A terrible accident with 7 dead, 25 injured, 150 vehicles on a Louisiana Highway. The highway is a dangerous place and people don't give enough space between their and other's cars. More importantly truck drivers sometimes act as though they are driving a Pinto and come within a single car length behind other vehicles in the slow moving lane so as to push them to go faster (That may not be what happened here but I'm trying to make a safety point). I guess they are annoyed by traffic going 69 in a 70 mph zone. These are unlikely the first time these issues have occurred.
This is a devastating accident and lots of people got hurt. I think the problem is too fast, too many big trucks (and cars) not respecting the lives of others, and when something like this happens no one wants to take responsibility. The first thing one might do if they run into this dense fog is put on their hazards, go slow and consider getting off the highway. Trucks should move very slowly and not rush under hazardous conditions. Common sense I think but not so common.
We also need much heavier enforcement of vehicles that are being unsafe on the highway. Doubly so for large semis who take much longer to stop when compared to cars and do a lot more damage. Perhaps buzzers and loud warnings inside some of these trucks when they get too close might be helpful. The more annoying the better! Don't let them rig it to shut if off.
Let me give you two examples I have experienced in the past year that could have been deadly.
Example 1. Driving through construction zone around 50 mph between Toledo and Detroit and look in my rear mirror and see only front grill from a large fuel tanker. I'm in the slow lane and there is no shoulder because of barricades to my right and cars in the left lane (barricades there as well with no exits for miles.). I cant go faster because there are cars in front of me. I slow down a few mph and put on my hazards. Semi driver gets angry and gets closer within a couple of feet. If I would have needed to abruptly put on my breaks if cars stopped in front of me he would have plowed through 10 cars and dumped his fuel down a practical tunnel of cars, families, children.
Example 2. Driving down state over the past weekend in the slow lane on 75 just below the bridge at 70 miles an hour on cruise control. A jeep drives up behind me and hovers about car length behind me for a few miles despite the entire highway being open. I reduce speed about 5 mph hoping he would pass. He gets closer. I slow down again 5 mph and he gets even closer. I wasn't upset so I just pointed to pass. He did. He drives up in front of me moves into the right lane in front of me and slows down to teach me a lesson. I move over in the left lane and he moves into the left lane. I move back into the right lane and he moves into the right lane.
When drivers call in about dangerous behaviors and road rage I think someone should enforce these rules. We have a right to be left alone on the highway and not have angry and dangerous people putting others at risk. Usually when I pull out my cell phone as though I'm going to record them, they stop. Not always but most of the time. Because I travel a lot I'm going to consider putting in an aftermarket dash cam on front and back of the car that I can turn on when I need to just so I can record these behaviors. Perhaps a little sign that says "Your Being Recorded" (Not sure if that is legal but I might check) If there is an accident I want them to be held to account for it. Forget the "conditions" excuse when its obviously unsafe.
It would be nice if some of these companies get major fines. Professional drivers should be professional. If you can't see in front of you then you need to slow way down or exit. This was sad and could have been avoided. Hope and prayers for the families and people hurt. It will be interesting to see what the investigation says. The Science of Wreckless Driving
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