Many UK drivers have driven on the wrong side while being abroad.
It is very easy to forget after a heavy sleep and where you park for the night.
I have done it too.You wake up in the dark with no visual clues and being half asleep.At these times it was 3 am with no traffic.
m1cks:
waynedl:
My point is, it’s the equivelent of a postie being took of his normal round, and put onto a different round in a different area, he posts a letter through the wrong door, does he go to jail?This is a stupid comparison. Nobody will die as an immediate result of a letter being posted incorrectly.
Why don’t you use the comparison of a surgeon where a mistake can cost someones life. They can be jailed for neglegence.
This driver was negligent.
Because, if you look up above, I was comparing this with another topic, which was drivers paid less than posties, we all know we’re paid less than surgeons 
id think with satellite technology somebod could invent a device that bleeped to tell you you are driving on the wrong side of the road. i bet itd sell too
these could be a legal requirement to have it on at all times ,this would boost sales too
m1cks:
waynedl:
My point is, it’s the equivelent of a postie being took of his normal round, and put onto a different round in a different area, he posts a letter through the wrong door, does he go to jail?This is a stupid comparison. Nobody will die as an immediate result of a letter being posted incorrectly.
Why don’t you use the comparison of a surgeon where a mistake can cost someone’s life. They can be jailed for negligence.
This driver was negligent.
That’s the whole point. Why drivers are not being paid a wage closer to a surgeons wage if their mistake have such grave consequences?
Drivers are being paid less than posties who’s mistakes do not cause a loss of life.
I feel sorry for this driver, he’s been done hard for an honest mistake and the driver of the passenger car that died can not be penalised for not wearing a seat belt ( well he penalised himself already).
I reckon if the Polish driver could afford a proper lawyer there was a good chance he would have walked free, maybe with some points on his licence, maybe his licence suspended but a jail term is very, very harsh in this case.
If the pass car driver wore a seat belt would have probably have survived as a result of him fallowing the rules.
That’s the main reason why I’m not so keen on driving on the continent, one innocent mistake and you can be locked behind bars for years, not really looking forward to this.
Maybe it’s about time this country adopted road traffic system that exist on the continent, imagine how many accidents could be avoided, how many lives could be saved. I know it would cost money and cause chaos at the beginning, but people would get used to it and life would be so much easier for all involved, those that visit this country and Brits that drive abroad, and not only lorry drivers.
one of my scariest moments driving a truck, was pulling out of a rural plant (imerys at skidby) fully loaded in a 113 320, behind a foreign powder tanker who had just tipped, we turned left out of the gate and he went onto the right hand side of the road. i was flashing and beeping like mad, but he was pulling away from me quickly just like you’d expect. halfway around the first bend, a blind left hander, he met a car, luckily they both got stopped in time. i thought i was going to watch a terrible accident unfold in front of me and there was nothing i could do to stop it.
i feel very sorry for all involved. i don’t really think prison serves much of a purpose in this case. no test is going to stop this happening, he knew we drive on the left, but had a lapse in concentration. anyone who believes this could never happen to them is a dangerous person.
once someone reaches 14 it’s their responsibility to wear a seatbelt
posties drive too
Dear Lord, i can’t believe how many have jumped on the lack of seat belt bandwagon.
Professional driver failed to drive properly, when that happens there are consequences, both for victim and for the one at fault, we know about and accept this every day when we go about our work, its called taking responsibility.
As the number of foreign incompetent drivers increases here i hope you’ll all be so understanding if people you know and care about become victims.
i only mentioned the seat belt thing because someone earlier said something about the landrover driver being more responsible for the passengers, i was just pointing out that at 14 it’s the person’s responsibility and not the drivers
stevieboy308:
i only mentioned the seat belt thing because someone earlier said something about the landrover driver being more responsible for the passengers, i was just pointing out that at 14 it’s the person’s responsibility and not the drivers
that was me but what I was saying as a driver your in charge of your load so in the same thinking every driver of every vehicle should be held responsible for every passenger…
corij:
maybe not a full test, but at least something to prove you know how the lane system works in whatever country you are in , and what the road signs mean. i bet these type of "wrong side i forgot "accidents are happening at an all time high
"Almost three in five British people that have driven while on holiday abroad admit they have made mistakes on foreign roads, according to our poll on behalf of online car hire comparison site carhiremarket.com. Getting lost tops the list of blunders for Brits who admit to making mistakes, cited by over two thirds of those who have driven abroad.
