BajaNomad

Dangerous Truck Driver

zipitio - 7-17-2019 at 12:10 PM

This guy nearly ruined our vacation :fire:
Be careful out there!

Snapshot 1 (7-17-2019 12-05 PM).png - 153kB

[Edited on 7-26-2019 by zipitio]

[Edited on 7-26-2019 by zipitio]

Lee - 7-17-2019 at 12:39 PM

Last time between GN and Vizcaino, a semi started to drift into my lane as I was passing him. Got on the horn and he drifted back. I drive with lights on, hanging back in the passing lane hoping he sees me before passing.

If I'm ever hit by a semi drifting into my lane, I plan to hold my ground and not be run off the road. I doubt a semi would stop to help if I go flying off the road. Maybe not.

I assume Murphy's Law is in effect always. And these guys are asleep at the wheel, or stoned, or have been drinking. While some might be professional, I've seen too many semi accidents to think everyone is on the ball.

surfhat - 7-17-2019 at 02:20 PM

I have found using turn signals in order to communicate with approaching trucks or coming up behind them is appreciated by truck drivers. It can also let them know to stay in their own lanes and give you what room they can, which is not much considering the width of the lanes. Every little bit helps with such a narrow roadway.

Especially helpful when a truck is approaching to know they see you and respond with their turn signals in like fashion.

Heck, just confirming they see you coming helps. We all still need to aim for the edge of the paved roadway when passing or being passed.

It has worked for me. Get over as far as possible and move gently back off the edge when the road is clear.

And obviously, don't drive at night! I used to decades ago and did appreciate the fewer cars on the road. As for the black cows, not much has changed with them though. I am done with driving at night. I have lived long enough to know better.

BornFisher - 7-17-2019 at 02:31 PM

Is the truck coming at you or are you behind it? If the truck is coming at you, then a ruined vacation is an understatement!!!

SFandH - 7-17-2019 at 04:27 PM

A flashing left turn signal from the truck in front of you not only tells you he thinks it's safe to pass, it also means he's ready for you to do it. Of course, I pull into the passing lane and decide for myself whether or not it's safe.

bajabuddha - 7-19-2019 at 07:03 AM

Another 'Baja hwy etiquette' rule I learned is, if you're following closely to a semi you are signaling to the driver you want to pass... and if you don't you should slow down a tad and back off a ways. That signals you're content to follow, which I used to do quite a bit when towing my house.

Truckers know the road better than anyone, and know when to slow down and when to put the hammer down. Also, keeping a safe distance allows someone to pass you and pull in without having to pass both you and the Big Truck all at once.

SFandH - 7-19-2019 at 08:35 AM

The "it's OK to pass" left turn signal is a dangerous practice. A single signal that has multiple meanings is, well, a dumb idea.

A few years ago a guy in a small car was turning left off the highway south of Mulege. He had his signal on. There was a bus coming up behind him and just as he started the turn the bus pulled out to pass. BAM! T-boned in the driver's side by a highway speed bus, he's dead.

I use hand signals frequently when slowing down and/or turning off the highway and there is a vehicle behind me.

Mulege Canuck - 7-19-2019 at 09:10 AM

I make that same left turn after the bridge south of Mulege and have had some close calls. Hand signals and indicating are the best bet.

BajaBill74 - 7-19-2019 at 09:41 AM

If making a left turn and there is no oncoming traffic, cross over the center line while slowing down so they can't pass. If there is oncoming traffic they can't pass you.

SFandH - 7-19-2019 at 10:14 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBill74  
If making a left turn and there is no oncoming traffic, cross over the center line while slowing down so they can't pass. If there is oncoming traffic they can't pass you.


Yes, I've gotten used to doing that. Sort of unnatural for US-trained drivers.

zipitio - 7-26-2019 at 03:12 PM

Truck was driving towards us. It all, of course, happened so quickly.
I first flashed my headlights and then blew the horn repeatedly. All with no results. Luckily, there was enough dirt on the side of the road to ride it out and avoid being hit. Mirrors, truck camper hit the brushes on the side of road. Here is video:

https://youtu.be/PESgeh7GP5M

[Edited on 7-26-2019 by zipitio]

[Edited on 7-26-2019 by zipitio]

Lee - 7-26-2019 at 03:28 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
The "it's OK to pass" left turn signal is a dangerous practice. A single signal that has multiple meanings is, well, a dumb idea.

