r/IdiotsInCars • u/Marnot_Sades • Sep 29 '23
Was I the idiot here? Friend says the truck had his blinker on and that he couldn't have seen me. I had my own lane, the blinker was covered by the metal on the back of the truck, and by the time it was on I couldn't see it. [oc] OC
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u/buildburoo Sep 29 '23
Im an actual truck driver (not some box truck driving fool) and I still get nervous around box trucks.
From my experience, I can tell you, this was the cause of one of three things:
1: his mirrors weren’t adjusted properly from him to be able to see past the end of the box.
2: he wasn’t looking in his mirrors when he changed lanes
3: he saw you, but simply decided he didn’t give a fuck and went anyway.
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u/Muted_Cell_5673 Sep 29 '23
Being a CDL driver myself (school buses a few years back), I agree completely. He started the lane change as soon as the line was no longer solid. He clearly did not look for traffic in the lane. Makes me shake my head and wonder what blue light special (for those of a certain age in the states) he bought his license from.
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u/buildburoo Sep 29 '23
Exactly, I drive a semi truck, one of the most important things I carried from my training is to never make a lane change into a merge lane without triple/ quadruple checking that there is not a 4-wheeler coming up the on-ramp.
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u/Firstnamecody Sep 29 '23
He may not even need or have a CDL for that truck. I drive an international with a very heavy flat bed and 500 gallons of water in a metal tank and we are just below the weight threshold for CDL trucks.
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u/Graffy Sep 29 '23
The biggest U-Haul truck you can rent has a 26' long box and is 12ft tall. You can rent this with a normal drivers license earned in a smart car with zero other experience or training. I keep as much distance as possible from U-Haul trucks haha
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u/Lord-Phorse Sep 29 '23
That was my thought. It’s a rental driven by an idiot. Indicating or not, you don’t change into an added lane that bloody quickly!
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u/Firstnamecody Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 30 '23
As someone who is about to rent one of those for the third time in a couple of months, I know and completely agree. Although I can back that sucker into a driveway on an average ~25' neighborhood street because of my work experience I definitely stay far away or quickly pass those big fuckers too! Never know who's driving it, or what condition U-Haul allows it to be ran in for that matter.
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u/Signature-Tiny Sep 30 '23
I just rented a Uhaul in July. No cruise control, no bluetooth. It “featured” am/fm radio and air conditioning…1200 miles of awfulness
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u/Firstnamecody Sep 30 '23
It's been a couple years since I've rented one, and don't remember not having cruise control, that sucks. Did it not work or not exist? Luckily my trips have all been a lot less than 1200 miles.
I do remember that I used a Bluetooth radio transmitter that allows me to play music from my phone to the speakers, so that definitely helps with the boredom.
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u/Signature-Tiny Sep 30 '23
There was no cruise control- it was a small truck 15’ - It wouldn’t go over 75 mph, either.
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u/Firstnamecody Sep 30 '23
I absolutely agree with it being governed, haha. They probably have to for insurance as well.
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u/path_evermore Sep 30 '23
thank you, as someone with no CDL who drives an 18' box for a living, i would rather people stay away from me than cut me off, slam on breaks and generally drive like i do not have the moving momentum of a small wrecking ball.
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u/edwintervt Sep 30 '23
Plus you can have a car carrier on the back! I tried renting a 15’ and they gave me the 26’ with car trailer. That was 2,000 white knuckle miles I don’t wish to repeat!
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u/redditislife24 Sep 29 '23
Box truck drivers are the worst cause they don’t require a cdl
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u/Firstnamecody Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 29 '23
I'd definitely put them at the top of the list now that
swift[insert whatever big company with meme worthy terrible driving] is no longer on the road.Eta that I was apparently wrong about Swift.
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u/buildburoo Sep 29 '23
Umm… broski… I drive for swift… you just don’t hear about them as much because the safety has improved ten fold since they raised the training and hiring requirements.
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u/Firstnamecody Sep 29 '23
I can't find any of the posts I was thinking of so I guess I'm going crazy and it was a different company, my bad.
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u/buildburoo Sep 29 '23
I know yellow just declared bankruptcy then was bought out. But swift is actually doing reasonably well as of currently
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u/usedtodreddit Sep 30 '23
Perhaps you meant Yellow trucking that just abruptly stopped all operations and filed for bankruptcy just a couple months ago.
In my experience Yellow drivers weren't all that bad, not like Swift. Schneider and JB Hunt, on the other hand ....
