I was approaching a roundabout in stalybridge. the nearside lane was left turn only, so i was in the second lane but covering lane one like you need to sometimes. this to most people is a clear indication that you are going straight on but need both lanes.
It wasn’t quite so clear to the nearly dead bird in the red mini, who just had to squeeze through. she must have done it just as i was about to set off as one minute it’s clear and the next there’s a mini about to be mounted by my trailer.
what do driving instuctors teach these kids nowadays. if i hadn’t had that last check of the mirror, she could be dead now. and to make matters worse, she could have made me late.
Its the same old isn’t it? Why on earth they don’t teach truck awareness on the driving test is beyond me, maybe it is because it is only common sense not to drive up the inside of a truck - just answered my own question there.
I’ve seen this exact thing happen with my own eyes in Leicester many years ago.
Artic set up nicely, indicator on, blocking 2 lanes, lights change, starts to move forward - NOW the car that was waiting behind decides to cut inside to turn left.
The ARTIC was already bending at this point so had no vision.
Loads of hooting from me and other road users but TOO LATE - CRUNCH - one car halfway down the trailer - squashed 
Oh, and it was a lady driver - in a MINI 
You have to be on your guard at all times!!!.
When I am in that same situation, I make sure that I dominate both lanes so that nothing can sneak down the inside.
There is a roundabout on the A46 Coventry (Leicester bound) the one after TGI Fridays, the two lane dual carriageway becomes three at the roundabout, lane 1 is for turning left, lanes 2/3 continue/bear right onto the A46.
I was once negotiating the r/bout (in lane 2) when I had a car (which was in lane 1 so I presumed he was turning left) undertake me on the island to carry on along the A46.
Now, whenever I approach that r/bout, NOTHING gets down the inside of me
i had the same thing happen to me on thursday but it wasnt a mini, it was a bloody transit tipper thing,
i straddle both lanes as you do in an artic sometimes, pulled out nothing up my inside and as im halfway around the roundabout i notice im just about touching this bloody transit, slam brakes on bit of tyre squeal etc and the ■■■■■■ driver had the cheek to have a go at me with hand signals and such, i wish i hit him now but i dont think they would have been happy that i hit something on what my 3rd time out in an artic.
driving instructors dont teach folk about how to behave around trucks, i was never taught anything and its only been 6 yearss ince i passed. i learnt how to behave around other trucks when i was a drivers mate. the car test needs revamped though just like the hgv test is being revamped and a whole section on how to behave around larger vehicles needs to be addressed quickly.
Even when you take up both lanes to stop people coming up along side you theres no guarantee they wont try. I was taking up 2 lanes at a set of lights as there was a sharp right hand bend. Lights change i start to move then some idiot comes up the side of me half on the road & half on the path 
. The things people do just to get ahead of you!!!
Have we forgot about the cyclists that do it as well,maybe part of the driving test should involve a short spell in a truck to see what we have to put up with. Hopefully this will show the newbies the things we have to put up with on a daily basis.
The problem is that driving is not the main occupation of a lot of people in the driving seat.How can they know what a lorry does while they are applieing make up or singing or changing the cd.then there is trying to navigate and control the sprogs or look for some chocolate.Iam writing this in a bruised condition because a blind female knocked me off my bike 2 weeks ago!!Dont we all ZB love them.
Been there A40 W to a34 roundabout where the bp garage is… i took up both lanes to turn left and everyone hung back i saw that in my mirrors… what i didn’t see was a young lad leave the garage drive over the grass and sit beside me and yes you guessed it crunch… but it gets better his excuse was i wanted to get out infront of you and turn RIGHT yes right what a idiot needless to say i was very very angry and went for him he ran to his g/f who is a big bird and scared ■■■■ out of me so i calmed down very quick… even better now it wasn’t his car, it was his dads who was a doctor and i got this info from his insurance company who rang me for a statement when i said no its was not a doctor he was about 18 they told me not to send a statement and the one they origionally recieved from my comapny will do… I think he wasn’t insured but served him right. Another great one is A1 brent cross where it carries on to the right where it meets a41 how many idots turn right on a go ahead only lane? oh yes but the lane they give us doesn’t fit a arctic in it!!