A few years ago a guy in a small car was turning left off the highway south of Mulege. He had his signal on. There was a bus coming up behind him and just as he started the turn the bus pulled out to pass. BAM! T-boned in the driver's side by a highway speed bus, he's dead.

I use hand signals frequently when slowing down and/or turning off the highway and there is a vehicle behind me.


Both drivers at fault. Definition of asleep at the wheel.

I believe seasoned travelers know the difference, generally, around the left signal. I signal drivers who I think are about to pass, to let them know I see them.

Yes it's a dangerous practice as is passing and driving in Baja.

Lee - 7-26-2019 at 03:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by zipitio  
Truck was driving towards us. It all, of course, happened so quickly.
I first flashed my headlights and then blew the horn repeatedly. All with no results. Luckily, there was enough dirt on the side of the road to ride it out and avoid being hit. Mirrors, truck camper hit the brushes on the side of road. Here is video:

https://youtu.be/PESgeh7GP5M

[Edited on 7-26-2019 by zipitio]


F'UCK!

DanO - 7-26-2019 at 03:59 PM

Quote: Originally posted by zipitio  
Truck was driving towards us. It all, of course, happened so quickly.
I first flashed my headlights and then blew the horn repeatedly. All with no results. Luckily, there was enough dirt on the side of the road to ride it out and avoid being hit. Mirrors, truck camper hit the brushes on the side of road. Here is video:

https://youtu.be/PESgeh7GP5M

[Edited on 7-26-2019 by zipitio]

[Edited on 7-26-2019 by zipitio]


That'll tighten your grip on the wheel, for sure. I've had a handful of those close shaves and never want it to happen again.

BornFisher - 7-26-2019 at 10:06 PM

Wow that was terrible. Glad you made it.
I bet the audio was a bit colorful I mean it scared the chit out of me!!
Thanks for posting, great dashcam stuff, almost like Russia!!

LancairDriver - 7-26-2019 at 11:42 PM

That’s exactly the scene I hope never to see driving my motor home or even a motorcycle! You did a great job of holding it on course. Lucky there was at least some shoulder there instead of the usual two foot drop off.

Lee - 3-2-2023 at 11:10 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Gusseino  
"I know this thread is ancient, but I just had to chime in.


Chime in with what?

Here’s my chime.

Last week, on top the mountain South of Loreto, a small white MX car went off the road. Guardia were there. Passengers on side of road. Car was 20’ in gully on up hill side and right side up.

Miracles happen.

BajaBlanca - 3-4-2023 at 07:20 AM

We had our sideview mirror on the driver side completely torn off on the mountain headed south from Santa Rosalia (Cuesta del Infierno).

Truck just moved over onto our side!

Happens so fast. So scary.

AKgringo - 3-4-2023 at 09:12 AM

I drove to Todos Santos right after Hurricane Kay last September. There were many sections of the highways that not only lacked a shoulder, the pavement was actually undercut by erosion.

The truckers knew that, so many of them chose to crowd the centerline more than usual and force oncoming traffic to crowd the pavement edge on their side!

[Edited on 3-4-2023 by AKgringo]

David K - 3-4-2023 at 09:41 AM

When the final section Hwy. 1 first opened... San Quintín to San Ignacio, in 1973, being that it was so narrow (19 ft.) and no shoulders, often on an elevated levee or carved into cliffs, driving in the middle was the safest method. When an oncoming vehicle was seen, one would drift back into the lane as best as you could fit. The government told us that this was just temporary to get the highway in, on budget. They said it would SOON be widened! About 30 years passed before some 10-20 km. sections did get widened. This was around El Rosario and Nuevo Rosarito.

The late Nomad, 'jrbaja' posted this to illustrate the small margain of error on Mex. #1:



I took this in 2009, nearing San Quintín from the south:



Not a big deal in a Tacoma... but driving a motorhome or big camper, towing a boat or ? well, it can be butt pucker!