According to the poll, men are the worst drivers when it comes to making errors in foreign countries. Over a quarter of men who have driven abroad say they have found themselves on the wrong side of the road, compared to just 14% of women.
59% of Brits who have driven abroad admit to making errors when on foreign roads
Over one in ten Brits who have driven abroad and admit to making mistakes (13%) have gone the wrong way round a roundabout
Worryingly, 9% also confessed to trying to wind the window down instead of changing gear
Over a quarter (27%) of men who have driven abroad have found themselves on the wrong side of the road, compared to just 14% of women
Scots may be advised to invest in a satnav, as 46% of Scottish drivers admit to losing their way compared to 39% on average across the rest of Britain. Drivers from Yorkshire and Humberside appear to be the most confident when driving abroad, with only 56% admitting to blunders.
Andrew Shorrock, Assistant Product Manager at carhiremarket.com, advised holidaymakers: ‘By taking a few simple steps and making sure you are prepared for a road trip abroad, dangerous mistakes and lack of direction can be easily avoided."
You are absolutely right someone needs to be retrained !
I find this useful when driving overseas. You feel it in your hand so when you’re at a junction having an err… moment you just go oh yeah right 
ebay.co.uk/itm/Onside-Visual … 3caaf84acd
sentence too harsh
I knows its tragic but
How does this sentence compares to this one here:
dailymail.co.uk/news/article … RVICE.html
Why lorry driver gets jail and the car driver a community service?
As I said earlier you only need a proper lawyer.
As always it’s down to what the CPS think they can charge them with. Dangerous driving is rarely used as its harder to prove, as said any decent lawyer can blur the lines.
After reading all of the comments on this there seems to be a mixture of responses. It begs the question of how many of you have based this on fact or purely being bias being in the “lorry gang” and jumping to a conclusion. I would say the majority. Thank you to those that haven’t.
Firstly, evidence shows that Mr Freeman was driving in a perfectly safe manner unlike the lorry driver who “forgot he was in the UK!” hence why there were no charges brought against him.
Secondly. evidence shows that the death of Mr Smith was not caused by the fact he did not have his seatbelt on it was due to crushing to his chest. Granted it is against the law not to wear a seatbelt but to cast aspersions that this caused his death is ridiculous.
Thirdly, take a step back and realise that the act of this incompetent lorry drivers actions has devastated families and friends, investigations show that he was clearly on the wrong side of the road resulting in the fatality. Not Mr Freeman’s driving and not Mr Smith not wearing his seatbelt.
To say that Podolak did not deserve the sentence - it would suggest he did as he was sentenced for “death by dangerous driving”. All facts of the accident were investigated thoroughly and he was lucky to only get what he did. Very solid evidence is needed for “death by dangerous driving”
All I can say that is seems to be a group of very small minded people that have jumped on the band wagon here without taking fact in to consideration yet seem to have used their own thoughts to jump to a conclusion. Obviously freedom of speech is a basic human right but get your facts straight and look at the bigger picture.
Have some respect as I am sure if this was your friend or family member you would have a very different view on the matter.
More time spent concentrating on driving your HGV and less time chatting utter nonsense.
How do I know all the facts - becase I ahve been there every step of the way during this tragedy
ward 2014:
After reading all of the comments on this there seems to be a mixture of responses. It begs the question of how many of you have based this on fact or purely being bias being in the “lorry gang” and jumping to a conclusion. I would say the majority. Thank you to those that haven’t.Firstly, evidence shows that Mr Freeman was driving in a perfectly safe manner unlike the lorry driver who “forgot he was in the UK!” hence why there were no charges brought against him.
Secondly. evidence shows that the death of Mr Smith was not caused by the fact he did not have his seatbelt on it was due to crushing to his chest. Granted it is against the law not to wear a seatbelt but to cast aspersions that this caused his death is ridiculous.
Thirdly, take a step back and realise that the act of this incompetent lorry drivers actions has devastated families and friends, investigations show that he was clearly on the wrong side of the road resulting in the fatality. Not Mr Freeman’s driving and not Mr Smith not wearing his seatbelt.
