Do you care when cars pass you?
Posted by allstarglue@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 108 comments
I drive a Ford Sedan, and everytime I'm on the highway and there is a semi truck driving next to me, I try to gun it around them and get out of their blindspot as fast as possible. I hope I don't seem like an asshole racing past them, but I also don't wanna sit in the blindspot and risk not being seen. How do y'all feel about this?
duhrun@reddit
Thats how I like it, move away asap hanging around is dangerous and can cause alarms to go off in drivers head.
MikeV2@reddit
No issues. 4 wheelers are faster and thats ok.
What I hate is when people flash their high beams at me before they pass. I get they want me to know they are beside me but trust me. I know you are there. Dont’t flash your lights. Just drive.
Mydogfartsconstantly@reddit
I think they do this when they see your trailer sway a little bit. We’re 8 feet wide and lanes are 12 feet wide. Their perception of how much space there really is, is distorted. I drive a day cab single screw with almost a million miles and the original shocks. It’s gonna appear unstable. Im just picking up grooves on the road and a 5mph wind blowing in the right direction will do that.
Cutmeinfor25@reddit
8.5 ft wide, but I’m sure you wouldn’t know 6 inches if it hit the back of your throat. Sorry I had to go there
Mydogfartsconstantly@reddit
Only when dispatch is calling
NorthDriver8927@reddit
8’?!? I’m 10’4” wide without a load on. 90% of the time I’m on paint depending on how crowned the lanes are.
Toomuchhorntalk69@reddit
Flashing reactively is just fine. Just don’t do it every time you pass.
LonleyWolf420@reddit
Had one flashing there high beams like a blinker the whole time they where passing me at 2MPH faster than me.. lost a ton of momentum for the next hill cuz they slowed down when I did because I couldn't see.. yeah I was on my horn over that one
Mydogfartsconstantly@reddit
They dont understand or care that our mirror is 2 feet long and about 8 inches wide. When you put on your high beams the only thing i can see is your high beams.
natkingcoil@reddit
Hah you working for the big E? I've been there lol.
Alert-Island@reddit
This… it’s like a flash bang goes off every time someone does that shit
DeadRatRacing@reddit
I hate ALL flashing lights! Just click them off a couple times. Also when you pass please don't pass us on our right side and when you get get back in front, please wait until there is plenty of room. We need that room to react when a passing car (not you of course 😉) starts spinning around in circles after jerking the wheel.
3amGreenCoffee@reddit
I don't flash my lights, but I've been run off into the median by trucks enough times that I don't automatically trust you that you know I'm there.
TinkerTasker22@reddit
Yeah its good to be cautious,i dont blame you, i have only not seen a car once so far thinkfully the driver was on top of it, but i guilted myself over the oversight for days wondering how i missed them. I have also been in a car and had to go to the medium for the same reason, we all got to look out for eachother none of us are perfect.
PathoftheWolf@reddit
Oh my god this! This drives me so nuts.
If someone is swaying or creeping over the line, that's one thing. But when you're literally just driving and they flash their brights at night, it always blinds me for a few seconds and is so irritating and unnecessary.
Even low beams are already bright as hell. I can see you just fine. I know you're there. I know you're about to pass. But yeah, let's intentionally blind the person driving the 80,000-pound steel missile. Flawless logic.
oasuke@reddit
Yeah it annoys the hell out of me. Im 100% straight in my lane and some overly paranoid 4wheeler will turn their hi beams on and move over 1 lane. I'm pretty damn good about being perfectly centered in my lane so I dont know what their deal is. Maybe some new self-driving feature?
Hot_Falcon8471@reddit
Exactly this. Flashing your lights blinds us and enrages us. When a car flashes their lights my intrusive thoughts immediately jump to “run them off the road”. Of course, I would never, but just know I’m imagining it while cursing you out.
JankyMark@reddit
Facts I hate that too
Gonzotrucker1@reddit
It’s just other trucks you hate passing you so you speed up.
SexMachine666@reddit
I don't care as long as they keep pulling away instead of playing leapfrog with me for 100 miles.
