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Crash closes I-94 for 2 hours.

I do not understand why about 4 miles east the driver of this tractor trailer did not pull into the rest area and take a nap. When I drove by traffic was backed up to right after the entrance to the rest area, all traffic was being routed of onto the Galesburg exit, that traffic was backed up to the Climax exit.

The driver said he fell asleep. I'm a firm believer that are bodies do not just fall asleep instinctively behind the wheel except in rare instances. I think we train our bodies to do so. How? By, when we are tired, we pull over and take a nap in the driver's seat, instead of laying in the back seat or in cases like mine the bed in the sleeper. If we do this enough times there will come a time when we are tired that our bodies will say, "we've fallen asleep behind the wheel so many times I guess it's okay for us to do it again. " Unfortunately, that can happen at the wrong time, like traveling down a highly travelled and busy interstate.

If you look at the pictures, I am really surprised the driver of the refrigerated tractor-trailer walked away with non-life threatening injuries. He is truly blessed to be alive. However, he was cited for careless driving.

I would be inclined to disagree since I have started to nod off behind the wheel before and I don't habitually sleep in my drivers seat.

(10-30-2015 06:08 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  I would be inclined to disagree since I have started to nod off behind the wheel before and I don't habitually sleep in my drivers seat.

I can understand where you are coming from. I also know there are exceptions. But, all it takes is one time. Just as long as you know to find a place to park and get some rest when you are feeling tired. There are way too many people that think they can keep driving and push through that feeling of being tired and they end up falling asleep instead.

As my dad says, when you start trying to convince yourself that you can drive with one eye open at a time, pull over.

(10-30-2015 08:33 PM)CMichFan Wrote:  As my dad says, when you start trying to convince yourself that you can drive with one eye open at a time, pull over.

That, and when the guard rails are starting to move around, you start seeing double of everything, you have your windows down when it 10F out and you start slapping yourself silly it's time to get off the road. Been there, done all of that.