driver killed

[old_guy]

saw on FB tonight reported by KATU tv that a driver pulled over to the side of the road to check the air pressure on his TT and a drunk came by and hit him and he died instantly. Please be careful out there guys, pull completely off the road or just don't put yourself into harms way. this happened in eastern Oregon near Baker City. no I do not know why he thought he had to check his air pressure

[run100]

T18skyguy wrote:

wa8yxm wrote:
I read a stat that 1 in 50 drivers are drunk. You reminded me of a similar story that happened in Pennsylvania decades ago. A tow truck driver was hooking up a disabled car, and was between the two vehicles when a drunk slammed into the disabled vehicle killing/crushing the tow truck driver between the two. I knew that drunk. He got off with a slap to the wrist. It was a different era back then.

As if it's not enough to have to worry about drivers that are DUI, we have the added bonus of the HUGE number of distracted drivers on their cell phones. Plus, cell phone use is constant - - all day long, every single day! It is the number one hazard on our roadways IMHO.

Here's a recent article:
[URL]https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/driving-your-phone-is-a-distraction-even-if-you-arent-looking-at-it/

And a valid quote from the article:
"Driving is the most likely way we'll kill someone else," Mathewson said. "But we're not treating cars like they're the dangerous things that they are."

Unfortunately, laws are lagging far behind the technology.

[elidodge]

I have also seen DOT cops inspecting trucks on the shoulder of the hi way

[T18skyguy]

wa8yxm wrote:
I spent a couple years killing time dispatching tow truck drivers.

Well the police were arresting a drunk driver so one of my drivers was on hand to hook up and tow the car to impound.. Two Patrol cars plus the Truck, all with overhead flashing lights active. and WHAM.. Driver is going hospital with injuries as teh drunk #2 slammed into the tow truck.

A trooper (Two of them) I worked with.. Same story basically.

I read a stat that 1 in 50 drivers are drunk. You reminded me of a similar story that happened in Pennsylvania decades ago. A tow truck driver was hooking up a disabled car, and was between the two vehicles when a drunk slammed into the disabled vehicle killing/crushing the tow truck driver between the two. I knew that drunk. He got off with a slap to the wrist. It was a different era back then.

[old_guy]

Big Katuna wrote:

azrving wrote:
I wonder how things would be if a person had to give their life if they took a life.

Sadly, no difference.

they call that capital punishment and the supreme court ruled it unconstitutional a month or so ago

[romore]

My step son is a city dweller and has very limited highway experience. They were returning from our home on a stretch with a 120 kmh (75 mph) speed limit when the car in front of them pulled over but not completely off the trvelled roadway. The driver opened the door and got out without looking!!! Chris could not move over into the left hand lane because a speeding pickup was closing in on him, he was scared spitless but made it through without mishap. He will no longer travel that highway.
I have seen a police car sitting by the highway and further on officer pulling vehicles over for not slowing down and moving over but it is an ongoing battle.

[TurnThePage]

Would like to share a similar story. On a curved part of I-90 going through our community, a driver pulled over to check "something". While he was standing next to the passenger side of the vehicle it was rear ended at the 70mph speed limit. He was unscathed but his wife and two young children were killed instantly.

[SidecarFlip]

rrupert wrote:
I spent many years working along Pennsylvania highways and have determined that there are a lot of stupid people behind their steering wheels, plus being distracted and tired. Do not ever pull off to the side of a busy expressway, or any other highway, unless there is no way to reach an exit. If you were to walk along the shoulder of those highways and see all the tire puncture causing junk laying there you will not want to drive there.

Just because you have a drivers license don't mean you have common sense.

[Tyler0215]

I never stop on the side of the road. Always limp to an exit if at all possible.

[wa8yxm]

I spent a couple years killing time dispatching tow truck drivers.

Well the police were arresting a drunk driver so one of my drivers was on hand to hook up and tow the car to impound.. Two Patrol cars plus the Truck, all with overhead flashing lights active. and WHAM.. Driver is going hospital with injuries as teh drunk #2 slammed into the tow truck.

A trooper (Two of them) I worked with.. Same story basically.

[Big_Katuna]

azrving wrote:
I wonder how things would be if a person had to give their life if they took a life.

Sadly, no difference.

[rhagfo]

This is very sad indeed! It seems that too many drivers don’t pay attention the job at hand! They seem think nothing speeding past stopped cars on the side of the road a 65 to 70. Even with the mover laws many don’t or do it the last minute which tells me they were not paying attention.

[K_Charles]

That's why the sign says Emergency Stopping Only, not a good place to check your tire pressure.

[rockhillmanor]

73guna wrote:
I drive otr and see a lot of people doing non emergency things on the shoulder that could probably wait till the next exit.
It's sad when accidents like this happen.

X2
Unless my MH absolutely won't move I always limp it down to the next exit. Don't even care if ends up ruining a tire. My life is worth far more than a tire. I never stop on the side of a highway.

[rrupert]

I spent many years working along Pennsylvania highways and have determined that there are a lot of stupid people behind their steering wheels, plus being distracted and tired. Do not ever pull off to the side of a busy expressway, or any other highway, unless there is no way to reach an exit. If you were to walk along the shoulder of those highways and see all the tire puncture causing junk laying there you will not want to drive there.