Worst 4 Wheeler Colliding with 18 Wheeler Accident Ever

[sweet violet]

What is the guy saying? I can't understand a single word. He must be using one of those CB radios all the Radio Rambos use. Lots of echo, reverb and static.

Cool.

Is the stationary car, a cop car? And was it a woman driving in the red car? I thought it sounded like she was okay? It is hard to hear...but the visuals kinda says it all.

 

[Racer X 69]

Is the stationary car, a cop car? And was it a woman driving in the red car? I thought it sounded like she was okay? It is hard to hear...but the visuals kinda says it all.

Yes, that is police car video.

As for the details, I have no clue. Like I said, the audio sucks.

 

[Duck]

The raw ground speed is not the part that makes a vehicle out of control. That's where we seem to get hung up here a lot. When you're over your governor, you have given up ⅓ of the tools you can use to maintain positive control. You still have brakes and steering, but you have given up throttle. It is equally important in vehicle control with the others. Steering and braking did not help PTL. He needed just a little bit of throttle to pull his trailer. Since his trailer had lost traction, the trolley brake would have only made his crash happen sooner...or he did try the trolley brake and it obviously didn't help.

This guy was no first-year rookie. He had over 1.5 million safe miles behind him when he was in that crash. He was a 15 year veteran.

I choose to keep all three control input methods available. That does not make me a lesser driver, nor does it make me a "danger" on the road. I don't get in your way when you want to pass me. When I know you're over your governor, I simply shake my head and give you a wide berth.

Blah blah blah, .. a trailer isn't going to suddenly start sliding sideways on clean, dry pavement. You can drive your truck with your brake lights coming on every three seconds, if you want to, but stay the hell in the right lane where you belong.

I like to keep my brakes cool in case I ACTUALLY need to use them.

When that trailer is pushing you beyond what the truck will pull who is driving?

I am. I don't have a co-driver, so who the **** else would be driving?

Geez, ... do you also drive for Swift? Or is it Werner? Who the hell taught you that you need to have reserve power when going down a hill on clean, dry pavement in case the trailer starts sliding sideways? How the hell is the trailer going to start sliding sideways on clean, dry pavement? It just ain't.

If the road is wet, or conditions are right for there to be a possibility of slick pavement, I don't let the speed roll up like that.

You should wear a helmet 24/7 in case a piano happens to fall out of the sky. Ya know, ... just in case.

 

[Injun]

Who says I'm frying my brakes? Just because I refuse to float my trailer over the governor does not mean I'm frying my brakes. If the jakes don't hold my chosen speed without having to be on the brakes all the way down, I slow down and drop a gear.

Nobody ever runs across an oil slick or patch of loose gravel on a "clean, dry" road? Cars don't lose control and drift toward your truck?

You won't hear me say a word to the guys without governors about going the speed limit or a little above. I don't see any reason for it, but it's not, in and of itself, dangerous. They have all the tools they need to maintain control.

You will not find me floating down a hill on gravity and the weight of my load. Period. That is my choice. If you think that decision makes me less of a driver, or you want to try to justify your behavior by calling me a coward, that's your problem. You think whatever you want.

At the end of the day, I will have gotten to my set destination without additional stress, without excessive wear on my truck and, usually, right about the same time as the drivers who choose to take more risks.

I have been on I-40 through the South enough times to know it's a road you need to be 100% on your game to roll safely. With the combination of driving styles, hills, curves, drivers getting on the freeway going the wrong way (two on I-40 in TN) truckers tailgating each other and the sheer volume of traffic on that road, I am not giving up one single thing that allows me to maintain absolute control of my truck. You do whatever you want to. I will just pass you going up the next hill.

 

[Injun]

Trucks speed up on their own when going down a hill. They're heavy. If it's a straight-away at the bottom, and there aren't any other vehicles in the way, there's no reason to wear out the brakes trying to hold it back. We usually just let the engine brake keep it somewhat under control.

Your words, not mine.

"Somewhat" under control is not good enough for me.

 

[Duck]

You do whatever you want to. I will just pass you going up the next hill.

I doubt that. I'll get to that next hill sooner, and have just as many horses pulling me up it as you do. And more gears to play with.

My truck cruises at 65, but tops out at 68 with the hammer down. So about 95% of the time in the areas I usually run, I am below my governor speed. On the downhill grades I'm talking about, ... I-80 in Iowa, the entire state of PA, .. that kind of stuff, I'll let the jake keep the speed somewhat under control & tap the brakes if I need to.

