3300John:
Hiya someone mentioned French drivers speeding on s/c roads. over in France and Spain they drive on the limiter all the time and the coppers don’t seem to bother. I go to France every year in my camper van, lorries are always passing me on s/c’s even when i’am doing 60 mph on clock (59 on satnav) i had 3 artics pass me at one time on one
road.
And not all French drivers run on limiter ( I certainly don’t, but then I am always being asked why I took my time )
While also being sworn at by those Brit car drivers held up behind you for not running at the same speed as every other French truck driver.
Hiya …what about when the speed limit was 40 mph on a twin track…the law was everywhere snooping around.
i got nicked one christmas eve (1974) for doing 7 mph over the top.on the A1…that led to a totting up points
and 6 months ban its taken a while and many fine’s but i’ve seen the light and stay within the law now.
who said coppers was straight■■? i got stopped one day in Shropshire, the copper said i was doing 60mph
i got out the techo card 41mph…his reply was i’ll nick you for a bent needle. they’ll belive me before a truck
driver any day… the techo had been calibrated 3 days before and i was working for Shell owned company…
guess what he won…NOT ME. it was’nt the needle that was bent.
John
Saaamon:
I overtake other trucks on sc, dont really see the problem with it, but i am careful when doing it and wont take any chances. I havnt got any issues with people that stick to 40, fair play to you if you do, but it does my head in and i like to crack on.
In most cases on single carriageway roads ( including French ones ) it’s not safe to overtake an artic or draw bar outfit with another artic or drawbar outfit because the speed differentials v the amount of time needed exposed to danger on the wrong side of the road to clear the slower truck is just too much without the possiblity of something coming in the opposite direction and/or the overtaking vehicle needing to cut in on the one being overtaken.Possibly a rigid overtaking,or being overtaken by,an artic/drawbar is about the absolute most that would be posible before the idea becomes a total liability on the road to all concerned although,as I’ve said,every overtaking manouvre is a risk that it’s best to avoid wherever possible as in the case of all vehicles running faster to cut down on the need for others to overtake them.Which is why it’s the French idea of ignoring the riculously low speed limits for trucks on single carriageway roads that is safest.
As for artic/drawbar v artic/drawbar overtaking you just need to drive on the east european single carriageway roads to see how mad that idea is and gets.
That’s actually a lot safer than some of the moves I can remember seeing and being involved in,including having to take avoiding action by getting onto the verge,on the roads in Yugoslavia during the 1980’s.Although this is close enough.
By the way in view of all that maybe the increase in east european drivers driving here both as immigrant drivers driving British wagons and/or their own might explain some of the problems being seen on uk roads by the OP .
FarnboroughBoy11:
Every SC is different though, width, bends, over hanging trees, bushes, kerbs, verges, lay-bys, bus stops, pavements, pedestrians… Everything comes into play. What about the numerous “single carriageways” that just have a single broken white line in the middle but 2 “lane” traffic passing each other.
Every carriageway should be individually assessed in my opinion.
That’s the driver’s job.Which just leaves the issue of the law getting into line and enforcing those sections while letting everyone get on with the job on the others where it’s safe to do so.
So in your little world you would promote people to break the law? And those sections your on about that are being enforced are for a reason. It might be q dodgy part of the road where there have been deaths in the past due to low standard of driving. I can picture your reply already
FarnboroughBoy11:
Every SC is different though, width, bends, over hanging trees, bushes, kerbs, verges, lay-bys, bus stops, pavements, pedestrians… Everything comes into play. What about the numerous “single carriageways” that just have a single broken white line in the middle but 2 “lane” traffic passing each other.
Every carriageway should be individually assessed in my opinion.
That’s the driver’s job.Which just leaves the issue of the law getting into line and enforcing those sections while letting everyone get on with the job on the others where it’s safe to do so.