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u/Firstnamecody Sep 30 '23
You are absolutely right. I just jumbled the two up and didn't look into it at all before posting because I was confidently incorrect.
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u/Random999999991 Oct 01 '23
Yellow is no longer on the road
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u/Firstnamecody Oct 01 '23
Yeah I guess I should have had a second edit to add that in because it's been said a couple times now.
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u/If_an_earlobe_flaps Sep 30 '23
They require a license in my state. I forgot what its called but its for box trucks and HGVs that don't require CDL. Is it enforced? Probably not.
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u/Kyosw21 Sep 30 '23
Been told by a state trooper that the truck I drive for work is EXACTLY the weight to both need and not need a CDL. 16,000 gross max, 8 tons. CDL requires 16,000lbs gross so all the cops in this state don’t issue tickets for trucks the size that I drive (lawsuit waiting to happen) but anything rated even a pound above they will if the driver doesn’t have a CDL
The porta-john rental companies play it safe with their drivers because they sometimes get forced by law enforcement to visit weigh stations, and 16,001lbs is a fine to driver and company for unlicensed driver, but construction is less so since most trucks 450/4500 and below are only rated to the CDL minimum limit at their max. It’s… honestly a nightmare
MEANWHILE NO RESTRICTIONS ON 20,000LB, 40FOOT RVS!
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u/Firstnamecody Sep 30 '23
I think the limit is 26,000 pounds before you need a CDL and I'm fairly confident our trucks are at least 10 tons and I drive past every weigh station with no problems.
Great point about the RVs though, you never know who's driving them either, like the U-Hauls
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u/Kyosw21 Sep 30 '23
It depends on the state. My sister got her CDL and in the state she got it in they said anything over 12,000 in that state required a CDL. They also said you are an “impaired driver” if you were too happy, sad, angry, had coffee within the last hour, alcohol within the last 6 hours, and any illicit substance within 30 days
It really does depend on the state on what is required for CDL weight class and if you even need one. Some of these rules are wild
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u/Firstnamecody Sep 30 '23
Coffee within the last hour?! Get the fuck outta here. Surely that's not enforced? That's just a way to fuck with people they don't like..
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u/angrydeuce Sep 30 '23
I don't have a CDL but I spend about 4 hours a day in the car going between onsite consults, this kind of shit is why I never, ever change lanes immediately after a situation like this. I see people all the time jumping immediately into an exit lane right in front of people coming on and I always wonder what the fuck drugs they're on because so many accidents I pass are obviously because of that same stupid shit.
Like, just give the folks coming on a chance to get out of lane, then move over...why is this so damn hard lol
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u/Rob_Marc Sep 30 '23
You definitely gave away your age by mentioning the blue light special. . . . And I just gave away mine for acknowledging I understood the reference.
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u/henderthing Sep 29 '23
You can actually see by pausing the video that the mirror is turned in too far.
The driver's head isn't visible until the truck is centered over the white line, which would suggest that half of his mirror view is of the side of his own truck.Of course that doesn't prove that they bothered to look at their mirror.
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u/Graffy Sep 29 '23
Exactly what I was looking for as well. Until the last second all you see is the box itself. Presumably so it's easier when he's backing it up. It does have a convex mirror at the bottom which, although but helpful for gauging distance, still should have at least shown OP as being there. So yeah my guess is he didn't check his mirror at all because he knows he can't see dick with it anyway and just wings it every time he changes lanes.
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u/SteamedPea Sep 30 '23
The most dangerous vehicle on any road is a RENTED box truck.
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u/buildburoo Sep 30 '23
U-Haul, Penske, Ryder, and enterprise.
I’ve been nearly hit my every one of those. Still get nervous around them. 😳
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u/GothWitchOfBrooklyn Oct 01 '23
I drove 12 hours round trip between OH/MI this weekend and at one point on Rt 20 in OH a guy in the smallest size UHaul box truck was exhibiting behavior I have never seen in a box truck before.. usually they realize they are slower but this guy was weaving through traffic and seemed like he was trying to race people.. in a box truck. IDK how he didn't get pulled over, I watched him go over 50 through a 35 zone and while I was doing 65 in a 60 he was racing around other people. Don't even know how it's possible tbh.
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u/fivespeedmazda Sep 29 '23
This is why people should understand the golden rule that if you can't see the driver in his mirror he can't see you .
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u/Brantley_2chill Sep 29 '23
Yeah I hear ya! Whenever I see a box truck, especially if it is banged up I just an ohh shit here we go kind of feeling.
