You’ve Probably Been Misunderstanding This Sign For Years
Have you ever driven behind a work truck and wondered if you were breaking the law?
The sign on the back of the truck says "Construction Vehicle Do Not Follow." Maybe you've asked yourself "am I breaking some sort of law by following the truck?" It's not your fault the truck is going the same way you are, so why should you have to stop following it?
It's not really clear why you can't follow the truck, the message just says that it's a bad thing to do.
Then you think, perhaps the sign is a warning not to follow closely because the truck may have loose gravel or items that may hit your car. Or, since the truck is so large, following behind may hide you from the driver's vision.
It's not really clear why you can't follow the truck, the message just says that it's a bad thing to do.
According to the New York State Department of Transportation the real reason the sign is there is for stupid drivers. Of course, I'm paraphrasing, but let me explain.
Apparently, when some people are driving they'll just keep following the vehicle in front of them instead of using common sense and understanding where they are actually going. The sign is to warn drivers that the vehicle they're following may not be going where they want to travel.
The DOT says the sign "warns drivers that the truck they are following is a construction vehicle and may leave the lane to enter an active work area." In short, your Honda Civic probably isn't going to survive those rocks and potholes in the work site, so use your brain and stay on the road.
Of course, it makes perfect sense.
So the next time you're driving behind a construction vehicle don't worry. You're not going to get hauled off to jail for following. Just make sure to pay attention to where the big truck going and where your little car shouldn't be following.