On Sandstone, or that steep grade in VA on I-64 just west of Charlottesville, and on the extremely rare trip I take out west where there are really long grades, I'll drop a gear & run it at whatever the hell speed the jake wants to hold it where I don't have to keep hitting the brakes to keep the RPMs below 1700 or so.

Your words, not mine.

"Somewhat" under control is not good enough for me.

The jake keeps it "somewhat" under control. I do the rest with my foot or with the trans, when I think it's necessary. Geez, do I have to explain everything to you?



Do you drive with your hands on the wheel "two & ten" and the seat backrest 100% vertical and the air seat all the way up too?

 

[sweet violet]

I doubt that. I'll get to that next hill sooner, and have just as many horses pulling me up it as you do. And more gears to play with.

My truck cruises at 65, but tops out at 68 with the hammer down. So about 95% of the time in the areas I usually run, I am below my governor speed. On the downhill grades I'm talking about, ... I-80 in Iowa, the entire state of PA, .. that kind of stuff, I'll let the jake keep the speed somewhat under control & tap the brakes if I need to.

On Sandstone, or that steep grade in VA on I-64 just west of Charlottesville, and on the extremely rare trip I take out west where there are really long grades, I'll drop a gear & run it at whatever the hell speed the jake wants to hold it where I don't have to keep hitting the brakes to keep the RPMs below 1700 or so.



The jake keeps it "somewhat" under control. I do the rest with my foot or with the trans, when I think it's necessary. Geez, do I have to explain everything to you?



Do you drive with your hands on the wheel "two & ten" and the seat backrest 100% vertical and the air seat all the way up too?

Sounds like you know what you're doing. I was just concerned with some of the trucks rolling down the hill so fast with not much regard to the cars around them...and often I see a lot of wrecks from that same hill. I also understand drivers are on deadline, what I just didn't get was the fast and slow thing. Do some drivers not use cruise control? I just had that happen recently (again) where I'm racing to try to pass a truck and he goes even faster, I feel like it's a race. So I slow down get behind him, the truck behind me flashes his lights, so I go in and then I'm sandwiched between two trucks and the driver ahead of me slows down.

 

[Duck]

Sounds like you know what you're doing. I was just concerned with some of the trucks rolling down the hill so fast with not much regard to the cars around them...and often I see a lot of wrecks from that same hill. I also understand drivers are on deadline, what I just didn't get was the fast and slow thing. Do some drivers not use cruise control? I just had that happen recently (again) where I'm racing to try to pass a truck and he goes even faster, I feel like it's a race. So I slow down get behind him, the truck behind me flashes his lights, so I go in and then I'm sandwiched between two trucks and the driver ahead of me slows down.

What hill are you talking about where they're going 80 mph?

 

[sweet violet]

What hill are you talking about where they're going 80 mph?

I65 SOUTH by Bethel Road...it's steep, curvy, narrow and dangerous. When I get to that point, I don't bother passing, but I try to get around before that hill. I hate being between or around trucks going down there, and they go flying down.

 

[Duck]

I65 SOUTH by Bethel Road...it's steep, curvy, narrow and dangerous. When I get to that point, I don't bother passing, but I try to get around before that hill. I hate being between or around trucks going down there, and they go flying down.

You mean in Tennessee, about 20 miles north of Nashville?

 

[sweet violet]

You mean in Tennessee, about 20 miles north of Nashville?

Yeah, have you been down that hill?

 

[Rigjockey]

Sounds like you know what you're doing. I was just concerned with some of the trucks rolling down the hill so fast with not much regard to the cars around them

It is a technique that has passed on for generations, Known as "rolling out".

...and often I see a lot of wrecks from that same hill. I also understand drivers are on deadline,

Deadline has nothing to do with it. It is so as not to lose so much momentum when climbing the upcoming hill and becoming a road hazard, climbing at a snails pace and impeding the flow of traffic

what I just didn't get was the fast and slow thing. Do some drivers not use cruise control?

Some do not.

I just had that happen recently (again) where I'm racing to try to pass a truck and he goes even faster, I feel like it's a race. So I slow down get behind him, the truck behind me flashes his lights, so I go in and then I'm sandwiched between two trucks and the driver ahead of me slows down.

The truck flashing the lights was not for you sweety, It was for the truck in front and that's why you got sandwiched in. As many misconceptions four wheelers have about big trucks. Truck drivers have misconceptions about four wheelers. Thinking that a car could handle seeing ten feet back and not need headlights flashed. Also that cars weighing 3,000 lbs would have enough get up and go to get around an 80,000 lb truck.

 

[Duck]

Yeah, have you been down that hill?

Yeah but I don't remember exactly which hill you're talking about. I just Googled it so I could look smart.