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u/sermer48 Sep 29 '23
I don’t see any blinker. Am I missing something? I feel like I’m blind cause I’ve rewatched it and still don’t see blinkers lol
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u/dod6666 Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 29 '23
Yes, the blinker is used. But you would be forgiven for not seeing it. It's hidden behind part of the truck.
Here is a screenshot where I have circled it:
Don't know about the local laws of the area, but that would be illegal in most places.
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u/catwhowalksbyhimself Sep 30 '23
The part it is hidden behind is a liftgate. It looks like it was added onto the truck as an addon and it absolutely should not be blocking the blinkers.
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u/thetruemata Sep 30 '23
I wouldn't have seen it if it wasn't for this comment. From the perspective of the dashcam, you can only see it illuminated for exactly one blink in this video.
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u/mrdnra Sep 29 '23
It's not possible to see it until the cammer is already alongside it. I imagine it would have been even harder for the driver given the camera will be further forward, and the angle of approach combined with their speeds keeps it completely out of sight until alongside.
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u/houseofnim Sep 30 '23
Don’t feel bad, I had to watch the video twice then once again in slow motion to find them.
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u/ChupacabraThree Sep 30 '23
what the fuck. Why did anyone think it was a good idea to a blinker that low.
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u/iliveoffofbagels Sep 30 '23
it's not even the height that's that much of an issue... it's the fact that theres a big ole piece of metal blocking it.
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Sep 29 '23
[deleted]
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u/Foreign_Implement897 Sep 29 '23
What is this ”had her blinker on” talk here? In ny country it is just indicating intent and asking for space, not giving any rights.
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u/iSUCKatTHISgameYO Sep 29 '23
this is such an important distinction. that's all a turn signal is: "hey other drivers, I'm intending to move over and I'm indicating as much by flipping this stick and moving over safely if the flow of traffic allows it" vs "wtf you TWAT‽ I had my signal on! did you not see me‽”
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u/shaunrnm Sep 29 '23
Pretty sure it doesn't give rights anywhere, but it can be taken as a warning that someone's just gunna send it.
Happens often enough that if you can, sometimes it's in your own interests to give them space to do so.
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u/Graffy Sep 29 '23
It's always best to just let someone in if you see their blinker when you can. The worst that can happen is you get stuck behind a slower driver, which while annoying af, is a minor inconvenience. Trying to assert your right of way can lead to a collision with an idiot which at best is a much bigger inconvenience, or injury or death at worst.
I've avoided countless accidents predicting someone's stupidity and so far the only one I've been involved in was a fender bender where I was stopped at a red light for several seconds and there was nothing I could have done differently.
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u/Aggressive-Variety60 Sep 29 '23
Right, cant just mind your own business, you have to watch for others too. A car half passed me the other day and put her flasher when I was still in her blindspot and started swerving/ changing lane while almost side by side. It was wide so i could move in the bike lane and had to honk/ lay on the horn so she notice and go back in her lane. She looked shocked afterward but simply is terrible driver/ had a brain fart as she should have known i was there since she was coming uo from behind…
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u/techsavior Sep 29 '23
In most parts of the US, you’re lucky if they use their blinkers! Most of the time, the other “driver” just pretends that they’re playing GTA!
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u/CaptCaffeine Sep 29 '23
What is this ”had her blinker on” talk here? In ny country it is just indicating intent and asking for space, not giving any rights.
What is this ”
had herblinkeron” talk here? In ny country it is justindicating intent and asking for space, not giving any rights.a lever to hang your sunglasses.Fixed it for the area drivers where I drive.
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u/Benjammn Sep 30 '23
In the US in my driving classes, it was drilled into our heads to:
Use blinkers, but....
Do not blindly trust blinkers on other cars.
The best intention of a car's direction is the car's actual direction.
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Sep 29 '23
I agree a 100%. Yesterday on the 401 I was passing a transport and when I was about even with the tractor's axles he puts on his blinker a starts coming over fast. I laid on the horn as he continued to push me onto the shoulder... and then honks at me as I get around him. His big hurry was to give a lane clearance at the last minute for an OPP on the right shoulder.
Putting on your fucking blinky, blinky doesn't give you almighty right to do whatever the fuck you want to!
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u/HyperactiveWeasel Sep 29 '23
While I agree the truck is definitely an ass, I never overtake a truck on the right without having room to evade. Being in the right means nothing if you're squashed, or pushed off a bridge, or decapitated.. etc
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Sep 29 '23
I was legally passing him in the left (passing) lane and he was in the right lane. He decided his need for the left lane outweighed my need to be in it. He pushed me onto the left shoulder.
