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SKevin's Rant

by SKevin from Lake Dallas

Last Post 39 days, 6 hours Ago


Many of us who had to work our way home during the accident on I 35 with the tanker truck had to endure more than just lost time. We had to endure one sad excuse after another of drivers who should not be on the road. Those dozens of you that were headed north and thought your time was more valuable than anyone else's and chose to ride the shoulder should be ashamed. Some of you flew by with no regard to stalled cars or the parked cars at the Lewisville bridge (north bound side). You risked their safety and ours on the road because you wanted a few car lengths more. Those of you that took the exit to Sneaky Pete's so you could U-turn and go further on the access ramp are just as pathetic. Motorcycles who valued their time more than ours ran in between lanes and on the shoulder as well. What makes your time in this any more important than ours?

I will also say the Lewisville PD was laughable with their command center at FM 407 and your eager to visit (with one another) officers who were just sitting there. You were too busy admiring your RV command center when you should have been out there providing support. You should have sent 2-3 units out to sit horizontally on the shoulder through out the backup to put stop to and ticket the drivers who was so blantant about riding the shoulder  breaking the law and endangering other drivers.

Sad sad, sad, Denton county drivers. I hate that I have to share the road with those of you who think your time is more valuable than the safety of others.

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Texan4x4 read my blog
Nov 15, 2007 | 9:47 PM

I use my mom's idea. Instead of using your middle finger back at people that act like they need a penile implant. stick out your pinky finger as if telling them that they have a small one! They know! Believe me I've seen some good responses!

Texan4x4 read my blog
Nov 15, 2007 | 9:53 PM

This is very true in everyday driving today. I remember standing in the passenger seat of PaPa's Truck and asking him why he waves to everyone going down the road and why they wave back. He said it was just common courtesy. Now if I see a hand it usually has a finger sticking in the air. Can't we all just get along? How soon we forget about tragedy that brings us together like September 11th. Lord have mercy on us all!

Texan4x4 read my blog
Nov 15, 2007 | 9:55 PM

JUST REMEMBER ONE THING!!! THERE'S IS ABSOLUTELY NO CUTTING IN LINE TO HEAVEN ONLY HELL!!!

ProudAmerican read my blog view my photos
Nov 16, 2007 | 2:43 AM

I've written about this before.
It happens in every tie up, be it a tragic accident like yesterday or normal rush hour traffic.
Too many drivers out there think that where they are going is more important than where anyone else is going.
Construction zones are just as bad. The sign will say right lane closed two miles, but the "road hogs" as my dad used to call them will stay in that right lane then bully their way over in front of everyone else at the last possible second. Why do you think the big rigs start taking up two lanes?
I give them a BIG thumbs up for that.

hillsborohillbilly read my blog view my photos
Nov 16, 2007 | 6:56 AM

but why doesn't everybody use the shoulder to get off the highway ? when you are sitting there for nothing and there is a big fat empty lane right beside you , doesn't common sense dictate that , hey ,everybody file off the hwy,

texan2007 read my blog view my photos
Nov 16, 2007 | 7:25 AM

The shoulder of the road is mean for emergecy use only and is not the use of those who to think it is there to be use to travel on. Remember now that if you are caught traveling on the shoulder thinking it is a open lane which is false. If you travel on the shoulder and cause a accident then you will be liable for the accident. That is the reason that you are to be fined by police if you are caught.

texan2007 read my blog view my photos
Nov 16, 2007 | 7:32 AM

The shoulder is not a open lane by law. You must read and understand the law to intrepretation of the law. Some of you will get frustrated of a law that you think that you do not understand. Read, understand it. before you start your action. What I'm saying look before you leap. It maybe further then you think.

dawngoddess read my blog
Nov 16, 2007 | 8:04 AM

The news reported a 10 mile "back-up" like it was something to be proud of.....when I lived up North..this is how big accidents or traffic "backups" were handled...Patrols would block access (on ramps) to the interstate and corral you off an exit long before you ever got to the tie-up ..so even if you were inconvenienced by exiting miles before you wanted,you were able to maneuver another way to your desired location and avoid sitting useless for hours ...I felt really sorry for any of you stuck in that mess yesterday...thought they would be bringing those Port-o-Potties or sitting up concession stands....sadly the driver has died

RedRiver read my blog view my photos
Nov 16, 2007 | 8:06 AM

It is illegal in Texas to drive on the shoulder. Also in New Mexico. It is also illegal to cross the grass to get onto the service road. Unfortunately, the police do not enforce these laws. The thing that irritates me is when someone pulls onto the shoulder, on the highway, to let people pass. That is so illegal. New Mexico will ticket people who do that. The shoulder is for emergency stopping only, not driving. It is full of nails, rocks, and who knows what ! When someone pulls onto the shoulder, they throw rocks on the cars behind them.

scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Nov 16, 2007 | 8:18 AM

When I lived in LA I never saw the freeway shut down like they do here in Texas everytime there's a serious accident. Move the dang cars out of the way, and let traffic flow! It may indeed be much slower but it would alleviate the massive backups you see here in Texas. I love Texas, don't even get me wrong, but the thinking behind the highway systems would make a great Aggie joke.

putonyourbigpants read my blog view my photos
Nov 16, 2007 | 9:57 AM

Ive had to deal with those clowns ( Dentont / Lewisville drivers) its all about getting there first, not safe. Its was a driver that cut in front of the tanker because of road rage that caused it to go out of control...The driver is dead, the passenger is in the hospital in critical condition, and both of the wives of the men are pregnant...just released on radio today.