So in your little world you would promote people to break the law? And those sections your on about that are being enforced are for a reason. It might be q dodgy part of the road where there have been deaths in the past due to low standard of driving. I can picture your reply already
If you’d have read and understood what I’ve said the issue on UK single carriageway roads is all about excessive enforcement of the blanket 40 mph national truck speed limit.Which has absolutely zb all to do with hazard blackspots.I’m just saying enforce the single carriageway truck speed limit as they do in France.Which is far more in keeping with what you’ve said there while also cutting down on ridiculous levels of banzai overtaking manouvres on those sections of road where what you’re talking about doesn’t apply.
FarnboroughBoy11:
Every SC is different though, width, bends, over hanging trees, bushes, kerbs, verges, lay-bys, bus stops, pavements, pedestrians… Everything comes into play. What about the numerous “single carriageways” that just have a single broken white line in the middle but 2 “lane” traffic passing each other.
Every carriageway should be individually assessed in my opinion.
That’s the driver’s job.Which just leaves the issue of the law getting into line and enforcing those sections while letting everyone get on with the job on the others where it’s safe to do so.
So in your little world you would promote people to break the law? And those sections your on about that are being enforced are for a reason. It might be q dodgy part of the road where there have been deaths in the past due to low standard of driving. I can picture your reply already
If you’d have read and understood what I’ve said the issue on UK single carriageway roads is all about excessive enforcement of the blanket 40 mph national truck speed limit.Which has absolutely zb all to do with hazard blackspots.I’m just saying enforce the single carriageway truck speed limit as they do in France.Which is far more in keeping with what you’ve said there while also cutting down on ridiculous levels of banzai overtaking manouvres on those sections of road where what you’re talking about doesn’t apply.
Due to the cuts in police officer numbers, I think you’ll find that you’re more likely to be caught speeding by a mobile camera van than a police officer.
I’m not aware of “excessive enforcement” of SC’s.
How dare people should be expected to obey speed limits. Whatever next!
Just wait until they place SPEC’s (average speed cameras) on every road.
In case anyone is unsure, here are the speed limits for various weights and types of HGV in France.( Note that it should read 90 instead of 110 except for coaches, but I couldn’t find a more up to date table)
I had a taste of this only the other week, doing a drop around Buckingham, single carriageway lane in. For ages I was alone on the road as the traffic was not heavy. I saw an artic behind me gaining quickly, he must have been able to see I was doing the 40 limit (most of our vehicles are on tracker now and questions ARE asked…) anyway, so next thing he is up behind me flashing his lights and he kept moving out as though he was going to overtake. He couldn’t though as it was too twisty a road. I must also mention that there was dense fog on this particular morning so even more reason to take it easy. Eventually we came to a roundabout, at which point being in a more nimble rigid I gained a bit of ground. The road opened up to a dual carriageway over the otherside of the roundabout, so Mr Artic comes past on his limited at 56…fair enough, he has an open lane and if he want to break the limit that is his choice. What most upset me was that he came past and just pulled in with his trailer still alongside my cab. Good job I was able to brake and avoid an accident. I dislike having to do 40 as much as the next man but for goodness sake there was no need to try run me off the road for simply obeying the law.
Saaamon:
I overtake other trucks on sc, dont really see the problem with it, but i am careful when doing it and wont take any chances. I havnt got any issues with people that stick to 40, fair play to you if you do, but it does my head in and i like to crack on.
In most cases on single carriageway roads ( including French ones ) it’s not safe to overtake an artic or draw bar outfit with another artic or drawbar outfit because the speed differentials v the amount of time needed exposed to danger on the wrong side of the road to clear the slower truck is just too much without the possiblity of something coming in the opposite direction and/or the overtaking vehicle needing to cut in on the one being overtaken.Possibly a rigid overtaking,or being overtaken by,an artic/drawbar is about the absolute most that would be posible before the idea becomes a total liability on the road to all concerned although,as I’ve said,every overtaking manouvre is a risk that it’s best to avoid wherever possible as in the case of all vehicles running faster to cut down on the need for others to overtake them.Which is why it’s the French idea of ignoring the riculously low speed limits for trucks on single carriageway roads that is safest.
