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Yesterday's ultra-tragic nightmare on highway 40 drives home one key piece of common knowledge: One person acting irresponsibly can -- and often does -- cause exponentially serious -- if not grave -- consequences for everyone else but themselves. My heart goes out to every single one of those drivers forced into that horror -- and those who saw it happen. What an absolute horror for those drivers.

Those people were just trying to get from one place to another. It's a lesson on how very, very, very quickly things -- thoughts, feelings, priorities, to-do lists, needs, goals and wants -- can change. I was nowhere near that scene -- and only learned of it very late in the evening last night -- and yet I will never forget those images.

Seeing that -- carnage -- is a harsh reminder we all face the same risk on a daily basis. It reminds every one of us of our own very close calls involving tractor-trailers -- what a state trooper [friend] calls "close encounters of the deadly kind" -- for some of us, close calls with careless truckers took us very close to certain death.

I almost bought the farm a few years ago on I-44. Had a concrete barrier to my left and an 18-wheeler on my right taking the liberty of merging into my lane at 70mph -- and an SUV tailgating me. And I would bet that 7 of every 10 people taking the time to read this blog has had an encounter with an 18-wheeler -- not much different than this.

These drivers were -- and are -- not unlike you and me. All of them were doing what we all do on the roads in this region -- wasting gas while sitting in traffic -- and having been at that very spot on I-40, waiting in line to access 270, you're basically 100% unaware of what and where the danger is until it's too late. We all face that risk on all the highways and it's damn scary.

I know a half dozen big rig drivers and these guys like to talk -- and talk frankly. They're all good guys but the stories they tell are not-so-good -- nor reassuring -- revealing just how at-risk we can be when in their company on the highway. Some are cavalier -- the attitude about their own [reckless] driving is indifferent -- and they know they personally face minimal risk for mortality should their rig cause or be involved in a crash.

Police investigators only released a general statement that the trucker was "inattentive" -- and I would bet truckers do the same stupid -- and dangerous -- things while driving -- and driving at excessive speeds! -- that other motorists do (e.g., talking on a cell phone). Knowing a few male truck drivers, I'm aware they've other things in their cab that takes one's attention off the road. For example...

A portable urinal [container]. And as any man can attest, getting the zipper down -- and getting the other thing out and active -- requires both hands; and when a trucker has both hands off-the-wheel -- and their eyes are looking down rather than up, and on the road ahead -- it's more than just a tad dangerous.

P.S. FYI:

There is legislation on the table -- in one or more states -- to require "computerized speed limitors" on 18-wheel tractor-trailers -- automatically preventing speeds in excess of a certain. Of course, the transporation industry and their lobbyists are fighting this. But I certainly favor it. What about you?

That said, speed is not the root issue here. Sure, speed does indeed kill; however, as any NASCAR -- or Formula 1 -- race event demonstrates, when attentive -- and well-rested and conditioned -- persons drive at very high speeds there is high risk but minimal [statistical] probability [for accidents or fatalities].

However, when inattentive drivers drive at excessive speeds both risk and probability for serious accidents [and fatalities] skyrockets. So, speed limitors are not the only thing needed for risk prevention. Here's another thing to bear in mind: there's a labor shortage in the trucking industry -- driver attrition is high and recruiting new drivers is tough today. Problem is, a trucking firm has to get the goods delivered to their customers -- and if they lack a sufficient supply of experienced drivers, it means the drivers that they do have available are going to be pushed to the max. Putting us at even more risk.

Plus, with a driver shortage you can guess what's happening -- more and more poorly qualified [inexperienced and poorly skilled] drivers of big rigs are hitting the roads -- and they're working longer hours per day. If you've ever driven for 12 continuous hours you're aware that after about the 10th continuous hour on the road, you tend to lose your focus and alertness and attentiveness. Factor in the fact they've near zero courtesy for other drivers on the road and you've a very dangerous situation.

Looking at this truck in today's paper you'll see MINIMAL damage to its cab -- yet right in front of the truck lies a mess of mangled vehicles damaged beyond recognition. When you take into account the physics of such a crash it's a wonder "only two" persons were killed. The truck's mass is at least 1500 lbs and it's speed was 75mph at impact. That's an astronomically high amount of force production -- energy -- unleashed on those vehicles. I cannot fathom the sound nor the sight. Much less the experience.

Sadly, I don't see a resolution in sight. This same thing will happen again. The police do a fine job as is -- and they can't prevent nor control this situation. Our government can't help -- they're worthless -- period. Industry and its lobbying doesn't help -- heck it can be argued that industry plays a role in the problem. I guess we motorists must rely on hope -- and trust -- the truckers who are sharing the road are taking all necessary precautions to assure our safety. In other words, we're on our own when on the highways and byways.

What say you?

Between Friends

Nightmare on I-40

Cheetah

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