OpenGambit
Banned
I think there is a pretty clear majority/minority on this already.
Petition to ban commercial vehicles from US129 (Deals Gap)
- Thread starter S500K
- Start date
I think there is a pretty clear majority/minority on this already.
The problem, here, is that The Dragon is a US Interstate Highway. It isn't a regional road, nor even a State highway. The lower speed limit on US 129, alone, is a bit of an issue. Barring a specific type of vehicle from it will take serious force of will.
Yeah but they do it in GREECE, man! A GREEK driver could easily drive a semi with a 53' trailer through Deals Gap at 60mph, no problem.
Really, this thread should be about banning non-Greek truckers from 129.
Oh, I don't doubt that it would be difficult to actually implement this. I was just surprised at certain posters who didn't seem to grasp the reasoning behind it.
I grasp the reasoning, but I also recognize that there is no good alternative to that road when it comes to certain hauls. The same geography that makes the route "fun" for riders is also the reason there are no good alternatives routes within a reasonable driving distance for local deliveries.
I also question the severity of danger posed by the few rigs that go through in a week. Even the youtube "proof" video from us129 called Chaos on the Tail of the Dragon or something like that shows a rather tame drive down the road by an obviously skilled driver successfully maneuvering his rig down a tight road with no real drama to speak of. A few tight crawl-by situations, yes, but nothing life-threatening.
I don't think a total ban is realistic given the geography and available alternate haul routes, especially when it comes to serving local communities and businesses. Perhaps an escort requirement would be a more reasonable compromise that would discourage long-haul cut-through traffic but preserves a reasonable short haul delivery route to communities and business in the immediate area.
Yes, an escort requirement would still mean that you might get stuck waiting while a rig negotiates some of the tighter corners and hairpins, but it would provide a suitable response to any "safety" issue posed by the rigs and other traffic.
Also, in addition to the signs at each end advising trucks that the route is a tough one to drive, post signs for OTHER traffic throughout the route at key points reminding them to take care on blind corners because of the chance of obstruction around the bend, whether by rig or by SUV with a big *** house or boat trailer.
SCORE
On another forum, it has been learned that North Carolina already has restrictions on several roads in this area, notably on US 129 between Cheoah dam and the Tennessee state line. See page 11 of this.
http://www.ncdot.org/travel/statemapping/download/nctruckrestrix.pdf
This effectively prohibits through trucks with longer than 30 foot trailers, and all trucks with longer than 48 foot trailers, through the entire Deals Gap road since it is not possible for any such vehicle to turn around at the TN state line if they are coming from the TN side, and they are prohibited from entering via the NC side.
Obviously, this is not being fully enforced, and there are no signs indicating thus from either direction. Members of the other forum are investigating this.
On another forum, it has been learned that North Carolina already has restrictions on several roads in this area, notably on US 129 between Cheoah dam and the Tennessee state line. See page 11 of this.
http://www.ncdot.org/travel/statemapping/download/nctruckrestrix.pdf
This effectively prohibits through trucks with longer than 30 foot trailers, and all trucks with longer than 48 foot trailers, through the entire Deals Gap road since it is not possible for any such vehicle to turn around at the TN state line if they are coming from the TN side, and they are prohibited from entering via the NC side.
Obviously, this is not being fully enforced, and there are no signs indicating thus from either direction. Members of the other forum are investigating this.
Even if my statement about crossing the line and angles is wrong, the rest of what I said was right. If this was happening all the time or as big of a problem you guys have made it to be there would be deaths every day and the trucks would have been banned already. Turbo has stated several times if you drive appropriately for the road you are on(ie blind corners) there is more than enough time for a rider to stop safely. Do I really need to pull up you tube videos of what goes on there and why riders go there??? People are riding that road like they are on a track.
Cut the BS about this petition being about safety. I already made a suggestion about putting up barriers in the corners to prevent crossing the line. That would force trucks to take other routes.
I am telling you the honest truth about what I have seen in Greece, if you don't believe me that is not my problem. I have been going to Greece every 2 years since I was a child. Also from talking to others of European decent they say the same thing about driving and the roads in Europe.
Not going to fight you people on it, I'm entitled to my opinion as are you guys. I am also entitled to say my opinion. Funny thing you guys have to revert to trying to make fun of me because I don't think or see the way you do. Awesome world we live in. I guess I should be a mindless drone and follow and not express my thoughts in any way.
