by Doran Roggio

When I became of age to drive quite some time ago, drivers, as a whole, were more courteous. This was especially so with the semi truck drivers. Thankfully so, for as a young girl I was quite a speedy driver.

I loved being on the highway and traveled throughout the country by car for many years. In my younger days the semi drivers were the most courteous drivers on the road. If you passed them on the highway the drivers would signal you with their lights when it was safe for you to move back into the lane. Semi drivers used to be so courteous they would even blink a signal when coming from the opposite direction to warn when a patrol car was up ahead. I always opted to drive the highways late at night when there was barely any traffic but the large trucks because I felt safe.

I traveled a great deal at night and the Semi’s nearly owned the roads until the early morning hours. I never felt intimidated traveling alongside those massive vehicles with the courteous drivers. If you broke down you could rest assured that some semi driver would pull over and help.

Today the highways are not as enjoyable to drive, though I still like the open road and take road trips across country. Unfortunately, the semi-truck drivers are no longer as friendly as they once were. Forced by a weak economy to exert beyond normal capacity in order to make deadlines, too many of the truck drivers have become aggressive, using their size to intimidate the automobile drivers on the road. Many drivers are on uppers to stay awake and have become dangerous to be near as their focus and reflexes wane.

A few years back I applied for a part time job with a truck driving firm that hired and trained personnel to become drivers. I was appalled to learn that the majority of the persons they hired were ex-cons. While I am not against aiding ex-prisoners to get work the fact that the majority of these drivers are from prison could be a valid reason that semi drivers have become so much more aggressive and far less courteous.

Too often I have felt the intimidation of the impatient semi driver bearing down so close to my car that anything unforeseen would carry the large rig through my car and end my life.

There are other reasons that eighteen wheelers have become so dangerous on the road besides just the inconsiderate drivers. Oversized loads and faulty brakes for example have made the large rigs dangerous. Many states are setting new laws and cracking down with increased inspections and weight stations. Supposedly, enforcement officers are on the lookout more for speeding and/or reckless truck drivers.

I only hope the crackdown will help to bring about safer conditions for the automobile driver when having to travel the highways with these monster vehicles. As for the drivers and the fading courtesy, I wonder if it will return to the friendly highways that I enjoyed in my youth. Once welcoming the opportunity to drive the highways with the courteous semi-truck driver, I now take to the road when the eighteen wheelers will be less abundant.