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u/RedditAdminsLickAss Sep 29 '23
Blinkers are requests, not demands. Your friend is an idiot, just like the driver of the truck.
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u/hourlygrind Sep 29 '23
Truck is a moron and should have seen you, at least in their convex mirror. I'd have been a bit nervous passing on the right there, but don't drive bridges like that very often.
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u/Marnot_Sades Sep 29 '23
You get used to it after a bit here, I do this drive daily home from campus. This has happened to my dad a couple of times as well apparently. There's supposed to be a sign showing that the ramp is its own lane, but someone keeps stealing it.
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u/Anustart15 Sep 29 '23
If anything, that suggests you really should've known better than to pass someone on the right there. It's still the trucks fault, but at some point you have to accept reality and not put yourself into conflict every time you get on at that ramp
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u/darsynia Sep 30 '23
I really hope everyone who nitpicks posts in here have the most sterling record, never speed, and never do ANY of the things they chastise others for, it's exhausting as fuck and I can't take it anymore. You guys win, take the sub, ffs
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u/2012amica Sep 30 '23
Yeah I personally would’ve slowed down to merge in behind him since he obviously wasn’t interested in moving over for OP to get in. Instead, OP sped up to try to pass on the right. Still the trucks fault, but preventable imo if OP had just merged in behind him.
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u/Waluigi4040 Sep 29 '23
If you know this is a dangerous spot, you should be way more aware of your surroundings and not drive in the truck's blind spot.
The truck driver is a certified moron though.
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u/Graffy Sep 29 '23
The only way that's the trucks blindspot is if the driver itself is blind. Although aimed improperly the mirror was clearly visible the entire clip so op would have been in the convex mirror the entire time.
I do agree that if OP knows that's a hotspot for idiots blindly changing lanes you should avoid putting yourself in a spot where you can be the next victim of that idiocy. Nothing wrong with what OP did but he can do even better by out-driving the idiots.
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u/jabathehutjfjkskka Sep 30 '23
in order to pass people you literally have to drive past their blind spot. TO ME, it’s clear OP would’ve passed the truck quickly if truck hadn’t made the lane switch. i’m glad we can all agree the truck is the idiot here, but cmon. OP doesn’t need back handed advice, they did everything correct
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u/Seven7neveS Sep 29 '23
10/10 song selection
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u/andromeadus Sep 29 '23
Through the gates of hell
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u/Seven7neveS Sep 29 '23
As we make our way to heaven
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u/Mapo1 Sep 29 '23
Through the Nazi Lines!
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u/tollis1 Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 29 '23
Having your blinker on is a poor argument and shows a lack of knowledge.
When you’re switching lane it’s your responsibility to do it right. A blinker indicates what your next move is, and you ask for space, but you don’t have any right.
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u/Link9454 Sep 29 '23
A blinker does not entitle you to a lane. Also upvote to you and anyone else for Primo Victoria blasting.
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Sep 29 '23
A blinker does not under any circumstance mean you can just move over into another lane, especially if there is another vehicle. It is simply a request to change lanes.
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u/Meb-the-Destroyer Sep 30 '23
It’s rarely advisable to pass on the right, but extra caution is required when passing trucks at all times.
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u/wheezy1749 Sep 30 '23 edited Sep 30 '23
Yeah. It was just after two lanes merging. I'm sitting back on this one for a few seconds and making space for the truck in case they do want to move over. If truck parks themself in the left lane even after I've given them space then I might pass on the right but even them it's just not a fun situation to be in.
OP isn't the idiot here but should definitely drive more defensively. On this road you have zero options to get out and should definitely choose "wait and see" when deciding to pass a truck.
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u/YellowT-5R Sep 29 '23
If you can see them in the mirror they can see you. A turn signal does not give you right of way. Your friend is wrong and should stay a passenger
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u/CdnBison Sep 29 '23
Exactly this. Blinker or not, it’s still on them to ensure the lane is clear and make the lane change safely.
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u/whitecollarpizzaman Sep 29 '23
The truck should’ve been able to see you, but I also would’ve proceeded with a lot more caution. Those box trucks don’t require a special license and you never know if it’s their first time.
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u/the-misinformed-guy Sep 30 '23
Defensive driving helps. Anytime if I’m merging in on a highway or a lane is merging in beside me (even with it’s own lane) I will track vehicles and their speed and predict what everyone is doing. I just assume everyone on the road is an idiot and going to cut me off. So I’ll leave some wiggle room. I’ve seen too many car wrecks in the past year. Arrive alive.
