Life
Driver explains the reason why you should never pull in front of a semi-truck
Please stop doing this. 🙏
D.G. Sciortino
07.12.22

Something must have shaken Eric Boling during his work day as a truck driver.

Whatever it was he knew that he had to make a public service announcement about it.

So, in 2015 Boling took to Facebook to share a very important message about highway safety.

Boling ‘s Facebook video ended up going viral and was viewed more than 3 million times. So, who knows how many lives the information he shared could have saved or accidents he has prevented.

In his video, Boling warned people about the dangers of stopping short in front of a semi-truck and explained how hard it is for a semi-truck to stop when it is going 60 miles per hour.

But Boling didn’t just explain it. He gave his Facebook audience a complete visual experience so they could imagine the scenario fully to make his story more impactful.

Boling makes his 3 minute-long explanation very detailed.

He shows his truck and then the two 102″ long trailers in a parking lot that he would typically have attached to his truck.

Eric Boling - Facebook
Source:
Eric Boling - Facebook

He then explains that his truckload will pull 88,000 lbs., the maximum amount.

He goes on to say that it takes him 10 trailers long, or about 100 feet, to stop.

Then he asks the audience if they think that he can stop from crashing into something in front of him while going 60 miles per hour with only 100 feet of stopping space.

Eric Boling - Facebook
Source:
Eric Boling - Facebook

That was a hard no for Boling. But what about 260 feet worth of space which is about 26 trailers long of stoppings space?

Could Boling stop his truck without crashing while going 60 miles per hour in just 260 feet? That was also gonna be a no for Boling.

Eric Boling - Facebook
Source:
Eric Boling - Facebook

While that may seem like more than enough space for most cars to safely stop in time, a semi-truck carrying a heavy load simply couldn’t pull it off.

It actually takes Boling almost twice that distance for him to stop a fully loaded truck at 60 miles per hour.

That’s 414 feet, which is over the length of a football field. Boling had a very specific reason for taking the time to tell his story the way he did.

Eric Boling - Facebook
Source:
Eric Boling - Facebook

“I’m telling you this so that the next time you’re on the road, on the expressway, and you see a truck, don’t pull in front of it and hit your breaks. Because you could die.” Boling explains. “And I would have to live with the fact that I killed somebody.”

Eric Boling - Facebook
Source:
Eric Boling - Facebook

While he admits that his story might be depressing (and a bit tedious to have to listen to, if we do say so ourselves), it was for a very good reason.

“Sometimes I think people just really have to see just how much it takes for a truck to stop,” he says.

Boling presents his testimony as if it’s common knowledge, but it’s likely a lot of people have absolutely no idea about how dangerous the road could be with semi-trucks on it.

Eric Boling - Facebook
Source:
Eric Boling - Facebook

So, it’s great that he’s sharing this inside info. Boling also had one more request before ending his video.

“When you’re getting on the interstate and coming down that exit ramp. look over your left shoulder. If you see a truck, either hit your gas or hit your breaks,” he explained.

The truck doesn’t have the option to stop or switch lanes so it’s important to

You can check out Boling ‘s video below and pass it on to anyone you want to share this road safety tip with.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

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