Gary Knox has an angel
11-12-2005, 08:57 PM
#46
Owns the Streets
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Twice last year my S4 had been tractor-trailer magnets.
Construction work zone on highway with lane closures brought traffic to a crawl.
Both occasions on sunny clear day. Straight highway. No obstruction to the
marked work zones and the line of cars stopped/slowed. I've developed the habit
of pulsing my 928 brakes when I slow down hoping the flashing brake light
alert drivers that them S4 brakes really slow down my car fast.
First time I see that chrome grill and bulldog coming at me without much
deceleration. Put my head firmly on the headrest waiting for the crunch.
(Sore neck from previous rear-ender taught me to keep head on headrest)
Truck finally came to stop. All I see in rear-view is chrome grill. Followed a second
or two later by a cloud of tire-smoke wafting by my car. He/she probably didn't
see the low 928 over the hood of the cab.
Second time was heading down to SITM about 2 weeks after first incident.
Southbound on I-81. Same scenario as I see huge chrome grill aiming for me.
Oh no. Not again.
Lucky for me the truck driver had the foresight to pull into the empty break-down
lane on my left. His rig came to a stop with the front bumper in line with my
steering wheel. That would have been ugly if the 928 was used as a bumper stop.
Big car trumps little car. Fully laden tractor trailer trumps pretty much else on the
highway in a collision.
I give these rolling freighters wide berth. Never cut them off.
Flash parking lights to let them merge. All hoping they'd shop me 928 same consideration.
Very glad Gary K. is still with us.
Ernest (NYC)
Construction work zone on highway with lane closures brought traffic to a crawl.
Both occasions on sunny clear day. Straight highway. No obstruction to the
marked work zones and the line of cars stopped/slowed. I've developed the habit
of pulsing my 928 brakes when I slow down hoping the flashing brake light
alert drivers that them S4 brakes really slow down my car fast.
First time I see that chrome grill and bulldog coming at me without much
deceleration. Put my head firmly on the headrest waiting for the crunch.
(Sore neck from previous rear-ender taught me to keep head on headrest)
Truck finally came to stop. All I see in rear-view is chrome grill. Followed a second
or two later by a cloud of tire-smoke wafting by my car. He/she probably didn't
see the low 928 over the hood of the cab.
Second time was heading down to SITM about 2 weeks after first incident.
Southbound on I-81. Same scenario as I see huge chrome grill aiming for me.
Oh no. Not again.
Lucky for me the truck driver had the foresight to pull into the empty break-down
lane on my left. His rig came to a stop with the front bumper in line with my
steering wheel. That would have been ugly if the 928 was used as a bumper stop.
Big car trumps little car. Fully laden tractor trailer trumps pretty much else on the
highway in a collision.
I give these rolling freighters wide berth. Never cut them off.
Flash parking lights to let them merge. All hoping they'd shop me 928 same consideration.
Very glad Gary K. is still with us.
Ernest (NYC)
11-12-2005, 10:37 PM
#47
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Wow, Gary. Those pictures are scary as hell. The impact point, well, it could not have been more perfectly placed. That's somewhere beyond lucky, I think.
I'm so glad you were able to walk away from that one.
By the way, Randy is correct in his comments. The shoulder's no place to be. But I'm not surprised at all the resistance to his advice because I failed to follow it the last time I used a freeway shoulder. After reading this story, you can bet I won't be doing that again.
Dan
'83S
I'm so glad you were able to walk away from that one.
By the way, Randy is correct in his comments. The shoulder's no place to be. But I'm not surprised at all the resistance to his advice because I failed to follow it the last time I used a freeway shoulder. After reading this story, you can bet I won't be doing that again.
Dan
'83S
11-14-2005, 10:21 AM
#48
Rennlist Member
Thanks again guys for all the support and care. I REALLY do appreciate that and what a great community the Porsche 928 owners are. I've spent a lot of time trying to understand HOW what happened happened (whatta phrase!!). Anyway, here's my conclusion, and my learnings for the future.
It was 8:30 AM on a clear beautiful morning. The truck driver had just completed driving a minimum of 15-20 miles on a 2 lane hwy, then made a 15 degree right turn and a 15 degree left turn about 1/4 mile back (15-20 seconds before impact). Therefore, I do not believe he could have been drunk, or gone to sleep.
