I drive from Rome to Syracuse and back everyday for work (2hr daily commute). I've seen it all on the T-Way. I listened to your newscast about this issue and beg to differ on several points. I do not feel it is the auto driver's fault that most of these crashes occur. I have seen many reckless TT drivers. They drive literally 65 or 70 or better on ice covered lanes on the T-way, in the left hand lane. They scare people with their recklessness. They change lanes (from right to left to pass) without signaling, cut in front of drivers, blast their horns at women as they drive past (happens to me). I'm not saying all TT drivers are rude and careless, but I've seen a majority that are. The tandem trailers (double) scare me the most. They lose control of their back end so easily, they cross the dotted line of lanes. On the Autobahn in Germany, TTs cannot travel in the left lane. I think this should be the norm in the US, too. I'm glad you have this forum because I was going to write you anyway on how I feel. Thanks for reporting on this.

I drive the thruway every day for work... and i agree with Sandra 110%.  I see it every day and have on occasion even called the cops on TT drivers for reckless driving.  

ive been driving for 38 years; the last 15 years tractor -trailers[trucks], are as reckless as any vehicles on the roadsince 1969, not 100 percent, but i think any honest guess would be 50 percent. these trucks have no regard for other vehicles. there mindset is get out of my way or ill run you off the road. many drivers im sure have experienced; ther never is an sasy way or solution for thiskind of problem. but it become more prominent in the last 10 years. look out in winter time; ive seen trucks drive in ice and snow close to 90 miles per hour. ive been forced off the road by these soulless demons. one day i asked a truck driver ,why they drive with such reckless abandon; and they replied; because we can . if i was everybody, i would make a pre arrangement funeral plans if you are driving on the road

I do not see that it is the TT drivers faults, all the time.  MOST of the accidents occure because the TT drivers can NOT go over the speed limit and drive 90 MPH as most cars do on the Highways and Thruway, not being caught mind you.  The idiotic passenger cars weave in and out of traffic so fast they do not have the CORRECT time to look as to whom, what or if anything is in front, behind or beside them or even judge the correct distance for the rate of speed they are driving.  I do NOT see that it is ENTIRLY the TT drivers faults, other than their lack of sleep trying to get the miles in such as the poor McLane drivers that have lost their lives for doing same! (mind you, they are the BEST company to drive for with 100% logged books and miles, but what they don't tell you is the amount of sleep the TT drivers DO NOT get while doing it and cause the deadly accidents)

TT are ridiculous they way they do not even signal to go from lane to lane in a flash of a second causing the traffic behind them to literally slam on the breaks to keep from smashing into the back of their trailers. They truely portray a perception that ya can either stop or run into me, either way they won't be hurt it is us driving the little car behind them tat is at risk. I find it totally appauling the total lack of respect they have for human life for what a deadline. Great the life of my children isn't worth morth than someone's self inflicted deadline. Give me a freaking break.

respectfully, mouse, in the last 2 years children, and others have been directly killed by trucks. not many drivers go 90; except maybe reckless kids. and dont forget this one; animals are always mutilated by trucks; which also is a version of vehicular manslaughter. i want to recant , accidents involving trucks are plentiful but not 50 percent of truck drivers.; per accident.  but, 50 percent of trucks drive recklessly without considerationfor others. the roads maybe fast today, but its the integrity of the drivers which seems on a fast decline

These folks are blaming the trucks. Most often it is the cars that are at fault.
I drive all of upstate most often Trucks follow the rules of the road going fast or slow. They are professionals. I do know that quite a few truck companies do not maintain their vehicles as well as they should ( BRAKES AND TIRES)!

RULES  Give trucks a wider berth. THEY ARE BIGGER THAN YOU!( about 25 tons to your 2 tons).
Stay out of their blind spots! If one is driving reckless, call it into 911

I have worked in transportation since 1964.  Here is what I think happened Sunday.
The TT was moving into the left lane to give the tow truck driver a cushion.  The driver of the car said no way do I want that TT in front of me and decided to speed up and pass.  The ME first mentality strikes again.  Sorry, I can not blame the TT driver.  I see this every day through the construction on 690.  Drivers will go 70 or 75 down the left lane knowing full well that in 1000 feet they have to merge right.  These drivers HAVE to get in front of just one more vehicle.  Damn the other vehicles, full speed ahead.

If you're afraid of tractor trailers going down the thruway, switching lanes, and going the average rate of speed, YOU are the one that shouldn't be driving on the thruway.

