Our firm use tachomaster for analysis and you can go online to check your times etc.
In the last 12 months I have had 2 infringements and one of them was down to the snow in December.
I had a look yesterday and saw 4 infringements in two days for harsh braking. WTF!!
Does this mean my truck is now on a tracker and how can it show up as an infringement?
Surely this is an advisory matter and a change of braking patterns needed.
As I drive a rigid my stopping distances are shorter than for a 44 tonne artic and I wonder whether this is taken into account.
I wonder if anyone can enlighten me…
A good driver can only do so much to avoid harsh braking such as using good forward observations and planning for most situations but there will always be times when some numpty does something unexpected such as cut in quickly in front and then brake.
A driver would have to be a mind reader to know what everyone out there was going to do and when they were going to do it in order to avoid every situation which involves some harsh braking.
It is totally unreasonable for a company to give infringements or take action against a driver who occasionally shows harsh braking on the tacho.
It would be reasonable if harsh braking was a constant feature as it would most likely mean that the driver was not planning well etc
ROG:
A good driver can only do so much to avoid harsh braking such as using good forward observations and planning for most situations but there will always be times when some numpty does something unexpected such as cut in quickly in front and then brake.
Quinny:
Since when has harsh braking been an infringement?
Ken.
It would be a company policy infringement and not a legal one
But why show it on our tacho analysis?
I’ve been driving the same truck from new 2 years ago and have driven the same way all the time.
I’ve never seen this on tachomaster in the last 18 months so why now?
do you think they’ve fitted a tracker?
Not that it’s a problem - just be nice to be told these things!!
I"ve had it come up on my card download too when my boss saw it she just said how strange never seen that before and not to worry.But thanks to the Saab estate on the end of the A420 duel carriage way at the Lamb and Flag for giving my boss the chance to see this lol
ROG:
A good driver can only do so much to avoid harsh braking such as using good forward observations and planning for most situations but there will always be times when some numpty does something unexpected such as cut in quickly in front and then brake.
davidj247:
20 times a day on average!!!
That seems a lot - I used to get maybe half a dozen a week when delivering to London but less elsewhere - maybe they knew it was me and thought - I aint going nowhere near that [ZB]
ROG:
A good driver can only do so much to avoid harsh braking such as using good forward observations and planning for most situations but there will always be times when some numpty does something unexpected such as cut in quickly in front and then brake.
davidj247:
20 times a day on average!!!
That seems a lot - I used to get maybe half a dozen a week when delivering to London but less elsewhere - maybe they knew it was me and thought - I aint going nowhere near that [ZB]
It seems to be on most motorway exits - I’ve got one of those stickers on that says I’m limited to 53mph and I wonder if they just think it’s easier to get round me and then brake than have to slow down behind me. Plus, now the sun’s here they drive like maniacs anyway1
Your tacho cant pick up harsh breaking so it isn’t a legal infringement so it must be driver grading you are talking about.
We use btrack for grading and the ‘‘infringements’ that catch me out most’ are idling and non-economical points. Harsh braking is proper full on the breaks with smoke pishing from the brakes on the trailer something that has only happened to me once.
ROG:
Most experienced drivers can guess from the little ‘tell-tale’ signs if a someone is LIKELY to cut in.
Next time you are out there try and guess which ones are prime candidates to cut in - it is a good game and keeps you extra alert
Dont need to guess - any BMW, Merc, Audi and big expensive car drivers, plus the boy racers in the 0.5 litre chavved Corsa…
And of course not forgetting taaxi drivers…
A good game to play with them is to not let them in, in traffic
ROG:
Most experienced drivers can guess from the little ‘tell-tale’ signs if a someone is LIKELY to cut in.
Next time you are out there try and guess which ones are prime candidates to cut in - it is a good game and keeps you extra alert
Id agree with ROG here you can tell if someone is about to do something stupid. Defensive driving is the key to get good driver grading
You can get courses on how to adapt and react to the nutters around you or you can pick it up over the years. If 20 people/reasons a day are causing you to slam on the brakes then you have to change your driving philosophy/style or you’ll end up in a serious crash.
ROG:
Most experienced drivers can guess from the little ‘tell-tale’ signs if a someone is LIKELY to cut in.
Next time you are out there try and guess which ones are prime candidates to cut in - it is a good game and keeps you extra alert
Yes, with me, as I tend to hang back to give myself enough room in traffic, I reckon I can sometimes see them pondering the calculation as to whether it’s worth moving into the slight gap in my lane. Another pet hate is that “must get in front of the supposedly slower vehicle” and then brake, slowing you up!
Harsh braking comes from analysis of the VU speed file. All you do is set the software to tell you when de-acceleration rates exceed a particular figure, for example 4m/s/s. The same could be done for ‘harsh acceleration,’ where you’re heavy on the ‘go pedal.’ It’s all a fuel efficiency thing. Don’t get concerned about it, not a problem as far as VOSA / Police are concerned. Although avoiding ‘harsh braking’ and hitting the TWIT (other terms may be used) in the car that pulled in may be bad for your licence.
ROG:
A good driver can only do so much to avoid harsh braking such as using good forward observations and planning for most situations but there will always be times when some numpty does something unexpected such as cut in quickly in front and then brake.
20 times a day on average!!!
When I say 20 times a day i mean that people cut in that often - not that I react badly to it.
I have been a commercial driver for over 25 years and have learned to expect the unexpected.
As far as driving in general is concerned I think the standard of driving now is nothing short of criminal - half of them should be banned for some of the tricks they do. The highway code is seen as an irrelevance and the rules are forgotten as soon as they pass their test. It’s a free for all now and anything goes!