I squashed a black cab 
turning left off Holborn in to Southampton Buildings i had to go on to the other side of the road to make the left turn very narrow street, both wheels were touching the kerb, so on the left handside of the street was a bollard and on the right scaffolding, luckily at the last set of lights i was in front so i covered my arse and took up all the road indicated well early and i heard the horn pip as the taxi scratched my wheel nuts, did a lot more damage to the taxi though, went to court and i won he lost.
gogzy:
driving instructors dont teach folk about how to behave around trucks
Don’t tar all with same brush please. Think you will find that most instructors who hold an LGV license do, including myself.
I definately think every one who has passed their test should have to spend a day riding shot gun in a working artic before being given their license.
Almost rearranged a Mini myself some months back. Was on the M621 Leeds following one at a reasonable distance. Several cars together came up a slip road to join. Outside (2nd) lane busy, Mini stopped dead to let cars come on!
Driveroneuk:
gogzy:
driving instructors dont teach folk about how to behave around trucksDon’t tar all with same brush please. Think you will find that most instructors who hold an LGV license do, including myself.
I definately think every one who has passed their test should have to spend a day riding shot gun in a working artic before being given their license.
Almost rearranged a Mini myself some months back. Was on the M621 Leeds following one at a reasonable distance. Several cars together came up a slip road to join. Outside (2nd) lane busy, Mini stopped dead to let cars come on!
im not but the majority dont teach folk how to behave around larger vehicles, and its car instructors im talking about because when i did my cbt when i was 16 we got told the basics of how to act around bigger vehicles etc. i only got the full picture of how to act around bigger vehicles when i was a drivers mate and saw all kinds of things happen when out in the truck, i nearly got my head shashed on the mirror of a white van who was determined to get pasted me at any cost on a narrow lane which we wernt blocking but there is no way im standing near a 660 litre bin full of waste meat thats being lifted on an up and over bin truck LOL.
I wonder how many potential car learners drivers actually ask a potential car instructor -
What grade ADI are you ?
What licences do you hold ?
What is your driving experience ?
I’ll bet it’s more like -
How much ?
What’s your pass rate ?
How soon will I pass ?
ROG:
I wonder how many potential car learners drivers actually ask a potential car instructor -
What grade ADI are you ?
What licences do you hold ?
What is your driving experience ?I’ll bet it’s more like -
How much ?
What’s your pass rate ?
How soon will I pass ?
In fairness though ROG can you honestly say that those questions would enter a learner drivers/parents/guardians head when ringing up the driving instructor/school for some information 
.
I know they didn’t when I was picking my driving instructor, like you said they only want to know how much it’s going to cost etc . Because in a vast majority of cases people tend hear by word of mouth recommendations for an instructor as I did for my instructor. He taught me very well and I passed first time but i didnt sit in that car wondering what level ADI he is trained at, his driving experince etc. He did tell me but only during converation while driving not because i asked him directy.
But because he came recommended by many parents/friends etc I went with him so did my sister and so did my brother and all passed first time 
.
But flip the TNUK debate coin and you could argue just because he comes recommended don’t necessarily mean he is a good instructor I suppose — if that makes sense.
Done it meself. Same as most others, only there was only one lane. Blocked the road with the arse end of the trailer, started making the turn, nothing there, got it bent halfway round the corner, and according to three witnesses, this silly cow drove this mini up the footpath, got halfway along the trailer and stopped… I didn’t, the front wheel climbed up the back of the mini, and made a right mess of it. She was unhurt.
Forgot to say that the only reason she was unhurt, was cos I looked out of the back window as I was halfway through the turn.
Just annoyes you, as you start questioning yourself “was it ME in the wrong lane?”
I nearly took a tipper out this morning on the A13/M25 J30 island. Im in the middle lane heading for the M25 anitclockwise. Tipper number 1 in the left lane for the A13, does as the lane says and goes up the A13. Tipper number 2 behind him decides he want to go right ad onto the M25, whilst im indidcating going into the lane!
Saw him, thought nahhhh…oh crap he is!