If you want, you can complain straight to them, get a CB and set it to channel one nine.

Since when does 81 go thru Otisco????  Do you mean to say in the article Nedrow or Lafayette?

hey mike s. ,mr truck driver , dont you guys pack pistols. does anyone care about the animals jim and mike run over every year; and if you confront them, theyll run you over to; you truck drivers should be isolated on certain routes.  how many times have we seen these monsters of the highway off the designated truck routes. mike and jim, its time people protect their families and get together and put these murdering bullies off the streets; be careful , they may come after you and your loved ones. stand up for your rights and pets and children.

John Ch; I'm against gun control, yet I don't carry a pistol. And my god, it would never cross my mind to murder anybody.

Also of note, the interstate system was made to handle the evergrowing tt traffic in the nation, that the former main roads (SR-12, SR-5) couldn't handle.

Jim: I've noticed that to. Truck drivers seem to have the best road manners. If they see a car coming onto the road from an exit, they move over.

A thing that makes me mad is when we have a lane closure ahead, and everyone moves into the left lane, to avoid the line, oh which they thereby are stalling.

Thanks to cb's, 2 trucks setup a road block, by driving right down the center stripe (on the thruway). This saved everyone from a lot of heartache, and you mean to tell me they're the bad ones. This whole "me" mentality is what's wrong, you can wait!

touche, mike, . ireally would like to isolate trucks exclusively on their own routes. isaid for years to have underground tunnels just for trucks; not very realistic , but somethingthat is realistic is to weed out the bad apples on the road. it would help all drivers on the road . not much more to talk on this issue, havce a good day.

Hello all, I've asked our reporter who handled the story to explain the Otisco reference.

Kelly McPherson says "The DOT uses thousands of reference markers to give locations for these crashes. Otisco has several on 81.  We combined the ones within a short distance of each other....ones labeled between Tully and Otisco.  So while there isn't an exit for Otisco...the DOT uses it as a reference marker to focus in on certain stretches on the highway."

I've reworded the article slightly, so it will be clearer to everyone. Thanks to all of you for pointing it out, and for the healthy discussion so far!

As a truckdriver of 10 years I have seen and heard so much about how we as truckdrivers are always to blame for everything that happens on the highway.. Quite frankly I am sick of it.. It should be a part of the normal testing for all motorists to do a ride along in a commercial vehicle.. Look at what we see.. Look at what our limitations are.. And notice there are human beings operating these trucks.. Every time the operator of a passenger vehicle jumps in front of a big truck last second to grab a highway exit and we have to do last second manuevers to avoid killing you think about it.. Do you really think we drivers of trucks wake up every morning and think of ways to hurt you??? NO!  I couldnt live with myself if I happened to hurt someone because I was operating unsafely>  But go on keep blaming us for everything..
We are all not the law breakers/log violators that you think we are.. A good 95% of us are True Professionals!!!

I agree with Mark A Deapo. Although I am not a truck driver, I know quite a few of them. I have dealt with TT drivers over the last few years and alot of them told me horror stories about "4-wheelers" on the road. You get all of them morons in the rice burners and crotch rockets zipping down 81 or 90. Its not the TT drivers you have to watch out for its the the morons who have to do mock 90 down the road. A loaded TT is quite heavy and can not stop as quick as you or I. Who do you think is going to win, me/you or them? HOWEVER, there are alot of iggnorant drivers out there as well. Most of them are the French Canadian Drivers. They are the worst out there. Especially the Jules Savard drivers (big green trucks with short trailers and the dual amber lites on top). Trust me these guys are morons on the road and give other drivers bad names! Like I said, I am not a TT driver but these guys go thru alot of *** out on the road. just think when they are at home, they drive the same vehicles as we do!

Oh yeah to my last post, MOST trucks have goveners (spelling?) on them! They can not exceed over 65 miles per hour. So a loaded International, Freightliner, Mack, Sterling, Volvo or any of them going 90 plus MPH is highly unbelieveable! I have driven firetrucks loaded with water and they weigh just as much as a TT does. Trust me they dont go that fast!

Unless you have ridden in a tractor trailer, you have nothing to comment on!  I do not have a CDL, but have traveled numerous times in a TT.  Some people think that the TT drivers cut in front of them, when in fact they are just trying to change lanes and cars don't want to give them the space to make the lane change because they don't want to get stuck behind them.  I agree with the earlier comment on the 90 mph (ha-ha) they are not going that fast.  Also, just remember if it wasn't for all those truck drivers the country would be without all the "stuff" we are accustom too (food,clothing,supplies,etc...)