Molten_Baco@reddit
You are doing it right, it’s the people who take 10 years to pass then cut right in front of me and slow down… may they wake every morning with and itch they can’t reach!
nkhc@reddit
Passing is preferred. It's the 4 wheelers that just ride beside me that I swerve at
pooladdict247@reddit
💯 agree with you hammering down past a truck no matter what vehicle you are driving. Been in the game for 20 years so have a few million miles accident and ticket free (knock on wood) under my belt. I tell every single person I know that when they are passing a truck to floor it around them and forget about speed limits. It’s all about safety and that’s exactly what you should argue if you were to get pulled over speeding to pass a truck. Any officer that is truly doing their job correctly can’t argue against safety although there are lots of revenue cops out there just looking to meet quota. I would gladly take it to trial if it ever came to that. Trucks are so dangerous! At any moment, 1 of the 18 tires can blow, parts can fly off them, debris from the road can get thrown from the tires, and most drivers are really inexperienced. There’s so many things that can happen. So many average people don’t even realize this and are blown away when I put things into common sense perspective for them. It’s like an infant playing football with an nfl sized linebacker.
Device-80@reddit
And please, when your getting on the highway, speed up! Don't start slowing down, we can only go so fast and when we're loaded we run on momentum. Cant tell you how many times I cant get over and the 4-wheeler (who is slightly ahead of me) will start slowing down and eventually run themselves onto the shoulder or end up slowing down so much to get on the HW they become a danger to everyone on the road. Dont be that guy...
AndromedanPrince@reddit
no, please get away from me as fast as possible.
arrynyo@reddit
The people who have a problem with somebody passing them are not gonna be on here. I don't care if somebody passes me. They can have it, especially that Challenger that's thinks this is a drag race. Yea ahead and get pulled over by the highway patrol 🚓
warwgn@reddit
Go ahead and pass, but please maintain your desired speed. I’m limited to 105 km/h… if you pass me doing 110 km/h, and stay doing 110 km/h and gain some distance from me.
Don’t switch lanes in front of me, then slow down to 100 km/h and have me slow down, only to make me want to pass you again. I’m not in the mood to play leap-frog.
And don’t tailgate me while you wait for an opportunity to pass.
Trizmagestus@reddit
Wtf is a kilometer? 🤣
backtosleepplz@reddit
No, I'd rather people pass than ride on my tail. Just don't cut me off and I couldn't care less
salaamcreddit@reddit
Don't do the Miami thinking of flashing your high beams. I know you're there. Just pass me. Don't blind me
mr-doctor2u@reddit
We see you and appreciate you for doing that.
Minimum-Jacket-705@reddit
Thank you!
eaglescout225@reddit
I’m happy when they move it along.
bourbonpens@reddit
So long as you get over with plenty of room, no worries. We appreciate you not staying in the blind spot.
12GT500@reddit
I run oversize, I don’t like when someone passes slowly because if there’s something on the should I need over immediately. Move around quickly!
Think_Bear_3791@reddit
I prefer it
RaspyTurnip@reddit
I only care about a car passing me if they floor it to get in front, then cut me off with like 50 feet of space then slow back down to 65 or whatever. Stupid truck is beeping and setting off following distance alarms constantly. Then I have to slow down to get proper following distance. Drives me nuts. I know they don't know any better, but you'd think people wouldn't want to see a 40 ton red monster dominating their rear view. I can't imagine what it's like in the newer trucks with the automated brakes...
magicmanspetmonkey@reddit
What gets me mad is when I am passing 4 wheelers and I am halfway then you little motherfucker speeds up to fucking mach 10 and make me look like the ass hole out in the left lane
Definitelyabotnocap@reddit
I'd much rather you pass me quickly than sit next to me. Just be careful doing it and dont fly around me at the last second to hit the exit. The light is probably going to be red when you get to it anyways and you just look like an asshole.
Also, do not flash your fucking high beams at me. I do not need your help and I do not need your blessing to merge over. If I owned this trailer there would be a light bar on the bumper just for these fucking assholes that think I want to see the sun in my mirrors when I check them.
Immediate_Flower4834@reddit
good thing you don’t have the high beamers at night , them beamers blind the shit outta us 😆
Rubes2525@reddit
I'd rather they pass and move the fuck on instead of just hanging out next to me, ESPECIALLY after I put my blinker on. (For the idiot 4 wheelers, that means I am about to change lanes, so move it or lose it.)
DrillTheThirdHole@reddit
nah man its fine, just keep going if youre gonna pass me. i cant stand it when a 4 wheeler guns it up to pass me when im rolling 75, gets a quarter mile up, then goes back down to 65 in my lane
GearshiftJB@reddit
personally i’d rather cars pass me like you mentioned rather than sit on my blind spot.
you’re only an asshole to me if you zoom in front only to slow down/break check. and if you get out of our blind spot and we needed to move over soon then bonus points haha.
acd2002@reddit
This is my absolute biggest pet peeve when people pass me with no intention of actually going faster than me, I can only go 68 and people will pass me just to go 67, the most frustrating thing.