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u/Ballamookieofficial Sep 29 '23
It's in Indicator to indicate the trucks intention to change lanes when safe.
Not a giveaway sign.
Your friend is an idiot
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u/justoneman7 Sep 29 '23
Just because someone has their blinker on does not mean they have solitary access to that lane. They MUST still yield to any vehicle that is already in that lane.
You were good. They were the asshole. (1) Their turn signal was illegally covered up. (2) They entered a lane without checking to be sure it was clear.
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u/LionQuiet Sep 29 '23
Since, for some reason, no one has done it yet:
PRIMO VICTORIA!
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u/Marnot_Sades Sep 29 '23
Driving in this god forsaken city is mentally bringing me to the gates of hell.
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u/oof-my-bones Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 29 '23
It is not your responsibility to yield to him, the truck changing lanes legally has to do it in a safe manner. “My blinker is on so gtfo of the way” is not the mentality needed for someone driving a 6 ton death machine
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u/Mario_Specialist Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 29 '23
NTI. The truck is the idiot and should’ve checked their blind spots.
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u/NfinitiiDark Sep 29 '23
Both. I could tell by the way that truck was driving he was going to come over. You always got to be the defensive driver.
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u/vapocalypse52 Sep 29 '23
Do you want to be right or do you want to get involved in an accident?
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u/wheezy1749 Sep 30 '23
Thank you. So much of the discussion on this sub is about "who was right" and we act like if you were "right" then keep driving like you were driving. OP was "right" but put himself in a situation that was extremely likely to happen.
This is awful awareness on OPs part and not at all defensive driving. Defensive driving tells you that the large fucking truck that just got a new lane available to them probably wants to merge right. If I'm behind them after the merge I'm slowing down and giving them space to see what they do. Every God damn time. I'm not passing on the right the moment they get a new lane.
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u/vapocalypse52 Sep 30 '23
I ride a motorcycle. My mantra is "do I want to be right, or do I want to be alive?".
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u/tacofolder Sep 29 '23
Truck 100% at fault. You already had your lane, he merged into it. He needs better mirrors too.
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u/Pressman4life Sep 29 '23
signal implies intent, not permission. If you leave your lane without making sure it's clear, it's your fault. Right of way is not guaranteed. The truck is at fault for not making sure the way was clear, signal or not. Should have had a better spotter.
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u/StackThePads33 Sep 29 '23
Blinkers don’t entitle you to a space, the truck is at fault here. He needs to check his mirrors before he makes that move. He had it in his head that he was going to change as soon as the solid line changed anyway, and fuck everyone else
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u/hambutbacon Sep 29 '23
Blinker or not you still had possession of the lane. The truck has to ensure it's safe to merge.
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u/hypespud Sep 29 '23
Be very cautious merging near box trucks, they have very poor visibility especially if it is a novice driver just casually using it for a few days or less, don't meet them or drive beside them during the merge for prioritizing your own safety, you don't want to get nearly side swiped like this, just practice increased defensive driving 😎💎
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u/enoctis Sep 30 '23
Your friend is dumb. You were legally occupying your lane. The truck was leaving his lane and entering yours. You had the right of way. A turn signal doesn't grant priority.
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u/G8kpr Sep 29 '23
Racing up into his Blindspot is probably not the smartest thing to do, but he made an improper lane change for sure.
Remember, never sit in someone’s Blindspot, and never let someone sit in yours.
(If you can help it. Yes, bumper to bumper traffic is not what I’m taking about)
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u/airkewled67 Sep 29 '23
Truck was merging into YOUR LANE. it's HIS job to make sure the lane is clear. Not yours.
And just because somebody has a turn signal on, doesn't give them the right of way to make a lang change.
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u/os_kaiserwilhelm Sep 29 '23
For your own safety, don't pass or come up to a truck on the right. Truck is in the wrong here as they should have seen you and not made their move, but as you've seen, what they should do and what they will do are entirely different things, and that they shouldn't have done it doesn't undo the bodily and property harm. This is one of those instances where I lay off the accelerator and get behind.
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u/Marnot_Sades Sep 29 '23 edited Oct 01 '23
Some extra context - this is a two lane bridge, and the two lanes continue as two lanes for around another 6 or 7 km. As I mentioned in another comment, there is usually a sign showing that it is not a merge but a protected entrance, but someone keeps taking it down.
