Idiot Drivers!

[Chicago526]

PLEASE be careful when changing lanes around trucks! This is what happens when people don't care about other vehicles around them and think the highways are their own personal NASCAR race!

From Chicago Tribune.com

A tanker truck carrying ether rolled over and exploded early this morning on the Kennedy Expressway, setting off a hazardous materials alarm and temporarily closing the highway's outbound lanes, WGN-Ch. 9 reported.

The truck was traveling north on the expressway (Interstate Highway 90/94) near Belmont Avenue about 3:40 a.m. when its driver swerved to avoid colliding with another vehicle, according to the Illinois State Police.

The truck rolled over, its cab separating from the tanker section, and blew up, sending flames high into the sky. The cab was gutted, but its driver, Steve Dobrowolski of Racine, Wis., got out in time and was not injured, CLTV reported.

"Some guy cut me off, and it was either hit him or try to swerve and I chose not to hit him and swerved, and it went over," Dobrowolski told CLTV. "Well, I saved his life, but probably screwed up mine."

The Chicago Fire Department sent firefighters and a hazardous materials team to the scene.

The accident site was secured and the Kennedy's outbound lanes were reopened to traffic about 5:20 a.m., in time for the morning rush hour, CLTV reported.

 

[cynsaun]

 

[smilie]

I've seen people cut-off big trucks all the time. I don't think people realize how much it takes for trucks of that size to slow down suddenly.

 

[Chicago526]

Someone could have been killed! What if a minivan with a family had been near that truck! What if the driver hadn't been able to get out in time! As it is, this guy could lose his job over this, even though it isn't his fault. Plus if he's an independant contractor, a cab worth six digits just burned to a crisp, this guys livelyhood could be ruined.

All because a MORON (I'd LOVE to use the words I really want!) decided he had to get home a half a second sooner!

 

[OhMari]

Yikers,

I just recently drived around the Chicago express ways and I could not believe how many people were on their cell phones. I bet 9 out every 10 cars had people yakking away.

This happened early morning when the express ways aren't packed. The driver must of thought it was rush hour when cars constantly cut in front of a trucks because they are only going 20 mph and semi's keep safe distances.

I hope they get the guy that cut him off.

 

[stinkerbelle]

another vehicle to watch out for?
UHauls.

or other big-truck like vehicles people can rent. I swear...I saw one moron driving one this morning weaving in and out of traffic like he was driving a honda civic.

nuts

 

[cynsaun]

Another is cars or trucks with trailers. I think they forget they are attached. I got cut off the other day by one. He was at most two inches from my front, right bumper.

 

[simba928]

You would be surprised how stupid people can be when it comes to driving around large trucks. My dad works for a trucking company and there are always reports of people being stupid and causing damage to the truck or themselves. So many people try to sneak past the trucks while they are turning. HELLO!!! The trucks make the wide turns because the back end needs to clear watever they are going around. The don't make the turns that wide to let people sneak past them. I am only 15 so I can't drive yet, but sometimes I think I know more about driving than some people. For example, when the light is red you stop. duh!!

 

[wvrevy]

Funny...Around here, it is just the opposite. Usually, it's the trucks doing 10 miles an hour over the speedlimit, tailgating, and driving in the passing lane despite signs banning them. This gets particularly bad any time it rains or, particularly, when it snows, as West Virginia isn't exactly known for it's straight-as-an-arrow roads.

Have to agree with the post about U-Hauls, though...I avoid those things as much as possible

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Funny...Around here, it is just the opposite. Usually, it's the trucks doing 10 miles an hour over the speedlimit, tailgating, and driving in the passing lane despite signs banning them. This gets particularly bad any time it rains or, particularly, when it snows, as West Virginia isn't exactly known for it's straight-as-an-arrow roads.

Have to agree with the post about U-Hauls, though...I avoid those things as much as possible

Oooh, yeah, I had the pleasure of driving through West Virginia in a snowstorm (I desperately wanted to attend a Dave Matthews Band concert). I have never been more terrified in my life...plowing up the side of a mountain with 18 wheelers surrounding me.

I hate driving anyway though. Here in Northern Virginia every time you get behind the wheel there is a good chance some idiot is going to cut you off, tailgate, or hit you. It's beyond stressful.

 

[barbeml]

Everyone is an idiot on NJ roads. The truckers and SUV owners drive like they can't wait to kill someone and the "regular" car owners drive like they can't wait to die.

"Oh look, a school zone with a flashing light! How many kids can I take out...let me grab my cell phone and light up a smoke while I mow down that crossing guard with my mini-van."

