Move over laws

[bpaikman]

I try to get over when I can, a lot of times clowns fly by blocking me from getting over.

When I had a travel trailer I had a flat on the interstate only about 6 miles from my house. On the curb side so I thought I'd just change it. NOBODY would get over.

Semis were the worst, they'd fly by me rocking that 35 ft windjammer. One reason I despise them today and don't mind taking up one of their parking spots with my pusher at a rest area. I guess the other would be getting glared at when I'm in the truck lanes at the truck stop.

I ended up unhooking, going home and getting the Expedition and we parked it a ways behind the trailer and it helped a little with people getting over. 2 state cops went by me, neither offered to stop and help with their lights.

I haven't had a flat since but if I do I'm calling roadside assistance.

I do notice that semis are no longer "knights of the road". They drive those semi's like they're driving race cars: going way over the speed limit, lining up side by side at stoplights, and barricading freeways by going side by side on multi-lanes, (especially I-45 between Houston and Dallas!).
If you want a real eye-opener, look up some youtube vids on dumb truckers.
That said, I always get over even when I'm in my tiny four wheeler, but sometimes it's impossible because drivers are SO afraid I'll get in front of THEM that they actually speed up and block me in! It seems to me that drivers are much less courteous than usual, and I noticed it's worse in high traffic areas. We frequently travel to Houston, and we notice that traffic speeds up considerably, as it gets heavier when we approach Houston.

 

[bpaikman]

My understanding as well, and even if its not the law in every state, I do it just to stay safe and prevent any unwanted vehicular or pedestrian interaction.

haha. " unwanted interaction ". no kiddin'

 

[bpaikman]

As I understand move over laws, they apply to emergency vehicles. Thus a civilian with a flat tire or such doesn't apply.

I agree, I always try to move over when I encounter any vehicle on the shoulder or when I observe a vehicle proceeding on an entrance ramp. Many won't get to highway speed before moving into the travel lane.

We have a lot of ramps on the freeway in our town and it annoys me that people will not move over for someone approaching on the ramp, even when there's no one at all in the left lane. Local yokels driving home, focused on that beer and TV.

 

[bpaikman]

I do it all the time, in SUV, in MH. Usually make arrangement with trucker on the radio to let me in or vice versa, when we get close.

CB? We've thought about getting one for the MH.

 

[bpaikman]

Thats a nice little rant Neal. Unfortunately none of the inconsiderate knucklehead offenders will read it.

I’d like to add that if a flare pattern is needed, start by walking all the way down the shoulder to the farthest point back in your pattern with a lit flare in your hand, and work your way progressively back to the disabled vehicle, laying an increasingly widening pattern, rather than workimg from the vehicle back down the road. That way you start going out into the roadway at the narrowest part of your pattern (closest to the shoulder), you are not in the road at the widest part of your pattern first, and drivers have more time to react without putting yourself in as much danger.

Working on the roadside is naturally very hazardous and when possible it's also best to have a spotter (watching oncoming traffic and not the person working) and some previously agreed upon warnings and commands so there is no time wasted, and no ambiguity in an emergency situation. Getting a trooper out there with a blue and red light bar was a good call.

Thanks, excellent suggestion - I wouldn't have thought of that.

 

[bpaikman]

Since we're bitching here's something else that REALLY grinds my gears.

I hardly ever pass anyone in my motorhome. 43 ft rv pulling truck that's almost 20 ft long and then maybe 3 ft for the towbar? That's 66 ft.
But when I do pass someone on the interstate because they're creeping along to the point of being unsafe, and then I make sure and give myself room before pulling back in, it seems like half the time some jackoff in a little car will whip by me on the right, barely missing me and the vehicle I just passed, and block my return to the right lane.
And since they floor it and it happens so fast lots of times you can't see them.

And another thing...

Riding in the right lane to stay out of everyone's way. Don't get over to the left at entrance ramps unless the highway is empty because I know I'll hold up traffic and have a hard time getting back into the right lane...
So slow down a little to let them in and the car getting on the interstate also slows down.
Speed up a little because they look like they'll be coming in behind you and they floor it.

Every damn time.

