Tailgating takes 8

[SentraSE-R]

One day into Spring, I was driving to Albuquerque, NM eastbound on I-40. Up ahead, the traffic slowed and funneled into a single lane at the top of the pass before the drop into town. The congestion was caused by two separate accidents. The rear accident involved at least 4 vehicles. An RV trailer and its towing truck were spun out, perpendicular to the traffic lanes, blocking lanes 1 and 2. A motorhome was stopped in lane 3, also involved in the accident, forcing all the traffic into the remaining lane. Two more cars were spun out on the right shoulder, facing traffic. It was pretty obvious to me that the high speed conga line of tailgaters caused this, probably when the lead car noticed the accident ahead of him.

Our single lane of traffic then snaked over to the left lane, because about half a mile ahead, was the first accident. Another RV trailer had tangled with a mobile parking lot, and the car carrier won. There was insulation and internals from the trailer strewn over the highway, and the trailer was on the right shoulder. The mobile parking lot was parked behind it, with its load of cars intact. To the right of the car carrier were two cars on their sides in the ditch.

[msirach]

My guess is that the rv was passing and started a perpetual weave that he couldn't control. Hence the automotive carnage. I have seen and heard of this happening a few times. The driver casually tows a trailer is often unexperienced about how critical the hitch loading is. They try pulling the trailer like they normally drive and it doesn't work.

[Shiba3420]

And some of thos smaller tow behind trailers have speed limits/recomendationa for just that sort of thing. Some are rated for more than 45 to 50mph. While those can probably do 55/60 if they aren't overweighted, they are pretty scarry looking at 70/80 which some people just can't resist.

[JusBringIt]

Saw a Dodge Durango in a ditch last night. Nose down, Rear wheels in the air. 8-10 cop cars and a lot more officers. So another cocky SUV driver raises my tax dollars needlessly.

[Ophbalance]

Originally Posted by Shiba3420

And some of thos smaller tow behind trailers have speed limits/recomendationa for just that sort of thing. Some are rated for more than 45 to 50mph. While those can probably do 55/60 if they aren't overweighted, they are pretty scarry looking at 70/80 which some people just can't resist.

Of the UHauls I've rented, you sign a consent that you won't be going over 55 MPH.... which just ain't gonna happen for most folks.