This is more of an observation than a whinge, but on my daily commute I use the A5 between Weedon and Lutterworth. On a lot of roundabouts and also at Rugby truckstop a lot of the Stobart vehicles are not very good with their lane discipline. Wherever there is an opportunity to straddle two lanes or not make use of the central refuge they seem to take it for no apparent reason.
098Joe:
This is more of an observation than a whinge, but on my daily commute I use the A5 between Weedon and Lutterworth. On a lot of roundabouts and also at Rugby truckstop a lot of the Stobart vehicles are not very good with their lane discipline. Wherever there is an opportunity to straddle two lanes or not make use of the central refuge they seem to take it for no apparent reason.
Well standards were only going too go one way when I left 
only Stobarts ■■?
well I never.
HappySack will be only to happy to answer this post! 
so what is the point you are making? Drivers taking more room than they actually need? they might be as experienced as you. i have had couple of moments when i should have straddled two lanes rather than trying to stay in one lane…
Lots of places I go I straddle as I’m uncomfortable allowing a car alongside. Make things easy by preventing a possible problem. Once you’re round a tight spot normal service can resume quickly enough. Farnham one-way system is tight as…if you don’t straddle, you’ll wait all day to get round 
Sumsmeister:
Lots of places I go I straddle as I’m uncomfortable allowing a car alongside. Make things easy by preventing a possible problem. Once you’re round a tight spot normal service can resume quickly enough. Farnham one-way system is tight as…if you don’t straddle, you’ll wait all day to get round
defensive driving, own the road and make it impossible for most idiots to squeeze into the space you are going to need…
Straddling the lanes is for the car drivers benefit. It’s quicker to hold them back, than leave them on the side of the road awaiting recovery 
Trukkertone:
defensive driving, own the road and make it impossible for most idiots to squeeze into the space you are going to need…
According to that then, there must be lots of idiots in Chichester… 
I would call it inconsiderate rather than defensive. I am talking about spots where there is clearly no need to take up so much of the road. It appears to be laziness more than anything, like straight lining roundabouts. It just gives other road users another reason to despise us. One particular example is coming off northbound A5 onto Magna Park there is plenty of room for two lines of traffic there and the roundabout is nice and wide.
I do that at times and the reason i do it is so the crazy drivers dont try and squeeze by the tail swing when turning.I dont want to do any damage to anything but you cant help some of the stupid drivers.
its also called accident prevention,i straddle two lanes to prevent muppet car drivers coming through on the inside,but I do so only when necessary
098Joe:
It appears to be laziness more than anything, like straight lining roundabouts.
I’ve straightlined roundabouts for over 30 years now. It’s a method shown to me when I was a drivers mate (and that’s decades ago). If it’s completely clear then there’s no reason not to.
It improves fuel consumption, makes for quicker journey times and lessens rolling and load shift possibilities.
Spend less time worrying about what you think looks bad and concentrate on driving your lorry, not someone elses.
No, I don’t drive for Eddie.
Evil8Beezle:
HappySack will be only to happy to answer this post!
I’d love to but alas i dare not post for fear of upsetting anyone.
happysack:
Evil8Beezle:
HappySack will be only to happy to answer this post!I’d love to but alas i dare not post for fear of upsetting anyone.
In fact no. ■■■■■■■■ to it. Joe, do you spend your free time hanging round about roundabouts? Do you hide in the bushes? Do you have a clipboard? Do any other companies do this heinous crime? Are you just another sad ■■■■ with an axe to grind? For what it’s worth, i try to stick to the correct lane on roundabouts whether there is a sad wee gnome watching with his pants down or not. But do you know what? If i think it’s necessary to cut a particular roundabout, I’ll indicate early and straddle the lanes. And not one ■■■■ will be given.
happysack:
happysack:
Evil8Beezle:
HappySack will be only to happy to answer this post!I’d love to but alas i dare not post for fear of upsetting anyone.
In fact no. ■■■■■■■■ to it. Joe, do you spend your free time hanging round about roundabouts? Do you hide in the bushes? Do you have a clipboard? Do any other companies do this heinous crime? Are you just another sad [zb] with an axe to grind? For what it’s worth, i try to stick to the correct lane on roundabouts whether there is a sad wee gnome watching with his pants down or not. But do you know what? If i think it’s necessary to cut a particular roundabout, I’ll indicate early and straddle the lanes. And not one [zb] will be given.
Remember happysack some drivers know everything and do no wrong.
Straddling, straight lining, holding wide left to give other traffic chance to pass are all driver tools to be used as an when they see fit. Primary function is to protect nearside, secondary maybe to hold up traffic to create space.
I’ve straddled a few things in my time and yes regrets ive had a few. But if the cost is a small inconvenience vs a higher risk of opening the door to a muppet then the cost is worth it
It’s quite simple sounding and it’s really quite simple in practice but the trick is to take as much space as you need to to safely complete your maneuvre. The downside to straddling lanes may be a flash of annoyance from another road user, but it is infinitely better to endure that than deal with the consequences of poor vehicle positioning later!
I’ve lost count of the number of times that I’ve watched a lorry poorly position his/herself prior to a maneuvre and end up mounting a kerb or brushing railings or other street furniture when it was so easily avoidable, and yes I do straight line roundabouts if it presents no risk to another road user. It’s easier on the lorry, it’s easier on the load and it’s easier on me. Which is always a good thing .
098Joe:
I would call it inconsiderate rather than defensive. I am talking about spots where there is clearly no need to take up so much of the road. It appears to be laziness more than anything, like straight lining roundabouts. It just gives other road users another reason to despise us. One particular example is coming off northbound A5 onto Magna Park there is plenty of room for two lines of traffic there and the roundabout is nice and wide.
You said it was poor lane discipline. At that roundabout there is only one lane on the approach and also on the roundabout itself, so how can it be poor lane discipline if the drivers are simply making use of that one lane?