CalmAnxitey87@reddit
I can go 70 and I've had other cvms pass me going like 71 or 72 just to slow down to 67 after they pass.
325trucking@reddit
Only if they fly it up and pass me, then immediately pulling front and slow down. I'm on cruise control the whole time so it's pretty obvious they're just an idiot
opinionated_penguin@reddit
I like it better when people speed past rather than hang out next to my trailer. As long as you don’t merge back 5 feet in front of me
xDoomKitty@reddit
We don't really have blindspots in a truck anymore as long as the driver leans and looks.
And yeah we prefer you just get away from us asap.
Don't get yourself a ticket tho speeding up too much. :p
TinkerTasker22@reddit
I prefer it when cars pass me rather than hanging out on my side. Right behind me. Just dont be the ahoke who is significatly behibd my trailer and then when i put my turn signal speed up so i cant get over...it sucks to muss your exirs in these thibgs, pkys im probanly getting over for a reason. Hiwever if you are already within my traiker area when i put my turn signal on im just trying to let the xars behibd you know i need over ap its great if you speed forward on up ahead. Thankyou for asking.
New-Concept4313@reddit
Please do. Get around me and get down the road, the last thing I want is to have a 4 wheeler camped out beside me on the road.....I am Governed at 65 mph the only way I can go faster is down hill, so as long as you go faster than that I'm happy 😊
trukeyF@reddit
I’m usually more concerned when the little shits speeds and then hangs out right next to me
Kortobowden@reddit
So long as you stay faster than me, have at it. There’s a lot of people that either pass and immediately slow down, though, so that gets tiring.
DukeBradford2@reddit
Always go 5mph faster than any truck on the road. when passing get as close to the car in front of you. If I need to pass the person in front of me I look for gaps in the car line or someone who is going 1-2mph faster than me but camping in the left lane. I honestly get a little upset if a 4 wheeler doesn’t take advantage of our slowness. It means they aren’t paying attention, probably on their phone
Rising_Awareness@reddit
It's fine as long as you don't pull directly in front of me and then slow to the speed I'm going.
AroundGoesThe18@reddit
If youre going to pass, go. Dont slow down right in front of me either, just keep going.
DonBoy30@reddit
Trucking in the northeast has honestly made me view people in cars/pickups/vans as just inferior small things that go faster and nothing more. I have never taken anything personal when involving a 4-wheeler. Whether it’s tailgating, illegally passing, legally passing, excessive speeding, or whatever. As long as I am doing the right thing I don’t even think any more deeply about 4-wheelers.
Now other truckers on the other hand… lol
Impressive-Menu8966@reddit
4 wheelers are like flys or gnats to me. Always zipping around and slightly annoying.
Always_Shifting_4459@reddit
It's good that you race passed them. I hate the numerous people who quickly catch up just to slowlyyyyy pass me and sometimes just ride alongside my truck or ride my ass... I'm a fuel hauler so it's like srsly? Get the fuck away from me!
MostlyUseful@reddit
I’m totally cool with that. It’s the ones that want to dilly dally that overcook my grits.
JaviersitoSuavesito@reddit
Please DO pass. Dont sit right beside me or just behind me on the side blinding me with your lights. That shit gives me an overbearing urge to smash a 4 wheeler
COATHANGER_ABORTIONS@reddit
No, I want you to go, lol. Had a guy on a bike a couple weeks ago just hanging out near my trailer tires as we went down the interstate, when one of the tires blew up. Scared the shit out of him, and he's lucky it was an inside tire.
Don't hang out on the side of me, thanks!
tvieno@reddit
I don't care if I am passed. Hell, if I could, I would pass myself.
BedAdministrative619@reddit
The only time I care is when you pass me and hit the brakes. If you are within 2 miles of your exit, don't attempt a pass. If you plan on passing, maintain a steady speed. Be predictable.
Caveman23r@reddit
It's not the passing that bothers me, it's the passing and slowing down that's stupid. If you passing at 75 maintain 75
ChampionshipThin8916@reddit
Only thing I’m racing is my DOT clock. I couldn’t care less who passes me. The quicker the better. I don’t like vehicles riding beside me.
Just don’t speed up to pass me and then go a slower speed than I’m going. Get a good distance ahead of me before getting over. And don’t zoom around me to quickly get over, hit the brakes and take an exit.
Thank you.
MiguelSTG@reddit
The less you're beside me, the less I can hit you. I may blow a tire, or have a deer run in front of me. If you're beside me, that's more chances that my bad luck will become your bad luck.