DannyRT - 5-10-2023 at 11:43 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BornFisher  
Is the truck coming at you or are you behind it? If the truck is coming at you, then a ruined vacation is an understatement!!!


Looks like that truck already passed him. Hate to see those kinds of drivers.

pacificobob - 5-11-2023 at 06:20 AM

I read somewhere recently that 96% of us drivers consider themselves "better than average" drivers.

geoffff - 5-11-2023 at 10:01 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
When the final section Hwy. 1 first opened... San Quintín to San Ignacio, in 1973, being that it was so narrow (19 ft.) and no shoulders, often on an elevated levee or carved into cliffs, driving in the middle was the safest method. When an oncoming vehicle was seen, one would drift back into the lane as best as you could fit. The government told us that this was just temporary to get the highway in, on budget. They said it would SOON be widened! About 30 years passed before some 10-20 km. sections did get widened. This was around El Rosario and Nuevo Rosarito.

The late Nomad, 'jrbaja' posted this to illustrate the small margain of error on Mex. #1:
...
Not a big deal in a Tacoma... but driving a motorhome or big camper, towing a boat or ? well, it can be butt pucker!


Nice! I keep snapping photos like this to show to my friends who talk about bicycling Baja Highway 1. People do it!! But where do you go on a bicycle when two trucks are passing you?? There just is no shoulder. Americans don't get it.



[Edited on 5-11-2023 by geoffff]

mtgoat666 - 5-11-2023 at 10:09 AM

Quote: Originally posted by geoffff  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
When the final section Hwy. 1 first opened... San Quintín to San Ignacio, in 1973, being that it was so narrow (19 ft.) and no shoulders, often on an elevated levee or carved into cliffs, driving in the middle was the safest method. When an oncoming vehicle was seen, one would drift back into the lane as best as you could fit. The government told us that this was just temporary to get the highway in, on budget. They said it would SOON be widened! About 30 years passed before some 10-20 km. sections did get widened. This was around El Rosario and Nuevo Rosarito.

The late Nomad, 'jrbaja' posted this to illustrate the small margain of error on Mex. #1:
...
Not a big deal in a Tacoma... but driving a motorhome or big camper, towing a boat or ? well, it can be butt pucker!


Nice! I keep snapping photos like this to show to my friends who talk about bicycling Baja Highway 1. People do it!! But where do you go on a bicycle when two trucks are passing you?? There just is no shoulder. Americans don't get it.



[Edited on 5-11-2023 by geoffff]


Truck drivers know better than to pass each other when there is a 3rd vehicle already occupying a 2 lane road.

PaulW - 5-11-2023 at 11:18 AM

Another scary situation is passing an 18 wheeler on a sharp curve.
Visualize the truck cab hugging the right side of the road and the rear of its trailer using one half or more of the oncoming lane that you are traveling in. Even worse the lane you are traveling in has a guardrail and you have no place to go. When it happened to me I just barely cleared the guardrail and the trailer. WOW.
No place to go.
Place - south on Hwy5 before the point of the mountain.

LancairDriver - 5-13-2023 at 10:14 AM

I have posted this one before, but it is a good illustration of the inches of separation on the narrow Baja 1 highway and the steep drop off for a shoulder. Running a 50,000 lb rv and towed Jeep off that would be a big problem.


IMG_0846.jpeg - 182kB

AKgringo - 5-13-2023 at 11:31 AM

Baja is the Darwinian school of truck driving! The failure rate is indicated by white crosses along the side of the road.

mtgoat666 - 5-13-2023 at 12:47 PM

Go slower in narrow, curvy segments… problem solved!

LancairDriver - 5-13-2023 at 07:59 PM

Trucks can be dangerous on any highway and must be respected.


IMG_0704.jpeg - 64kB

stillnbaja - 5-13-2023 at 08:33 PM

I think im more terrified of those "fearless"? bus drivers!

AKgringo - 5-14-2023 at 06:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by stillnbaja  
I think im more terrified of those "fearless"? bus drivers!


I made the mistake of passing a bus on a long, straight uphill grade. He seemed to take it personally and rode my tail on the way down the other side for miles until I found a spot I could safely get out of his way.

