I have 10 million kilometres behind the wheel over fourteen years.

That is:

6,250,000 miles = 446429 miles per year = 1223 miles per day (if you drove
every day) = 20.38 hours a day at 60 MPH.

Way to go man!

tim in san jose

----- Original Message -----
From: "patrick" <appin@DISTRIBUTEL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2004 3:52 PM
Subject: re drafting big rig

As a big rig driver I have to wade into this one!! Never draft any vehicle.
Racing cars do this on an closed track with no opstacles. If you are
drafting a truck and that truck has to quickly change lanes because of
stopped traffic or somebody pulling onto the road of the shoulder with no
signal you are in serious trouble especially if there wer cars catching up
to the truck in the passing lane. You might find yourself with seventy five
feet of stopping space and at 65 miles or 55 miles an hour this is not
enough room to stop. You will have to head for the rhubarb, rearend the
vehicle in front or side swipe the car beside you. Even if the trucker knows
you are there via the CB and has no problem with it in an emergeny he or she
is trying to control that truck and will not have the third arm ahandy to
warn you in time with the CB. If someone is drafting me I either speed up or
slow down or tell them off on the radio. With modern trucks they can stop
fairly fast especially if they have no load in the box. I do not think
anybody would want to test there luck. The extra fuel economy is not worth
your life or anybody elses. I do not like cars trucks buses motorcycles ufo
or anything else drafting or tailgating me. I always try to leave enough
room between me and the other person so that if they were to slam on there
brakes I would be able to stop safely also. I have 10 million kilometres
behind the wheel over fourteen years. I have never had an accident speeding
ticket parking ticket or any other violation. Patrick 85 westy keep on
trucking!!!!