NekoboyBanks@reddit
Nah, this is the safe thing to do. I understand you can go faster and wouldn't want you sitting behind me if you didn't have to and it's safe to go faster. Anything but hanging out next to my trailer/in my blind spot. It makes us nervous even if we wouldn't otherwise have any concern about our lane control. It's not just what I'm in control of, either. All it would take is for a car to veer too close and clip the front of a trailer tire, and they would be sucked up under the trailer. It's safer for everyone if you just speed around.
Usual_Safety@reddit
No. I really care when people just hang out along side of me so keep doing what you do
Jacktheforkie@reddit
I don’t particularly care when people pass me,
ImaginaryCatDreams@reddit
Not only do I not mind that you pass me, I truly appreciate that you try to get around as quickly as possible rather than creeping past me.
I would support a law that allows people to exceed the speed limit by 10 mph when passing an 18-wheeler.
I have had people sit right beside the rear tandems on the trailer for miles when they could easily pass me
Barrett4184@reddit
Nope.
My wish is for 4 wheelers to actually pay attention to my turn signals and have some patience/understanding that I can see way more than them.
If my signal is on to merge over into the fast lane, it is because I see something they can't and I need to get over for safety. It might be a disabled vehicle, emergency/police vehicle, another truck trying to merge, debris etc. I'm not trying to fuck with you at all.
Just tap the brakes and let me over. So many cars gun it to avoid being stuck behind slow trucks. They end up blocking my lane change or forcing me to drop speed which further negatively impacts traffic flow. Or they change into the lane I've vacated and try to pass me and prevent me from merging back into the slow lane.
Getting a license should require a day with a truck driver to help explain stuff like this in a real world way. That's my dumb simplified take for the day.
Quynn_Stormcloud@reddit
Genuinely wish I could be part of the program that has prospective drivers sit alongside CDL drivers to demonstrate what large vehicles need from other drivers.
Quynn_Stormcloud@reddit
I drive at night. I don’t want anyone behind or beside me. Most cars just leave their brights on all the time, and it’s freaking annoying.
truckinfarmer379@reddit
I'd rather them pass me and get out of my blind spots as quick as possible. I get so aggravated when they just decide to camp out beside my trailer and not pass even when they have plenty of time or space to do it. Now, what frustrates me is when they gun it to get around, then immediately decide to mash the brakes and slow way down right in front of my truck.
stevenmacarthur@reddit
"I try to gun it around them and get out of their blindspot as fast as possible."
You are a gentleman/gentlewoman and a scholar, I don't care what my ex-wife says about you.
Never mind that last part; apparently, she was saying all that stuff about ME...
GnashinTires@reddit
I would prefer you pass and leave my side open in case I need to merge over for a hazard on the shoulder. You don't need to gun it, but if you're going 70mph and I'm doing 65mph, that's fine.
Also please don't sit right on the back corner of my trailer, because we don't have an exact spatial awareness back there and we just have to guess (on the side of caution) whether we're clear or not.
Also one car length is not enough space for anything to do with a semi. You should give us a truck length at least.
Coastalvitamins@reddit
Love this response. You covered everything right here.
nanneryeeter@reddit
Why would I care? Do your thing.
CheesE4Every1@reddit
Usually it's those that don't use signals or the ones that immediately have to turn when they get in front of me or the ones that slow down after passing me going five over. Other than that you're a blip.
LadyTrucker23@reddit
Rushing past is fine. The ones that linger piss me off.
Robjla@reddit
I personally love drivers who blast by me. I absolutely hate drivers who sit next to me. I wish drivers dead that hang out just behind me that I can’t tell if they are next to me or just behind me.
Don’t pass me on the right when I’m passing trucks and cars that are not keeping up with traffic or decided to drive below the speed limit. As long as I’m keeping up to the guy in front and we are passing vehicles. I know they can’t see because they are tailgating. When they pull up right I speed up and block. It make a me happy.
