Some Tips

The more I drive, the more I realize that there are a lot of people who doesn't understand some basic best practices. I will say that my experiences are all in the USA but I'm willing to bet things aren't that different worldwide.

To start let's just cover things you shouldn't be doing while driving. Anything else! Even getting to into your favorite song can be distracting enough for you to miss your exit and then make a bad decision by cutting people off in order to make it, that is just plain dangerous.

I've seen some people doing some things that are best left to the privacy of their bedroom, some things I can't believe and others that would be downright impressive if they hadn't been putting anyone else's lives at risk. For instance I have seen people with a newspaper/magazine on their steering wheels on the highway, I have seen the usual texting/surfing the web and even one person in the process of changing their clothes at 70 mph. Just don't do it, pull over and complete your task and then start up again.

Now onto my area of "expertise", big rig driving. There are some things I wish with all my heart that some people would just stop doing and others I think that people don't understand about the approximately three million truck drivers in the USA alone.

Please stop tailgating us in order to get into a drafting position and save on gas. I understand the want to save money, I really do, but when you are that close behind us the only way to even know you are there is with a shadow if the sun is out. If something happens and I have to jam on the brakes and you can't react in time it is a possibility deadly situation, especially if you are distracted. This is not a good ending for anyone involved.

The second, and last for today, thing is when you go to pass a semi truck please do so quickly. I am sure you have seen a truck swerve for what appears to be no reason on the highway and sometimes, yes, it is that driver lighting up a cigarette or reaching for a their coffee which as we discussed above they should not be doing. What you probably don't know though is that fifty three foot trailer behind me is a huge wind sail. A light breeze catching us off guard is enough to create that swerve. In heavier winds it's a battle at best and in the worst case scenario can even tip a truck over. I don't claim to know what other people want but I don't think a large truck rolling over onto you is on anyone's wish list this year.

Please just stop and think about what you are doing and put down whatever it is you are doing other than driving, give the big trucks a little space and lets all end our days safely. The pictures in this post were from the UT highway dept and KSNV in Las Vegas.