Was on my way to work today on the interstate. Traffic was heavy, and moving faster than usual- especially the heavy trucks. Typically, they do between 60 and 70, though the speed limit based on weight for most of them is actually 55. Anyway, I was doing about 75, keeping with most of the faster traffic. (before I get preached at for being a cop and speeding- it happens, and no, I don't ticket people for doing 75 in a 65 unless they talk me into it)
Today, most of the trucks seemed to be travelling 80+. Maybe they were trying to get South before the expected snowstorm hit? Either way, traffic was heavy, and opportunities to pass were very limited. I found myself in the left lane behind a long line of trucks and a few cars, doing 75 and slowly passing traffic. One trucker behind me must have decided that he was more important than anyone else on the road, flashing his brights and riding extremely close to the car in front of him (car directly behind me). He eventually got around that car, but I was not about to be intimidated, since he really wasn't going to get much further anyway (I'll let people pass me, unless it is heavy traffic and there is no sense in forcing me over). We continued to pass traffic as I waited for a break in the right lane long enough that I would not have to take the cruise off to let him get around me. Finally, after about 12 miles, I found an opportunity. All the while he is riding my butt. As he goes by, he blows his air horn as if I was doing something wrong. I would have thought that my veteran plates would have at least allowed me some courtesy from this moron given current world events, but I guess not.
Now, I'm not the type to start some kind of road rage incident, but as a trucker, you really don't want to mess with me anyway. Typically, I don't like pulling trucks over because it's dangerous (vehicle size being a factor- danger to other traffic). Usually, if I catch them speeding, I hop on channel 19 and tell them to slow down. When they are going too fast for that, I'll pull them over and only give them a verbal, as I understand how a ticket can negatively affect their career. But after today, witnessing this moron's behavior, and the complete disregard of most truckers on the road for laws (25+ over their posted limit, and did you ever notice how they won't change lanes for you when you merge on the interstate, even if no traffic is around them?), I'm much more inclined to just write them whenever I get the chance.
Truckers: be careful who you piss off when you drive. You have no idea who that person is, and eventually, it will come back to bite you. Just because you are bigger than everyone else on the road doesn't make you right. It's better to look at yourself and see if you are doing something wrong first before you get angry at the other guy.