CashWideCock@reddit
I don’t care who is in front of me or in back of me, just don’t impede me.
corn0099@reddit
my pet peeve is when you get in front just to slow down so my cruise control tries to launch m load through my cabin or when you only speed up when you see me put on my turn signal esp. as we are coming to a merge
RdyPAINmoveDISCIPLIN@reddit
I want them to pass me! Worst thing you can do is do the same speed. Thank you
Firm-Tangerine-2114@reddit
I don't care what anyone does on the road as long as they do it safely
AbrocomaUnhappy9405@reddit
My general rule pass me at 5mph or more difference and I dont care. Just dont speed up until youre close or next to me because I might need to get over for something you cant see and if you speed up right as im coming over.... can cause an issue
natkingcoil@reddit
I don't want you hanging out next to me, especially pulling doubles - sometimes a set is a little wigglier than others I'd rather you shoot on by. Just don't hop in front of me and go 5 under =\
BackstrokeVictim@reddit
Please pass us, get away from the rig as soon as possible, that's the safest thing to do
AE74Fj73@reddit
Both you and the truck want your car to be in the blindspot as little as possible, other than that don't merge right in front and don't brake check
Leaf-Stars@reddit
You’re fine. Just don’t pace next to us, it’s dangerous.
fastnsx21@reddit
Don't care. What does bother me is when cars pass me then slow down or go the exact speed I was going but half a car length from my bumper
areyoufuckingwme@reddit
Pass me all you want. I actually prefer if you get outta that area asap. But what's more important is if your gunna move back over in front of me WAIT TIL YOU ARE MORE THAN A CAR LENGTH IN FRONT OF ME. Do not pull into my lane the second your rear bumper passes my front bumper. Even more so when we've just taken off from a stop. I am actively accelerating and while it does take a while, I will get up to speed.
bmf1989@reddit
We generally just want to maintain our speed and stay away from everyone else. So no, I would love if every 4 wheeler just passed me and disappeared off into the horizon.
Kkalemauser@reddit
No. Just don’t slow down after you pass me.
mike-2129@reddit
Pass as fast as you want. Just dont sit there like an asshole. And dont wreck up the road and back up traffic. That would make you a bigger asshole
indysbestprodriver@reddit
Quickly pass, don't ride blind spots. You do not want to be near a tire if it blows. You are doing the right thing. Try not to pass on the right side of the truck.
The-Shartist@reddit
That's fine. The less vehicles around the truck, the better. Don't hesitate to pass, either. Many cars will slow down and hang out next to my ass end in the next lane before making a pass. It's usually way too close for me to get over comfortably and safely if I need to. When I turn on my blinker to signal my intention to move over into their lane, that's when they decide to gun it. In the meantime, a line of cars has built up behind the first car that was farting around. None of them want the truck in front of them. I need to get over because there is an emergency vehicle, construction workers, or disabled vehicle on the shoulder. Just keep on moving and give us room to work
Esper45@reddit
there's a difference in passing and pulling out hoping you make it lmao
jrshall@reddit
Three things: don't just sit next to the truck, pass. Don't pass then slow down, keep your speed up. Don't tailgate if you don't want to pass.
geneticdeadender@reddit
Nah.
I care when cars pass and then change lanes right in front of me and jam on their brakes because they are too close to the car in front or want to take the exit.
And I really don't like it when they slow down once they have passed and now I have to slow down or decide to pass only for them to pass again a few minutes later.
Also, speeding up when I try to pass is kind of a dick move.
But generally I don't care about a lot of stuff. If things get weird I slow down to 60mph and just let it all slide on by.
I'm paid by the hour though, so my experience and respons is probably a bit different than other drivers here.
Niko120@reddit
I don’t mind the first time that they pass me. The second time they pass me after slowing down and being passed by me I get pretty annoyed. By the third time that they pass me after slowing down and getting passed by me I get enraged. By the fourth time they pass me after slowing down and getting passed by me I start to seriously consider throwing it all away and taking us both into the ditch together. Then I exit the highway, take a break and then get back on
Pretend_Ad_8465@reddit
The less time you are anywhere in my vicinity the better, the faster you pass me the better. Just don't merge too close in front of me, the more distance the better and for heavens sake don't slow down in front of me after you pass me.
Only-Evidence-5629@reddit
Hella gun it. We don't like being next to anyone just as much. Cars trucks doesn't matter I don't want anyone near me.
CMDR-L@reddit
Nope. And if I dont have the space to clear one in a 2 or 4 wheeler, I hold back untill I can
Ok_Bug_6470@reddit
Of course not, why? We only mind when you slow down in front of us drive right next to us, very dangerous. I don’t care who passes me lol.
CakewalkNOLA@reddit
Di it like you've been doing it. Just make sure to leave enough room when you cut in front of us.
EgotisticJet5@reddit
Don’t care, just don’t merge 2 feet in front of me or merge close to me then accelerate 1 mph faster. Personally for me, don’t merge in front of me when going down a hill, I like gravity doing the work for me and would appreciate not having to use my brakes.
Ok_Measurement_107@reddit
As long as you find immediately slow down then no issues.