# Why do truckers peer down at you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 9, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846 "2009-05-09T13:58:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/1 "2009-05-09T13:58:19Z")
Whenever I pass a trucker on the highway, I can see them turn their head to peer down at me from their cab. Why do they do that? (And yes, I suppose someone could ask, “Why are \*you \*looking up at _them_?” But usually I don’t turn my head to look up at them. I can see them in my peripheral vision.) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/2 "2009-05-09T14:06:34Z")
You are their kind of guy, I guess. You frequent trucker bars very often? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/3 "2009-05-09T14:08:12Z")
The politically correct answer is they are making sure the lane clears so the blind spots don’t cause a crash if they need to lane change. The answer from dealing with truckers and hearing experiences is people drive naked and do other weird shit. They have a clear view of what car drivers don’t. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/4 "2009-05-09T14:10:06Z")
To see if there is a woman with a loose top in the passenger seat. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/5 "2009-05-09T14:15:51Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > The politically correct answer is they are making sure the lane clears so the blind spots don’t cause a crash if they need to lane change. I’m not a trucker but I always assume that everyone else on the road is insane and I need to keep an eye on them to stay alive. None of them have ever been naked, either. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/6 "2009-05-09T14:19:37Z")
There is the occasional woman (1 in 1,000?) who will intentionally make it worth the effort for the truck driver. This observation is from driving a oilfield truck forty years ago. It would be more a flirt than a promise. Usually. Often there would be two giggling women involved. 😛 I imagine things are different now. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/7 "2009-05-09T18:22:01Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > There is the occasional woman (1 in 1,000?) who will intentionally make it worth the effort for the truck driver. the likelihood of this increase on flash friday around the afternoon drive time in some major metropolitan areas ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/8 "2009-05-09T18:23:15Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > I imagine things are different now. I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/9 "2009-05-09T18:31:59Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > the likelihood of this increase on flash friday around the afternoon drive time in some major metropolitan areas Oops, just found out leykis went off the air earlier this year. Oh wel ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/10 "2009-05-09T18:33:20Z")
> [@Todderbob](#): > > I doubt it. Why? Men are so much more mature and sophisticated now. Really! And women hike up their skirts only to enjoy the cool air from the ac, certainly not to get attention from passing truckers. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/11 "2009-05-09T18:36:44Z")
The trucker term for this is, I believe, “checking out seat-covers.” A girl I once dated very nearly made it worth a trucker’s while, and I have a story about the motorcyclist who shadowed me and my girlfriend for 5 miles or so two weekends ago, but it might be TMI, so I’ll leave it to your imagination. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/12 "2009-05-09T18:45:09Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > The trucker term for this is, I believe, “checking out seat-covers.” > > A girl I once dated very nearly made it worth a trucker’s while, and I have a story about the motorcyclist who shadowed me and my girlfriend for 5 miles or so two weekends ago, but it might be TMI, so I’ll leave it to your imagination. Don’t you read the dope? Nothing’s too TMI. Besides, I ‘Knead to Know’ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/13 "2009-05-09T19:07:30Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > The politically correct answer is they are making sure the lane clears so the blind spots don’t cause a crash if they need to lane change. > . Yeah, well, based on my experience with truckers, their general belief seems to be that cars should look out for them, and not the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/14 "2009-05-09T19:15:07Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Yeah, well, based on my experience with truckers, their general belief seems to be that cars should look out for them, and not the other way around. That seems to be our general belief, but accident stats I’ve seen a while back, but don’t remember, don’t bear that out. Most car/truck wrecks were the fault of the car driver. I hope I don’t have to cite that. Now, let’s get back to **KneadToKnow** ’s girlfriend’s flashing the motorcyclist. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/15 "2009-05-09T19:17:39Z")
**Red Barchetta** and **mangeorge** , you’ve got PM. ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/16 "2009-05-09T19:24:00Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Why? Men are so much more mature and sophisticated now. Really! > And women hike up their skirts only to enjoy the cool air from the ac, certainly not to get attention from passing truckers. The same portion of men that were pigs/dicks/horndogs then are pigs/dicks/horndogs now. The same portion of women that were sluts/whores/easy then are sluts/whores/easy now. > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > The trucker term for this is, I believe, “checking out seat-covers.” > > A girl I once dated very nearly made it worth a trucker’s while, and I have a story about the motorcyclist who shadowed me and my girlfriend for 5 miles or so two weekends ago, but it might be TMI, so I’ll leave it to your imagination. Please, do go on. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/17 "2009-05-09T19:25:53Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > That seems to be our general belief, but accident stats I’ve seen a while back, but don’t remember, don’t bear that out. > Most car/truck wrecks were the fault of the car driver. I hope I don’t have to cite that. > Now, let’s get back to **KneadToKnow** ’s girlfriend’s flashing the motorcyclist. A quich search didn’t back me up. At this site, [table #2](http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/hsis/pubs/04085/index.htm#res) puts most of the blame on truckers. Not by a lot, though. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/18 "2009-05-09T20:02:29Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > That seems to be our general belief, but accident stats I’ve seen a while back, but don’t remember, don’t bear that out. > Most car/truck wrecks were the fault of the car driver. I hope I don’t have to cite that. Even if that’s true, there’s a difference between fault and prevention. I personally have managed to narrowly avoid several accidents that were 100% the other guy’s fault, due to prudence, situational awareness and fast reflexes - what they call “defensive driving”. Truckers, being the biggest, heaviest things on the road (and they also drive big trucks!), rarely drive defensively. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/19 "2009-05-09T20:06:56Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Yeah, well, based on my experience with truckers, their general belief seems to be that cars should look out for them, and not the other way around. Yeah, well I hate politically correct answers and believe them mostly bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/20 "2009-05-09T20:42:43Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Even if that’s true, there’s a difference between fault and prevention. I personally have managed to narrowly avoid several accidents that were 100% the other guy’s fault, due to prudence, situational awareness and fast reflexes - what they call “defensive driving”. Truckers, being the biggest, heaviest things on the road (and they also drive big trucks!), rarely drive defensively. Actually, the vast majority of truckers are quite defensive in their driving. It’s just that the ones that aren’t make more of an impression (figuratively and literally) because of the size of the vehicle they are driving. :eek: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846.md?page=2)