To say that Podolak did not deserve the sentence - it would suggest he did as he was sentenced for “death by dangerous driving”. All facts of the accident were investigated thoroughly and he was lucky to only get what he did. Very solid evidence is needed for “death by dangerous driving”
All I can say that is seems to be a group of very small minded people that have jumped on the band wagon here without taking fact in to consideration yet seem to have used their own thoughts to jump to a conclusion. Obviously freedom of speech is a basic human right but get your facts straight and look at the bigger picture.
Have some respect as I am sure if this was your friend or family member you would have a very different view on the matter.
More time spent concentrating on driving your HGV and less time chatting utter nonsense.
How do I know all the facts - becase I ahve been there every step of the way during this tragedy
If you’d really read all of the comments before climbing on your soap box, you’ll see that almost all of them blame the truck driver.
The arguments over the sentence are because it was a mistake, and also compare the sentence to similar incidents where a car driver has been on the wrong side of the road.
My stance is that it was an, admittedly very tragic, ACCIDENT.
Yes it resulted in a death, but the only death in a car full of people was the guy NOT wearing his seatbelt, would he have died had he been wearing it, I’ve no idea.
If you ever drive across the water, you’ll KNOW how easily this is done, especially on that type of road, had the car not come around that corner at that exact time, the outcome would surely have been different, a car on the same side of the road as you, coming head on would normally be enough to trigger you to say “hold on a minute, I’m in the UK”
A tragic accident, but still an accident.
anon84679660:
How does this sentence compares to this one here:dailymail.co.uk/news/article … RVICE.html
Why lorry driver gets jail and the car driver a community service?
As I said earlier you only need a proper lawyer.
The judge in the daily mail case must have the law wrong…the police regularly stop people and prosecute them if they cannot pass the roadside eye test.
Soap box?!!! Really??!!
If you read my post properly instead if jumping the gun yet again. I saud evidence shows that Mr Smith would not if survived even if wearing a seat belt.
Now get on with your throwing accusations as it seems a lot of that is happening on here.
Accident? ■■ Begs the question the lorry driver had driven regularly in the EU and forgot he was in the UK. That is no accident that is shear incompetence.
ward 2014:
Accident? ■■ Begs the question the lorry driver had driven regularly in the EU and forgot he was in the UK. That is no accident that is shear incompetence.
But as others have pointed out, virtually every British driver who has ever driven abroad has done the same thing at some stage or another. It follows that if you were a lorry driver who had driven abroad, then almost certainly you would have made the same mistake at some stage too.
ward 2014:
Soap box?!!! Really??!!If you read my post properly instead if jumping the gun yet again. I saud evidence shows that Mr Smith would not if survived even if wearing a seat belt.
Now get on with your throwing accusations as it seems a lot of that is happening on here.
Accident? ■■ Begs the question the lorry driver had driven regularly in the EU and forgot he was in the UK. That is no accident that is shear incompetence.
You clearly haven’t come hear to listen but to unload your anger and grief and that’s understandable. None of us would want to be involved in such a sad situation whether we were to blame or not. Could I suggest you come back here at another time when perhaps we could all talk in a more positive way? We have no desire to add to your pain. I’m sure the vast majority here would join me in expressing our condolences for your sad loss.
ward 2014:
Soap box?!!! Really??!!If you read my post properly instead if jumping the gun yet again. I saud evidence shows that Mr Smith would not if survived even if wearing a seat belt.
Now get on with your throwing accusations as it seems a lot of that is happening on here.
Accident? ■■ Begs the question the lorry driver had driven regularly in the EU and forgot he was in the UK. That is no accident that is shear incompetence.
Accident, yes, caused by a mistake, an error. You have made an error in the writing above, luckily it didn’t cause a death.
The evidence said that his death was caused by crushing? That DOES NOT mean he wouldn’t have survived had he been wearing a seat belt.
They can say ‘it’s unlikely he’d have survived even if he was wearing a seatbelt’ but not that he wouldn’t have survived.
Also, click the link I posted, a car driver drives without his glasses, can’t read a number plate only 7 metres away, kills a man on a crossing walking his dog and gets community service. NOW THAT’S NEGLECT!!
I sentence you to 7yrs in prison for the mistake in your writing above 