After having driven lorries for… well, shall we say ‘longer than I sometimes care to remember’?.. I thought I’d seen it all – until . . . . .
Driving across from Fort William to Inverness on the A82. At the head of the queue of traffic (where he’s been for about 30 miles) is a mobile road-block/tour coach. This particular coach (which has a London number emblazoned on the back) has been doing the usual ‘road block’ things: Anything that even remotely resembles a bend = 25mph.
A ‘straight’ = 60 mph (and those who know the road will know how many ‘straights’ there are!)
Something coming in the opposite direction = Dive to the near side of the road and practically stop.
Nothing coming in the opposite direction = Drive with the o/s wheels bumping along on the cats’ eyes.
Now, bearing in mind that Coach drivers are also supposed to be ‘professionals’ – well, I think that his standard of driving left lots ‘to be desired’.
Anyway, the queue of traffic is about 2 or three miles on the Fort Augustus side of Bridge of Oich when the 18 tonner immediately behind the coach decided that enough was enough - and overtook.
Now I’ll be the first to admit that the road is not straight. There are, indeed a series of bends but the over take was perfectly safe:- There was good visibility, the lorry driver obviously knew the road and could read the road, there was no traffic coming in the opposite direction and the lorry was a reasonable distance past the coach before the completing the move and pulling back in.
So far so good… right up to the point where the coach drove off the road!
The lorry was some 200 yards further on – and accelerating away – when the coach literally drove off the road; his n/s wheels went onto the verge by about 3 feet and he bounced along on the verge for about 30 or 40 yards before grinding to a halt with (I believe) broken front suspension!
Professional? Think that, certainly in respect of coach drivers, professional obviously means a different thing in London and this is one coach driver who needs to go back to school and learn to drive!!
The highlands in the summer…a place to be avoided, i.d rather drive it in 6 inches of snow in January than put up with the endless stream of camper vans, caravans, buses and the numerous tourists who think its perfectly acceptable to stop at the side of the road and take a picture , grumpy ? No 
chaversdad:
The highlands in the summer…a place to be avoided, i.d rather drive it in 6 inches of snow in January than put up with the endless stream of camper vans, caravans, buses and the numerous tourists who think its perfectly acceptable to stop at the side of the road and take a picture , grumpy ? No
You forgot to say about the midges as well in summer
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he prob drove off the road at the point where he was frantically trying to get his phone camera to work and vid the truck having overtook him…before posting it on the sun as …shocking,horrifying,dangerous,roadrage,lunacy,etcetc…nice to see a particular fanny copping it where rightly deserved. 
While living in the area you can get used to the idiots in cars, campers, caravans and the like during the summer but never the bloody midgies … 
Every year several coach companies,usually London area based,advertise for pcv drivers for the summer season tours of Scotland amongst other places.It follows that these guys have limited experience so they are not used to the size of their vehicle.He may even be a newbie.Nevertheless,a look in the mirror should have encouraged him to fall into a lay by.Several year ago for a change I thought I would try this pcv lark.I lasted 16 days including 7 days notice!
It’s a wonder that David Russell hasn’t written a letter to truck magazine about such carry ons ,every time I open a magazine he’s complaining about driving standards of others in Scotland ,surely iam not the only one to notice this ?
caledoniandream:
Ain’t seen nothing yet!
youtube.com/watch?v=AH6H7mSvsvg
Used to play this at max decibels while keeping her lit driving down the Tapline 40 years ago!
dieseldog999:
he prob drove off the road at the point where he was frantically trying to get his phone camera to work and vid the truck having overtook him…before posting it on the sun as …shocking,horrifying,dangerous,roadrage,lunacy,etcetc…nice to see a particular fanny copping it where rightly deserved.
Don’t forget the word “juggernaut”!
Shandy123:
dieseldog999:
he prob drove off the road at the point where he was frantically trying to get his phone camera to work and vid the truck having overtook him…before posting it on the sun as …shocking,horrifying,dangerous,roadrage,lunacy,etcetc…nice to see a particular fanny copping it where rightly deserved.
Don’t forget the word “juggernaut”!
“Killer HGV wipes out coach load of Japanese tourists in sleepy village”
Have you ever seen a man eat his own head… No? Then you haven’t seen it all! 
Scroll to 1:07 … that’s Gary that is… 
bigvern1:
Have you ever seen a man eat his own head… No? Then you haven’t seen it all!
dead donkey■■?
chineese funeral■■?
non Caucasian ethic majority driving a range rover or a discovery??
the list is endless…
bigvern1:
Have you ever seen a man eat his own head… No? Then you haven’t seen it all!
Seen a horse fly. Does that count?
Punchy Dan:
It’s a wonder that David Russell hasn’t written a letter to truck magazine about such carry ons ,every time I open a magazine he’s complaining about driving standards of others in Scotland ,surely iam not the only one to notice this ?
Why are the drivers’ letters normally such ■■■■■■■■? If it’s not them it’s their kids or wives writing some nonsense. To increase your chances of having one published, you need to finish with “love the magazine, keep up the good work.” Just like “thanks Steve (you fat bald unfunny loner), love the show…”