Sharing the Road

As I draw a close to this month's activities, I am reminded that there are all different types of people/driver's in the world. This is found more profoundly in the way people drive. I, being the professional driver that I am, watch these people every day, all day long. I see drivers who are in a hurry because their business is most important, drivers who are going slower than the rest for various reasons, (IE:watching the scenery, wrecks or emergency vehicles, or just are scared to drive in traffic), and those who are trying their best to stay out of everyone else's way.

These drivers are those who might be driving a sports car, a SUV, a pick-up, a school bus, a camper, a bus or even a semi. I watch them weave in and out of traffic, using their cell phones, talking to passengers and most disturbing, reading or using a laptop all while driving. We wonder why there are more accidents and more people not paying attention to what should be the most important thing while behind the wheel, the road and traffic!

In this day and age, with all the new handy dandy gadgets to communicate, what ever happened to good ole' fashioned driving. I understand on a long trip it is nice to have someone to talk to, or something to chat through, but while driving, the most important focus should be on the road. After all, isn't it the road that will get you from point A to point B?

I am also talking about the semi drivers as well. They are not above this. I see some weave their trucks with up to 80,000 pounds of freight and machinery while trying to talk on the phone or play on a laptop or even text someone. I refuse to text while driving, that is something that would definitely take my attention off the road and my eyes.

And let's try to remember that we all have to drive on these roads together. What ever happened to common decency and driver courtesy? I remember when I first started driving a semi, truckers were courteous and more than willing to help each other out. That was only 15 years ago. Now all I see are those who are out for themselves and to hell with the other guy! It's almost a "your first, after me" attitude.

Someone is coming down an on ramp to yield into traffic, if the way is clear, I will move over to let them in. Then I have noticed that most drivers coming down the on ramp don't even look to see if the way is clear! There are those times, in heavy traffic mostly, that the way is not clear for me to move over, these people just barrel down the on ramp like the world should stop for them to get on. They don't speed up or slow down and I have even had them try to run me off the road to get in. (remember, I drive the big truck, they have a car...not a good idea)

I have seen truckers put on their signal and move over without even looking making a car swerve out of their way. And the truckers wonder why people are leery of them when passing.

If anyone understands frustration on the road, it is I because I have been in Chicago traffic on a Friday afternoon, or New York City right before rush hour. I try to keep calm and listen to my radio and I don't do anything but watch out for everyone else. You see, I look way up ahead and to the sides all the time because if anything happened, I need to be able to respond quickly due to the weight of my vehicle and I know how it responds to certain movements.

If you are out there, sharing the road with me, please remember to be courteous and remember, I have a family too and a life off the road. Don't text someone or use your laptop or forget that others are sharing the road with you. Thank you.