A11 near Thetford

Driving along the A11 east bound after Barton Mills this morning around 08.00, the road suddenly turned to Crap. Having seen a few cars in the ditches & a couple of big shunts/cars written off & a van in front of me sliding all over the place on black ice, (I don’t think our Illustrious Highways Salt Lorrys had been out to play) I slowed down to around 30-35 mph using my exhaust brake & very gentle braking (to show my brake lights) for the roundabouts.
I was just wondering why other so called Professional Class 1 & 2 drivers were coming past me at 50 & 56 mph. Have they got ‘Special Ice Road Trucking Powers’ or are they just ‘DICKS’. ■■? :imp:

They obviously felt they could drive faster and you were holding them up? In these conditions just worry about his you’re driving and not about others! There will always be someone who thinks they’re invincible and can do it better than you!

In situations like these just look after number one and ■■■■■■■■ to anyone else :laughing:

why would anyone use the exhaust brake on black ice, does the op think it a good idea to only brake on one axle on black ice as opposed to braking on all axles :question: :unamused:

May be the op if in a artic wants to see what a jack knife is like

The A11 between Thetford and Barton Mills is virtually guaranteed to be closed a couple of times a week due to accidents, it was closed last night.

For a road which is mostly straight with around six bends in eight miles it has a horrendous record for fatal and serious injury accidents.

Using brakes on black ice is a jack knife looking for somewhere to happen. back off and steady as you go, sod them behind you they wud soon moan if you jacked and held em up for hours insted of seconds

I hate this road, especially the bit past the elvedon memorial. Every time I find myself in that neck of the woods, I’ve got back to back poultry artics full beaming in my face on and off, and the occaisional TNT ■■■■■■ driving on the limiter whilst I’m happy to potter along at 40, but get lots of Gareth Hunt’s waves from those passing. :imp:

eezeer:
Using brakes on black ice is a jack knife looking for somewhere to happen. back off and steady as you go, sod them behind you they wud soon moan if you jacked and held em up for hours insted of seconds

That’s my point !
I don’t care who passes me, I do the speed I’m happy with & as I was running with around 35 tons gross 30-35mph is not too fast to stop when you need to.
What Pee’s me off is the Knobs that drive like they stole 'em then stuff it into the the next roundabout adding hours to my day whilst the Fire Brigade dig 'em out of their cab.
In my humble opinion using the exhaust brake at a low speed has a very limited effect but you can feel it slowing you down gently, it’s not like I’m changing down from 12th to 6th. As I get near the roundabout I switch off the exhaust brake & use gentle pressure on the foot brake.

martinviking:
In my humble opinion using the exhaust brake at a low speed has a very limited effect but you can feel it slowing you down gently, it’s not like I’m changing down from 12th to 6th. As I get near the roundabout I switch off the exhaust brake & use gentle pressure on the foot brake.

Fair enough Martin, if that works for you and your happy with it, then its your way to do it and I respect that.
Personally I prefer to have all the axles braking and not just the drive axle on a artic doing all the braking on ice.
My preference only, no disrespect meant
edited to add
when you need pulling out the ditch don’t call me :smiley:

Its proper ■■■■ out that way at the moment… I dont use the exhaust brake at all in the ice.

IMO… do not use engine,exhaust,jake in ice or snow …as someone who left his engine brake part on (never noticed) and ended up on a sleigh ride down a hill ,engine had stalled out ,i had door open ready to bail & straighened her up half way down & scared the crap out of me and my ■■■■■■ never ever again.!

I’ve felt the exhaust brake lock the wheels on a dry road…