I always scan the news for anything that affects the trucking industry a couple times a day.
I have an extensive list of Google Alerts that I use to keep track of this.
I came upon a story yesterday titled: “Driver survives logs plowing through windshield” with that kind of title one must go read it.
This story happened in Port Wentworth, Georgia.
The story begins with a woman nearly loses her life after running into the back of a log truck. She didn’t see it until it was too late because it was dark – but survived.
FYI: this is NOT the truck that was involved; it is simply an example of what kind of truck she didn’t see.
From the sound of the story the woman should have been cited for failure to maintain control, as it clearly states she ran into the back of the log truck. I mean yea it was obviously dark but, it sounds to me like she was not paying attention or was running late for work and just could not get stopped in time.
The woman states “I hardly had any time to think,” she said. “I did apply the brakes, but I ran into the back of the log truck as he was turning.” Cutcher said she couldn’t see any reflectors on the truck, and by the time she realized she was behind a log truck it was too late. The logs went right through her windshield, barely missing her.
How many drivers would have time to clearly look for reflectors when an emergency situation would occur such as this? And why was she looking for reflectors anyway? That is why she ran into the truck – she didn’t see his tail lights and turn signals, she was looking for reflectors.
Why wasn’t this woman ticketed for failure to maintain control of her vehicle? Georgia must not have that law? I mean think about this for a second, she lives in Georgia, log trucks are plentiful in GA, she is on her way to work – so obviously she has driven the road before. Usually when a person drives a road a few times they will see where all the turn-offs are especially if a lot of big trucks run the road too.
Anyway, she wants to add new regulations to trucking just because she failed to maintain control of her vehicle. That is ludicrous at best – SHE failed to maintain her vehicle – but it was the truck-drivers fault? Now she’s making it her mission to see that changes are made. “I think that it would not cost a lot of money to make these log trucks safer,” said Cutcher. “I have been spared for a reason.”
She hopes her story will prompt state legislators to make some changes, including stricter rules for log truck drivers. She’d especially like to see more reflectors or limits on how far logs can hang off trucks.
Next we get to hear from Cpl. Michael Swainston with Port Wentworth Police who sees firsthand the dangers the trucks can pose. He’s one of only a few officers in in the area who is certified in commercial vehicle enforcement. Every day he sees trucks, some are following the rules and others are not. “I’ve seen some that are unsafe, operating them unsafely,” said Swainston.
I’m sure glad he is on the force – he sees “some” that are unsafe, operating them unsafely. Why is he not stopping these “unsafe” and “unruly” trucks he sees? Finally, the story ends with Cutcher saying she doesn’t know whose log truck she ran into, the driver kept going. She says she thinks he probably didn’t realize she’d hit him. I will let you be the judge..
Sources:
Driver survives logs plowing through windshield
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she did a nice job on hiting him
on some over size load with long pipes
various other loads on flatbeds they have flashing yellow
lights on back are extend runing lights on atop with turn
signals i do think they need to make some changes