Date:         Mon, 8 Jan 1996 07:47:52 -0800 (PST)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Tobin T. Copley" <tobin@freenet.vancouver.bc.ca>
Subject:      Re: Trucker Etiquette (was:Misc Ramblings)

On Mon, 8 Jan 1996, Thom Fitzpatrick wrote:

> Also, is it just me, or has trucker etiquette gone by the wayside?
> I always blink the lights to let truckers know I'm letting them
> in, but I never get an aknowledgement anymore.  Is this some
> new generation of truckers who have lost the old ways?  

Yes, Thom, in many areas truckers just don't ack the old headlight flash 
anymore.  Depends on region and type of truck I found on our 'round 
North America trip last year.  Best places for getting acks: rural areas, 
espeially across the great plains or long desert hauls.  Worst: urban 
areas, especially in the East.

Best trucks: Professional lines like J.B. Hunt or Schneider 
International.  Greyhound busses can be good too.  Long-haul truckers in 
general.

Worst: Dump trucks, logging trucks, 5-tons.  Local trucks in general.

I tend to get more acks at night than during the day.  This is probably 
because my flash is more noticeable at night (even though I don't flash 
until the trucker checks the right side mirror), and because I always 
drive with lights on, even during the day time.

This IS VW bus related content, since flashing to let folks back in is a 
big part of helping out the traffic situation as we drive highways 
with average traffic speeds of 65+ mph yet many of us older air-cooled 
people bop along at under 60. 

Tobin

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tobin T. Copley                  Only Somewhat          =============  
(604) 689-2660                    Occupationally       /_| |__||__| :| putta
tobin@freenet.vancouver.bc.ca      Challenged!        O|             | putta
                                                       '-()-------()-' 
Circum-continental USA, Mexico, Canada 15,000 miles... '76 VW Camper! (Mango)