General Discussion

Warpy

(114,624 posts)

42. We get a lot of black ice out west

Sun Dec 18, 2016, 04:39 AM

Dec 2016

A dry desert snowfall turns immediately to ice when it sticks to the road and anything drives over it. It might look like snow, it might even look like wet road, but it is ice. You can ease up on the clutch if you have one, but those brakes won't work.

I don't know of anything that could make a difference, not even flashing signs saying "black ice, speed limit 20." I know I hug the right lane in second gear as yahoos in 4WD cars blow past me doing nearly the speed limit. I invariably pass them within a mile or two, cars mushed into guardrails and the drivers who just gave me the finger standing in the road on their cellphones, calling for the hook.

The truck driver in your OP was a hero. I hope for his family's sake that there is some recognition of that.

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Some of you may have seen the video of the fuel tanker crash in Baltimore. Allow me to say this; [View all] A HERETIC I AM Dec 2016 OP

Thank you for this post Nwgirl503 Dec 2016 #1

My son just started driving trucks nini Dec 2016 #2

Far too many people believe a fully loaded truck can stop on a dime. ... spin Dec 2016 #3

I live near the L.A. Harbor nini Dec 2016 #7

I can't tell you how many times a truck has pulled out in front of me in the fast lane while I was Horse with no Name Dec 2016 #61

There is a shortage of truck drivers today. Some companies have lowered ... spin Dec 2016 #70

I never realized what an asshole driver I was around big trucks until I started driving them. Skeeter Barnes Dec 2016 #5

That's exactly what my son said LOL nini Dec 2016 #6

Trucking made me a better driver in my personal vehicle and I bet it will do the same for him. Skeeter Barnes Dec 2016 #11

Will do nini Dec 2016 #15

I've always been very careful and respectful Abq_Sarah Dec 2016 #38

I hear you Skittles Dec 2016 #62

Tears. sheshe2 Dec 2016 #4

KnR Hekate Dec 2016 #8

Thanks for the post. mountain grammy Dec 2016 #9

A selfless hero AJT Dec 2016 #10

Buses too! Dustlawyer Dec 2016 #12

What an amazing post malaise Dec 2016 #13

KnR paleotn Dec 2016 #14

That driver was a hero. denbot Dec 2016 #16

Confirmed that the driver did die in the crash. Hong Kong Cavalier Dec 2016 #17

Yeah....looked pretty unsurvivable to me. A HERETIC I AM Dec 2016 #19

re-engineer those barriers! LittleGirl Dec 2016 #45

Agreed. Our infrastructure needs much work. My fear though is the repugs will . . . brush Dec 2016 #51

spot on with that ! eom LittleGirl Dec 2016 #52

. BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2016 #54

Thank you. cry baby Dec 2016 #18

My uncle died in an accident like that in 82. we can do it Dec 2016 #20

I'm very sorry for your loss, oh those many years ago. n/t A HERETIC I AM Dec 2016 #57

Thank you. we can do it Dec 2016 #63

Thanks for this post. emmadoggy Dec 2016 #21

There's an old adage; A HERETIC I AM Dec 2016 #23

Leave yourself an out... teamster633 Dec 2016 #35

That applies to passenger vehicles as well Abq_Sarah Dec 2016 #39

Safe journey to him. okasha Dec 2016 #22

Thank you for the touching post. Kittycow Dec 2016 #24

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. Ilsa Dec 2016 #25

Lived in Alaska most of my life Drahthaardogs Dec 2016 #26

Unfortunately, situations like this can come up on you very suddenly. A HERETIC I AM Dec 2016 #29

Thanks SCantiGOP Dec 2016 #27

Thank you... The_Voice_of_Reason Dec 2016 #28

Powerful post. Thank you for an important perspective. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2016 #30

Hero. Agreed. flvegan Dec 2016 #31

Overpass style higheay bpj62 Dec 2016 #32

K&R es466 Dec 2016 #33

... spanone Dec 2016 #34

At the mercy of idiots. JayhawkSD Dec 2016 #36

What happened to the driver? shireen Dec 2016 #58

He was killed. A HERETIC I AM Dec 2016 #67

I suspect you were asking about the driver of the truck... JayhawkSD Dec 2016 #71

Not all flatbed trailer have such a bulkhead these days..... A HERETIC I AM Dec 2016 #72

Last drove about fifty years ago. Not up to date. nt JayhawkSD Dec 2016 #73

thank you for that perspective shireen Dec 2016 #37

"What can be done to keep overpasses safer during icy conditions?" A HERETIC I AM Dec 2016 #41

We get a lot of black ice out west Warpy Dec 2016 #42

This is my worst nightmare TrogL Dec 2016 #40

tears. just tears eom LittleGirl Dec 2016 #43

we need better roads, routes built for trucks. instant warnings when roads blocked. Sunlei Dec 2016 #44

I had two grandfather's who were truckers. littlemissmartypants Dec 2016 #46

What an incredibly kind sentiment A HERETIC I AM Dec 2016 #49

Lately it occurs to me voteearlyvoteoften Dec 2016 #47

thanks for this Fast Walker 52 Dec 2016 #48

Outstanding post. Thanks for sharing a perspective with which ... 11 Bravo Dec 2016 #50

I had not Delphinus Dec 2016 #53

Thank you for that enlightening post! denvine Dec 2016 #55

Tears....thank you Heretic, you're opening my eyes to much I never knew. BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2016 #56

Wife of a Worried senior Dec 2016 #59

Thank you so much democrank Dec 2016 #60

Yes. Thank you very much for this post. I was just thinking about how being a member Upthevibe Dec 2016 #64

Wow. Thank-you. Chemisse Dec 2016 #65

very sad. yes he thought if others JI7 Dec 2016 #66

Truckers are like any other folks. ArchTeryx Dec 2016 #68

Most everything that everyone has was transported on a truck IronLionZion Dec 2016 #69

He was going way to fast period snooper2 Dec 2016 #74

Thanks for that enlightened response. A HERETIC I AM Dec 2016 #75

no but a trunk driver should know road conditions- Also he did hit a car and that person died snooper2 Dec 2016 #76

As I said in my OP... A HERETIC I AM Dec 2016 #77

I guess, lots of people fuck up on ice- I actually plan to record on some of the overpasses snooper2 Dec 2016 #78

I think it should be a regulation that large trucks stop when roads ice over. forgotmylogin Dec 2016 #79