The above accident happened last night just down the hill from our community.
Apparently, a wrong-way drunk driver collided with a semi-truck on the eastbound Interstate 40 lanes. Another semi-truck was also involved. It was hit by the first semi. One lane in each direction were closed for several hours.
I was able to see a long line of stopped vehicles in the eastbound lanes from my kitchen window.
For details, go here.
| Above, the gun range bag is all packed up. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
However, that was before I checked the ten-day weather forecast with the National Weather Service last evening.
The route to Lake Havasu is on Interstate 40 which goes through Flagstaff. Therein lies the problem.
According to the National Weather Service, snow showers and rain are forecast in Flagstaff starting Tuesday through Saturday. Along with that, gusty winds are also forecast. The plan is to get on the road Friday in the motorhome, which appears to be the worst day with precipitation at 70%.
The Flagstaff forecast as of this morning:
If the forecast holds, then I would have to spend Christmas at home. What is most concerning are semi-trucks in the Flagstaff area. There's a history of major snow-related accidents involving semi-trucks in the Flagstaff area.
It is expected to snow on Friday in Jamestown.
According to the National Weather Service:
I will be following the forecast over the next several days to see if there are any changes.
| Above, RVs at the Flying J in Jamestown, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Since I bought my motorhome eight years ago, I have made only two attempts at overnighting at a truck stop.
The first was in Missouri. I pulled in and was about to settle in for the night, but I found the surroundings were too noisy and loud. So I pressed ahead on the road and ended up overnighting at a Kansas rest stop.
The second time was at a Flying J in Albuquerque. I had an early morning flight and I overnighted at the truck stop. This time, the RV area was away from the loud trucks. The stay worked out fine.
RV Life posted an article on the topic of overnighting in an RV at truck stops.
It begins with:
Can RVs Overnight At Truck Stops?
Truck stops exist to cater to truckers, ensuring they have the necessities to transport goods across the country. These stops typically offer fuel, water, food, retail stores, showers, and parking areas for resting. Many also allocate parking for RVs, and some even feature a dump station.
Why you shouldn’t park an RV overnight at truck stops
However, issues arise when truckers, in dire need of rest, find truck stop spaces occupied by RVs. RVs can obstruct accessibility due to their size. Given that truckers operate vehicles that can be up to 80 feet in length, they require ample space, not only for parking but also for maneuvering. When truck stops overflow with RVs, truckers struggle to find alternative resting spots, leading to conflicts between the two groups.
Truck stops come equipped with a range of amenities that are perfect for refueling and relaxation. However, there are also drawbacks to consider when choosing to stay overnight. Due to their close proximity to major roads and continuous flow of vehicles, truck stops tend to be noisy. But if you’re weary and need a break, you’re generally welcome to rest, provided the stop isn’t too crowded and you’re parked away from the main trucking areas.
| Above, semi trucks clogging Interstate 40 in New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Semi trucks are now restricted to the right lane of two-lane highways except for actively passing in New Mexico.
This new law, passed earlier this year, goes into effect today.
From CDL Life:
Starting on July 1, 2023, New Mexico’s new law banning trucks from using the left lane goes into effect, with some exceptions.
The law requires trucks to stay in the right lane of any two or more lane highway unless actively passing another vehicle.
According to New Mexico State Police (NMSP), failure to obey could result in a penalty assessment of $250 for the first and second offenses and $500 for the third offense.
To read more, go here.
The snowstorm has moved east and we're pretty much done. There will be snow showers here and there, but they will be light.
From what I could tell when I did some shoveling of the walkways, I got around 7-8" of snow on the ground. The earlier storms dumped a lot, but it settled or got windblown so it was hard to tell.
Today's storm was continuous. It would taper off on occasion, but didn't completely stop. I made the right decision in canceling my doctor appointment.
According to the post below, there was a big accident near Continental Divide and Thoreau involving three semi-trucks and one passenger vehicle that affected eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 40.
We're to get a break tomorrow and the snows starts up all over again on Sunday night through Monday night.
The forecasters said this storm was fast-moving, it didn't seem that way at all.
From the National Weather Service:
| Above, a traffic collision led to an I-40 back-up two years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It seems that the majority of traffic accidents on Interstate 40 (that I live near) involve big rig semi trucks. I couldn't say who caused each accident, but I do know that most often trucks travel on the highway at excessive speeds beyond what is safe for conditions.
When I am on the highway in my motorhome, trucks blow past me at high speeds and the air suction sometimes is pretty unnerving. The same goes when we get high winds. That's why I drive in my lane favoring the right side.
With the above in mind, RV Travel posted and article and video on RV safety advice from truckers.