He showed every intention of passing me back, even if it was on a blind curve!

DannyRT - 5-15-2023 at 10:31 PM

Quote: Originally posted by LancairDriver  
Trucks can be dangerous on any highway and must be respected.


Terrible accident! My uncle almost got involved in a multiple collision at the highway last year caused by a truck. He just came from the shop for the replacement of the almost bald tires with new tires from 4Wheelonline. Definitely be more cautious when there are big trucks around you.

RFClark - 5-17-2023 at 09:21 AM

This is both a comment on trucks in Baja and a road report.

First the road report.

From Cabo north to Vizcaino the road is in good condition generally with no detours. The National Guard checkpoint at KM 7 north of Santa Rosalia is still operating, it was there when we went south 2 months ago.

The xray unit at the checkpoint north of Loreto is gone for the moment. All of the checkpoints were a wave-through this trip.

The road north of Vizcaino has 2 - 1Km+ dirt detours where they are replacing and widening the road. North of the 28th in BC the road has quite a few potholes all the way to the HWY5 turnoff and is in need of repair.

HWY 5 also has lots of potholes north to Mexicali

Now to trucks.

Generally we pass at least 2 recent major truck accidents on our trip north. I think this time we saw 4 major accidents most seemed to be equipment or driver related as they didn’t seem to involve a 2nd truck or car.

DannyRT - 9-3-2023 at 11:37 PM

Good report, Clark. Too bad to hear about those accidents.

Tacayo - 9-4-2023 at 09:44 AM

Last Spring I was driving north just past Jesus Maria when a big rig came up fast behind me. As many of you know, this stretch is narrow, shoulderless and elevated above the surrounding desert.

I knew the big rig wanted to pass so when I saw him pull out into the passing lane I slowed a bit to make it easier for him to get by. Then out of the corner of my eye I realize he's coming back into my lane way too soon. I hear a loud whack as my side mirror is clipped and I hit the brakes hard. Gracias a Dios somehow the truck barely squeezes in front of me and we avoid crashing.

A few moments later I contemplate the steep embankment that my Tundra was almost shoved down. Would the trucker have stopped to help I wonder (I didn't think so). Would I have survived? Thankfully they were just gruesome thoughts and not reality.

But here's the kicker: A few miles later I come to a military check point. I'm asked to get out for a routine inspection. I look at my side mirror and see the outer edge is scraped but still intact. My mind flashes back to the near wipeout.

I then notice that the offending big rig is stopped at the same check point. I tell the soldier who was checking out my vehicle that I was almost killed by that truck over there. He points to it and asks excitedly,"that truck"? I say yes and I'm thinking oh goodie a little comeuppance. But no, he just shook his head. No warning to the guy, no chit chat. Nada.

Lessons learned: Traileros rule the Baja roads and now I know what it's like to come within an inch of my life. And for whatever reason I still love Baja despite getting the bejeebies scared out of me.

baja-chris - 9-5-2023 at 11:58 AM

What day of the week and times of day have the least truck traffic?

I want to tow an 8'6" wide boat to Baja Sur. I've towed flatbed car trailers that wide down to La Paz a dozen or more times to haul race cars and prerunners but never a boat. The difference being the boat itself is 8-6 wide whereas the race cars are closer to 7'6" wide so a truck mirror is that much further away. I'd take as many days as it takes to run when safest and at a pace that minimizes getting passed by semi's or passing them.

chippy - 9-5-2023 at 01:07 PM

After towing a number of boats and trailers to the tip over the years. My rule is don´t tow at night and I don´t tow on sunday (lots of drinking and driving going on) or on mondays (sundays drinkers are either hung over or still drunk). Time of day didn't seem to matter.



[Edited on 9-5-2023 by chippy]

DannyRT - 9-8-2023 at 12:25 AM

Quote: Originally posted by chippy  
After towing a number of boats and trailers to the tip over the years. My rule is don´t tow at night and I don´t tow on sunday (lots of drinking and driving going on) or on mondays (sundays drinkers are either hung over or still drunk). Time of day didn't seem to matter.



[Edited on 9-5-2023 by chippy]


Lol. Very reasonable to avoid those times.