<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoTitle><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT face=Tahoma> BIG<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>WHEELS<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>ROLLING<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><FONT size=3 face=Tahoma>by John Del Santo</FONT></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sharing the road with big trucks can be an advantage because most truckers are better trained and more experienced than the other drivers around us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A large percentage of truckers are also motorcycle riders, and are<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>more conscious and considerate of bikes around them in traffic.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>To keep from becoming a hood ornament on a Peterbilt though,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>we need to show the proper respect for the vehicles length, width, and weight. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A Semi, bus, or RV<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>traveling at any speed is creating big changes in the air around it….the vehicle is pushing a wave of pressurized air out in front of it, like a bow-wave in front of a boat;<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>there is accelerated air lifting along the sides (the same effect that causes lift on an airplane wing);<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>there is a vacuum swirling and filling behind it. When you pass a Semi going in the opposite direction at highway speeds, there will be a big rush of tumbling air following the truck about two seconds behind it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If there are heavy crosswinds blowing, the
crosswind will be blocked by a passing truck and will hit you again at the other end…be ready for it.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma>Size creates an optical illusion that distorts sense of speed and distance…Expect that truck coming at you to be moving faster than it appears, and expect the one you are approaching from the rear to be going slower.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Don’t attempt sharing a lane with a vehicle that already fills the whole lane.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma>Construction trucks drive off the paved road and can pick up rocks in their tires.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When they get back up to speed on the highway, those rocks can shoot loose and zero in on you like a duck in a shooting gallery.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Don’t hang out behind open-topped rigs…Full or empty,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>the high speed airflow will sweep almost anything out in your direction.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you’re following a truck and a small piece of tire tread seems to fly out from the wheels….Back Off !<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There’s more, and bigger, pieces on the way !<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Keep an eye on their turn signals.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tractor Trailers need a lot of room to make a turn;<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The back of the truck will cut in closer to the curb,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and the driver cannot see the area by the back wheels in the mirror.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There are many blind spots around a Semi.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The worst are… a blind spot a hundred feet long behind the truck,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and another big one just off the right-front side…..If I can’t see the drivers face in the mirror…The driver can’t see me ! ! <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma>The massive weight and velocity of a truck creates the need for the driver to keep a HUGE following distance.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If the driver loses his or her following distance,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and is forced to lock up the brakes,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>the rig can jackknife across four lanes of traffic…..So if I cut in front of a truck and steal their following distance,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am digging my own grave and probably putting other drivers in serious jeopardy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So let’s share the road properly with the Big Rigs.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The old (<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">and incorrect</I> ) saying is “those airbrakes can stop on a dime.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We need to Ride Smart so the dime they stop on is <I>NOT <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></I>the one in the pocket of our jeans. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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