Smoke Stacks and Grinding Gears

I know it is surprising that one of the things you hate to see on your daily commute, is actually one of the things that make life much easier for you. I imagine that you have a few choice words when stuck behind a big rig on the interstate. I understand you are in a hurry to get where you are going. But you must consider that the driver in front of you, yeah the one driving that 80,000 pound chunk of metal in front of you, would also like to get to their destination too. In fact they spend their whole career trying to reach their destination so it only seems right that they would also be in a hurry to get to their destination. They have to keep alot in mind when they hurry to their destination. They have to watch for stuff you have no idea about when you spend your life driving a car. They have to watch for low bridges. They have to watch for people who are not watching themselves. The reason they have to watch for people who do not watch is because in IDEAL conditions, (Ideal-A standard of perfection or excellence) meaning dry pavement, new brakes, loaded with a full load, and traveling at 55 M.P.H. it would take over the distance of one football field to come to a complete stop. (300 feet). Actually if you do the math it is over 400 feet in ideal conditions. In the same conditions a car can stop in the range of 140-160 feet. Because the stopping distance is so long it causes the driver to have to watch further ahead than most car drivers ever think about watching. If they can see a hazard early they can prepare and not be sliding through a stop light and take out half a lane of traffic. A professional driver knows they should keep as much space around their vehicle as they possibly can. In fact they learn something called the Smith System, which I believe everyone could benefit from if they even try to do it I believe the roads would be safer almost immediately. It really is not that hard and the benefits from using this system have shown to be successful at decreasing accidents on the road. I believe it should be taught when kids are getting their permits to drive, I believe it would save some lives, if not it is at least worth a try. I always heard if you can save one life then do it. There is a great deal of pressure on the drivers that keep this country turning. They do not get a great deal of respect for what they do because over the years they have gotten bad reputations, everyone seems to believe that since you are a truck driver you get with every prostitute you can find. I know several who have never even seen a “workin woman” and they have been on the road for a few years. Aside from that they get no respect from the general public all because they slow down your drive by what six or eight seconds, they slow you down hauling your groceries, clothes, computers, cell phones, cars, car parts, house hold items, house building items, and pretty much everything you touch everyday of your life has been on a truck from somewhere at least once to get to you. You have no idea what they go through for you, they go weeks sometimes months without seeing their family and loved ones. Their kids grow up and barely know them because it is how people can make enough money to survive and raise their kids without having to do without like with most factory jobs. You can not find the perfect job it seems, you have to give something up if you want to gain somewhere else. Most of the time they do it because they love their families and could not stand seeing them do without. That is why I am in the process actually. I am going through training to get my CDL, then I am going to start driving. I have learned so much lately, stuff that before you get into the thought of living the trucker life you completely over look. Now I realize that everything about our daily lives would be put on hold if not for truckers, I respect that, now I feel it is time I do my part. I just hope people come to realize what danger they put themselves in when they do not watch what they are doing. Please stay off the phone and watch where you are going, you may save your own life someday.