I truly believe that after he entered this wide 4 lane hwy that has a very wide median strip and a wide shoulder and no nearby traffic, (driving at or about the speed limit of 55 mph), that he turned his head and eyes slightly to the right to:
get a drink, get a CD, change the radio, check a map, get a cell phone, start a cell phone call, grab a snack -or do something (you can pick one of these that you do!!).
We all know that our hands on the steering wheel move in the direction of our eyes/head
(ALL my Driver's Ed instructors and my corporate safety driving instructors emphasized that). Therefore, when he looked to the right, the steering wheel on the truck was turned slightly to the right for about 1 1/2 seconds. In that period of time, the truck wheels were turned 1-2 degrees from straight, with the result that the cab moved about 5-6 feet to the right during the ~125 feet of forward travel, taking the right front end of the cab about 4-5 feet off the driving lane and onto the shoulder.
At, or just before impact, he jerked the wheel to the left as he his attention returned to driving. That sudden jerk moved the cab across the right traffic lane and into the left lane. He probably
let up on the accelerator, steered back to the right and overcorrected in the process. Within 30-40 feet, his front wheels were then on grass, off the right side of the road headed for the forest at about 45 mph with no friction or ability to steer one way or the other. 30-40 feet he hit the tree.
In this scenario, he went from routine driving to 1 1/2 seconds of inattention to ~3 seconds of attempted recovery to about 1/2 second of terror as he headed for the large tree and could not change directions of the vehicle. About 5 seconds from "a normal day as an over the road truck driver" to death!!!!
Now - have I ever taken my eyes off the road and my attention away from driving for 1-2 seconds??? YES I have. Have you? Will I again? I don't know, but I do know that whenver I do, I will remember those 5 seconds on the morning of 11/10/05 in both the truck driver's and my life.
My reason for going through what I'm convinced is this "most likely scenario" is that I hope that all of you as well as your friends and family will also think of that whenever you/they are tempted to "go on autopilot" in your car - without the proper hardware and software in the vehicle to perform on autopilot!!!!!
Finally, I do agree with those who've said it would have been safer to pull off into a parking area than to stop on the shoulder. That too will be part of my future "remembrances".
Best wishes to all, and BE SAFE OUT THERE.
Gary Knox
West Chester, PA (still - Thank God)
It was 8:30 AM on a clear beautiful morning. The truck driver had just completed driving a minimum of 15-20 miles on a 2 lane hwy, then made a 15 degree right turn and a 15 degree left turn about 1/4 mile back (15-20 seconds before impact). Therefore, I do not believe he could have been drunk, or gone to sleep.
I truly believe that after he entered this wide 4 lane hwy that has a very wide median strip and a wide shoulder and no nearby traffic, (driving at or about the speed limit of 55 mph), that he turned his head and eyes slightly to the right to:
get a drink, get a CD, change the radio, check a map, get a cell phone, start a cell phone call, grab a snack -or do something (you can pick one of these that you do!!).
We all know that our hands on the steering wheel move in the direction of our eyes/head
(ALL my Driver's Ed instructors and my corporate safety driving instructors emphasized that). Therefore, when he looked to the right, the steering wheel on the truck was turned slightly to the right for about 1 1/2 seconds. In that period of time, the truck wheels were turned 1-2 degrees from straight, with the result that the cab moved about 5-6 feet to the right during the ~125 feet of forward travel, taking the right front end of the cab about 4-5 feet off the driving lane and onto the shoulder.
At, or just before impact, he jerked the wheel to the left as he his attention returned to driving. That sudden jerk moved the cab across the right traffic lane and into the left lane. He probably
let up on the accelerator, steered back to the right and overcorrected in the process. Within 30-40 feet, his front wheels were then on grass, off the right side of the road headed for the forest at about 45 mph with no friction or ability to steer one way or the other. 30-40 feet he hit the tree.
In this scenario, he went from routine driving to 1 1/2 seconds of inattention to ~3 seconds of attempted recovery to about 1/2 second of terror as he headed for the large tree and could not change directions of the vehicle. About 5 seconds from "a normal day as an over the road truck driver" to death!!!!
Now - have I ever taken my eyes off the road and my attention away from driving for 1-2 seconds??? YES I have. Have you? Will I again? I don't know, but I do know that whenver I do, I will remember those 5 seconds on the morning of 11/10/05 in both the truck driver's and my life.
My reason for going through what I'm convinced is this "most likely scenario" is that I hope that all of you as well as your friends and family will also think of that whenever you/they are tempted to "go on autopilot" in your car - without the proper hardware and software in the vehicle to perform on autopilot!!!!!
