Drivers in Danger & CB Channel 9

If you've spent any time driving on our highway system you've probably seen the tail end of a set of commercial truck trailers slightly swerve over the right hand lane shoulder line onto the “wake-up track” of beveled pavement. (see example below)This is a common event in my experience and I don’t give it a second thought until it happens twice within a few minutes, then I get on the CB. This can be caused by many things, mostly driver error. They are eating, talking on the CB or cell phone, looking at a map or GPS system, pouring coffee or being distracted by any number of things. No problem if it happens once. However it becomes a BIG problem is the driver is falling asleep. One major trucking company whose rigs you see every day was under investigation recently for its safety record. This particular company, on average, is involved in a fatal wreck every 12 days.

So what can we RVers do? (Many RVers by the way are retired commercial drivers). Get on the CB, usually the trucker channel 19, and talk to them. Let them know what’s going on. If they are sleepy maybe you can talk them into pulling off for a nap or at least talk to them on the CB to help keep them awake. Many truck drivers don't like talking to RVers (I have no idea why - but sometimes they won't answer you). In this case go up on the CB emergency channel 9 (often monitored by police) and get their attention! This is PUBLIC SAFETY we are talking about here! I consider this situation a real emergency, so use channel 9 if you can’t raise him or her on the usual trucker channels. Who knows, you might save the drivers life and the lives of another family that they don't hit.

If you are a commercial driver reading this you should know that I am pro-trucker and this is in no way a poor reflection on your profession. This is a public safety issue - one that I'm sure you and your family will appreciate. Let's work together to keep our roadways safe! Jim