Originally Posted by
chephy
On a somewhat unrelated note... it's another truck! The last five or six of Toronto's cycling fatalities involved trucks as I recall, and here is a pretty-close-to-fatal accident again. This definitely has some statistical significance, especially given that there are far fewer trucks on the roads than other vehicles. If you want to increase your safety on the road, be especially vigilant when trucks are around.
I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with this uninformed statement. And yes, I am a truck driver.
What you fail to consider is the massive number of miles a truck travels in a year in comparison with a car. Average for most truckers is 100-130k miles per year. When you compare average mileage vs. accidents, trucks are MUCH safer than cars. Just when we crash..... it is very serious.
Licensing for driving a truck is much more stringent.
You MUST pass a physical examination a minimum of once every 2 years to ensure that you are physically capable of driving (with special emphasis on high blood pressure and diabetes). Injury or sick and have to take drugs that can impare you - you have to be cleared by a doctor to drive afterwards. Other than being able to see - what other physical does a car driver have to do? And then only once every 3-6 years when they renew their license.
You are limited by LAW how much you can drive/work. Get a part time job? That counts against your time too.
You are subject to random drug and alcohol testing just for driving. If you are involved in an accident and any vehicle has to be towed - you must take a drug/alcohol test. Have an accident or get a ticket in your car and it counts against your truck driving record.
Besides, the DOTs are always pulling trucks in and inspecting them and issuing tickets/fines if anything is wrong with the vehicle or driver or paperwork. DOT can and WILL shut down a truck or driver. Cars only get inspected once a year - or less depending on where you live.