2tickets2paradise read my blog view my photos
Nov 16, 2007 | 10:15 AM

I agree, there are lots of bad drivers out on the roads, I also know that on a good day the trip to Denton from Dallas can be hairy at best so with the horrible accident yesterday, I can only imagine the chaos. As upsetting as it is to have to sit in traffic, everyone was inconvenienced but at the end of the day... we all got to go home, albeit late, we still got to go home to our families but that poor truck driver lost his life and there is a family in Krum Texas today whose hearts are broken.

TXimplant read my blog
Nov 16, 2007 | 10:58 AM

Okay, if the road isn't open due to an emergency, then I think it gives them the right to take the shoulder,it was an emergency- the police, ambulance and fire trucks were already on the scene, so there would be no emergency vehicles- so whats the issue here? I am certainly not saying drive down the shoulder in everyday driving, nor am I saying to drive @ 50mph, when everyone else is at a standstill- I mean what if someone else suddenly pulls out to take the shoulder too, then you have 2 emergencies!!! but c'mon, at least start getting off the dang highway!! Everyday traffic is the same, people mad because others drive around them, or faster than them, well people, no one is stoppin you from diving faster, its your fault it takes you 45 minutes for a 30 minute drive, not ours. No one was stopped by the police when they took the shoulder- they probably saw it the same way- so stop complaining about it and join in- I mean we ALL WANNA get home at the end of the day- now in everyday driving, at least follow the rules of the road, your time is no more important than anyone elses- you wanna get a car legnth ahead of everyone else, maybe you should have driven a different route home!!!
I KNOW I am not the perfect driver, no one is for that matter- I am a defensive driver, I keep up with the driving of ALL of the cars around me- expaceting their next move, even when unexpected-I don't cut off any big rigs, in fear that they'll just run over me, but you can bet you cohones that I will cut off a driver for driving UNDER the speed limit in the left lane holding up traffic.
Oh, a

TXimplant read my blog
Nov 16, 2007 | 11:00 AM

sorry I was cut off : )

Oh, and red river, the fact that the slower drivers move to the shoulder to let others by- common courtesy, you might ought to try it, I mean if they didn't chances are it would cause more road rage and accidents than anything else...

SKevin read my blog view my photos
Nov 16, 2007 | 11:10 AM

It was a sad day. I drove from my home in Lake Dallas this morning right where it happened and it just struck me that this is where a soon to be father just died.

I agree with the comments. It was apocolyptic in ways. My wife is from New Orleans and it made me think how unbelieveable it must be to evacuate for a hurricane. What got me to write was a truck. I was in the right lane and I saw it coming on the shoulder. It approached a stalled car, veered roght off the shoulder on to the grass and back on to the shoulder speeding up. Then it saw the bridge where cars park because people like to go down and fish. The truck was traveling fast, could not merge left on the road and could not go right because of the embankment by the train track. I saw people with mouths dropped and luckily the truck skidded to a halt. That was on idiot driver among many who chose to try to endanger others by making the shoulder their private road. I was just fed up with all I saw.

I saw yesterday how ugly, dangerous and selfish people can be. They know who they are. What was a light of goodness and hope was on the news there were people who stepped up and became heroes trying to help. That is what I have to remind myself.

I also offer thanks to the Lake Dallas, Corinth, and Hickory Creek PD's along with the DPS. I am glad you patrol where my home is in Lake Dallas because you show you can take care of people during a crisis. To the Lewisville PD-learn from the police agencies I mentioned.

On a side note...Someone PLEASE go to the Lewisville PD and ask to see the RV command center. Then

SKevin read my blog view my photos
Nov 16, 2007 | 11:17 AM

My side bar got cut short.

I think someone needs to go to the Lewisville PD, take someone in charge to their RV command center and show them how to turn on the coffee maker. Maybe if they had that going they could have mobilized and been out helping in traffic more instead of sitting idle.

moankie82 read my blog
Nov 16, 2007 | 11:42 AM

Those drivers were no different than the every day lot now. Years ago I made a decision to live and work in the suburbs. I sure am glad I did. Even though I could have made much more money taking a long commute. My little 3 mile drive is worth it.

RedRiver read my blog view my photos
Nov 16, 2007 | 2:30 PM

Tximplant, I will never pull onto the shoulder to allow anyone to pass. It is dangerous, stupid, and as I said ILLEGAL. I drive 70 or 75 on the road. If people want to drive faster than that, I will NOT accomodate them. What part of illegal do you not understand ?

moankie82 read my blog
Nov 16, 2007 | 2:37 PM

No where in the books does it say you must aid others in speeding or breaking the law in any way. I don't move over for anyone but police or fire. If someone has to speed all the time, they need to plan better.

RedRiver read my blog view my photos
Nov 16, 2007 | 2:38 PM

By the way, the police do a good job in those situations. They also have to stay within legal limits. I agree that the general driving public leaves much to be desired. I retired from the State. I was on the road anywhere from eight to twenty four hours, every day, year after year. I have seen more accidents in one week, than most people will see in several lifetimes. Anyone who has been where I was, will have greater respect for the driving laws. We see and know things that you cannot imagine. The one thing that really causes things to pile up are the on-lookers. They cause massive traffic jams, and lots of wrecks. It is just a wreck. People need to keep driving and get out of the way. I have seen people actually stop and look at a wreck on the other side of the road. What is so fascinating about it ?

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SKevin

I teach at a middle school in a suburb north of Dallas and I love it. I am married to a teacher as well. My wife is from New Orleans and we spend much of our time in New Orleans-the greatest city in the world and I am Dallas born and raised. We wish we could make a life there and we did try because we wanted to help with the recovery but it was just not possible. We see Dallas as our place to work and New Orleans as our place to live. It will come back. When I have free time I like to read, work on home improvement projects, cook, write, and sell/buy on Ebay.

Member Since: 8/5/2006