I've had some VERY close calls the same way..jerks don't "yield" at the end of an on-ramp..
I rarely ever use the second or third lane on interstates ,my pickup can go 65+ mph,but its about maxed out there and its "handling" is very iffy at that speed,it wouldn't take much to lose control of it..
One morning about 6 am on a Sunday I was heading to the flea market--I had got on the highway and was approaching the next exit and on-ramp,when I see a old woman that was barely tall enough to see over the dash,was merging onto the highway..
There was only one problem--there was only two lanes,I was in the right lane,and a tractor-trailer rig was just starting to pass me,about even with my rear fender...he floored it as soon as he saw that woman merging,gave me NO chance to pull over in the second lane to pass her,effectively trapping me there!..
I also had some jerk RIGHT on my back bumper that came flying up behind me going like 80 mph,and I heard rubber squealing as he braked hard to avoid rear ending my truck!...
The woman never once looked to the left,she just continued looking straight ahead,and didn't "yield" like the sign at the end of the on-ramp said too...by now all three of us,me,the tractor trailer,and the guy behind me,are all leaning on the horn,yet the woman acted as if she was deaf,or stoned or something!..
I held back on hitting the brakes hard and fast because I was certain I'd be rear ended,so I had no choice but to let her go ahead,and I pulled up inches away from her back bumper--if I was going to crash,I wanted it to be HER I hit,after all,she caused the whole incident..no way was I going to tangle with a semi truck,and too bad if the speeder behind me hits me..HIS fault!..
She then darted towards the passing lane,the 18 wheeler was about even with my truck's front fender --he locks up his brakes with the horn still blasting,as was mine and the guy behind me--then she whips over into the breakdown lane and off into the dirt shoulder,skids to a halt,leaving a huge dust cloud..
I flipped her off,and so did the other two guys I bet!...I was shaking,it was THAT close to being killed!..
I get off at the next exit after the one she nearly killed me at,where I usually do to get where I was headed..
I get off the highway,and start down the road,and I see a local town cop parked at the town common about a mile up the street--not an unusual sight there early in the am,they like to nail speeders there..
I go by him,as soon as I get past him,his blue lights came on ,and I get pulled over..he comes up to my window and asks for my license & registration,so I told him I had to get out of the truck to get it out of the glove compartment..I had boxes of stuff on the front seat in the way..
After I did and handed it to him,with my license,he says "I got a call from MA state PD saying your truck had a "near collision" a few miles back on Rt.24..they gave your plate number..."
I said "yes,I did,some stupid woman just came out of the on ramp without looking,and cuts me off,and I had nowhere to go,with an 18 wheeler right beside me and another car speeding up behind me,that almost rear ended me"...
He ran my plate,looked at the inspection sticker,and said" Well,I guess everything is legal-- they just wanted to confirm it was your truck involved in the accident"...
"Accident" I said ?--I never HIT any of the vehicles,she went off the road all on her own when the air horn on the semi scared her ,there was NO contact between my truck and the other vehicles"..
He says "well,we just have to check these things when we're asked--I see no FRESH damage on your truck,so I assume your telling me the truth"...then said I was free to leave!...
..
I rarely ever use the second or third lane on interstates ,my pickup can go 65+ mph,but its about maxed out there and its "handling" is very iffy at that speed,it wouldn't take much to lose control of it..
One morning about 6 am on a Sunday I was heading to the flea market--I had got on the highway and was approaching the next exit and on-ramp,when I see a old woman that was barely tall enough to see over the dash,was merging onto the highway..
There was only one problem--there was only two lanes,I was in the right lane,and a tractor-trailer rig was just starting to pass me,about even with my rear fender...he floored it as soon as he saw that woman merging,gave me NO chance to pull over in the second lane to pass her,effectively trapping me there!..
I also had some jerk RIGHT on my back bumper that came flying up behind me going like 80 mph,and I heard rubber squealing as he braked hard to avoid rear ending my truck!...
The woman never once looked to the left,she just continued looking straight ahead,and didn't "yield" like the sign at the end of the on-ramp said too...by now all three of us,me,the tractor trailer,and the guy behind me,are all leaning on the horn,yet the woman acted as if she was deaf,or stoned or something!..
I held back on hitting the brakes hard and fast because I was certain I'd be rear ended,so I had no choice but to let her go ahead,and I pulled up inches away from her back bumper--if I was going to crash,I wanted it to be HER I hit,after all,she caused the whole incident..no way was I going to tangle with a semi truck,and too bad if the speeder behind me hits me..HIS fault!..
She then darted towards the passing lane,the 18 wheeler was about even with my truck's front fender --he locks up his brakes with the horn still blasting,as was mine and the guy behind me--then she whips over into the breakdown lane and off into the dirt shoulder,skids to a halt,leaving a huge dust cloud..
I flipped her off,and so did the other two guys I bet!...I was shaking,it was THAT close to being killed!..
I get off at the next exit after the one she nearly killed me at,where I usually do to get where I was headed..
I get off the highway,and start down the road,and I see a local town cop parked at the town common about a mile up the street--not an unusual sight there early in the am,they like to nail speeders there..
I go by him,as soon as I get past him,his blue lights came on ,and I get pulled over..he comes up to my window and asks for my license & registration,so I told him I had to get out of the truck to get it out of the glove compartment..I had boxes of stuff on the front seat in the way..
After I did and handed it to him,with my license,he says "I got a call from MA state PD saying your truck had a "near collision" a few miles back on Rt.24..they gave your plate number..."
I said "yes,I did,some stupid woman just came out of the on ramp without looking,and cuts me off,and I had nowhere to go,with an 18 wheeler right beside me and another car speeding up behind me,that almost rear ended me"...
He ran my plate,looked at the inspection sticker,and said" Well,I guess everything is legal-- they just wanted to confirm it was your truck involved in the accident"...
"Accident" I said ?--I never HIT any of the vehicles,she went off the road all on her own when the air horn on the semi scared her ,there was NO contact between my truck and the other vehicles"..
He says "well,we just have to check these things when we're asked--I see no FRESH damage on your truck,so I assume your telling me the truth"...then said I was free to leave!...
..