Finally, I do agree with those who've said it would have been safer to pull off into a parking area than to stop on the shoulder. That too will be part of my future "remembrances".
Best wishes to all, and BE SAFE OUT THERE.
Gary Knox
West Chester, PA (still - Thank God)
11-14-2005, 12:27 PM
#49
Drifting
Gary, im glad your ok. That turely looks like it could have been much worse. It never ceases to amaze me the stupid things people do (myself included) behind the wheel. I was almost a grease spot on the road yesterday. A victim of the dreaded 'left hook.' I knew it was gonna happend and was able to steer the bike out of the way just ahead of impact. No harm no foul. Except my dispostion.
I'm glad your still around to tell the tale.
I'm glad your still around to tell the tale.
11-14-2005, 02:09 PM
#50
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State Troopers pull over motorists for traffic infractions that are not emergencies and we've all seen videos of them getting hit by other motorists who for whatever reason fail to hold their lane. Anyone who's done a roadtrip has seen the numerous other 18 wheeler trucks pulled over late at night in the emergency lane for a break when the smaller reststops are full. I've even pulled over to change flat tires for old ladies stranded out on the highway cause that could be my mom out there.
The longer you sit on the shoulder of a highway for anything the greater your chances that someone is going to come along and take a swipe at you. Here is something I've learned from Maryland State Troopers about being on the side of the highway. If you're helping another motorist park you car at a steep enough angle behind the car your helping to deflect any incoming vehicles.
The longer you sit on the shoulder of a highway for anything the greater your chances that someone is going to come along and take a swipe at you. Here is something I've learned from Maryland State Troopers about being on the side of the highway. If you're helping another motorist park you car at a steep enough angle behind the car your helping to deflect any incoming vehicles.
11-14-2005, 05:01 PM
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I haven't followed this thread for a few days...but anyway...I don't think there was resistance to any advice...I think the fact that Randy stated that Gary was directly responsible for the truckers death was what bothered a few of us...and yes I understand that Randy is entitled to his own opinion...but geesh...some opinions are better kept to ones self...especially those that make you look like the village idiot....
11-14-2005, 05:20 PM
#54
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Maybe, but it is an opinion held by more then one..........you should decide weather you want to be a moderator, or a participant......'cause it is clear you cannot manage to do both and retain any respect for your authority. You got the "power", which means you don't have to play by the same rules the rest of us do, but that doesn't make you imune from being a jerk.
Don't bother to insult me, i've heard it before.........and I don't give a ****e what you think.
Don't bother to insult me, i've heard it before.........and I don't give a ****e what you think.
11-14-2005, 05:31 PM
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The more I think about this ordeal...the more it urks me to no end....You have no credibilty when you can state not once but twice, even after an investigation by professionals..IE police....since there was a traffic fatality...with no charges brought forward to Gary..that he is responsible for the truckers death...are you furkin kidding me?....that is so uncalled for.....I hope you shot from the hip on that one Randy...cuz if you, for a few minutes, thought about what you stated....and still had the same thing to say.....you are a puke of the first order...*handing you another crown*...wow man...two in four days...congrats...you are on a roll....don't stop now bud....
11-14-2005, 06:27 PM
#57
Three Wheelin'
Originally Posted by Gary Knox
My reason for going through what I'm convinced is this "most likely scenario" is that I hope that all of you as well as your friends and family will also think of that whenever you/they are tempted to "go on autopilot" in your car - without the proper hardware and software in the vehicle to perform on autopilot!!!!!
Finally, I do agree with those who've said it would have been safer to pull off into a parking area than to stop on the shoulder. That too will be part of my future "remembrances".
Best wishes to all, and BE SAFE OUT THERE.
Gary Knox
West Chester, PA (still - Thank God)
Finally, I do agree with those who've said it would have been safer to pull off into a parking area than to stop on the shoulder. That too will be part of my future "remembrances".
Best wishes to all, and BE SAFE OUT THERE.
Gary Knox
West Chester, PA (still - Thank God)
I've quoted this portion, because it bears repeating. Not just because it's good advice. You've also shown all of us how we should treat something like this - learn from it. Being a changed person isn't just living the days after to the fullest, it's internalizing what happened, and turning it into something actually positive.
Gary, we're glad you made it through unscatched, and for your well stated words of wisdom after such a an event. I don't think I would be so clearheaded even after several more days than it's been since your accident.
