Question From A 4 Wheeler

Hey VA 4 wheeler. Valid question came to the right place to ask. If you see something done by a commercial motor vehicle that must be addressed. In MY opinion best steps to take are

1. Steer clear of the driver and get out of the way. Don’t antagonize like I’ve seen before. 4 wheelers flipping of drivers, driving right next to them and waving at them, boxing them in etc.

2. Try and get as much info in a safe manner as possible. Find the company name. Company that represents the driver you call on will ask for tractor number, trailer number, and location. And sometimes you’ll see that “1-800 how’s my driving” sticker on the back of the trailer.

People often get embellished. Most companies will take these claims seriously. Especially the larger ones. Remember this is the drivers livelihood. But they must be held accountable as well for such dangerous actions.

Also, I would love to be able to call in on the 4 wheeler who decides to cut me off while fiddling with a jar of peanut butter doing 43 in a 55 on a two lane road with no way of getting around. I could go on and on. Just something to think about.

All great comments, thank you.

Haha wish there was a way to report unsafe 4 wheeler driving! Especially high speed tailgating, slaloming through traffic or below speed limit in left lane.

Thanks to all !!

Hey VA 4 wheeler. Valid question came to the right place to ask. If you see something done by a commercial motor vehicle that must be addressed. In MY opinion best steps to take are

1. Steer clear of the driver and get out of the way. Don’t antagonize like I’ve seen before. 4 wheelers flipping of drivers, driving right next to them and waving at them, boxing them in etc.

2. Try and get as much info in a safe manner as possible. Find the company name. Company that represents the driver you call on will ask for tractor number, trailer number, and location. And sometimes you’ll see that “1-800 how’s my driving” sticker on the back of the trailer.

People often get embellished. Most companies will take these claims seriously. Especially the larger ones. Remember this is the drivers livelihood. But they must be held accountable as well for such dangerous actions.

Also, I would love to be able to call in on the 4 wheeler who decides to cut me off while fiddling with a jar of peanut butter doing 43 in a 55 on a two lane road with no way of getting around. I could go on and on. Just something to think about.

All great comments, thank you.

Haha wish there was a way to report unsafe 4 wheeler driving! Especially high speed tailgating, slaloming through traffic or below speed limit in left lane.

Thanks to all !!

There is. Not like you can (or need to) be a "karen" - but there's some things I just will not let slide. "Obviously impaired drivers" are one of them. As I mentioned earlier - if I see someone obviously impaired - I call 911 - ask for the dispatch for whatever LEO has jurisdiction for where I am - give a tag & detailed description and follow from a safe distance. DRUNK DRIVERS P ME OFF - and they're hated by the cops too.

Had a guy do a DUI hit & run (with multiple injuries) - that I chased for miles - running lights, speeds in way excess. They got him - I did a deposition and destroyed his lawyer (prosecutor was laughing the whole time). Told him to make a deal - I'm the last person he wants on the stand. Guy was already on probation and a restricted license for a previous DUI. Think he ended up with 24 months.

Same goes for TT's - get their company off the side (and DOT Number). If they're a major company - google the number and ask for the safety department. Companies are VERY CONSCIOUS of their image (with their name plastered all over one of their units) - and as long as you are calm and level headed (not a Karen), they will take a report of dangerous driving. Tell them where you are (road/mile marker - they have GPS on their units).

Owner Ops are a little harder to report on - as most will just tell you to f-off. But if they're "leased on", and dragging a company trailer - the COMPANY WILL CARE - as they are operating under THEIR TRUCKING LIABILITY INSURANCE.

Careless/Dangerous driving is INEXCUSABLE. Even though I am in a 4-wheeler (and a little liberal with the cruise control setting at times) - I consider myself a PROFESSIONAL DRIVER. Even back when I drove cabs/limo's in the early 80's - I was the "driver rep" on the cab company safety committee.

If you are getting PAID TO DO SOMETHING - you should ACT LIKE A PROFESSIONAL. Heck - the last band I managed - the band leader made everyone wear a jacket and tie "you're going to WORK - DRESS LIKE IT" (GOD I miss Col. Bruce Hampton).

Rick

Most trucks on the road are being driven safely — for sure. But every now and then, I see what looks like unsafe driving. Specifically: tailgating a 4 wheeler, often in left lane; or driving at 80 mph +.

My question: is there anything I should do? Who to contact?

I am talking about very obvious risky driving.

Also for all truckers: there is a highly dangerous curve on the DC beltway 495 heading westbound at the junction with 270 south. About 1 crash ** every week ** how is this possible that the industry is unaware of this danger. And of course, each crash generates traffic jams sometimes epic traffic jams.

Yup. Beltway "Big Curve". It's simple. Stay right and go the speed limit. No crashes.

495 Wrecks

I know that if I see another driver being either unsafe/unprofessional or being extraordinarily safe/professional, I look for the company name on the tractor or trailer. If it is a safety (or other item that needs to be brought to the company they are pulling for) I call the company phone number and ask to talk to the safety department, and let them know what is going on. I will provide the truck and/or trailer number, the approximate time and location, and what was happening. The safety department will then decide what to do.

I have only had to call a company 3 times to complain, and they didn't seem too surprised when they looked up the info I gave them, and 1 safety person even told us that they were going to shut the driver down for 72 hours because it was they received multiple complaints about that particular driver.....

On the flip side, I have called companies more than a dozen times to compliment a driver on their actions, and on multiple occasions, they said that the drivers would get recognized with at least a certificate, if not a gift of some sort....

In al the cases, the companies were glad to hear both the compliments and complaints, and I am sure that they looked at the drivers history with the company to see if there was some sort of pattern (good or bad) and decided what to do based on that...

And I know that the carrier I worked for would always tell me when I had gotten either a good or bad call (thankfully I only got calls about how professional and safe I was)....