Romanian truck close call

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
81

dozy:

Coffeeholic:

dozy:
I guess it’s not easy driving a left ■■■■■■ in this country ,but surely if you’re vision is impaired you would take extra care by stopping at the end of the layby and spend a second or two too try and and make sure your exit is as safe as possible

Eh?

So you stop and then when you see a gap big enough you start a heavy vehicle moving from a dead stop and by the time you are out of the lay-by that gap is a hell of a lot smaller.

Or

You ‘trundle’ down the lay-by watching for a gap you can merge into and when you see one, especially as it is a fellow truck driver way down the road who will likely sympathise with your situation and assist you, at which point you increase speed in an already moving vehicle thus getting up to speed quicker as there is less resistance to break to get the thing moving and being less of a hazard while doing so.

Mmmmhhh, tough call. You really do live up to your name eh? :unamused: :unamused: :unamused:

God help us ,we’ve now got drivers who won’t stop and join a carriage way safely because they find pulling away in a HEAVY lorry difficult ,who the zb issuedthem with licences :unamused: :unamused: :unamused:

It’s got nothing to do with ‘pulling away’ being supposedly ‘difficult’.It’s about seeing a reasonable gap in the traffic ( when he could see it ) and then going for it.Because in this case the design of the lay by means that there is a point of no return where vision is compromised while there is also no way to maintain a decent entry merge speed because the designers have decided to forget all about putting in a proper lay by exit/acceleration lane/entry slip.In which case it is the combination of lack of vision and/or the speed differential which was the problem and in which case it is foreseeable that a similar type of problem could happen even in the case of a RHD truck.Simply because of the combination of traffic levels and speed differentials between an NSL dual carriageway and a truck moving away from a virtual standstill.In general the law won’t regard anyone who disregards all the above by making a crisis,let alone a collision,out of a foreseeable drama as blameless.

82

weeto:
I don’t need to drive a left hand drive truck to know how much can be seen down the near side with the wide angle mirror, I can see plenty thanks, if you can’t, you probably need to adjust it properly!!!

The ‘wide angle’ mirror is just that IE to provide a wider field of view of issues around/close to the vehicle.It isn’t designed to do the job of sorting out long range vision and potential high speed differentials of approaching traffic behind.For that you can’t really beat good old fashioned flat glass US spec mirrors at least so long as the thing is at the right angle to be able to use them.

The idea of convex shaped mirrors is a trade off of a wider field of view v the superior ranging and speed indicating properties of flat glass.Which is why DOT spec calls for a disclaimer wherever convex shaped mirrors are used to increase field of vision. :bulb:

83

I had a close call like that on the lottery this week, bought a ticket not one number, I know how he feels. :unamused:

84

Wow, this exploded!

Having read a few of the comments, some of which I felt were a bit harsh I’ll hold my hands up.

I could’ve slowed down.

I couldn’t have moved over quick enough, the traffic on the A14 at that time in the morning is pretty heavy and car drivers seem pretty reluctant to let trucks out at all while I was driving down it.

I had another truck firmly close behind me, maybe because I was sticking to 50 and he wanted to go faster. I probably could’ve slowed down, but had I braked hard to let the truck out I still wonder if the truck behind would’ve done.

But hey, live and learn. At least I was famous on trucknet for a few moments, life goal achieved.

85

Hammy747:
but had I braked hard to let the truck out I still wonder if the truck behind would’ve done.

If he’s too close to stop if you stop,thats his problem. All you had to do was slow down a bit. If he is STILL to close to avoid a collision then thats a guy (or girl) who’ll kill someone one day.

86

Hammy747:
Wow, this exploded!

Having read a few of the comments, some of which I felt were a bit harsh I’ll hold my hands up.

I could’ve slowed down.

I couldn’t have moved over quick enough, the traffic on the A14 at that time in the morning is pretty heavy and car drivers seem pretty reluctant to let trucks out at all while I was driving down it.

I had another truck firmly close behind me, maybe because I was sticking to 50 and he wanted to go faster. I probably could’ve slowed down, but had I braked hard to let the truck out I still wonder if the truck behind would’ve done.

But hey, live and learn. At least I was famous on trucknet for a few moments, life goal achieved.

What a refreshingly adult response, Hammy747! You chose to make your micro drama ‘public property’; :open_mouth: and when all the ‘driving gods’ and gannets (including me) descended on you, you simply held your hands up and faced us with a smile. Bravo! Robert :smiley:

87

The-Snowman:

Hammy747:
but had I braked hard to let the truck out I still wonder if the truck behind would’ve done.

