Scared for my family...almost did something stupid!

[Uwood52]

Keep in mind this means no disrespect, just my opinion.

As a class A driver myself I've seen a lot of these situations.

If I'm Reading your first post right, both you and the truck were on the interstate approaching an exit/on ramp. You were behind him up to this point and passed him or attempted to pass him as you both passed the on ramp which did have traffic about to merge. When you attempted to pass him at this point, you blocked his "way out".

As class a drivers, when we approach an occupied on ramp while in the "slow lane", we look for a "way out". A clearing in the other lane for us to exit the lane traffic is entering safely. We look for the opening, look forward to check distance to a potential wreck with inbound traffic, and look again as we begin our "way out".

What I gather from your post is you cut off his way out as you attempted to pass him slowly. Thus creating a potentially, very dangerous situation for him. The reason it is dangerous for him, as well as you, is, most on ramps cannot be seen up to the point we have to look for that "way out". Giving him very little time to maneuver safely for him and you. He has 80,000 pounds of death causing wieght in his control. He knows he cannot stop in time to keep from hitting the incoming traffic or locking his truck up and possibly turning it over and causing a real mess out of the cars behind and possibly beside him, which would have included you. When we have to find a way out, it is very quick, and always "last minute". Last seconds actually. and always to keep from having a very bad accident. and we don't always remember a turn signal just as when you see potential death and your adrenaline flows you may forget a small detail.

His "way out" is to avoid the 2 scenarios above. It sounds as if he found his "way out" and began to take it (started coming over into your lane) and then found you in it, and layed on the horn to let you know YOU MESSED UP.

I'm sorry if it does offend you as it's not meant to, but this is what I make of your post up to this point.

Now after this point, the actions of both him and you are wrong. Him for following you to closely and intimidating you and the rest of it. And you for having your family with you trying to get him to exit and stop for you two to have it out. Your family doesn't need to witness this. your in a much more faster and maneuverable vehicle. Speed up and get your family safely away from the danger or change lanes quickly and safely and drop behind and back way off.

And no, I'm not just sticking up for another trucker. I'm just trying to give you that drivers perspective and my view as class A driver simply on the way your post reads.

And the video camera thing, lots of us have dash cams now to record everything. If you cutting off his way out would've caused him to wreck and kill someone, his camera could of proved there was nothing he could do to avoid the wreck that could cost him his license and lively hood along with living with the fact he killed someone.

All very good points and no disrespect taken. I should have been more clear. Before the on ramp, I was already at his cab in the fast lane. I was almost passing. I was unable to go faster because of a car in front of me.

i was wrong for allowing the situation to escalate the way it did. I should have let it go and thanked The Lord we were safe. Instead my stinkin' pride got the better of me.

I posted this to vent some and to hear from guys I have come to respect concerning firearms and frankly because there are some wise older men that are on the ODT.

 

[hoochfisher]

Ok. Now I understand what happened better. And now understand he was In the wrong while driving, not you. As I said I was going on what I was reading in your post and my experience as a driver.

But please next something like that happens wether it be another truck or even a Prius or some crap, please just use the best survival tool you have in your possession, your car, and get away. Use that tool for all it's worth and get your family away safely as you can. If they follow, don't stop unless forced to. Then go to your gun.

Remember the video posted here and all over the news a couple months back where the guy in New York (I think it was) in the range rover used his SUV to run over a couple bikers out of the large group that was following and harassing him? that guy used the best tool he had, his truck. He got away safely until he was dumb enough to get on a surface street with stopped traffic. That was a good lesson for everyone. Use the vehicle to stay safe and don't stop. If you do stop, stop wherever you may you find a LEO.

 

[linebacker]

Sometimes you have to be the better man and just drive away.