Hjudge49
St. Augustine, Fl.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/15/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
The crash happened at night. According to some of the drivers, it ws a clear night with good visibility UNTIL they hit the smoke and fog, then absolutely no visibility. If it had been daylight, I guess they would have seen the smoke ahead, but in the dark, most drivers are right on the edge of outrunning their headlights and can't see smoke ahead. A real tragedy.
|
SRT
Head of the Lakes, MN
Senior Member
Joined: 02/18/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
Several years ago we were driving up I-35 to Duluth. Fog had formed in some low areas. I had my headlights on (it was daylight) for driving through the fog banks. Instead of going 70+ mph into the fog, I slowed down to 55 mph. Visibility was only about 50' in the fog. Several cars went blasting by in the left lane going at least 70mph. Darned scary!
Too many drivers seem to be zoned out. Notice the lack of looking down the road to avoid stuff on the road or the fact that it snowing/raining heavily for reduced visibility, etc., etc.. JM2¢W
Most headlights on the low beam are useless at 70mph at night. On low beam the headlights are barely adequate at 55 mph at night, IMHO.
SRT
2000 32' HR Vacationer with Banks
1998 Subaru Outback Ltd. 5 spd
Brake Buddy & Blue Ox Aventa II tow bar
FMCA #266040 HRRVC #84109
|
Silverado6x6
Wasilla, Alaska USA
New Member
Joined: 01/29/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
Thats terrible, I used to live in the central part of CA and we would get what was called "thule" fog, very dense ground fog and you would get 100 vehicle collisions on I5 and HWY99.
It is indeed poor driving choices, preventable? Not likely as its being reported as being deliberately set, but could it be avoided if more people were to even "think" of slowing down?
On my Silverado dually I installed some very expensive front and rear alternating amber strobe lights, the same brands used by the state troopers except they are amber, they are on separate switches but all flash when I hit the horn, I cannot say its even a workable idea but on several occasions from animals on the road to severe winter conditions I will use them to increase the effect of sending a caution message.
I have driven in Florida and its a 24/7 Daytona race day there for everybody, sadly it all goes bad way too fast.
|
wny_pat
Western NYS
Senior Member
Joined: 08/11/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
univmd wrote:Yikes, yes that looks like the 2 piece windshield in front of the Prevost, it must have stopped really fast in order for them to fly out in front!
Stopped really fast cause he rear-ended something by the looks of the front of the coach.
|
wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
Senior Member
Joined: 07/04/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I recall back in the late 60's early 70's the old phrase "SPEED KILLS" I have driven 55 in light fog by watching the tail lights of the car in front of me, but it was far enough in front that if they started getting closer I could easily stop without making a loud and unplesent noise like tires squeeling on pavement (You though I was going to say crash right)
the problem is.. I also sat in a police dispatch center for many years.. For the last decade or so there was a control pad on my desk which could operate any of over 150 cameras... Tilt, Pan, Zoom and a few other adjustments coudl all be done from the safety of my desk,, The cameras were 40 feet above the freeway.. I can tell you where to find one of them close enough to look at if you like (Gordon's Food on Grand River in, I think Novi Michigan (Just west of Farmington hills, might be FH, east of Novi Right near the citie limit.) the camera is on the other side of Grand River).
Well, I still see it today (though not as often)
The proper following distance, on clear dry pavement in daytime, for cars, is the distance you travel in TWO SECONDS, for RV's and other large vehicles they recommend even greater (say 3 or 4 seconds) I've been told 3 seconds plus one second for every 20 feet of vehicle (So for me that's 5) but I disagree with that. (I think 3-4 is good enough)
So what do I observe.. 1/2 to 1 second.
Imagine this: A stove in the road (Camera is good enough to tell us it's a Gas range, not an electric) We pull back and position the stove near bottom of screen (Tilt/pan/zoom) troopers and County roads alerted an on the way.
We watch as cars come down 2 and 3 at a time, always 1/2 to 1 second behind each other, Now it's a 4 or 5 lane freeway and they are all in the 2nd lane, same as the stove, At the last second the lead driver changes lanes, and the others.. Likely underware.
Finally a group of 4 comes down
1 changes at the last second
2 canges underware
I'm fairly sure #3 hit #2
As for #4 (A pick up truck) he did not swerve, nor slow down, He did place kick that stove a good quarter mile dropping it on the shoulder of the road.
Called county back, told them to re-schedule for AM pickup (Not overtime) Called off troopers. informed post that if anyone came in to report crash put dispatch center down in seat "W" (Witness). Nobody reported.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
|
|
|
reboo349
McDonough, Georgia
New Member
Joined: 05/10/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Fog and smoke were contributing factors to this,but speed and poor driving habits made it worse than it should have been.Having driven this strech many times you cannot run 80-90+ mph right on someones back bumper and avoid this,but they will point fingers at everything else except speed and poor driving habits
|
Francesca Knowles
Port Hadlock, Washington
Senior Member
Joined: 02/23/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
Does it strike anyone besides me that the Prevost pictured looks as if it's towing both a trailer AND the car directly behind it?
Here's an aerial shot from behind...
To me, there's something peculiar about the angle and condition of the silver vehicle and the (apparent) lack of damage to the rear of the trailer.
In the lower part of the picture there's a van that's obviously hit a truck from behind and it's all caddy-wampus in the road...
But the car behind the moho not only stopped nearly right straight behind the trailer, it appears relatively undamaged...
" Not every mind that wanders is lost. " With apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien
|
bfast54
Traverse City ,Mi.
Senior Member
Joined: 12/24/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
If you look closely at the first picture,the Bigger overhead pic, and the long rear shot, you see the rear of the trailer, behind the prevost is lower to the ground, look at the tires, more showing on front tandum, than rear, and the rear looks crushed down.
I believe the blazer, or whatever crashed into the trailer, and is partway in, so you can't see the front.
1994 Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel,3500,Dually (Oh YEA  )
2000 Cardinal 27RK LX
Prodigy Brake Controller
Honda EU3000is Generator
Raytek IR Thermometer,Garmin 1300 Nav./GPS
Doran Pressure Pro
VU Qube Satelite
Rally's attended so far-16
My Blog
|
jetboater454
No Idea
Senior Member
Joined: 07/21/2009
View Profile
|
They said after they reopened the road at 3am, (it was closed by the FHP for an hour or so previous) that the smoke picked up and visibility went from hundreds of feet to not seeing past the hood in a matter of feet. Someone up front stopped in the roadway,no one saw them until it was too late.Even the ones that pulled of the road said it was a lot of explosions as they hit.You can't blame it on speed or driver inattention.That section of road through the prairie is dark at night. Those pic make it seem like it was a daylight wreck. And the car in the back of the trailer is trashed along with the trailer.Pushed in the bottom of it and popped the top of the door out.
"If momma not happy  ....Who cares.I have my TH AND my toys .
2008 3500 Dodge Ram CTD dually 4X4
2007 Gulfstream Endura Max 40
2001 Polaris Ranger 4X4
Mod Pics
|
|
