Frustrated truckers took to local news stations in California on Wednesday to voice their complaints and educate the public about the proper way to drive around semi trucks, especially in the rain.
Santa Maria, California experienced an uncharacteristic downpour on Wednesday, March 21st, leaving the roadways slick with rain. These potentially treacherous conditions make driving tricky for anyone, but especially for semi trucks, which is why, when truckers Stan Mezyk and Jesse Singh noticed that motorists were not giving their big rigs the space they need, they knew they had to speak up.
“I came from Gilroy down here. It was raining like heck. Pretty hard most of the way. In fact, I don’t think I shut my windshield wipers off,” said Mezyk, a truck driver of almost 40 years.
“Cars go way too fast in it [the rain]. If we can feel the water on the road, they sure can. They have to, but California drivers have bad habits during rainstorms,” Mezyk continued.
Singh, who also spent his Wednesday traveling over the road in wet and rainy conditions, says the same thing.
“California drivers, I don’t think they know how to drive,” Singh said.
“They can’t handle the roads when they get a little slippery. I’ve seen three cars spin out on the road today,” he continued.
“Three accidents. There were about three cars turned around on the freeway because they don’t know how to drive.”
“Give us a little room. Slow down, pay attention, stay off the phones… Don’t just drive right in front of you drive way out ahead of you,” Mezyk said when asked what advice he has for motorists in these sorts of conditions.
“If you’re going to pass us, go ahead and pass us. Most of us will slow down a little bit and let you get by and let you back in if you need to, but they cut us off and they shorten the distance on us real quick,” he said.
“They get back there just ahead of the spray from the trailer and they just stay right there along side of you and we have nowhere to go if something happens,” Mezyk added.
“These things are hard to stop,” Singh advised.
“Cars, they’re easy to turn and go, but these things take a lot of room.”
