Crazy Drivers - "DriveCam" Video Cameras

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS EX-PAT BRITISH TRUCKERS (INTERACTIVE)
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Hi All,

On the subject of crazy drivers, in the USA, the company I drive for has now started installing small video cameras, from a company called “DriveCam” onto the windshields/windscreens of our Motorcoaches.

Our cameras have dual lenses which record events outside and inside our vehicles, if the need arises. There is a “PANIC” switch for the inside, although this option is unlikely to be required for use on trucks. For trucks, there is a single lens feature.

The camera records accidents outside and incidents inside the vehicle, and can lead to a big reduction in insurance premiums.

Granted, it is a bit like “Big Brother” watching over us, but, it’s worth looking at.

You can visit the “DriveCam” website at;

drivecam.com

I’m leaving tonight for a 12 day “Fall Colours” tour to New England. Taking in RI, MA, ME, NH, VT, NY & ON.

Cheers!

Jim.

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Keep a good look out for my red Volvo VN with a white trailer and blue and red stripes, I have a union jack on the grille :laughing:

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I think Jim left a little early :exclamation: There’s not much colour change yet, I drove along the most famous ‘Fall Route’ (route 4 from Rutland to White River Jct) and it was still quite green :sunglasses:

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Hi Pat,

We saw some excellent colours in Maine, New Hampshire and around Lake Placid in Upstate NY.

The trip is carefully timed to avoid the maddening crowds headed there about now.

Jim.

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It’s amazing how fast the colours change Jim :exclamation: I drove through Woodstock yesterday and it was an array of reds, golds and yellows etc.
I kept a lookout for your bus but I don’t know who you drive for, I seem to do a circular route most of the time to Northern Mass via rte 4 and Concord NH, down to Rhode Island and back through CT to here :slight_smile:

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ahhhhh so you’re one of those annoying leaf peepers that can’t drive faster than 30 mph this time of year (and thats a generous estimate)… and holds up the local traffic… lmao :laughing: … just teasing ya! But some of the tourists this time of year can really get on your nerves… they’re mostly blue-hairs… and the only thing worse on the road than a blue-hair is a leaf-peeping blue-hair!

I know that the scenery is absolutely beautiful this time of year… but if they want to oooooh and awwwww the leaves why not just PULL OVER ALREADY■■? Some of us actually have somewhere we have to be. Wouldn’t you think that the endless line of traffic following them down the road would be enough of a hint?? I got stuck behind some tourists on the way to class last week (easy to tell which ones they are… either southern or western license plates, and there’s usually a camera pointing out the window.) It took me 45 minutes to drive 20 miles to the college… and it usually takes about 20-25 minutes :angry: . And that was 8 am on a tuesday morning!! And the rush hasn’t even started yet. Lets face it… the leaves look the same at 50 or 60 mph as they do at 30. And they’re pretty much the same on one tree as they are the next… and since trees are all we have up here, its not like they’re gonna miss anything! If the urge to slow down and gawk is just too much to overcome, there are rest areas that work very well just for this purpose… so USE THEM! They’re just leaves. Isn’t like they’ve never seen one before. :unamused: And as annoying as it is for the average driver… truck drivers must really get frustrated. There is no major motorway that runs east to west in that state so they’re forced to share the main truck route with the tourists… which is just a regular divided highway that winds through the mountains and around the river, and passes through every little ‘quaint’ Vermont town that’s probably on their list to visit… I’m sure it’s a truckdrivers nightmare during the fall folliage season.

OK… rant is finished… I know that all local people complain about the tourists in their area… and I know local economies rely on the revenue, ect ect… but it doesn’t change the annoyance. I know this is a wasted post since none of the tourists are checking out the trucknetUK site before they head to New England (other than you Scouse lol :wink: )… but complaining does relieve a little frustration now and then… And just think, it’ll all be over just in time for ski season to start. Can hardly wait! :stuck_out_tongue:

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Hi Kate/Pat,

I understand your comments with regards to the leaf-peepers pace of driving. I was stuck behind one headed towards Lake Placid at the breathtaking speed of…25mph! I’m slowly boiling behind the wheel thinking "For (you know whats) sake! It’s really hard trying to keep your cool, when you have a bus load of casket-dodgers behind you :wink:

I’ll be out in DC, on my next sorte out east, from the 18th onwards. Thankfully, no more Boston for me, for the time being at least.

I drive for Tri-State Travel tristatetravel.com We have about 50 Coaches, so if you see one of our coaches, it may not be me. However, if I’m coming up your way…I’ll give you the heads-up.

Jim.

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I’ve seen your coaches on my travels :laughing: