Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique 2 wheelers & 18 wheelers

I think about this one once in awhile and more-so when I can't avoid the interstates. I believe the majority of bikers and 18 wheelers have basic road awareness in common. We, because as is true and often stated "potential danger lies all around", and Over The Road drivers because it's their profession and being aware of what's in front/behind and to the side is their business.

More to the point, we've all been passengers in a 4 wheeler where the driver has the speed control engaged and they literally creep past a big old 18 wheeler .2 of a mph faster than the tractor. Blows my feeble mind, especially considering the buffeting and seeing those large tires spinning 4'-7' from my right ear. On a bike I follow at a point the big rig can see me, when it's time to pass, I pass and don't stop to admire the custom paint jobs and chrome stacks. I usually won't pull back in line until I'm 2-3 seconds ahead of them. By the same token if a rig is passing me I may even slow a bit to allow them to get around. Once they are free and clear I will often flash them the brights to pull back in. Nine times out of ten they'll flash back. Karma on a small scale. I try to respect them and most times I get it back. Things might vary a bit near the bigger cities, but I prefer to give the big boys lots of room. Humm?, I know some regular sized women who work OTR, wouldn't dare call them big boys.

as to the 4-wheelers............that's another story!!

Seems like today, cage drivers think they are invincible. At freeway speeds, which in California is between 80 and 90 mph, they will leave 1 or 2 car lengths between themselves and the car in front of them. I've seen them cut off the big rigs when passing them, almost like they are pissed off at them for going the legal speed limit!

The sad part is that the police are right there with them doing the same thing. Even the government is stuck in the same insanity. Instead of making the police enforce long existing laws designed to make it safer to drive, they are pumping out law after law trying to make it safer to crash.

I stay off the interstates on my bike but drive about 55,000 miles/year in the car for work, all on the major East Coast Turnpikes (PA/NJ/NY). I'd much rather follow a truck than a car. I know how truck drivers will react but folks in cars scare the bejesus out of me. I keep a CB in my car and have found 99% of the truck drivers courteous and helpful.

One thing I won't do is travel beside a truck in contruction zones. You don't want to be up against a Jersey barrier if something causes the truck to move out of it's lane - you are a pancake. In those zones I'll strategically position myself just behind someone traveling at a reasonable speed, usually an 18 wheeler. I maintain that safe zone till I'm free from the construction. It probably pisses off the folks who feel they have to maintain 75 mph in construction zones but it's one of my survival practices.

There are good 'uns and bad 'uns on 18 wheels as well...
Anyone who has travelled Rt.22 in W. Pa. will back me up on this. I have had some harrowing experiences with 18 wheelers in my 4 wheeled vehicles. Doing 70 down a mountain in a 55 zone with the only thing visible in my mirror is a chrome bulldog... Being passed on a bend by a truck hauling a bulldozer with wide load rigging at 65 mph....
I work at a heavy equipment dealer and we have a saying... "What's dumber than a truck driver?....
2 truck drivers...."
Sorry to anyone who takes offense at this, but around here we have some real knuckleheads who drive the big rigs...
On the bike, I will say the interstate haulers seem to be professional, and they respond to courtesy with courtesy.
But some of the locals.... brrrrrrrrrr... scare the bejabbers out of me..

They need as much help out there as we do, and usually show their appreciation when you do them a favor. It pi$$es some people off when I don't run up to an intersection when I see a big rig trying to make a turn. If he's turning towards me, onto a two-lane road, he needs more than just one lane to make that turn. Traffic backs up behind him too, while he's waiting for someone to give him that break. Idiots also pull up beside them when they've tried to position themself to make a wide right turn (or left), and get up under their wheels into their blind spots. we've all seen it happen - we've probably all done that ourselves, without realizing, until too late, what the trucker was trying to do. People just can't put themslves in a trucker's shoes if they haven't ever been behind the wheel of a large machine like that. I look for opportunities to "block" for them here in town - there are a lot of industrial parks (and narrow roads) near the dealership along I-10.

On the Interstate, I just try not to be in their way, try to be visible, get by as quickly and safely as possible, and if necessary or possible, I may block for them then, too, if I see they need to make a quick lane change to avoid slower moving traffic in the slow lane. I don't mind watching out for them - they usually allow me plenty of right-of-way when they see me on the fly. I agree, I think that their "road awareness" is pretty keen. The professionals seem to be, anyway. We all need to be cool towards one another out there.

I have made my living behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler. Here in the NY metropolitan area. I can tell you that truckers appreciate a driver who is knowledgeable about the space trucks need to operate. When I'm on my motorcycle I do as you do and try to help. Also I've found that a lot of truckers are also motorcyclists.

