Dear J&J Q. Public

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An Open Letter to Every Motorist in America

Dear John & Jane Q. Public,

Did you know you nearly died today?

As I approached the intersection, I saw you sitting there to my right at the stop sign. I did not have a stop sign, but I slowed none-the-less. I scanned and searched the intersection for anyone who might fail to stop and looked at you. You looked at me. You were completely stopped. It was a 55 mph speed zone and I had probably slowed to about 40-45 mph at this time. All was well, and I proceeded cautiously. I was very surprised when you decided to go ahead - to make your right turn - right in front of me! I don't know what possessed you to do this - I'm moving relatively slowly but I also have 80,000 pounds behind me and now you've put your little 2000 pound car directly in my path.

Oncoming cars prevent me from going left and to my right is a very steep, rocky ditch. I am on the brakes - hard - but can't put them to the floor. In an air braked vehicle without ABS, putting the brake to the floor is a fast invitation to a jackknife. If the trailer swung into oncoming traffic, there'd be nothing saved by the maneuver. For the lack of a better option, I'm staying on the brakes and I'm praying, praying so hard that I don't wipe you out, annihilate your family, run right over the top of your little car. Everything is moving in slow motion - I'm staring into the big beautiful eyes of your two little children in the back seat. They seem to notice that this very big truck is an inch off your bumper, yet you are busy talking to your passenger and don't seem to have the slightest idea of the fight I'm fighting for your life.

I may have to choose between running you over and taking the steep ditch and it's a choice I've always known, since the day I got into one of these trucks, that I might have to make. I'm so angry that you've put me into this position. If I run you over, I will most likely live and you, your passenger and your two sweet, beautiful, innocent children will surely die. If I take the ditch, I will likely die.

Why in the world would you give a total stranger such a choice?

Thank heaven I don't have to make this decision. I have managed to slow this truck down enough to remove the danger and no one here is going to die today.

My heart is pumping a million miles an hour and you are driving off into the sunset, not a care in the world. You nearly died today and your passenger (your wife? Husband? I don't know) and your children would have gone with you. You can't tell me you didn't see me - you looked me right in the eye. Besides that fact, I am nearly 70 foot long and more than 8 feet wide! Did you not want to be stuck behind a truck? Were you in that much of a hurry? Were you just distracted? Do you have a secret death wish?

I don't wish to be harsh - or reprimanding. Scenarios like this play out every single day in America. There is a great lack of understanding - as well as pure selfishness on the roads today.

I am a truck driver and I take my job seriously. I consider myself a professional. I am not the one who tailgates you and I have no desire to try to intimidate you with the size of my vehicle. I am not immune to road rage, but have learned to shrug off the numerous incidents that occur every single day. The only thing that really makes me angry is when you deposit your life into my hands and assume I'll make the right choice.

You're probably lucky that it was me you pulled out in front of. If worse had come to worse, I likely would have taken the ditch to avoid taking you out. Is this what every single truck driver would do? Most of them probably would but is that a risk you're willing to take?

Trucks and cars CAN share the road … and speaking for myself, I'd much rather share the road than share an ambulance.

Some quick ways to end your existence:

Pull out in front of a truck when the truck is moving at a significantly faster rate of speed.

Cut off a truck on the interstate/freeway and hit the brakes.

When the truck is making a right turn, and first positions the truck to the left to make room for the turning trailer, get your car directly to the right so the trailer smashes it when in the middle of the turn.

When entering the interstate and coming off of the ramp, don't look until the last minute, and then, move over directly in front of the truck in the right lane.

In a traffic jam, such as in a construction zone when a lane is ending, try to "squeeze" yourself in front of the truck at the last minute.

When exiting the interstate, even if the ramp is only ½ mile away, do not stay behind the truck - pass the truck and dive back in front of it at the very last second and slam on the brakes to make your exit ramp.

Just before the top of a big hill or mountain, pass the truck and get directly in front of it before it starts down the other side. The weight of the truck will push it down the hill and if you're going nice and slow directly in front of it, it will present the truck driver a problem.

I'm sorry to be so sarcastic and I don't want to make the relationship between cars & trucks worse than it already is. Ignorance and misunderstanding are the enemies here - not my truck, not your car. I'm watching out for you every single day out there on America's roads…can you say the same?

You may reprint this article anywhere you would like provided that it is NOT changed or edited in ANY way, the copyright information above remains intact and you notify this site as to where the article will be published. Thank you!

This article is an excerpt from "Driver's ABC's, Surviving the First Year," modified for the Web.

This article may appear in more detail or in a different format in the book version.

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