Cut the BS about this petition being about safety. I already made a suggestion about putting up barriers in the corners to prevent crossing the line. That would force trucks to take other routes.
I am telling you the honest truth about what I have seen in Greece, if you don't believe me that is not my problem. I have been going to Greece every 2 years since I was a child. Also from talking to others of European decent they say the same thing about driving and the roads in Europe.
Not going to fight you people on it, I'm entitled to my opinion as are you guys. I am also entitled to say my opinion. Funny thing you guys have to revert to trying to make fun of me because I don't think or see the way you do. Awesome world we live in. I guess I should be a mindless drone and follow and not express my thoughts in any way.
I think many of these points are valid, and i've noticed many are not, but regardless, this thread seems to be getting out of control and becoming more of an argument between facts than a discussion about signing a petition.
Shaman
Well-known member
This is why we have a very hard time not making fun of you. You've never been there. You have no clue. You keep blabbing on and on like you know something anyways. Give it up.
But you've never been there. I have. I have seen tractor trailers literally hung up on the road surface and teetering back and forth on a hump. I have avoided the gouges in the pavement from those incidents every time I've gone through this road.
You lack perspective. Videos don't give it.
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The FACT is that truck length restrictions are already in effect on the NC side, but don't seem to be enforced and there are no signs.
This effectively restricts all such truck traffic, because you cannot pass through this road without going through the restriction on the NC side.
This effectively restricts all such truck traffic, because you cannot pass through this road without going through the restriction on the NC side.
Well there you go, it's already restricted. Now all you need it to get in enforced.
You have no clue about the various places I've been over the years past or where I'll go in the future. So, as you say, don't pretend like you know something.
Driving in one country is completely different from driving in another country. It has as much to do about the driving culture as anything else. I am interested, though. Could you provide a googlemaps link to this road you are talking about? Are there videos of it?
Also, like I mentioned earlier: of course the Dragon is not a death-trap. It's not non-stop carnage there. Otherwise it wouldn't be the huge tourist draw it is. Still, large tractor trailers have no business being on it. And it is a safety issue. It may not be as urgent as you feel it should be to warrant this kind of attention, but it is a safety concern if a vehicle cannot stay within its own lane.
And coming around a corner at the posted speed limit and having to emergency brake with your heart in your throat due to a large vehicle in your lane is not having "more than enough time to stop safely" in my opinion. It should not have to happen on a regular basis.
Also, you have to admit that just because there are some videos of people ripping through the Dragon, it doesn't mean that most of the riders that go through there do the same. See the video I posted. Everyone in that video is going at a leisurely pace.
You are, of course presuming, that the Dragon is a good alternative route, which of course it is not. Not for vehicles of this size as they cannot stay within their own lane, no matter how slow they travel.
Other roads are closed to large vehicle traffic for precisely this reason. I see no reason why the US129 should be any different.
I agree the driving culture is completely different. It's not one road, its most of the roads. lol I already told Cruisingirl I would make an album for her and vid next time I go to Greece.I'll post it on GTAM for you guys too.
There are most certainly alternatives to US 129, for the vast majority of shipments that currently use that road. They may not seem palatable, when viewed on a cold GPS screen, but The Dragon is REALLY not palatable when such vehicles are actually on it. Not palatable from a white knuckle driving standpoint, nor for the many other inconvenienced road users. From a fuel use standpoint it may even be a wash given the speed, topography, and the number of times that they must stop. Stopping and restarting movement use rather a large amount of fuel, on a rig.
As has been stated, local deliveries use smaller vehicles. For those very few shipments that *must* use this route, and that number would be vanishingly small, there is the option of a paid police escort, as is done for any number of oversized loads.
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I already responded to this point.. the Southern detour would add 30-40 minutes to a trip from Maryville to Robinsville.
No response to that?
Here is a link to Greece...zoom in anywhere where there are mountains (pretty much everywhere) and you will see switchbacks
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&bi...l1510l0.2.2.1.1l6l0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl
The problem at the dragon is the same as the one at the "Forks".Tour buses and truckers try to get thru and can't do it! This pic is from 2008 i think.All the armco has been replaced since the pic was taken,and i went thru last week and it's been wrecked again even tho there are HUGE signs (x2) telling them to turn around.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll...oid=0NWLISMpQ5vXm_wO5ZpXgw&cbp=12,134.43,,0,0
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll...oid=0NWLISMpQ5vXm_wO5ZpXgw&cbp=12,134.43,,0,0
