Cut off on the Gardiner!

[GetMeMyStogie]

On the way to work today, after visiting the dentist, I was driving eastbound along the Gardiner, cruising along not really ripping or anything. I'm approaching Spadina in the left lane, where the road makes a slight bend to the left. Well, there was this 10-wheel truck in the centre lane which started drifting over the dotted line. At first I though "Huh? What's this guy doing", but then he seemed to pull back a bit into his lane. I hadn't hit the brakes, though I had lifted off the gas, because I was still approaching, and he wasn't signalling, and because there's a slight bend in the road people often cut over the line a bit. When I thought he was pulling back into his lane, I hit the gas again - and that's when he really made a move into my lane. Arghh!
First thing I did was hit the horn, but he kept coming over to my lane. So, I mash the brakes, as I see my lane getting narrower and narrower. For those who don't know, there are no shoulders on the Gardiner. I'm facing a concrete barrier to the left of me, and 2 heavy-truck axles to the right of me. :help:
With my foot hard on the brakes and both hands on the steering wheel, my winter tires had trouble keeping traction on all the road salt in that 3-foot gap between the wall and the lane, and the MM started getting a bit squirelly on me. Just as the truck rear left ramp passed me, and I was nearly clear, the rear end slid towards the wall one last time and hit it. Pow! :mad2: I look in the rear view, and there's a bunch of dust in the air behind me. I'm thinking maybe the wheel broke, and probably the fender is smashed.
The car keeps rolling along, and I'm a bit shook up, but kinda kept rolling. By this time, the Yonge St. exit ramp is maybe 150m away, so rather than pull over where there is no shoulder, I sort of rolled off the freeway. There's no new noises, I don't think, but maybe the rear feels a bit wobbly. I pull off the exit ramp onto the first street, and get out to have a look.:bigcry:

Mother &^?#%er! Not a scratch!

I couldn't believe it! The tire made contact with the bit of the concrete barrier that sticks out at the bottom, but that seems to be it. I couldn't see any scratches on the rim, either. And the fender was fine. Whew!

I took it to a nearby mechanic just in case, who gave it a quick once-over. He didn't see any obvious problems either. So, I guess I got lucky this time. Muther:censor:ing truck driver!

[-Matt-]

wow.... tons of luck. Did you chase down and kill the truck driver?

[CBT]

Whoa, kissed the wall and made nary a scratch, you got lucky!

[GetMeMyStogie]

wow.... tons of luck. Did you chase down and kill the truck driver?

I wanted to, but it was either chase him down, or take the exit ramp where I can have a look for damage. Not knowing the extent of the damage, speeding down the freeway, though very tempting at the time, just didn't seem like a wise thing to do.

[Mr. Man]

Must of hit a Jersey barrier. Lucky you.

[Glockafella]

Well Great news there...that could have gone horrific quicky!

[cshorts]

You are really lucky and aren't you glad you have the winter tires. That is why I hate driving the Gardiner, or the QEW or anywhere in Toronto for that matter!!!

[scruff]

sound like a typical driveing day in the big city Toronto LoL

[Taemian]

I wanted to, but it was either chase him down, or take the exit ramp where I can have a look for damage. Not knowing the extent of the damage, speeding down the freeway, though very tempting at the time, just didn't seem like a wise thing to do.

VERY wise thing to do by pulling over to do a damage check. You did the right thing.

I've had exactly the same thing happen to me on a bridge here in Vancouver, but I was driving my work truck. The bottom edge of those Jersey barriers is designed to let you ride up onto them a little bit. When my rear dualie axle touched the barrier, it actually rode up, putting the truck on about a 10 degree angle!

Glad to hear you're ok, and that the car isn't damaged.:)

[Black Dynamite]

WOW, now that is some luck. Go buy some lottery tickets!!!!!!!!

[TAKEDOWN]

Phew... that's a story I like hearing!

[Dragcity]

Sorry to say, But Ontario Truck drivers are the absolute worst I have ever seen. I have them tooling up and down the I-90 here in Buffalo/Rochester all the time. I have seen them cause more cars to go off the road, create absolute chaos and never stop, slow, care at all.

Late or no signal for lane changes. Abrubt lane changes at 75 MPH. Follow too closely, Speed up to get in front of you, then creep along side another Ontario plated truck to blow kisses or something.???

See, I think our State troopers should spend more time keeping these truckers in line, but seems those are the guys that get all the breaks because they could loose their CDL. Too many of them are way too dangerous, and they cause a lot of damage out there.

Something simple, like riding in the shoulder, even if it's one tire width. The amount of debris they kick up is remarkable. Four cars had to pull off the side with broken windshields last week because of that exact thing. Truck drivers USED to be the best on the road, not anymore.

Gee, guess I am worked up about this....

I am sure glad I have and F-350 Diesel for highway use these days.

[Canadasvt]

Sorry to say, But Ontario Truck drivers are the absolute worst I have ever seen.

Maybe I missed it, but did he say the truck had an Ontario plate :confused:

Good to hear ya made it out okay. I venture out to the Esplanade frequently and that Gardner is a mess, but I still don't want them to tear it down. Boston is worse!

[scruff]

it does,nt surprise me to hear someone complaing about truckers from ontario the problem is there are very few white men driveing rigs today all the stinkers have taken over the industry and are running it into the ground

[Taemian]

it does,nt surprise me to hear someone complaing about truckers from ontario the problem is there are very few white men driveing rigs today all the stinkers have taken over the industry and are running it into the ground

Before anyone calls this gentlemen's notions racist or prejudiced, examine what has happened here in BC. There has been scandal after scandal of driving schools run by visible minorities (East Indian, Asian) that gave out licenses if you paid them extra. No test, no lesson, not even a pre-trip! We have the worst truck safety in the country, with less than 25% of commercial vehicles passing roadside inspections on any given day.

I've been a Teamster for nearly 10 years, but don't do much actual hauling since I work in the movie biz. Most of my stuff is in a 5 ton or lighter, but I've done 3 w/air hauling gravel in the past. We have major construction projects for the Olympics and infrastructure going on, and commercial vehicle inspectors were "heavily encouraged" by the govt to announce beforehand when they would be coming for inspections. Projects gotta get done on time, right? Demographics-wise, the dumptruck industry out here is virtually owned by East Indians due to them undercutting everyone and working for a wage that is a race to the bottom.

Every single major truck accident involving an unsafe vehicle has been from one of a certain ethnic group, and that's why the driving schools were investigated and busted...it was just too much of a conicidence or statistical anomoly.

Personally, I turned down an in-town route with a 45' because I know enough to realize that I'd need more experience. Some of these guys say "I've been doing long-haul for almost 1 million miles!" Well, driving down an interstate up and down the country is NOT the same as city hauling in any way.

I'm sorry to hear that truck drivers in general are becoming known as the worst instead of the best drivers, there are some of us out there who still pride ourselves in our professionalism on the job, and realize that our license is our living. We need to police our own better, but it usually comes down to little $$ to enforce things until there's a major incident. On behalf of professional drivers everywhere, I apologize for what happened in this incident.

[Cheeseheadbob]

I am not a politically correct person in the least, and although your statement was explained with great finesse and aplomb by Taemian, perhaps your idea regarding very few white men driving rigs could have been better phrased by saying something to the effect of "native Canadians." I am sure there are plenty of Canadian born folks who are very competent truck drivers who have significantly more melanin than your average white man.
it does,nt surprise me to hear someone complaing about truckers from ontario the problem is there are very few white men driveing rigs today all the stinkers have taken over the industry and are running it into the ground

[de minimus]

Before anyone calls this gentlemen's notions racist or prejudiced, examine what has happened here in BC. There has been scandal after scandal of driving schools run by visible minorities (East Indian, Asian) that gave out licenses if you paid them extra. No test, no lesson, not even a pre-trip! We have the worst truck safety in the country, with less than 25% of commercial vehicles passing roadside inspections on any given day.