It is a technique that has passed on for generations, Known as "rolling out".

Deadline has nothing to do with it. It is so as not to lose so much momentum when climbing the upcoming hill and becoming a road hazard, climbing at a snails pace and impeding the flow of traffic

But but but.... you're not supposed to exceed your governor speed because it will make your trailer start sliding sideways on dry pavement and you'll crash!!!

 

[Injun]

Did anybody say simple speed will cause a trailer to fishtail?

Quit being a dolt.

 

[Rigjockey]

But but but.... you're not supposed to exceed your governor speed because it will make your trailer start sliding sideways on dry pavement and you'll crash!!!

:winking: Riiiight! The trailer pushing the steerable part is going to go off in it's own direction. Still another tool left in the box,... The broker brake.

 

[sweet violet]

It is a technique that has passed on for generations, Known as "rolling out".



Deadline has nothing to do with it. It is so as not to lose so much momentum when climbing the upcoming hill and becoming a road hazard, climbing at a snails pace and impeding the flow of traffic


Some do not.
The truck flashing the lights was not for you sweety, It was for the truck in front and that's why you got sandwiched in. As many misconceptions four wheelers have about big trucks. Truck drivers have misconceptions about four wheelers. Thinking that a car could handle seeing ten feet back and not need headlights flashed. Also that cars weighing 3,000 lbs would have enough get up and go to get around an 80,000 lb truck.

Was he flashing to tell the truck up ahead to slow down? The truck in front of him was racing down the hill. I had no choice but to go between the trucks because I don't want to be next to any trucks going down that hill... to the left is a huge stone wall and if that driver loses control of his trailer, I have no where to go...

 

[Mike]

Most times you will only see whole bodies flying or no bodies flying. It is usually the final impact that years a body apart. I have seen many such accidents, and almost always, the bodies are tore up but still mostly intact.

Most memorable wreck for me was a small pickup that passed me at a very high rate of speed. He then passed the truck in front of me, but didn't clear the front bumper on his way back over. I watched that truck flip, roll, and bounce from between the guardrail on the right, and concrete on the left.

Passenger looked to be ripped almost in half, hanging out of the passenger window of the pickup headfirst, driver was on the ground (went through the windshield, I believe). I was unable to stop before approaching them, ended up driving over parts of the pickup very slowly and seeing the two kids close up.

It was pre-cellphone days for me, so I ran to a convenience store and called 911. By the time I got back to the scene, a carload of the kids friends were there blaming it on the truck driver, which I quickly corrected.

20 years ago, I still have the picture of those kids and that truck vivid in my mind.

 

[Rigjockey]

Was he flashing to tell the truck up ahead to slow down? The truck in front of him was racing down the hill. I had no choice but to go between the trucks because I don't want to be next to any trucks going down that hill... to the left is a huge stone wall and if that driver loses control of his trailer, I have no where to go...

He was telling the other truck he was Ok to get back over and let you get on down the road, Safely out of the way . You don't like driving beside trucks going down that hill so instead you got right in between TWO trucks going down the hill.

Truckers for the most part know why another trucker is doing what they are doing , With out speaking a word. Also they have communication with each other Via C.B radio. (Those that have it on). I assume you do not.

Anticipating what is going to happen before it happens and recognizing situations and traffic patterns. Is what a good truckers does.

 

[Rigjockey]

@sweet violet sorry if I am coming off the wrong way. You seem like a very cautious driver and are trying to be safe and and helpful.

It's not that truckers don't appreciate that. We do.

 

[sweet violet]

He was telling the other truck he was Ok to get back over and let you get on down the road, Safely out of the way . You don't like driving beside trucks going down that hill so instead you got right in between TWO trucks going down the hill.

Truckers for the most part know why another trucker is doing what they are doing , With out speaking a word. Also they have communication with each other Via C.B radio. (Those that have it on). I assume you do not.

Anticipating what is going to happen before it happens and recognizing situations and traffic patterns. Is what a good truckers does.

I'm sorry. I think you're misunderstanding the scenario. This is a 2 lane highway... the left lane is clear... I'm in the slow lane behind a big truck, and behind me is another truck... I don't like being sandwiched so I try to pass the truck up ahead of me. I signal left, try to pass on the fastlane but he starts to accelerate 80 mph plus, like he really doesn't want me passing him... coming up soon is this really dangerous curvy, narrow downhill turn... so I slow down, because I don't want to be next to the truck driving side by side at those speeds... and then the truck behind the truck, flashes and it seems like he's giving me space to get back in the slow lane... which I do... and I'm sandwiched between these two trucks as we go flying down the hill...