I see all sorts of stupid stuff by drivers of cars. Trying to be first in a lane reduction. Cutting in front of traffic, etc. Try that with 80,000 lbs of 53 foot trailer and 24 foot of tractor. I hauled a couple times a 50 foot long truck boat trailer combo. once was over 600 miles from Western Ohio. People have this me first be in front mentailty. My brother and a real good friend both drive trucks over the road for a living. The horror stories they can both tell about stupid drivers. Would be a story in its self. The simple thing is, trucks have blind spots. Stay out of them, don't ride in them. Pass the truck or go back to the driving lane. Most trucking companies governers on trucks speed at 65. Insurance companies drive that, trucks going 90 is mostly crap. Ive been driving over 31 yrs and many hundreds of thousand miles. I see more cars, suvs and 4 x4 in ditches than tractor trailers. That should speak volumes right there

 I drive a fuel tanker that is capeanle of haulling 94oo gallons of fuel.You would think people would give a little respected to sucha vehicle. Not so Ive been cut off by cars and trucks alike.The problem is people are in to much of a rush now adays.
They see the truck as a obstacle they must get around.A lot of driving schools refer to trucks as bill boards that block you vision and the instructors tell the students to get in front of them. If you are in the left lane no matter what speed you are traveling if a faster vehicle comes up on you be it a car or truck and gives you a quick flash let them go by.It is not your job to police the highways. how much time dose it cost you 2 or 3 seconds. If the person is driving like a idiot even more reason to let them pass. In other words set a good example maybe some eles will to. We all have to pay attiention (car and truck drivers ) how we drive one little mistake can kill .

On the whole, I'd rather be on the highway with a group of truckers than auto drivers.  They are generally more aware of what's happening around them, and far more respectful of other drivers.  It's been a rare day when I've been tailgated by a semi rig flashing lights at me as I'm passing someone else and have nowhere else to go, and although, at 65 MPH( and sometimes a bit faster),  I've been passed by a lot of trucks, I've been passed by a lot more cars.  I can't ever remember seeing a large semi weaving in and out of traiffic at 80 MPH.  Personally, I'd never dream of playing "chicken" with a 50,000 lb truck moving at 65 MPH.

Just yesterday, I was driving down I-25 from Denver to Fort Collins and was in the left lane passing a semi truck.  The driver drifted half way into my lane causing me to hit the guardrail and then spin out of control on the highway around 3-4 times, at one point almost coming head-on with the TT.  Five witnesses behind the TT all have written statements saying this TT driver did not signal, just drifted, so basically, I am extremely lucky to be alive in this 75-mile per hour accident that left my car trashed and me traumatized.  The driver of the TT stopped about 300 feet up the road and sat there for five minutes and then the SOB drove off.  All I can say is McLane is getting their asses SUED.  You don't drive have total disregard for the accidents you cause and then drive off like a f....ing coward.  Yes, I'm venting, but come on, be an adult and take responsiblity for your carelessness.  

I am an ATM technician and I travel the NYS Thruway regularly.  I can't count the number of times these truckers cut me off in the passenger lane to avoid people and police officers in the "breakdown lane".  It was designed for people to  "breakdown" and "get tickets in" you frigging retards. You don't need to switch lanes and endanger innocent lives.

I am an ATM technician and I travel the NYS Thruway regularly.  I can't count the number of times these truckers cut me off in the passing lane to avoid people and police officers in the "breakdown lane".  It was designed for people to  "breakdown" and "get tickets in" you frigging retards. You don't need to switch lanes and endanger innocent lives.

I am not a truck driver. Mostly the trucks around me on the road are not a problem. Not so with the dorks driving 20 miles over the speed limit or the butt-sniffers that drive 2 feet off your rear while waiting to pass.

By the way, if there is a police officer stopped in the 'breakdown lane' you are required to slow down AND pull into the next lane if possible! I didn't know this until I got pulled over after reducing speed but NOT moving over!

SHAWN YOUR THE RETARD when  a officer or a disabled vehicle is on the shoulder of the road its not only respectfull but the law in some states to switch lanes. When any vechile passes  You have wind turblance or the person who is on th shoulder might not being paying attiention to traffric around them . It is saftey measure to give them space. If you dont feel this is nessarry stan on the side of the highway and feel it for yourself