I've been a Teamster for nearly 10 years, but don't do much actual hauling since I work in the movie biz. Most of my stuff is in a 5 ton or lighter, but I've done 3 w/air hauling gravel in the past. We have major construction projects for the Olympics and infrastructure going on, and commercial vehicle inspectors were "heavily encouraged" by the govt to announce beforehand when they would be coming for inspections. Projects gotta get done on time, right? Demographics-wise, the dumptruck industry out here is virtually owned by East Indians due to them undercutting everyone and working for a wage that is a race to the bottom.

Every single major truck accident involving an unsafe vehicle has been from one of a certain ethnic group, and that's why the driving schools were investigated and busted...it was just too much of a conicidence or statistical anomoly.

Personally, I turned down an in-town route with a 45' because I know enough to realize that I'd need more experience. Some of these guys say "I've been doing long-haul for almost 1 million miles!" Well, driving down an interstate up and down the country is NOT the same as city hauling in any way.

I'm sorry to hear that truck drivers in general are becoming known as the worst instead of the best drivers, there are some of us out there who still pride ourselves in our professionalism on the job, and realize that our license is our living. We need to police our own better, but it usually comes down to little $$ to enforce things until there's a major incident. On behalf of professional drivers everywhere, I apologize for what happened in this incident.

Ian even if you're right, which, with the greatest respect I doubt, referring to an ethic group as "stinkers" is racist.

[Taemian]

Ian even if you're right, which, with the greatest respect I doubt, referring to an ethic group as "stinkers" is racist.

Tim! Good to see you on the board.

I'd think that you, especially working for the MAN ;) in this case, would know the empirical data is in my favour. I'm going across scales 3-4 times a week, and have more than a few people I'm in contact with on both the Port Mann and 2010 Olympic projects.

Also, when doing our last shoot up in the Interior, we had a chance to speak at length with the com veh inspectors who checked out our entire train of 17 "circus" rigs. Their comments and observations of local haul/gravel drivers would be unprintable here.

With the greatest respect right back to you, I stand by my comments. If you would like me to dig up links to the Khalsa school buses, various blueberry farm rigs, and out of control gravellers in West and North Van, that's do-able.

And the driving school fraud investigations are easy to look up as well. A friend of mine (Dave Greenhaugh) used to work ICBC driving school investigations after 18 years with Delta PD Traffic. There was no misunderstanding the accounts of his job experiences that he shared with me after the fact.

As far as the inspectors being told to give notice that they'd be coming by, I'd give you the entire Aircare program as further evidence that your company is either mandated (or told to look away) from something if it slows business. Let me get this straight....a soccer mom's minivan that does 20K miles per year of running around town has to get inspected/smog checked on a regular basis, yet every single commercial diesel rig of any kind that spends 10-12 hours each and everyday is completely and totally exempt unless someone actually files a black smoke complaint?:bs:

I'd take the whole "stinkers" comment as a term to distinguish bad drivers as in "us from them". And when hard data backs up sterotypes...what's a guy to do? Perhaps you feel comfortable driving up and down #3 Road in Richmond? Not me. I'm at Sandy's, Paramount, Landsdowne and various other depots regularly. It's rarely a trip without incident.

And since the very socialist policies of your employer do not allow for you to weigh your insurance premiums with factors like age and sex, I can understand your position.

After all, even though ICBC doesn't and legally can't charge a higher premium for young males, even though they are statistically a MUCH higher risk group, I can certainly understand your frame of reference. Private auto insurance companies base their premiums on risk factors such as age and sex based on empirical data. So do life insurance companies. Why is it not considered prejudiced there, yet IS considered prejudiced for your company to use solid facts and figures regarding risk?

While I appreciate your stance, sterotypes rarely exist without a valid reason. Racism in Vancouver is undeniably there, as most anywhere. But tell me, if you saw a brand new Lambo/Bentley/AMG Benz etc in downtown Van with the green N sticker on it, would there be any doubt as to the driver's probable race and driving ability?