If he’s too close to stop if you stop,thats his problem. All you had to do was slow down a bit. If he is STILL to close to avoid a collision then thats a guy (or girl) who’ll kill someone one day.

+1

88

It’s easy to say and think that it’s the driver behind me at fault, but I’d rather not cause an accident just to prove it.

As a fairly new driver, it’s just down to experience.

But all in all, foggy day, heavy traffic and maybe not the most ideal move from me led to it.

I think most people on here would agree with me though when I say that the A14 at that time of morning is a right arse of a road. Living in Ipswich I’ve had to endure it for years.

On a plus side, you all watched it over 1000 times on YouTube, maybe I should’ve monetised it! Lol

89

Hammy747:
I think most people on here would agree with me though when I say that the A14 at that time of morning is a right arse of a road. Living in Ipswich I’ve had to endure it for years.

That’s more or less the real problem especially in this case.Which is mostly the result of clueless road ‘planners’ who’ve made a situation of an accident waiting to happen and then try to put the blame on drivers for the inevitable. :unamused:

90

Carryfast:

Hammy747:
I think most people on here would agree with me though when I say that the A14 at that time of morning is a right arse of a road. Living in Ipswich I’ve had to endure it for years.

That’s more or less the real problem especially in this case.Which is mostly the result of clueless road ‘planners’ who’ve made a situation of an accident waiting to happen and then try to put the blame on drivers for the inevitable. :unamused:

I’d say that applies to the amazingly narrow lanes through the works on the M1 as well.

91

The-Snowman:

Hammy747:
but had I braked hard to let the truck out I still wonder if the truck behind would’ve done.

If he’s too close to stop if you stop,thats his problem. All you had to do was slow down a bit. If he is STILL to close to avoid a collision then thats a guy (or girl) who’ll kill someone one day.

Or himself, then gets the sympathy on here.

92

Hammy747:
Wow, this exploded!

Having read a few of the comments, some of which I felt were a bit harsh I’ll hold my hands up.

I could’ve slowed down.

I couldn’t have moved over quick enough, the traffic on the A14 at that time in the morning is pretty heavy and car drivers seem pretty reluctant to let trucks out at all while I was driving down it.

I had another truck firmly close behind me, maybe because I was sticking to 50 and he wanted to go faster. I probably could’ve slowed down, but had I braked hard to let the truck out I still wonder if the truck behind would’ve done.

But hey, live and learn. At least I was famous on trucknet for a few moments, life goal achieved.

Good response there Hammy,
The one thing you did correctly (obviously just my opinion) is not lurch it into the outside lane and cause more issues, yes there may have been a safe gap to do so but often in these sitations theres enough doubt to just hold station instead.

Now we cannot drive for other truckers but our unwritten remit is to protect when possible more vunerable road users, in this case cars that are so bunched up that their thinking time is limited, so sometimes its better to just brake and slow one lane, this will also allow trucks behind to come past who are stupid enough to be too close to see the hazard unfolding. Lets face it on a daily basis we have other so called pro drivers up our chuff and to be honest if an accident occured and one of them had to be scraped off the back of my truck in a bucket I doubt I would lose any sleep over it.

Don’t get me wrong the best way to put manners on any large vehicle up your arse is to do a suddden manouvre but in this case holding position was the right thing to do.

Now then the problem is that you have felt this dash cam / youtube worthy when in reality its a regular occurence, and also the papping of the horn was unnescesary but understandable.

No hindsight is needed here as theres always a risk of layby traffic merging in an unsafe situation but it happens everyday and should be deemed as an occupatiopnal hazard rather than a dashcam worthy moment.

Perhaps (and this is just my opinion of course) save the dashcam footage for the truly unbeliveable and make sure your reactions are in line with what one could expect of a vocational driver. By which I mean your are driving to a level of perfection that interweb scrutiny reliquishes you of any blame whatsoever. Virtualy impossible I know but thats the point, a HGV / LGV drivers standard should be so advanced that other motorists may start to respect us and not see us as an undertaking opportuinty when we happen to take the right hand lane to shockingly turn right at a roundabout. Apologies to the BMW driver I gave a brown trouser moment to today on the A20, deliberate of course and quite amusing, well for me anyway.

Utopian thinking maybe but when in charge of a large vehicle , be it puddle jumper or STGO (thats the really heavy stuff), we have the opportunity to be the worst of the worst or the best of the best, and I know which one I aim for (except for BMW drivers who get on me ■■■■ and one day I’m going to take one of these buggers out :wink: ).

93

Dipper_Dave:

Hammy747:
Wow, this exploded!

Having read a few of the comments, some of which I felt were a bit harsh I’ll hold my hands up.

I could’ve slowed down.