As for artic/drawbar v artic/drawbar overtaking you just need to drive on the east european single carriageway roads to see how mad that idea is and gets.
That’s actually a lot safer than some of the moves I can remember seeing and being involved in,including having to take avoiding action by getting onto the verge,on the roads in Yugoslavia during the 1980’s.Although this is close enough.
By the way in view of all that maybe the increase in east european drivers driving here both as immigrant drivers driving British wagons and/or their own might explain some of the problems being seen on uk roads by the OP .
I dont take overtaking on sc to those extremes and apart from passing tractors its very rare that i do it, those videos speak volumes, ive seen quite alot of polish truck videos where they overtake on singles and no one seems to bat an eye lid over it and because of that it works, in this country though lot of people wanna ■■■■ about driving slow then when you want to pass them they speed up.
RoadsRat:
Just wait until they place SPEC’s (average speed cameras) on every road.
I personally don’t have a problem with that. I’m paid by the hour, why would I? I do however have a problem with the large number of very average drivers who have absolutely no concept of what ‘average’ means so consequently come hooning past only to stand on the brakes in a ridiculous attempt to ‘beat the system’.
It was always 60 kmh single 80 kmh dual and 90 kmh autoroutes for years with the limits posted on the backs of all the trucks which it applied to for the law to identify them.Ironically truck speeds were even ( a lot ) higher on the RN’s
especially before limiters than they are now regardless of the actual limit with the law there having,applied it’s usual levels of discretion.While the relevant bit is that those roads were always a lot safer to drive on than the east european ones such as in Yugo at the time and obviously the British ones now according to the OP’s comments.
Which shows that the issue of safety has absolutely nothing to do with the one of blanket national speed limits wether it’s cars,when comparing unlimited sections of autobahn speeds with their British motorway equivalents,or when comparing attitudes to truck speeds on French single carriageway roads compared to their uk equivalents.The Brits just seem to have some wierd hang ups about speed in general that have no connection whatsoever to safe driving.
FarnboroughBoy11:
Every SC is different though, width, bends, over hanging trees, bushes, kerbs, verges, lay-bys, bus stops, pavements, pedestrians… Everything comes into play. What about the numerous “single carriageways” that just have a single broken white line in the middle but 2 “lane” traffic passing each other.
Every carriageway should be individually assessed in my opinion.
That’s the driver’s job.Which just leaves the issue of the law getting into line and enforcing those sections while letting everyone get on with the job on the others where it’s safe to do so.
So in your little world you would promote people to break the law? And those sections your on about that are being enforced are for a reason. It might be q dodgy part of the road where there have been deaths in the past due to low standard of driving. I can picture your reply already
If you’d have read and understood what I’ve said the issue on UK single carriageway roads is all about excessive enforcement of the blanket 40 mph national truck speed limit.Which has absolutely zb all to do with hazard blackspots.I’m just saying enforce the single carriageway truck speed limit as they do in France.Which is far more in keeping with what you’ve said there while also cutting down on ridiculous levels of banzai overtaking manouvres on those sections of road where what you’re talking about doesn’t apply.
Due to the cuts in police officer numbers, I think you’ll find that you’re more likely to be caught speeding by a mobile camera van than a police officer.
I’m not aware of “excessive enforcement” of SC’s.
How dare people should be expected to obey speed limits. Whatever next!
Just wait until they place SPEC’s (average speed cameras) on every road.
Which seems to totally miss the point that the French experience of truck speeds on single carriageway roads shows that faster is often safer by cutting down on the need for vehicles to bother with overtaking anything and it is possible to make speed limits more flexible just by the levels and type of enforcement used.Which is how truck have been driven safely there for years with no real regard by all concerned to the technical national speed limit as it applies specifically to trucks,when it’s driving the things safely that matters while recognising the dangers involved in excessivly low speeds just as much as excessively high speeds for the circumstances and conditions.