Extrapolate that to the fact that when you upgrade from a Class 5 to 4/3/2/1 you don't have to put an N sticker on the back of a dumptruck or 18 wheeler. Make THAT a requirement!!!

Rant finished.;) Now let's start making plans for you to head out this way soon. If you thought my Trilogy was fast, you NEED to drive in Dave's forged and Lyshom'd beast...it scares me!:eek: Hope all is well, and I can't wait for us all to head to Mission!

[Canadasvt]

Ever since the U.S. company JB Hunt got into the trucking business, the truck driving skills have gone down just like the wages.

[GetMeMyStogie]

I'd take the whole "stinkers" comment as a term to distinguish bad drivers as in "us from them".:bs:

You might, but that's not how it was intended. He clearly divided truck drivers into 2 groups: white men, and "stinkers". Had he refered to some truck drivers as "experienced" or "well trained" or "good" or "properly licensed", instead of "white", "stinkers" might have meant what you suggest. But he didn't - he said "white", and used "stinkers" to mean non-white. And it's clear you understood it that way because you wrote about how poorly trained visible minorities are at driving trucks. You understood his intent, and so did everyone else.

Scruff, if you think racial comparisons are worthy of discussion, at least do it without using racist terminology. Better yet, please keep your racist comments to yourself.

[Serge]

:bs:

You might, but that's not how it was intended. He clearly divided truck drivers into 2 groups: white men, and "stinkers". Had he refered to some truck drivers as "experienced" or "well trained" or "good" or "properly licensed", instead of "white", "stinkers" might have meant what you suggest. But he didn't - he said "white", and used "stinkers" to mean non-white. And it's clear you understood it that way because you wrote about how poorly trained visible minorities are at driving trucks. You understood his intent, and so did everyone else.

Scruff, if you think racial comparisons are worthy of discussion, at least do it without using racist terminology. Better yet, please keep your racist comments to yourself.

Cmon, everyone knows that stinkers are Indian, Pakistani or whatever else countries those guys come from. They are the same guys that drive cabs and have those crown air freshers and back massage seat covers.:lol: Racist - no, stereotypical - yes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/PoliceInterceptor/Men-in-Black.gif

[GetMeMyStogie]

Cmon, everyone knows that stinkers are [snip] the guys that drive cabs and have those crown air freshers and back massage seat covers. Racist - no, stereotypical - yes.

Fixed it for you. I've sat in stinky cabs driven by some very smelly white dudes, too.

I probably wouldn't have said anything if I wasn't familiar with some of scruffs past postings (on other forums).

[CBT]

I've been to plenty of dust filled **** holes around this planet in my 39 years. Stinkers is being polite.

[scruff]

Wow look at all socialists views reguarding my use of the word STINKERS I call it the way i see it thats my right freedom of speech no different to call a Jew a Jew an englishman a Limie a Dutchman a wooden head itialian a wop and i could go on here,,If you want to call me a racist thats your ideal not mine I,m sick and tired of all this politically right crap where born and bred canadians always have to accomodate the new comers and let our own principles that have been in practice for 100yr slowely fade away just because the spineless Patsys dont want to cause any trouble

[scruff]

Fixed it for you. I've sat in stinky cabs driven by some very smelly white dudes, too.

I probably wouldn't have said anything if I wasn't familiar with some of scruffs past postings (on other forums).
I hope you enjoy liveing under Mayor Miller and his left footing croonies get ready to bend over again the tax man commeth the only city in canada thats budget for social service programs is 3.5 billion a year:bows:

[hotford]

I know very well exactly where you was at, as My work is only 2 mins down the road way where the gardnier ends.

Glad to hear you did smack the MM.there's only a few of us around in the greater T.O.

[jjsrant]

FIRST OF ALL i AM GLAD TO SEE A FELLOW MEMBER AND RESIDENT OF THE GTA SAFE AND SOUND AFTER A NEAR MISS LIKE THAT. YOU GET HIT BY A TRUCK LIKE THAT IT USUALLY ENDS BADLY.

