Ran off the road

[AuntieK]

I had a scary experience today with a double dump truck!
I was traveling along a busy road, staying well to the side of the white line. I could hear a big truck coming up behind me just as the road narrowed to the point that I had about 6 inches of road on the side of the white line. This truck proceeded to drive ON the white line. There wasn't anybody in the left hand lane, so he could have given me more room. I'm pretty sure he was doing it intentionally to scare me. And scare me it did. Once I realized that it was a double-trailer semi-dump truck and the trailer was about to run me over, I rode straight into the weeds and gravel on the side of the road.
I did manage to get his license plate number, so when I got home I called the police. Boy, was that a disappointing call! I ended with the officer asking me, "So, what do you want me to do about it?" Um...how about your job? I nicely asked him if he could double check the fact that Utah has a law on the books stating that drivers must give cyclists three feet and could he please remind the truck driver of the law.

[mimitabby]

can you find out what company he works for? I've been through this in the state of washington. (the exact same thing)
I was able to talk to the boss (i didnt get the whole license plate number) and he read his whole crew the riot act!)

[AuntieK]

As far as I could tell, it was an unmarked truck. I could go drive by the place where he turned (oh, forgot to mention that just after he ran me off the road he made a right turn in front of me! ). I think there's a cement factory down that road, and I would assume that's where he was headed. A little investigative work might be underway here...

[mimitabby]

yes, it's really really worth it. odds are he works by the hour and needs his job.
good luck and keep us posted.

[Trek420]

Calling the company works. I'd had a really sucky ride, we'd had firecrackers thrown at us on a club ride, it was hecka hot, ride leader Cindysue broke her collar bone etc

Then the opposite occured, on my way home a courteous tow truck driver waved me through a tricky merge and slowed just enough that drivers would not interfere nor be inconvenienced as I passed a fwy offramp.

Then gave a friendly wave as I sped into the bike lane.

I called the company to thank them.

They said there was only one guy in that area that day, they'd give him a commendation.

Some months later my battery died, called for a jump and guess who appears? I got to say "thank you" myself and yes, he had got the commendation.

Call the company, they follow up good or bad.