 

[lab_girl]

another vehicle to watch out for?
UHauls.
or other big-truck like vehicles people can rent. I swear...I saw one moron driving one this morning weaving in and out of traffic like he was driving a honda civic.
nuts

WooHoo...I have one even better...I live on the Hwy to Alaska. Every summer we get people through here driving MotorHOMES (I mean the ones that are bigger than my first apartment) WITH an attached vehicle trailing behind - these people have NO idea how long/wide they are and take out street signs and railings every year! (3/4 of the year they probably drive a small car!)

 

[wvrevy]

Oooh, yeah, I had the pleasure of driving through West Virginia in a snowstorm (I desperately wanted to attend a Dave Matthews Band concert). I have never been more terrified in my life...plowing up the side of a mountain with 18 wheelers surrounding me.

I hate driving anyway though. Here in Northern Virginia every time you get behind the wheel there is a good chance some idiot is going to cut you off, tailgate, or hit you. It's beyond stressful.

See, I liked driving when I lived in Alexandria...It was the sitting and inching forward on the beltway part I couldn't stand

And if you came through the Cumberland Pass on your way into West Virginia, and during a snowstorm, I'm surprised you have any hair or fingernails left That can be a scary experience in a light rain, let alone in any kind of snow.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

This occurred at 3:40 A.M. Are the Chicago expressways that crowded at 3:40 a.m. that a car would/could cut a truck off?

When I was young and dumb, I pulled a U-Haul trailer behind my 1973 green AMC Matador (affectionately dubbed "The Green Latrine") through the rolling hills of Tennessee.

Never, never, never again... as long as I live, no matter what happens... never again!!! I still have nightmares about that huge, orange "albatross" following me up and down and 'round those curves with sides that drop off into what appeared to be nothing. Ugh! I hate U-Hauls.

 

[Chicago526]

WooHoo...I have one even better...I live on the Hwy to Alaska. Every summer we get people through here driving MotorHOMES (I mean the ones that are bigger than my first apartment) WITH an attached vehicle trailing behind - these people have NO idea how long/wide they are and take out street signs and railings every year! (3/4 of the year they probably drive a small car!)

I'll see you're crazy RV drivers and raise you. In AZ where my parents live, you see these same giant sized RV's...driven by a 95 year old man with cataracts!

 

[Chicago526]

This occurred at 3:40 A.M. Are the Chicago expressways that crowded at 3:40 a.m. that a car would/could cut a truck off?

Not usually. I wasn't there, but I'm willing to bet that car was driven by a person that thinks I-90 is his/her own personal race track and to hell with everyone else. There are quite a few drivers like that around here. The problem with them is that they get away with it so much that it just re-enforces the behavior. It's not until someone gets killled that they get a wake up call, too little, too late.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Now that is scary, Chicago526! Even sadder, I see that all over. I wonder if some people plan enough time to travel from point A to point B safely.

 

[debloco]

Everyone is an idiot on NJ roads. The truckers and SUV owners drive like they can't wait to kill someone and the "regular" car owners drive like they can't wait to die.

"Oh look, a school zone with a flashing light! How many kids can I take out...let me grab my cell phone and light up a smoke while I mow down that crossing guard with my mini-van."

All right, all right...I know it's not funny. But it feels true.

 

[agnes!]

Everyone is an idiot on NJ roads. The truckers and SUV owners drive like they can't wait to kill someone and the "regular" car owners drive like they can't wait to die.

"Oh look, a school zone with a flashing light! How many kids can I take out...let me grab my cell phone and light up a smoke while I mow down that crossing guard with my mini-van."

I think your second sentence definitely deserves to be put in some fancy book of quotations, like Bartlett's or something...sad yet true and somehow funny all at the same time.

agnes!
PS - I'm not sure how I ended up at this thread, it was one of several at the bottom of a more recent thread I was reading...maybe it was the word 'idiot' in the titles?...

 

[Marseeya]

Funny...Around here, it is just the opposite. Usually, it's the trucks doing 10 miles an hour over the speedlimit, tailgating, and driving in the passing lane despite signs banning them. This gets particularly bad any time it rains or, particularly, when it snows, as West Virginia isn't exactly known for it's straight-as-an-arrow roads.

Have to agree with the post about U-Hauls, though...I avoid those things as much as possible

I didn't even have to read your screen name to realize you were talking about WV. I drive to WV every day from SW PA and the trucks drive me out of my mind. What little mind I have left anyway.

What's worse is when you have trucker A in the right hand lane going 35 mph (on I79 where the speed limit is 70) and trucker B, who's got just a little bit of speed on him, going 38 mph trying to pass trucker A on a very long hill and then they have a long line of cars behind them. Happens to me almost every single day.

Note to truckers: there are HILLS in WV! You probably can't haul... well, you know what UP those hills. So deal with it and stay in your lane!

Thank you very much.