6:30 This Evening: In A Hurry To Get To A Birthday Party.

[FirefightnRick]

Dude in a meaningless hurry to get to a child's birthday party(we were told) on a saturday evening in a Chevy pickup, southbound 287 freeway, merging onto southbound east Loop 820 at a high rate of speed, loses control, crosses three lanes of traffic, flips over the median into oncoming traffic and comes to rest with the truck ontop of his legs in the Northbound middle lane of Loop 820, and by some miracle never touches another vehicle south or northbound?

Looking North at the southbound 287/Loop 820 merge, which is the path he traveled from. Traffic was shut down both on both sides for hours.

Our guys did a great job with this extrication, very difficult due to the truck being so unstable on it's side.

He now has a convertable to match his skull cap.

If your ever in Fort Worth and have to travel east loop 820 to go to the mid cities(north), or to South Arlington, slow down and drive like you got nitro glycerin in your trunk. As you can see from the second photo above, the median's cannot protect you, regardless if they are concrete, cable or steel, therefore, NEVER drive in the inside lane. NEVER!!!!!. This patch of highway is among the deadliest around. One of the exits nearby is "Sun Valley", and it's commonly refered to as "Death Valley" by emergency personnel. I'm completely amazed TxDot hasn't reduced the speed along this stretch of highway down to 45 mph it's so bad.

Rick

Edited June 21, 2009 by FirefightnRick

[bstnsportsfan3]

wow...did the dude survive this?

[FirefightnRick]

wow...did the dude survive this?

He was alive when they loaded him up in the box.

Rick

[KingDL1]

He was alive when they loaded him up in the box.

Rick

There was one just like it at the Walnut Hill overpass on I35e heading south. A truck lying on its side had the whole south bound side at a stand still. I am not sure why but the police had the Walnut Hill exit closed and forced everyone around the wreck, I was going to the driving range off the end of Walnut hill and had to back track. But there was nothing wrong with the offramp at Walnut hill, why would they close it, if just bottled up traffic worse.

[Rudy]

This evening, I was travelling north on 75 abouta 1/4 mile from 190. I was travelling in the inside lane, preparing to pass an SUV. I luckliy look into my rearview mirror and happen to see a black Mitsubishi approaching at a very high rate of speed in the lane to my right. I take my foot off of the gas pedal (not braking) to allow enough space for him to do the inevitable cutting in front of me. As expected, he does, and as he passes the SUV in the lane to the right, he begins to fishtail. On about the 4th fishtail when he is facing the center wall, he finally loses control, he swings back into my lane (the Inside lane), goes over the barrier sticks dividing the HOV lane, and slams head first into the wall and comes to stop facing me. He was fine, but his 16yo female passenger was carted off in an ambulance.

[UNTflyer]

And traveling at 80-90 miles an hour saves you, what...? 2-3 minutes on your drive? 10-15 if you're are traveling from Dallas to Fort Worth?

This is why we can never have an autobahn in America... we're stupid drivers. In Germany, it costs $1500-2000 and you have to take 25 hours of instruction in order to get a driver's license, but they KNOW HOW TO DRIVE.

[KingDL1]

And traveling at 80-90 miles an hour saves you, what...? 2-3 minutes on your drive? 10-15 if you're are traveling from Dallas to Fort Worth?

This is why we can never have an autobahn in America... we're stupid drivers. In Germany, it costs $1500-2000 and you have to take 25 hours of instruction in order to get a driver's license, but they KNOW HOW TO DRIVE.

I am not against driving fast, I have spent many a road trip in west Teas well over a 100. But and a big but I never tried to do it through congestion, long straight roads with nothing to hit for miles is one thing, running a 100 plus through traffic on turns and restricted visibility is quite another to me.

The law changed I don't know how long ago but drivers don't have a road test anymore with the TDPS if I understand it correctly.

[Rudy]

See, speed is not he sole problem in itself. The problem is when peope drive recklessly, in addition to the speed. I dont think we will ever learn.

[FirefightnRick]

And traveling at 80-90 miles an hour saves you, what...? 2-3 minutes on your drive? 10-15 if you're are traveling from Dallas to Fort Worth?

This is why we can never have an autobahn in America... we're stupid drivers. In Germany, it costs $1500-2000 and you have to take 25 hours of instruction in order to get a driver's license, but they KNOW HOW TO DRIVE.