Some people have a little more "RESPECT" for the roads we ride, and the other motorists we must share these rodes with. It really isn't that hard to be considerate of other's situations. Just don't expect a lot of consideration in return, and you can't be too dissappointed. Pi$$ed maybe, but not too dissappointed.

Having been on both ends of this situation, I can clearly state there are nuts all over. Cars seem to forget or maybe don't realize what 80,000 lbs of heavy metal can do. Truckers seem to forget that sometimes they don't own the highway as well. (I can count myself in this group a time or two). I don't drive trucks anymore thank god, theres not much pleasure in it anymore, but I do try to respect them and give wide berth whenever possible. Having changed some years back to working on them as opposed to driving, I might add this. If you saw on a daily basis the parts I replace or rather find missing from trucks and trailers you wouldn't want to follow trucks to closely down the highway either. Just one spring leaf of which there are many and reguarly break and fall to the highway; they weigh about 10 lbs and are a solid chunk of tempered steel. Recaps we all see them. You should see the damage it does to the truck when it slings. Best advice, keep a good safe distance and expect something to fall off. Now Im not down on trucks mind you. Most companys do there best and far more than the average auto driver to keep up their equipment up. These things just happen. Be wary...

I agree with all. Having driven a big rig many years ago, for my dad's bakery, I can appreciate the work involved and how upset drivers can become with crazy 4-wheelers. On the other hand I've seen drivers of semis do some pretty crazy things too. More then once I've been driven off the road or into the median by a driver not paying attention or for some other reason. I agree with Trash that it wouldn't be a pretty site to collide with metal or a chunk of tire, while on a bike. Simple Solution: Give them respect, and a wide berth!


-PES

Kenny:
I'll see you out there on the NJTP! I spend a lot of time there for work, inspecting the travel plazas. Any time I'm on any of the turnpikes, I keep the CB turned on. When a big truck hit the bridge down on exit 4 in December, traffic was backed up 15 miles - because I had the warning on the CB, jumped off exit 7A and saved a few hours of waiting.

That brings back memories, I used to live in southern NJ (exit 3). Traffic over there can be brutal. I travelled I-294 to work and occasionally the NJTP if 294 was bad. Now it's eight miles to work along the shoreline of Lake Michigan and the worst traffic is being fourth in line at a four-way stop. But if the weather is nice, it takes a lot longer to get home from work .

Dennis

Trucks, cars, motorcycles...there are plenty of crappy drivers in all three catagories. I will never understand though why in God's name someone will be driving along in the passing lane and slow down, matching speeds with the car or truck they're passing, traveling along beside it. What the H*!! is that all about?

One thing I will say about SoCal drivers though is that they understand how traffic works and, for the most part, seem to do whatever makes it flow the best. Example, alternate merging when a road narrows to one less lane. Here in Oregon people will move into a single file 2 miles before it's necessary and do everything in their power to prevent anyone from merging or using the clear lane...including moving over into it and blocking it. Self appointed merge monitors I guess.

Sorry...I'm ranting. We have construction nearby both N and S bound on our only freeway (I-5) and it's driving me nuts!!!

"Sorry...I'm ranting. We have construction nearby both N and S bound on our only freeway (I-5) and it's driving me nuts!!! "

You should live here. They've been working nonstop on the 101 through Ventura for about 50 years now, and they don't seem to have any plan to ever finish.

Well an 18 wheeler will never pass me if I am on my bike. When I pass them I get away from them fast. I hate even riding in a cage next to them , if a tire goes it could be disastrous. Plus they have stress enough not knowing what the guy next to them is gonna do.

Seriously, dude. You resurrected a thread that's over 6 years old?

YOu don't think its an interesting enough thread to resurrect?

Well, there ya go.

On your next slab trip, see how many truckers you can get to give you the double-brake tap "thank you" for showing them some respect and giving them a break on the road...and remember a lot of them run together, or at least communicate via radio to other truckers...

I like to believe they'll be looking out for me out there if they see I'm looking out for them...running alone as much as I do, I don't need any more enemies out there...

NY city people here are deadly, they don't know what stop signs are and need to travel literally a couple feet from your back bumper to their front. They change lanes with no warning and don't look to see if anyone was there. Had one change lanes a couple days ago when I was along side her in my jeep and never stopped coming even when I was laying on the horn. Forced me fully onto the shoulder because she changed so fast I didn't have time to hit the brakes and drop behind her, I was on the brake but the Jeep wouldn't slow down fast enough to get out of her way. 22 is just as bad here as out in west PA been on it in both places many times.

Hmmmm, that brings up a whole myriad of issues...