AS FOR THE THE REST OF THE POSTS, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH BUT THIS FORUM IS NOT THE PLACE. THERE ARE OTHER FORUMS I'M SURE THAT WOULD BETTER DEBATE THE MERITS OF YOUR COMMENTS.

PERSONALLY, THE COMMENTS MAKE ME SICK...............

[Taemian]

:bs:

And it's clear you understood it that way because you wrote about how poorly trained visible minorities are at driving trucks. You understood his intent, and so did everyone else.

Scruff, if you think racial comparisons are worthy of discussion, at least do it without using racist terminology. Better yet, please keep your racist comments to yourself.

Of course I understood his intent, but here's what I meant. People try to differentiate themselves from idiots by stating the most obvious differences between themselves and the idiot. Usually it's race, since that is the most obvious difference.

But what if the "idiot" in question is the same race as you? If a white guy is being an idiot, you can't use a racial slur, so you use a personal character slur (A-hole, *****tard, faggot etc) Do we then get into the whole homophobe discussion, or some kind of body part discrimination discussion? You pick something YOU view as negative and/or differentiating, and you assign it to distance yourself from that group.

If you want Scruff to keep his comments to himself and dislike his opinions, I'd ask you when the last time you slagged a driver for being a woman driver/old guy driver/reckless teen driver or whatever. When's the last time you called someone an idiot/A-hole driver for cutting you off, or even for driving drunk? (since alchoholism is now defined as a disease.) That too is prejudice and negative, just like racism. Ugliness is in the eye (and the definition) of the beholder. Unless you can categorically state that you love every human being equally, then you are no different at the core than Scruff, you just moderate it differently.

Welcome to being a human, full of complexities, honourable traits and self delusions.

[Dragcity]

Hmmmmm... (As I scatch my chin)

[scruff]

Ok i tip my hat to you Taemian for your self expression and thanks for believeing as for the rest of ya nay sayers Go Ahead And Make My Day

[scruff]

FIRST OF ALL i AM GLAD TO SEE A FELLOW MEMBER AND RESIDENT OF THE GTA SAFE AND SOUND AFTER A NEAR MISS LIKE THAT. YOU GET HIT BY A TRUCK LIKE THAT IT USUALLY ENDS BADLY.

AS FOR THE THE REST OF THE POSTS, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH BUT THIS FORUM IS NOT THE PLACE. THERE ARE OTHER FORUMS I'M SURE THAT WOULD BETTER DEBATE THE MERITS OF YOUR COMMENTS.

PERSONALLY, THE COMMENTS MAKE ME SICK...............
Hold on a min while i find you a hole to be sick in

[Canadasvt]

Well I'm happy nobody mentioned religion. :)

[scruff]

Oh Please dont get me started on that one lol this thread has already got 500+ hits not to shaby for a little slip on the gardiner Cheers

[Serge]

FIRST OF ALL i AM GLAD TO SEE A FELLOW MEMBER AND RESIDENT OF THE GTA SAFE AND SOUND AFTER A NEAR MISS LIKE THAT. YOU GET HIT BY A TRUCK LIKE THAT IT USUALLY ENDS BADLY.

AS FOR THE THE REST OF THE POSTS, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH BUT THIS FORUM IS NOT THE PLACE. THERE ARE OTHER FORUMS I'M SURE THAT WOULD BETTER DEBATE THE MERITS OF YOUR COMMENTS.

PERSONALLY, THE COMMENTS MAKE ME SICK...............

http://www.352media.com/rantingandraving/CMFiles/Images/CapsLock.jpg

[k_r_a_c_k_e_r]

I dont feel like reading through 3 pages..

coles notes anyone?

[CBT]

I dont feel like reading through 3 pages..

coles notes anyone?
Stinkers is/are offensive.

[BobC]

Wow! So much for the myth of super-tollerant Canadians (except, of course, the Quebecois/e), eh. :lol:

[scruff]

yea its all just a myth lol