Blocking Both Lanes on purpose? Friendly Question, don't worry...

I don't play traffic cop because it isn't my job to use a commercial vehicle to regulate traffic. This is one of them monkey see monkey do things. Many truckers don't know how to block properly. The whole objective is to keep traffic moving smoothly. Unless you are blocking at the rear of the line, you are wasting your time. If they merge at the last minute or in the middle of the line, everyone has to brake to let them over. The brake effect is what causes the jam.

I know, you know what you are doing because you seen someone else do it. I even seen two truckers hold traffic back a quarter of a mile. WTF? They are causing the same problem they are trying to prevent. Not too much smarts there.

All it takes is one little brake tap and each vehicle behind will brake a hair more until a complete stop. I haven't seen one block that made traffic flow faster. It still crawls throught he construction zone. There always is that one that panics when they get near the workers.

4 wheelers that butt are rude, selfish, moronic, idiots that all they think about is how they can shave a second at any cost. Then they can run and disappear in their vehicle. I'd like to see them butt in line at McD's. Local truckers even butt off of I-294 splitting on to I-290 outside Chicago. It isn't always 4 wheelers.

I been in moderate traffic before and everyone merged early and it was smooth as could be. But you can't educate the whole public. It's impossible. Just because you are mad doesn't give you the right to avenge or try to correct the situation. You aren't teaching the butters anything. Leave traffic control to the cops.

I seen a lady once butt the line and then went into the closed lane in the construction zone and zipped through it. She had to get back over where they were paving and just over the hill was a cop. It was her lucky day. What an idiot.

 

Yeah, what the heck is up with that whole driving on the shoulder thing? That seems counter-intuitive and stupid. It seems MORE likely to cause problems at the ramps because there is NO merge point anymore.

And since trucks have to stay out, I've got to watch BOTH sides. And it makes getting off a bigger PITA.

 

Unless you were trained to be a traffic cop, don't. It's irritating. No where in your job requirements does it state to be controlling traffic. I live in PA. You are to use both lanes to merge point. If you are caught blocking a travel lane, it's a big fine and also grounds for a DOT inspection. Just saying. If everyone uses one lane, you have a 5 mile back up or better. It's common sense, plus like the old term says, "Tying to fit 10 pounds of crap in a 5 pound bag"

 

Have you ever noticed that truckers that team-up shutting that line of traffic off, never gets a ticket? It's because the construction workers and police know it makes it SAFER for everyone on the ground, and traffic actually moves faster when people are shut-off from waiting til the last minute to finally try to butt in line at the last moment.
I've even seen some 4-whlrs. start blocking as well. It ain't rocket science. Anyone with any sense should be able to understand this. When it says..."LEFT LANE/RIGHT LANE CLOSED AHEAD" it doesn't mean speed up
to pass! It means you need to start merging NOW! If you don't, I will be happy to be one of the trucks that holds you back. Pass on the shoulder and you will get a ticket. Seen it happen many times.

 

I've done it a time or two when I'm way in the back of the merge and it's all backed up going 10 mph. Gets annoying when you've been rolling or stopped for a couple minutes and you see people flying up the left lane to the front. Once a truck starts doing it the majority of the people get the hint and start merging way before the truck is blocking. The couple times I've done it I am in the left lane by my self because all the cars have already merged and traffic is starting to flow normal by that time.

 

I don't have a problem with this but, I'm sure not all of the outstanding members of the law enforcement community would find it to be a good thing.

Not to beat up on our four wheeling friends but, they do need to start to realize that we "trucks" should be given a little more room to operate in. I drive a four wheel vehicle from time to time and am constantly amazed at how other 4 wheelers behave on the road.

I'm getting tire of the fines for anything a truck driver does going up and up and watching the daily commuter drive like a maniac and get overlooked by the H.P. because they are looking for a big rig to pull over.

 

Of course you will convince yourself it's right or you wouldn't be doing it. I actually went through a construction zone outside Chicago that said to use both lanes to the merge. First time I seen such. I could care less, I do what the sign says. But two trucks behind me were blocking. The construction guy (superintendant?), threw his hardhat down on the ground, his face got beet red and frantically waved his arms at the trucker cop. Five seconds later here come blue lights and the cop pulled that truck over.

You can say it's safer? On what grounds. I seen rearends, but nothing from a merge itself. So your statement has no proof or merit.

Regardless of who does what, traffic still moves the same speed after the squeeze. That's where the workers are, inside the squeeze. That's not rocket science.

You can think what you want and I'll think what I want. That's not going to change. The bottom line is you are using your truck for something that it's not intended to do. The attitude, I'm right, you're wrong, so you are going to do what I want is rather funny. You paint a picture to the public that truckers think they own the road. Ponder on that!

 

i had to do this very thing the other night. i was in NY, headed west on 84. there was a wreck in the hammer lane, traffic having to merge over to the right, 4 wheelers screaming by on the berm. i had enough of that, got another driver to get in the hammer lane and ride halfway down my left side, i was in the right lane, and had another driver that was in front of me swing out to block the berm while i had the nose of my tractor 2 feet past his trailer on the left side and another driver behind me halfway up on my right side. we stopped that crap.

then it was a miracle that things started flowing smoothly and we were able to get past the wreck.

 

some people dont read the warning signs -left lane close 3 miles merge right left lane close 2 miles merge right left lane close 1 mile merge right they dont want to take there turn in there line thats why i block the lane beside another truck 4 ,000,000 miles out here so dot f#%& with the old trucker

 

It's a shame people can't just be respectful of each other--The pa law for instance(use both lanes until the merge point) is another one of those that looks good on paper--use both lanes--go to end take your turn--of course if everyone did this--things would go smoother--but alas the simple fact is people don't!
My pet peeve is more of a signage problem--How many time have you come up on a backup--and not known where to be--radio is filled w/BS--people fighting etc--so you stay in right lane(where you were traveling)forever only to find out it is right that is closed--now have to fight your way over(just one example)So my point is why can't the local DOT place these signs back much further--it won't stop all the selfish people from trying to cut in--but it would help---I've noticed over the last few years--the In toll road(I know I hate it too!) has been doing this--starting to sign as much as 5 mile back(and not those plain construction ahead--but actual info)and then a couple of miles before the merge they post the slower speed limit followed by a sign that say's something to the effect of "No passing past this point" followed by one about high fines. This has seemed to work somewhat(IMHO)--traffic seems to flow a little smoother.
Just my $.02