# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/21 "2009-05-09T21:07:52Z")
Because they’re up higher, to see you, they have to look down at you. This is no different than when you look over to the right, left, forward, and behind yourself when keeping an eye on traffic. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/22 "2009-05-09T21:29:20Z")
Of course, even if the truckers are making more of an effort at defensive driving, a truck inherently has a rather low maneuverability, so it may not be possible for a truck driver to drive as defensively as a car (assuming skilled, responsible drivers for both). ---
**Author:** ![Elyanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@Elyanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elyanna)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/23 "2009-05-09T22:13:51Z")
Most truckers may be rather good drivers, it’s just that the bad ones leave big impressions on my mind. I’ll forget about a regular car almost side-swiping me before I’ll forget an 18-wheeler nearly squishing me like a soda can. ---
**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 10, 2009, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/24 "2009-05-10T02:02:09Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Yeah, well I hate politically correct answers and believe them mostly bullshit. Does “politically correct” even have a meaning any more? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/25 "2009-05-10T02:08:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Of course, even if the truckers are making more of an effort at defensive driving, a truck inherently has a rather low maneuverability, so it may not be possible for a truck driver to drive as defensively as a car (assuming skilled, responsible drivers for both). One of the most obvious defensive tactics of a trucker is that most leave a lot of room between their truck and the vehicle ahead of them. Which gives us car drivers plenty of room to crowd right in ahead of them. I always assume that drivers claim that truckers are inattentive don’t drive much themselves. Or that they aren’t very experienced. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/26 "2009-05-10T02:15:46Z")
> [@Elyanna](#): > > Most truckers may be rather good drivers, it’s just that the bad ones leave big impressions on my mind. I’ll forget about a regular car almost side-swiping me before I’ll forget an 18-wheeler nearly squishing me like a soda can. My ex, a tuly lousy driver, would always blame a near-miss on the other driver when it was usually the other driver who skilfully avoided the accident. But she was pretty cool 🆒 in other ways. Just sayin’. 😃 ---
**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 10, 2009, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/27 "2009-05-10T10:26:29Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Does “politically correct” even have a meaning any more? Yes, just not the narrow meaning some people insist on. Terms broaden with usage, and politically correct is one of those. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/28 "2009-05-10T10:59:43Z")
Why do truckers peer down at you? Because staring at the lane markers going by for hours is boring. ---
**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 10, 2009, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/29 "2009-05-10T13:14:42Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > One of the most obvious defensive tactics of a trucker is that most leave a lot of room between their truck and the vehicle ahead of them. Which gives us car drivers plenty of room to crowd right in ahead of them. > I always assume that drivers claim that truckers are inattentive don’t drive much themselves. Or that they aren’t very experienced. I never said truckers were inattentive - it’s just that they don’t consider cars to be much of a threat. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/30 "2009-05-10T14:17:01Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I never said truckers were inattentive - it’s just that they don’t consider cars to be much of a threat. A threat, maybe not. But I’m sure we agree they don’t want to bump into us. Or us into them. Many truckers have taken very heroic actions to avoid injuring the occupants of a car, no matter who’s at fault. And some have caused death and injury by being stupid. That’s life. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/31 "2009-05-10T14:29:26Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Why do truckers peer down at you? > > Because staring at the lane markers going by for hours is boring. I used to shotgun with my cousin’s husband. He would entertain himself by using a bee spatter on the windshield and a car way up ahead to play WWII fighter pilot. 😃 Complete with sound effects. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/32 "2009-05-10T14:36:30Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > I used to shotgun with my cousin’s husband. He would entertain himself by using a bee spatter on the windshield and a car way up ahead to play WWII fighter pilot. 😃 > Complete with sound effects. Are these two separate games? Or just one that I don’t get? Also, I would totally be that pervert trucker, if I ever became one. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/33 "2009-05-10T15:13:38Z")
> [@chaoticbear](#): > > Are these two separate games? Or just one that I don’t get? > > Also, I would totally be that pervert trucker, if I ever became one. I think you gotta be really bored. You use the bee spatter as a gunsight and line it up on the enemy fighter, make machine gun sounds and then exploding Messerschmitt noises. One really, really exciting game. While doing this, he would likely have a mouthful of sunflower seeds, shells and all. He somehow kept it all in. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/34 "2009-05-10T15:20:06Z")
> [@chaoticbear](#): > > Are these two separate games? Or just one that I don’t get? I believe you use the dead bugs as your target reticule, move your head about and go ‘Powpowpowpowpow!Powpow!’ whenever you’ve reached alignment. At least that’s what I do on long boring drives. ETA: Dang, didn’t refresh. At least I was right… ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/35 "2009-05-10T15:24:42Z")
I think truck driving has to get pretty boring and the drivers are mildly entertaining themselves by peering at other cars on the road. I have a personalized plate on my car and I think other drivers take a moment to look at who is driving to try and figure out what PITOCYN means. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/36 "2009-05-10T15:29:56Z")
Because they’re sittung up higher than you are. It’s hard for them to peer up. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/37 "2009-05-11T02:03:34Z")
> [@Cyn](#): > > I think truck driving has to get pretty boring and the drivers are mildly entertaining themselves by peering at other cars on the road. I have a personalized plate on my car and I think other drivers take a moment to look at who is driving to try and figure out what PITOCYN means. First time I read this I saw PEEING at other drivers on the road - damn, thats gotta take some skill, steering and aiming at other cars at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846/38 "2009-05-11T02:25:23Z")
I used to move furniture years and years back. I had a discussion with one of the drivers about this. He said everyone had all these stories about being flashed by hot sexy women, but the only experience he ever had like that was with a guy! He said the guy was masturbating furiously, looking up at him, and grinning like a madman. He kept trying to slow down or speed up and the guy would do the same, happily whacking away. Given the source (he also had a number of other tall tales), I’m not sure if I believe him. Funny story though. I will add that I worked for the moving company for 2-3 years, travelled all over the place, but was never flashed (by either sex). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-truckers-peer-down-at-you/495846.md?page=1)