Which therefore allows some flexibility in the national speed limit for trucks to be driven at a more realistic speed that reflects the actual road conditions and general traffic flow with the specific truck limit being given less of a priority.But as usual the Brits seem to be mad about lumbering themselves and adhering rigidly to often retrograde rules that,as in this case,cause more safety issues than they solve.
BanburyDan:
I had a taste of this only the other week, doing a drop around Buckingham, single carriageway lane in. For ages I was alone on the road as the traffic was not heavy. I saw an artic behind me gaining quickly, he must have been able to see I was doing the 40 limit (most of our vehicles are on tracker now and questions ARE asked…) anyway, so next thing he is up behind me flashing his lights and he kept moving out as though he was going to overtake. He couldn’t though as it was too twisty a road. I must also mention that there was dense fog on this particular morning so even more reason to take it easy. Eventually we came to a roundabout, at which point being in a more nimble rigid I gained a bit of ground. The road opened up to a dual carriageway over the otherside of the roundabout, so Mr Artic comes past on his limited at 56…fair enough, he has an open lane and if he want to break the limit that is his choice. What most upset me was that he came past and just pulled in with his trailer still alongside my cab. Good job I was able to brake and avoid an accident. I dislike having to do 40 as much as the next man but for goodness sake there was no need to try run me off the road for simply obeying the law.
I had exactly that happen to me on the A36, Bath to Westbury direction a few years back. He was a artic waste water tanker, me an 18t curtain sider, and he was off like a shot. Best part was though, He got caught up behind a car and me still doing 40, caught up with them then promptly went past both on the climber lane on Black Dog hill. I presume he must have been heavy as the car then passed me again as I slowed but the tanker was nowhere to be seen.
Mind you if you are the McGills driver who also did the same thing at the end of the dual as you approach Henlade on the A358, then why didn’t you pass me when you had the chance on the previous stretch of dual instead of forcing your way past at the lane closure and then brake testing me because I had the audacity to give you blast on the horns…
But there is no excuse for the endangerment from the other ‘professional’ driver.
Well if he does he should have a word with his work pals as they are the most dangerous drivers on the road.
A [zb] royal mail driver complaining about s/c overtakes you ripping the pish? There is a mountain of mirrors on the grass verges on s/c roads up and down the country thanks to your royal mail brethren.
Ironic isn’t it! The op is obv a little more professional by the sounds off it then his fellow work mates, its a daily challenge to not get hit by there 7.5 tonne drivers or there lorrys pulling right out infront off me in industrial estates when there’s bloody nothing behind me! Really can’t just wait 2 more secs no? Any how back to the op there’s always the minority that give this profession a [zb] name and unfortunately it’s only the minority that people remember so the publics perception off the industry is never likely to change.
I do think 40 is a bit slow tbh on open roads but if we stick to it we upset everyone if we don’t and something goes wrong we’re in the [zb] i know what is rather do and just let people take risks if they want there liscence sod em.
The puddle jumpers don’t do less than 56, if they try to slow down they explode
hi all, POSTMANpat. iwas under the impression that the speed limit was going up to 50. as alot of you have said doing 50 would half over taking , your evey day car driver and reps will be used to over taking ,but your holiday makers and people that dont go far would be contet to follow at 50. lets face it 40 was speed limit when trucks were having a job to reach it. look how trucks and all brakes have altered. charlie
charliemjp:
hi all, POSTMANpat. iwas under the impression that the speed limit was going up to 50. as alot of you have said doing 50 would half over taking , your evey day car driver and reps will be used to over taking ,but your holiday makers and people that dont go far would be contet to follow at 50. lets face it 40 was speed limit when trucks were having a job to reach it. look how trucks and all brakes have altered. charlie
Blimey the French were running artics at well over 50 mph on single carriageways in the days of big power unlimited wagons with relatively primitive drum brakes without causing any national disasters.
)
. 