And don't forget the "drive right" rule which states you only use the left lane to pass. If the authorities catch you abusing the "drive right" rule they can take your license, right there. Two other aspects of the Autobhan that makes it so much more safer than U.S. highways is it curves to keep the driver alert, and it's access to entrances and exits are controlled. One entrance to get on, one off. In comparison, check 377 between Fort Worth and Granbury. People typically are driving between 70 and 85 on this road and there's one railroad track crossing that can cause a back up at times when the train is coming through at Cresson, there's a crossover nearly every quarter mile not to mention the countless businesses and country farm to market roads dotting it along the way. And of course because of all of this you can count the little white crosses all the way to Brownwood.

KingDl1

The law changed I don't know how long ago but drivers don't have a road test anymore with the TDPS if I understand it correctly

I couldn't believe my ears when my sister in law told me about how easy it was for her daughter to get her license recently? Seems it changed back in the late 90's, not completely sure on that?

Rick

[UNTFan23]

And don't forget the "drive right" rule which states you only use the left lane to pass. If the authorities catch you abusing the "drive right" rule they can take your license, right there.

I can think of worse things people do that causes far greater damage where we don't take away a license soon enough is ... driving while intoxicating / driving under the influence.

Two other aspects of the Autobhan that makes it so much more safer than U.S. highways is it curves to keep the driver alert, and it's access to entrances and exits are controlled. One entrance to get on, one off. In comparison, check 377 between Fort Worth and Granbury. People typically are driving between 70 and 85 on this road and there's one railroad track crossing that can cause a back up at times when the train is coming through at Cresson, there's a crossover nearly every quarter mile not to mention the countless businesses and country farm to market roads dotting it along the way. And of course because of all of this you can count the little white crosses all the way to Brownwood.

Comparing the Autobahn to US 377 isn't a good comparison. Our interstate highway system is modeled after the autobahn but we don't build to the same specs.

[KRAM1]

Interestingly enough, my bride and I had the experience of driving on German's autobahn not long ago. I was "less than impressed" after being excited about being able to drive as fast as I wanted...what guy wouldn't like that opportunity. Way cool, right? Well, for the most of our drive from Germany (Munich area) on into France (Paris) we could not drive "full out" as there were posted speed signs (tunnels, curves, etc.)...the highway, for the most part is four lane (two in each direction) BUT in very good condition. The road base is built to last there, not like the flimsy road construction done on US interstate highways.

But, when we could "floor it" I did (had a rented small Mercedes so it could travel fairly well), and it was fun...however, you had better get the heck out of the way when someone comes up behind you...and I mean get out of the way FAST...some og the high powered Ferrari's, Lotuses, Porche machines can really fly!

I think my bride had "white knuckles" the whole time we were on the Autobahn and was none too glad when we exited. Me, great fun...but I can tell you, you had better know what you are doing and keep a good look see in the rear view mirror!

In fact, most folks were driving in the inside lane and doing about 50-55 mph. Gas is too expensive in Europe to burn up doing 100+, and folks in Germany told me that it is "no big deal" to them to have the opportunity to drive "stupid". Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...and I thought it was fun!

[Guest JohnDenver]

And don't forget the "drive right" rule which states you only use the left lane to pass. If the authorities catch you abusing the "drive right" rule they can take your license, right there. Two other aspects of the Autobhan that makes it so much more safer than U.S. highways is it curves to keep the driver alert, and it's access to entrances and exits are controlled. One entrance to get on, one off. In comparison, check 377 between Fort Worth and Granbury. People typically are driving between 70 and 85 on this road and there's one railroad track crossing that can cause a back up at times when the train is coming through at Cresson, there's a crossover nearly every quarter mile not to mention the countless businesses and country farm to market roads dotting it along the way. And of course because of all of this you can count the little white crosses all the way to Brownwood.

KingDl1

I couldn't believe my ears when my sister in law told me about how easy it was for her daughter to get her license recently? Seems it changed back in the late 90's, not completely sure on that?

Rick

I didn't take a test with a Smoky Bear, but I had to pass the driver training school before I could get my license. That was in 1993. It changed in 1992 to not have a DPS driving test.

[Green P1]

I didn't take a test with a Smoky Bear, but I had to pass the driver training school before I could get my license. That was in 1993. It changed in 1992 to not have a DPS driving test.

I didn't even take a Drivers Education course.... my parents "taught" me the information. I read over the handbook while being driven to the DMV. Walked in and pulled a very lucky 70%.

I can has licenzzz!!!!!1!