Had I seen the blinker, of course I would not have tried to pass him. He turned the blinker on after it was in my blindspot looking forward, and from the driver's seat, it was hidden by a piece of metal on the back of the truck as well.
Edited to add, since people are seemingly unable to gather from the title: THIS IS NOT A MERGE. THIS IS A TWO-LANE BRIDGE, WITH THE RAMP I WAS ON BEING IT'S OWN SEPARATE LANE. I was not speeding up into a merge lane expecting to be a jackass to the truck. I was accelerating to the posted speed limit of the bridge entering my own lane.
If y'all could upvote this comment so folks can see this fact, as I can't edit the post itself for whatever reason, that'd be great. I understand a lot of folks who post run through merges like assholes, but I have the common sense to recognize a yield sign.
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u/Milamber69reddit Sep 29 '23
Not the idiot. Just because he may or may not have had a blinker on does not give him the right to change lanes without checking if the lane is clear. He needed to wait until you had moved before changing lanes. As a commercial driver he does know better. He may also have not seen you as you did just come out of a turn so it would be harder to see and when he did check you may have been in his blind spot.
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u/Stav1967 Sep 29 '23
You can see him, he's relying on mirrors. Regardless of what's happening, you can see more easily in front, so, yeah, you should definitely have used patience and allowed him the merge.
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u/Ghost_Prince Sep 30 '23
Nah, he barely waited until it wasn't a solid white, and just because he has his blinker on (which I can't even see at all) doesn't mean he has the right of way. He made an unsafe lane change while you were speeding up because it's an on-ramp, the thing they are for.
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u/M-Y-GirlieGirl Sep 30 '23
Even if the blinker is on it doesn’t give him the right away? Is your friend one of those people who just turns on their blinker and goes for it? Blinker is not right away. I literally almost died on the highway yesterday morning by some idiot who decided that that was how it worked.
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u/lets-talk-graphic Sep 30 '23
Having an indicator/blinker does not give that vehicle the right to make the manoeuvre. They must do so when it’s safe. I’m pretty sure this is a rule globally except for a few… places… you’re not in the wrong.
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u/Rug-Inspector Sep 30 '23
No. They were changing into your lane so it’s their responsibility to make sure the lane is clear. Their fault, not yours. Fact. End of story.
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u/foxspirituzumaki Sep 30 '23
A rare instance on this sub: the OP is not the idiot.
There is hope for humanity, after all.
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u/AxelsOG Sep 30 '23
Blinkers are only indicators. They let other people around you know that you intend on switching to that lane. Turning on your turn signal DOES NOT give you the right to turn into someone's lane. It is your responsibility to make sure the lane you want to switch to is clear.
This truck driver is the dumbass. I could MAYBE understand if you were sitting in their blindspot for an excessive amount of time, but you were speeding up to merge onto the bridge.
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u/zhyrafa Sep 29 '23
Trucker is an idiot and he seems to be going bit too fast too, its good you slowed down. I am always super careful around trucks, they don’t have too good visibility especially in spots like this but also usually they don’t seem to worry about it too, they just go like they’re the only ones on the road
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u/Difficult_Win_8231 Sep 30 '23
Certainly not careful you don't f****** pass a truck on the right ever.
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u/nerforbuff Sep 30 '23
I don’t think you’re at fault. However, trying to pass any vehicle in the right lane, while merging, on a bridge, just isn’t the safest way to employ defensive driving. Assume everyone around you is incompetent, and drive defensively.
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u/olafpfj Sep 29 '23
Was the truck right? NO! Were you an idiot for not seeing this coming a mile away? YES! I deal with this crap everyday on my commute. Just don't put yourself in that position. You know with almost %100 certainty that the truck is going to do that...this can't be your first time driving.
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u/herbtarleksblazer Sep 29 '23
What idiot (see what I did there?) thinks in any way that the truck was in the right? One vehicle was changing lanes, and that vehicle has the responsibility of making a safe lane change.
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u/JojoWeezy Sep 29 '23
You were definitely visible in it's mirror. Whether they were paying attention to it is questionable.
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u/whatevertoad Sep 29 '23
Your friend was probably trying to brag about how to be a good defensive driver like them by assuming everyone on the road is going to try and take you out, but no the truck was the idiot.
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u/jew_brees_ Sep 29 '23
Even if he did have his blinker on that doesn’t mean you have to let him over nor does it mean he can just come on over lmao your friends a dumbass you did nothing wrong 👍
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u/Lonely-Greybeard Sep 29 '23
No, he should have waited for you to go by him. He had plenty of time and did not need to get over at that point. A blinker is not a right to come over on you. Truck was the idiot.
