Simon:
You wouldn’t bother doing a lifesaver when in a queue because no-one is moving relative to you and you aren’t “changing lanes”, so you won’t be moving into anyones path. Good all round observation is vital here, of course, as it always is.
Ok, withya Simon but to me good all round observation would include a quick look over the right shoulder when moving off even in a queue of traffic? I’m just surprised, very much so, that you wouldn’t pick up a minor on your test for it but I’m just a driver so am not qualified to think about such
things
I have a little tale to tell on this subject which is why I was surprised to read the OP. I read it a good few times thinking I must’ve read it wrongly. Anyway, a good couple of years ago now I got crewed up with an agency lad, just for one night. Turns out he was an instructor which gave me the perfect opportunity to find out all my driving shortcomings It was like trying to get blood from a stone though (“I’m not here to judge!”) but he did tell me that I didn’t check my blindspot enough when moving off. Since that day I made a conscious effort to pull my socks up on that particular fault (or at least I thought it was!) to the point where I now instinctively do it.
Anyway, about a month back on a Friday evening in busy traffic I was head of the queue at the traffic lights at the M1 J21 roundabout heading out of Leicester in the inside lane heading to M69. I’d been watching the mirrors on the way up so I thought I’d clocked all I needed to clock. Now I think I’m right in saying that the road is already bending slightly to the left (it is a roundabout after all!) so my mirrors are not looking directly back at the trailer.
So, I’d kept an eye on the other traffic lights to get an idea of when the change was coming and started to have a look. There was only a [zb] motorbike around my bulk head area and the car in the next lane I paused momentarily to allow him to [zb] off, which he did and raised his hands in thanks. I had no clue he was there whatsoever and there was every possibility something nasty could have happened there and no doubt I’d have been the culprit. Not saying it would have done but I’d have moved off without considering him if I hadn’t made that look.
I just remember thinking back to my instructor friend with a “Cheers buddy”.
Saxon786:
Anyway, about a month back on a Friday evening in busy traffic I was head of the queue at the traffic lights at the M1 J21 roundabout heading out of Leicester in the inside lane heading to M69. I’d been watching the mirrors on the way up so I thought I’d clocked all I needed to clock. Now I think I’m right in saying that the road is already bending slightly to the left (it is a roundabout after all!) so my mirrors are not looking directly back at the trailer.
So, I’d kept an eye on the other traffic lights to get an idea of when the change was coming and started to have a look. There was only a [zb] motorbike around my bulk head area and the car in the next lane I paused momentarily to allow him to [zb] off, which he did and raised his hands in thanks. I had no clue he was there whatsoever and there was every possibility something nasty could have happened there and no doubt I’d have been the culprit. Not saying it would have done but I’d have moved off without considering him if I hadn’t made that look.
That’s exactly why it is done
chippy:
When I do a blind spot check in an artic I can only see whats to the immediate right, without having to undo the window and poke my head outside, thats all I can see!!. It would be fair to say that undoing the window and sticking your head out may compromise safety, considering the speed on approach
Blind spot checks are not normally done ‘on approach’ but on ‘set off’.
Just by making a small effort to look out the O/S window can increase the viewed area.
I had a little trick which I used to do on the airfield to highlight the blind areas.
I got the driver to sit in the normal position and then place cones around the truck which were just in the trainees vision.
I would then get the trainee to make a blind spot check and place more cones into where they could now see.
I would then get the trainee to exit the truck and see the difference.
Did the same sort of thing on the N/S to highlight what areas could not be seen.
Mirrors, observation, more mirrors, more observation.
If your wheel turns to the left, look left, and vice versa.
Don’t rush the gear changes, make them smooth, always check the blindspot before moving off, see the gap coming, check the blindspot before the gap gets to you, and move off promptly.
Oh, and try and get a test spot that’s not in school run rush time… the crazies may get you in trouble at the 5 ways at the top of Ketts Hill.
my test is in ipswich, which is a nightmare at the best of times.
i don’t know when my test time is. I am quite nervous as i have taken test 4 times before.
Simon:
You wouldn’t bother doing a lifesaver when in a queue because no-one is moving relative to you and you aren’t “changing lanes”, so you won’t be moving into anyones path. Good all round observation is vital here, of course, as it always is.
Ok, withya Simon but to me good all round observation would include a quick look over the right shoulder when moving off even in a queue of traffic? I’m just surprised, very much so, that you wouldn’t pick up a minor on your test for it but I’m just a driver so am not qualified to think about such
things
< snipped for brevity >
Not saying it would have done but I’d have moved off without considering him if I hadn’t made that look.
I just remember thinking back to my instructor friend with a “Cheers buddy”.
That’s why I wrote “in a queue”.
When you’re at the head of the queue, about to pull out onto a roundabout or through traffic lights, or whatever, you’re no longer in the queue.
It was like trying to get blood from a stone though (“I’m not here to judge!”) but he did tell me that I didn’t check my blindspot enough when moving off. Since that day I made a conscious effort to pull my socks up on that particular fault (or at least I thought it was!) to the point where I now instinctively do it.
I paused momentarily to allow him to [zb] off, which he did and raised his hands in thanks. I had no clue he was there whatsoever and there was every possibility something nasty could have happened there and no doubt I’d have been the culprit. Not saying it would have done but I’d have moved off without considering him if I hadn’t made that look.
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