Posted 2011-09-12 8:03 AM (#137446) Subject: Right Turns
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1069 Location: MI.
I have had quite a few people sneek up on my right side at an intersection while I'm getting ready to make a right hand turn. Well, I finally got hit. What on earth are people thinking? Do they not see a big white trailer with top and side blinkers going? While I was turning, I checked my rear mirror again to make sure my wheels were missing the curb and crunch, there she was hung up on my step. I didn't even feel it. Now I'm stuck in the intersection while she tried backing her car up off my step ripping the side of her front end off. I've got deep scratches on the side of the trailer from the front of the tires to the step which is in the middle of the trailer. I took a rubber mallot to bend my step "cradle" back in place so I could open my door. If the step wasn't there it would've been a lot worse. She ended up with a ticket. I've thought about getting a caution decal but if people aren't looking at my trailer signals, why would they take time to read a decal? What can I do to discourage dumbasses from using a bike lane as a car lane?
Posted 2011-09-12 8:33 AM (#137447 - in reply to #137446) Subject: RE: Right Turns
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
With long trailers you have to make wide turns, And you are right, people don't understand why you are holding a little to the left at the corner. I had car do that once. It was a very busy intersection and I made the turn and felt a small bump. Thinking I had hit the curb with my tires I quickly looked to make sure was not going to run over a stop sign or other type of post. To my surprise I saw a car bouncing over the curb and going across the front lawn of the corner fast food place..
Traffic was horrible, So I kept moving to find a safe spot to get off the road. When I walked back the car had left. They must have really taken the brunt of the accident. Top of curb was broken off, lots of rubber tire marks that had some sidewize motion to them. My trailer barely had any damage. Just slight green paint on the fender.
They had been trying to quickly slip up the right side of me and with their speed, their effort to avoid getting crunched and my bump, it had sent them for a ride over the curb.
Posted 2011-09-12 8:48 AM (#137448 - in reply to #137446) Subject: RE: Right Turns
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
When I make those right turns, I'll leave the trailer axles in the right lane and stop the truck in the left lane. I'm parked diagonal in two lanes with the right signal going.... It looks stupid enough that folks will just sit and wait to see what I'm about to do. Light changes to green and I'm making that right turn all the while watching the closest car to the right rear of the trailer. Never had one try to pass on the right while I was turning, most of them knew exactly what I was doing and the others knew they would have gotten mashed if they darted around. Sometimes you wonder why you even bother to try to have anything, always someone out there trying to destroy it or take it away.....
She should have gotten a big ticket driving her car in the "bike lane".... Big No No...!!
Posted 2011-09-12 9:41 AM (#137451 - in reply to #137446) Subject: RE: Right Turns
Member
Posts: 47 Location: New Salem, ND
I pull a 43 ft white trailer with a Dodge 3500. When getting on an onramp of an interstate during rush hour traffic a little tiny car shot around my right side and passed me. Scared the you know what out of me.. So right, these people have not got a clue, not only how aweful their actions are but how dangerous!! " You Just Can't Fix Stupid!"
Posted 2011-09-12 9:42 AM (#137452 - in reply to #137446) Subject: RE: Right Turns
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1069 Location: MI.
It was stated in the police report as improper lane use. Trying to look some repair places up in MI. It's prime riding season right now. I really don't want to deal with this until late winter/early spring.
People drive so selfish. It's like they think they are the only ones on the road and the road belongs to only them.
Posted 2011-09-13 12:18 AM (#137484 - in reply to #137446) Subject: RE: Right Turns
Elite Veteran
Posts: 736 Location: Western WA
Ditto what Retento said. I just take both lanes, pretty much straddling the line between them, before making a right hand turn. I get lots of dirty looks but have yet to have anyone try to make a right hand turn on the inside ahead of me.
He lives in Corvallis and was on his way to work at the Linn-Benton Community College Book Store, where he was to be on the job until noon. He started work there this month. He was driving north on Highway 99E about 8 a.m. when he ran a red light. He said he did not see the light or the truck until it was too late.
His car slid partially under the trailer, crushing the front of the vehicle. The horn on the Camry continued to blare afterward until it finally could be shut off.
Posted 2011-09-13 9:56 AM (#137490 - in reply to #137446) Subject: RE: Right Turns
Regular
Posts: 69
You should see the fools in California. If you have a trailer they don't care they cut you off and slam on the brakes. Even my carpooler’s wife did it to me one evening!! Try merging in traffic they refuse to understand the every other car rule.
Posted 2011-09-13 10:31 AM (#137491 - in reply to #137446) Subject: RE: Right Turns
Veteran
Posts: 147 Location: santa clara, ca
I live in California and i have to say people have no respect for truck with trailers.The one that takes the cake in my book is when they are merging on the fwy (us being in the right most lane) and decide to only look to their left the last 10-20yards and cause you to either have to slow down by 10-15mph or hit the gas hard to pass them.... while getting your license they should have people spend some time learning proper etiquette to trailers and other large vehicles.
Posted 2011-09-13 10:40 AM (#137492 - in reply to #137491) Subject: RE: Right Turns
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1069 Location: MI.
Originally written by adeberti on 2011-09-13 11:31 AM
I live in California and i have to say people have no respect for truck with trailers.The one that takes the cake in my book is when they are merging on the fwy (us being in the right most lane) and decide to only look to their left the last 10-20yards and cause you to either have to slow down by 10-15mph or hit the gas hard to pass them.... while getting your license they should have people spend some time learning proper etiquette to trailers and other large vehicles.
OMG! I see it all the time. They look at you angry as if you were in the wrong.
Posted 2011-09-13 12:13 PM (#137496 - in reply to #137446) Subject: RE: Right Turns
Member
Posts: 39 Location: Southwestern, Indiana
If you use the button hook as shown. it would voiolate the CDL manual I was reading. It said pulling out into the oncoming traffic in the road you are on is a no-no. Only enter the incoming lane of the road you are turning right on. If you are pulling a trailer of any size, it can't be done.
Posted 2011-09-13 2:36 PM (#137500 - in reply to #137496) Subject: RE: Right Turns
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by AJH on 2011-09-13 12:13 PMIf you use the button hook as shown. it would voiolate the CDL manual I was reading. It said pulling out into the oncoming traffic in the road you are on is a no-no. Only enter the incoming lane of the road you are turning right on. If you are pulling a trailer of any size, it can't be done.
The picture overstates the movement...You do NOT pull into oncoming traffic, but you do use your entire lane... here is a video showing the button hook part... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rFy6qSFdR4
Posted 2011-09-16 1:36 AM (#137561 - in reply to #137446) Subject: RE: Right Turns
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
OMG! I just spent the last hour on youtube watching different "so you wanna be a truck-driver!?" WOW- crazy stuff! Australia and Japan have some crazy videos!
Right Turns
here is a video showing the button hook part... 