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u/not_your_attorney Sep 29 '23
Situational awareness is key. I can’t tell for sure, but is there an exit just up ahead to the right?
Obviously the truck is obligated not to change lanes into a vehicle, but is that intersection one where most or all of the people from the left lane are going to the right?
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u/Marnot_Sades Sep 29 '23
There is an exit up ahead, yes. My situational awareness is why I didn't get hit. Coming up on the ramp I did look for a blinker and didn't see it, so I went ahead which I will admit was an oversight.
As for how many people go there it's never a sure thing. This is the main road to get from one side of the river to the other and the two exits lead to some businesses and going straight leads to others. There's not really any typicality on this bridge.
Typically, when I'm coming from the lane he was in (which I try not to do) I check my shoulder to see who's coming up the ramp and react accordingly.
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u/shiggity80 Sep 29 '23
I don’t think either of you are idiots per se. Looks like it was just a bad timing on when you guys arrived at the lanes like that.
However, I never feel comfortable coming up to a car or truck or any vehicle like that and will either gun it to get past them quickly or slow down so we aren’t side by side. You should start being aware of that and do one or the other, and not just pace them.
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u/MasterofBiscuits Sep 29 '23
Truck was performing the manoever and should have made sure the road they were moving into was clear. Putting your indicator on doesn't give you a right of way.
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u/-AbeFroman Sep 29 '23
I would say 90/10.
90 on the truck for just coming over regardless of what's there, that's really dumb.
10 for you for coming around the right of a truck. I had to look really really hard to see the blinker in this video.
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Sep 29 '23 edited Sep 30 '23
Through the gates of hell!!!!!!
Eta: the lack of sabaton fans continuing the song is disappointing to me… the song is Primo Victoria and it’s so god damn good
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u/stillacdr Sep 29 '23
No. Truck was the idiot. He could’ve waited for you to pass then change lanes.
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u/Aurora_Albright Sep 29 '23
While you could have let your foot off the gas a bit, so as not to be right next to the truck after the lanes come parallel, it doesn’t qualify you as an idiot that you didn’t.
It’s just an extra layer of defensive driving against idiocy like the box truck pulled.
NTI.
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u/bigrigtraveler Sep 29 '23
That is on the truck. He has mirrors and is responsible for checking then before merging. He shouldn't have assumed you were showing down for him
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u/-Jamus Sep 29 '23
You're not the idiot, but you should be more defensive in your driving. It was fairly easy to predict the truck was going to be dumb.
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u/BernieTheDachshund Sep 30 '23
Trucks always have the right of way, even when they don't. That's my little rule of thumb anyway. I try to anticipate the driver doing the wrong thing in these kinds of scenarios.
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u/simontempher1 Sep 30 '23
Look at this way, you were smart enuff to back off and not get pinned between a brickwall and 15 ton truck
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u/OriginalWynndows Sep 30 '23
That is so fake, mans def could have seen you. I think this was neglagence on the truck driver. I use to drive those kind of trucks in college for parts at car dealerships. You have just about every bit of blind spot vision with those 2 mirrors. The only thing you cant see in these trucks is whats directly behind you.
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u/egap420 Sep 30 '23
No OP you had the right of way in your own lane. He did not have to change lanes right there and cut you off. Blinkers are only a request, you have right of way.
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u/throwaway120375 Sep 30 '23 edited Sep 30 '23
Doesn't matter if it was on. You are not required to yield to a blinker, but they are required to turn it on and make sure it's clear.
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u/1981Reborn Sep 30 '23
Truck is changing lanes immediately after an on ramp and is either not watching mirrors or is intentionally cutting you off. Truck is definitely the AH. No excuse for this.
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u/elcharlo Sep 30 '23
I have had this happen to me so many times at this on ramp. Frederictonians are by no means great drivers.
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u/PatrickGSR94 Sep 30 '23
The number of people here who seem to think OP is merging, when they actually have their own lane, is rather concerning.
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u/Beautiful-Musk-Ox Sep 30 '23
at the angle of the onramp and you going faster than them in the right lane a relatively high percentage of cars and trucks would not have seen you and merged into you just like this. up to you to recognize people are idiots or pretend everyone makes perfect decisions
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u/jwhirsch Sep 30 '23
box truck at fault. blinker on does not mean it gets right of way, just that it intends to move in that direction when it is safe and opportune.
