Lorry drivers! They drive a f@cking huge vehicle 100'sK miles a year, I don't really have a problem with them. I've only seen a couple of HGV accidents on the M40, but I try to stay as far out of their way as possible; move to lane 3 if possible when passing them, predict when they are going to pull out (they wait for you to get close you know!!) and above all don't pull in front of them and slow down; bound to cause a box up and the odd locked trailer!

They're a big vehicle, give them the respect they deserve.

I don't drive an HGV by the way, only about 30K motorway miles a year

 

+1

They should ban them from lanes 2 and 3 as they do some places on the continent.

Bunch of in-my-way *****.

Then again, I say that about all other drivers - sometimes even myself!

 

Generally, the standard of driving (of UK drivers) is far far higher than that of car drivers. Think: when youre stuck at a junction, who's likely to let you out? Thats right, a professional driver.

 

certainly not a wagon or a bus driver

 

Although van drivers on the motorway are a different story (not all of them) Had one van inches from of the back my car on the m6 on Monday , when I myself was doing 90. He was flashing his lights and jesturing with the wnaker sign for me to move over. And when I had the cheek to beep at him as I moved over he also moves into the middle lane and slams his brakes on forcing me to brake so hard the abs kicked in. Luckily my son was not in the car at the time and if I had been in the subaru instead of the gf's 206 I'm sure the red mist would have descended and I would have gone after him.

 

I worked for Norbert Dentressangle as a traffic operator - it's a French company with a bad record for driver infringements ref driving hours......

 

I can't understand why the professional lorry driver being overtaken by another professional lorry driver with a massive .5 mph speed differential doesn't lift for a few moments and let the other past.

Hmmm - doing something pro-active to help each other and keep all the traffic flowing, now that would be professional. Funny - I've never seen it happen.

I have seen trucks drive far far too close to each other. Here's a thought if you're soooo close to the truck in front that cars cant get in between you to get to a slip road.....its time to leave a bigger gap. Unlike the truck I recently witness take offence to a car trying to get to a slip road. "Stupid" car hadn't predicted it wouldn't be able to pull in for 5 miles due to overtaking trucks ahead. Truck clearly tried to scare the car for this heinous crime and squeezed them onto the hard shoulder - But misjudged it, clipped the car's rear wing and span it round 180 degress into the fast lane of the A14.

truck driver done for dangerous driving and they were neither foreign nor professional.

 

As Ive said before all you lot driving around in your little cars should sit with an LGV driver for day to see what tossers in car really drive like. I can assure you that you will be shocked . I drive LGVs very rarely these days but know that my standard of driving is a lot better than most out there. I bet most of the ppl moaning about lorries havent even taken a proper driving course ie advanced, defensive etc.

Jerome is correct in saying that most accidents involving lorries are caused by cars. This is a fact.

I would say motorway accidents are higher now than in the past few years purely down to one thing and thats all the feckin idiots who are either texting or talking on their phones. Another thing I see quite often is prats with their laptops on on the passenger seat. Hardly a sensible thing to do is it.



Chip [sits back and waits]

 

did you witness the accident..... if not how do you know what went on.

 

its hardly surprising that lorry drivers will not admit to their bad driving but will any HGV rivers explain why when you pull into the slow lane to exit a slip road the lorry behind has to drive 3 inches from your bumper.

 

Most of us dont. Those that do are driving badly.

Chip

 

Why overtake then ?

Must say, generally Lorries are better driven than cars, they have to be, could you imagine the average Mini driver in charge of 40 tonnes, would be carnage.

 

Altered for correctness

Its amazing how many lorry drivers are texting and talking on their mobile phones too

 

Try Driving this Beast compared to a standard UK spec Truck.

Just see my Scoob next to it.

 

Neither of them go round corners tho

 

I recall trying to get onto the M62 east from the M6 southbound a couple of years ago. Traffic was moving at about 5mph and as everything seemed to be merging in turn my "turn" was to be in front of a flat bed HGV. So the HGV closed the gap tight He eventually backed off as I kept advancing into the tiny gap so he beeped, flashed, pulled out and started trying to get me into the hard shoulder
When the traffic got going I pulled into the outside lane while he was in the inside and (using my neanderthal sign language) requested a conversation with him on the hard shoulder He would stop Nails in the cab and putty on the pavement, the lardy greasy peasant

The fact is that the consequences of bad HGV driving is often very serious. In some ways it is a skilled job and some drivers do take pride in it but alas too many tattoed monkeys do it because they have the interpersonal skills of retarded baboons, it's all they can do and they think it makes 'em 'ard

Oh and Norbert Dentressangle A great name

 

Watched someting on BBC about the dangers of the LHD lorries coming over from the continent and having a huge feckin blind spot. Pull out, wham bam etc

Seemed to be a BIG problem.

Apologies if this has been covered earlier in the thread as haven't read it all

 

I was thinking the other day that it's about time HGV's were only allowed to travel in lane 1 of motorways and dual carriageways. Also reduce their top speed to 45MPH and also enforce large gaps between each HGV.

