A long-time truckie, who also spent several years working as a firefighter, is pleading with other road users to take more care around trucks following this recent near-miss.
Recently while travelling along the Great Northern Highway at Dalwallinu, in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region, Travis Duncan had a silver Commodore come out in front of his truck, giving him very little time to react.
Luckily no one was injured, thanks to his quick thinking actions.
Travis was behind the wheel of a Volvo FH17, heading northbound through Dalwallinu, when the car ran through a stop sign, right into his path.
“It happened at around 10.30am. The road was quiet at the time which is what prevented it from being a worse incident,” said Travis.
“The second I saw that car, I could see nothing was coming up ahead of me so I could go to the right. Once I lost sight of the vehicle, I actually thought he was underneath me.”
As can be heard in the video, a crashing sound immediately follows. “I thought I hit him but it was just everything in my cupboards bouncing forward. The car never touched the truck but was very freaking lucky.
“He came within inches of missing my drive tyres.”
Based in Perth, Travis does heavy haulage work throughout Western Australia, as well as interstate. At the time, he revealed he was loaded with a roller after the 4.5 metre wide load he was supposed to pick up got cancelled.
After narrowly avoiding the Commodore, the driver actually decided to give Travis the finger and hurl abuse his way. “He wasn’t very happy so he was yelling at me. I wish I was quick enough to get out and say you’re lucky to be alive.”
Thanks to Travis’ dash cam vision, he was able to zoom in and get the car’s rego. He contacted Dalwallinu Police Station and has praised the actions of the young constable he spoke with.
Police were able to track down the dangerous driver and charge him with a string of offences.
“The officer called me and said the driver has been charged with running a stop sign, with dangerous and reckless driving, for not displaying red P plates and he was given a yellow sticker for having the vehicle lower than street legal,” Travis explained.
“I’ve sent an email through to their officer in charge there to let them know how happy I am with how they handled the situation – the way they just jumped on it.
“I do hope that the driver of that car has learned his lesson and is thankful that he’s not in a box under the ground.”
A second generation truck driver, following in the footsteps of his father, Travis explained he’s been in and around trucks since he was only eight-years-old, driving around on the family farm.
But he believes this sort of dangerous behaviour is getting worse. “I’m seeing it more and more,” he said.
As with any truck driver on our roads, Travis says he just wants to be able to do his job and come home safely.
“Like many of us, we all just want to go home to our families. Enough is enough.”
His message to other road users is simple: “Us truck drivers, we have families too and we want to come home to them – so please take that extra time and keep an eye out. We’re not arseholes and we will try to help get people around when it’s safe.”
As Travis explained, “I come from a background as a firie so I have seen things no human should ever see. I have a daughter who is eight and a son who is about to turn 10. When they saw that video, they said dad, I don’t want you to do this anymore.
“I showed them the video because they need to know what’s dangerous and what’s not. Every time people get in the car, they need to understand it’s a privilege and not a right to be behind the wheel.
“As truck drivers, I think it’s important we share this education. I’ve even spoken about it at my kids’ school and they’ve said they’d like me to come back and speak to the older kids there too.”
No police around and bad habits getting worse. The only solution is to drive slower in these towns. Until the current government is kicked out this is the new norm.