It begins with:
In this fun and informative video, Robin Barrett of Creativity RV chats with people in the know about RV and big rig safety: truckers!
Surprise, it turns out that truckers and RVers can peacefully co-exist and help to keep each other safe on the road.
Robin picked the brains of truckers from TruckersReport.com. The professional big rig drivers have a whole lot of knowledge that can benefit RVers, so the video presents some truly beneficial information from people in the know. In it, they give practical and actionable advice and also talk about their biggest concerns surrounding sharing the roads with RVers.
To read more and see the video, go here.
| Above, the Tee Pee Trading Post in Lupton, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The People's Convoy, protesting COVID-19 mandates in the U.S., is heading east along Interstate 40 today. What's even more interesting (to me) is that it will pass through my neck of the woods.
According to Newsweek:
A convoy of American truckers will leave from Adelanto, California, on Wednesday to complete an 11-day journey to the nation's capital, where the group plans to hold a protest demanding that all COVID 19-related mandates are lifted across the country.
The group, dubbed the People's Convoy, is inspired by the protesters of the so-called Freedom Convoy in Canada, who occupied Ottawa for 24 days and blocked various border crossings into the U.S. to protest the country's pandemic restrictions, particularly the federal vaccine mandate for cross-border commercial truck drivers. This past Sunday, Ottawa police cleared out the remaining demonstrators, arresting 191 people and towing 57 vehicles after more than three weeks of protests.
"To our brave and courageous neighbors to the North — our Canadian brothers and sisters who led the charge — we join your call to Freedom with THE PEOPLE'S CONVOY," the Canadian protesters' American counterparts wrote on a website.
Something else caught my eye. The convoy will rest up in Lupton, Arizona tomorrow night. Lupton is where the Tee Pee Trading Post (that I frequent) and Speedy's Truck Stop are located. I am sure both businesses will get some good business from the convoy participants.
Day 2: Thursday, February 24
Morning: Depart Kingman, Arizona, and head east on I-40 toward Lupton, Arizona
Evening: Arrive in Lupton for an overnight stayDay 3: Friday, February 25
Morning: Depart Lupton on I-40 eastbound through New Mexico
Evening: Arrive in Glenrio, Texas, for an overnight stay
To read more, go here.
| Above, the front driveway with animal tracks. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Yesterday was bitter cold out, but at least Whispering Cedars Road was apparently plowed and clear of snow and ice enough for me to go to the post office at the Flying J.
I did do some snow shoveling and the thin layer of ice on the walkways melted to clear them.
The Associated Press reported:
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A major storm was leaving New Mexico on Thursday but leaving bitterly cold temperatures and roads slick from ice and packed with snow, prompting closures of schools in several cities and nonessential government services in Albuquerque.
The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque canceled winter storm warnings as conditions improved but urged drivers to be cautious as subfreezing temperatures across most of the state made travel hazardous.
State police said the weather and road conditions appeared to be contributing factors in a deadly pileup along Interstate 40 near Santa Rosa on Wednesday that involved 13 semi trucks and three passenger vehicles. One woman was killed and five other people were taken to a hospital with unknown injuries.
It seems that most accidents on Interstate 40 involves a semi truck. I am not surprised, considering the way I see semi truck drivers speed on the highway.
At least today will be warmer than yesterday. The forecast high today is 34°.
To read more, go here.
| Above, the tractor involved in yesterday's incident. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
There was a time when long-haul truckers were called "knights of the road". They were conscientious drivers who obeyed traffic laws and aided other motorists.
There are still some good drivers out there, but there are also some dregs as well.
Yesterday, I was crossing the Exit 39 overpass bridge to go to the Jamestown, New Mexico Flying J travel center when I noticed a truck and trailer exiting off of westbound Interstate 40 at a faster rate of speed than what I normally see.
I had a feeling that he was not going to stop at the stop sign at the end of the exit ramp. I held back and slowed as I was about 30-40 feet from the exit. Sure enough, he ran the stop sign and was looking directly at me as he did do with a big grin. Had I not been paying attention or driving faster, we would have collided.
| Above, the rear of the trailer where I got the carrier's phone number. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I followed and got the phone number of the trucking company, Sky High Carriers, Inc. of Bakersfield, California (California, it figures). I called the number and left a voice message on what had just transpired.
After completing my business at the Flying J, I went over to the trucker section of the travel center and found the truck and trailer. I took the photos that accompany this blog post and, later, went to Sky High Carriers' website and emailed them with the detailed information (truck number, license plate number) on the truck and trailer.
So far, they have not as yet responded to me. So, I am posting this. I will follow up with them today.
I have filed a complaint with the National Consumer Complaint Database.