First Rant:
I saw this on Facebook and it summed up my feelings perfectly:
I mean really. Before I purchased my last vehicle, I wanted to ensure the vehicle I was getting did NOT have these lights. I would not consciously contribute to a problem that brings me such consternation.
The most egregious time I have had to alter my driving because of these lights, I was on an exit ramp, at night, and the ramp curved around and down to get to street level. The truck’s lights were so bright in my rearview and driver’s side mirror that the reflection was impairing my ability to see the road. No joke. Although already in a deceleration lane (because I was exiting), I slowed to 25 or 30 miles an hour at the top of this ramp because I legitimately could. not. see. While the driver in the picture above was facing the lights, the lights were just as bright in my mirrors. This was a legit hazard, as I couldn’t determine how sharply this ramp was curving; I was appalled. The driver finally backed off a bit so that I could see, but I was outraged. There could have been an accident.
I’ve heard a rumor that when these lights are installed by the manufacturer the lights are seated properly so as to not cause these kind of issues to other drivers; that it is only after-market lights that cause so many drivers to despise these lights. I’m not convinced. These bright LED lights are like laser beams. Do you have an LED light bulb in your house, perhaps replaced it in a light? Have you noticed how much brighter this light is than your regular lightbulbs?
Same principle.
Second Rant:
Passenger Trucks Hauling car carriers
While passenger trucks hauling cars are not new, it seems the prevalence has increased in recent years. There seem to be a LOT more passenger trucks carrying multiple vehicles than tractor-trailers (or semitrucks) on the road these days. Each time I see them invokes a stronger irritation and dislike.
Why?
I am not sure whether these drivers have to have a full CDL license or just an endorsement to haul these carriers (and why spoil a perfectly good rant by bothering to look?), but the drivers I come across these days are definitely not driving them like they are semis. It’s more like they are in their passenger vehicle.
On several occasions I have seen these trucks driving less than safely, in part (in my opinion) because they don’t have the elevated sight line that a normal trucker would have to be able to see and respond to situations on the road. They see the same things as everyone else for the most part; the problem is, they have a lot more weight on the back, which causes all sorts of problems when trying to stop, or needing to quickly respond to a situation on the road – it just doesn’t happen. Also, a lot of these drivers drive in any lane they want to – ignoring the popular “TRUCKS OVER XX WHEELS NOT ALLOWED IN LEFT YY LANES” signs, and switch lanes like they are just in the truck, perhaps forgetting what they are hauling.
These trucks may be cheaper for owners to operate, insure, etc., and handle better than a large, boxy, unwieldy tractor-trailer, but just because something CAN be done doesn’t mean it SHOULD be done.
At least not without proper precautions.
How do y’all feel about this?