Actually, in heavy traffic, 3 lanes, I avoid the right lane because people on exit ramps change their minds when they see the lines. and try to jump back into traffic....we had a friend who had a major accident in his truck and RV in south Houston, because somebody did just that in front of him.
I tend to watch with the big trucks are doing, because I figure they know the route and its patterns.

 

[FL-JOE]

People are total idiots when driving now days. If you break down and have to get on the shoulder you really need to get your right wheels off the shoulder so there is at least a small safety zone of shoulder pavement to exit your vehicle.

Years ago, before all the States began passing the "move over" laws, most vehicles didn't change lanes for a squad car on the shoulder. Two times in my career I had to dive over the hood of a violators car to keep from getting killed. One time the jerk actually did clip the violators mirror and knock it off as I was rolling over the hood!

It is a dangerous situation to be stopped on the shoulder of any interstate highway.

 

[Fish]

People are total idiots when driving now days. If you break down and have to get on the shoulder you really need to get your right wheels off the shoulder so there is at least a small safety zone of shoulder pavement to exit your vehicle.

Years ago, before all the States began passing the "move over" laws, most vehicles didn't change lanes for a squad car on the shoulder. Two times in my career I had to dive over the hood of a violators car to keep from getting killed. One time the jerk actually did clip the violators mirror and knock it off as I was rolling over the hood!

It is a dangerous situation to be stopped on the shoulder of any interstate highway.

A friend of mine's son is a State Cop, they always send them up north to start out. He got hit on the side of the Dan Ryan and got all busted up, in the hospital for a long time, pins and stuff.

 

[FL-JOE]

To a certain extent ISP has always done that when assigning their new Troopers. I had to spend my first year south of Chicago Heights on I-57. Sorry to hear about your friend's son.

There are several major interstates in Illinois named after Troopers killed by drunk/distracted motorist. Folks just don't give a crap.

 

[AbdRahim]

CB? We've thought about getting one for the MH.

Yes. The only time people talk on them now is when there is a problem. I miss the old days of good conversation on the CB.

 

[Fish]

To a certain extent ISP has always done that when assigning their new Troopers. I had to spend my first year south of Chicago Heights on I-57. Sorry to hear about your friend's son.

There are several major interstates in Illinois named after Troopers killed by drunk/distracted motorist. Folks just don't give a crap.

He's ok, got a cushy state police job now.Last I heard he was at a casino.

 

[bpaikman]

When I was a kid I used to hear my parents complain about careless drivers and saying 'probably fiddling with their radio, or drunk'. But when Bob and I see crazy driver, we both say 'cell phone'. I avoid pulling onto shoulders if at all possible - I hunt for an exit, country side road, or even a pasture driveway before I'd risk the cell phone users. It's insane.
And 'hands-free'? No better, not one bit.

 

[FL-JOE]

I agree that the "hands free" isn't any better. You can still see idiots going down the road making all types of motions with their hands while arguing with someone on the phone or trying to make a point. The conversation distracts some people in a big way.

On another related discovery. My 22 year old grandson got me to download the TikTok app because there are a lot of cornhole videos on there. I have come across dozens of live videos to commercial big rig drivers blasting down the road yacking on the TikTok live feed! Now that is really scary IMHO.

 

[bpaikman]

I don't know where this is all going to end. I just watched a video of a teenager driving a stolen car the wrong way down a residential street and deliberately mowing down a mother pushing her eight-month-old in a stroller. I'm not certain, but it looks like mom and kid were amazingly ok.
Because of increased drug use and people on their cell phones, I'm reluctant to pull over to the side road at all.
And I'm really bugged by people who blatantly video themselves while driving! Even some of my favorites, whom I thought had good sense.
I don't think they should video themselves while driving, even if they swear it's 'safe', because they set a bad example.

 

[bpaikman]

I don't know where this is all going to end. I just watched a video of a teenager, high on drugs, driving a Stolen car the wrong way down a residential street and Deliberately mowing down a mother pushing her eight-month-old in a stroller.
Because of increased drug use and people on their cell phones, I'm reluctant to pull over to the side road at all.
And I'm really bugged by youtubers, etc, who blatantly video themselves while driving! Even some of my favorites, whom I thought had good sense.
I don't think they should video themselves while driving, even if they swear it's 'safe', because they set a bad example.