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u/MastodonPristine8986 Sep 30 '23
If I was joining this road I would have been very nervous of the box truck and hung back for 30 seconds to make sure he wasn't coming over to the inside lane and then moved left and overtaken or make a committed move to undertake if he looked lie he wasn't budging.
Source:30 years of defensive driving.
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u/PM__ME__YOUR_TITTY Sep 30 '23
Truck and friend are wrong. But at times like this I always drive extra defensively, I wouldn’t have tried to pass the truck even though truck was in the wrong
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u/Larechar Sep 30 '23
NTA. Regardless of blinker, or not, he came into your lane when it wasn't safe to do so.
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u/RedReaperThe1st Sep 30 '23
The box truck was in the wrong. Switching lanes that close to a break off is irresponsible, you should build a natural habit of checking your mirrors after every exit ramp or break off
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u/nopanicitsmechanic Sep 30 '23
Honestly, if I see a vehicle coming in from left or right I just let some place in case the driver will come into my lane. Doesn’t cost me nothing and as I’ve been myself often in the situation that I had to change lanes because I didn’t know the place well, I try to avoid being next to someone when two roads come together.
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u/HiRollerette Sep 30 '23
Listen - always assume that the other person doesn’t see you, and drive accordingly. Apply this thought each and every time you get into your vehicle.
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u/PriestMarmor Sep 30 '23
I hope your friends don't drive cuz they don't know what they are talking about. You did nothing wrong, even if you saw his lights he still has the responsibility to do it safely since he's the one changing lanes.
I had a similar incident but it was a van, not a truck. I did see the blinkers but I was already about to pass him. We stopped and he admitted he was at fault and didn't see me in his mirrors, he was also willing to pay for whatever. Since I was on an old car and I just had a few scratches on my doors and mirror (and because he was nice about it) I just told him to have a good day and we moved on
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u/EpicDude007 Sep 30 '23
He changed lanes, it is his fault. Now we all make mistakes sometimes. The other day a semi almost ran me off the highway. I like to think it wasn’t willful when the lanes were merging, and he went towards the middle before the lines ended.
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u/Xandrick Sep 30 '23
The truck driver was in the wrong. Clearly didn't clear the way before shifting lanes.
Also, PRIMO VICTORIA!
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u/cden4 Sep 30 '23
Definitely the truck driver's fault, however in this kind of situation I would not pass on the right.
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u/Immediate-Victory633 Sep 30 '23
Don't matter if his blinker is on or not,he still gotta wait till it's clear."My blinker was on" isn't an excuse to barge into my lane.
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u/humbuckermudgeon Sep 30 '23
One could argue that you had right of way, but defensive driving means thinking about your escape routes. If something happens, where are you going to go? No room right or left. You can accelerate, hold speed, or slow down. The most effective choice is to slow.
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u/Walouija Sep 30 '23
As a box truck driver they definitely should have at least waited for you to pass if not slow down if they were in a hurry to get into that lane. Generally when driving a very large vehicle that can easily total another car without a second thought one should never immediately get into a merging lane.
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u/tidyshark12 Sep 30 '23
Truck must yield to traffic already in the lane. He could see you for sure unless he was blind or just didn't look (source: I drive semi trucks and have driven straight trucks). That being said, I usually see people who go ahead and get into an accident they could have prevented to "get paid" when, in reality, they just lose their means of transportation, income, and are put at least partially at fault for not preventing and avoidable accident. Not to mention the fact that they could be severely injured in any accident, even at only 5mph. So, good on you for slowing down!
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u/whiskeypleaz Sep 30 '23
A turn signal is a request, not a statement. The trucks turn signal being on does not mean the vehicle currently occupying the lane needs to alter its velocity.
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u/servusdedurantem Sep 30 '23
never trust other drivers specially ones with big vehicles u must be caustious let it pass
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u/cheedle Sep 30 '23
you were not in the wrong here, it was bad timing but ultimately he should have seen with his mirror, the box trucks have the round mirrors for this exact purpose to see in the blind spot when lane switching. you are NTA
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u/Insidioustots_ Sep 30 '23
I didn't see a blinker on the truck but all I was paying attention to is the fact that you are jammin to Sabaton 🤘🏻
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u/Tbear841 Sep 30 '23
Having a blinker on doesn’t give them right of way, and you have no obligation to let them in. The blinker was hard to see until you almost right next to them though.
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u/bcald7 Oct 01 '23
Yes you’re the idiot here. You could clearly see the truck, yet instead of safely yielding, you tried to pass it on a merge.
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