OK so its that time of year when the roads are full of those drivers that don’t get out much who may not be fully accustomed to driving in current conditions.
So I would like to ask that we all look out for these folk that only see a motorway on very rare occasions and will religiously follow their sat nav no matter what.
Other tell tale signs include: lack of lane discipline, unable to comprehend smart motorways, unable to stay within lane markings, unable to cope with bends in the road and traffic junctions.
So as a vocational driver (DQC card holder) I do try my best to help these buggers out, yes they may be unfamiliar with how to control their vehicle or how to operate it and may even be distracted by trying to figure out how to tune the stereo in but they need our help. After all we are the so called ‘Pro’s’ and should be on the look out for those amongst us that are unsure of WTF is going on.
I am of course talking about agency drivers, so when you see one approaching on a straight bit wearing their hi-viz behind the wheel and looking confused give them a chance and help them out.
Joking aside we have a duty to look after other motorists and as Holiday season is approaching and we can shortly go a bit faster on SC roads I hope you are all looking out for your fellow human beings who may be struggling in an unfamiliar environment.
Be carefull out their guys and girls some of these buggers have dashcams…
Insurance notifiable modifications apparently.
Also look out for the chain smokers with plooms of smoke coming out their car windows and an asthmatic child in the back seat going green.
Also be wary of any car where the driver has a hat on or a titfer on the rear parcel shelf.
Caravans are OK as most seem to be ex-truckers (due to our addiction with ■■■■■■■ other road users off) so should know what they are doing, but 7 seaters full of camping stuff are to be treated with extreme caution- especially as I have a Renault Espace and love to go camping.
To redress some of the balance, some of these part time drivers actually drive BETTER than some of the so called professionals that tramp up and down our highways on a daily basis.
The ones terrified of the spotty faced youth in the transport office when the cab phone rings (cue brown trousers), or constantly looking at the rev counter to ensure they don’t go 0.0001 mpg off their projected fuel use, or the hairy arsed neanderthalls that block the middle lane for miles on end because they don’t have the power to get past the truck on the inside lane, nor the intelligence to pull back until AFTER the steep incline.
Let he (or she) who is without sin cast the first stone… and all that
Fair comment but in the end whether pro driving agency bod or fully employed driver with delusions of grandeur its the time of year where we have a variety of new challenges upon us.
Yes i’m talking indicating left to go right, stopping at green lights or confusion of all things highway code related in general we may have to hold back a little more than normal.
For the hourly paid this isn’t so much of an issue but salaried / paid by the load tipper folk all bets are off now as holiday season is upon us and the time to protect our new 50mph limit on NSL SC’s is now.
Just annoys me when I see a car full of family members and a truck up their chuff who doesn’t realise what they are being presented with.
Not me of course as if I’m out for a holiday and an articulated vehicle is up my arse I will calmly stop so they cannot get round and get out and pull their trailer brake on so the wife can give them a bollocking.
I would never be so presumptuous to say I was perfect but I am as perfect as you are ever going to meet
That phrase normally gets me a dead arm from the Mrs
After years of driving other peoples cars and vans for them, i’ve finally given up.
If whilst they crawl agonisingly up a 500 yard slip road they can’t be arsed to look over their shoulder or in the door mirror and see the lorry already in the slow lane, the lane they want to meander out into at exactly 49.37mph instead of adjusting their speed to suit, then i can’t be arsed to brake for them or take other evasive action…and i bloody sure aint going to shove the poor bugger to my right into the next lane or the Armco because matey on the slip road is wearing Dobbin’s blinkers.
Dipper_Dave:
I am of course talking about agency drivers, so when you see one approaching on a straight bit wearing their hi-viz behind the wheel and looking confused
…
Hey that’s Me, and I’ve never been agency in My life, just chronically bone idle
Juddian:
After years of driving other peoples cars and vans for them, i’ve finally given up.
If whilst they crawl agonisingly up a 500 yard slip road they can’t be arsed to look over their shoulder or in the door mirror and see the lorry already in the slow lane, the lane they want to meander out into at exactly 49.37mph instead of adjusting their speed to suit, then i can’t be arsed to brake for them or take other evasive action…and i bloody sure aint going to shove the poor bugger to my right into the next lane or the Armco because matey on the slip road is wearing Dobbin’s blinkers.
Have to say on a few occasions recently I have been faced with a car on the slip road perfectly matching my speed even with a massive gap in front and behind me, I then wonder which they will choose (I have already deceided moving over is not an option due to the hassle it will cause other motorists) so 9 times out of 10 they go for the gap in front or ease off behind but on that 1 occasion they choose harsh braking thus leaving them to face the vehicle behind that is now in their pull in zone.
Maybe its just me but I hate to see a large vehicle pull out and then be left stranded when faced with merging traffic, ffs we have priority and teaching them this lesson may save a life. Don’t get me wrong when faced with a paperwork drama I will always let them in but only if its safe (by my judgement at the time) will I do so.
I left a services the other day and the slip road limits where not enough to allow me to merge safely so I used the hard shoulder for a bit and slotted in when it was safe to do so. Frowned upon no doubt but at the time it was OK for me. Especially as another trucker let me in and I reciprocated by making their following passing manouvre as easy as possible.
But we are in the danger zone of holiday traffic who pull off laybys without thinking, who pull out of services at ridicoulously slow speeds as they are still attending to their precious loved ones shenanigans in the back seat, who are going too slow as their junction is still a mile up the road, or they have other matters on their minds like how to set up the caravan or if theres still time to make the beach etc…
Its this time of year I look forward to the BMW’s & Audis’s who ■■■■ us off but have the skill / power to get themselves out of the danger they create.
Agree, I’d rather drive the M25 at 8am on a Monday where people know what they’re doing although drive like knobs than drive on a Sunday afternoon where the drivers are inexperienced/oblivious to their surroundings.
and if you could give us who drive our old bang…,er,i mean classic cars around in the summer a bit of leeway please.approaching steep hills our speed can drop rapidly…can be un-nerving with a big truck behind when we are driving motors with little protection and in a lot of cases,no seat-belts.oh,and beware of bits of trim etc. falling off