I couldn’t have moved over quick enough, the traffic on the A14 at that time in the morning is pretty heavy and car drivers seem pretty reluctant to let trucks out at all while I was driving down it.

I had another truck firmly close behind me, maybe because I was sticking to 50 and he wanted to go faster. I probably could’ve slowed down, but had I braked hard to let the truck out I still wonder if the truck behind would’ve done.

But hey, live and learn. At least I was famous on trucknet for a few moments, life goal achieved.

Good response there Hammy,
The one thing you did correctly (obviously just my opinion) is not lurch it into the outside lane and cause more issues, yes there may have been a safe gap to do so but often in these sitations theres enough doubt to just hold station instead.

Now we cannot drive for other truckers but our unwritten remit is to protect when possible more vunerable road users, in this case cars that are so bunched up that their thinking time is limited, so sometimes its better to just brake and slow one lane, this will also allow trucks behind to come past who are stupid enough to be too close to see the hazard unfolding. Lets face it on a daily basis we have other so called pro drivers up our chuff and to be honest if an accident occured and one of them had to be scraped off the back of my truck in a bucket I doubt I would lose any sleep over it.

Don’t get me wrong the best way to put manners on any large vehicle up your arse is to do a suddden manouvre but in this case holding position was the right thing to do.

Now then the problem is that you have felt this dash cam / youtube worthy when in reality its a regular occurence, and also the papping of the horn was unnescesary but understandable.

No hindsight is needed here as theres always a risk of layby traffic merging in an unsafe situation but it happens everyday and should be deemed as an occupatiopnal hazard rather than a dashcam worthy moment.

Perhaps (and this is just my opinion of course) save the dashcam footage for the truly unbeliveable and make sure your reactions are in line with what one could expect of a vocational driver. By which I mean your are driving to a level of perfection that interweb scrutiny reliquishes you of any blame whatsoever. Virtualy impossible I know but thats the point, a HGV / LGV drivers standard should be so advanced that other motorists may start to respect us and not see us as an undertaking opportuinty when we happen to take the right hand lane to shockingly turn right at a roundabout. Apologies to the BMW driver I gave a brown trouser moment to today on the A20, deliberate of course and quite amusing, well for me anyway.

Utopian thinking maybe but when in charge of a large vehicle , be it puddle jumper or STGO (thats the really heavy stuff), we have the opportunity to be the worst of the worst or the best of the best, and I know which one I aim for (except for BMW drivers who get on me ■■■■ and one day I’m going to take one of these buggers out :wink: ).

Thanks Dave, gave that a good read.

Although I might add that I drive an M Reg 1994 BMW :laughing: have I just destroyed trucknet?

94

Hammy747:
Thanks Dave, gave that a good read.

Although I might add that I drive an M Reg 1994 BMW :laughing: have I just destroyed trucknet?

Cheers this was one of me drunken waffles.
Reckon youl be safe we all love to hate BMW’s, I’m getting one next :blush:

95

Dipper_Dave:

Hammy747:
Thanks Dave, gave that a good read.

Although I might add that I drive an M Reg 1994 BMW :laughing: have I just destroyed trucknet?

Cheers this was one of me drunken waffles.
Reckon youl be safe we all love to hate BMW’s, I’m getting one next :blush:

I’ve only got one because I refuse to buy a brand new or very modern car.

Last car was a little 1.4 fiesta V reg. done 100,000 when I got it. Paid £700 for it, got 50,000 miles then the head gasket blew.

Traded it in with our local truck driver/mechanic/second hand car seller for the BMW. Also done 100,000 when I got it. Now on 118,000 4 months later.

But, no computers! You open the bonnet and you can see this big greasy rusty thing called an engine that any mechanic can just work on!

96

Dipper_Dave:

Hammy747:
Thanks Dave, gave that a good read.

Although I might add that I drive an M Reg 1994 BMW :laughing: have I just destroyed trucknet?

Cheers this was one of me drunken waffles.
Reckon youl be safe we all love to hate BMW’s, I’m getting one next :blush:

As long as it’s not a white Audi. What is it with mosy white Audi drivers?! I got road rage with one a few months ago :smiling_imp: [zb]

97

Dipper_Dave:
Dipper Dave said a lot of good stuff

That’s got to be the most measured and sensible thing I’ve read on here in a long time.

Cheers for that, it helps restore my faith that there are some sensible drivers left out there.

But I’d have to disagree about the BMW drivers, I find Audi drivers to be worse, but only in my humble opinion of course!

98

I often wonder how many alter there approach or attitude to things as a result of spending time on here, nice to see Hammy747 coming back with good honest reply.