This would speed up other lanes, reduce diesel use emissions and also hopefully encourage more frieght onto the railways.

 

If I can put some perspective back in this thread, I think we would all agree that in general, car drivers are worse.

The problem is, of course, that they are not in control of 40 tonnes.

What I do have issues with, and so far NONE of the hgv drivers who are posting on this thread have commented on with any conviction are the following:

1) Yes, the speed limiters are a pain in the **** for overtaking, and there can be a couple of MPH of a difference, but why does the driver of the slower lorry NEVER seem to back off, even slightly?

2) Tailgating - cars and other lorries. I appreciate its a pain in the **** when some **** is driving down the inside or middle lane at 55 mph, but why do you have to use your bulk to intimidate? Its a pain in the **** for all of us, not just HGV drivers when some **** hogs the middle lane

3) You DO tailgait each other, all the fecking time. Why? Fuel consumption savings?

4) When the lanes are reduced due to roadworks or change of road. You are NOT the fecking police, don't block perfectly usable lanes trying to traffic manage when there are FILTER IN TURN controls in operation. All that does is further slow down the traffic.

I can understand the frustrations on todays busy roads, particularly when you are under unfair time schedule pressures, but 40 tonnes is 40 tonnes.

 

I totally agree. The chap that was my best man used to be a multi-drop white van driver, that was 7 years ago. He's now got his class-1 HGV license and has just taken the Hazchem test (awaiting results). Some of the stories about the other sort of drivers makes my hair stand on end.

 

im sure a lot of these crashes happen at junctions where the cars just have to pull in front of the HGV to exit, i used to see it all the time when on the M4. The dozy dumb ***** in the cars get what they deserve if they cut a HGV...

 

respect

 

Most people who drive make mistakes now and again. As has been mentioned, HGVs are less forgiving of that.

But there's no point demonising lorry drivers... they're not perfect and never will be. Just like the rest of us in fact. Some are better, some worse, but what realistically is going to be done? Nowt! lane 1 only rules wouldn't stop accidents, probably increase them around junctions in fact.

The problem is that we have too much heavy freight on the roads... because in the short term that's cheaper than a decent rail network. The previous government set that decline in motion and this one oversaw its continuation.

 

agreed having a lorry train is asking for trouble but you have to think why the lorry in front suddenly has to make such an evasive manoeuver. If its coming up your chuff then your driving too slowly and its no big deal and easy for you to accelerate out of the way.
As said theres too much frustration with everyone under unfair time schedule pressures, lorry drivers included, they are supposed to be under regulated times so they dont drive too long and fall asleep but it still happens.
But its idiotic not having enough spare seconds to think about getting in the correct lane for no seconds gain by passing a HGV. Why put your life in the hands of a 'tw@t' lorry driver just so you can get in to work, work isnt that important surely...

 

///\oo/\\\,

Good post. Hopefully I'll answer most of your questions here.

One of the reason for lorries taking a long time to overtake is the speed limiter. Drivers keep their foot to the floor and don't like losing momentum. This is also one of the reasons lorries are often tailgating each other.

Also, you'll often find that an empty lorry will go faster uphill and a fully laden lorry faster downhill - even with very shallow slopes.

Having done a bit of lorry driving, you often make the decision to overtake then come across a hill which slows you down. Moving back in once you've started overtaking is very difficult without being a danger to those behind.

Many lorry drivers don't like having to slow down to let another lorry in which is unnecessary bloodymindedness if you ask me. Especially as almost all lorry drivers use the lorry code (flashing your lights when a lorry is clear to move across into the lane in front of you) which is all about helping each other out.

I've not come across lorry drivers blocking lanes when merging though. However, if some **** has left it to the last minute to merge I wouldn't let him (it's always a bloke) in whatever I'm driving.

Tailgating cars is not justifiable, but often a car pulls in front of you and slows right down and it is bloody annoying. Nevertheless, quite why someone would choose to not speed up (60 mph is hardly fast) to get away from the lorry tailgating them is beyond me.

 

I wonder how many of those accidents involving HGVs are caused by tiredness from lack of sufficient rest.

Les

 

Les,

Again people seem to think that all HGV drivers are on the road for well over their allocated hours. Although I am sure this will happen in the vast majority of cases it doesnt.

Chip

 

English drivers may stick to hours Spanish and Polish I am not so sure.

 

They do it all the time. Its not a case of cutting in at the last minute. The traffic will naturally merge at the merging point and alot smoother with one for one being the norm. Its when you get people stopping a mile up the road that causes the traffic jams, because A, someone wont want to let you in, and B if someone is blocking that lane i.e a lorry, you are reducing the limited amount of tarmac for the traffic to be on! Use the road while its there,

 

I can't comment on the Polish drivers but the Spanish lorry drivers are some of the best in the world which is ironic given the incompetence of the remaining population. They make our lot look totally incompetent, which they are.