As a professional driver since 2005 with over a million miles driven I have learned alot in regards to inconsiderate, unsafe & downright inexperienced drivers.
An example I was telling Jason (aka chevyguy78):
Thanksgiving day 2008 in Tacoma, WA. I was heading back to Portland with a high value load ($1.2 million worth of electronics...) and a young driver in a Mitsubishi Eclipse tried to pass between myself and another big-rig.
In the process of cutting between us he clipped my front bumper resulting in sending him into the Jersey barriers at ~80mph.
Not only did I have to fill out a incident report with WSP but I had to explain to my daughters that daddy wasn't going to make it in time.
The driver (19) and his girlfriend had to be taken away by ambulance.
As a professional driver we're constantly on the road. With the smaller, more low-key trucking companies you can get away with working over you're maximum allowed hours. I've often been behind the wheel 20 hours straight in an effort to satisfy a customer/ make extra $$.
Drunk, tired or emotional driving is dangerous too.
December 24th 2008 I lost my best friend.
My best friend Ryan was on his way back from Seattle with a load of envelopes in an effort to earn more Christmas money.
Ryan & I had spent all day digging out our trucks from all the snow.
After I went home he decided to run up to Seattle for a quick $200 (6 hours).
On the way back he fell asleep.
State police say that he drifted onto the shoulder for approximately 200 feet before hitting the guard rail. At that exact moment you could see him tap the brake lights (DOT traffic camera). He then dropped ~25 feet and into the underside of I-5.
This is from the local news
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After he was life-flighted to Portland I went to see him.
Surrounded by his family, I could only stare. Seeing him laying there motionless with tubes down his throat and a bandage on his head-I was speechless.
I said a few things to him and when his 2yr old daughter kept asking why daddy wouldn't wake up- I had to leave.
The next morning (Christmas) his wife called me and told me he didn't make it.
The reason I'm sharing this with all of you is to get a point across. If you're Mad, Tired or just shouldn't be driving- remember that my daughters are out there. Hopefully they make it home.
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RIP Ryan, I miss ya "sulley"