to follow him in no hurry to get anywhere fast, and it was evening so I figured if any deer jump out it would be better if he hit it first. There is a motive to tailing a semi. (They are great in the winter too. Especially if the roads are bad. You just settle in behind them and let them cut a path.)

As we're enjoying the scenery, a motorcyclist came up behind me and passed the both of us. For some reason, the semi slowed down so I passed him only to see the motorcyclist a few feet in front of the semi.

I'm not sure what he was trying to prove or if it was some sick game of "Mess with a semi driver" but it made me both angry and irritated with the guy. Apparently he thought that he can pull a stunt like that and live to brag about it. He never had a dad that drove a truck.

There was a time when my brother in law's brother, pulled out in front of a truck and my dad lit into him. "80,000 pounds. 80,000 Pounds. 80,000 POUNDS. 80,000 POUNDS!!! What were you thinking? We can't stop on a dime like you can!" So from then on, any time there was a semi accident involving a highway and car, we'd try to beat dad to the "80,000 pounds" lament before he did.

Another time I was riding in a car in downtown Dallas, not paying attention, I was probably on my phone working, and all of a sudden an airhorn blared right next to me, scaring me to death. I looked up to see an irritated semi driver. If you've ever driven in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio in rush hour, you know that it is miserable. Well, it was. The semi needed to change lanes, and the driver next to me was getting irritated that he got honked at. "What's HIS problem?" I quickly assessed that the semi's blinker was on, and he needed to get in our lane. We had plenty of room in front of us and behind us, but for some reason we were driving in the passing lane and not passing.

"He needs to change lanes." I said. Well, that didn't sit well with my driver who in exasperation made some comment to the effect that the driver can be patient. At which point I mumbled, "80,000 pounds" and requested to drive the car especially since the 80,000 pound vehicle was on my side of the car.

Angrily we exited and I drove until we were out of Texas. Not getting honked at once. Of course, if you are in Texas speed limits sometimes are a mere suggestion of what your minimum should be, which is my kind of driving anyway. When you are in 4,5,6 lanes of traffic going 80-85 miles an hour, you scrap going 70 mph. or you should because there is a lot of 80,000 pound vehicles that are on your bumper.

Now, is that illegal? Probably not. I kind of figured when I followed a trooper doing the same speed, I was probably okay.

Another thing you don't do. Never drive in their blind spot any longer than you have to.

My dad always said, "If you can't see them in their mirror, they can't see you." So I try to remember that. Passing quickly and not puling the motorcycle trick.

Another reason you don't want to drive alongside a semi is rare, but it did happen again in Texas, sometimes they lose a tire. That's not pretty when it happens. It's not pretty when it hits your car. We were fortunate to have just been grazed, but the car behind us took a pretty healthy hit with the rubber.

So while semis are necessary, it's also necessary to give them elbow room when you are driving. If you are coming to an intersection where there is a semi that will need to turn toward you, stop back further than necessary, giving them more room to turn. My dad always said, "A good semi driver won't need the extra room. But a bad driver, well, just give semis a lot of room."

And while this also may not be legal, I know most truckers don't mind it if you have the kids pump their fists in the air trying to get them to honk at you. Go ahead, but then tell the kids to wave and thank the trucker, it's only polite and it makes their day wherever they are in driving hundreds of miles cross country.

Back in the day, I used to have a CB radio in my car, with a lone antenna mounted on the back, I thought that looked cooler than double antennas. Dad was proud to add his girl to the CB radio world, and it did come in handy on a trip to Pennsylvania. I had missed an exit. So like a good trucker's daughter, I turned on my radio and said, "Hey, I'm lost, I need to get back to I-80..." Some guy knew which car I was immediately and directed me to the correct exit. Truckers know our roads. Before I had left on the trip, my dad had detailed the trip, telling me landmarks to watch for, and the exit I missed was the one that he had specifically labeled, "Tricky, watch for it!" He, of course, had to rib me about it later, "I TOLD you!" and all I could do was laugh and say, "I know, I know."

So folks, when you're out on the road, give the truckers some room, give them a wave, and please don't pull in front of them and play any games.




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TP June 24, 2020, 4:52 pm THANK YOU! Well said, from the wife of an 80,000 pound driver!!!